CHURCH AT SHORTWOOD
The origin of this church is thus stated by Mr. William Winterbotham, in a discourse made on the centenary of its establishment, 1805:
"About the year 1705, two individuals, William Harding, and John Howard, then in the habit of attending on the ministry of Dr. Giles, pastor of the Paedobaptist church meeting at Forest Green, became dissatisfied with his ministry, principally on account of his views of the person of Christ - communicating their sentiments and feelings to each other, they withdrew their attendance, and visited together the different places of worship in the neighbourhood. They soon, however, became more particularly attached to the ministry of Mr. Jonathan Davis, then pastor of the Baptist church at King-Stanley; and here, for a time, they constantly attended. Howard, from some cause now unknown, subsequently withdrew from his companion, who afterwards became a decisive advocate of Believers' Baptism, and was, at length, with his daughter, baptized, and united to the church at King-Stanley.
"Previously to this event, Dr. Giles, at an appointed interview, seems to have entered with him into a controversy on the subject of Adult Baptism, on a profession of faith, but found him fixed and determined as to the change of his sentiments. The Doctor was led afterwards to address his congregation, for fourteen Lord's-days successively, in the afternoon, in defence of Infant Baptism.
"The wisdom of this effort, or the ability with which it was conducted, forms no part of my plan to investigate; but the result enters deeply into it, and was precisely what might have been foreseen by any man conversant with human nature. Many, from this time, gave up attendance on the Doctor's ministry, and went to Stanley; so that, on the Lord's-day, the number who accompanied each other to that place amounted, on an average, to fifty persons, many of whom were soon baptized, and united in the fellowship of the gospel with that church.
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"About the close of 1707, or the beginning of 1708, at the suggestion of one Edward Essex, several of those persons licensed the house of William Harding, of Walkley Wood, in the parish of Horsley, and entered into an agreement with each other to hold meetings for prayer in the week, and on the evenings of the Lord's-day; - an agreement arising out of their distance from the church with which many of them were united, and the want of a gospel ministry near them, on which they might occasionally attend.
"At this house Mr. Davis, their pastor, and Mr. Joseph Matthews, of Malmesbury, occasionally preached to them; and here they continued their prayer-meetings for about six years, until the increasing attendance became such as rendered it too small and inconvenient, and, consequently, they turned their attention to building a larger place, for the exclusive purpose of divine worship.
"A plan of this nature was more easily conceived, than realized, by a poor people, unknown, and unconnected with any but those as poor as themselves. They were, however, determined to make the attempt; and were much encouraged by Mr. Henry Allen, a member of the Baptist church at Frome, and a Mr. Bull, who appears to have been his intimate friend - These persons, visiting this county on business, and occasionally meeting with them, entered into their views and necessities; and, by a donation of ten pounds, and other contributions, obtained among their friends, greatly assisted them, and forwarded the completion of the proposed object. A Mrs. Keene, also, though not professedly one of their number, but who worshipped with them, greatly encouraged them by the assistance she afforded.
"Thus encouraged, in 1714, a piece of ground, part of that on which the present building stands, was purchased; and, in the following year, a contract was entered into for the building, with a person of the name of Newth, and for which, through the kindness of friends, they were enabled to discharge all claims as soon as erected. The building was, however, the mere shell, without any ceiling, gallery, pews, or pulpit. These were, as yet, articles too costly for their circumstances, and to which their ambition did not therefore aspire.
"For this building a license was obtained at the Michaelmas sessions, 1715; and, on the Tuesday in the Easter week of the following year, it was opened by Mr. Joseph Price, pastor of the Baptist church at Tewkesbury, by a sermon from the Gospel by John, 1st chapter, and 12th verse.
"The prospect of possessing a place of worship had naturally awakened the desire of being more closely united, by entering into a church-state; hence, when the foundation of their meetinghouse was laid, thirteen persons, four men and nine women, all of whom had been previously baptized, were united together in the fellowship of the gospel, as a church of Christ; on which solemn occasion they enjoyed the assistance, advice, and prayers, of Mr. Benjamin Britain, pastor of the church at King-Stanley, and of Messrs. William Freeman, and James Lowell, of the church at Cirencester. This to them must have been a memorable year, as in it they laid the foundation of a house for the stated worship of God, and formed a union among themselves, destined, on a future day, to realize their fondest hopes and expectations.
"After the meeting-house was opened, Mr. Freeman and Mr. Lovell appear, for some time, to have supported the ministration of the gospel in it; on what terms, or in what character, we know not. They were succeeded by a Mr. Seville, a young man, who is said to have suffered considerable persecution from his friends, on account of his joining the Baptist denomination. He was removed, after a short illness, by death, in August, 1719. and interred just within the door of the meeting-house, where a stone, with his initials, attests the resting place of his mortal remains. Whether Mr. Seville was ever united to the Society,
we possess no means of ascertaining. Great expectations were, evidently, formed from his labours; and his death .spread a gloom over the Society, which was dispelled with difficulty. That he was cordially united with the people, and that they, in turn, cherished a sincere affection for him, appears evident, by a legacy of ten pounds which he left towards the erection of a vestry, and the interest with which some of our aged members still dwell on the records of ancient times respecting him.
