The Journal of Andrew Fuller Studies

The first edition of a new journal of Andrew Fuller Studies is out this month. It includes articles on Fuller and Gill and I have contributed a Beddome piece reproducing his letters. It is an honour to be involved. More here.

John Reynolds

In a book on Bunhill Fields John Andrew Jones notes that among the dead there is John Reynolds, of whom he says

To the memory of the Rev John Reynolds, M.A., who, after having been many years pastor of a Protestant Dissenting Church, near Cripplegate, with hope of a glorious resurrection slept in Jesus, Feb. 6th, 1792, in the 63rd year of his age.

“An angel's arm can’t snatch me from the grave; 

Legions of angels can’t confine me there.” 

John Reynolds was born January 5th, 1730, in the parish of Farmington, near North Leach, Gloucestershire. His father, Thomas Reynolds, was a farmer at Little Rissington, in that county. His first impressions of divine things was when he was only twelve years of age, under the ministry of Mr Benjamin Beddome, of Bourton-on-the-Water. At 18 years old, he went to the Baptist Academy at Bristol, under the tuition of Mr. Bernard Foskett. He first laboured as an occasional preacher, chiefly at Bromsgrove, Bratton, Cirencester and Cheltenham but more constantly at Oxford, where he continued nearly four years. The Baptist Church at Curriers' Hall, Cripplegate, being deprived by death of their pastor, Mr. John Brine, invited Mr. Reynolds to pay them a visit, which he did in April, 1776. He was ordained as pastor of this church, in October the same year. Dr. Gill gave him his charge from 2 Tim. i. 13 Hold fast the form of sound words, &c. It was printed, and, a solemn charge it is. Mr Benjamin Wallin preached to the church from 1 Cor. xii. 25, That there should be no schism [or division] in the body. This sermon was also printed, and is truly excellent.

Mr Reynolds' success among his people, was far from being equal to his wishes, but probably greater than his own modest opinion would suffer him to judge. He had a peculiar solicitude for the conversion of souls; and was distinguished for prudence. No man, amongst his brethren, was more frequently consulted in cases of difficulty than himself; and he was deservedly esteemed by Christians of different denominations. In 1770, he received from the college of Rhode Island, the degree of Master of Arts.

For some months previous to his death, Mr Reynolds, felt a general languor overspread his frame, which often detained him from the house of God. But, in the midst of his debility, he went and preached his farewell sermon to his flock from Psalm xxiii. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil and he meant, if he had been spared to go out again, to have considered the remainder of the text, for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Through his illness he was serene and happy. 1 Cor. xiii. 10, was a pleasing scripture to him, But when that which is PERFECT is come, then that which is IN PART shall be done away.

Mr. Giles, pastor of the church at Eythorne, in Kent, coming to see him, on Thursday evening, in the last week of his life, and mentioning to him Mr Rogers's saying, “I have been the Lord's working servant, and I am now his waiting servant;” Mr. Reynolds replied, “I trust with an honest heart 1 can say the same.” On Mr. G. remarking that, “Death was a solemn subject to the people of God in health; but, he supposed it must appear much more so in the prospect of one's own dissolution.” Mr Reynolds replied emphatically, “It is really so;” and added, “I have sometimes been entertained with elegant compositions of divinity, and with such sermons as have displayed a good taste, and full of argumentation and genius.” Here he paused and panted for breath, and then said, “But none of these things will do Now ; nothing short of the good old plain truths of the Bible. The unchangeable love of God, and the vicarious sacrifice of Christ, are the foundation of my faith and hope.” And then, with a peculiar accent he added, “Here is terra firma;” and repeated, with much exertion, “I say Mr Giles here is terra firma for a dying man.”

Mr. Reynolds departed this life Feb. 6, 1792, aged 62 years and one month; and was buried in Bunhill Fields, near to his predecessors, Mr Skepp and Mr Brine. Mr Abraham Booth delivered the address at his grave, and preached the funeral sermon to his bereaved church from John xiv. 2: In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. - W. and I.

