| Winsham Chapel-Correspondence and reports of meetings-1862-1875 |
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The Call given by this Congregational Church at Winsham to the
Rev William Gooby
We the Church and Congregation assembling for worship at the Independent
Chapel, Winsham, being now destitute of a Pastor and feeling that your
ministrations in, and out of the pulpit, during your visits amongst us,
have been very profitable, and gives promises of great future usefulness
if you would settle here; and also feeling that your coming here has
been directed by the Holy spirit of God, in answer to earnest and
repeated prayer, that he would revive his work in this place, and send
one of his servants who should be instrumental in carrying it on: in
accordance with these feelings, we unite in cordially and affectionately
inviting you to become our Minister and to take the oversight of Gods
Church in this place. At the same time, we pledge ourselves to provide
you a suitable maintenance in accordance with our means, and to give you
all the help and encouragement which your arduous duties might require.
Hoping that nothing will prevent your acceptance of this our unanimous
invitation, and that we shall soon have the pleasure of welcoming you as
the Pastor of a prosperous and united Church and peoples, we beg to
subscribe ourselves, your affectionate Friends
(Signed) George Trenchard
on behalf of the Meeting
Winsham Somerset The following
acceptance of the foregoing Call was received
Tavistock,
To the Church and Congregation assembling for worship in the Independent
Chapel, Winsham
My dear Christian Friends I
have received with much pleasure and thankfulness, your kind and
affectionate invitation to become your Pastor, and I have laid the
matter before God, with the earnest prayer that he would guide me in
coming to a decision upon the subject.
you, I could not feel other than thankful to Our Heavenly Father for the
encouragement afforded me in seeing so many drawn to the house of God,
to hear of Him, who is “the Way, the Truth and the Life”.
Especially too was I struck with the earnest, prayerful spirit
that seemed to pervade the minds of the “little company” banded together
in Church fellowship. In
the “Call” which you have addressed to me, you also state that it is
your determination to give me “all the help and encouragement, which my
arduous duties might require”.
In the face of so much encouragement I feel that I could not do
other than accept your affectionate and unanimous invitation. And now,
dear Christian Friends, pray for me, that I may come to you “in the
fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ”,
that I may be enabled to go and in out amongst you as a faithful
servant of the Lord Jesus: and that utterance may be given unto me, that
I may open my mouth boldly, to make known to you the mystery of the
Gospel, and the God of peace be with you all, Amen. I
am, dear Christian Friends,
Yours very affectionately
William Gooby
At a meeting of the Church, held on
First, that the foregoing “Call” and acceptance be inserted in the
minutes of this Church.
Secondly, that Mr Geo. Trenchard be requested kindly to draw up a report
of the state of this church during the pastorate of the Rev John Cook
Westbrook (see Historical Aforesaid)
Thirdly, that this Church desires to express its deep regret, that
during the whole of the Rev J Westbrook’s pastorate, the proceedings of
this Church have been allowed to pass unnoticed and unrecorded, and that
Mr Trenchard be requested to communicate with Mr Westbrook and seek from
him such information regarding Admission of Members, Baptisms, etc, as
he may be able to furnish.
The Rev R Ferguson LLD, FRS, A Shrimpton, J Gooby, Mr. Densham etc, etc,
took part in the service.
At a meeting of the Church held on Thursday evening
It was further resolved with the greatest unanimity that the following
be admitted as members of this Church: Fanny Marsh, Richard Larkum,
William Glyde.
Resolved further: That Brothers Trotter and Wellman, be the deputation
of the Church, to wait with the Pastor upon David Singleton to converse
with him touching his religious life and
experiences, and to make enquiry into his manner of life and
general conduct.
“That Sarah Ann Aplin and Samuel Aplin be admitted as members of this
Church”.
The whole carried unanimously.
At a meeting of the church held this day it was
unanimously resolved that Sarah Meech be welcomed into the Church as a
sister in Christ.
George Bonar and Dinah Bonar his wife, were this day admitted as members
of this church; they having presented satisfactory letters of dismissal
from the Church at Fishguard, Wales.
On this day the new school and lecture room was opened, during the day a
bazaar was held and at
August 1863
pastor brought before the notice of the Church, the fact that for many
years there had been no one appointed to sustain the office of a deacon:
that the church was now without such necessary officers; that the need
for such was increasingly felt; and commended the matter to the serious
consideration of the members of the church.
