The most distinguished of its pastors was the excellent Mr. Benjamin Francis, who entered upon his labours at Shortwood October 1757 - On the 12th of October, 1758, he was ordained to the pastoral office by Mr. J. Tommas, and Mr. Hugh Evans, of Bristol; Mr. Davis, of Fairford; and Mr. Bowen, the late pastor; between whom and the church, Mr. Francis had interposed his good offices, and renewed the feelings of Christian love. On this interesting occasion Mr. Tommas gave the charge, from Colossians iv. 17; and Mr. Evans addressed the church, from 1 Thessalonians ii. 19.
"Under the ministry of Mr. Francis, both church and congregation rapidly increased in numbers and respectability, so that, in April, 1760, only eighteen months after his ordination, it became necessary to make some addition to the size of the meeting-house.
"The labours of Mr. Francis were not confined to his own church, - the towns and villages around engaged much of his attention; - Minchin-Hampton, Aveniug, Uley, and Nympsfield, in particular, called forth his exertions; in the first of these places, in the year 1765, he undertook the erection of a place of worship, which, including the purchase of the ground, cost four hundred pounds, which was opened in the month of September, by Mr. Hugh Evans, of Bristol. From this time, also, Mr. Francis, whose popularity was now considerable, visited, and preached frequently in, most of the churches of our denomination, within a circuit of about thirty miles.
"Mr. Francis had the happiness to see a continued and progressive increase in the church and congregation; though, at this time, he had his trials, as well as comforts, from some of his flock, who, in their own estimation, were wiser than their teacher, and from others, whose immoral conduct rendered their separation necessary.
"Of Mr. Francis, as a man, or as a minister, it is not necessary for me to say much. His character has been drawn, his talents displayed, and his labours delineated by those who had the advantage of an acquaintance more intimate than any to which I can pretend. Yet a few observations may not be altogether impertinent.
"In contemplating the character and labours of this almost invaluable minister of Christ, the mind is naturally impressed with the peculiar adaptation of his talents to the station he was called to occupy. He was not learned, nor did his situation require it. His address was popular, his language plain, and his style simple and unadorned. His voice was clear, harmonious, and impressive; and the tears which frequently accompanied the exhibitions of a Saviour's sufferings and grace, when beseeching sinners to be reconciled to God, rendered his exhortations often truly impressive; while the animating and heavenly glow which rested on his countenance, when speaking of the beauties of holiness, and the joys of another world, was such as kindled the warmest emotions of heavenly mindedness in the pious hearts of his converted hearers. His sermons were never laboured; short notes were all he ever committed to paper, - mere outlines of a general plan, - everything else besides depended on the Divine assistance he might receive in the pulpit. Living near to God, as he eminently did, his plan was, perhaps, the best that could be adopted among a plain people; but it would have been far otherwise in a minister whose mind and feelings were less habitually under this influence.
"The features, also, of his ministry, deserve notice; warmly attached, as he was, to the doctrines of Free Grace, there was yet nothing in his sermons of a controversial or disputatious kind; - nothing calculated to form the noisy and contentious sectary, but everything to call forth the spirit of a humble follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence, the taste and religious feeling of the church, at his death, exhibited the best monument of his worth as a minister, and excellency as a preacher.
"That his labours were eminently successful, will appear evident, when we consider, that, from 1758, when he was ordained, to 1799, when he died, there was only one year in which the church did not experience a considerable addition to its numbers; and that the number of members united to the church, while under his care, was four hundred and thirty-two, only thirteen of whom were received from other churches.
"The importance of Mr. Francis to the church at Shortwood was not, however, confined to his exertions at home; his labours in other places were so abundant, his usefulness so great, his talents so admired, and his character so revered, that he shed a lustre over the Society to which he belonged, and created a general interest throughout the denomination, on behalf of a church, which, from the peculiarity of its local circumstances, would, under another minister, have been comparatively un. known.
"The popularity of Mr. Francis, and the high estimation in which he was held, while it exposed the church to the frequent hazard of losing his labours, in consequence of the temptations and allurements which were held forth for his removal to the metropolis and other places, were highly beneficial to the poor of his charge. He became the secret almoner of many a rich and pious follower of the Redeemer; and, however scantily his own purse might be supplied, that which he carried in trust for others was seldom, if ever, empty. The fact was, and I here speak within the range of my own knowledge, that, while every thing exhibits his unwearied solicitude for the welfare of his charge, when at home, he never lost sight of them, or forgot to plead their cause, while abroad. He was always the pastor of his church, wherever he was, or however he was engaged: his poor people, their excellencies, their privations, sufferings, and wants, were always prominent, when aught could be obtained for them; and the manner in which this bounty was doled out, undoubtedly gave him an influence, powerful indeed, but always exerted for the benefit of the church.
"I have glanced, in an expression above, at Mr. Francis's temporal circumstances, as scanty and limited; and I conceive it no censure on him to say, this was the case for a great part of his life. His family was large and afflicted; and, amidst the concerns of the church, he lost sight of himself, and preferred his
labours here, on a limited income, to offers which would have placed him above inconvenience and want.
