CHAPTER XXI.
MEMORIALS OF THE INDEPENDENT CHURCH IN TOWCESTER.
In the early part of the 17th century, Mr. Samuel Stone, one of the Puritan divines, ministered in the Church at Towcester. He was born at Hertford, and educated in Emanuel College, Cambridge. Having finished his studies, he resided for some time in the house of the excellent Mr. Richard Blackerby, where he received useful instructions, and imbibed the spirit and principles of his venerable tutor. Afterwards he became minister at Towcester, in Northamptonshire, where his superior accomplishments and great industry were manifest to all. This, however, could not screen him from the oppression of the times, as he was an avowed but modest Nonconformist to the ecclesiastical impositions. At length, seeing no prospect of enjoying his liberty in his native country, he resolved to withdraw from the scenes of persecution and retire to New England, where he arrived in the year 1633, and there he died, July 20th, 1663. It is observed, that "Mr. Stone was a pious, learned, and judicious divine, equally qualified for the confirmation of the truth and the refutation of error. His ministry was attended with the powerful demonstration and application of the truth: his views of Church discipline were Congregational."
The first regular services by Dissenting ministers that are known to have been held at Towcester were conducted chiefly by Mr. Heywood, while he was pastor of the Church at Potterspury. He preached for some time, every third Sabbath morning, in a licensed house; and in the same place, a Mr. Stranger, a Baptist minister, residing at Weston, preached occasionally. In the year 1764, the pious people of both denominations united to build a Meeting House for their mutual accommodation. When Mr. Goode became the pastor at Pury, he continued the services in the manner of his predecessors, and his labours were crowned with a happy degree of success. But a change occurred, which interrupted the union which had hitherto subsisted between those who held different views on the subject of baptism. In 1782 a Mr. Reddy, a Baptist minister, came to reside at Towcester, and then the stated use of the new Meeting House was refused to Mr. Goode and his hearers, who, in consequence of this, met for three years after in a private house. The attendance increasing, it was deemed necessary to build another place of worship, in which they were generously assisted from various quarters. On the removal of Mr. Goode from Pury, they obtained supplies from Newport and Hoxton Academies.
April 6th, 1794, the members of the Church at Potterspury that resided in Towcester separated from that Church for the purpose of commencing an Independent Church here, Mr. Thomas Slattery, from Hoxton Academy, preaching to them for the first time on that day. On May 5th, 1794, eleven persons were formed into a Christian Church, Mr. Hillyard, of Olney, presiding. For some time they were supplied by various ministers, Messrs. Bull, Greathead, and Hillyard occasionally administering the Lord's Supper. At length Mr. Gunn, a student from Hoxton Academy, was invited to become the pastor, and he was ordained October 16th, 1796. Upon this occasion Mr. Denny, of Long Buckby, offered the ordination prayer; the solemn engagements mutually confirmed between the people and the minister they had chosen were introduced by some observations on the proper tendency and principles of such a transaction, from Mr. Greathead, of Woburn; Mr. Bull, of Newport, gave the charge, from Col. iv. 17; Mr. Horsey, of Northampton, addressed the Church, from 2nd Cor. iv. 15.
In little more than three years after this settlement Mr. Gunn removed to Aylesbury, and was succeeded at Towcester by Mr. Joshua Denham, who commenced his ministry here February 9th, 1800. Mr. Denham continued his services as pastor until the year 1814, when he resigned, and was succeeded by Mr. Joseph Gravestock, from Newport Academy, who was ordained on the 17th of August in that year, when Mr. Jackson, of Old, began with prayer; Mr. Thomas Morrell delivered the introductory discourse; Mr. Watson offered the ordination prayer; Mr. Bull gave the charge, from Ezek. iii. 17; Mr. Aston preached to the people, from 1st Thess. v. 13. Mr. Jackson preached in the evening.
On the death of Mr. Jackson Mr. Gravestock removed to Old; when, after a period of four years, Mr. Hitchin became the pastor, in July, 1818. In the year 1823 Mr. Hitchin removed to Hockliffe, and Mr. William Hawkins, from Newport Academy, was chosen to the pastoral office. Mr. Hawkins laboured here between twenty and thirty years; during his ministry a new Chapel was erected. Mr. Buckingham, minister at Potterspury, went out from this Church.
Mr. S. Causby, the present minister, entered on his labours in July, 1851. The records of the Church contain 146 names of members admitted to the Church from its formation to the present time; but for seventeen years, i.e. from 1815-1832, the book appears to have been neglected, and no names were entered. The number of members at this time is 50. There are 110 children in the Sabbath-schools, and 24 teachers who take part in their instruction.