Richard Hall 02

MR comments on Snooke's regular stock investments. Hall also started to dabble in stocks and shares while still young and throughout adult life kept jottings of stock movements and changes in Bank of England interest rates. The letter in the Angus Library from Beddome to Hall is on this matter. Snooke and Hall made some joint purchases – presumably, says MR, using the income from the Seward estate, since it belonged to both equally. Bengeworth was a problem. The Mansion House was run-down and neglected and it took time to find a willing tenant.
The births of Hall's children are mentioned in his Journals. By the time Francis, the third, arrived in 1757 it was clear the family had out-grown the “rooms above the shop” and in 1758 we read “we moved house – Slept at our country house at Stockwell 14th May”. Eleanor may not have known it but by then she was already a couple of months pregnant. The Journal goes on to record “November 12th 1758 my daughter Frances was born - she died 23rd December, 1758 . A most sorrowful Christmas for us all.” Later on he recalled “So, in total my dear Eleanor bore me four children, apart from ten miscarriages”.
“January 8th 1759 at the age of 60 died my father Francis Hall after a declining state of health.” After her husband’s death Hall’s step-mother removed to South Lambeth. Richard inherited the business and premises in Red Lion Street and set about expanding. From making and selling silk hosiery he progressed to selling all manner of fine silks, etc.
Reviewing his father’s life at the start of the following century Hall’s son Benjamin records that in 1763 Hall “was baptized by Dr Gill under whose ministry he had sat with much pleasure for several years. This circumstance took place at the Barbican chapel on 14th December and on the 18th he was received into full communion with Dr Gill’s Church at Carter Lane Southwark.” Hall himself notes that he gave his experience in to Dr Gill’s Church December 5, 1763. On March 17 1757 he had given a generous gift “towards Dr Gills new Meeting £20/0/0”. This was linked with the move to Carter Lane, a few hundred yards from Red Lion Street. Hall was regular at the meetings on Friday nights and on Sundays.

On his birthday (January 15) in 1767 Hall writes “The Lord has spared Me to ye return of another Birth Day – may I live more in his Fear, and to his Glory”. In that same year he moved his shop to the end of the newly refurbished London Bridge – only a few hundred yards from the old premises but in many ways a different world. He notes “November 1766 - entered into an agreement for finishing a new-built house on the corner of Lower Thames Street London Bridge”. On April 3 he “Remov’d shop Goods to my New House, the Corner of Thames Street” He opened on April 6 and that night Dr Gill dined with him (“Spent a little time in Prayer”).
At around the same time the family moved from Stockwell “to a fine house … leased in Peckham in Surry”. We read “1767 June 13th Slept at New House for first Night”.
It was the custom for the Snookes to come up to Town once a year to see the Halls, usually in April. They would stay for as long as seven or eight weeks. They would all go on various trips.
Another note says - 1770 July 6th Bound my Son William Seward Hall Apprentice to me. William would have been just under 16. In time he would inherit a very different business from the one founded by his grandfather.
In October 1771 John Gill died, aged 73. Of this bereavement Hall writes “Great is his loss in the Church and much felt by me. It is a great affliction when we know the worth of our privileges by the want of them, especially our spiritual mercies. It is possible to set too great an esteem on man - perhaps I did not prize my faithful Minister as I ought to have done. I wish I had improved more under his sound Ministry. I now will greatly miss him. Will the Lord be pleased, as a token for good to me, to bring me into a good fold and give me an appetite for His Word and Ordinances. I desire to be thankful I have my pastor’s works to consult, which I much value.” Hall had written out every sermon he had heard Gill preach over the past 25 years and had them bound. In January 1772 Hall decided to have printed – at his own expense (£1.14.6) – 200 copies of “What I remember of Dr Gill”, which he then proceeded to hand out to friends and acquaintances.