"On his assumption of the pastoral charge, his salary was not more than forty pounds per annum; and it was only a few years before his death, that it was made up to one hundred pounds.
"The day which witnessed the death of Mr. Francis, December 14, 1799, saw the church over which he had presided covered with a gloom which few beside himself had anticipated, and for which none were prepared. His mind, indeed, seemed to have realized its approach. He felt it, in anticipation; and often suggested to his friends the importance of being prepared for it. But in them, fond hope triumphed over all those forebodings, and thus contributed to render the stroke more afflictive when it was actually felt. There was, indeed, something in the time and circumstances in which the event took place, which tended much to aggravate the loss; nor can I better express my own views of it, than in the language of him whose situation rendered him most capable of estimating the magnitude of the evil sustained. 'It was,' says Mr. Flint, 'at the time when the meeting-house was greatly enlarging, - the day for its being reopened almost fixed, - the auditory much increasing, - myself gradually stepping forth into public labours, and needing a friend so discreet and affectionate to lead me forward to larger services and greater acceptance.'
"Every usual mark of respect was shown to the memory of this faithful servant of our blessed Lord. His deacons bore his mortal remains to the adjoining grave-yard. The ministers around attended the solemn scene, and Dr. Ryland delivered on the occasion a serious address, and further improved his death, on the following Lord's-day, in a sermon, afterwards printed by the desire of the church. - A monument was erected over his grave, where the eye still weeps over departed excellency, and the heart feels the flutter of joy at the hope of one day meeting him again.
"At the death of Mr. Francis, the number of members in church fellowship amounted to two hundred and forty-one; scattered through a number of parishes; many at a considerable distance, poor and afflicted, and the far greater part requiring a degree of watchful superintendence, of which none can judge who are unacquainted with the nature of manufacturing districts. These, together with the congregation, constituted a heavy charge, when devolving on a young man hardly acquainted with his own powers, and less acquainted with the world or the church.
"After the death of Mr. Francis, Mr. Flint, his son-in-law, who had been chosen his assistant at the beginning of the year, occupied the pulpit, regularly, till February the 16th, when, the enlargement of the meeting-house being completed, it was formally re-opened with two sermons, by Dr. Ryland; after both of which, collections were made towards defraying the expenses incurred: forty-six pounds were contributed, which, together with fifty pounds presented by a family present on the occasion, was all the church received towards an expense of six hundred and eighty pounds, the remainder of which was cheerfully defrayed by themselves within a few months. On the 12th of March, the church held a solemn day of prayer, to implore the Divine guidance and blessing; and, on the 16th of the same month, they gave Mr. Flint a call to assume the pastoral office, which, being present at the meeting, he must have accepted at the same time, as, at this meeting, the ordination service was fixed for the 16ih of the following month. "If any thing can justify the hasty manner in which Mr. Flint engaged in this arduous undertaking, it must have been the almost unanimous feeling with which the invitation was given; there being but one voice opposed, and that more to the hastiness of the measure, than to the union itself. Both parties were evidently carried forward rather by their feelings than their judgments; for, if reflection had been exercised on a variety of circumstances obvious to every observer, the period of this interesting union would have been more distant; but the union itself would, probably, have been more enduring. As it was, however, the ordination took place at the time appointed; and few anticipated the painful results which followed.
"Mr. Wilkins, of Bourton-on-the-Water, originally a member of the church, and called by it into the ministry, opened the business of the day, and received the confession of faith. Mr. Enoch Francis, then at Wantage, offered the ordination prayer. Dr. Ryland gave the charge, from Proverbs xxii. 17, 18. Mr. Burchell, of Tetbury, preached to the church from 2 Peter iii. 1.
"Under the ministry of Mr. Flint, the church and congregation continued gradually to increase; yet his situation soon became very paiofa!.—A feeling of dissatisfaction early manifested itself, which continued to increase, until June, 1803, when he saw it right to relinquish his pastoral labours, and to retire from further services in the pulpit. "It would be no difficult task to portray the causes which led to this painful event, or to delineate the circumstances by which it was effected: let it, however, suffice to say, that whatever they were, they were nothing derogatory to Mr. Flint's character, as a man, a Christian, or a minister.
"Mr. Winterbotham succeeded Mr. Flint, in April, 1804, and is lately deceased. This church is now one of the largest in the denomination: it is at present destitute of a pastor; and, on account of the poverty to which the bulk of the people are reduced, unable to provide for the suitable support of a minister. Mr. John Reynolds, afterwards of Cripplegate, London, was with this church from 1750 to 1761. From that time, till the settlement of Mr. William Dore, in August, 1776, the church was in a very uncomfortable situation. Mr. Dore was a brother of the late Mr. James Dore, of London. He was baptized by Mr. Stredling, at Lymington, in 1772, and sent by that church to Bristol Academy. When Mr. Dore became the pastor the church was reduced to seven members; but in September, 1786, they had increased to thirty-seven. Mr. Dore died in 1791. He was succeeded by Mr. White, who is still pastor (1804).
