November 23 1777

Among notes about hymns in The Angus Library is one that says

Revd Gregg at Bourton after Mr Wilkins’ sermon from Romans i. 16, 23 November 1777

So on November 23, 1777 Beddome did not preach, Wilkins did. He preached on Romans 1:16 and they sang the hymn by Joseph Grigg (1728-1768) that begins Ashamed of Jesus, that dear Friend

Kinghorn and a brief reference to Beddome

In a letter of October, 1788 Joseph Kinghorn (later of Norwich) speaks of going to Bourton and consulting Beddome's assistant Wilkins. He says Beddome agreed with Wilkins.

Fairford, October 28th, 1788

DEAR FATHER AND MOTHER,

I was very glad of yours of the 7th instant, and particularly pleased that you were ignorant of the confusion and anxiety I have been in for the last month. The very day after I sent off my last to you I received an invitation to a church at Hanley, Staffordshire; they wrote to me on the recommendation of Mr. Hopper, of Nottingham, who informed them I was at liberty. This put me and my friends here into a flutter. I directly wrote to Mr. Evans, we were then nothing but consultations, &c. On the 12th a meeting was called, at which only thirteen were present, eight signed, two were neuter, and three against. For my part I was in a dreadful dilemma - wrote again to Mr. Evans - took a horse and went to Mr. Dunscombe, [in coate] and then to Bourton-on-the-Water. Mr. D. taking in all circumstances, thought my further stay desirable for some time at least. At Bourton, Mr. Wilkins said he thought the best way would be to reject every partial invitation, but make them an offer of my services till they could meet with one in whom they could more cordially unite. Mr. Beddome highly approved the advice. My friends agreed to the measure, as by this means my stay had a peaceable appearance. I did so on the 19th instant; the opposition were struck, and the proposal was applauded by all, (two or three excepted,) it was considered as a generous Christian-like proposal: by this means those who before seemed neuter, are more attached to me. On this ground I now am. The only thing that could induce me to take this step was a desire to keep them together. I trust it was the direction of providence. Our congregation keeps up, Arlington is pleasing, and I have additional hopes that I have been useful. Yours in duty and affection,

J. K.

William Wilkins

Most of this information can be found elsewhere on the blog but we do not appear to have a separate entry for William Wilkins (c 1752-1812), assistant to Beddome, c 1777-1795.

Apparently there is a Beddome letter from January 1778 that remarks that Mr Wilkins (Sen?) was not very well.

We mentioned that his attempt to woo Anne Steele's niece Mary Steele was a failure. In September 1776 William Steele Senior wrote to his his daughter from Broughton to Bradford where she was staying thus:

And now My Dear I have a Piece of intelligence to inform you of concerning my Daughter which is that I have a very genteel Letter from Mr W Wilkins junr of Cirencester expatiating on her amiable Qualities mental & religious & desiring my Approbation in paying his Addresses to her & hopes that on my being acquainted with his Views, Connections Character & Circumstances they will not appear to his disadvantage, and that as a Subject of this Importance requires deliberation, I will when duly considered give him encouragement to visit Broughton &c. (Sep 11 1776)

Wilkins appears to have been a son of the manse. He originally trained in medicine but then studied for the ministry at Bristol Baptist Academy (c 1774-1777). Bristol Baptist College holds a letter from Wilkins to Benjamin Francis of Horsley, dated 10th January 1773, and Francis's letter to William Wilkins Snr. of Cirencester dated 9th February 1773. He may also have studied in Scotland.

Wilkins had three sisters, two of whom married sons of Beddome, Boswell and Samuel; the third married the business partner of Samuel Beddome, Hewitt Fysh. All had settled in London by 1797.

Wilkins himself married first Elizabeth (possibly Alice) North in 1779. She was a Presbyterian from Overthorpe near Banbury, Oxfordshire. Between 1791 and 1790 they had four girls then two boys. She died May 8, 1798 in Bourton.

He then married a Letitia Field (1778-1844) from Hackney in 1800. There is a memorial to her in the Bourton on the Water church. Her parents were John Field (1719-1796) and Ann Tidman Cromwell (1727-1797). Between 1801 and 1807 they had four children, two boys and two girls. The first boy died young but the son became a solicitor and the girls married solicitors.