Subsequently it was unanimously resolved “that the members of
this Church shall “look out from among them two men of honest report,
full of the Holy Ghost and Wisdom, whom they may appoint over this
business”.”
September 1863
At the monthly meeting of the church, Mr William Glyde of Beere Chapel
and Mr William Singleton, were unanimously chosen and appointed to
sustain the office of deacons.
December 1864
The Rev Wm Gooby having accepted a call to the pastorate of the
Congregational Church in Newbury, which he was eventually obliged to
relinquish on account of ill health, having given this church and
congregation notice of his intention to resign this pastorate on the 11th
of the month, the Rev Thomas Prentice of Maryborough, Ireland was
invited to preach for five Sundays on probation, this ultimately led to
the “Call given by the Congregational Church, Winsham, to the Rev Thomas
Prentice”.
Dear Sir,
We the Church and Congregation assembling for worship at the
Congregational Chapel, Winsham, being destitute of a Pastor and feeling
that your ministrations amongst us have been profitable and give promise
of the greater and further usefulness have today unanimously decided
after earnest prayer for God’s guidance, to ask you to become for one
year our Minister and take
upon you the oversight of God’s church in this place.
We have thought it advisable to name a certain time feeling that
it will leave both you and us greater liberty of action for the future.
Hoping that nothing will prevent your acceptance of this our
invitation and earnestly praying that the union so commenced may
continue for many years and that God’s best blessings may descend upon
us abundantly under your pastorate we beg to subscribe ourselves – your
affectionate friends.
Signed: W.D. Glyde – Deacon
Geo Trenchard
On behalf of the meeting of the Church and Congregation.
The following answer to the foregoing letter was received.
My Dear Friends
It gives me unmingled satisfaction to receive at your hands the
unanimous request of the Church and Congregation assembling for worship
in the Congregational Chapel at Winsham to become for one year their
Minister and take upon me the oversight of God’s church in this place.
I trust I am sensible of the honour conferred upon and the
confidence reposed in me as implied in this request.
I think it implies the highest honour and the greatest
confidence. It is matter
for devout thankfulness to Almighty God that He has rendered my feeble
services profitable and given them reason to think that their
continuance here is likely to be increasingly useful.
With respect to the definite period which they have deemed it
advisable to name, I may be allowed to say that it would grieve me not a
little to think that this connection should continue any longer than
would be mutually agreeable to both them and me.
Permit me to state that notwithstanding my personal consciousness
of my insufficiency for the onerous duties connected with the
responsible position in which they thus place me yet looking to Him for
strength and sufficiency “that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand
who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks” and who I
feel confident has guided my footsteps to this place it gives me no
small pleasure to accept their cordial invitation and to unite with them
in the hope that the union so auspiciously and I trust providentially
commenced may be of long continuance and that the better they and I
mutually know and are known the more we may become endeared to each
other. It shall be my care
by a prayerful diligent and impartial attention to the varied and
important duties connected with the pastorate to secure their continued
confidence and esteem.
Praying that God’s richest blessings may continue to rest upon all the
exercises in which I may engage as their pastor and that they may ever
be a prosperous happy and united church increasing in piety influence
and in members, I have great pleasure my dear friends in subscribing
myself your affectionate friend and pastor.
Signed Thomas M Prentice
To the Messrs Glyde & Trenchard
February 1865.
At
the monthly meeting of the church it was unanimously resolved that Jane
R Prentice the wife of the pastor be welcomed into the church as a
beloved Sister in Christ.
March 1865
At the monthly meeting of the church it was unanimously resolved that
the following be admitted as members of the church, George Edwards,
Elizabeth Edwards, Jane Hussey, Elizabeth Irish and Sarah Jane Fendall.
At a special meeting of the church held this day it
was proposed by Mr W D Glyde seconded by Mr W Singleton and unanimously
resolved that the Rev Thomas M Prentice be publicly and solemnly set
apart to the work of the Christian ministry and that arrangements be
made for carrying this resolution into effect.
On this day in accordance with the foregoing resolution the Rev Thomas M
Prentice, late of
June 1865.
