The Baptist Church and Manse

An important and interesting event in the history of the local free churches was the bi-centenary celebration of Ringstead Baptist Church on Sunday and Monday, marked on the latter day by a visit from the Rev. Dr. Brown, of Ferme Park, London, a former president of the Baptist Association, and one of the most valued leaders in the denomination.

On Sunday, when there were large congregations, the preacher was the Rev. J. Roxburgh of Northampton, who gave two admirable discourses and also addressed a young people’s service in the afternoon.

On Monday afternoon there was a representative gathering to hear the Rev. Dr. Brown, including many well-known Free Church people of the neighbourhood (in addition to the pastor, Rev. J. Bates, and members of the Ringstead Church) among whom may be mentioned the Rev. J.A. Roxburgh (Northampton) R.A. Selby (Earls Barton) – a former pastor of the Ringstead church – H. Ellis Roberts, H.J. Barber and R. Martin (Thrapston and S. Gray (Raunds) Mr and Mrs. Geo Smith (Thrapston), Mr. S. Pettit (Stanwick), Mr. A. P. Hawtin (Northampton, ex-president of the Northants Baptist Association) and Mrs. Hawtin; Mr. W. Askew (Denford) etc.

Rev J Bates Dr Charles Brown

The opening hymn was “Beyond, beyond that boundless sea” and Dr. Brown read as the lesson St. John 15. The second hymn was “Love divine all loves excelling” and Dr. Brown in his prayer, gave thanks for the long and useful career of the Ringstead Church and its still vigorous life. After a further hymn “O Word of God incarnate,” the Rev. Dr. Brown gave one of his impressive sermons. He is, of course, earnest and cultured, like many men in every church, but unlike many men he avoids all attempt at mere rhetoric. Perhaps the key to his power as a preacher is the note of quiet conviction and sincerity that pervades his utterance – one feels that he is listening to the man as well as to the preacher. He based his discourse on the two last verses of St. John 15. “When the Comforter is come, whom will I sent unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me; and ye also shall bear witness because you have been with me from the beginning.” He remarked that this chapter, which was one of the great chapters of the New Testament standing in a cluster of great chapters, contained an intimate revelation of the heart of Christ, and the relationship which should and might exist between Him and the humblest disciple. Christ pursued His ministry amid the growing hatred of the world, but he went to the Cross, not with despair of men, but with hope of men. He went to the Cross staying his heart upon these two things – the ministry of the Spirit and the ministry of His Church in the world; and yet the ministries were identical. A proof of the ministry of the Spirit was the clearer perception of Jesus Christ in the minds of men today. There ought to be more opportunity in the Church for witness bearing among Christian people. He should like to see the revival of the “Experience meeting” – “it was abused” – they manufactured experiences but we made the mistake, we dropped a useful thing.”

A great deal of the Bible was simply witness. They ought to be more helpful to one another in their Christian Life. Dr. Brown concluded by exhorting his hearers to be true witnesses for Christ. The closing hymn was “Father though storm on storm appear.” A collection was taken for the Church Improvement Fund.

Tea was served in the Temperance Hall about 170 were present and the presiding ladies were: Mesdames J.T. Knight, J. Bates, L. Mayes, A. Baxter and E. Lovell and Misses Cave, Abbott, Bull and Wilson.

Evening Meeting

For the evening meeting, when the church was well filled, Mr. Geo. Smith J.P., C.C. of Thrapston, a generous friend of the Free churches of the county, presided and the other speakers were the Rev. R.A. Selby, Rev. J. Bates, Rev. Dr. Brown and Rev. R.A. Roxburgh.

After the opening hymn, “All hail the power of Jesu’s Name”, the Rev. R. Martin read a portion of Scripture and Mr. F. Corby (Rushden) offered prayer. The next hymn was “For all the Saints who from their warfare rest.”

The Chairman remarked that he considered it to be one of the greatest honours he had ever had conferred upon him to be asked to preside over that meeting. He could not help saying a word about their esteemed and beloved pastor. (Hear, hear) He knew Mr. Bates as a personal friend and they were to be congratulated upon having an earnest, faithful pastor. (Hear, hear)

The Rev. R.A. Selby, who was pastor of the church for six years, recalled some of the old associations. Ringstead was his first church and gave him his chance, and they knew what it was to work harmoniously together. The speaker referred to a “History of the church at Rothwell” by the Rev. Mr. Glass and mentioned that the first minister was John Beverley who was followed by Mr. Browning who was ejected from the Established Church at Desborough; and added that it was during the ministry at Rothwell of Richard Davies that the Church at Ringstead was founded. A great mission work was done during the last named’s ministry; seventy six different towns and villages were associated with the Church at Rothwell and also churches and villages and towns in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Huntingdonshire. When they found that, at the time to which he referred, people walked all the way to Rothwell from Kimbolton and further, they got to know something of the stuff of which their fathers were made and how they valued that great blessing freedom of conscience and the worship of God as they thought fit to worship Him. He should like young people to realise the debt they owed to the work of the Church of Christ and to pay the debt by coming into the church; and added that Christian Endeavour Societies and young people’s associations, excellent as they were, were never intended to take the place of the church.