"After the death of Mr. Seville, there was no preaching for five months; at the termination of which a union was formed, to supply the pulpit, by Mr. Foskett, of Bristol; Dr. Ingram; Mr. Thomas Jones, of Fairford; Mr. Ketterel; Mr. Ludlow; Mr. Plomer; and Mr. Price, of Tewkesbury
"This united effort appears to have been continued between three and four years; after which the pulpit was occupied by a Mr. Read, of whom we know, at this time, only, that he continued to officiate for nearly four years more. He was succeeded by a Mr. Caleb Brooks, who remained about a similar period, and was then succeeded by a Mr. John Ballinger, who remained only about nine months.
"During this period of fifteen years, from the death of Mr. Seville, it appears evident, that the church was in a very low condition. No regular administration of the Lord's Supper had taken place, till the time of Mr. Ballinger, and twelve persons only were added to their number; while the extreme poverty of the church and congregation seemed to exclude the hope of a settled pastor, and a more prosperous condition. During the time Mr. Ballinger occupied the pulpit, two neighbouring pastors, Mr. Flower, and Mr. Parks, engaged for the regular administration of the Supper every two months; and, after Mr. Ballinger left, Mr. Flower, Jun. a son of the above, became the most constant supply, till September, 1732, when he received an invitation, apparently unanimous, to supply the pulpit every other sabbath, and for which the church offered him a salary of twelve pounds per annum; five pounds ten shillings of which were supplied by the London and Bristol funds.
"Mr. Flower accepted the invitation; and, in December, 1734, he was invited to the pastoral office, which he refused;
notwithstanding which he steadily continued his engagement, until March, 1736, when he accepted a call from the church in Unicorn Yard, in the Borough of Southwark, and removed to London.
"The period of Mr. Flower's residence and labours was the most prosperous era the church here had seen: forty members were added to their number, thirty-eight of whom were baptized on profession of faith in the Redeemer, and two received from other churches, by letters of recommendation. Some of these also appear to have been valuable for their prudence and energy of character, particularly William Harding, who, though he had contributed so much to the formation of the church, had continued his connexion with the church at Stanley, till about the period when Mr. Flower accepted the invitation given him in 1732. The letter of his dismission, and the intermediate election of him by this church, to the office of deacon, speak much for the character of the man and the Christian.
"The intermediate sabbaths, on which Mr. Flower was not engaged, were supplied by neighbouring ministers, among whom we find the names of Mr. J. Flower, Sen. of Cirencester; John Read, their former minister; Robert Major; John Ballinger; John Beddome, of Bristol; Mr. Parks; Hugh Evans, of Bristol; Morgan Harry; Edward Cooke; and others.
"The average allowance made by the church to these supplies was, from five to ten shillings, according to the distance they had to travel.
"After the removal of Mr. Flower, for the next half-year, the ministry was carried on by some of the above individuals, who had previously assisted; among whom we now find also the names of Mr. John Wilkins, Mr. Bennicke, and Mr. Humphries; in the last quarter of this year, we find them also visited by Mr. Haydon, of London, who subsequently became their pastor. He appears to have returned to London, after this first visit; to have accepted a further invitation on probation, early in 1737; and, in the month of July, of the same year, he accepted the invitation of the church to become its pastor.
"Mr. Haydon had lately been called into the ministry, by the baptized church, in Prescott-street, Goodman's-fields, then under the pastoral care of Mr. Samuel Wilson.
"On the 27th of September, he was ordained over the church, as its pastor. On this occasion, Mr. Hugh Evans, of Bristol, began the service with prayer, reading, and expounding the scriptures. Mr. Flower, of Cirencester, asked the questions, and offered up the ordination prayer, in the usual way, which was accompanied by laying on of hands. Mr. Foskett, of Bristol, gave the charge, from John xxi. 16. 'Feed my sheep.' Mr. Thompson, I believe, of Clapham, preached to the church, from Ephesians ii. 21. 'In whom all the building fitly framed,' &c. and closed the service.
"Mr. Haydon, in accepting' the pastoral office, does not appear to have covenanted for any particular salary. On an average of the accounts, while he remained, he appears to have received twenty pounds per annum, besides the London and Bristol funds; and four pounds, four shillings, annually, from Abingdon; - averaging, together, about thirty pounds.
"In consequence of ill health, Mr. Haydon was, at his own request, dismissed to the church at Tewkesbury, on August 23, 1752, between which, and himself, a friendly connexion had long subsisted. He printed two sermons on original sin, of which the late Mr. Benjamin Francis presented a new edition to the public in 1779. There is a good portrait of him.
