A History of Horncastle, from the earliest period to the present time

by J. Conway Walter

Mr. Rose was succeeded by the Rev. W. T. Poole, of Paulers’ Pury, Northants; a former Scripture Reader at Reading, who ministered here from 1878 to 1880, when he was transferred to Bracknall, Berks. He was followed by a Nottingham student, the Rev. W. Archer, from 1881 to 1885. Then came the Rev. J. H. Dingle, of Ruskington, near Sleaford, from 1885 to 1886, when he left for a charge at Patricroft, near Manchester. During his pastorate a very successful Bazaar was held in November, 1886, from the proceeds of which the manse was further improved, and the chapel again renovated, with decorations from the designs of Mr. C. H. Stevens.

Then followed an interval of two years, during which the chapel was served by students of the college at Nottingham. In 1888 the Rev. G. Luckett succeeded, coming from Long Sutton, and held office till Sept., 1893, when he was transferred to Curry Rivell, Somerset. An interval here again occurred, during which Mr. J. T. Whitehead and other Nottingham students took the duties, Mr. Whitehead afterwards accepting a pastorate in Lancashire.

In January, 1894, the Rev. Sidney Benjamin Dixon began his ministry, which he continued till December, 1897, when he was transferred to Tetsworth, Oxfordshire. For more than a year Nottingham students again performed the duties; and in November, 1899, the Rev. John Pogson, B.D., entered on his ministry, which he continued until 1905, when he was transferred to Whitworth, near Rochdale. Early in 1907 (Feb. 13) the Rev. J. H. Dingle, who had held the office in 1886, was re-appointed, having served, as above, 12 years at Patricroft, and afterwards at Newmarket and Sheffield.

There is one more tablet in the chapel, which we have not mentioned; it is on the west wall, “In affectionate remembrance of Jane, the beloved wife of William Wood, who died May 12, 1853, aged 48 years. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” Mr. Wood was a draper in the High Street, and a pillar of the church; he afterwards removed to Southampton, and died there.

We have only to add that there are a considerable number of tombstones, with inscriptions, in the chapel yard, but burials ceased to take place there by Act of Parliament in 1855. Marriages are here solemnized. The Services are morning and evening on Sunday, with sermon in the evening of Thursday. A Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavour Meeting on Tuesday at 8 p.m. A Ladies’ Sewing Meeting on the first Wednesday of every month, and choir practice on Friday evening at 8, there being a good American organ.

For the above details I am largely indebted to the notes “On the Wong,” of the late Mr. W. Pacey, supplemented by the History of England, in seven volumes, of the Rev. H. Walter, B.D., F.R.S., Professor in the East India College, Hertford, Chaplain to the Duke of Northumberland, &c., &c.

THE BAPTIST CHAPEL.

This is the oldest nonconformist building in Horncastle. It is generally supposed that there was a still earlier chapel, situated near what is called the Bow Bridge, which spans the southern branch of the canal, between Cagthorpe and St. Mary’s Square, but we have no definite proof of this beyond a vague tradition.

The Baptist community date their origin from the time of the Commonwealth. The earliest person of note connected with this religious body being John Bunyon, author of The Pilgrim’s Progress, [84a] who espoused the cause of the Parliament against Charles I. He first preached in Bedford, where he was a tinker by trade, in the year 1655, visiting various other parts of the country in succeeding years, until he died, August 31st, 1688, and was buried in Bunhill Fields.

An old document shows that at a meeting held at Bedford, in the spring of 1655, over which he presided, it was decided to send one of the members, “Mr. Brown to Horncastle, in Lincolnshire, to a few persons of the belief, seeking help to guide them in forming a society.” Before the “Toleration Act” was passed in 1689, nonconformist places of worship were not allowed to exist within five miles of a market town. [84b] In Asterby, about six miles from Horncastle, there is a Baptist chapel, locally reputed [84c] to be the oldest in the kingdom. At Coningsby is a Baptist Chapel, with a school, dating from nearly the same period, with an endowment of 26 acres of land. The Baptists of Horncastle mostly, in those days, worshipped at Asterby. At Donington-on-Bain there is also a very ancient chapel, where the Baptists of Louth worshipped. The two chapels of Asterby and Donington have a joint endowment of £20 a year, and are now affiliated to Northgate Chapel in Louth.