Interesting anecdote

The London congregation of Rev Mr Wilson, who had been his pastor, and under whom he had united with the Church in 1739, desired to secure Mr Beddome as successor, but he declined to go. The church in Goodman's Fields had not only sent the call, but had deputed a gentleman to carry it, who went down to Bourton on horseback.

A poor parishioner of Mr Beddome, having been intrusted with the care of his horse, discovered the errand, and brought the animal to the door, saying to the London emissary, "Robbers of churches are the worst sort of robbers." He then turned the horse loose, to the discomfiture of its rider, "I would rather honour God," said Mr Beddome, "in a station even much inferior to that in which he has placed me, than intrude myself into a higher without his direction." He died, September 3, 1795, having laboured at Bourton for 52 years. (Not sure how authentic the anecdote is. It is in S W Duffield's 2003 work English hymns: their authors and history and probably relies on Charles Seymour Robinson in 1893).