 Driffield Congregational Church |
DRIFFIELD AND WOLDS GENEALOGY |
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The following short history was published in the Driffield Times, for the centenary of the Congregational/ Independent Church, of Driffield Driffield Times, November 23, 1901 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, DRIFFIELD CENTENARY SERVICES Mr H.D. Marshall read a lengthy history of the cause, from which we cull the following: - Our archives say: - The clearer light of the glorious gospel appears to have been introduced into Driffield by the ministrations of the Rev Mr Jesse, who held the curacy of Hutton Cranswick about the years 1767 or 1768. Some time after his removal two or three persons in Driffield requested the aid of neighbouring ministers, which was often given them, especially by Mr Lyndall, then a resident of Bridlington. The persons who heard Mr Jesse in the Parish Church were not strictly the nucleus of the Independent Church. One of two other pious persons, members of other Christian churches elsewhere, came to reside in Driffield; one of these, James Pinder, came from the Church at Bridlington, and it was through these that Independent Ministers were introduced to come to Driffield. Their preaching was eagerly sought after by those who had heard of the way of life from the lips of Mr Jesse, but had not the privilege of a stated gospel ministry in the Church of England. In the year 1800 some believers were formed into a Church by the Rev W. Howell, of Knaresbro’. The infant Church worshipped in a barn belonging to a Thos Bursell, a rope and twine maker; it was situate in what is now Middle Street South, opposite to what is now the Railway Station, somewhere near the opening by the house occupied in 1853 by Mr Edwin Creaser, son of Edwin Creaser, chemist. When the occupier of the barn had a large stock of hemp, the little company worshipped in another similar building at the other end of the town, near the Church, almost opposite to the house then occupied by Miss Drinkrow; many years after this the place was still standing and used as a joiner’s shop. After this the little flock met in a chamber over the shop of Mr George White, which was hard by our present House of God. Mr White afterwards became a deacon a pillar of the Church, spending nearly the whole Lord’s day in the Church and school. From the encouraging prospects of the congregation it was thought desirable to procure more regular supplies, and application was made to Dr William’s, of Rotherham College, who sent his students from time to time. A Mr Reynolds was the first student who came. He preached a sermon from Amos v 19, “As if a man did flee from a lion, and bear met him; or went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall and a serpent bit him,” which was the means of a decision if not the conversion of a Mr Holtby father of Mr Abel Holtby, watchmaker. This Mr Reynolds settled at Wellingbro’, Nothamptonshire. A Mr Pickering accepted the ministry of the church for one year, and so was the first minister. During the year of his pastorate, a convenient chapel was erected, in size 42ft by 32ft, and at a cost of £440 5s. This chapel was opened on the 12th April, 1803. In the morning the Rev A Bottomley, of Scarbro’, prayed and Mr Thurgarland, of York, preached. In the afternoon the Holderness Missionary prayed and Mr Bottomley preached from Psalms xxvi. 8. In the evening a deacon of the Hull Fish Street Church (Rev --- Lambert, pastor) prayed and another deacon, Mr Rust, gave an exhortation from Luke xiv. 23. Soon after this important event Mr Pickering removed to Brigstock. The next minister was a Mr Kelso, who only remained for a few months. In August, 1805, after a unanimous call from the Church, the Rev Benj. Hobson, student of Rotherham College, undertook the duties of the pastorate. He remained for 7 ½ years, during which time he collected in Hull, Rotherham, Sheffield, and London, upwards of £360 towards the debt upon the Chapel. On Mr Hobson’s removal, the Church made application (under advice) to the Rev Marsh Wilks, of London, and as a result a student named Mr C. Bartlett came as an itinerant preacher to Driffield and neighbourhood; he continued 2 years, and left in 1815. Application was now made to the Rev J. Bennett, Tutor of Rotherham College, and several students came as candidates. At lat a unanimous invitation was given and accepted by the Rev S. Watkinson, who entered upon his duties in April 1816. on Friday, July 5th, 1816, a meeting was held for the purpose of reorganising the Church, when the following persons were unanimously considered its members – George White, Elizabeth White, Wm Botterill, Wm Spink, Geo Shepherdson, Thos Pinder, Thos Thornton, Ann Thornton, Elizabeth Mings, Mary Mings, Sarah Webster, Mary Layton, Jane Barron, and Elizabeth Woodall. In the year 1818 galleries were erected in the chapel and the windows on each side of the pulpit lengthened