THE enterprise upon which the Old Baptist Church at Rushden has embarked of building a New Chapel, and the dawn of a new century, afford a fitting opportunity for giving a brief outline of its history; and its history, together with the present and rapidly growing religious needs of the town, and the strenuous effort the Church is making to meet them, constitute an appeal for help which it is hoped will be generously responded to by all who love our Free Churches, and believe in their principles, their mission, and their future.

Our free churches are, in several senses, like our rivers. Throughout the long years and centuries they ceaselessly and quietly minister to the ever-changing and oft-increasing life of the communities which surround them—purifying, sweetening, and enriching it in manifold ways; but in their rise and origin they are frequently hidden in obscurity; in their progress they meet with many obstacles and obstructions, and their flow is through light and shade, on towards the vast ocean.

Such is, in brief, the story of the Old Baptist Church at Rushden. There are comparatively few who own the town as their birth-place, who are not debtors to the instruction given, and the impulses received, in its meeting-house and Sunday School. For more than two centuries, through many vicissitudes, it has been a power for good in the community, while it has sent workers forth into many parts of the world.

The year 1672 will always be memorable in the annals of Nonconformity. In that year the bitter persecution to which our nonconformist fathers were subjected was somewhat abated, and Charles II granted "a preaching indulgence" to Dissenters, while he ordered all such prisoners to be released. In that year, one of our greatest Baptist worthies, John Bunyan, was released from Bedford jail, and was the first dissenting minister to obtain a licence to preach in England.

In that year also a preaching license was granted to the house of Mr. Woolston, of Rushden, and it seems probable that here the "cause" originated, and if so, then in two directions the Rushden Church can claim connection with the illustrious Baptist and immortal dreamer, and may well be proud of the connection, however slight.

It was at first a branch of the Church at Stevington (Beds.), which was an off-shoot of Bunyan's Church at Bedford, and also a branch of the Wollaston Church (Northants), which was one of the places for which Bunyan applied in his own handwriting for a preaching license, and over which he exercised oversight as "organising bishop". Thus a double link connects it with Bunyan.

The "Baptist Hand-book" gives 1722 as the year of the formation of the Church; while the earliest date mentioned in the Church book, which has unfortunately lost some of its earliest pages, is March 9, 1723, when it is stated "the treasurer had in hand the sum of £1 4s. 2d. remaining of the Church stock." This entry places it beyond all doubt that the Church was properly organised prior to that date and its accounts were duly kept. From this date the entries in the Church book are almost entirely financial, and show it was "the day of small things" with the community. Its income was derived from collections at the Lord's table, taken apparently at irregular intervals, and varying from 1/6 to 2/7, while its expenditure was chiefly for cleaning the meeting-room, at the rate of 3d. per week, and for candles to light it—there being no less than eight separate and successive entries of ½d. for one candle.

With the growth of the community, however, its expenses began to grow, and we read of 4/9 being paid for land tax; 1/6 for horse hire to Northampton; and on October 14, 1736, there is evidence that the Church commenced to pay for its Spiritual light as well as its material, for the entry of that date reads:— "Paid for a pound of candle when Danill Hills preached, and gave him a shillin'—1/7."

The first pastor whose name appears was John Wollason, who presided over "the Church of Christ meeting in Rushden and Wollaston". The date of his entry upon his duties is not stated, but he certainly held office in 1735, when the Church Covenant was renewed. Nor is any mention made of the first Church Covenant; but it seems likely it permitted open Communion and Membership, the form of church polity favoured by Bunyan; but, instead of broadening as it grew older, the Church narrowed, for there is no doubt as to the "strictness" of the renewed Covenant.

How many times the Covenant was renewed and revised it is difficult to say, but in 1768 it was agreed to allow each one "the liberty of acting according to their consciences without offence" with regard to the rite of Baptism; while in 1802 and 1839, a further renewal insisted upon its observance as a condition of membership.

It is pleasing to observe the spirit of liberality displayed by the Church towards other and needy Churches, for in 1768 we have the record of £1 12s. 6d. being collected "for the enlarging and re-edifying the meeting-house belonging to the Baptist Church meeting at Little Horton (Mr. Emery, minister); and of £2 17s. 4d. for the building of a meeting-house at Greenwich, near London, for the Baptist Church meeting there under the pastoral care of Mr. John Knipe"; while in successive years help was rendered to "Artleboro'," £1 13s. 9d.; Nottingham, the church under the pastoral care of Mr. Hopper, £2 5s. 6d."; Barton, £1 6s. 0d.; "Oacham," £2 4s. 6d.; "Gretten," £1 7s. 3d.; Sutton-in-the-Elms, £3 1s. 2d.; Clipston, £2 15s. 0d.; Risley, £1 9s. 0d.; Sharnbrook, £5 5s. 8d.; Luton, 18s. 0d.; Bedford, per Mr. Ranger, £5 8s. 1d.

