MEMORIALS OF THE INDEPENDENT CHURCH AT EVERDON.
The village of Everdon, four miles from Daventry, contains nearly 800
inhabitants. There were no regular efforts made here for the preaching
of the Gospel by Dissenters until the year 1811. Mr. Barge, a member of
the Independent Church at Weedon, under the influence of compassion for
the state of the inhabitants, fitted up a small place of worship at his
own expense, measuring twenty-two feet by ten feet, which was opened May
30th, 1811, and regularly supplied twice on the Sabbath by Mr. Meacock,
a member of the Independent Church, West Orchard, Coventry; and
occasionally in the week by Mr. Gronow, of Weedon. The services were
well attended, and the place was soon found to be too small for the
number of hearers; which induced Mr. Barge to give a piece of ground for
the erection of a new Chapel, which was opened October 26th, 1813, on
which occasion Mr. Jerrard, of Coventry, preached from Rev. i. 12, 13,
and Mr. Whitehead, of Creaton, from Matt. xviii. 20, and Mr. W. P.
Davis, of Wellingborough, from Num. x. 29. This building was invested in
the hands of trustees of the Independent denomination. Several persons
from the neighbouring villages began to attend the services, and there
was a pleasing prospect of success. The following spring a Church was
formed by Mr. Gronow, and Mr. Meacock was invited to become their
pastor, and was ordained on the 23rd of August, when Messrs. Morgan, of
Kilsby, Watson, of Daventry, Gronow, of Weedon, Whitehead, of Greaton,
Bicknell, of Brownsover, Knight, of Yelvertoft, and Griffiths, of Long
Buckby, were engaged in the services of the day. An endowment of L500
was bequeathed to the Chapel by William Falwell, Esq., the interest of
which is to be applied toward the support of the minister for the time
being.
Much opposition has been experienced here, but some have been brought to
the knowledge of the truth. The villages of Bradley, Newnham, and
Farthingstone have shared, at different periods, in the pastor's
labours; but in his later years Mr. Meacock chiefly confined his
services to Everdon. At length, through the increasing infirmities of
age, after labouring for a period of thirty-two years amongst his little
flock in peace and harmony, he resigned the pastoral office the first
Sabbath in April, 1845, and was succeeded by Mr. S. G. Stirmey, the
present pastor.
Mr. Stirmey observes, that at the present time the Church is reduced to
a low state, and that the Sabbath-school numbers but about thirty
children; for great efforts are made, and very considerable influence is
employed, on the side of the Established Church, so that the
difficulties with which this cause has to struggle are very
considerable.