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| From “Album of the Northamptonshire Congregational Churches”, T. Stephens, 1894 |
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Wollaston Congregational Church
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High Street, Wollaston
History |
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We find that the famous John Bunyan had a share in promoting Congregationalism in this village in the seventeenth century. In 1672 he applied for licences for several preachers under the Declaration of Indulgence; amongst others are mentioned the names of Thomas Brett, for a licence for John Moore's barn in Wollaston; Thomas Edmunds, for a licence for John Brooks' house in Wollaston; and Christopher Stanley, for a licence for his own house in Brafield-in-the-Green, nor is this all the evidence for connecting Bunyan with Northamptonshire Congregationalism. In his life and death of Mr. Bodman (Works, Offor's edition, vol. iii. p. 610, ed. 1862) occurs the following passage, which seems to indicate that he was known and had influence in Wellingborough: "When I was in prison, there came a woman to me that was under a great deal of trouble. So I asked her, she being a stranger to me, what she had to say to me. She said she was afraid she should be damned. I asked her the cause of those fears. She told me that she had, some time since, lived with a shopkeeper at Wellingborough, and had robbed his box in the shop several times of money, to the value of more than now I will say: and pray, says she, tell me what I shall do. I told her I would have her go to her master, and make him satisfaction. She said she was afraid: I asked her, why. She said, she doubted he would hang her. I told her that I would intercede for her life, and would make use of other friends to do the like: but she told me she durst not venture that. Well, said I, shall I send to your master, while you abide out of sight, and make your peace with him, before he sees you; and with that I asked her her master's name. But all that she said in answer to this, was, Pray let it alone till I come to you again. So away she went, and neither told me her master's name nor her own. This is about ten or twelve years since, and I never saw her again." Latterly, Independency in Wollaston has had a somewhat unfortunate history. The trouble has arisen from endowments connected with the cause. For many years the chapel has been closed owing to disagreements and irregularities among the trustees. The properties are in five trusts: 1. the Chapel; 2. David Hennell's charity; 3. endowments for, benefit of, or as place of abode for minister; 4. John Ward's endowment for repair of chapel and meeting house; and for the benefit of minister and support of worship or a school; 5. John Ward's bequest for repair of minister's house and chapel, and support of worship. The following sums, viz., £224 2s. 2d; £105; £494 6s have just been transferred into the name of the official trustee of charitable properties. It is hoped that something will be done soon towards carrying on the work of the Lord here. SUCESSION OF MINISTERS
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