The Warwick Association 1778

B R E V I A T E S.

Most of the Messengers arrived in safety on Tuesday evening, and after some time spent in prayer, Brother [James] Turner was chosen MODERATOR, the Letters from the several Churches were read, minutes taken, and their contents considered. In general, the Churches are in peace, and we hope have the truth amongst them, and love it. Several Letters make mention of the state of public affairs, and recommended fasting and prayer, as highly necessary at the present awful crisis, that God may be pleased in mercy to remember us, reform and bless us. This opportunity was closed by prayer.

We met again next morning for prayer. One of the Brethren produced the Circular Letter, which was read and approved, At ten o'clock the public service was introduced by singing and prayer by Brother [Thomas] Hiller; Brother Beddome preached from 1 Kings xviii. 17. Art thou he that troubleth Israel? and Brother [Robert] Hall [1728-1791 Arnesby] concluded the morning service.-At two o'clock the service was introduced as before; Brother (John) SUTCLIFF [1752-1815] prayed; Brother [John] Ash preached from 2 Cor. iv. 3. And if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are losi; and Brother (Caleb) EVANS concluded by prayer. - We met again in the evening, six o'clock;- Brother LAWRENCE BUTTERWORTH prayed, Brother [James] Dore preached from Luke viii. 18. Take heed therefore how you hear; and closed the solemnities of the Association by prayer.

The present STATE of the CHURCHES.
Added this year Baptised 55

                           Death            21
Lost by               Dismission    1
                           Exclusion      6

                                                  28

Total Increase                             27


Agreed; to keep a Day of Fasting and Prayer between the Hay and Corn Harvests, on such days as may be most convenient to the Churches.
The Association next year to be at Cirencesier; our Brethren [John] Poynting and L. BUTTERWORTH to preach; in case of failure, Brother Ash.
Put up at the RAM.

Ordination of John Ryland Sen

Ivimey says (Volume 4)

At Warwick, Mr. Ryland had often preached before September 21, 1746; and at that time the church unanimously invited him for twelve months. His ordination took place July 26, 1750. Mr. Brine [John Brine 1703-1765, High Calvinist pastor in Cripplegate, London] gave him a charge, which appears in his printed works. Mr. John Haydon, of Horsley, [1714-1782, later went on to Tewekesbury] preached to the people; Mr. Beddome, Mr. [John?] Overbury [1729-1764, pastor at Alcester], and Mr. [Thomas] Craner [1716-1773, then in Blunham, Bedfordhsire but who went on to pastor in London] prayed; and Mr. Ryland himself concluded 

Letter of Dismission for John Ryland from Bourton Church to that of Warwick.

“The church of Christ meeting at Bourton-on-the-Water, and Stow, in Gloucestershire, under the pastoral care of our beloved brother, Benjamin Beddome, to the church of Christ of the same faith and order meeting at Warwick, sendeth greeting.

“Dearly beloved in our Lord Jesus,

“As it was our happiness that God should raise up such a gift as our brother Ryland amongst us, so 'tis your privilege that you have enjoyed his ministry so long - had him restored after a threatening and dangerous illness (of the small-pox in April last) and are now likely to have him settled in office amongst you. For this purpose we dismiss him from his fellowship with us, and recommend him to you; assuring you that we think it our honour that we ever had such a member; and hoping that the God of all grace will still preserve to him that amiable character which he hath hitherto sustained. May you long be a mutual blessing one to another; and may you enjoy much of God and Christ under his ministrations! In return for such a gift, we desire, and think we have some claim to an interest in your prayers, who are

“Yours in the glorious Head of the Church, Christ Jesus,“

BENJAMIN BEDDOME, Pastor, [and eleven other names.]

Done in the church this 8th day of July, 1750, and signed by us in behalf of the whole.”

Newton and Beddome, Beddome Cleared

The memoir already quoted cryptically suggests that Beddome had occasioned Newton's conformity. Further explanation can be found (according to D Bruce Hindmarsh in his 1996 John Newton and the Evangelical Tradition) in a sermon by Samuel Palmer (1741-1813). He provides more detail,

 

"explaining that while at Warwick Newton had desired that he and his congregation would shut up their meeting-house temporarily to go and hear Beddome, who was the visiting preacher at the Baptist Chapel. Some of the congregation were so offended at this that they made bitter comments about Newton and those who wished to go."

 

"The background," Hindmarsh adds "which Palmer did not explain, was that the Independent meeting had only recently been formed through a paedobaptist secession from the open communion Baptist church. Palmer claimed that, because of this whole episode, Newton had developed an opinion of Dissenters as a 'litigious people' and had turned his thoughts toward the Established Church where he might enjoy more peace and quietness."

So Beddome, as we might have guessed, was not to blame for Newton becoming an Anglican!

More again on Newton and Beddome

In the memoir of Newton published in 1843 it says of him:

His earliest religious connections, Captain Clunie, Mr Brewer and Mr Hayward, it must be borne in mind, were among the choicest characters in the dissenting churches. The influence of this circumstance, in inclining his mind towards the Independents, could not be slight. An unhappy dissension, however, wherein he was rather a witness than a party, and which arose out of a sermon preached by Mr Beddome, at Warwick, during his residence at that place, appears to have raised many doubts in his mind touching the Independent scheme, and, more than all, the judgment of Mrs Newton strongly opposed itself to any hasty decision.

Newton and Beddome Again

In The Evangelical Magazine Volume 16 (1808) there is a memoir of the then recently deceased John Newton. On page 98 we read that

His first public attempts to preach the word were made at Warwick. After the removal of the late Mr Ryland from a dissenting church in that town, a separation took place; and several pious persons, who were Paedobaptists, assembled together for worship in a dwelling-house, previously-to the erection of that chapel in which Mr Rowley preached for some time, and after him Mr Moody, for about 20 years. Mr Vennor, a leading person among those who formed this new interest, having received a very strong recommendation of Mr Newton from Mr Brewer, of Stepney, invited him to preach to them for six weeks on probation. He accordingly came (we believe, in the year 1759) with Mrs Newton. During his stay here, he used to retire on Saturdays, and sometimes on other days, to the Grove, in Lord Dormer's park, about two miles from Warwick, and to other sequestered spots, where he composed his sermons. Though he did not fix among this people, yet he always retained a peculiar affection for them; and he has been heard to say long after he settled in Olney that the very name of Warwick would at any time make his heart leap for joy. It was not the smallness of the congregation at that time, nor the narrow salary proposed to be raised, that prevented his settlement at Warwick; but he was undecided in his mind, whether to go into the Established Church, or to join the Dissenters. Among the latter were his first religious connections, which gave his mind a bias towards them; but he apprehended that disputes in dissenting congregations were common; and an occasional sermon by Mr Beddome, which he heard at, the Baptist Meeting at Warwick had a considerable effect on his mind to increase his disinclination to become a Dissenting Minister. Indeed, at that period, his ministerial talents were not very popular and it does not seem that he was much pressed to settle with any dissenting church.