at a cost of £300. The chapel was reopened after the above enlargements by the Rev J. Arundel, of Whitby. The financial result was £18. The appearance of the chapel in those days was somewhat peculiar, square family pews ran along each of the sides; two rows of pews in the middle next the entrance were raised above the rest. The pulpit was the shape of the large cups presented as prizes at various shows, and was covered all round with some sort of cloth arranged in pleats. The organ and singers were behind the pulpit in a gallery to themselves. The Rev J. Watkinson resigned the ministry in 1821, having secured the greatest of all prizes during his stay. After a further term of student help, the Rev W. Hudswell was settled in 1829. During his three years’ ministry he made many friends, and was a most acceptable preacher. He removed to Leeds in 1832. In 1834 the Rev Robinson Pool became the minister and proved himself a good servant of Christ, holding the pastorate till 1841. A student named Henry Birch, from Rotherham College began supplying with a view in September 1841and was called to commence his ministry in January 1842. He was ordained in the following March, when the Rev Thomas Stratten preached the introductory discourse, the Rev John Matther of Beverley, asked the questions. The Rev R. Pool offered the Ordination Prayer; the Rev William Henry Stowell, Theological Professor, of Rotherham College, gave the charge and the Rev James Parsons preached to the people. The following were also present: - the Revs James Sibree, of Hull, E. Morley, of Hull, Wm Flocker, of Market Weighton, Thos Pearson, of Pocklington, and George Schofield of Malton. In 1846 the Sunday School behind the chapel was erected and the next year an organ was built. In 1853 the Jubilee services were held on Sunday May 29th. The Rev Dr Ryan, of Bridlington, preached from i. Samuel vii. 12. The next evening the Rev Samuel Lewin, of Chorley, gave an address on “Renewed Dedication to God;” the Rev John Cass Potter, of Whitby, spoke on “The Mission of Evanglical Churches in regard to the peculiar aspects of the times;” the Rev J. Baldwin Brown, B.A., of London, gave an address on “Religion as an earnest lie;” on the Tuesday evening there was a public tea, gratuitously provided by ten ladies of the Church, in the Corn Exchange, and a public meeting in the chapel, addressed by the Revs C. Potter, Borwn, Lewin, and Thomas Stratten. Liberal collections were taken. During the fifteen years’ ministry of the Rev Henry Birch about sixty members were added to the church, and his congregation consisted of the cream of Driffield society in those days, nearly every leading church family in the town had sittings and attended at the least once a day. He married during his ministry, for his second wife, Miss Katherine Harrison, of River Head. He was a good and faithful pastor, respected by all who knew him. He passed out of the land of dying into the land of the living, November 1856. At this period of the church’s history, Mr George Shepherdson, Mr James Pinder, and Mr George White, had been leading men in the management, the first-named being for many years deacon and superintendent of the school. They were all most worthy men and faithful to their Lord. On the 8th February, 1856, a student from Cheshunt college, named Mr William Mitchell, commenced a probation as candidate for the ministry. He preached six Sunday s and then took charge of the pulpit for six months, was accepted as pastor, began his ministry on the 6th September, 1857 and was ordained on the 4th September, 1857. The following took part in the ordination services: - Revs F. Soden, of London, J. Dickinson, of Bridlington, James Sibree, of Hull, Robinson Pool, A.L. Mitchell, of Exeter, W. Spencer, Rochdale, and Dr Ryan. During his ministry, many were added to the church and the weekly offertory adopted. In the year 1863, a new school was built. In July 1866, the foundation stone of a new chapel, on the site of the old one, was laid by Alderman Brown, of Bradford. The new church was opened on Monday, June 24th, 1867, by the Rev James Parson, of York, and on Tuesday, a tea and public meeting took place, Mr John Crossley, Halifax, presiding the latter, and addresses were given by the Revs Richard Redford, M.A., LL.B., Brewin Grant, James Sibree, Mr W.J. Irving, J.P., and Mr J. Paul, the architect. The new church gave great satisfaction, both architect and contractors having done their work admirably. A new organ was also put in. The cost of the building and organ, with the exception of a loan to the Chapel Building Society, was paid in December 1869. In May 1872, the loan was repaid, and the building free of all debt. This gratifying result was largely owing to the efforts of Mr Henry Angas, who was ever ready to help forward the cause. Among other worthies whose names it is good to remember as connecting links with the past we would mention Wm Porter, Wm Forge, Wm Barron, Samuel