Northampton Mercury, 13^th November 1869

Rushden—On Monday last, Nov. 8th, the autumnal meeting of the Northamptonshire Association of Baptist Churches was held in the old Baptist meeting-house in this village. In the morning the committee met for the trans­action of the business connected with the County Mission. In the evening a public meeting was held, under the presidency of the Rev. J. T. Brown, of College-street, Northampton. After the singing of a hymn and the reading of a portion of Scripture by the Rev. R. E. Bradfield, pastor of the church, Mr. Soul, of Olney, offered prayer. —The Chairman then, in an effective address, described the various spheres of labour of the Home Mission in connection with the association—viz., Bulwick Lodges, where the Rev. James Cox was stationed, preaching put of doors when the season permitted, and visiting the inhabitants of six or seven villages in the locality, and distributing tracts; Brackley and surrounding villages, where the Rev. T. Carter was labouring; Helrndon, Sulgrave, and Culworth, where the Rev. T. Hayden was employed; Pattishall and surrounding villages, where the late Rev. T. Chamberlain laboured so long, arduously, and efficiently, has now been taken up by the County Mission, and an agent of the society is shortly ex­pected to commence his labours there. The Chairman pleaded earnestly for the sympathy, prayers, and pecuniary assistance of all present, in aid of this important object.—The meeting was subsequently addressed by Mr. W. Billson, of Welford, Rev. T. H. Holyoake, of Olney, and the Rev. Jos. Lea, of Weston-by-Weedon, and brought to a close about half-past nine by singing a parting hymn, and the Benediction pronounced by the Chairman.—The Rushden friends, as when the annual meeting of the association was held there in 1865, very hospitably and kindly entertained the visitors who were present on the occasion.

Northampton Mercury, 10^th June 1876

Baptist Association Meetings At Rushden.

On Tuesday evening the annual meeting of the County Mission at the Northamptonshire Baptist Association was held at Rushden, under the presidency of the Rev. J. T. Brown Amongst those present were—the Rev. Messrs Myers, Bradfield, Lea, Henson, Fidler, Mills, Payne, Allen, Lichfield, Smith, Parker, Hymonds, Robinson, Matthews Mace Green' May, Button, Hilton, Dodwell, Broome, Hedges, Grear, Near, Alford, Felce, Seagar, Lee, and Tyrrell.—The meeting having been opened in the usual manner, the chairman observed that he did not suppose those present would need any explanation respecting the society, whose interests they were met directly to promote. Still it might be necessary to give a little as he found the interest in the society was not so great and deep as it might be. He sometimes wished that each member of the Church would take a more deep and living interest in the work of their associations. (Hear, hear.) He wished the farmers would take more interest in the work, and in their intercourse one with another would speak about their county mission and what it was doing. The object for which the association was originally formed was to carry the Gospel to places in the county where it was very imperfectly known. The founders of the society made it a strict rule not to go where anyone else was at work, unless the town was too large for them to work in. They found three spots, Desborough being one of them. At Desborough they found an Episcopalian church, a State Church—let them call it by what name they liked, only don't abuse it. (Laughter.) The Episcopalian church was not doing over much and there was also a little Wesleyan chapel, which was not at all sufficient for the condition of the population, and could not be enlarged. The Wesleyans welcomed their advent; but subsequently their Independent friends made a second interest. Having referred to the establishment of other missions at Culworth and Helmdon, the speaker stated that they next turned their attention to Bulwick, where he said they were not allowed to build a chapel, although that chapel was for the spread of the light of the gospel, and although they might wish to build the place out of the purest compassion for the perishing people. He would not mention names-for he did not believe in libels, he did not indulge in personalities - but Baptist Noel once told him that a certain gentlemen in Bulwick said to another that he wanted to lent a piece of land in Bulwick. The owner of the land said he should be very glad to have him for a tenant, but it must be on condition that he voted as he pleased—and he was a Liberal—at the next election. The gentleman who wanted to rent the land was a peculiar animal, a fiery Tory, and he replied, “Oh, No! Mr. So and So; you don’t mean that?” The owner answered that he did and then reminded the other that he would not allow people to live in his houses unless they went to his church. (Applause.) Though they could not get to Bulwick a little place was built at Bulwick Lodges. They never expected much from Bulwick, but what they did was to send a man there who could personally visit the people. It was now under the consideration of the committee to shift the centre from Bulwick Lodges, which it was thought could be done with great advantage. The Independents had also made a capital move and spread evangelists over many districts, by which much good had been done. He did not say.............

The Baptist, 23^rd April 1897

The church at Rushden is one of the oldest in the county of Northampton, though its origin, like that of many others, is difficult to trace. It is absolutely certain that as far back as 1672 a preaching licence was granted under the indulgence of Charles II to the house of Mr. Woolston, of Rushden, so that it is evident that thus early there were a number of Nonconformists in the village. In the year 1680 the cause at Rushden appears to have been a branch of the church at Stevington (Beds), itself in turn an offshoot of John Bunyan's church at Bedford. In the Stevington church book it states that "on the 9th of April, 1680, it was agreed at a church meeting that members at a distance be visited once a quarter, and at the same meeting Brother Bull and Brother Negus were appointed to visit Rusden and Wolaston," both of which thirteen, miles distant from Stevington. How many members there were in those two places at that date it is impossible to say. But in 1715 Rusden, near Higham Ferrers, is given as having a dissenting place of worship and Daniel Hefford is mentioned as lay preacher. The congregation is described as Independent, but that term probably at that time would include Nonconformists generally.

In the oldest of the church deeds the congregation is described as Independent Baptists. The earliest date mentioned in the church book still in possession of the church is 1723, and is in an item relating to some small incidental expense; but it indicates that the church at that time was properly constituted and in working order. It is certain, however, from other sources, that in the year 1724 the friends at Rushden and Woolaston formed one church with a meeting place at each. Who the pastor was we cannot say, but it is probable it was John Woolason, who certainly was pastor when the church received its covenant in 1735. The full terms of the first covenant are unknown, but there are good grounds for supposing that it permitted open communion. The renewed covenant, however, was decidedly "Strict Baptist," ..............