"In September, 1753, the church invited Mr. Samuel Bowen, a member of the church in Prescott-street, London, and lately called into the ministry, to supply, as a probationer, for six months; with which request he complied, and, in January, 1754. he was invited to the pastoral office; - to this invitation, in the following month, he replied, postponing a definitive answer for twelve months, for reasons which he states to be well known, and which were, evidently, the then distracted state of the Society, arising out of the late connexion with Mr. Flower. To this proposed delay all parties assented, and Mr. Bowen continued his labours until the 20th of February, 1755, when the church renewed their invitation to him to exercise among them the office of pastor, and to take the charge and oversight of them in the Lord.
"Mr. Bowen was, accordingly, dismissed from the church to which he was before related, on the 22d of June, and ordained to the pastoral office, July 16th, 1755, by Dr. Stennett, of London; Mr. Hugh Evans, and Mr. J. Tommas, of Bristol; Mr. Davis, of Fairford; Mr. Parsons, of Bath; and Mr. Haydon, their former minister."
"The period of Mr. Flower's residence and labours was the most prosperous era the church here had seen: forty members were added to their number, thirty-eight of whom were baptized on profession of faith in the Redeemer, and two received from other churches, by letters of recommendation. Some of these also appear to have been valuable for their prudence and energy of character, particularly William Harding, who, though he had contributed so much to the formation of the church, had continued his connexion with the church at Stanley, till about the period when Mr. Flower accepted the invitation given him in 1732. The letter of his dismission, and the intermediate election of him by this church, to the office of deacon, speak much for the character of the man and the Christian.
"The intermediate sabbaths, on which Mr. Flower was not engaged, were supplied by neighbouring ministers, among whom we find the names of Mr. J. Flower, Sen. of Cirencester; John Read, their former minister; Robert Major; John Ballinger; John Beddome, of Bristol; Mr. Parks; Hugh Evans, of Bristol; Morgan Harry; Edward Cooke; and others.
"The average allowance made by the church to these supplies was, from five to ten shillings, according to the distance they had to travel.
"After the removal of Mr. Flower, for the next half-year, the ministry was carried on by some of the above individuals, who had previously assisted; among whom we now find also the names of Mr. John Wilkins, Mr. Bennicke, and Mr. Humphries; in the last quarter of this year, we find them also visited by Mr. Haydon, of London, who subsequently became their pastor. He appears to have returned to London, after this first visit; to have accepted a further invitation on probation, early in 1737; and, in the month of July, of the same year, he accepted the invitation of the church to become its pastor.
"Mr. Haydon had lately been called into the ministry, by the baptized church, in Prescott-street, Goodman's-fields, then under the pastoral care of Mr. Samuel Wilson.
"On the 27th of September, he was ordained over the church, as its pastor. On this occasion, Mr. Hugh Evans, of Bristol, began the service with prayer, reading, and expounding the scriptures. Mr. Flower, of Cirencester, asked the questions, and offered up the ordination prayer, in the usual way, which was accompanied by laying on of hands. Mr. Foskett, of Bristol, gave the charge, from John xxi. 16. 'Feed my sheep.' Mr. Thompson, I believe, of Clapham, preached to the church, from Ephesians ii. 21. 'In whom all the building fitly framed,' &c. and closed the service.
"Mr. Haydon, in accepting' the pastoral office, does not appear to have covenanted for any particular salary. On an average of the accounts, while he remained, he appears to have received twenty pounds per annum, besides the London and Bristol funds; and four pounds, four shillings, annually, from Abingdon; - averaging, together, about thirty pounds.
"In consequence of ill health, Mr. Haydon was, at his own request, dismissed to the church at Tewkesbury, on August 23, 1752, between which, and himself, a friendly connexion had long subsisted. He printed two sermons on original sin, of which the late Mr. Benjamin Francis presented a new edition to the public in 1779. There is a good portrait of him.
"In September, 1753, the church invited Mr. Samuel Bowen, a member of the church in Prescott-street, London, and lately called into the ministry, to supply, as a probationer, for six months; with which request he complied, and, in January, 1754. he was invited to the pastoral office; - to this invitation, in the following month, he replied, postponing a definitive answer for twelve months, for reasons which he states to be well known, and which were, evidently, the then distracted state of the Society, arising out of the late connexion with Mr. Flower. To this proposed delay all parties assented, and Mr. Bowen continued his labours until the 20th of February, 1755, when the church renewed their invitation to him to exercise among them the office of pastor, and to take the charge and oversight of them in the Lord.
"Mr. Bowen was, accordingly, dismissed from the church to which he was before related, on the 22d of June, and ordained to the pastoral office, July 16th, 1755, by Dr. Stennett, of London; Mr. Hugh Evans, and Mr. J. Tommas, of Bristol; Mr. Davis, of Fairford; Mr. Parsons, of Bath; and Mr. Haydon, their former minister."
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