After his time in Bourton he supplied at Stow and Naunton, 1792-4; was in Cirencester, 1794 and by 1811 was minister in Stow-on-the-Wold. In 1812 he died in Bourton.

Letitia Wilkins (Field)

There is a memorial to Letitia Field 1778-1844 in the Bourton on the Water church. Letitia was born and raised and died in Bourton it seems though there is some Hackney connection in the mix. Her parents were John Field (1719-196) and Ann Tidman Cromwell (1727-1797). She married Beddome's assistant Rev William Wilkins (c 1752-1812) from Cirencester in 1800. She was Wilkins' second wife His first wife was Elizabeth (possibly Alice) North, who he married November 30, 1779. She was a Presbyterian from Overthorpe near Banbury, Oxfordshire. She died May 8 1798 in Bourton.

The memorial reads

In the adjoining burial ground

are deposited

the mortal remains of

Letitia Wilkins

Widow of the Revd William Wilkins

Formerly resident in this place,

who departed this life on the

8th day of March 1844,

aged 74 years.

To the memory of an affectionate,

pious and beloved mother,

This tablet is inscribed by her

three sorrowing children

... Oh who can tell

her glorious welcome, or our sad farewell.

Letter from Wilkins to Fox 1785

LITTLE RISINGTON, Dec. 29, 1785.

DEAR SIR-It is not my indifference or indolence that prevents my making a better report to you of the Sunday School scheme in this neighbourhood; there are few resident clergy, and few others to be found in the different parishes around us, I may say scarcely any who will patronize, encourage, countenance, or enforce the plan, there are few parishes that can furnish a person competent to the task of teaching, such is the state of the lowest class, and without compulsion they would have very few scholars who could and would teach. What can a single individual do in such a complication of obstacles " Sigh and pray he may and does, but that faith which shall remove mountains, who can find?

Your printed letter, &c., which I have circulated: among the most respectable clergy, &c., around this – neighbourhood, affords me a fresh and good opportunity to make an attempt at an humble imitation of your society. I shall try to bring them, if possible to make Stow the centre of a society which shall hold forth encouragement to all the neighbouring villages -: to promote religious knowledge, and a reformation of manners among them. No other scheme seems feasible to me for various ... reasons. Such a society, if respectable, would have influence, ability, and weight; parish officers, without = . whom nothing can be done for the purpose around us, would be influenced to exert themselves, the clergy and the gentry would feel themselves engaged to countenance in this case, and without some such plan there is languor, listlessness, &c., to say the least of it, which will defeat and murder the intention. 

Should the plan take place, you will probably hear of it, and till the issue of my attempts to accomplish it be known, I do not think it worth while to trouble your society with any application for assistance in any particular village, though I could well dispense it in this place where I live, under my own inspection if afforded. The circulation of your plans, &c., through the kingdom, is, I think, an excellent effect of your institution, in itself considered, and that especially as it holds forth to the whole world, a specimen of liberality of mind of the present race of church men and dissenters, and may be a means of disseminating and perpetuating this desirable and amiable spirit far and wide, to allow each other to think and judge for ourselves and to agree to act together, so far as practicable for the glory of God, and the good of mankind, is the spirit and glory of true Christianity, and I envy the happiness of that man who has realized a wish or a thought to promote it.

I must confess I have no clear ideas after all, of what your society will be willing to do for any particular place, or how they mean to do it, or whether assistance is to be asked upon a formed plan, or direction and assistance sought for together, if there be any such rule limiting the number of books to be given, &c., if they mean entirely or only partially to support a school in any given place, leaving the terms to the parties applying, &c., but I will not tease you with more of my impertinences, as I doubt not the mail coaches will be charged with them as plentifully as they are with hares and partridges at this season of the year.

With warmest respect, I remain, 

Dear sir, yours, 

W. WILKINS

December 1784

Entries in Richard Hall's diary for December 1784 revealed here by Mike Rendell give a little insight into that month in Bourton on the Water. (In January 1784 Beddome's wife Elizabeth had died). 

