The Life And Ministry Of Richard Varder

Earthen Vessel 1889:

Mr. Richard Varder, Pastor Of The Strict Baptist Church, Yeovil, Somersetshire

Mr. R. Varder was born in the village of Harberton, in the county of Devon, on November 24th, 1829. When eleven months old his mother was taken from him by death; and at the age of nine years his father died, leaving him with three brothers and one sister, orphans. But in a remarkable manner they each proved the truth of the word of God, that Jehovah is a Father of the fatherless.

Agreeably to our wish, Mr. Varder writes as follows: I was brought up under the care of my oldest brother to the occupation of a carpenter. Yea, I may say I was taught various branches of business, and my brother proved to be as a father to me. I trust also I can use the words of David in Psalm 71:17, ‘’O God, Thou hast taught me from my youth.” I was, when quite young, at times possessed of serious thoughts respecting the majesty of God; and at times feared I should be banished from the presence of such a just and only Being for ever. In my childish simplicity I would ask the Lord to preserve me. I then felt a reverence to Jehovah’s name, but had no knowledge of Jesus Christ as the Friend and Saviour of lost and undone sinners. But after this I was left to fall into many things of a worldly and sinful nature; and while not at altogether without convictions, yet I was left to run from God as far as a vessel of mercy afore prepared unto glory could run. But the time drew near when the Lord was pleased to deepen His work in my soul. At the age of 22 I was married, and went to reside in the village of Harbertonford. I was then a member of the Church of England, but there was no food there for a poor law-condemned and sin-cursed sinner. I was, however, soon led in the wonderful providence of God to attend the ministry of my esteemed friend, Mr. R. A. Huxham, who was then, and for some years after, the pastor of the Baptist Church in the before-named village, and under whose ministry I was led by Jehovah the Spirt to flee for refuge, to lay hold of the hope set before us in the gospel, and was much blessed and established in the precious truths of the everlasting gospel. At that time I was favoured to walk in the light of Jehovah’s “countenance;” Jesus Christ in His glorious personal relationship and offices as Prophet, Priest and King, was precious to my soul; the ministry of the word was meat and drink to me. A circumstance took place at this time (1862) which led to my being brought to speak in the Jehovah’s name. One Lord’s day morning our minister was prevented from attending the prayer meeting, and as the Lord would have it I was asked to read a chapter, which I did and was led to make some remarks upon it, which were commended to the souls of the saints of God; but it seems the minister’s eye and heart were towards me, being persuaded that the Lord would raise me up to declare His name among the Gentiles; in the course of time a cause being opened in a neighbouring village, I was thrust out into the Lord’s vineyard. Mr. Huxham came to me in the vestry on the Lord’s day and said you must go to Cornworthy to preach today, but feeling myself to be such a poor dark creature, I considered it, would be nothing less than dreadful presumption on my part, and pleaded my utter inability for such a serious work, but my pleadings were in vain. No doubt the Lord was in it, although I could not realize the fact then; it seemed to me at last as a message from God, when Mr. H. said “you must go,” the Lord only knoweth with what fear and trembling I walked to the place, and for the first time stood up before the few people gathered together to speak from a portion of the word of God. The portion I read for a text, if I remember rightly, was Eph. 2:l. I was graciously helped in speaking, and have reason to believe the power and blessing of God was manifest, and from that day the Lord opened doors in varions places for me, and graciously opened my mouth to speak with humble boldness in His name. In the month of August the same year (1862), I was enabled to put on the Lord Jesus Christ in the solemn ordinance of believer’s baptism, a day never to be forgotten.

I was painfully tried and tempted before the time came, that I felt as a sinner my unfitness to take such a solemn step; but the Lord was present to break the snare, and our minister baptized (l think) five besides myself, and as I was the first to be immersed in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, so full was my soul of the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that I stood and witnessed the baptism of the others, as one for the time raised above earth, sin, care and sorrow, and basking in the sunshine of Jehornh’s favour; but alas! this happy season did not continue long; darkness, temptation, a deeper and more solemn opening to my view by the teaching of the eternal Spirit, the enemy was permitted to assault my soul with base temptations, beyond expression, but amidst all the Lord was graciously pleased to uphold and support me, and at times to favour me with the Spirit of grace and supplication, and graciously fulfilled His faithful promise, “When the enemy cometh ill like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” The Lord was graciously pleased to give me many seals to my ministry during the eight years I supplied the various churches in Devonshire.

