THE first entry in an old Church-book, reads thus :-
"The Particular Baptist Church of Jesus Christ, late of Wilmington, in the
County of Kent, now meeting at Eynesford, in the same County."
The date is June 10, 1792. Mr. M. Rogers, youngest son of Rev. John Rogers,
tells how that in 1775, a Mr. J. Morris removed from London Wilmington, and
opened his house for the preaching of the Gospel. How a Church consisting
of five members was then formed. We are looking back one hundred and thirty-one
years [back in 1906]. Those were the times of stress and
persecution, for all who ventured to obey the dictates of conscience and
worship God other than in the Established Church. As late as 1792, Macaulay,
in his history of England, records that a royal proclamation was issued,
forbidding "irregular meetings and the circulation of seditious literature,
especially such as was calculated to undermine religious belief, as well
as the loyalty of the less instructed portion of the nation." Free, outspoken
loyalty to our Lord Jesus Christ is still obnoxious to Cæsar !
The little community at Wilmington increased in numbers, and among those
attracted was a working man named "Hodges," who lived at Eynsford, and he
induced Mr. Morris, and a Mr. J. Stanger, of Bessels Green, to hold services
in his cottage on alternate Sundays and once a month on Thursdays.
Brave Hodges ! in those days to risk so much-a true hero whose love for Christ
led to the formation of the Church here. For three years very little success
attended their efforts. Still, some six or seven were immersed upon confession
of their faith in Jesus Christ, in the river Darenth flowing by the cottage
of brave Hodges.
This seems to have aroused attention, and a breath of revival followed, for
several were added to their number, among them, Mr. Floyd, of the Paper
Mills.
Meetings increased and the Divine awakening then enjoyed, alarmed the Church
folk. If these "meetingers" were allowed to continue they would draw all
the people away, and the clergyman would only have pews to to preach to !
Such words, alas ! encouraged the villagers of the lower class, and the little
Church had to pass through some rough times. Music ! from tin kettles, bells,
horns, and whatever their ingenuity could devise, attended the worshippers
and disturbed their worship. Their intention was declared to be "to drive
these enemies of Church and King from the village of Eynsford, and stones
often came battering at the door of the cottage in which they met."
However, the little Church persevered, and strange scenes were enacted in
this beautiful village. One amusing incident is recorded. A crowd of men
and boys followed the preacher shouting " Tally-ho " and otherwise annoying
him, which so aroused the sympathies of an outsider, Sir John Dyke's steward,
who saw it, that with a heavy riding whip, he rushed to the help of the
persecuted Minister and his " tallying " was so effectual that he quickly
dispersed the " hounds." Bearing with gentleness these insults only seemed
to cause their increase and at last the ringleaders were punished by the
magistrates.
How wondrously God works. The report of the little Church's endurance was
circulated more widely by these proceedings, and many came to hear these
"strange doctrines" and found to their surprise the "meetingers" were loyal
subjects who even prayed for the King and the Royal family!
Yet what follows in the record reveals the bitterness that dwelt in some
hearts. Hodges-brave, earnest, Hodges-had notice to leave his cottage unless
the preaching there was discontinued. Another house was offered, and a stable
was fitted up, in Priory Lane at a cost of £100 and was opened July
2, 1799.
Sorrow, indignation and joy, struggle in the heart as one tries to think
through this period of the Church's history. Sorrow that any people of God
should have been subjected to such trial. Indignation that any one Church
should attempt to arrogate to itself the right to interfere with the conscience
of any ' man. Joy that the brave step of Hodges issued in so complete a success.
The records in the Church-books are of little public interest until we read
of-the settlement on September 29, 1802, of the
Rev. John Rogers upon whose ministry the
Divine blessing rested, for in 1804, we find a minute that "a new place of
worship is needful," and on July 2, 1806, our new Meeting house was opened,
Dr. Rippon preaching from Zech. iv. 6. January 3, 1808. "Resolved that a
Sunday School be commenced." In May 13 of the same year, it was found necessary
to erect a gallery in Eynsford Chapel..
