The First Religious Meeting House in Buckley in 'A History of Saint John's Congregational Church 1792 to 1947' by Reverend Robert Shepherd, M.A.(Cantab)"

Lamb's Pottery, Church Road, Buckley

1923

For details of A History of Saint John's Congregational Church 1792 to 1947' by Reverend Robert Shepherd, M.A.(Cantab)in which this appears, see main entry 28.363 and below for Chapters III and IV.

To see all seven entries for this booklet, enter "Shepherd, Robert Rev, M.A. (Cantab)" in the author field of the Reminiscence search page.

CAPTION

The First Religious Meeting House in Buckley

Licensed when a Pottery Shed for Nonconformist Worship in 1792

(Reproduced from "History of Buckley and District" - T. Cropper)

{CAPTION IN THOMAS CROPPER'S " BUCKLEY AND DISTRICT"

The Pottery Shed in which the Oswestry Student commenced to Preach, 1792.

Cottage (1923) belonged to Mr Edwin Lamb.}

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CHAPTER III.

THE MINISTERS OF

THE BUCKLEY MOUNTAIN CHURCH.

The Rev. Mr. Powell.

The first Minister of this Church was a young student named Powell. Apparently Mr. Catherall invited him to the Pastorate in May, 1813, and he was ordained towards the end of the same year, probably in November, when the Rev. D. Jones from Holywell took part in the Ordination Service.

His ministry was not confined to Buckley. Mr. Catherall had established and built a Church at Mold for the Welsh Independents and Mr. Powell ministered to both congregations. He lived at Hawkesbury with the Catherall family and enjoyed the comfort of this Christian home. He sometimes assisted Mr. Catherall as a clerk in his office.

There were three Services on Sunday, at 10 o'clock in the morning, 2 o'clock and 6 p.m. The Services at Buckley were probably in English with an occasional Service in Welsh, because even in those far-off days the population of Buckley was predominantly English-speaking owing to English people settling here in rather large numbers to work in the different industries. But the case was different at Mold where the people were almost entirely Welsh-speaking. The morning Service at Mold was in English, but the afternoon and evening Services were conducted in Welsh.

This young Minister must have led a very strenuous life. We know little about him. His personal appearance was apparently by no means impressive. It could hardly be said of the average Minister that he looks so despicable in and out of the pulpit." Yet this is how Mr. Catherall spoke of him. He was quick however to add " the people hear him attentively, like him much and are going to make a collection for him." This collection was to raise £20 which the congregation had promised him in addition to his salary which Mr. Catherall paid. But the promised collection was deferred so long that Mr. Powell suggested that he should open a school to augment his income. There was nothing abnormal about this suggestion. Nonconformists were very concerned about the education of their children, and Ministers in many places opened a school for the children of their congregation. They often did this so that the children should not be compelled to attend the Church or National School, but have a school where Nonconformist principles could be instilled into them. Mr. Powell was a conscientious pastor who carried out his ministerial duties in the spirit of loving service, and exercised a very helpful ministry among the people, whose respect and affection he enjoyed. The congregations filled the Church to overflowing and Mr. Catherall in 1814 was discussing plans to enlarge the building. It is doubtful whether Mr. Powell established his suggested school because Mr. Catherall had purchased Frog Hall in 1813 and building a schoolhouse there, opened a school at which his two daughters taught.

Let me add in passing that he lent Frog Hall to the Welsh Calvinistic Methodists for Services on Sundays, and eventually converted the building into a Chapel for their use. He had also handed over a Chapel at Holywell to the Holywell Congregationalists for their worship.

Mr. Powell left after a comparatively short ministry. The Church was kept in touch with the wider ventures of Christian enterprise. The founding of the London Missionary Society in 1794 was followed by the establishment of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and Mr. Catherall not only responded whole-heartedly to this effort to spread the Christian message but interested the people in the propagation of Bible teaching. Bibles were procured and bought by those who could afford to buy them, and where this was not possible the Bibles were freely distributed. Mr. Catherall's two daughters were very active in this work and were regular in their visitations to those who needed their comfort and support and had a desire to hear the Word of God read to them.

