THE WESLEYANS.
The founder of this Society was, as its name implies, John Wesley, probably of the same stock as the great Duke of Wellington, whose family name was variously written Wellesley, or Wesley. [64] We take the immediately following particulars mainly from the History of England, by Henry Walter, B.D. and F.R.S., Fellow of St. John’s College, Cambridge, Professor in the
East India College, Hertford, Chaplain to the Duke of Northumberland, &c., &c., himself a Lincolnshire man.
John and Charles Wesley were the second and third sons of Samuel Wesley, Rector of Epworth, near Gainsborough; [65] John being born in 1703 (June 17), and Charles in 1708 (Dec. 18). John was educated at the Charterhouse, and Charles at Westminster School. In due course they both entered at Oxford University; John eventually being elected to a Fellowship at Lincoln College, and Charles to a Studentship at Christchurch. In 1725 John was ordained deacon of the Church of England. He left Oxford for a time to act as his father’s curate, Charles remained as Tutor to his college. He, with some of his undergraduate pupils, formed a custom of meeting on certain evenings every week for scripture study and devotion, they carefully observed the Church’s fasts and festivals, and partook of the Holy Communion every Sunday. From the strict regularity of their lives the name was given to them, by those who were laxer in conduct, of “Methodists.”
In 1729 the Rector of Lincoln College summoned John Wesley to resume residence at Oxford, and he became Tutor of the College. In this capacity he was careful to look after the souls, as well as the intellectual training, of those under his influence. The brothers began missionary work in Oxford, about the year 1730, in which they were assisted by a few other kindred spirits. They visited the sick and needy, with the permission of the parish clergy, as
well as offenders confined in the gaol. This continued for some time, but gradually John began to long for a wider field for his spiritual energies. He had gathered about him a small band of equally earnest associates, and they went out to Georgia, North America, in 1735, to work among the English settlers and North American Indians. After two years John returned to England, in 1737, and then began the work of his life.
It is said that he was a good deal influenced by the De Imitatione Christi of Thomas a Kempis (of which he published an abridged edition in 1777), [66a] also by Jeremy Taylor’s Holy Living and Dying; and he imputed his own conversion to his study of Law’s Serious Call. His “first impression of genuine Christianity,” as he called it, was from the Moravian sect, with whom he came in contact at Hirnuth in Saxony, which he visited in 1738, after his return from America; but his complete “conversion,” he was wont to say, occurred at a meeting of friends, in Aldersgate Street, London, where one of them was reading Luther’s Preface to St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, the exact time being 8.45 p.m., May 24, 1738.
Though taking an independent course, and appointing only lay workers as his agents, he regarded himself to the end of his days as an ordained minister of the Church of England, and his society as still being a part of it, and he urged all faithful Wesleyans to attend church service once on Sunday, and to receive the Holy Communion at church, it being only after his death that the society’s secession became complete. [66b]
The first Wesleyan congregation of about 50 members, some of them Moravians, was formed in London, where they met in Fetter Lane, once a week; the first meeting being on May 1st, 1738, and from that day the society of “Methodists” may be regarded as having begun. [66c] The birth of the sect in Lincolnshire may be said to date from his visit to Epworth, in 1742.
In 1743 he divided the whole county into two sections, or circuits, the eastern and western. Of the eastern Grimsby was the head; this included Horncastle, and gradually comprised some 15 other subsidiary centres, extending from Grimsby and Caistor in the north, to Holbeach in the south.