At the monthly meeting of the church it was unanimously resolved that
the following be received in the fellowship of the Church, William
Chamming, Hannah Aplin, Esther Norman and Sarah Hansford.
September 1865.
At the monthly meeting of the church it was unanimoously resolved that
Emily Singleton be admitted as a member of the church.
March 1866.
At the monthly meeting of the church it was unanimously resolved that
Anne Welch be admitted as a member of the church.
January 1868
At the monthly meeting of the church it was unanimously resolved that
Sarah Forsey be admitted as a member of the church.
February 1868
At the monthly meeting of the church it was unanimously resolved that
Mary Bolt be admitted as a member of the church.
March 1868
At the monthly meeting of the church it was unanimously resolved that
Susan Frankham be admitted as a member of the church.
November 1868.
At the monthly meeting of the church it was unanimously resolved to
receive the following persons into the fellowship of the church, Susan
Welch.
January 1969.
At the monthly meeting of the church it was unanimously resolved to
admit George Eveliegh
as a member of the church, a letter of dismissal having been
received from the Congregational Church at Stoke-sub-Hamdon.
March 1869
At the monthly meeting of the church a letter was read from the
July 1870
At the monthly meeting of the church a letter was read from the
Congregational Church at Morecombelake dismissing Jane Rendall to the
church. It was unanimously
resolved to welcome her into the church as a sister beloved.
Signed Thomas M Prentice
August 1870
At the monthly meeting of the church it was unanimously resolved
to receive Caroline Wyatt as a member of the church.
Signed Thomas M Prentice
November 1870
At the monthly meeting of the church it was unanimously resolved
to receive Edward Pratt into the fellowship of the church.
Signed Thomas M Prentice
June 1871
At the monthly meeting of the church it was unanimously resolved
to receive James Hardyman into the fellowship of the church.
Signed Thomas M Prentice
August 1871
At the monthly meeting of the church it was unanimously resolved
to admit Mary Hardyman into the church.
Signed Thomas M Prentice
May 1872
At the monthly meeting of the church it was unanimously resolved
to receive Evangeline Wyatt and Sophy Trenchard into the
fellowship of the church.
Signed Thomas M Prentice
July 1872
At the monthly meeting of the church it was unanimously resolved
to admit Sarah Trenchard into the church.
Signed Thomas M Prentice
September 1872
At the monthly meeting of the church it was unanimously resolved to
receive Francis Eveleigh into the fellowship of the church.
Signed Thomas M Prentice
November
1872
At the monthly meeting of the church Elizabeth Anne Trenchard
was unanimously admitted into the fellowship of the church.
Signed Thomas M Prentice
December 1872
At the monthly Church meeting Annie Aldous Hitchcock
was unanimously admitted to the fellowship of the church on a
letter of dismissal being received from the
Signed Thomas M Prentice
March 1873
At the monthly meeting of the church it was unanimously resolved to
admit Hugh Trenchard and William Wyatt into the fellowship of the
church.
Signed Thomas M Prentice
June1873
At the monthly church meeting
the following persons were
unanimously admitted to the fellowship, Susan Hardyman on a letter of
dismissal being read from Bishops Hull Congregational Church, Samuel
Lock and Sarah Lock on a letter of dismissal being read from
Signed Thomas M Prentice
October 1873
At the monthly meeting of the church it was unanimously resolved to
adopt a series of Rules for the guidance of the Church.
A copy of these Rules is gummed on one of the fly-leaves at the
beginning of this book.
Signed
Thomas M Prentice
December 1873
At the monthly meeting of the church the following persons were
unanimously admitted to the fellowship of the church, viz Jonah
Trenchard, Mary Rowe, Henry Rowe and Susie Prentice.
Signed Thomas M Prentice
March 1874
At the monthly meeting of the church the following persons were
unanimously admitted to the fellowship of the church, viz Fanny Raisen,
Anna Hussey, Guy Trenchard and William Lacey.
Signed Thomas M Prentice
April 1874
At the monthly church meeting the following persons were unanimously
admitted to the fellowship of the church, viz Jonah Raisin, on a letter
of dismissal being read from the Broadwinsor Congregational Church and
Mary White on her profession of faith in Christ
Signed Thomas M Prentice
May 1874
At the monthly church meeting Susan Good was unanimously admitted to the
fellowship of the church.
Signed Thomas M Prentice
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