AI Interview

An imagined interview with Reverend Benjamin Beddome (1717–1795)

Setting: We are transported to a quiet study in Bourton-on-the-Water, a small village in the Cotswolds, during the late 1770s. The room is lined with books, and the air is scented with lamp oil. The elderly Reverend Benjamin Beddome, settled into a large armchair with a Bible in his lap, receives a visitor.

Interviewer: Reverend Beddome, thank you for welcoming me into your home. Your reputation as a pastor and hymn writer extends well beyond this serene village. What drew you from your early apprenticeship as a surgeon to a life dedicated to ministry?

Beddome: It was a path not of my choosing, but of divine design. For many years, my parents prayed for my conversion, and I showed little interest in matters of faith. Then, at the age of twenty, a sermon struck me to the heart, and I saw the truth of God’s Word. My medical apprenticeship came to an end, and it became clear to me that my true calling was to heal the soul, not just the body. I pursued my theological training in Bristol and London before being led to this quiet corner of Gloucestershire.

Interviewer: You have served the Baptist church here in Bourton for several decades now. What has kept you so committed to this congregation, even in the face of calls to London?

Beddome: (A gentle smile crosses his face.) Ah, yes, those entreaties from the city. I placed the decision in the hands of my congregation, and their refusal to let me go was a deeply humbling moment. For me, ministry is not about ambition or location, but about the bonds formed with the flock. Here, among these good people, I have found my purpose. The work is constant, the joys are immense, and the sorrows are shared.

Interviewer: You are famous for composing a hymn to accompany each of your Sunday sermons. How did this practice begin, and what purpose did it serve for you?

Beddome: I began the practice not with the thought of publication, but to deepen the spiritual reflection of my congregation. I believed that a hymn, written specifically to echo the sermon's message, could help the truth resonate more fully in the hearts of the listeners. It became a way to make the sermon's message not merely heard, but sung and felt. Many of them were quite impromptu, written at the last moment as I made my way to the pulpit.

Interviewer: Of the more than 800 hymns published after your death, some stand out for their deeply personal inspiration. Your hymn, "My times of sorrow and of joy," is said to have been written on the very day you learned of a son's passing.

Beddome: (He nods, a look of solemn remembrance in his eyes.) That is a painful memory, but a true one. I did not know of my son's death when I preached that day from Psalm 31:15, "My times are in thy hand". The words came from my heart, seeking comfort in God's providence amidst the changing scenes of this life. It was a stark reminder that we find no perfect bliss here on earth; "the honey's mixed with gall". Only in God can we find our true portion.

Interviewer: You also played an active role in the evangelical revival of your time and were a leading figure in the Midland Baptist Association. How did you balance your devotion to your local parish with this broader influence?

Beddome: My time in Bourton never isolated me. We are all members of a larger body, and the work of revival is a collective effort. I felt it my duty to encourage other young ministers, such as John Sutcliff, and to cooperate with brothers of other persuasions. My association with George Whitefield, for instance, showed that evangelical catholicity—a spirit of unity and cooperation—was more important than theological divisions. This ministry extended beyond our own chapel walls, serving to clear the stumbling blocks from the path of revival.

Interviewer: Your physical health has been declining in recent years, yet you continue to preach, even from a seated position. Why is preaching so important to you?

Beddome: (His voice, though low, is firm and earnest.) My body may fail, but the message does not. The pulpit is a place of light and fire, a place where words can give wings to the religious aspirations of the hearers. I believe that preaching is a vital means for the nurture of souls, bringing them to the very gates of heaven. While my legs may no longer carry me, my voice and my heart remain committed to this calling until my last breath.

Interviewer: You were known for your learning and your conversational wit, even in a village setting. How did you maintain that intellectual sharpness and erudition?

Beddome: A love of reading and a respect for the "best writers of antiquity" kept my mind active, even in rural isolation. Yet, true wisdom is not found only in books, but in the deep study of God's Word and the thoughtful contemplation of the human soul. I have found that a vigorous mind is a gift, and a godly wit can be a blessing, when used to glorify God and build up others.

Interviewer: Reverend Beddome, thank you for sharing your reflections.

Beddome: The pleasure has been mine. May God's blessing be upon your day.