Mike Rendell begins by saying that

On Tuesday 7th December 1784 Richard Hall noted that there was “snow last night, very Cold.” The following day saw the entry “Snow at night, hard Frost, very sharp. Snow in ye afternoon, wind high at night.” And so it continued for the rest of the week (“Snow lay, hard Frost …. very hard Frost, snow lay some more last night … a considerable deal of Snow.”).

He then gives us a copy of the diary for Monday December 13 until the end of the year

Monday December 13th

Snow still lay – Frozen hard -pretty fine day.

Tu. 14^th

Having obtained help of God … I am spared to see the return of my Wedding Day. Din’d at Mrs Snookes with Mr Beddome. Mr and Mrs Palmer came in the afternoon. Frost continued. A little more Snow. Cold.

W 15^th

Heard Mr Beddome at the lecture Isah 41.10 former part - mostly dull, a little snow, rather Thawed – Cold
Thu 16^th

Mr Mrs Peake, Mrs Snooks Maria din'd. On a Cod, etc, snow continued dull and cold.

Fri 17^th

Dined at Mrs Snookes with Mr & Mrs Peake on a Cod, etc. N+Much snow fall in the past nights. Hard frost. Pretty fine day. Cold.

S 18th

Dull, some snow in the afternoon. Not as cold as it was.

Sabt -19^th

Heard Mr Wilkins Acts 8.39 last Cl. Mr Beddome Isah 41.10 former part. Snow continued, mostly dull, cold.

Mo: 20^th

Hard Frost, fine day, very cold.

Tu: 21st

Mr Griffiths of Bath & Mr Snooke Breakfast with us. We din'd, etc. with him at Mrs Snookes. Frost continued, Snow still lay – snowed a little today. Very cold.

W 22^nd

Hard frost, fine day, very Cold.

Th 23^rd

Hard frost, very Cold pretty fine.

Saty 25th

Xmas Day. Heard Mr Wilkins Luke 2. 14^th. We din'd etc at Mrs Snookes. frost continued, dull a little, snow, Cold.

Sabt 26^th

Heard Mr Beddome Ezekl 12.2 & Mr Wilkins 2 Chron 34. v 3 former part. Dull, seems like(ly) a thaw, not quite so cold. frose at night or in ye night – a great fog alright.

Mo 27^th

Frost continued – dull, Cold, a very little snow.

Tu: 28^th

Din'd at Mrs Snookes with Wife. Mr Mrs Miss Beale. Mr Shaw. Miss Beddome. Mr B drank tea. Dull day, frost, very sharp wind – exceeding Cold.

Wednesday Decr 20th

Heard Mr Wilkins at the Lecture 2 Peter 3.18 dull day hard frost, very cold.

Thu. 30th

A great fall of Snow, the past night which lay thick. Dull day, foggy, not quite so sharp.

Fri. 31st

Through spareing mercy am preserved to the close of another year, through which much goodness and mercy have followed me but what little fruit – has been brought forth in the midst of many Favours and privileges how well is it God's thoughts are not as mine nor his ways as my ways. Mr Mrs Palmer, Mr Wilkins, Miss Beddome, Mrs Snooke, Maria – Din'd. Mr Beddome drank tea. dull day, cold, Snow still lay thick.

At the beginning of this year 1784 we had much Cold Weather, and snow, a late Spring, warm Summer with much Thunder and Lightning, a very fine Haymaking and Harvest … Snow upon the ground, which has been from the 8 of December and still continues.

The Lord has crowned the Year with his Goodness. 

Naunton Baptist Church

This piece on the early history of Naunton Baptist Church was found here.