Goodworth, Wm Allans, Thos Pinder, William Clark, James Leason, Wallace Stockdale, and Geo Blakeston. Much to the surprise and regret of most of the Church and congregation the Rev W. Mitchell resigned his charge on Nov 6th, 1872. There were evident signs of a revival of spiritual life at the time, and it was a great disappointment to some who were quickened with amore hearty zeal. The unworthy writer of this short history would here and now heartily thank God for the untold blessing he received from the preaching and influence of Rev W. Mitchell. The choice of the Church now fell upon the Rev Richard Bryer, an Airedale student. He commenced his ministry April 6th, 1873, under what seemed the most hopeful auspices, but unfortunately after his ordination services and marriage his health gave way, and although he had the full sympathy of the people and the noble, gratuitous help for six months, whenever he needed, of the late pastor, he reluctantly resigned the charge on June 29th, 1874. He was afterwards deacon for some time. In the following August an invitation was given to the Rev M. Cartwright Williams, of St Heliers, Jersey; it was accepted, and again the Church was full of hope, for it was felt the new ministry had much of the spirit of the Master. The recognition of the new pastor took place Oct 2nd, 1874; Rev W.M. Statham, of Hull, preached a sermon, and a public tea and meeting followed. Again our hopes were dashed to the ground, for after consultation with eminent doctors, the pastor was compelled to give up all preaching duties, and resigned the pastorate on April 7th, 1875. He returned to Jersey, but only to die. It was a sad time for all concerned. During his short ministry the following important resolution was unanimously passed, “The teachers of the Sunday School having resolved to hand over the management of the school to the Church, the Church hereby accepts the entire responsibility vested in the hands of the teachers.” The Rev Bagnall Baker, late of Ravensthorpe, became pastor in Sept 1875, and was recognised on Dec 7th 1875. During his ministry a course of lectures was given by Henry Vincent, Arthur Mursell, &c., which was very acceptable and well attended. The debt of £300 on the school was paid off and so all the buildings made free from debt. On August, 1877, a good and worthy man named Thos Lowther died. He was a deacon for a time, and his daughter was a most faithful teacher in the school in earlier days. This ministry terminated in 1878. On Wednesday, September 11th, 1878, an invitation was given to the Rev P. Carrotte, but was declined on the ground of want of unaminity. In January 1879, an invitation was given to the Rev Percy Atkinson, of London, a Chestnut student, which he duly accepted and commenced his ministry in February or March 1879. In October of 1879, the supplement of the Leeds Hymn Book was adopted. The pastor took unto himself a wife out of our congregation, Miss Calvert, who proved a true helpmeet, she was also a sweet singer in Israel. A considerable number of members was added to the church during this pastorate. The mission of the Rev W.H. Hay Aitken in the Parish Church was instrumental in materially raising the tone of spiritual life in the town. At our communion service ten members were received at once. The Rev James Mountain and his wife conducted a fortnight’s mission in the chapel, which was fairly successful. The Rev R. Bryer conducted for some time a much-appreciated consecration class. The Church sustained a serious loss by the removal of Dr Eames and his family from the town; Mrs and Miss Eames had been of the greatest service to both church and school and presentations were made to them. Mr Atkinson resigned his ministry in March, 1885. The church prospered during his term of six years and many regretted his departure. On August 26th, 1885, an invitation was given to the Rev R.F. Bracey, of Wickham Market, which he accepted, and commenced his ministry the first Sunday in October of the same year. The invitation was given very largely through the recommendation of the Rev Dr Barrett, of Norwich, conveyed in the following words: - “He spoke from personal knowledge of Mr Bracey, and he did not know anyone he could more safely recommend to our church.” The lapse of sixteen faithful, conscientious and still continued service; the fact that his name as a preacher and a helper to all the Churches round stands higher than it ever did; the fact that he has the same deacons round him; with one exception, and that all have now served him 13 years, and are as willing to serve under him as ever, is a sufficient justification of Dr Barrett’s words. May the blessing of the Lord ever attend upon him and his. During the present ministry a new manse has been built and paid for; the new Congregational Hymnal successfully introduced and a contribution of over 110 guineas raised for the Twentieth Century Fund.
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