This spread of Bible knowledge throughout the locality must have had a purifying and ennobling effect on the lives of the people.

The Rev. Thomas Jones.

A successor to Mr. Powell was found in the Rev. Thomas Jones. But little is known of his ministry which commenced in either 1817 or 1818. It lasted only a short time, probably two or three years. But the absence of any record of this ministry in no way detracts from its importance in the life of the Church. We can be assured that the work was registered in the lives and characters of the people as well as in the fellowship of the Church.

The Rev. John Saunders (1820).

The next Minister of this dim and distant past was a young student from Carmarthen, called John Saunders. Mr. Catherall had secured an interview with this youth while on a visit to South Wales and had interested him in the Church at Buckley. He discussed with him the Pastorate and the nature of the work to be undertaken, and offered him the Pastorate. Judging from the letter the student wrote, accepting the invitation to the Pastorate, Mr. Catherall had impressed upon him the need of the Church for ministerial guidance because of the difficulties experienced. This letter reveals the character of this young Minister as one who relied upon Divine guidance in all his undertakings, and was anxious to act in accord with the Divine Will whatever the consequences. He allowed no self-interest to influence him in his decision. The Will of God for him was final in all things. Such a man could not fail to lead the people into the Divine Presence and strengthen their hold upon the great Christian essentials.

His letter accepting the Pastorate runs as follows :-

Carmarthen,

11th March, 1820.

Dear Sir,

Having considered the circumstances in which you are, I sympathise with you, and according to my engagement when I saw you at Carmarthen, I now comply with your request if Divine Providence will permit me. The time when I will come I cannot certainly determine, but as soon as possible after the vacation-and it is the Will of God I hope that I should come and labour among you. However, it is my intention to come and to leave the result to Him Who is able to direct me in every circumstance.

Yours truly,

John Saunders.

It was during the pastorate of Mr. Saunders that the spirit of a wider fellowship among Congregationalists awoke and began to draw the eleven Churches of the Congregational Faith then existing in the County, into one Union, the Flintshire Congregational Union. The old and honoured name Independent' suggested a form of isolationism, and it was so interpreted by many. But in 1821 the spirit of co-operation and interdependence prevailed and the Flintshire Congregational Union came into being for mutual help and succour of the weaker Churches. The first contribution to the Union from this Church was £3 1s. 11d., and Mr. Jonathan Catherall as Treasurer, and Mr. William Catherall as Secretary, are described as the officials of the Church.

Mr. Saunders, who had formed a School in a house for week-day scholars, left the district for South Wales and was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Davies.

The Rev. Mr. Davies.

This ministry proved to be one of the shortest in the history of the Church, and there are no records of it at all. But both Mr. Saunders and Mr. Davies had the reputation of being preachers. Either previous to Mr. Davies' ministry or following it, there was a Minister whose name even has passed out memory, and we must speak of him as the Unknown Minister. But his ministry like many others of those who labour in the vineyard and pass from the memory of men, is recorded above.

Mr. Catherall had suffered very grievous and sad losses by the death of his wife in 1807 at the early age of 35, and the tragic death of his two daughters, Martha Catherall and Frances Catherall, both of whom died of fever contracted by visiting the sick, within two days of each other in September, 181 8.

Mr. Catherall placed two tablets in the Church, one to the memory of his wife and all his deceased children, and a second to Mrs. Catherall's brother, Lieut.-Col. Timothy Jones, who fell mortally wounded at New Orleans in 1815. At the base of this tablet a space was left which later bore the inscription "Jonathan Catherall, died 31st July, 1833, aged 72." second inscription read "Anne, wife of William Catherall, died 8th Oct., 1833, in the 32nd year of her age."

The closing years of Mr. Catherall's life - he was approaching 70 years of age -were spent in a vain effort to make over the Church and burial ground free of charge to the Congregational Dissenters for ever. On Dec. 5th, 1 828, he writes " As the Chapel and burying ground have been included with other things in a deed, I am much concerned that there is such an impediment in the way of my making them over in trust for ever to the Congregational Dissenters. The friends of those that have been buried there must have a veneration for the spot. Others that would have used it during my absence were fearful it would not be kept in a proper state for so sacred a purpose, so the ground fell into disuse. While I was in good health I did not so much think about it, but could choose what Minister I thought would suit, but my decline in that has altered my mind."

