THE VICAR OF MADELEY.
At thirty years of age Fletcher was pressed to become a missionary to
Antigua, but was prevented by the advice of Charles Wesley, who
foresaw for him a more useful service in England.
Introduced by John Wesley to the famous Countess of Huntingdon,
Fletcher was further commended to her by the poet-brother in such a
manner as led her to urge him to become chaplain to her household. On
the understanding that the appointment should not interfere either
with his preaching, or the work he had taken up amongst French
prisoners and refugees, he accepted the post, and through it became
acquainted with many great spirits who ranked amongst the noble of the
earth.
A great work was at this time being done at Everton, the parish of the
Rev. John Berridge, and Fletcher made special efforts to see and
profit by it. He introduced himself to the noted clergyman as a
convert seeking instruction and advice. Berridge, noting his foreign
accent, asked him his nationality.
"A Swiss from the Canton of Berne," was the reply.
"From Berne! Ah, then you can give me some account of a young
countryman of yours, one John Fletcher, who has lately preached a few
times for the Mr. Wesleys, and of whose talents, learning, and piety
they both speak in terms of high eulogy. Do you know him?"
"I know him intimately, and did those gentlemen know him as well they
would not speak of him in such terms, for which he is more obliged to
their partial friendship than to his own merits," was the unexpected
reply.
"You surprise me," objected Berridge, "in speaking so coldly of a
countryman in whose praises they are so warm."
"I have the best of reasons for speaking of him as I do--I am John
Fletcher."
Berridge melted at this, and insisted upon his occupying his pulpit
the following morning. For three days Fletcher remained at Everton,
joined there by the Countess of Huntingdon and two well-known
clergymen, Martin Madan and Henry Venn. The services were, perforce,
held in the open-air, for on the third day ten thousand persons
gathered to hear the word of God. Many fell to the ground overpowered
by the influence of the Spirit, and numbers cried for mercy.
Fletcher's life as a tutor now ended. Mr. Hill was extremely anxious
to benefit him, and to this end offered him the living of Dunham, in
Cheshire, explaining that the duty was light, the income £400 a year
(a good sum in those days), and the surrounding country delightful.
"Dunham will not suit me," said Fletcher quietly; "there is too much
money and too little labour."
"What shall we do? Would you like Madeley? My nephew is the patron,
and I am sure the present Vicar would be only too glad to exchange it
for anything so good as Dunham."
"It would suit me exactly," quoth Fletcher, kindling at the thought.
He had preached there, and knew the rough character of its colliers
and forgemen.
Curiously enough, the old Vicar of Dunham died suddenly. The day after
the event Mr. Hill met his nephew at the Shrewsbury races, and in that
unlikeliest place of all, it was arranged that the Madeley living
should be presented to Fletcher.
It was a matter of course that he should consult his friend Charles
Wesley, but though he longed, if God so led, to undertake the work, he
feared greatly that many who were violently opposed to some of his
views would resist the appointment, and that the greatest barrier of
all, the Bishop of Lichfield, would refuse to countersign his
testimonials.
An extract from one of his letters to the Countess of Huntingdon shows
how all these obstacles were removed:--
"The difficulty of getting proper testimonials, which I had looked
upon as insurmountable, vanishes at once; the three clergymen that had
opposed me with the most bitterness signed them; the Bishop of
Lichfield countersigns them without the least objection; the lord of
the manor, my great opposer, leaves the parish; and the Vicar, who
told me that I should never preach in that church, now recommends me
to it, and tells me he will induct me himself. Are not these the
intimations of the will of God? It seems so to me."
So it came to pass that in the parish book was made the following
entry:--
"_John Fletcher, clerk, was inducted to the vicarage of Madeley the
17th of October, 1760.--John Fletcher, Vicar._"