On Thursday, November 3rd, of the same year, the ordination service took place. The following is the account preserved of that interesting occasion:—
A very numerous auditory assembled; and from the testimony of ministers and people, it may be asserted with the strictest truth, the services of the day were particularly solemn, suitable, and instructive. Mr. Richard Winter, of Hanover Street, London, commenced with a short prayer and reading some suitable portions of Scripture (Ps. xcvi., and the two first chapters of Paul's Epistle to Titus); Mr. Edwards engaged in the general prayer; Mr. Worthington, of Salter's Hall, London, delivered an introductory discourse, in which he stated with ability and conciseness the grounds and advantages of such a service among Protestant Dissenters. He then proposed four questions to Mr. Washbourn, which were answered by him, and engaged in the ordination prayer—a prayer peculiarly solemn and pathetic. The charge, from Gal. i. 10, last clause, was delivered by Mr. Horsey, of Northampton; and Mr. Toller, of Kettering, preached the sermon to the people, from 1 Thess. v. 12, 13: both these discourses were admirably adapted to the occasion. Mr. Chadwick, of Oundle, concluded with an excellent prayer. Hymns were read by Mr. Luccock.
After the dinner, it was unanimously proposed and requested that the ordination service be published; which was agreed to by the gentlemen concerned.[5]
There was a service in the evening, which Mr. Wood, of Rowell, introduced with prayer; Mr. Winter preached a very suitable sermon, from 2 Cor. iii. 5; and at the request of several of the ministers, Mr. Washbourn concluded the solemnities of the day with prayer. The kind providence of God appears to smile on this connexion, formed and ratified between minister and people; both rejoice in the pleasing prospect of usefulness, harmony, and love. May the great Head of the Church continue the special tokens of his presence and regard amongst us! Amen.
Thus wrote the pastor, under the first impressions of a happy settlement over this people; and for nearly sixteen years he continued his labours among them. During the far larger portion of that time they appear to have been years of comfort and usefulness; but, as another instance added to the vast numbers which show the uncertainty attending the most pleasing connexions and prospects in this fallen state, at length such circumstances arose as separated the pastor from his flock. Some disagreements arising between the influential members of the Church and congregation, they went on to such a length as to issue in a separation—the building of Salem Chapel, and the formation of the Church assembling there. This was so painful to Mr. Washbourn, that he sent in his resignation, in which he expressed himself in the following words:—"While I desire to entertain no sentiments of hostility towards those who have thought proper to desert my ministry and to form themselves into a separate community, I cannot but consider that they are responsible for my being removed from this part of the Lord's vineyard, where my labours were honoured with the divine blessing." Mr. Washbourn removed to Hammersmith, and never came to Wellingborough again. While filling this situation it is observed, "that he enjoyed to a high degree the respect of the surrounding ministers, particularly that of the late Mr. Toller, of Kettering, whose friendship and popularity he frequently referred to with peculiar delight."
Mr. Washbourn was minister at Hammersmith for twenty-two years; and here we find it remarked, "that his preaching—solid, judicious, and deeply spiritual—was very soon highly estimated by his new charge, the greater part of whom at that time were families of considerable standing in society, as well as of high respectability and influence in the Church. Not a few were brought to Christ who had seen the meridian of life unvisited by mercy, and who survived to bless his memory and to render it blessed." But we find that "it pleased the great Head of the Church, who retains the prerogative of determining the trials of his servants, greatly to obstruct the usefulness of the latter part of his life, and to render it the scene of peculiar affliction, by the rapid progress of a constitutional malady—overwhelming depression. The most remarkable feature in this visitation was its periodical character. Six weeks of unutterable gloom, during which he was bereft of every ray of spiritual consolation, and an equal term of unusual enjoyment in religion and in social intercourse, maintained an almost unvarying succession throughout the two or three last years of his earthly pilgrimage. But he has frequently said to his colleague, 'I know, my dear sir, it is all physical. I know it—I have proved it; and I know God sees it needful for me, or he would not permit it.'"
He died on Monday, the 10th day of November, 1834, in the 64th year of his age; and it is said "that few public men, moving in a comparatively quiet and unobtrusive sphere, have gone down to the grave accompanied by such deep expressions of unequivocal regard, from all classes in the circle where they lived and laboured, as did this devoted minister of Christ."
Soon after Mr. Washbourn had left Wellingborough, Mr. Robert Jacomb, the former pastor of the Church, came on a visit; and seeing the uncomfortable state in which the people were, he kindly consented to prolong his stay, and preached to them with his former acceptance. An invitation was given him to resume his labours, which he accepted; and after an interval of twenty years he again became the pastor of the Church. His services were continued until repeated attacks of disease, and the increasing infirmities of age, obliged him to resign his charge in the year 1826. He continued to reside in Wellingborough until his death, which took place in the year 1832.
Mr. Jacomb, we have heard, was a descendant from the early Nonconformist ministers of that name. He always appeared to conduct himself with the ease, affability, and politeness of the gentleman, and with the spirit of the Christian. His temper was amiable, and it was his constant aim to promote the spirit of piety and of peace among his people. In the spirit of devotion, and with a sincere concern for the highest welfare of his flock, he conducted the services of the sanctuary. He was highly esteemed to the close of his days.
Mr. James Robertson was the next pastor, commencing his ministry here in October, 1826. He continued his services until a distressing mental malady, from which he never recovered, laid him aside from his public work and cut him off from the society of his friends. Mr. Robertson was a native of Newcastle-upon-Tyne; became a student of Wymondley College; was pastor for some years of the Independent Church at Stretton-under-Fosse, commencing his ministry there July 29th, 1809, and was ordained in August, 1810. The ministers officiating were Messrs. H. Knight, R. Hall, and T. N. Toller. "For upwards of four years before his death he was the subject of intense mental and physical suffering, which much beclouded his fine intellect; and the deep waters of tribulation went over his soul." "In him," it is justly said, "were united the elegant accomplishments of the classical scholar, and the graver acumen of the profound theologian; which, added to the unaffected fervour of his piety, the benevolence of his disposition, and the sterling integrity of his general character, embalmed his memory in the hearts of a large circle of friends, who deplore his loss." He died at Wellingborough June 23rd, 1842, and was interred in the burying ground belonging to the Meeting. His most intimate friend, Mr. Walford, of Uxbridge, who was classical tutor for some years at Homerton College, officiated at the funeral; and Mr. Toller, of Kettering, preached the funeral sermon the next Sabbath evening, from Zech. i. 5: "Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?"
A tablet was erected by his widow to his memory, and placed at the right side of the pulpit.
Mr. Robertson was secretary to the Northamptonshire Association, from the death of Mr. Edwards, of Northampton, until he was laid aside from active service. He was a frequent contributor to the Eclectic Review, and wrote many valuable articles of biblical criticism, besides others of a more general character. His attainments in learning were eminent; his intellectual power was considerable—his general information extensive; his skill in criticism was great; while he was a man of inflexible integrity, pre-eminently "without guile"—a sincere and steadfast friend, with much kindness of heart. His stern and unbending regard to principle sometimes occasioned a roughness of exterior, and occasionally appeared to assume an austere and unkind aspect. Some of his sermons discovered talent of a high order for composition, containing superior thoughts, clothed in powerful language.