The Life And Ministry Of Giles George Whorlow

Earthen Vessel 1889:

The Late Mr. G. G. Whorlow, Pastor of Stowmarket, Suffolk

It is with deep feelings of regret that we record the death of Mr. Giles George Whorlow, a faithful and loving minister of the Gospel of Christ. Our departed brother was esteemed by a large circle of friends, because of his unassuming manner, genial disposition, and firmness in the truth of God. We have spent many happy and profitable hours with him in days past, and always reluctantly parted company, feeling the better for having been with him.

Our kind friend Mr. G. G. Whorlow, of Sudbury, son of deceased, was the first to apprise us of the solemn event in the following note:—

“Sudbury, Suffolk, Nov. 10th, 1889

“My dear Mr. Winters,—It is with a sad heart that I write to tell you that God has called my dear father home. He passed away about 9.30 on Saturday morning, in his 79th year, ‘like a shock of corn fully ripe,’ and is now for ever with the Lord,’ &c.

I remain, yours very sincerely,

G. G. Whorlow”

The East Anglian Daily Times, Nov. 11th, 1889, published the annexed brief account of our deceased brother:—

“We regret to record the death of a well-known figure amongst the Strict Baptists of Suffolk and Essex, Mr. Giles George Whorlow, who expired at his residence, 25, Spring-road, Ipswich, at 9.30 on Saturday morning. Born in the year 1811 at Whitstable, where his father was an auctioneer, the deceased gentleman was for some time clerk to the harbour authorities at that port, and afterwards accepted a responsible commercial position in London. Thence he came to Sudbury, Suffolk, where for ten or twelve years he was in business as a contractor, relinquishing it 21 years ago to his eldest son, Mr. Giles George Whorlow, who served the office of Mayor there for two successive years, and is a Justice of the Peace for the borough. While still in business at Sudbury, the subject of this memoir, who had shown marked ability both in the pulpit and on the platform, became the pastor of the Baptist Church at Chelmondiston, and subsequently held a like relationship to those at Harwich and Stowmarket, resigning the last named only about two years since from failing health. The people amongst whom he laboured universally esteemed him, both for his earnest preaching and the ever kindly interest he manifested in their social surroundings. During his closing years the inroads of disease broke down a finely-built-up form, but so deep was his attachment to pulpit work that within the last few months he has several times preached with something approaching to his old power at Zoar Chapel, Ipswich, where his ministrations were ever heartily welcomed. Mr. Whorlow’s second son, Mr. Henry Whorlow, is the Secretary of the Press Association, Limited, and the News- paper Society. He also leaves a widow and five daughters.”

Last year our departed brother sent us, by request, a short but interesting account of his life, and which many friends who cherish his memory will no doubt read with interest. He says:—

“I was born at Whitstable, a seaport village in Kent, 22nd Sept., 1811. My parents attended the Established Church. They were moral, and very affectionate. My father was auctioneer with Messrs. Lloyd and Co., land surveyors. I was favoured with a liberal education, being sent to a boarding-school at Faversham for about three years.

“My call by grace occurred in the following way. In my youthful days I was very worldly, and fond of the vain pleasures of this life. At one time I had been out playing billiards, and was very late borne. My dear mother had been very anxiously waiting for me. As soon as I entered the house she said, ‘George, where have you been to, and what has made you so late?’ Mr. Hopper, a deacon of the Independent Church, called during the day, and my mother telling him of my being out so late, he said to her, ‘Let him alone; his wine will turn sour!’ She told me of it and when I retired to bed I said to myself: ‘Let him alone! let him alone! Why, if I am left alone I shall go to hell!’ On the following Lord’s-day I went to chapel. The preacher was a young man about 27 years of age, very spiritual and godly. He took for his text—’EPHRAIM IS JOINED TO IDOLS; LET HIM ALONE!’ This was at once fastened to my mind by the Holy Spirit, and was the means of my conversion. I then formed an acquaintance with my dear wife, who was very young, and the youngest member of the Church, which she joined when only 14 years of age. She became a great blessing to me instrumentally in keeping me from turning again to the world, as my propensity for worldly pleasure was still very strong. In the course of a little time we were married. I came to London to manage a large and important business. The proprietor of the business died shortly afterwards, and the widow affirmed that she could place no confidence in anyone but me to manage her business. I was then very young, and much responsibility devolved upon me. We joined the Independent Church under the pastorate of Dr. Read, and remained there for about a year. One evening, going home from business, I saw a few people coming out of a chapel, and standing talking with such happy countenances that I thought I would go there. I went on the following Thursday, and found it to be a Baptist chapel, under the pastorate of the late dear and much-loved Philip Dickerson.

