SERVICE OF SACRED SONG—On Wednesday evening a service of sacred song was given by the choir of the Old Baptist Meeting, in that place of worship, entitled "The Great Teacher". The service was well given and ably conducted by Mr. J. Farey. The connective readings were given by the Rev. R. E. Bradfield. There was a large attendance. The proceeds will be devoted to the purchase of hymn books for the school.

RUSHDEN—SERVICE OF SONG—On Tuesday evening a service of Song was given in the old Baptist Chapel, to a fairly good audience. The service was entitled "Harvest Thanksgiving." The music was conducted by Mr. J. Farey, and was well rendered.

ANNIVERSARY—On Sunday last sermons were preached in the old Baptist Chapel, by the Rev. M. Bate. Special hymns were sung by the children. On Tuesday evening a public meeting was held in the same place, at which there was a good attendance. Mr. Knight, who occupied the chair, in his opening speech, called attention to the large May meetings then being held in London, at which, he said, some of the greatest and best men of the world were present, to advocate and support different religious and philanthropic societies, and foremost amongst those societies stood the Baptist Foreign Missions. As an incentive to give to the cause, he ably reviewed the results of the Society's labours, and commented upon the state of Turkey and those old Bible lands under Turkish rule. He was pleased to see that the Society had raised the £3,000 that was due to the Treasurer last year. The Rev. Mr. Bate, in a telling speech, said the Gospel is the need of the world, as all the systems of idolatries had failed. This was one reason why the missionaries went among the heathen. Another reason was the command, "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature." The speaker then gave a very interesting account of his experience in Hindostan, and concluded with some statistics, showing the success that had attended the missions. Mr. H. Packwood read the report, from which it appeared that the church congregation and Sunday School attending the old Baptist meeting for the current year had contributed £30 12s. 4½d., as against £37 in the previous year, and he hoped the collections at that meeting would realise the £7 wanting. The meeting was afterwards brought to a close.

CONCERT—On Wednesday evening a concert of sacred music, consisting of Slainer's "Daughter of Jairus,” and selections from Handel's "Messiah" was given in the Old Baptist Chapel, by the Rushden Choral Society, and proved a great success. The principal vocalists were Miss James, soprano; Mrs. Huckson, contralto; Mr. E. Smith, tenor; and Mr. J. Farey bass. They all acquitted themselves remarkably well. Miss E. Self presided at the piano, Mr. C. K. Fisher at the harmonium, and Mr. W. Skinner conducted.

OLD BAPTIST MEETING—On Wednesday, the 2nd inst., the teachers and scholars in the Sunday School, to the number of about 350, had tea together, and devoted the evening to music and recitations, under the presidency of the Rev. W. A, Davis. The programme, which was a very lengthy one, included a good selection of sacred music, and a number of recitations by the scholars. Although ostensibly a children's entertainment, it proved a most agreeable couple of hours for the children of older growth, who were privileged to be present.

OLD BAPTIST MEETING—On Good Friday a tea, to which the members of the Bible Class, the members of the Christian Band, the choir, and the Sunday school teachers were invited, was provided in the schoolroom of the above place of worship. After tea an interesting meeting took place in the chapel, the Rev. W. A. Davis presiding, and speeches were made by Messrs. S. Knight, sen., A. Corby, S. Harris, D. Crick, Cowley, and J. Bayes. The choir added much to the enjoyment of the proceedings by their excellent performances. An interesting feature in the meeting was the presentation to Mr. Davis of a handsome silver inkstand, given to him by the members and friends of his Bible Class. The presentation was made by Mr. Knight and suitably acknowledged.

MISSIONARY SERVICES were held at the Old Baptist Meeting on Sunday and Monday last, and during the remainder of the week. Mr. Burnham, the Singing Evangelist from the Rev. C. Spurgeon's Training College, has conducted services at the same place of worship.

ANNIVERSARY SERVICES—On Sunday last the school sermons were preached in the Old Baptist Chapel. The Rev. Mr. Oates, of Northampton, was expected to preach, but in consequence of serious family affliction he could not attend, and the sermons were preached by the Rev. W. A. Davis, the pastor. In consequence of the heavy downpour there were not many present in the morning, but in the evening the chapel was crowded. The collections for the day amounted to £17 9s. On Monday the annual tea feast was held, when there was a very large gathering of the friends, more than three hundred sitting down to the public tea. The usual games were afterwards played, and a very successful evening was spent.—On Monday the anniversary of the re-opening of Succoth Baptist Chapel was celebrated. Two sermons were preached by the Rev. Hunt Lynn. A public tea was held, when the attendance far exceeded expectation. The proceeds were devoted to reducing the debt incurred in renovating the chapel, &c., and after the services on Monday there was only a debt of £17 left on the chapel and society.

