The Life And Death Of John Rippon

J. A. Jones, “Bunhill Memorials: Sacred Reminiscences Of Three Hundred Ministers And Other Persons Of Note, Who Are Buried In Bunhill Fields, Of Every Denomination” (1849):^[1]

John Rippon, D.D., Baptist. Dr. Rippon, pastor of the Baptist Church, Carter Lane, Tooley Street, Southwark, sixty-three years, died Dec. 17, 1836, in the 86th year of his age. Vault, E. and W. 13,—N. and S. 70.—But, no Stone erected.

John Rippon, D.D., was for more than forty years considered as one of the most popular ministers in London in the Baptist denomination. He was born at Tiverton, in Devonshire, on April 29, 1761. He was the son of the Rev. John Rippon, who was at that time pastor of the Baptist Church there, but who afterwards removed to the church at Uppottery, where he died.

Dr. Rippon was baptized at Tiverton, by the Rev. Robert Day, of Wellington, in Somersetshire, and shortly afterwards he was received as a student in the Bristol Academy, then under the presidency of the Rev. Hugh Evans.

Dr. Gill, the pastor of the church in Carter Lane, Tooley Street, having died in October 1771, the pulpit was supplied by various settled ministers, until October 1772, when Mr. Rippon was invited, and preached with great acceptance seven Sabbaths, when he returned to complete his studies at Bristol. The church, however, renewed their invitation, and he returned to London by the third Lord’s day, in January 1773, and supplied till the end of February, when he again returned to Bristol. On March 4, a special church meeting was held at Carter Lane, when it was agreed to invite him to become pastor.

The following is an extract from his letter dated April 7, 1773, in answer to that invitation:—“Various have been the workings of my mind upon this weighty subject once I left you. Often and daily have I laid it before the divine throne, and importunately sought counsel of the all-wise and infallible Counsellor; and now I judge it proper that I should beg leave of you, my dear and honoured brethren and sisters in the Lord, to spend some time longer amongst you before I return an absolute and decisive answer to the call you have given me; which I am the rather inclined to, as I apprehend this would be agreeable to some of my much esteemed friends, and I hope disagreeable to none.”

He returned accordingly in April, and continued preaching to them till the August following, when he accepted the call, and was ordained November 11, 1773. The Revs. Mr. Baskerville, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Wallin, Dr. Stennett, and Mr. Thompson, taking parts in the service.

With this church Dr. Rippon spent all his ministerial days. The following extract from the Minute Book of the Baptist Church, meeting in New Park Street, Southwark, contains a most honourable attestation, and memorial to his memory. “The pastoral charge of this church was accepted by Dr. Rippon, August 1, 1773. He was ordained November 11, in the same year. He held the office of pastor for sixty-three years; and, if it be borne in mind that his predecessor, the learned Dr. John Gill, occupied the same office for fifty-one years, it will appear that during a period of one hundred and fourteen years, this church has had but two pastors! When Dr. Rippon first accepted the charge, the church was worshipping in Carter Lane, Tooley Street, Southwark; but in consequence of the building of the New London Bridge, they erected another edifice, in New Park Street, which was opened May 6, 1833. Dr. Rippon for a series of years occupied the pulpit with great success. He was instrumental, in the hand of the Spirit, in turning many from darkness to light, numbers of whom have entered upon their rest before him, and, ere this, have doubtless hailed his emancipated spirit to the same glory. Nor should we omit the instruction and comfort he was enabled to impart to the church. As an acceptable and popular preacher, our dear pastor occupied a prominent place in the denomination, for a lengthened series of years; and, if in addition to the usefulness of his public ministrations, the urbanity and warm-heartedness of his private manners be; considered, we may be at a loss to know whether he was more to be revered as a minister of Jesus Christ, or to be esteemed as a friend. From his long standing in the ministry, he enjoyed an influence in his own denomination of the most flattering nature; not to advert to the general respect he acquired in other sections of the church of Christ. His Collection of Hymns, so extensively circulated in the religious world, is too well known to need any comment in this memorial; suffice it to remark, that both in the British Empire, in America, and other parts of the world, Dr. Rippon’s judicious and comprehensive “Selection” has aided the devotions, and inspired the praises of myriads of our fellow-Christians.”

