Kings Sutton Online

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Baptist Church

  All of the following information is taken from the 150th Anniversary booklet written and compiled by many church members and edited by Sue Harrison. The dates covered are from 1846 until 1996.  It is copied, as written, at the various times indicated.

Beginnings 

Early church records include 'a brief statement of the circumstances which led to the formation of the Particular Baptist Church at King's Sutton in the County of Northamptonshire on May the 12th 1846'. This statement was written around May 1846 and is as follows...

Nearly 50 years ago, several members of the Baptist Church of Middleton Cheney, residing at King's Sutton, were desirous of introducing the Gospel to the inhabitants of this village, and Mr George Blake offered his house for preaching. It was therefore registered at the Quarter Sessions in Northampton. Their Minister, Mr Green was invited to visit them frequently both on the Sabbath and weekdays. After his death several Ministers from Banbury and other places continued to supply the place as before. Among these was Mr Chater, a member of the Church at Middleton, who afterwards became a Missionary to Ceylon. The Congregation increasing, early in the year 1820, a building in the occupation of Mr Blake was bought off Wilkins of Bourton by Mr M Gibbard and delivered into the hands of Trustees at the Court Baron, King's Sutton and recorded by the Steward of the Court, Mr Beesley of Banbury. This building was fitted up as a place of worship, and registered in the Bishop's Court at Peterborough, July 21st 1820 by Wm. Gates D.Reg: as a regular place of worship in the Baptist  Denomination. The application to ''Bishop Herbert'' for the registration was signed by George Blake, Thomas Blake and George Colgrove, July 10th 1820.

Soon after this ''The North Bucks Association'' undertook to supply the place, a kind of mixed Independent Church was formed, and Mr Searle who had, for some time, been Minister at Church Lane, Banbury, came to reside here.  After his removal, the place was kept open by individuals from the neighbouring Cogregations till the year 1843, when from several painful circumstances the Church was entirely scattered and the whole attendants nearly lost.

At this period the doors of the meeting house were partially closed, having no minister for three months, the congregation scattered and the Sabbath School reduced to one teacher, and only ten scholars. Mr John Simson, a native of this village, who had received his early impressions of piety, under the preaching of the gospel in this place, but had removed to London for many years, heard of their condition and, as he had visited and preached there several times, felt a deep interest in the cause of Religion in his birth place. He was induced by these circumstances to return and reside amongst them as their Minister, early in 1844, since which the school and congregation have greatly revived  and so increased in numbers as to make it desirable to build a gallery in the meeting house. This was erected last year at the expence of £30 - to which, several neighbouring congregations have kindly contributed a part.  The favourable state of attendance and the general respect shown to the Minister, seemed to warrant the immediate formation of a Christian Church of the Baptist Denomination - Mr Simpson, being for some time convinced of the Scriptural duty of Believer's Baptism, was himself, with five others of his friends, baptized and received into the Church at Middleton on July 6th 1845 and have been  dismissed thence on May 3rd 1846 to form a principal part of this little community on Calvanistic Principles with the practice of open communion only.

The order of the evening service on May 12th 1846 was:

1. The introductory reading and prayer, Mr Lewis, Independent Minister, Banbury.
2. Letters read and Church formed. Mr Price, Middleton. 
3. Church addressed on mutual duties and privileges by Mr Nunnick of Bloxham.
4. Choice of Officers received by Mr Price when Mr John Simson, Pastor, Mr George Blake, Deacon with Prayer.
5. Pastor and Deacon addressd by Mr Jordan, Banbury who concluded the service with prayer.

It is also recorded that 'The whole of the service was marked by a peculiar manifestation of the divine presence.'

At the time of the formation of thhe church a Covenant was written and signed.
(This Covenant will be available shortly as a downloadable document)

A Brief History

Under the guidance of Mr Simson the church began to grow. At a meeting in connection with the Sunday School held in July 1845 as many as 150 sat down to tea. The Lord's supper appears to have been held about every two to three months during this time.

After Mr Simson retired, the Church was without a minister for nearly 12 months. Then the Rev George Tustin of Banbury became the minister in February 1856.

 
Rev George Tustin
    1856 - 1875 
        
Mr Tustin was aged between 50 and 60 when he began his ministry.  He was a plush weaver and continued to live in Banbury and work in his trade throughout his 19 years of ministry. Through all these years and in all kinds of weather he walked from Banbury on the sunday morning and walked back again to Banbury after the evening service. He also walked every alternate Wednesday evening to take the midweek service. He finally resigned the post in April 1875 due to failing health. Mr Tustin died in 1881 and was buried at Middleton Cheney. A memorial service was preached at King's Sutton.

                

Rev Thomas Bray           Rev George Hirst            Rev C A Ingram             Rev John Churchill
    1876 - 1880                  1880 - 1885                 1885 - 1890                    1891 - 1902



                 

      Rev Guyton              Rev E C Collinson               Rev D M Roberts                   Rev Hunter
     1902 - 1905               1906 - 1909                      1908 - 1909                      1910 -1912

                

   Rev E J Newell            Rev H J Chipperfield          Rev W G Branch              Rev John W Mayo
    1912 - 1915                 1915 - 1929                     1929 - 1934                   1935 - 1939


                
     Rev  Terrell                   Rev G D Moss                    Rev F J Hearn                   Rev J Nelson
     1940 - 1944                 1944 - 1951                     1952 - 1958                    1960 - 1967
                                                                                                                          (Joint pastorate with Middleton Cheney)

                         
 
Rev Hedley J Feast         Rev George Simpson          Rev George Nicol           Miss Lesley Edmonds
  1968 -1978                      1978 - 1981                     1982 - 1986                        1988 - 1991
(Joint Pastorate with Middleton
           Cheney)

  Rev Stephen Willis 1992 - To be continued as time permits....