How early an Independent Church was first formed here, from which this in Cheese Lane descended, or when a stated pastor was first settled over it, we have not discovered.
It is stated, that this Church first met for divine worship in a Meeting House situated in a yard at the back of some premises in Silver Street. In 1746, it was such an old building, and in such a dilapidated state, that it was found to be necessary to erect a new place of worship; when the present Meeting House was raised at the bottom of the lane where the cheese fair was kept, and hence called Cheese Lane Meeting. At that time, Mr. King, who was a friend and correspondent of Dr. Doddridge's, had been for many years pastor of the Church.
The earliest notice we find of Mr. King as minister at Wellingborough is in the controversy with Mr. Davis, of Rowell, in 1692, in which Mr. King took a part. We find his name also as minister at Wellingborough, among those who were present at the ordination of Mr. Tingey, at Northampton, in the year 1709.
The next notice we have found of Mr. King as minister here is in a letter from Doddridge addressed to him, dated December 29th, 1723, in which the writer engages to visit Mr. King and to preach for him on a week evening, observing, "It is with the utmost readiness and pleasure I embrace the opportunity of serving you which you propose in your obliging letter, especially as it gives me an opportunity of cultivating that friendship with which you are pleased to honour me, and which I look upon as a very particular happiness."
When the dreadful fire that took place in 1738 had laid waste a considerable part of the town, destroying 205 dwelling-houses besides 806 out-buildings, a fast-day was kept and some special public religious services were observed, and Dr. Doddridge was invited to preach on the occasion. He improved the event in a very serious, suitable, faithful sermon, from Amos iv. 11, which was published at the request of the people, with a dedication to those inhabitants of Wellingborough at whose request the sermon was published. We expect this sermon was preached in the Old Meeting House, in which the congregation at Cheese Lane formerly worshipped. In the dedication the Doctor observes—
I have laboured as much as possible to write from the life. The ruins of your town, the distress of your families, and the mixture of hope and fear attending the present situation of your affairs, have been as it were before my eyes and on my heart in almost every sentence; and I have frequently mingled these meditations with earnest prayers to God that he would so lead me into the secret recesses of your souls, that what you before heard and will now read may be like a nail fastened in a sure place.
Mr. King, it is stated, was succeeded by Mr. David Bradbury, who left Wellingborough about the year 1764, and was succeeded by Mr. French, who kept a very respectable boarding-school while residing here. He had studied under Dr. Doddridge, at Northampton. He afterwards removed to London. Mr. Orton was the next minister; but in early life he died of consumption, about the year 1776. Then succeeded to Mr. Orton Mr. Thomas, who had been a student at the academy at Daventry, first under Dr. Ashworth and then under Mr. Robins. He was ordained about the same time as the late Mr. Toller was settled at Kettering, they having closed their academical course nearly together. Mr. Thomas resigned his charge about 1786, after having been pastor about eight years, and went to Enfield. He was succeeded by Mr. Robert Jacomb. He had been in a very unsettled state of health in London, where he was assistant to the Rev. Hugh Worthington, at Salter's Hall; and being called to experience here a very heavy domestic trial, in the almost sudden death of his wife, when they had been married but a short time, his depression of spirits became so great that he left, though very reluctantly, and went to Bath.
The successor to Mr. Jacomb was Mr. Henry Summers. In reference to this change we find the following statement:—
In consequence of the removal of the Rev. R. Jacomb from Wellingborough in 1791, the Church and congregation usually meeting for divine worship in Cheese Lane became destitute of a pastor and teacher. In this situation it became necessary for the society to look out for a successor; and in March, 1792, Mr. Henry Summers, who was assistant to the Rev. Robert Winter, of Hammersmith, after sufficient trial was made, received a unanimous invitation to the pastoral office, of which he soon after declared his acceptance. But short was his time of service: soon was he called to close his labours on earth. He died of fever, when he had sustained the pastoral office scarcely four years in this place.
In the early part of the year 1796 we find it recorded "that it pleased divine providence to bereave this Church and congregation of their pastor, the Rev. Henry Summers, who, after a short illness, departed this life January 27th, 1796." His funeral sermon was preached by the Rev. John Wood, of Rowell. From the time of his death until Midsummer, the congregation was supplied partly by the neighbouring ministers, who voluntarily offered their services for the benefit of his widow, and partly by the students at the academy at Northampton. By the general consent of the whole society, at length an application was made to Mr. Daniel Washbourn, then a student at Northampton, to supply them during the academical vacation, with which he complied. After ministering to them for several weeks with increasing acceptance and satisfaction, the Church and congregation determined to invite him to become their pastor, and accordingly sent him a pressing and affectionate invitation, signed by 131 persons, which, after fervent prayer and mature deliberation, he accepted.