OLD BAPTIST CHAPEL—On Wednesday last the choir of the above place had their annual tea which was followed by an entertainment, consisting of sacred and secular music. The pieces were well given and reflected great credit on the choir, the accompaniments were played by Mr. G. Farey and Mr. Fisher. Messrs. D. Crick, Everitt, Shinger, Cowbey, and J. Farey, and the Misses Wilby, M. Harris, Denton, and Colson took part.

SPECIAL SERVICES—Special sermons were preached on Sunday at the Old Baptist Chapel and at Succoth, at which places collections were made for the funds of the societies.

ANNIVERSARY SERVICES—On Tuesday last a sermon was preached in the Old Baptist, meeting by the Rev. Mr. Robinson, pastor of Fuller Chapel, Kettering, after which a tea was provided in the schoolroom. In the evening a public meeting was held in the chapel to celebrate the anniversary of the recognition of the pastor, the Rev. W. A. Davis. The meeting was commenced by singing and prayer by the Rev. E. Knight, after which the Chairman (the pastor) reviewed the advantages of a Christian life, and the honourable position of a Christian minister. His own experience and call to the work were related with much feeling. The qualifications for a minister were then noticed. He should not, as the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon had said, be a "muff," and as they had plenty of this kind already, he thought the fewer fresh ones they took the better. He was pleased that the days had gone by when a gentleman's son who was no use for any other profession could enter the ministry. He also remarked that the ministry was no place for idlers, or fops. The wants of the age were a sincere, earnest, and praying church. During the year he had been among them he had been very happy, as he had had a very earnest set of people about him in the deacons, door-keepers, teachers, and choir; and although there had been a little ruffle, on the surface yet they had had on the whole a peaceful and a successful year, a goodly number having been added to the church register.—Mr. S. Knight, the senior deacon, related his experience in connection with the place for the past fifty years, and said it was 85 years the 4th of the present month since that chapel had been opened, and great good had been done there and he hoped the church and pastor would continue united. The Rev. Mr. Robinson, the Rev. T. Bromage, and the Rev. Mr. Pury also addressed the meeting on the unity that should exist between pastor and church. The usual votes of thanks were then given, and the Doxology closed the meeting. Collections were made on behalf of the building fund.

Rushden OLD BAPTIST MEETING—A meeting was held on Tuesday evening last in connection with the Old Baptist Meeting Temperance Society, when Mr. S. Harris presided. The meeting was opened with sinking the hymn "Soldier's of Christ arise," after which Mr. D. Crick gave a very instructive and interesting speech on "drink, tobacco, and snuff," which was followed with recitations by Miss Elliott, Miss Annie Bayes, Miss Eva Sargent, and Miss Annie Skevington. Miss Knight also sang a song. The successful meeting was brought to a close with singing a hymn, the attendance was very fair.

OLD BAPTIST CHAPEL—On Tuesday, at the Temperance Hall, there was another similar gathering in aid of the building fund of the Old Baptist Chapel. The Temperance Hall was very prettily decorated with varied coloured festoons of paper, and round the walls were various mottoes in different designs. The tree and stalls contained a various collection of articles usually found on such occasions. The following constituted the ladies’ committee: the Misses Cave (3), E. Elliott, A. Bayes, E. Bayes, K. Sanders, F. Knight, P. Darnell, E. Chettle, and E. Denton; and those who presided at the stalls were Mrs. Green, Mrs Bayes, the Misses Foskett, Spong, Marriott, and E. Cave; refreshment stall, Mrs. S. Chettle, Miss Cave and E Elliott; bran pie, the Misses Elstow; tree, Mr. Cave; fancy stall, Mr. Mantle.

MISSIONARY ANNIVERSARY—On Sunday last two sermons were preached in the Baptist Meeting House by the Rev Mr. Myers, of London, in aid of the Baptist Foreign Missions. The collections amounted to £9. On Tuesday the usual meeting was held in the same place, the .Rev. W. A. Davis, pastor, presiding. The rev. gentleman, in his opening speech, alluded to the benefit of regular meetings for supplication on behalf of missionary effort; the necessity for and the duty of the Christian church to be aggressive, and to send out missionaries; and the disproportion between the money spent in drink and smoking, which amounted to £150,000,000 annually in this country, and the £2,000,000 spent in propagating the Gospel. Mr. Davis then read the report, from which it appeared that £14 19s. 6¾d, had been raised locally during the year on behalf of the Society. An address followed by the Rev. Mr. Dutt, a native Bengalee missionary, and at the close a collection was made on behalf of the funds.

HARVEST THANKSGIVING—On Monday evening a public tea was held in the Old Baptist Meeting Schools, at which about 170 were present. After tea a public meeting was held, the Rev. W. A. Davis presiding. The meeting was opened by devotional exercises, after which the Chairman gave an abstract of the progress of the church during the past year. He stated that the amount of contributions received, exclusive of the pastor's stipend, was over £500, and after deducting for removals and deaths, the membership had increased by 20 during the same period. Very appropriate addresses were also given by the Revs. G. Pung (Rushden), Thos. Bromage (Wellingborough), and D. Llewellyn (Burton Latimer). A collection was made towards the Building Fund.

