The Life And Death Of William Button
“Bunhill Memorials”, J. A. Jones:
William Button, Baptist.
Mr. William Button, Pastor of the Baptist Church in Dean Street, Tooley Street, upwards of forty years, died August 2, 1821, aged 67 years.
Head Stone E. and W. 21,—N. and S. 28,29.
Mr. Button’s father (Mr. John Button) was a deacon of the church under Dr. Gill. The Doctor preached a most admirable funeral sermon for Mr. Button’s mother, who died in 1766, which was printed, entitled, “The dejected believer’s soliloquy,” from Psalm 40.11. Mr. Button lies buried in the same grave with his father (who died in 1812) and mother; and, subsequently, his widow, Mrs. Button, with her youngest son William, and only daughter, Mrs. Joseph Dare.
In 1762 Mr. Button was placed under the tuition of the celebrated Mr. John Ryland, sen., of Northampton, and received his first serious impressions under a funeral sermon, (text, Matt. 19.14.) occasioned by the death of one of his schoolfellows; another young person in the school was also awakened under the same sermon. This youth and young Button, used after the school-instructions were concluded, to retire together to their chamber, to read, converse, and pray. On September 11, 1767, Master Button and Master John Ryland (afterwards Dr. Ryland of Bristol) related their experience before the church at Northampton, under the pastoral care of Mr. Ryland sen., and on the following Lord’s day they were baptized together in the River Nen, about a quarter of a mile from the school, and on the same day partook of the Lord’s Supper. Young Ryland was fourteen years and nine months old at the time, and young Button only thirteen years and six months. Mr. Button commenced preaching when he was nineteen. He was then a member of the Baptist Church at Unicorn Yard, Southwark. Dr. Stennett, Mr. Benjamin Wallin, Mr. Macgowan, and his pastor Mr. Clarke, all took him kindly by the hand, and bade him God speed. He first supplied the church at Hitchin, Hertfordshire, who had been deprived by death of their valuable pastor, Mr. Samuel James, whose daughter, Miss Anna James, he subsequently married. This church wished him to continue with them; but a separation taking place in Dr. Gill’s church, on the majority making choice of Dr. Rippon to be their pastor, he was requested by those separatists, among whom were three out of four of the deacons, to preach to them for twelve months. Their New Meeting House, in Dean Street, Tooley Street, was opened in Nov. 1774, and Mr. Button was ordained Pastor of the church, July 5, 1775. In September 1815, more than forty years afterwards, he wrote a Letter to the Church, from which I transcribe the following:— “The Church in Dean Street, has long lain near my heart. I have been many years pastor over it. I have endeavoured to feed the flock of God committed to my charge, with knowledge and understanding, looking to Jesus, the great and good Shepherd, for supplies. When I take a retrospec tive view of my life and labours among you, I perceive ten thousand defects; I sink into the dust of abasement, and there bewail my numerous faults. I am filled with admiration and gratitude to God, who has borne with my manners in the wilderness, and with my imperfections in the church. Brethren, I have had my joys and my sorrows; my elevations and depressions. The church at Dean Street has been my sanctuary, the place of my delight. Hither I was sent by the Lord in the year 1774. Here the Lord has given me children, who have been nourished and brought up, and taken to glory. Here I have enjoyed the most pleasant communion with my Christian friends; and here, which is still more delightful, I have truly had fellowship with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. I have had soul-elevating seasons in the pulpit, at the Lord’s table, and at our weekly prayer meetings. Here also I have heard many persons declare their experiences, and relate what God had done for their souls under my poor ministry, which has warmed my heart. In short, I have repeatedly seen the power and glory of God evidently displayed in this little sanctuary, to the joy of my soul.”—The deep piety and humility of the above long extract, from a much longer letter, must be the Editor’s excuse for inserting it. Mr. Button, was a solid judicious minister, and a worthy man.
Dean Street Meeting was taken down a few years back, as it stood in the line of the projected Greenwich Railway, aud a new chapel built for the church and congregation in Trinity Square, Southwark. The church is now under the pastoral care of Mr. Benjamin Lewis.—Ed
William Button (1754-1821) was a Strict and Particular Baptist preacher. He served as pastor for more than forty years of the church meeting at Dean Street, Southwark. This was a newly formed church, the members of which had separated from Cater Lane Chapel. After the death of John Gill, these persons opposed the pastoral appointment of John Rippon.