While thus helping others to build their sanctuaries, in the year 1768 the church provided a better one of its own, for we read of a tenement being converted into a meeting-house, and writings renewed for the "better security of our Place of Worship, and the passages to the same, from any interruption from any opposers, and for the peaceful enjoyment of the said meeting-house, with all the premises and privileges thereto belonging."

The old thatched church

In 1860, schoolrooms were added in the rear of the chapel; while in 1873 a new front was erected, which gave the building a somewhat imposing appearance looked at from its Little Street entrance. A side view, however, gives unmistakeable evidence of its having been built in three instalments, the central block having a higher roof than the rest, and giving it the appearance of a dromedary with its hump upon its back—an aspect it wears until this day. Returning to Church history, we find that in 1749 the Rev. Willm. Knowles became pastor, and continued in office until his death in 1794, when the Rev. Jos. Belcher succeeded him, but only lived to serve the Church three years. Memorial stones in the chapel ground mark the place of the burial of both these faithful ministers. Mr. Belcher was succeeded in 1800 by the Rev. Thos. Claypole, who received as salary sixteen shillings per week, that being sixpence per week advance on Mr. Belcher's salary. This sum was supplemented by a grant from the Particular Baptist Fund, which continued until 1810, when the Church undertook to pay its own way. Mr. Claypole's ministry was a short one, for in 1804 the Rev. John Peacock became pastor, and continued until 1821, when he removed to Spencer Place, Goswell Road, London. During his ministry great progress was made, and members were added to the Church from the surrounding district, including Higham Ferrers, Chelveston, Poddington, Wymington, Hinwick, and Irchester.

Under date of January 16, 1804, is an entry in the Church book simply staggering to the renowned teetotal sensibilities of the Rushden of to-day. It is no other than, "3 quarts of gin 7/6". "To what base uses" this was put it is impossible to say, and equally impossible to imagine such an item at the present day. As a set-off, it may be recorded that the chapel was the first in the district to have a temperance sermon preached within its walls, and a temperance society was formed as early as 1841, which still flourishes.

In 1822 Rev. James Farley settled, but only remained two years. In 1826 came the Rev. James Bean, who continued until 1830, and the same year, through the instrumentality of Mr. Peacock, the Rev. Jonathan Whittimore accepted the pastorate. He is thus described:—"He was a man of most fertile mind, amazing energy, and a most sanguine temperament, but greatly lacking in business tact"; this brought him into financial difficulties, which led to his incarceration in Northampton jail. He compiled a hymn book and a tune book, and was the originator of several publications, the best known being "The Baptist Messenger" and "The Christian World." Ultimately all his debts were honourably paid, and he died admired and respected by a large circle of friends. He sustained the pastorate for twenty years, during a season of much prosperity.

The Rev. George Bailey was pastor from 1854 until 1856, and the following year saw the settlement of a man equally remarkable in many respects with Mr. Whittimore, the Rev. Robert Emms Bradfield. For twenty-three years he sustained the pastorate, making a deep impression on the town and district, and witnessing the growth of the Church and its extending influence. A tablet in the Chapel records the respect in which he was held as "a minister of the Gospel, a social reformer, and temperance advocate." It was during his pastorate a new manse was built at a cost of £400, which last year was improved by the expenditure of an additional £200.

The Rev. W. A. Davis, now of Acton, was pastor from 1879 to 1885, during whose time new schools were erected, costing £1,200. He was succeeded by the Rev. W. J. Tomkins, who was pastor for twelve years, a period marked by the growth of the Church and Sunday School, the debt cleared off the new schoolroom, and a plot of land purchased for a new chapel. To this plot has been added a further strip, making it a most eligible site, on which the new building is now being erected. It has a frontage of about 200 feet to Park Road, and is bounded by Manton Road on the one side and York Road on the other, and, being 150 feet in depth, affords ample space for future enlargements or erections. It has cost £600, but would now be worth nearly £1,000, and the New Chapel will cost about £5,000. It is to seat 800 adults, or a mixed congregation of 1,000.

On the acceptance of the pastorate by the Rev. W. F. Harris, of Derby, last year the New Chapel enterprise was taken up heartily, and the sum of £2,300 given or promised by the congregation, which, added to what was previously in hand, brings up the total to about half the cost of the undertaking; and the friends feel that, having done their best to help themselves, they can now confidently ask for the help of others.

Rushden in 1861 had only 1,748 inhabitants: but it has grown, in the last decade, from a village of four thousand inhabitants to a town of about thirteen thousand, and is still rapidly growing. There is not religious accommodation in all the places of Worship for more than one-third of the population, so that this is no case of overlapping; and as the present Chapel is crowded, there can be no question as to the real and urgent necessity for the new building. It will be in every way suitable to the requirements of the congregation, and the Old Chapel will be utilised for Sunday School purposes, there being nearly 600 scholars.

The Church has been a helper to, and a feeder of, many churches in years gone by, as well as a liberal contributor to Denominational Funds, and it is hoped that it will now receive the assistance of friends and well wishers.

A list of contributions promised or paid up-to-date is printed herewith, and others will be thankfully received and acknowledged by:—