His earliest recorded visit to Horncastle was in 1759, when he addressed a large concourse of people in a yard, supposed to be that of the Queen’s Head Inn, near the Market Place, on April 4th and 5th. On July 18th, 1761, he again preached here, and on July 18th, 1774, he addressed, as his journal states, “a wild unbroken herd.” On July 6th, 1779, he says “I took my usual stand in the Market Place, Horncastle, the wild men were more quiet than usual, Mr. Brackenbury, J.P., of Raithby Hall, standing near me.” This Mr. Robert Carr Brackenbury remained his firm friend through life; and we may here add that he granted to Wesley the use of his hay loft at Raithby for religious services, further securing the use of it in perpetuity, by his will, to the Wesleyan body, so that the curious anomaly has occurred that, when the hall was bought in 1848, by the Rev. Edward Rawnsley, the house became the
residence of an Anglican clergyman, yet bound to allow the loft over his stable to be used for nonconformist worship. In recent years the stable has been unused as such and the loft made more comfortable, being furnished with seats, pulpit, &c
Wesley, throughout his life, generally visited Horncastle every two years, his death occurring on March 2nd, 1791. There is in Westminster Abbey a mural memorial of John and Charles Wesley, having within a medallion, the bust-sized effigies of the two brothers, beneath which is inscribed the saying of Wesley, “The best of all is God with us.” Below this, within a panel, is a representation of John Wesley, preaching from his father’s tomb in Epworth churchyard. Beneath are two more quotations from his own words, “I look upon all the world as my parish,” and “God buries His workmen, but carries on His work.” At the head of the slab is the inscription “John Wesley, M.A., born June 17th, 1703, died March 2nd, 1791. Charles Wesley, M.A., born December 18th, 1708, died March 29th, 1788.”
The growth of the society was not rapid, and for some years was subject to fluctuations. In 1769 Grimsby had 56 members and Horncastle 42, including such well-known local names as Rayson and Goe. In 1774 Grimsby had fallen to 32 members and Horncastle to about the same. In 1780 Horncastle had only 31 members, but the numbers had increased in the neighbourhood; Kirkby-on-Bain having nearly as many as Horncastle, viz. 29, Wood Enderby 10, Hemingby 7, and Thimbleby 18; there being evidently a greater readiness to accept the new teaching among the simpler rural population.
In 1786 Horncastle was made the head of a circuit to itself, and in that year the first chapel in the town was built, the whole circuit then numbering 620 members. This chapel was near the site of the present Baptist place of worship. A few years later the opposing barrier among the upper class seems in some degree to have given way, as, in 1792, we find the name of Joseph Bass, a “physician,” as “leader.” In 1800 there was further growth in the country, Greetham having 21 and Fulletby 26; among the latter occurring the still well-known names of Winn (Richard and Elizabeth), 5 Riggalls, and 5 Braders. By this time there were 6 circuits formed in Lincolnshire, and congregations at Newark and Doncaster.
Although there was a chapel at Horncastle there was no minister’s residence until after 1786. At that date John Barritt rode over from Lincoln to preach, and finding no Wesleyan minister’s house, he was taken in and hospitably entertained by a Mr. Penistoun, who was “a great Culamite.” After staying the night with him he rode on next day to Alford, for Sabbath duty. On the death of John Wesley (1791) his mantle fell, and indeed, had already fallen, in several cases, on shoulders worthy of the commission which he conferred upon them. The first resident ministers were the Rev. Thomas Longley, Superintendent; the above John Barritt was the second, and Richard Thoresby the third.
Hitherto it had not been a service free from difficulty, or even danger. Itinerary ministers had to make their journeys on duty, often long and wearying, on horseback, over bad country roads, even occasionally incurring hardship and peril. In 1743 Mr. John Nelson was sent by Wesley to Grimsby, and his journals describe severe labour and even persecution. Another pioneer, Thomas Mitchell, was thrown by a mob into a pool of water, and, when drenched, was painted white from head to foot. He was afterwards thrown into a pond more than 12 feet deep, rescued and carried to bed by friends, he
was thrice dragged out of his bed because he would not promise not to visit the place (Wrangle) again. Wesley himself, in his journal (May 10, 1757) says “I preached to a mixed congregation, some serious, others drunk;” but on the other hand, in 1764, he preached, when the chapel “though having its galleries, was too small.”
We have named John Barritt among the early Horncastle ministers. He was preaching on one occasion at Boston, when a band of roughs forced their way into the chapel and interrupted the service, driving some of the congregation away. He had, however, a more serious experience, from exposure to the roughness of the elements. He was riding to Boston, apparently by a somewhat circuitous route, and a violent storm arose at sea. When he was not far from the coast the sea bank gave way, the country was inundated, vessels were even carried some distance inland, Boston itself was deluged, and he might have been drowned, but that he managed to reach some high ground, and arrived safely at Sibsey.