“I discovered a great difference in the preaching, and the following Lord’s-day I took Mrs. Whorlow with me, and the word was blessed to us both; so that we very soon left the doctor’s ministry and attended the Church at Little Alie-street, and were soon both baptized by Mr. P. Dickerson, and there we were members about 20 years, during which time I held the offices of deacon, treasurer, and secretary to the Sick and Visiting Society. I was afterwards called in providence to remove to Sudbury with my wife and family, which then consisted of eleven children all then living. We attended the Baptist chapel of which Mr. Reynolds was the pastor. He soon vacated his charge, and after that we could not feel at home there again. About the same time I formed an acquaintance with Mr. Plaice, who ministered to a few dear Christians meeting in a cottage in Gooseberry-row, and through my instrumentality little Ebenezer chapel was bought, and a great blessing it turned out to be, and is still so now. I pray the small one may become a thousand. I have no special evidence of my call to the Ministry, only that I had a great desire to say something to poor dying sinners, to the honour of my dear Lord, who had done so much for me. I was soon called out to supply as an itinerant to preach at Clare, Glemsford, Buckley, Yeldham, Caetle Hedingham, Witham, Chelmondiston, &c. After supplying the latter place several times, I was invited to take the pastorate, which I did. This circumstance caused me to remove to Ipswich, so that I used to drive over about six miles every Sabbath for about six years, till I thought as the cause was an important one, being about 170 members strong, it was necessary to have a resident pastor; and as I could not see my way clear to remove from Ipswich, I resigned. This step caused much grief to the members. From that day to this a very happy feeling exists between us.

“After a short time I took the pastorate of the Church at Harwich, where I remained about six years, and was very happy in the work. Having resigned my pastorate at Harwich through ill-health, I had almost determined not to take the oversight of another cause; but the Churches around would not let me rest, and my dear Jesus had more work for me to do, so I was soon called to supply at Stowmarket, and the friends there gave me an invite to become their pastor, and seeing them to be a very loving and working people, and trusting the hand of the Lord was in it, I accepted the invitation, and a very happy union it has been; and last Lord’s-day (16th Sept., 1888) myself and Mrs. Whorlow spent the day with them, and I was favoured with just sufficient strength to speak in the evening, my text being Psalm 119:54 (first clause).”

The Funeral 

The remains of our dear friend and brother the late G. G. Whorlow were on Thursday, November 14th, interred in the Ipswich Cemetery.

