Memorials of the Independent Churches in Northamptonshire: with biographical notices of their pastors, and some account of the puritan ministers who laboured in the county.Coleman, Thomas
History
Memorials of the Independent Churches in Northamptonshire: with biographical notices of their pastors, and some account of the puritan ministers who laboured in the county.
Coleman, Thomas
Clergy -- England -- Northamptonshire; Independent churches -- England -- Northamptonshire; Puritans -- England -- Northamptonshire
After the death of Mr. Sanderson, a friend wrote--"Poor Rowell lies in
sackcloth. Oh, that she might know in this her day the things that make
for her peace! They have my best wishes and earnest prayers that the
Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, may find out a man to stand
in the gap, and fill up the breach which he has so awfully made, that
the congregation of the Lord may not be as sheep which have no
shepherd."
In the year 1741 Dr. Doddridge published two sermons, the substance of
which had been delivered at Rowell--'The Scripture doctrine of Salvation
by Grace through Faith, illustrated and improved.' In an address
prefixed to these discourses to the Church and congregation of
Protestants at Rowell he says,--
I cannot conclude this short address without congratulating you on
the abundant goodness of God to you as a Church, in bringing among
you that worthy and excellent person, Mr. Sanderson, under whose
pastoral care you are now so happily placed. I know he is a faithful
witness to the truths of the Gospel, and rejoice in that rich
abundance of gifts and graces which renders him so fit to state and
improve them in the most advantageous as well as the most agreeable
and delightful manner. I hope and believe that the grace he so
humbly owns his dependence upon will add happy success to his
labours; and I heartily pray that you and neighbouring Churches may
long be happy in him, and that God, who has by such various and
gracious interpositions in your favour expressed his paternal care
of you, may still delight to dwell among you.
Shortly after the death of Mr. Sanderson, Mr. Moses Gregson was chosen,
with great unanimity, to the pastoral office. His ordination took place
April 20th, 1748. Upon this occasion, the service was conducted in the
method generally adopted in other Dissenting Churches. Dr. Doddridge
asked the usual questions, and took the confession of faith; Mr. King,
of London, preached to the people; and Dr. Guyse gave the charge.
Mr. Gregson continued pastor for about forty years. During the course of
his ministry 88 members were admitted to the Church. When years
increased and infirmities came on, so as to render him incapable of
discharging all the duties of his office, Mr. John Wood was invited to
become co-pastor with Mr. Gregson; but before Mr. Wood entered on this
office, the death of Mr. Gregson took place. In consequence of this
change Mr. Wood was invited to become the pastor of the Church, which he
accepted, and was set apart to the office in September, 1789; when Mr.
Smith, of Bedford, delivered the introductory discourse; Mr. Wood, of
Creaton, offered the ordination prayer; Mr. Horsey, of Northampton,
delivered the charge; and Mr. Toller, of Kettering, preached to the
people.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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