The Life And Ministry Of Charles Hancock
Earthen Vessel 1899:
Dear Brother Banks,—You kindly ask me for a sketch of my life, together with a brief history of the cause of God in Sturry. I confess I have studiously avoided publicity in my present sphere, feeling I am not like most of God’s servants, but of late years have been more drawn to you as editor of the Earthen Vessel and to the great army in our beloved denomination that surrounds you.
I was born of Christian parents into this world on January 28th, 1821, and in 1838 was born again into the kingdom of God, and I desire humbly to praise God, that, though going the broad and down- ward road, I was preserved from all outward sin, and death, for twice was I nearly drowned in the river here—once in particular life was almost gone, but, oh, Love watched over this unworthy one. Truly, “till He bids, I cannot die.” The place where the Spirit of God quickened me was in the little chapel here at a week-evening prayer-meeting, for I usually went where my parents went. The chapel had been hired by my father and a few friends, I think, chiefly for your honoured father to preach in, and the Word was blessed to several; but after a while he left, and went to Canterbury, and, though the place was kept on by supplies for a time, eventually it was given up. Though I had attended the services, no lasting impression was made on me until that evening before alluded to, and how was it done? No word came home to me, no voice was heard, but a felt power came upon me that completely changed me. I went into that meeting a giddy, thoughtless youth; I came out sobered and solemnized; all earthly things appeared now vanity indeed, and heavenly things all that was desirable, and it wrought effectually, for at once I struck friendship with my former companions, for now I only desired to walk with them that feared God. After the chapel was closed, we followed your father to Canterbury, where I attended, sometimes very low in great darkness, again lifted up with much blessing. I think it was about this time pride began to work in my heart, thinking vainly of my knowledge of spiritual things, for which the Lord chastened me severely, by leaving me to myself. Oh, how all my good experience dried up and vanished away! Jude described me exactly: “Twice dead, and plucked up by the roots,” the means of grace neglected, not a spark of prayer. The Lord “brought down my heart with labour: I fell down, and there was none to help,” but He graciously and mercifully restored my soul, and eventually I was baptized in His dear name at St. John’s, Canterbury, and, though my memory will not furnish me with the exact order of these events, yet I know they did transpire; and well do I remember how the Lord brought me off looking to those dark experiences, as being the chief proof of my interest in Christ, as He showed me that His teaching me the joyful sound would enable me to walk in the light of His countenance, rejoicing in His righteousness.
By this the pursuit of my mind was quite changed, and I bless God to this day for that teaching. Thus time went on until 1854, when the chapel at Sturry, being to let, was hired again by a few of our friends, and the minister who preceded me began to speak in the name of the Lord with profit and blessing, so that in 1856 we wished to be formed into a Church, and Mr. Wm. Garrard, late of Leicester, visiting here at that time, kindly consented to do it, and also gave the charge to the minister. The Church numbered seven, and in the same and following year six more that were seals to our pastor’s ministry, were added by baptism.
Thus the little flock rejoiced together until towards the end of 1858, the minister unexpectedly announced that on the last Lord’s-day in that year his ministry amongst us would close. You may guess the sudden change from joy to sorrow, and even weeping, as we could not get the shadow of a promise from him to reconsider his decision, and the last time he administered the Lord’s Supper to us he told us that after he had left us we should be scattered to the winds. What! I thought; God’s dear little flock to be scattered because he leaves us! I never shall forget how the Spirit of God came upon me, that in my heart I vowed unto the Lord that, if He would help me, I would in His strength keep the little flock together. Accordingly, at the last service in the year, I gave out the Gospel would continue to be preached there. And now came the trial, for the strongest of the few left with the pastor, and I, who had never seriously thought of nor had been exercised about preaching, how shall I do? But I had opened my mouth unto the Lord, and could not go back. So when the time came, the first Lord’s-day in 1859, I stood up (not in the pulpit, for I could not ascend to that for some time), and, I must say, the Lord helped me, and we felt a little sweet blessing together. The next Sabbath, in the evening, I took for my text, “Deliver him from going down to the pit,” &c., and there was one dear soul there who had on former occasions attended; but as she could get nothing, had given up in almost despair (of which I knew nothing), but her husband had persuaded her to come and hear me, and the Lord so blessed the message of His poor, weak servant that evening that it brought her quite out of the prison-house, and the tongue that had been dumb now sang His praise. I was astonished, and all that I could say was “What hath God wrought?” The dear Lord continued to own my feeble services, and in 1861 I baptized in the adjoining river five, and in the next year I baptized three more, and received in two from the Canterbury Church, King-street.
