Part 10 (1/2)
For the above details I am largely indebted to the notes ”On the Wong,”
of the late Mr. W. Pacey, supplemented by the _History of England_, in seven volumes, of the Rev. H. Walter, B.D., F.R.S., Professor in the East India College, Hertford, Chaplain to the Duke of Northumberland, &c., &c.
THE BAPTIST CHAPEL.
This is the oldest nonconformist building in Horncastle. It is generally supposed that there was a still earlier chapel, situated near what is called the Bow Bridge, which spans the southern branch of the ca.n.a.l, between Cagthorpe and St. Mary's Square, but we have no definite proof of this beyond a vague tradition.
The Baptist community date their origin from the time of the Commonwealth. The earliest person of note connected with this religious body being John Bunyon, author of _The Pilgrim's Progress_, {84a} who espoused the cause of the Parliament against Charles I. He first preached in Bedford, where he was a tinker by trade, in the year 1655, visiting various other parts of the country in succeeding years, until he died, August 31st, 1688, and was buried in Bunhill Fields.
An old doc.u.ment shows that at a meeting held at Bedford, in the spring of 1655, over which he presided, it was decided to send one of the members, ”Mr. Brown to Horncastle, in Lincolns.h.i.+re, to a few persons of the belief, seeking help to guide them in forming a society.” Before the ”Toleration Act” was pa.s.sed in 1689, nonconformist places of wors.h.i.+p were not allowed to exist within five miles of a market town. {84b} In Asterby, about six miles from Horncastle, there is a Baptist chapel, locally reputed {84c} to be the oldest in the kingdom. At Coningsby is a Baptist Chapel, with a school, dating from nearly the same period, with an endowment of 26 acres of land. The Baptists of Horncastle mostly, in those days, wors.h.i.+pped at Asterby. At Donington-on-Bain there is also a very ancient chapel, where the Baptists of Louth wors.h.i.+pped. The two chapels of Asterby and Donington have a joint endowment of 20 a year, and are now affiliated to Northgate Chapel in Louth.
The Foundation Deed of the Chapel in Horncastle is dated Sept. 19, 1767; and the names of the founders are given as William Bromley, Vicars Keal, Hamlet Dabney, William Taylor, William Storr, William Dawson, Thos.
Hollingshed, Charles Bonner, George Gunnis, James Coates, John Blow, and William Tenant.
The Chapel was originally a structure of one story, having its entrance in the centre of the north wall, and the pulpit opposite. Until the early part of the 19th century it had no baptistry, immersion being performed in the water-mill pit, {84d} in the north of the town.
Considerable structural alterations were made in the year 1843, when the walls were heightened and upper windows inserted; a gallery was erected at the east end; the north door was bricked up, and the present entrance at the east end opened; the pulpit being removed to the west end, facing the door. A further enlargement was made by a small vestry on the west being added, thus providing sitting accommodation for 250 wors.h.i.+ppers.
On the north side of the building is a graveyard, but only three inscriptions are legible, they are ”Mary Markwell, died March 28th, 1776, aged 29. Prepare to meet thy G.o.d.” This was, doubtless, one of the earliest interments. The second is ”In memory of Thomas Lamb, who departed this life June 7th, 1811, aged 82.
Here rests that lately animated clod, Who self despised, and glorified his G.o.d; And when that great decisive day shall come, He'll rise triumphant from the silent tomb.
Also of Frances, his wife, who departed this life April 2nd, 1810, aged 79. He was a watchmaker. The third is as follows: ”Sacred to the memory of Eliza, daughter of William Parker, Solicitor, and Elizabeth, his wife, who died 1st April, 1835, aged 20 years. Them that sleep in Jesus will G.o.d bring with Him.” Mr. Parker occupied part of the premises now forming the shop and residence of Mr. Bryant, shoemaker, in the High Street.