About this date, we are told, the progress of Wesleyanism excited the jealousy of the clergy, not so tolerant as they are now, and a meeting was held at the Bull Hotel, Horncastle, at which it was argued that the “spread of Methodism was one of the causes of the awful irreligion” prevalent, that the ministers were “raving enthusiasts, pretending to divine impulse, and thus obtained sway over the ignorant.”
John Barritt was re-appointed to Horncastle in 1801, as Superintendent, his colleagues being Thomas Rought, John Watson, and Squire Brackenbury as supernumerary, the latter was also, about this time, appointed head of the society in Spilsby. [68a] J. Barritt was grandfather of Robert Newton Barritt, who was very popular in Horncastle, 1882–1884. Wesley’s characteristic advice to him had been “When thou speakest of opinions, or modes of worship, speak with coolness, but when thou speakest of Repentance, Faith and Holiness, then, if thou hast any zeal, show it!” and to these principles he was ever true.
Other ministers of note at different periods were George Shadford, a name still surviving in the town; Charles Atmore, who wrote sundry Wesleyan hymns; Thomas Jackson, a great scholar, twice elected President of the National Conference; Digory Joll, grandfather of the present Mr. Watson Joll (to whom the writer owes much of the information here utilized); and to these we may add Benjamin Gregory, 1817; Robert Ramm and Robert Bryant, 1830; [68b] Bryant was called a “son of thunder,” from his great energy.
In 1835 Leonard Posnet was a popular minister, not only in the town but in the country around, being much appreciated by the farmers from his intimate acquaintance with their avocation. He was followed (1838–1840) by Joseph Kipling, grandfather of the now well-known Rudyard Kipling. Joseph Clapham was a faithful minister from 1843 to 1845, and was succeeded by (1845–1848) “Father” Crookes, “Preacher” Wood, and the “saintly” Fowler, who was said to have made 900 converts.
Then followed Wright Shovelton, Martin Jubb, Peter Featherstone, Henry
Richardson, and others, among whom it would be invidious to make distinctions. We may add that a famous missionary of this sect was Thomas Williams, son of John Williams, a cabinet maker of Horncastle, the latter being an active member of the Wesleyan Sunday School Committee. His first wife, mother of the missionary, was Miss Hollingshead, who, with her mother, kept a girls’ school, near the Bow Bridge. A History of the Fiji Mission, issued in 1858, says “The good ship Triton sailed from England, Sep. 14, 1839, carrying out the Rev. T. Williams, and his wife, to Lakamba, Fiji.” They arrived there July 6, 1840. He there built a mission house and chapel, where he laboured several years, the mission growing in extent, until it was beyond his strength. In June, 1852, Mr. Moore was appointed as a colleague to relieve him of some of the work, but again his health broke down, and he was obliged to leave, after 13 years’ hard labour, in July, 1853. He went to Australia and took various charges in that country, being chosen President of the Mission at Ballarat in 1873. He re-visited England in 1861, and again in 1881, returning to Ballarat, as a supernumerary, but still officiating. The present writer well remembers the impression made by a lecture, given by Rev. T. Williams, at the Bull Hotel, Horncastle.
Among the latest ministers of note has been the Rev. John Percy, who gave up his charge as Superintendent in 1904, and was succeeded by the Rev. E. Hayward, who left Horncastle on Thursday, Aug. 29, 1907, for work at Bridlington; he was succeeded by Rev. John Turner, of Colchester, who was 6 years ago in Louth Circuit, [70a] the Rev. G. German Brown continuing as assistant. He was succeeded by the Rev. M. Philipson, B.A., coming, with his wife, since deceased (March 14, 1906), from Stanley, near Durham, where they were the recipients of valuable presents on their departure.
In recent years no member of the society has been more valued than the late octogenarian, Mr. John Rivett, J.P., who died Sept 4, 1906. For nearly 70 years he was a generous supporter of the cause; he represented the district at no less than 13 Conferences, in various parts of the country, and at the Leeds Conference, in 1882, he spoke for an hour and a quarter in advocacy of its principles. Mr. Henry Lunn, of Horncastle and West Ashby, is also well known, as, for many years, an able local lay preacher and practical man of business; he was a representative at Conferences in London and at Burslem.
