MEMORIALS OF THE INDEPENDENT CHURCH AT PAULERSPURY.
In this village, known as the birth-place of the celebrated Dr. Carey,
of the Baptist Mission at Serampore, the Independent Church is of recent
formation. In the year 1826 a Chapel was erected, and the whole of the
expenses were cleared off by the exertions of Mr. Hawkins, Independent
minister, of Towcester. About the autumn of 1841, Mr. Buckingham, the
present minister of this place, was invited to preach in the Chapel on
the week evenings. His services proving acceptable, attention being
excited, and indications of usefulness appearing, the congregation
expressed a desire to enjoy the benefit of his stated labours. In
connexion with this proposal, arrangements were made between the
congregation at Paulerspury and the Church at Towcester, for the Chapel,
then the property of that Church, to be put in trust for the use of this
congregation. In the summer of 1842 Mr. Buckingham began to labour
statedly among the people, and was much encouraged by the increasing
attention, and the disposition manifested by the people to hear the
word. A Sabbath-school was formed, when between forty and fifty children
attended: it had a gradual increase, until, in the following year, the
number of scholars rose to 200. Since then the numbers have varied,
owing to different causes which will arise in this changing world. The
congregation increased so, that it was found necessary to erect two side
galleries, in addition to the front gallery that had been already
formed. The week-day services were also well attended. A small number of
persons, most of whom had been brought to an acquaintance with divine
things under Mr. Buckingham's ministry, were desirous of enjoying the
benefits of Church fellowship, and were encouraged to give themselves to
the Lord and to each other in these bonds of the Gospel; and were
accordingly formed into a Church, consisting of sixteen members, on the
28th of February, 1844. The services on the interesting occasion were
conducted by Messrs Hawkins, of Towcester; Slye, of Potterspury; J.
Bull, of Newport Pagnell; and Wager, of Stony Stratford: then the
ordinance of the Lord's Supper was first administered to them, in which
persons of different religious denominations united, who appeared to
feel a deep and lively interest in the solemnity.
In the beginning of the year 1845 some of the members of the Church
experienced much persecution, which caused a few to halt, and others to
keep back. It rose to such a height, at one time, as to threaten the
extinction of the rising energies of the Church; but through the kind
interposition of a gracious Providence, a reaction took place, and the
wrath of man was made to praise God.
In the early part of the year 1847, the subject of Mr. Buckingham's
ordination was mentioned; neighbouring ministers having hitherto
administered the Lord's Supper. After much deliberation and prayer, the
subject was laid before the ministers of the North Bucks Association,
and after mature consideration the approval of their committee was
expressed. It was arranged that the ordination service should take
place on the 24th of November, 1847. On that day, Mr. Hawkins commenced
the services; Mr. J. Bull expounded the principles of Congregationalism
in an introductory discourse; Mr. Slye proposed the questions; Mr. Davis
offered the ordination prayer; Mr. T. P. Bull gave the charge; Mr. Aston
preached to the people.
The year immediately succeeding this, Mr. Buckingham's health began very
seriously to fail, and he was obliged to desist from preaching for
several months, during which time supplies were obtained. His health is
still very delicate, and but for frequent assistance he would be obliged
to resign the pastoral oversight of his much attached people.
In consequence of the large number of school children, it was deemed
advisable to erect new school-rooms for their better accommodation. In
the year 1850 the school-rooms were erected, at a cost of L150. Through
the kindness of friends, and especially the friends at Pury, the whole
is now cleared off. A burial ground is attached to the Chapel, and more
than fifty interments have taken place since it was appropriated for
this purpose in 1843.
In regard to the future, the pastor observes "that the prospects are
very cheering." On the Sabbath and week-evening services the attendance
continues steady and regular, and never better than at the present time.
The Church has continued to increase. The present number of communicants
is seventy-two; Sabbath-school children, one hundred and
fifty-nine--teachers, forty.
We trust the blessing of the Lord will still rest upon them, and that,
"walking together in the fear of the Lord, and the comfort of the Holy
Ghost, they will be edified and multiplied."