SPECIAL SERVICE—On Monday evening last, a special service was held at the Old Baptist Meeting when a sermon was preached by Mr. A. H. Dickens, of Higham Ferrers, formerly of Northampton, with a view to his recommendation by the Rev. W. A. Davis and the church as a student for the baptist ministry.

DEBATING CLASS—On Friday last, the above society in connection with the Old Baptist Meeting held their usual fortnightly meeting when a paper was read by Mr. F. Cowley, in favour of the Salvation Army. The chair was taken by Mr. A. H. Dickens, of Higham Ferrers, and the following took part in the debate: Messrs. D. Crick, F. Perkins, T. Everard, T. Hooper, Crosher, and J. Knight.

TEA AND ENTERTAINMENT—On Wednesday evening, the 27th ult., the annual tea and meeting in connection with the Old Baptist Meeting was held. The children partook of tea in the afternoon, after which the adults, including several friends who had been invited also sat down. Subsequently games were played, and much amusement was caused by a galvanic battery, kindly lent by Mr. Cuff. Afterwards an entertainment was given by members of the society and friends. Mr. D. Crick presided, and an enjoyable evening was spent.

Wellingborough News, 3rd February 1883, transcribed by Kay Collins

The Rev. W. A. Davis, pastor of the Old Baptist Church, writes us as follows:—"My dear Sir,— Will you please give publicity to the following word of explanation in your next issue. In the report of the enthusiastic and important service held in the New Hall on Sunday evening last my name will probably be missing. My absence was enforced through sickness, or I should have been most happy in giving public expression to my conviction of Mr Garlick's high-toned character, and sterling earnest piety. He is a gentleman who has fairly won the esteem of the community in general, and the churches in particular, and merits what he possesses—our truest confidence and deepest sympathy. I can only regret that he is so soon compelled to leave us, and trust that his stern experience may yet prove a blessing to some church worthy of his devotion. [see Union Church for the report]

OLD BAPTIST CHURCH—The time of commencing the Sunday morning service has been altered from 10.30 to 10.45. A member who could always be depended upon for being late, was equally successful on Sunday last, the first day of the altered time. The Rev. G. Garlick preached to a very large congregation at the evening service.

The Argus, 29^th December 1893, transcribed by Kay Collins

OLD BAPTIST BAND OF HOPE—The annual treat of the above Band of Hope took place in the large assembly-rooms on Tuesday last, when about 200 children sat down to tea. After the children's tea about 50 seniors and friends sat down, and in the evening a capital entertainment was given, succeeded by games.

The Argus, 24th September 1897, transcribed by Kay Collins

OLD BAPTIST Y.P.S.C.E. — Hinwick Mission Harvest Festival, Sunday, Sept. 26^th. Services 2.45 and 6 p.m. On Monday, public tea at 4.30, follows by sale of fruit, &c.

Local Notes - LECTURE AT THE OLD BAPTIST CHAPEL—An interesting lecture, dealing with the life and aspirations of Oliver Cromwell, was delivered by the Rev. T. Phillips, B.A., of Kettering, in the Old Baptist Chapel, on Monday everting, when there was a large gathering. Mr. F. Corby presided, and there were also present: Messrs. J. Cave, A. Cave, T. Burton, J. Clarke, W. S. Hartwell, F. Cowley. etc. After the usual devotional exercises the Chairman said that in arranging for that lecture they thought it would do good to their young friends by inducing them to study the history of their own country and the rights and privileges which they enjoyed to-day. The 17th Century was a very turbulent period, and a very interesting period, for it witnessed one of the greatest efforts ever made in the history of mankind for civil and religious liberty—the desires and wishes of the people to be free from priestcraft and statecraft, a struggle between truth and righteousness as opposed to mendacity and coercion.—The Rev. T. Phillips said that Cromwell’s deeds had been viewed in very different ways by different men, but for a true estimate they must come to motives and regulating principles. Actions were the bodies, principles were the soul and ideals ruled the world. Every great man was the embodiment of some ideal and Oliver Cromwell was the embodiment of Puritanism. The lecturer then described the struggle for freedom of conscience, and at the conclusion of his address votes of thanks were passed.

Northampton Mercury, 19 January 1900 

Old Baptists of Rushden, at whose church the Rev. W. J. Tompkins was pastor for years, have decided to build a new chapel at a cost of £4,000.

The annual covenant service was held at the Park-road Baptist Church on Friday last, when the Rev T W Gill gave a New Year address, Mr Fred Corby (church secretary) also spoke, Mr J Sykes read from the Psalms, and the very old covenant was recited by the pastor, the members duly renewing their pledge.