There is little doubt that the house adjoining the chapel, on the north west, was once the minister's residence. On the stairs leading to the present rostrum there is still a doorway, which evidently led to the house. There is a stone tablet over this door, and in 1892 an exact copy of this was made, and placed on the north wall. The inscription reads ”John Hill, departed this life Oct. 16th, 1779, aged 48, Pastor of this Church 13 years.”
There are some tablets on the wall within, but the Rev. F. Samuels, who was Pastor when the Chapel was renovated, about 1882, unfortunately allowed the inscriptions to be obliterated.
It is interesting to know that the Mint Lane Baptist Chapel, at Lincoln, was founded in 1767, by wors.h.i.+ppers at Horncastle. {85a} Curiously it was not till 1892 that the Horncastle Chapel was ”registered” as a place of wors.h.i.+p, the omission being only then discovered, when application was made for a licence to solemnize marriages.
In 1893 the Chapel was thoroughly restored, at a cost of 80; the interior being modernised, the walls painted, the old high pews removed and replaced by neat seats, the old box-shaped pulpit taken down, and a rostrum and platform erected. There is a good organ, with special seats for the choir.
We may add that the Baptists are now a very numerous and influential body. At the Baptist World Conference, held at Exeter Hall, London, July 10 and following days, 1905, the first ever held as an united community, Dr. Maclaren of Manchester presiding, a message was received from the King and Queen, thanking for a loyal address from the Conference. The President also stated that he had informally received a greeting of good will from the Established Church, as well as from the Free Churches.
On that occasion ministers and delegates attended from various parts of Great Britain and the Colonies, from America, France, and other countries. A meeting was held under ”The Reformer's Tree,” in Hyde Park, Miss Burroughs, a coloured lady, being on the platform, also Mr. Britto, a coloured vocalist, and the singing being led by a coloured choir. The President, Dr. Clifford of London, stated that there were present 4,000 delegates, from all parts of the world, representing some seven millions of Baptists, {85b} and 5,700,000 communicants; but besides these there are 14 or 15 millions of ”adherents” to the cause, so that the whole body numbers over 20 millions.
The Rev. W. E. Pearson was appointed August, 1905, but left in Feb., 1907, to pursue his studies at college.
THE NEW JERUSALEM CHURCH.
The Croft Street Chapel, or New Jerusalem Church, is both structurally and intellectually, the most recent developement of Nonconformity in Horncastle. The founder of this community was a personality so remarkable that it may be well here to give a brief sketch of him.
Emanuel Swedenborg, son of a Lutheran bishop, was born at Stockholm, in 1689. During more than the first half of his life he was distinguished as a hard worker in the field of science, and from his many clever inventions, and valuable public services, he was enn.o.bled by his sovereign. But in the year 1743, after a serious illness, accompanied by brain fever, the result of excessive mental labour, he threw up all work of this kind, declaring that he had received a ”call” from the Lord, who manifested Himself to him, by personal appearance, and commissioned him to devote further life and strength to holier purposes.
Being a man of strong will, albeit, not improbably, with a touch (as was thought by several) of mental aberration, the result of his illness, he threw himself, with characteristic energy, into the work of religious proselytism, in support of the special views with which he was now inspired. He became a kind of religious clairvoyant, living an ecstatic existence in communion with angels and spirits. He printed accounts of various ”Arcana,” as he termed them; visions granted to him of heaven and h.e.l.l; the state after death, the true wors.h.i.+p of G.o.d, the inner spiritual sense of the scriptures; and so forth. He held spiritual intercourse with the dwellers in other planets, conversing with Apostles, with Luther, Calvin, Melancthon, &c. ”Things hidden since the days of Job (he declared) were revealed to himself.”
Followers gradually gathered round him, inspired by his own enthusiasm.
He visited England frequently; and before his death, in London, A.D.
1772, he had established congregations in England, Ireland, Wales, France, Holland, Sweden, Russia, and even in Turkey and America. It is said that several Anglican clergy adopted his views, though still retaining charges in their own church.