Anecdote as originally given

It turns out that the anecdote is from a letter to Rippon at the Annual Register by J T (Joshua Thomas or most likely John Tommas)

The late venerable Mr Beddome, of Bourton on the Water, in Gloucestershire, in a conversation I had with him, some years ago, informed me, that journeying from Bourton to Devizes, in his way, he stopped at an inn at Wotton-Basset, a small borough town in Wiltshire, where he was quite a stranger, to take some refreshment. The person who kept the house, a widow woman, from his appearance, supposed him to be a clergyman of the Church of England, and was willing to do him a pleasure: therefore, after serving him herself with what he called for in a very obliging manner, said to him, "Sir, the inhabitants of this place are a very happy people," "I am glad," replied Mr Beddome, "you are so." " Yes," added the widow, "we do I assure you, Sir, think ourselves some of the most happy people in the world." "For what reason, Madam ?" said Mr B. "Why, Sir," answered his hostess, "we have but one Dissenter in the town, and he is a Roman Catholic; and you know, Sir, they are the best of them! The good man, not willing to confound her, pleasantly passed off the matter, without making himself known.

(Wootton Basset was on a coach route and boasted several inns in Beddome's day)

Another Anecdote

This anecdote appeared in the Evangelical Magazine in 1806 (also in the first issue of the Christian's Penny Magazine 1832).

The late venerable Mr Beddome, minister of the Baptist Church at Bourton on the Water, Gloucestershire, being on a journey, stopped at an inn at Wotton Basset, a small town in Wiltshire, where he was quite a stranger, to take refreshment. A widow woman who then kept the house, concluding from his appearance that he was a clergyman of the Establishment, anxious to please her guest, said, after serving him obligingly with every thing he called for, "Sir, the inhabitants of this place are a very happy people." "I am glad of that," said Mr B "but for what reason are they so happy?" added he. "Why, Sir," answered his hostess, "we have but one Dissenter in the town, and he is a Roman Catholic; and you know, Sir, they are the best of them!" The good man, not willing to confound her, pleasantly passed off the matter, without making himself known.

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).