"On his assumption of the pastoral charge, his salary was not more than forty pounds per annum; and it was only a few years before his death, that it was made up to one hundred pounds.
"The day which witnessed the death of Mr. Francis, December 14, 1799, saw the church over which he had presided covered with a gloom which few beside himself had anticipated, and for which none were prepared. His mind, indeed, seemed to have realized its approach. He felt it, in anticipation; and often suggested to his friends the importance of being prepared for it. But in them, fond hope triumphed over all those forebodings, and thus contributed to render the stroke more afflictive when it was actually felt. There was, indeed, something in the time and circumstances in which the event took place, which tended much to aggravate the loss; nor can I better express my own views of it, than in the language of him whose situation rendered him most capable of estimating the magnitude of the evil sustained. 'It was,' says Mr. Flint, 'at the time when the meeting-house was greatly enlarging, - the day for its being reopened almost fixed, - the auditory much increasing, - myself gradually stepping forth into public labours, and needing a friend so discreet and affectionate to lead me forward to larger services and greater acceptance.'
"Every usual mark of respect was shown to the memory of this faithful servant of our blessed Lord. His deacons bore his mortal remains to the adjoining grave-yard. The ministers around attended the solemn scene, and Dr. Ryland delivered on the occasion a serious address, and further improved his death, on the following Lord's-day, in a sermon, afterwards printed by the desire of the church. - A monument was erected over his grave, where the eye still weeps over departed excellency, and the heart feels the flutter of joy at the hope of one day meeting him again.
"At the death of Mr. Francis, the number of members in church fellowship amounted to two hundred and forty-one; scattered through a number of parishes; many at a considerable distance, poor and afflicted, and the far greater part requiring a degree of watchful superintendence, of which none can judge who are unacquainted with the nature of manufacturing districts. These, together with the congregation, constituted a heavy charge, when devolving on a young man hardly acquainted with his own powers, and less acquainted with the world or the church.
"After the death of Mr. Francis, Mr. Flint, his son-in-law, who had been chosen his assistant at the beginning of the year, occupied the pulpit, regularly, till February the 16th, when, the enlargement of the meeting-house being completed, it was formally re-opened with two sermons, by Dr. Ryland; after both of which, collections were made towards defraying the expenses incurred: forty-six pounds were contributed, which, together with fifty pounds presented by a family present on the occasion, was all the church received towards an expense of six hundred and eighty pounds, the remainder of which was cheerfully defrayed by themselves within a few months. On the 12th of March, the church held a solemn day of prayer, to implore the Divine guidance and blessing; and, on the 16th of the same month, they gave Mr. Flint a call to assume the pastoral office, which, being present at the meeting, he must have accepted at the same time, as, at this meeting, the ordination service was fixed for the 16ih of the following month. "If any thing can justify the hasty manner in which Mr. Flint engaged in this arduous undertaking, it must have been the almost unanimous feeling with which the invitation was given; there being but one voice opposed, and that more to the hastiness of the measure, than to the union itself. Both parties were evidently carried forward rather by their feelings than their judgments; for, if reflection had been exercised on a variety of circumstances obvious to every observer, the period of this interesting union would have been more distant; but the union itself would, probably, have been more enduring. As it was, however, the ordination took place at the time appointed; and few anticipated the painful results which followed.
"Mr. Wilkins, of Bourton-on-the-Water, originally a member of the church, and called by it into the ministry, opened the business of the day, and received the confession of faith. Mr. Enoch Francis, then at Wantage, offered the ordination prayer. Dr. Ryland gave the charge, from Proverbs xxii. 17, 18. Mr. Burchell, of Tetbury, preached to the church from 2 Peter iii. 1.
"Under the ministry of Mr. Flint, the church and congregation continued gradually to increase; yet his situation soon became very paiofa!.—A feeling of dissatisfaction early manifested itself, which continued to increase, until June, 1803, when he saw it right to relinquish his pastoral labours, and to retire from further services in the pulpit. "It would be no difficult task to portray the causes which led to this painful event, or to delineate the circumstances by which it was effected: let it, however, suffice to say, that whatever they were, they were nothing derogatory to Mr. Flint's character, as a man, a Christian, or a minister.
"Mr. Winterbotham succeeded Mr. Flint, in April, 1804, and is lately deceased. This church is now one of the largest in the denomination: it is at present destitute of a pastor; and, on account of the poverty to which the bulk of the people are reduced, unable to provide for the suitable support of a minister. Mr. John Reynolds, afterwards of Cripplegate, London, was with this church from 1750 to 1761. From that time, till the settlement of Mr. William Dore, in August, 1776, the church was in a very uncomfortable situation. Mr. Dore was a brother of the late Mr. James Dore, of London. He was baptized by Mr. Stredling, at Lymington, in 1772, and sent by that church to Bristol Academy. When Mr. Dore became the pastor the church was reduced to seven members; but in September, 1786, they had increased to thirty-seven. Mr. Dore died in 1791. He was succeeded by Mr. White, who is still pastor (1804).
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