After the hymn “Now thank we all our God” the Rev. J. Bates gave a short history of the church, and referred to a book before him which had been rebound, as the only minutes book that the church had ever had. It contained an account of the formation of the church, and the minutes of almost the last church meeting that was held in connection with that place of worship. Quoting from the book, he said that in 1714, on the 15^th of July, forty three persons broke from the church at Rothwell and sat down as a regular Church of the Lord Jesus Christ at Ringstead. For something like thirty years prior to that they had been to Rothwell from Ringstead and from the regions beyond. They carried their lanterns with them, starting from home before daybeak, left them at Cranford, went on to Rothwell, stayed there for the morning and afternoon services and then returned, calling at Cranford for their lanterns and lighting them up and reached their home sometime before next morning and thought it no toil, each one with a good piece of flesh, in the Scriptural sense, and a flagon of wine. They had no account, so far as he could decipher the writing – and in places it was almost indecipherable, of the first meeting house at Ringstead, but he understood that it was a barn.

Dr Ewing great grandson of John A Jones

Here the people worshipped for some considerable time. Eventually a House of God was built on the site of the present building, and it was not till the ministry of Mr. Wm Kitchen, in 1847, that the house was re-built. The present state of the building spoke of renovation. While Mr. Selby was pastor, in the first jubilee year, 1837, a new schoolroom was built and paid for. In the second year of his (Mr. Bates) ministry they began taking out the interior of the building and eventually they put in a new interior (1893) at a cost of something like £240. Shortly afterwards they purchased the present organ, and that had been paid for. Mr. Bates then gave a list of the ministers of the church with some particulars as follows: Thomas Curtis, William Hall, Robert Twelvetree, Richard Grinden, John Arthur Jones (great grandfather of Dr. Ewing), Leonard J. Abington, William Kitchen, Dr. Collett, Rev. Isaac Near, Rev. James Holingstead, Rev. A. Selby and himself. The first three he mentioned, represented a period of ninety-nine years. There was no record of any centenary services. Robert Twelvetree was pastor for the long period of forty three years and a tablet recorded that. “He came crying (1^st September 1716) lived sighing (81 years) died saying (9^th Oct 1797) “I have waited for thy salvation O, Lord.”

Dr. Collet was only there for about eleven months and filled the place to overflowing; he eventually entered the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Bates read a hearty greeting from the Rev. Isaac Near (Surrey) who was unable to be present owing to suffering from an affliction. He (Mr. Bates) also referred with gratitude to some of the workers during his own pastorate, specially noting the late Mr. Geo. Smith, of Ringstead, who lived to be over ninety. In alluding to the special improvement fund, he stated that about £30 was required and they had raised up to the present £14 18s 9d.

The Rev. D. Brown said that although some speakers liked big places, he was far happier in a village congregation than anywhere else. Although he had been obliged to cancel many engagements, he never broke his promise to a village if he could help it. Speaking in lighter vein Dr. Brown alluded to the surprise with which their forefathers of two hundred years age, could they return, would view the great chances that had taken place and asked “What would they think if they saw the modern dress of women?” (A laugh) “Would they” he asked “admire everything in the church; I doubt about the organ myself.” (A laugh) Their forefathers had grave doubts about many things that they enjoyed today. He did not want to go back to those old times. He believed these were great times, and that they had a right to be glad in them. Two hundred years ago the men who formed that church were heroes and the women were heroines. After some historical references, Dr. Brown remarked that their forefathers of two hundred years ago had the enthusiasm of youth and he thought they had some of the crudities of youth. It was wonderful what advances had been made. There was never a Baptist Justice of the Peace two hundred years ago (a laugh) it was not considered respectable to be a Baptist at that time. Those people of two hundred years ago felt sure that they were being guided by the Spirit of God and were positive they came out of the church of England to form a community which was at least as truly a part of the Church of Christ as the community from which they came out; they believed in their churchmanship but he did think they doubted the churchmanship of other people. Dr. Brown then went on to notice some of the differences between two hundred years ago and now. He did not think, for instance, that there was a church discipline now as there was then. But they had come into a sweeter atmosphere on the whole than existed two hundred years ago. They did not believe that they had the monopoly of the truth. But they did want to believe that the Noncomformist Church, the Baptist Church, was part of God’s will for the nation; that their forefathers were led by the will of God and not by mere caprice. He believed there was a greater future for the Baptist Church, so that they were equal to their opportunity, than for any other church – he meant of the churches of the congregational order, the churches of the democratic character. He was learning a good deal from Roman Catholics and High Anglicans; he was going to adopt their methods, but they did believe in the cultivation of the soul. “We too greatly neglect it, our devotional exercises, the things that help to keep us near to Christ.”

The Rev. J.A. Roxburgh, in a short address mentioned that he had been seven years in Northamptonshire and that he was learning to love the county with a very strong love. When that church was opened George 1 came to the throne. No nation under heaven could show such progress as our nation during the two hundred years from George 1 to George V and George the Chancellor. (Laughter and applause) For two hundred years seed had been sown in that place and no man could compute the harvest (Hear, hear). The speaker proceeded to enlarge upon the following which he had recently read “the measure of a great soul is its capacity for a great love, its capacity for a great enthusiasm and its capacity for a great wrath.”

Following the collection the chairman announced that the total now raised was £28 19s 8d (hear, hear and applause) and added “I think we will sing ‘Praise God from Whom all Blessings flow.’

This having been done, the Rev. J. Bates very cordially moved a general vote of thanks.

Mr. J.T. Knight very appropriately seconded the vote, which was accorded a hearty clap.

After the hymn “Soldiers of Christ Arise” Dr. Brown pronounced the Benediction.