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Newbury Baptist History
1640 - 1940
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Newbury Baptist Church celebrated To mark the occasion, a booklet was published entitled "Notes on Newbury Baptists : 1640 - 1940" the author being Mr. W.J. Lewendon. This booklet having been "out of print" for some 60 years; we are grateful to his son, Mr. David Lewendon, for permission to publish the unabridged text and photographs here. |
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" . . . God's providence is not blind, but full of eyes, "GARIBALDI" J. G. WHITTIER. |
FOREWORD
THE successful completion this year of a removal, and re-building scheme, coupled with the noteworthy occasion of the tercentenary of the Newbury Church, may be deemed a sufficient excuse for this modest effort to record some of its inner history.
There is no special reason why the writer should have been requested to make these records for publication, apart from the known fact that he had collected a certain amount of data in addition to that which can be called from the Church books.
It must be admitted, however, that all efforts to acquire information relating to local Baptists living in the early part of the 17th century have been unavailing.
To have access to the original written records of the intimate affairs of a Church, whose history has covered three centuries, is no commonplace experience, but a privilege. Apart from those whose names appear prominently upon the pages of the past, are the nameless faithful followers who have been the life-blood of the Church in their day and generation.
As with the history of a nation, or an individual, so is it with the Church. Periods of reaching the peaks are followed by passages through dark valleys, to be succeeded by another ascent into the sunlight.
Having shared for so many decades in the Municipal, and Religious life of this ancient Borough, Baptists, as loyal citizens, are not ashamed of the part they have taken in local affairs. Hardly were they formed into an organized Body before civil war (against the dictatorship of Charles I) was raged in their midst.
To-day after 300 years, our beloved Country is an armed camp, withstanding the assaults of a ruthless dictatorship; and the words "freedom" and "liberty" are constantly upon our lips. As these lines are being written we learn that a Baptist place of worship has been blown up by bombs; but near the ruins, (in the evening) the Church held an open-air service. The Church is not destroyed.
Thos. Watson, one of the ejected puritan Divines said "If enemies destroy the Church it must be at a time when there is neither day, nor night, for Christ keeps it day, and night."
Two other Churches in Berkshire, have, this year reached their tercentenary, one in the busy County Town, and the other in the quiet seclusion of King Alfred's Country.
We salute our fellow Baptists at King's Road, Reading, and also offer our felicitations to our friends at Wantage.
W. J. LEWENDON, Speen, Newbury. September, 1940.
Should any profits accrue from sale of these Notes it will benefit the Building Fund.
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