Midland Churches: A History of the Congregations on - General ...

article, which <strong>the</strong> writer <strong>of</strong> this book, after going into <strong>the</strong> matter some-
what closely, and with his knowledge <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> locality and o<strong>the</strong>r details
mentioned in "The Story <strong>of</strong> Four Bro<strong>the</strong>rs" feels himself ivarranted in
applying to this society.
Puritanism held its ground in Roadby [A<strong>the</strong>rstone] after <strong>the</strong> Restoration,
though <strong>the</strong> lecturer* to whom I have just referred was ejected in due course.
A Presbyterian congregation was formed, and from <strong>the</strong> names and reputa-
tion <strong>of</strong> its early ministers I infer that <strong>the</strong> cause was originally <strong>of</strong> more
importance than <strong>the</strong> population <strong>of</strong> Roadby [A<strong>the</strong>rstone] itself would indicate.
The harassed Presbyterians, who <strong>of</strong>ten came long distances to <strong>the</strong>ir worship,
probably found at Roadby [A<strong>the</strong>rstone] a quiet and safe resort. As time
went on, <strong>the</strong> little congregation was not without some internal troubles.
A Welshman, <strong>of</strong> Cardiff [John Pru<strong>the</strong>ro] proved an unsuitable minister, and
it was necessary to take legal steps to remove him.?
His successor, a Daventry student, did not stay long and <strong>the</strong>n came our
friend, Richard. The Presbyterian Meeting-house at Roadby [A<strong>the</strong>rstone],
where Richard was ordained in 1765, is a simple and primitive structure,
built in 1725. Save for <strong>the</strong> addition <strong>of</strong> a more modern porch, it is little
altered, externally or internally, since <strong>the</strong> day <strong>of</strong> its erection. You might
be pretty familiar with Roadby [A<strong>the</strong>rstone] as an occasional traveller, and
yet never know anything about this meeting-house ; for though <strong>the</strong> access
to it is from <strong>the</strong> main street, <strong>the</strong> building itself is hidden away from view
in a humble court, and makes no appeal to <strong>the</strong> passer by. ,I suppose it
was placed in what was originally <strong>the</strong> back garden <strong>of</strong> one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> houses.$
*John Machin (1624-1664). " In <strong>the</strong> spring <strong>of</strong> 1652 he became lecturer at A<strong>the</strong>rstone
Chapel, in <strong>the</strong> parish <strong>of</strong> Mancetter, Warwickshire. He was <strong>the</strong> ' one Macham, a priest
in high account,' who prescribed physic and blood letting for George Fox, <strong>the</strong> Quaker
founder." A.G. in Dict. Nat. Biog.
t1n <strong>the</strong> Historical Accou~~t <strong>of</strong> Dukitzjeld Chapel, by Alexander Gordon, M.A., 1896,
p. 57, we read " On leaving <strong>the</strong> Academy he [i.e. Willianl Buckley] settled at A<strong>the</strong>rstone,
Warwickshire, in 1760, succeeding <strong>the</strong>re a Welshman (John Pru<strong>the</strong>ro) who had been
" lawfully ejected."
$1 have three pencil sketches <strong>of</strong> tne exterior, interior, and pulpit or this meetinghouse,
also a ground. plan, all done in 1898. The draughtsman, who had not previously
visited A<strong>the</strong>rstone, writes thus to me :-It took me a lctzg time to find <strong>the</strong> place. I asked
smeral persons, but <strong>the</strong>y knew nothing whatever about if. One said '<strong>the</strong>re was such a place
once,' anothcr thought ' it had ceased to exist.' At last I fozcnd it, up a back yard. Diagram
will skew position. After sketching exterior, which is plastered, I got <strong>the</strong> key and entered.
