• John Boorne

    The Life And Ministry Of John Boorne

    I was born on the 7th of October, 1838. My parents, who were godly people, sought the spiritual welfare of their children, training them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. I heard the truth at home and in the house of God, which gave me in early days a reverence for God's Name, His Word, and His ways. Like Timothy, from a child I knew the Holy Scriptures. I was thus kept from the grosser acts of sin, feeling within me an abhorrence of many evils in which other youths delighted. As an instance of God's preserving care over my life, when about eleven years of age, I was sent on an errand which took me by the River Ravensbourne: walking incautiously along…

  • William Brown

    The Life And Death Of William Brown

    Mr. W. Brown, the oldest of our Suffolk ministers, was called home on Saturday evening, June 9th, at the ripe age of 82, and was buried in the ground of the meeting-house on the following Saturday in the presence of a concourse of fellow-members, friends and others, from far and near, for he was greatly respected and valued. The funeral service was conducted by Mr. S. K. Bland and Mr. W. Large, of Sudbourne,—Mr. Harsant, of Peckham (formerly a member at Friston) engaging in prayer. Mr. Bland preached the funeral sermon on the following day—the quaint old six-sided chapel being packed to excess and overflowing. His text was Job 5:26, "Thou shalt come to thy grave at a full age, like as a shock of…

  • William Brown

    The Life And Ministry Of William Brown

    Mr. William Brown, Pastor of the Strict Baptist Church at Friston, Suffolk, is well known and highly respected as a faithful brother in Christ by friends accustomed to visit the annual Meetings of the Suffolk and Norfolk Strict Baptist Association. We should suppose that he has attended more Association anniversaries than any other living person, as he is its oldest minister. When the Association met at Rattlesden, fifty-five years ago, a “Mr. Brown” is named in the annual report of Churches of that period as preaching at Bardwell. We have no doubt he was our now venerable brother. 

  • William Button

    William Button: The Other Successor Of John Gill

    The meeting-house in this street, which is on the south side of Tooley Street, was erected in the year 1774, for the people who separated from the church, which had been lately under the care of Dr. Gill, upon the choice of Dr. Rippon to succeed that eminent minister. They met for a short time in the meeting­ house in Maze Pond, until they were formed into a new church, January 13, 1774. The ministers engaged on that occasion were Dr. S. Stennett, Mr. Benjamin Wallin, and Mr. (now Dr.) Rippon. The sermon preached by Mr. Wallin was published, entitled, “The Church an Habitation of God through the Spirit.” To this is prefixed the introductory discourse by Dr. Stennett. It thus commences: "As separation has…

  • William Button

    The Life And Death Of William Button

    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.

  • William Button

    The Life And Ministry Of William Button

    The Rev. William Button was born at Peasmarsh, near Rye, Sussex, March 5, 1754. His grandfather, the Rev. John Button, was a Presbyterian minister at Rye, and also a farmer; but, towards the close of his life we believe he became a Baptist.  His father was a respectable farmer and grazier. His mother was the daughter of Mr. Viney, a gentleman of considerable fortune at Tenterden in Kent. She was an accomplished and truly pious woman. Her funeral sermon was preached by Dr. Gill from Psalm 42:11, Why art thou cast down, O my soul, &c. It was afterwards printed under the title of “The Dejected Believer’s Soliloquy.”  Soon after the birth of the subject of this memoir, his father removed to Portsmouth; and subsequently,…