MEMORIALS OF THE INDEPENDENT CHURCH IN TOWCESTER.
In the early part of the 17th century, Mr. Samuel Stone, one of the
Puritan divines, ministered in the Church at Towcester. He was born at
Hertford, and educated in Emanuel College, Cambridge. Having finished
his studies, he resided for some time in the house of the excellent Mr.
Richard Blackerby, where he received useful instructions, and imbibed
the spirit and principles of his venerable tutor. Afterwards he became
minister at Towcester, in Northamptonshire, where his superior
accomplishments and great industry were manifest to all. This, however,
could not screen him from the oppression of the times, as he was an
avowed but modest Nonconformist to the ecclesiastical impositions. At
length, seeing no prospect of enjoying his liberty in his native
country, he resolved to withdraw from the scenes of persecution and
retire to New England, where he arrived in the year 1633, and there he
died, July 20th, 1663. It is observed, that "Mr. Stone was a pious,
learned, and judicious divine, equally qualified for the confirmation of
the truth and the refutation of error. His ministry was attended with
the powerful demonstration and application of the truth: his views of
Church discipline were Congregational."
The first regular services by Dissenting ministers that are known to
have been held at Towcester were conducted chiefly by Mr. Heywood, while
he was pastor of the Church at Potterspury. He preached for some time,
every third Sabbath morning, in a licensed house; and in the same place,
a Mr. Stranger, a Baptist minister, residing at Weston, preached
occasionally. In the year 1764, the pious people of both denominations
united to build a Meeting House for their mutual accommodation. When Mr.
Goode became the pastor at Pury, he continued the services in the manner
of his predecessors, and his labours were crowned with a happy degree of
success. But a change occurred, which interrupted the union which had
hitherto subsisted between those who held different views on the subject
of baptism. In 1782 a Mr. Reddy, a Baptist minister, came to reside at
Towcester, and then the stated use of the new Meeting House was refused
to Mr. Goode and his hearers, who, in consequence of this, met for three
years after in a private house. The attendance increasing, it was deemed
necessary to build another place of worship, in which they were
generously assisted from various quarters. On the removal of Mr. Goode
from Pury, they obtained supplies from Newport and Hoxton Academies.
April 6th, 1794, the members of the Church at Potterspury that resided
in Towcester separated from that Church for the purpose of commencing an
Independent Church here, Mr. Thomas Slattery, from Hoxton Academy,
preaching to them for the first time on that day. On May 5th, 1794,
eleven persons were formed into a Christian Church, Mr. Hillyard, of
Olney, presiding. For some time they were supplied by various ministers,
Messrs. Bull, Greathead, and Hillyard occasionally administering the
Lord's Supper. At length Mr. Gunn, a student from Hoxton Academy, was
invited to become the pastor, and he was ordained October 16th, 1796.
Upon this occasion Mr. Denny, of Long Buckby, offered the ordination
prayer; the solemn engagements mutually confirmed between the people and
the minister they had chosen were introduced by some observations on the
proper tendency and principles of such a transaction, from Mr.
Greathead, of Woburn; Mr. Bull, of Newport, gave the charge, from Col.
iv. 17; Mr. Horsey, of Northampton, addressed the Church, from 2nd Cor.
iv. 15.
In little more than three years after this settlement Mr. Gunn removed
to Aylesbury, and was succeeded at Towcester by Mr. Joshua Denham, who
commenced his ministry here February 9th, 1800. Mr. Denham continued his
services as pastor until the year 1814, when he resigned, and was
succeeded by Mr. Joseph Gravestock, from Newport Academy, who was
ordained on the 17th of August in that year, when Mr. Jackson, of Old,
began with prayer; Mr. Thomas Morrell delivered the introductory
discourse; Mr. Watson offered the ordination prayer; Mr. Bull gave the
charge, from Ezek. iii. 17; Mr. Aston preached to the people, from 1st
Thess. v. 13. Mr. Jackson preached in the evening.
On the death of Mr. Jackson Mr. Gravestock removed to Old; when, after a
period of four years, Mr. Hitchin became the pastor, in July, 1818. In
the year 1823 Mr. Hitchin removed to Hockliffe, and Mr. William Hawkins,
from Newport Academy, was chosen to the pastoral office. Mr. Hawkins
laboured here between twenty and thirty years; during his ministry a new
Chapel was erected. Mr. Buckingham, minister at Potterspury, went out
from this Church.
Mr. S. Causby, the present minister, entered on his labours in July,
1851. The records of the Church contain 146 names of members admitted to
the Church from its formation to the present time; but for seventeen
years, _i.e._ from 1815-1832, the book appears to have been neglected,
and no names were entered. The number of members at this time is 50.
There are 110 children in the Sabbath-schools, and 24 teachers who take
part in their instruction.