That the decease of such an individual should occasion the most sincere grief to this church, must naturally be expected; and although for a period of nearly three years before his death he was incapable of any pulpit exercise; they cannot forget, in the infirmities of age, the vigour and ability of his better days.”

Dr. Rippon dying December 17, 1836, the funeral of this venerable minister took place the 24th of the month. His remains were brought into his chapel in New Park Street at one o’clock; and after singing and reading, Dr. Cox, of Hackney, delivered a most sublime address. The Editor of Bunhill cannot resist the opportunity afforded of presenting the reader with an extract or two; and is only sorry that the limits of this work prevents him from giving the whole.

“Who can realize the moment after death! The scenes that open, the acclamations that are heard; the delightful but mysterious sensations that arise in one instant! A new creation is revealed. The dream of existence is converted into reality. The shadows flee, and leave the substance of truth in possession. All fleeting things vanish; earth, is become heaven; and time—eternity! O this is victory! But, it may be said, if the disembodied spirit wins the battle with the last enemy, still the grave holds possession of the body. We reply,—If the man—the real thinking being—has conquered; and only left behind him the frame; the mere dress and decoration; what victory has been obtained by the enemy! The body is but the clothing, in which the Christian warrior fought for the Captain of Salvation: it is but the attire in which he contended. And though it suffers damage, he is not precluded from the grateful record, “Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

But we prejudice the fact, by leaving the statement here. Christianity comes to the question with her mighty discoveries, and her Almighty power. She asserts and maintains an absolute dominion over death. What do we witness here, but the last paralysis of nature! The seeing eye, the hearing ear, the feeling frame, experience a change, which, it may be, that philosophy cannot explain, and which we know to belong to the universal destiny of our race.—And what then? What then? Why, then this lifeless body is to be conveyed to yonder sepulchre. And what then? Then it will moulder into dust, and mingle with the kindred elements of a thousand generations; atom will be separated from atom, and undergo innumerable and inconceivable transformations. And what then? Then the millions of coming ages will trample over head upon the frail tenement; but the tread of the great crowd will not disturb repose so profound, or reach a depth so awful. And what then? Oh! Then we can trace humble humanity further; but, must we yield at every step to to the degrading thought of the last enemy’s triumph? No!—Then, day dawns after darkness; and light breaks forth from eternity. The past is all sleep, and a dream. The last trump sounds through nature; and then—the dead are raised incorruptible. The spirit indeed had not once suffered, no not even for a moment, the privation of life; but the body—well the body has been changed, it has not been annihilated.—‘This corruptible’—this mortal and decaying part of our mysterious being, that has lost its sensibility, and, for a time, its form—‘this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this mortal shall put on immortality.’ With anticipating joy, then, we demand, “O grave where is thy victory?” Is it in the soul? enparadised spirits say, No. Is it in the body? the rising dead say, No.—The victory of the believer then indeed is obvious; but, “O grave, where is thy victory?”

The procession passed from New Park Street to Bunhill Fields, where an Address was delivered by the Rev. Charles Room. Dr. Collyer, of Peckham, preached the funeral sermon the next day being Lord’s day, at New Park Street, from Hebrews 9:27,28; and at the dose gave out, from & manuscript, a hymn of his own composing for the occasion. The following is a part.

Soon the judgment trumpet sounding,

Will our coming Lord declare;

All the hosts of heaven surrounding,

Countless myriads fill the air.

Quick and dead shall rise.

Caught up to him in the skies.

Not the second time appearing,

As a victim to be slain;

All his robes of glory wearing,

God our Saviour comes again.

Foes ale crush’d beneath his feet,’

Saints are call’d to share his seat.

Then it is, the faithful pastor,

His account with joy shall give;

In the welcome of his Master,

His full recompense receive:

Meet his gather’d flock again.

And with Christ for ever reign.

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[1] The reader is encouraged to visit Bunhill Fields, a nonconformist cemetery located at 38 City Road, London, England.