In the Parish Register of Thorp-Arch, near to Wetherby, in the county
of York, there is the following entry, in Christopher Atkinson’s own
hand-writing:—
“The Rev. Christopher Atkinson, born in the parish of
Windermere, Westmoreland, April, 1713, was inducted Vicar of
Thorp-Arch and Walton, in July, 1749.”[284]
Here, for a quarter of a century, Mr. Atkinson lived and laboured. He and
Ingham were not distant neighbours, and close at hand were flourishing
societies of Methodists; and, yet, there is no evidence, that either
Ingham, the Wesleys or Whitefield ever paid him visits. Why was this? It
is impossible to tell. The two villages of Thorp-Arch and Walton were
small, not containing a population of more than about three hundred
each; but they were not remote from Otley, Leeds, and York, places which
Wesley, at least, often visited.
Mr. Atkinson had a large family, and a church income hardly equal to
his wants.[285] One of his sons, the Rev. Miles Atkinson, rose to
considerable eminence. Besides being Vicar of Kippax, Lecturer of the
parish church in Leeds, and Incumbent of St. Paul’s, in that important
town, he was the author of “Practical Sermons,” in two octavo volumes,
and had the honour of being sneered at by the half-infidel _Monthly
Review_ of the period in which he lived. The famous “Billy” Dawson was
greatly benefited by his ministry and friendship in early life; and,
in 1779, at Atkinson’s request, Wesley preached in the parish church,
at Leeds, to such a congregation as had seldom been assembled within
its walls. In spirit and in doctrine, Miles Atkinson was thoroughly in
harmony with the Methodists; and, from such a circumstance, perhaps, it
may with safety be inferred, that, in this respect, he was walking in the
footsteps of his father.
A happy death is generally the sequence of a holy and useful life; and
such a death was that of Atkinson, the Oxford Methodist. The details are
here given in the language of the son just mentioned. He visited him on
the day of his decease, and thus writes:—
“My father walked out of doors to the very last, even in the
morning of the day he died. I said to him, ‘I hope, sir,
your confidence is in the Lord Jesus Christ.’ He answered,
‘Entirely. I have no hope or confidence but in Him only. I am
very sensible, that, I am, in myself, a poor, guilty, helpless
sinner before God. I find, I have been guilty of every sin.
There is not a commandment which I have not broken; but the
Lord Jesus Christ is my Saviour. His blood is sufficient for
me. I rest upon His promises, and, (laying his head upon his
breast and looking up) ‘I feel the Spirit of God now supporting
me.’
“Two of his twelve children had not arrived; but, fearing his
understanding might begin to fail, I asked him if he would like
my mother and the rest of his children to be called up, that we
might pray together, and receive his blessing. He immediately
assented, and desired me to pray. The scene was very affecting.
He seemed to be very fervent; and, when the prayer was over,
he tenderly and affectionately saluted us all, and invoked the
blessing of God in Christ Jesus. Soon after, he spoke to me
about the place in the churchyard, where he wished his body
to be laid, and then said, ‘Oh, son, I now feel the vanity of
life. We often talk in health about its emptiness; but this is
the trying hour. I now experience it. My God! what a condition
should I now be in, if the business of eternity was unbegun!’
And, then, he proceeded to speak of Christ and the happiness
of heaven. His voice faltered; but, at one time, I heard him
say ‘Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly;’ and, at another, ‘I have
finished my course, I have fought the good fight. Henceforth,
there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the
Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me in that day.’ He next
addressed his children, and said, ‘My dear children, whatever
you have seen faulty in me, be careful to avoid; if you have
seen anything praiseworthy, that imitate and pursue. But, oh!
mind the one thing needful. Let God be your portion. Seek unto
Him through the gracious Redeemer, and doubt not but He will
provide for you what is necessary in this world. My dear wife,
trust in God. O, my God, look down upon this my family, and let
Thy blessing rest upon them! Guide them by Thy blessed Spirit!’
“He continued praying, in a kind of feeble murmur until about
the three last breaths he drew; and then, at half-past four
o’clock, on Monday afternoon, July 11, 1774, expired, aged
sixty-one years, leaving behind him a wife and twelve children.
“His last words to one of his daughters were, ‘My love, would
you recall me from happiness?’”
Christopher Atkinson lies interred in the burial ground of Thorp-Arch
church, of which he was the minister for five-and-twenty years.