Of the buildings in Horncastle, connected with this society, we have gathered the following details. As already stated the first chapel was erected in Cagthorpe about the year 1786. It stood a few yards to the north of the present Baptist place of worship, which is close to the north-west corner of the Wong. The early history of this first erection is little known, but a letter written by Rev. T. Williams of Ballarat, dated May 10, 1889, to the late Mr. W. Pacy, states that, after some years, it was replaced by a larger building, of which the dimensions are elsewhere given, as being length 54-ft., by width 36-ft., with 4 large windows, having pointed heads, on the north side, and single windows on the south and west; a small porch at the south-east corner, facing the Baptist Chapel, giving entrance to the body and galleries; a door at the south-west end for the use of the minister, opening near the pulpit, which was at the west end; the eastern gable being the roadway boundary. Of these “pointed” windows the Rev. T. Williams says, “the lancet windows, with quarry panes, were a whim of Mr. Griggs Lunn and of my father. Of this building some remains are still visible, to the height of about 3 feet, in the south wall of Mr. Scholey’s garden, about 50 yards to the north of the Baptist Chapel. Towards its erection a number of masons, joiners, and others, who could not afford subscriptions, gave their labours gratuitously. Two houses for ministers were also built close by.
In 1836 a third chapel was begun, on a new site in Union Street (now Queen Street), and was opened on Good Friday in the following year, the interior fittings being transferred from the second building in Cagthorpe.
In 1866 a movement was commenced, with a view to the erection of a still larger chapel, and the present fine building was the result; opened in 1869, with accommodation for over 1,000 persons (1024), at a cost of £5,876. [70b] The Sunday School adjoining, with large class rooms and infant school being built in 1875, at a further outlay of £2,578. The fittings of the chapel are of stained polished deal, the gallery front and pulpit are white, picked out with gold, the latter standing upon 4 round-headed arches of light and graceful design. A new organ was erected soon after the opening of this chapel, at a cost of £300, and in 1883 the instrument was enlarged and improved.
In 1886 the Centenary of Wesleyanism was celebrated and the occasion was marked by a strenuous effort to clear off the debt from the Horncastle Circuit. This effort was supplemented by “Ye olde Englyshe Fayre, houlden in ye Exchange Hall, Nov. 20, 21 and 22, MDCCCLXXXVIII;” and at a tea gathering on March 12, 1889, it was stated that the original debt had, in the previous two years, been reduced to £60, and since then the whole had been cleared off, the exact sum raised being £1,526 2s. 4d.; while, as an evidence of the general prosperity of the Society, the Chairman stated that in the last 24 years debts had, throughout the country, been paid to the total amount of no less than £1,226,245. [71a]
In 1860 a former foundry show room, in Foundry Street, built by the late Mr. Tupholme, was acquired through the generosity of Mr. J. Rivett, to be used as a mixed day school; it had one large general room, four classrooms, and two large yards, and afforded accommodation for more than 400 scholars. The premises cost £450, but before the school was opened some £1,300 had been spent in adapting them to educational purposes. This has now been superceded by an even more commodious building in Cagthorpe, on the south branch of the canal, at the corner near the Bow Bridge, opposite St. Mary’s Square, at a cost of £2,500. It has a very large room for a mixed school, another for an infant school, with classrooms and everything required, in accordance with the latest conditions by Act of Parliament. The foundation stone was laid June 22, 1904, and the school was formally opened Jan. 4, 1905.
A Young Men’s Institute was established in the beginning of 1889, by the Rev. G. White, then Superintendent Minister, for which the classroom of the Sunday School was to be available for their use, every evening except Sunday, supplied with daily papers, magazines, &c.; classes also being held for the consideration of important subjects and for mutual improvement; these are still continued. There is also a Wesley Guild, which meets every Friday evening, in the band room, Queen Street, at 8 o’clock, during the winter months, and on the first Friday evening in the month during the summer. Marriages are celebrated in this chapel. [71b]