Thus a legal impediment frustrated his desire and the suggestion was made to him that he should sell the Chapel and burial ground for £100, a nominal sum. This he refused to do. He persevered with his effort to give the Chapel and not sell it. In seeking the aid of the Rev. Mr. Weaver, Salop, he writes :- "About twenty years ago I built a Chapel on my own ground, in which we have had public worship by ordained Ministers ever since. My infirmities now cause me to think I cannot conduct it much longer and wish to leave the Chapel and ground used for interment to the Congregational Dissenters for ever. By the enclosed letters you will perceive that there are impediments in my way. Could not an instrument be made to secure it? I consider it more important because eight or ten persons have been buried there and I intend to lie among them.'

It was all in vain. The deepest desire of his heart was denied him. He died without the transference being made, on July 31st, 1833. His body lies at rest in the burial ground of his beloved Church, and over him there stands a grey granite memorial block, erected by himself two years before his death. There is only one word on this memorial to proclaim to posterity who and what kind of man Jonathan Catherall had been. But only one word was needed, for it enshrined within itself the heroic, dauntless, invincible spirit of this matchless Christian pioneer. That word is 'Nonconformist.'

JONATHAN CATHERALL.

A Nonconformist.

Well done good and faithful servant.

CHAPTER IV.

ST. JOHN'S CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

A THEOLOGICALLY-MINDED CHURCH.

The Rev. John Griffith (1844-1877).

With the passing of Mr. Jonathan Catherall a new era dawned in the life of the Church. Old conditions were passing away and the fulfillment of his oft-expressed desire was drawing near. The work of the Church was not allowed to be interrupted and his son, William Catherall, at once took over the burden of maintaining the worship of the little Chapel. He found a suitable Minister in the Rev. John Griffith and took him into his own home until he could make other arrangements.

The ministry of the Rev. John Griffith which opened in his period of transition was destined to leave a lasting and enduring impression on the life of the Church.

At the very commencement of his ministry there were signs of impending changes which would not only make more efficient the ministry of the Church but change its very constitution. Mr. William Catherall, like his father before him, paid the Minister's salary, about £60 a year, by no means a small sum in those days. Still following in his father's footsteps he built, at his own cost, a schoolroom to accommodate the growing Sunday School. Feeling the necessity for the education of the children associated with the Church, he induced the Minister's son, Mr. Robert Griffith, to open a school for boys and girls and paid him a salary of £40 a year. Many of those who attended this school became prominent in the Church later and proved to be pillars in the House of God. It must have been a little later that Miss Griffith, the Minister's daughter, kept a school. Mr. J. R. Griffiths in his memoirs writes, "Went to Miss Griffith's school. At first she held the school in an upstairs room of their manse, then in a new portion built on the end of Tom Catherall's school, which afterwards was the site of the present Sunday School."

After the passing of 18 years, Mr. William Catherall determined to carry out his father's wish that the Chapel should be handed over to Trustees to be used as a Congregational Church for ever. But the same legal difficulties that had prevented his father from giving the Chapel to the congregation still confronted him. He was thus compelled to sell and not to give the Chapel. Accordingly he offered to the Church Officials for the nominal sum of £120, the Chapel, the burial ground, the Manse and the Schoolroom, and of course his offer was gladly accepted. All the more so because Mr. Catherall had on one or two occasions shown his authority and his proprietorship by turning out the congregation and locking the doors. In disposing of these premises Mr. Catherall made one condition of sale. If at any time in the future the congregation should be compelled to borrow money to carry on the work, no mortgage incurred should exceed £200. The Indenture making over the Church, burial ground, Manse and Schoolroom, was signed on May 16th, 1851, by the following :-William Jones (London), William Catherall (Senior), Rev. John Griffith, Rev. William Griffith (Holyhead), Rev. David William Jones (Holywell), William Shepherd, Timothy Catherall, William Catherall, (Junior), John Shepherd, John Taylor, Edward Price, James Hughes, John Hope (Chester), Peter Gittins (Chester), Robert Griffith (Liverpool).