There is no notice board to be seen ei<strong>the</strong>r at <strong>the</strong> entrance from street, or on <strong>the</strong> walls <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
building. There is no graveyard. The on4 thing <strong>of</strong> a Christian natzcre inside was n vegy
OM and well-wovtz Bible, which I looked throz~~lr, bid <strong>the</strong>re was no name ?tor etlt?;y in it. Theye
are nzemorial tablets, nor anythitzg whatever on <strong>the</strong> walls, which are whitewashed, and ilz
some places plaster falling <strong>of</strong>i On <strong>the</strong> left hand side <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> pultit is a small harntoniztm; on
<strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r, at one time was probably a stove, but that is gone, The seatifzg acconz~~~odatiozz is
about 18 fiews, afzd a small gaZIe~y ozler <strong>the</strong> door. There is no gas. G.E.E.
Some few years after its erection, <strong>the</strong> house in front was purchased for a
minister's dwelling. A Merchant Taylor <strong>of</strong> London left a small endowment
to <strong>the</strong> place,* and <strong>the</strong>re was also a Hat and Coat Charity connected with
<strong>the</strong> congregation. By some means or o<strong>the</strong>r this clothing charity has become
diverted from its original purpose, and <strong>the</strong> hats and coats now go to Church,
instead <strong>of</strong> to Meeting.?
Before speaking <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ministers here, it may be noted that_ <strong>the</strong> meeting-
house has been closed at intervals, and <strong>the</strong>n reopened with a fresh start.
Twice has it been let to Independents for <strong>the</strong>ir worship. The last resident
minister, without a joint pastorate, was Thomas Davis, described, in 1822,
as-
<strong>of</strong> A<strong>the</strong>rstone.$
After he left came <strong>the</strong> closing alluded to in this memorandum on <strong>the</strong>
inner cover <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Baptismal Register :-
Nov. 13, 1837.
The enclosed is <strong>the</strong> on4 6ooK <strong>of</strong> Registers <strong>of</strong> Baftis??zs ziz my possessiolz, nor
nm I at all aware <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>re beizg any o<strong>the</strong>r ziz existence. You will perceive that
<strong>the</strong> date <strong>of</strong> it is ottly down to <strong>the</strong> year 1821; since that time <strong>the</strong> chapel was
tlosed, afzd <strong>the</strong> congregatzon dissolved for some years, it has latter@ been reopened,
and <strong>the</strong> several ministers z~ho have <strong>of</strong>lciated have, I believe, registered at Doctor
WiZIia~~zs's Library. The present mifzister, <strong>the</strong> Rev. C. C. Nzftter, <strong>of</strong> Hinckley
*The late John Lakin, esquire, <strong>of</strong> Freezley, near Polesworth, Warwickshire, was
<strong>the</strong> custodian <strong>of</strong> some 26 deeds relative to this meeting-house and its possessions. The
first bears date <strong>of</strong> 24 September, 1639. One inakes illention <strong>of</strong> Mr. Wm. Hogg, citizen
and merchant taylor, <strong>of</strong> London, who by his will, dated 4 March, 1325, bequea<strong>the</strong>d EIOO,
which in 1733 was devoted to <strong>the</strong> purchase <strong>of</strong> a house in Long Street for Egg 15s. od.
from Mr. John Reynolds, to whom <strong>the</strong> interest was devised, while he acted as teacher,
or preacher. In 1759, one makes mention <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ejection <strong>of</strong> Rev. John Pru<strong>the</strong>ro, who
is noted as having been lately in <strong>the</strong> occupation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> minister's house.
?In a deed dated 1738, six trustees are mentioned in connection with <strong>the</strong> charity
bequea<strong>the</strong>d by Mr. Richard Warwick. Ano<strong>the</strong>r will, in which <strong>the</strong> society had some
iriterest, was that <strong>of</strong> Mr. John Burton, senr., <strong>of</strong> A<strong>the</strong>rstone, dated 15 August, 1727.
Lands at Mancetter are spoken <strong>of</strong>, as being bequea<strong>the</strong>d to his grandson, John Lloyd.
Did <strong>the</strong>se lands eventually become a charity administered by trustees <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> society?
Fields in <strong>the</strong> neighbourhood <strong>of</strong> Mancetter were, within living memory, and probably
still are, called <strong>the</strong> Brezd Acres. Are <strong>the</strong>y <strong>the</strong> lands originally belonging to John Burton,
senr. ? G.E. E.