May 1, 1814, the record tells the tale of continued success under the ministry
of Rev. J. Rogers. "In consequence of the increase of the congregation, and
the smallness of our vestry for the friends who dine there, an enlargement
is necessary."
Incidentally we read that when Mr. Rogers came to be Pastor "great difficulty
was experienced in obtaining lodgings for the young Minister, that at one
time the prejudice against a Baptist Minister was so strong that the people
with whom he lodged had notice to quit their house unless he left, and it
was with the greatest difficulty he secured a house when he married."
We need not follow the constant record of God's blessing upon Mr. Rogers'
ministry and give our last extract of this time.
September 20, 1840.- "Our esteemed and valued Pastor entered into rest this
day. His end was peace."
September 29, 1840.- "Our beloved Pastor was interred in a vault made in
the old Baptistry (by his desire), and was followed by 300 persons who attended
to testify the affectionate respect they cherished for the memory of their
friend and Pastor. So is 'the memory of the righteous blessed.' "
It was the Rev. J. Rogers' great joy to know that all his nine children learned
to love and serve their father's God and became useful, not only in Eynsford,
but in other spheres also. Even to this day he is represented at Eynsford
by a grandson who is a member and deacon of the Church to which he ministered
so ably and so long. "Unto you, and your children, and your children's children,"
stands the promise.
After the decease of Mr. Rogers several Ministers fulfilled the pastoral
duties, and in 1852, a man of considerable distinction, the
Rev. Jonathan Whittemore, the originator of the
Christian World, the Sunday School Times, and other publications, took charge
of the Church. Mr. Whittemore came to Eynsford from Rushden in Northamptonshire.
Already the Baptist Messenger one of his first adventures, had a large
circulation among the members of our denomination, and he was well known
for his interest in Congregational singing, having also published The
Comprehensive Tune Book. As he had thus secured for himself a place in religious
literature he might have looked for a larger sphere of ministerial labour,
but the fields and lanes of quiet Eynsford, and their nearness to London,
attracted him. It was on Good Friday, 1857, that the first number of the
Christian World was published. Two years later the Sunday School Times appeared
This was the first paper devoted to the interests of the Sunday School ever
published, and in a few weeks its circulation had reached 26,000 copies weekly.
Connected with Mr.Whittemore in these undertakings was the late Mr. James
Clarke, founder of the firm of James Clarke & Co.
The Church enjoyed many advantages through the connection of its Pastor with
the great world of thought in London and elsewhere, not the least of which
was the willingness of the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon, then in the youthtide of
his career, to come down and preach, rather frequently in the Chapel or the
adjacent orchard. Mr. Whittemore remained the Pastor until his death on October,
31, 1860, and was buried in Abney Park Cemetery in the presence of a notable
company of mourners.
From this church, too, came Miss "Marianne Farningham," so well known in
the world of literature. She was the eldest daughter of Mr. Joseph Hearn
of Farningham, a deacon of Eynsford Church for many years. Miss Hearn was
a scholar and teacher in the Sunday School, and was baptised into communion
about the year 1849, during the pastorate of the Rev. William Reynolds. She
has always been on the staff of the Christian World, and also for many years
the Editor of the Sunday School Times. Miss Hearn took the name of "Farningham"
from her birthplace on the advice of Mr. Whittemore.
Of the later years of this old Church, little need be said. Faithful men
served it, and the changes through which it has passed are many and varied.
It is of interest to note that Rev. E. G. Gange, so well known in our
denomination, in his early days, served Eynsford well for some time as
Student-Pastor. Also Rev. E. Roberts, now of the South London Tabernacle,
preached his first sermon while living at Eynsford. At the present time the
Church is fortunate in having as its Pastor,
Rev. H. E. Stone, late of Abbey Road, St. John's
Wood. Since his coming in June, 1905, the Congregations have much more than
doubled, and through his faithful ministry, many souls are being added to
the Church. May our God still be gracious unto us.
Eynsford Baptist Church which owes its formation
to that brave working man, Hodges, has been an active and progressive Church,
for from it the Baptist Churches at Meopham, Sutton, Foot's Cray, Kingsdown,
Crockenhill, Shoreham, Stansted and Farnborough had their origin. |
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