In the year 1869 I was invited to supply the pulpit at Corpus Christi Chapel, Stonehouse, for one Lord’s-day, during the absence in London of my esteemed friend Mr. Hemington, then pastor of the church, and there I met with the late Mr. Milborne, who after hearing the word to such profit invited me to supply the pulpit at The Tabernacle, Yeovil, which I did for two Lord’s-days in the month of July, the same year 1869; this led in the opening of Divine Providence to my settlement here. I received a unanimous invitation from the Church to become their pastor, and after travelling from Devonshire to Yeovil for eight months, every Saturday, and returning to my home on the Sunday—during which time I became more particularly acquainted with my dear friend Mr. Shepherd, who for 25 years has been pastor of the Church at South Chard, and whose ministry has been much blessed among the people. Before leaving Devonshire for Yeovil, I preached at Trinity Chapel, Plymouth, over six months, when there was a congregation, I should think, of about 700 people—then my health was completely broken down, so much so, that after consulting two doctors, in Plymouth I was advised to give up preaching at once, and indeed, I was so week and prostrate that I considered in all probability I should soon be laid in the grave. But saith the Lord, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways.” This I proved in a remarkable way in coming here. I left Devonshire with my wife and eight children on Thursday, October 6th, 1870, and the change to this place, through the tender mercy of God, soon proved the means of establishing my health. The Lord was graciously pleased to make the word a special blessing to many on my first visit to Yeovil in July, 1869, among them one young man, who was then about 20 years of age, he has never forgotten the lesson; his cup then ran over; and he is now an able minister of the New Testament.

I have now been settled as pastor of the Church here over 18 years, and have proved much of the Lord’s goodness and mercy toward me and mine; both as a God of providence and grace. William Huntington’s “Bank of Faith” in some measure expresses my path. I have had many crosses, afflictions, trials, deep and sore, but then there has been the blessings.

As a Church and people we live in peace. I have been favoured to baptize several during the time I have been here; and I think we have lost nearly no friends by death, but hitherto the lord hath helped us. 

About 12 years since the chapel was renovated at a cost of £500, and was soon paid for. Thus, amidst darkness and light, casting down and lifting up, by the help of God I continue to this day.

I have been favoured for many years to supply the Surrey Tabernacle Pulpit, London, also at Zion Chapel, Trowbridge, and the Abbey Chapel, Abingdon, and desire to record the kindness and deep sympathy shewn towards me by the deacons and friends at these places, besides many other Churches in Wiltshire and Berkshire. I have realised sympathy and help in times of deep trial, affliction and bereavement, more particularly from my many friends in London.

Thus my path has been, and still is, one of changes, deep sorrows, bitter conflicts, gracious deliverances, and numberless mercies. I have once more been laid low by affliction, for three Lord’s-days unable to minister to the people, but now through Jehovah’s tender mercy I am progressing favourably toward recovery, after two months of great suffering. I received the greatest kindness from my friends both at home and among other Churches. I trust the God of all grace will still continue to bless His word in this day of awful departure from His truth and ordinances, for His great name’s sake.

