The Life And Ministry Of John Huntley
Earthen Vessel 1900:
John Huntley Of Bath
As briefly notified in the April “Earthen Vessel and Gospel Herald,” my dear father fell on sleep the 1st day of March, aged 74. His was a remarkable life, and one that received much often Divine blessing. He was favoured with godly parentage, his father being for 64 years the beloved pastor of the Church at Limpley, Stoke, and while yet in his “teens” became the subject of saving grace, and was baptised by his father in the River Avon at Limpley. Very soon he was constrained to
“Tell all around
What a dear Saviour he had found.”
In the Sunday-school and open-air his voice was engaged in telling forth the wonders or redeeming grace. Such was his zeal that he had bills printed, one of which was headed: “Fire! Fire!! Fire!!!” containing solemn warning to the ungodly. Another was entitled: “It’s right, or it’s wrong,” and demanding that the practice or infant sprinkling should be submitted to the test of the Word of God. Another announced that a recruiting officer would be on the Village Green the following Lord’s-day to receive recruits for the army of King Jesus. All broken-hearted, mourning, convicted sinners were invited to hear what the Captain of salvation promised to those who came to Him. Soon he was invited to occupy the pulpits in the surrounding villages, and at last an invitation came to supply the pulpit at Widcouch, vacant by the death of William Cromwell. Before six months had expired, he was invited to undertake the pastorate, and the call was accepted. The late beloved Charles Waters Banks was at his recognition, and remained a true friend of my father’s all his life. The Divine blessing was at once vouchsafed, as may be gathered by the fact that in the first year of his pastorate 55 were added to the membership, and in the second year 45. The baptismal services at this time were held in the River Avon, and were attended by vast multitudes of people. “Having obtained help of God” he was enabled to maintain his ministry, and in September last, he celebrated his 41st anniversary. During the illness of the late James Wells, he, on tow or three occasions filled the pulpit at the Surrey Tabernacle, and occasionally preached elsewhere in London and the provinces. But he loved best to be with his own people, and very seldom was he absent from his own pulpit. He had been ailing for six months, but it was only a fortnight priorate his death that we thought his end was so near. One of the first indications that his was the case was the fact that all fear of death was removed. We shall never forget his triumphant end. “No confidence in the flesh, but rejoicing in Christ Jesus” was his experience. He exclaimed with great force:—
“On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand.”
And so he passed away! The fogs and mists of doubts and fears, the storm-clouds of sorrow all gone, his sun went down in a clear sky. Amid every sign of respect on the part of his own people, the Free Church ministers, and the city at large, he was laid to rest, waiting the trumpet call of the resurrection morning.—
J. R. Huntley
John Huntley (1826-1900) was a Strict and Particular Baptist preacher. In 1858, he was appointed pastor of the church meeting at Widcouch, a position he maintained for more than forty-one years.