The history of Baptists in Naunton goes back at least to 1676, when there were six non-conformists in the village. It is traditionally said that Oliver Cromwell deliberately settled some of his Puritan followers in this area after the Civil War, and that some of these who first brought the "chapel" way to these parts. In fact, there is good evidence of Puritans within the Church of England at Bourton and Slaughter very early in the seventeenth century, and these were almost certainly the fathers and grandfathers of the first non-conformists congregations.
At around 1660 the Baptist Church was founded in Stow, though local Baptists had been meeting in the Stow/Moreton for a number of years, and are recorded in 1655 sending representatives to the Association of Baptist Churches meeting at Warwick, as did the Baptists of Bourton on the Water. The influence of Stow Baptist Church also reached out into the villages.
Among its numbers in 1685, Anthony Freeman, Thomas Bradley and Richard Lambe of Guiting, and William Wood of Barton are recorded as fined for not attending the Parish Church, and at least Richard Lambe was imprisoned. Anthony Freeman, a mercer, was the pastor of the Stow Baptist Church around the end of the 1600s, and it was a Mrs Margaret Freeman of Guiting who presented Stow Baptist Church with two communion mugs around 1700. Amongst those fined are men from a number of other villages around Bourton and Stow - though not from Naunton.
It looks likely that during the mid seventeenth century Bourton was a stronger influence than Stow Baptist Church. The rector there was, Anthony Palmer, a strong Calvinist. He was ejected from the Church of England in 1661, but records show that in 1676 nearly half the stated population of Bourton on the Water refused allegiance to the Church of England - an exceptionally high proportion - compared with just 5 "dissenters" (non-conformists) in 1603. With Bourton only five miles away, it is safe to presume that non-conformity reached Naunton from there.
A diocesan survey in 1735 records 11 non-conformists in Naunton, out of 44 families. The 11 are identified as 6 presbyterians, 3 baptists, and 2 "sabbatarian and congregational" - a shoe-maker and his wife, who are also identified as baptist and unitarian.
About 1737 a Baptist called Joseph Hitchman was preaching the gospel at Naunton to these local non-conformists, in the open air or, more probably, in a cottage. At least two local people were moved to believe in Jesus - Robert Wake Rowlands and his wife Mary were baptised in the river "about three lug [16 yards] below the bridge". Robert was a young man of about 20 - a tailor from Notgrove.
In 1740 Bourton Baptist Church called as in minister Rev Benjamin Beddome. His ministry lasted for 52 years, and was hugely influential. During his time the Bourton Baptists grew greatly in strength and number, including from the surrounding villages. Stow Baptist Church was going through a weak period, and became part of the Bourton church in 1742. Bourton Baptist Church at this time had about 100 members, drawing from most of the villages within a 8 mile radius, including Naunton, the Slaughters, Barton and Hawling. (The popularity and effectiveness of Beddome's ministry was such that within 10 years membership increased to 180, with the chapel enlarged in 1748 and a new one built in 1765 to accommodate the extended congregation.)
For the first forty years of Beddome's ministry, the few Baptists at Naunton must have made the 10-mile round trip to Bourton for worship. As their numbers slowly grew, they must have increasingly desired a place of worship of their own - but Beddome was the sole minister of the large Bourton church, and could not be expected to travel to minister in the villages.
Then in 1777 - when Beddome was 60 - an assistant minister was appointed to help him, Rev William Wilkins. Although early evidence is circumstantial, it seems likely that Wilkins was crucial to the establishment of Naunton as a separate Baptist church. Two years after Wilkins' arrival the Naunton Baptists took the first of three important steps that would lead to their independence. In 1797 ten Naunton villagers applied to the Bishop of Gloucester to register Robert Rowland's house as a place of public worship, as was required by law. They would still be a part of the Bourton Baptist Church, but would now have their own place for worship. There is no immediate, direct evidence, but it is fair to presume that William Wilkins was able to visit the villages, and that this prospect encouraged the Naunton congregation to establish their own place of worship in Robert Rowland's cottage. (Wilkins was certainly closely connected to the work in Naunton - sometimes very directly - for the next 33 years). ... The congregation grew steadily ...
By the 1790s Beddome was declining in health and was well through his 70s. (He was to die in 1795, still the pastor of Bourton Baptist Church). In the Summer of 1792, Rev Wilkins had stepped down as Beddome's assistant, for reasons that are not recorded: he remained a very active player in the local Baptist scene.
Whether influenced by Wilkins, or in premonition that Beddome's death would lead to a period of instability at Bourton, the Naunton Baptists now took their second major step towards becoming an independent church. In 1794 twelve local men subscribed to a fund to pay visiting preachers to take services at Naunton every month (presumably communion). This was a significant step, establishing partial financial and ministerial independence from Bourton.
An intriguingly un-dated document records that Mr Wilkins was formally invited to be minister by 55 people who describe themselves as "attenders of the Baptist Congregation at Bourton on the Water" but are all from villages around Naunton (15 from Naunton itself). The names in the document and circumstantial evidence would suggest a date between 1792 and 1797. If so, this would be a record of the Naunton congregation seeking to call Wilkins as their minister following his separation from Bourton.
Separate Bourton records indicate that they had been asked by the Naunton congregation for Communion sometimes to be administered at Naunton itself, and that this by Wilkins - but that both requests were declined. Bourton records also indicate that Wilkins preached for some years at Cirencester after leaving Bourton in 1792: perhaps he had a commitment to Cirencester that prevented him from responding to a formal invitation to become a minister at Naunton in the 1790s.
It seems that with Wilkins unable or unwilling to serve at Naunton, the congregation there "secured the services" of a Mr Roadway in 1797 as "their minister". A further step to independence had been taken.
Following Beddome's death, Bourton Baptist Church entered a period of instability and fragmentation. The Naunton congregation by now was most likely too large to meet in the Rowlands house, and a proper chapel was needed. First they had to obtain formal approval - a fourth step to independence. In October 1797 twenty one men, including William Wilkins, signed another certificate for the Bishop of Gloucester to grant permission for the building of a chapel - again signed on the Bishop's behalf by Thomas Rudge, Deputy Registrar.
It may have taken a little while to raise some funds and identify a plot of ground, for it was in 1799 that the congregation set to work "to provide a more convenient place for their assembling together". A piece of garden ground 17 yards by 9 yards was bought from Robert Perry at the western (war memorial) end of the current site. Work began on the walls in 1799, much of it done by a Mr Mosen - a name still associated with building work in the village of Naunton today.
There was also concern that services would be properly administered. Early in 1800, William Rowlands - clearly a leading figure in the congregation - received a letter from his cousin William Hitchman concerning the correct way to administer communion.
In the Summer of 1800 the first Chapel formally opened, and six months (later) Naunton Baptist Church was formally recognised as independent of the Bourton congregation, a (fact) recorded in the following slightly sharp message:

January 2 1801

Dear Brethren,
As you have after prayer and consideration, withdrawn yourselves from this church, so as not to interfere with the concerns thereof, having chosen Mr Rodway to be your minister and pastor, We, the members, now met together by appointment, think it our duty to send you this message, not in anger, but in prudence, to let you know that we no longer look on you as members with us, but to esteem you as brothers and sisters in the Lord, wishing you peace, love, and prosperity, and desiring your prayers for us.

Hayden 07a

On pages 89-92 Hayden looks at who went into the ministry through Beddome. We have a post on this here. He does add a little information.

1. Richard Haines - Hayden says his death was on May 17, 1767. He was baptised May 15, 1741. He gives the 1747 note about calling him. Haines pastored in Bradford-on-Avon 1750-1767. Hayden gives the note from the Bourton church book on his death mentioning a work started by him in Bath in 1755.

2. John Ryland Senior is only mentioned in passing.

3. Richard Strange (Stratton, Wiltshire). Not mentioned by Hayden.

4. John Reynolds (1730-1792). There is quite a bit on him. Hayden quotes the Bourton church book but can cast no light on the period before the call to Cripplegate 1766 and ordination, which involved Gill and Stennett, with Benjamin Wallin the preacher (no Bristol men involved). Hayden mentions the unfortunate accidental swallowing of his shirt studs that impaired his voice forever after. He mentions a friendship with former Bristol student John MacGowan and says that Reynolds one published sermon was a 1782 address to the annual meeting of the Bristol Education Society.

5. Nathanael Rawlings (1733-1809) was baptised March 24, 1750. Hayden gives some further background on this man who ministered in Trowbridge and Broughton (Broughton Gifford near Melksham or Borughton in Hampshire?).

6. William Wilkins. Hayden mentions Beddome's Bristol trained assistant from Horsely here.

7. Alexander Paine. Not mentioned by Hayden.

8. Thomas Coles, Beddome’s eventual successor. Not mentioned by Hayden.