About this time my flock wished to have a public recognition of me as their pastor, but to this (their wish) I could not consent, hoping they would not be grieved, as I dearly loved them, and was willing to serve them in the Lord with all my might. In the meantime they could receive me as their pastor; but I wanted no public display, feeling my insufficiency for a pastorate. About this time there was a stir amongst us, if possible, to purchase the chapel, as there appeared a probability in the future of having notice to quit, and by God’s blessing this was accomplished, and the property in a trust deed was made over to the Strict and Particular Baptists for their use only. Applicants for baptism still came forward, but the next time we applied for the use of the river we were politely refused, there having been a great concourse of people to witness former baptisms, and the only place we could obtain was a disused baptistry in the Unitarian Chapel, Canterbury; so the next time we wanted to baptize we resolved to make a baptistry in our own place, and, as we had enlarged the chapel since we purchased it, we found room for it. Thus we got out of that trouble. But we had many others; but, as of old, the wall was built in troublous times, yet I never could think of running away. I hold my maiden vow to the Lord’s work most sacred. I suppose I am somewhat of an original, for as the Word of the Lord is my only guide, and what He shows me that will I speak, I find it has caused a little friction at times; still, as we look back, we can see whatever trouble has fallen upon us the Lord has mercifully brought us through it. We can say to the praise of our covenant God, He has suffered no man to do us wrong; and though several have been removed in providence, and many that I have baptized are before the throne of God, still we increase a little. We have lately received a consignment of six precious jewels from brother Chilvers’ Church, and, though it is his loss, it is much more our gain. I thought at first they would not settle down contented, having left, as it appeared to me, richer pasturage, but I bless the Lord they have found “where He feedeth,” and where “He maketh His flock to rest at noon.”
I tell thee, brother, there is no place quite so dear to me as Sturry Chapel, and I am so wedded to the Lord’s flock there that I pray Him He will never write me a bill of divorce until He calls me up to Himself. Oh, to me His lovingkindness is so wonderful that, as I look back, I cannot help weeping at His dear feet. But, on the other hand, when I look at my service, oh the dark blotches! the black spots make me cover my face in shame. I will conclude with a verse of one of my favourite hymns:—
“I’ve nothing to boast without or within,
A worm of the dust, polluted by sin;
Yet glory to Jesus, my sin-bearing Lamb,
For ’tis of His goodness I am what I am.”
Yours very truly in the Lord Jesus,
Chas. Hancock
Linden House, Sturry, May 12th, 1899
P.S.—I had intended to state that I was removed from Sturry to Harbledon Mill, a distance of three miles, 31 years ago; but have always been at the services, with the exception of about five weeks’ illness.
[The above account was written by our esteemed brother, Mr. C. Hancock, in response to a request made to him by the late editor, our beloved brother, J. W. Banks, who never saw it, as one week prior to its being written the Lord called him up higher. We present the account to our readers as our brother has written it, feeling assured it will be read with interest, and not without profit. Our brother’s call both by grace and to the ministry differ from the general. It is to be feared we sometimes entertain stereotyped ideas on these important matters, forgetting that all God’s works are originals and that experiences differ as greatly as do faces. Mr. Hancock’s call to the ministry may seem peculiar to some; but who can question that God’s hand was laid upon him. Over forty years has he been upheld in the work, and times out of number the Lord has sealed the word spoken by him on the hearts of his people. May he long be spared to minister the Word at Sturry, with manifest signs of blessing attending his labours.—Edward Mitchell]
Charles Hancock (1821-1900) was a Strict and Particular Baptist preacher. He took the oversight of one church throughout the course of his gospel labours, ministering to the church meeting at Sturry, Kent.
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