The Life And Ministry Of William Large
Earthen Vessel 1889:
Mr. William Large, Pastor Of Sudbourne, Suffolk
Dear Brother Winters,—-I am obliged to you for sending for a sketch of my life, spiritual and temporal. I am such a debtor to sovereign grace that I hardly know where to begin the wonderful task, and think the language of Kent is very appropriate:—
“My God, when I recount Thy thoughts
Of love concerning me;
And where began the vast account
Except from all eternity,”
I was born at Syleham, Suffolk, on October 3, 1814, of poor but godly parents, who afterwards removed to Hoxne, where I attended a Sabbath-school, managed by teachers who walked from Diss, a distance of about six miles, thus showing their earnestness. Here we used to commit portions of Dr. Watts’ Catechism to memory, and which much impressed me with the need of a Saviour’s forgiveness; but these feelings passed away, and I became careless about the things of God; but always feared a falsehood, and trembled at an oath.
Time passed and I was apprenticed to a wheelwright at Hoxne. It was at this time I realised myself as a sinner before God, and experienced the joy of sins forgiven, and the sense of a Saviour’s presence and love. I was baptised at Horham by Mr. Matthew Harvey, and joined the Church there, and afterwards removed to Martlesham, Suffolk, where I followed my trade, attending the ministry of dear brother Samuel Collins, of Grundisburgh, whose memory is exceedingly precious to me, and to whose wise counsels I owe much.
In the villages around Grundisburgh I first began to preach, and was sent to supply at Hadleigh, which I did for 18 months, driving 16 miles each Sabbath morning and evening. Here I had the happiness of baptizing several persons in the name of the Lord, whose souls were given me as seals to my ministry.
My first pastorate was at Sutton. That Church becoming destitute of a pastor I was sent to supply for them, and, accepting a call to the pastorate, was publicly ordained by Mr. Samuel Collins, of Grundisburgh, the following ministers being present:—Brother Isaacs, of Chelmondiston; brother Fawson, of Waldringfield; brother Day, of Tunstall. Here I stayed rather more than nine years, during which time, on August 10, 1852, I was married to one who has been a right hand to me in every sense. Here, too, the Lord blessed the preaching of His own Word, and brought many precious souls to Himself through the preaching of His Word; thus giving me encouragement to press on through many trials and difficulties.
In 1859 I resigned the pastorate at Sutton, and removed to Butley (where I am still residing), and supplied the Church at Tunstall for 14 months. I then received an invitation to preach at Sudbourne to a few friends meeting in a small building, for the use of which they paid the sum of 4s. per month. A collection was made, and at the end of the month, after the rent was paid, there was a balance left for me of ls. 71⁄2d., which increased at the end of three months to £1 3s. 3d. This sum I returned to them as a nucleus towards building a chapel; the small band having grown so we had no room. A piece of copyhold land was bought, which was exchanged for freehold, on which a chapel was built at a cost of £203, and opened on November 26, l863. It was enlarged about three years after, and a gallery put in for the Sunday-school at the cost of another £117, which, by the good hand of our God, has all been paid. And He has blessed His Word in bringing sinners to Himself, and in feeding His saints with the bread of life. There is a good attendance on the Sabbath, and we have a good Sunday-school and an earnest band of teachers.
I am now in my seventy-fifth year, and am much enfeebled, but I still keep on, for the harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few. I am, dear brother Winters,
Yours sincerely,
Mr. Large
Batley, Wickham Market, Suffolk.
William Large (1814-?) was a Strict and Particular Baptist preacher. He served the pastorate of the churches meeting at Sutton and Sudbourne.
