He went to the island of Guernsey, with the hope that a milder climate might benefit his health and recruit his strength. But he continued to decline; and just four months after bidding farewell to his people at the sacramental table, he was called from the scenes of time to join the Church triumphant above.
In the closing scene, looking at life in the light of eternity, what he had been enabled to do in the service of God seemed to be nothing in comparison with what he had failed to accomplish. His feelings for some weeks were not only checkered, but very painful. The state of his mind was dark and distressing, arising, no doubt, from physical weakness, and the completely relaxed state of the nervous system. But the last week was one of great mercy. The enemy was not suffered to distress, nor fears to agitate: his mind was kept "in perfect peace, being stayed on God." He often spake of Christ as the rock. He died on the evening of the Sabbath, September 3rd. His remains are deposited in the new cemetery at Saint Peter's Port, Guernsey. The event of his death was suitably improved there by the Rev. W. Wild, from Phil. iii. 9; and at Welford by his successor, from Hebrews xi. 4: "He being dead, yet speaketh."
Mr. Hobson was succeeded in his labours at Welford almost immediately by Mr. Walter Gill, who had pursued his studies for the ministry at the seminary at Hackney. He entered on his probationary services in May, 1848, and was ordained in the month of April in the following year. Mr. Ransom, Mr. Gill's classical tutor, delivered the introductory discourse; Mr. Toller, of Kettering, offered the ordination prayer; Mr. Toller, of Harborough, asked the usual questions; Mr. Keynes, of Blandford, delivered the charge; and Mr. James, of Birmingham, preached to the people in the evening.
The present number of members in the Church is about 80. There are 130 children in the Sabbath-schools connected with the congregation, viz.—boys, 72; girls, 58: there are 23 teachers.
There are occasional services conducted on Sabbath evenings in the village of South Kibworth, where there is a small Chapel held in trust by some of the Welford friends.
CHAPTER VII.
MEMORIALS OF THE INDEPENDENT CHURCH AT CREATON.
In the accounts of the Nonconformist ministers who in the year 1662 sacrificed their livings in the Established Church, in obedience to what they regarded as the claims of truth and of conscience, we find the name of Mr. Richard Hook, ejected from the rectory of Creaton, Northamptonshire. After his separation from the Church he preached for some time in his own house; but he afterwards removed from Creaton, and went to reside at Northampton. Though we have no certain information as to the results of Mr. Hook's ministry, yet there is some reason to conclude that a number of the people left the Church with their pastor, and sought for spiritual instruction, as they had opportunity, under the ministry of the Nonconformists. It was probably after the removal of Mr. Hook from Creaton that Mr. Shuttlewood, another of the Nonconformist ministers, began to preach the Gospel in this place. At that time his residence was at Sulby Abbey, near Welford, and his labours appear to have been then divided chiefly between Welford and Creaton. For a more particular account of Mr. Shuttlewood, his labours and his sufferings in the cause of God, we must refer the reader to the memorials of the Church at Welford. But it was when on a visit to his friends at Creaton that he was seized with an affliction that quickly terminated his useful life, and raised his spirit to that "rest that remaineth for the people of God." Here he ended his days, and here his remains were interred in the Churchyard, where a plain stone was erected to his memory.