From our personal knowledge of Mr. Poile, and of the circumstances of
the following case, we respectfully recommend the perusal of it to all
who feel the necessity, and who are in any measure enabled to assist in
the support of a sound evangelical exhibition of the unsearchable riches
of Christ.
W. H. MURCH, Stepney College.
W. BROCK, St. Mary's, Norwich.
It is extensively known that the Baptist interest at Lynn Regis has been
for many years in a depressed condition--a fact which has been much
deplored by the friends of the denomination on the spot, and by those
who have been acquainted with the circumstances of the case. In
presenting it to the notice of the friends of the Redeemer, with the
hope of securing their Christian sympathies and assistance, a brief
outline of the case will not be deemed unnecessary.
The Baptist church at Lynn appears to have been formed about the year
1760, by Mr. Chesterton, who was succeeded in the pastoral office by the
Rev. W. Richards, M.A., and afterwards by Mr. Durrant, who gratuitously
laboured among the people for several years. The place of worship,
occupied until nearly the close of Mr. Durrant's ministry, was a small
hired chapel in Broad-street, which was afterwards purchased. About this
time it was deemed advisable by the friends to erect a new
meeting-house; and for this purpose a piece of land was bought adjoining
the old place. The purchase of the ground and the erection of the
building, capable of seating 300 persons, amounted to £1269 8s.; to the
reduction of which, Messrs. Durrant and Brindley gave £200 each; £47
16s. were collected in Lynn; leaving a debt on the place of £821 12s.
The pulpit having been occupied for a short period by different
ministers, the church was induced to invite one of respectable talents
to become their pastor, whose connexion with them, in consequence of his
adoption of doctrinal errors, extended to no longer a period than twelve
months. During that period a large and respectable congregation was
attracted; the greater part of whom, however, having imbibed the errors
which have been referred to, left the place with the minister, and
erected a Socinian chapel; thus giving occasion for regret, not only
that error was propagated, but by those to whom the Baptist cause was
looking for support. From that period to the present many efforts have
been made to revive the cause; and the debt, in 1812, by means of an
appeal to the friends at Lynn, Dereham, Yarmouth, and Norwich, was
reduced to £702 9s. A great variety of ministers have laboured, with
more or less success, some of whom are now occupying important stations
in different parts of the country.
A combination of causes occasioned the removal of many, apparently well
suited to raise the interest; but that which seems more than any thing
else to have deprived the church and town of the labours of devoted
servants of Christ, was the _legal_ and _pecuniary_ embarrassments of
the place. It will easily be conceived that, amidst events thus adverse,
the church was frequently threatened with extinction, and the cause
nearly given up for lost by those who hoped even against hope.
In September, 1832, the writer of this article acceded to the request of
the church to pay them a visit, by the advice of his tutors, and
received, at the expiration of a month, an unanimous invitation to spend
a longer period, with a view to a settlement. An assurance that the
legal difficulties would speedily be settled, and the hope that his
labours might be blessed, induced him to comply. Various efforts were
made to hasten this, without avail, until July, 1833, when it was
thought by the friends generally, that it would be much to the advantage
of the cause if a new place could be erected in a more eligible part of
the town; and it was determined, by the advice of the Rev. W. H. Murch,
president of Stepney College, to ascertain its practicability. The
smallness, however, of the resources at home, and the promises from
abroad, rendered such an attempt unjustifiable; so that nothing could be
done, but either to use every effort to secure the old place, or to give
up the cause entirely. The former step was finally decided on; and the
writer consented to struggle, with the church, until a faithful God
should answer the prayers of his people. After much trouble and anxiety,
the _legal_ business was settled on February 19th, 1835, and £100 was
paid, which had been collected in the town. Lord's-day, 21st, was held
as a day of thanksgiving, and the season improved by sermons from Ps.
cxv. 1, and Ps. cxviii. 25. It was a day that will long be remembered by
many present.
The number in the church in 1832 was 30; since that time 27 have been
baptized, to whom several others expect shortly to be added, who are
affording proofs that they have given themselves to the Lord. The
congregation is now good, and harmony prevails in the church. There is a
Sunday school of 250 children, an adult class, two Bible classes, and an
ecclesiastical history class. On Friday, March 6, the foundation-stone
of a Sunday school-room, 44 ft. by 34 ft. (to be used also as a
day-school), was laid by Mr. Wilson, missionary of the Sunday School
Union. The cost of the building will be £170, of which £60 have been
collected, principally in Lynn; and it is earnestly hoped that the
friends of scriptural education will give their generous aid towards so
desirable an object amidst 15,000 inhabitants. The necessity of
repairing and cleaning the chapel, to make it _tenantable_, will be
obvious when it is stated, that scarcely any thing has been done to it
since it was built, 26 years ago. To do this, and render it commodious,
will require upwards of £200. The debt which the friends will be obliged
to remove as speedily as possible, so as to be able to carry on the
cause, is £500, leaving a mortgage on the place of £600, at 4 per cent.,
the interest of which the rents of property will nearly meet.
As nothing now appears needful to render the Baptist cause at Lynn,
under the Divine blessing, a useful and respectable interest, but the
united aid of the friends of the Redeemer, it is earnestly hoped that a
faithful statement of facts will not only meet the eye of those who have
it in their power to assist, but that the evil _so much_ and _so
greatly_ to be deprecated--a minister leaving his people to travel for
money, may in this case be dispensed with; and that, instead of the
cause at Lynn being a matter of deep regret to the Christian church, it
may become a praise in the earth.