The funeral cortege left the deceased’s residence shortly before three o’clock, in the following order: Hearse. First carriage, Mrs. Whorlow, sen., Mr. G. G. Whorlow, J.P. (eldest son), Sudbury; Mr. H. W. Whorlow (son), Mrs. S. Bull (daughter), London. Second carriage, Mr. W. E. Bunting and Mrs. Bunting (daughter), Colchester; Mrs. N. Thorpe (daughter), Truro; Mr. S. Bull. Third carriage, Mrs. C. Williams (daughter), Tunbridge; Mr. P. N. Garrod and Mrs. Garrod (daughter), Mr. B. Bull (nephew). Fourth carriage, Mrs. G. G. Whorlow, Mr G. P. Whorlow (grandson), Mr. W. Beach, Chelmsford, and Mr. S. K. Bland, Ipswich. Fifth carriage, Mr. W. Brown, Colchester; Mr. W. Kern, Ipswich; and Mr. R. Jones, Sudbury. Sixth carriage, Mr. S. Lamb, Stowmarket; and Messrs. Garrod. Rayner, and Mays, deacons at the Stowmarket Chapel. Seventh carriage, Mr. J. Cordle, Mrs Cordle, and Miss Bayley, Ipswich. Eighth carriage, Mr. and Mrs. Sparrow, Miss Ringer, and Miss E. Cordle. A number of the members of the congregations of Strict Baptists amongst whom the deceased ministered so long and so well, also followed on foot, or gathered at the graveside. Noticeable amongst them were Messrs. W. Etheridge, R. Sadd, E. Garrod, J. Wright, N. Howe, deacons at Zoar chapel; Messrs. E. Farrow and J. Moss, deacons at Bethesda chapel; Mr. T. Mortimer, Mr. K C. Sayer and Mrs. Sayer, Mr. C. H. Twitchett, Mr. A. Northfield, Mr. Ling, Capt. F. Layzell and Mrs. Layzell, Capt. I. Peck, Messrs. Stearn. Harding, Worty, G. Gardiner (superintendent of Zoar Sabbath-school), P. Rust, G. Brown. Aldous, Fletcher, Ormes, W. Garrod, S. Garrod, Welton (deacon at Beccles), and many others. The procession first proceeded to David-street, whence the corpse was taken into the Zoar chapel, and the service was commenced by Mr. Bland reading a portion of Scripture, and offering up a prayer. A favourite hymn of the deceased’s, opening, “Jesus, my All, to heaven has gone,” having been sung, Mr. W. Kern delivered a short address. The coffin was then re-placed in the hearse, and the procession wended its way to the cemetery, and at the graveside Mr. J. Cordle prayed. Mr. Beach conducted the Burial Service, and delivered a short address, the whole concluding with a prayer by Mr. S. Lamb. The coffin was a massive polished oak, with brass fittings, the plate bearing the inscription—

GILES G. WHORLOW,

DIED NOVEMBER 9TH, 1889,

AGED 78 YEARS.

The coffin was supplied and the funeral arrangements efficiently carried out by Mr. W. Singleton, 73, Woodbridge-road. Beautiful wreaths were contributed, “with tenderest love from his sorrowing wife”; by the family, “affection’s tribute from the sorrowing sons and daughters of one of the best of parents”; by Mr. W. Bunting, Colchester; and Mr. and Mrs. F. D. Last.

The last time deceased attended Zoar Chapel was on Wednesday evening, Oct. 2nd, 1889. He always exhibited a loving attachment to both of the causes of truth in Ipswich, as also those at Stowmarket, Witham, Sudbury, Chelmondiston, Harwich, and elsewhere, and was loved in return by all who knew him. Our last interview with him, a short time since, in company with Mr. E. C. Sayer, was a very happy and soul-profitable one. He spoke to us of his firm standing on the “Rock of Ages,” and of the anticipation he often realized of being with Jesus at last, which reminded us of the lines of Newton—

“Thus, when the Christian pilgrim views,

By faith, his mansion in the skies,

The sight his fainting strength renews,

And wings his speed to reach the skies.”

During the burial of the remains of Mr. Whorlow, all that is mortal of Lavinia Howe was committed to the grave in the same cemetery, Mr. Edwin Langford officiating. There, at one and the same time, were laid to rest the hallowed bodies of two precious saints, one of full age, and the other just coming into the bloom of life. Near their tombs the remains of William Houghton, Thomas Pooke, and Samuel Cozens, of precious memory, sleep—

“Thus much (and this is all) we know,

They are completely blest,

Have done with sin, and care, and woe,

And with their Saviour rest.”

Tender and affectionate allusion to the departure of Mr. Whorlow was made on Lord’s-day, Nov. 17th, by Mr. S. Lamb at Stowmarket, Mr. W. Kern at Bethesda, and Mr. E. Langford at Zoar, Ipswich.

Editor.

Waltham Abbey, Essex