The Blessed Dead

The Late Richard Varder

Our readers will be grieved to hear of the departure of our highly esteemed and much-loved brother, Richard Varder, of Yeovil, which took place at his residence on Tuesday, August 13, in the fifty-ninth year of his age. Mr. Huxham, of Aldringham, Suffolk, was instrumental, in the Lord’s hands, of first sending him out to preach the Gospel, and from that time to within a few days of his death he was never without a pulpit, save through illness. The work of preaching the Gospel was his chief joy and delight. We had looked forward with fond anticipation of meeting him at the coming anniversary of Zion Chapel, Trowbridge, but his happy spirit is with his loving Redeemer, where there are no anniversaries, but fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore. We have heard him with much pleasure extol his Master, and most blessedly tell out those things which he had handled and tasted and felt of the good word of life. The last time we heard him was at Chadwell Street, Clerkenwell, and after the evening service we found him very weak from an internal complaint. Our sympathy is with the family, the church at Yeovil, and the whole Church of God. The causes of truth in the West of England and in London (especially the Surrey Tabernacle), have lost a most valued friend, a lover of the truth, and a sweet preacher of the distinguishing doctrines of grace. The following letter from his son gives an account of his last days:—

“32, Kingston, Yeovil,

August 14, 1889

“Dear Mr. Banks,—I write you a hasty note to inform you of the death of my dear father. He quietly passed away yesterday (Tuesday) at 2 p.m. You are probably aware of the illness he had at the beginning of the year, from which he never recovered, and during the past month has gradually been getting worse. He preached as usual on Sunday, the 4th inst., and last Sunday, the 11th, he was only prevented from doing so by the doctor’s intervention. He was down stairs on Monday until 6 p.m., but was very weak. He then wished to go to bed. After being helped upstairs and into bed he seemed very sleepy, but would talk at intervals until near midnight, when the drowsiness increased, and being apparently free from pain, he continued in that state, quietly sleeping away. Amongst my dear father’s papers I found a letter from you respecting inserting a sketch of his life in the Earthen Vessel And Gospel Herald [the ‘sketch of his life’ is inserted above, prior to the notice of his death], and although personally unknown to you, I thought you would like to know of his removal hence. Excuse this hurried note. Perhaps you would be good enough to send this to Mr. Winters, as I am much pressed for time.

With kind regards, I am, dear Mr. Banks, sincerely yours,

Wm. Varder

The Funeral

The Late Mr. R. Varder

Mr. Banks,—My son-in-law, Mr. Wm. Varder, having so much at the present to attend to, has put your letter in my possession, with a request to answer your request respecting the funeral of his dear father. The funeral was attended by many ministers, tradesmen, and others of the town and neighborhood, a large number of mourners following. Mr. Farmer, of Cardiff, and Mr. Lee, of Aldershot, officiating. At the Cemetery Chapel, Mr. Farmer commended the service with the well-known hymn, “Why do we mourn departing saints?” and after his reading portions of God’s Word, Mr. Lee offered a most impressive prayer. The corpse was then borne to the grace, and Mr. Lee gave a very solemn address to the large assembly, among which much weeping was seen, many evidently trying to hide their feelings. After prayer and the benediction the sad service closed. At the Tabernacle on Sunday, Mr. Lee preached in the morning from John 14:2,3, in the evening 2 Timothy 6:7,8. In the evening the chapel was very full. The pulpit was draped with black. Although for several months his weakness was seen to be much increasing, and loss of flesh marked the rapid decay, his departure was not so suddenly expected. Only one Sunday was he prevented before his death attending and taking the services at the chapel. For some time his efforts were but too evident; although so willing, yet not equal, the strain on nature appearing too much. His last sermon was on the last verse of Deuteronomy 33. The memorial card bears his first text at the Tabernacle 19 years ago, which the writer well remembers. The other, Rev. 14:13, was the one he had chosen to preach from the Sunday before his death. Weak as he was, this he wanted to do had the doctor not prevented. So near approach of his death, having no pain, although suffering so much before for months. To state the words of a local paper respecting him, “Deceased had been pastor of the Tabernacle 19 years, and was greatly beloved by the congregation, and universally respected in the town.” The writer feels his great loss. It is indeed difficult in this day of almost universal departure from the truths of the Bible to find one with whom we can walk in “the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace,” feeling freedom in spiritual converse. May the Lord bless us with the spirit of prayer for His special appearance and guidance in this our time of great need. 

Yours sincerely, 

John Barber

Preston-road, Yeovil