Thus during the Ministry of the Rev. John Griffith, the Church became constitutionally, as well as in its Faith, a Congregational Church, having full power invested in the Church meeting for all Church purposes. Fortunately, the Church had in the Rev. John Griffith a very safe and able leader, and the unerring way in which he guided the first steps of the Church in those days is not the least success of his ministry. We do not know how many composed the diaconate, but two names have come down to us as deacons at this time, David Edwards and Edward Price. Mr. Griffith's ministry proved to be a very long one. He was Minister of this Church for 33 years and it needs little imagination to realise how great his contribution to the Church's life and development must have been. He was a very saintly man who served the cause with a self-sacrificing devotion that was an inspiration to all his members. He had a kind and sympathetic disposition that endeared him to his people, and he knew his congregation intimately through visiting their homes. He was a friend to young and old alike. No one appealed in vain to him for help. Being greatly loved, his ministrations to the sick and sorrowing never failed to bring comfort and consolation. No offer, however, tempting, could induce him to leave this Church. He was a theologian and his sermons were no mere interesting talks. He preached on the great Christian doctrines and in such a way that he made this Church theologically minded as very few Churches were or are today. Throughout its history it has always been a battleground for theological discussion. Calvinism and Arminianism both had their supporters and great arguments concerning the Christian Faith were a marked feature of the Church's life. Probably this explains why this Church has always demanded and obtained men of outstanding ability in the pulpit. This theological-mindedness of the congregation was due in the first place to the theological training the people received during the ministry of the Rev. John Griffith and the interest he aroused in theological questions by his preaching. It is a great and precious heritage handed down to the present day, making it possible for us to say of Mr. Griffith "He being dead yet speaketh."

The Sunday School was now held in the new Sunday School building and it had two sessions. A morning school was held from 9 o'clock to 11 o'clock, and an afternoon school met at 1-30 and ended at 2-30 when the scholars were transferred from the School to the Church for the Service there. The teachers were responsible for maintaining discipline in the Church. What fine devoted Sunday School workers these people were! They not only taught the children for about 3 hours each Sunday but often held a Teachers' Prayer Meeting before the School session commenced, and after School was over they met together along with the senior scholars for a Bible Class to make their teaching more efficient and successful. All honour to them and the Minister ! They were doing a far greater work than they realised. They were creating a Church with characteristics that persist to this day. It was during these days that Mr. William Catherall occasionally came to School with a basket of apples from his orchard for distribution among the scholars. The action may seem insignificant but it was expressive of a spirit of helpfulness that was by no means insignificant. There were no prizes for attending Sunday School in those days.

The life of the Church was permeated through and through with the spirit of devotion and worship. No other kind of meeting seems to have been held except those of a spiritual nature. The Monday prayer meeting, which is still a feature the Church's life, was attended by 60 or 70 people, some whom were very powerful in prayer. This was the power house of the Church and a splendid training ground for spirit workers. Moreover it aroused and kept alive an interest Christian work beyond the borders of the Church itself, every first prayer meeting in the month was devoted to claims and needs of Missionary enterprise abroad. There also a Society meeting held every Wednesday evening where an opportunity was afforded the members for practice speaking, of which they were not slow to avail themselves.

In 1858 a library was established to meet the need for wider reading among the adherents of the Church and School.

The orchestra that had led the singing in the early day unfortunately no longer existed. Nor was there any kind of instrumental music in the Services. One of the deacons, Edward Price, had the duty of commencing the singing. Unfortunately, his choice of tunes was not always a happy one and then the singing broke down because a wrong metre tune had been chosen. This was neither satisfactory nor dignified and Mr. Joseph Griffiths collected money to purchase a harmonium which he secured for £14. This was played for a time by Miss Susie Shepherd in the Services, who thus became the first organist of the Church. She was followed by Mr. Joseph Griffiths, Miss Annie Griffith, and Mr. John Robert Griffiths, who later went to London and became a distinguished organist with the degree of Mus. Bac. For many years he was organist of Westminster Bridge Road Church, London, and had the honour of playing on the great organ of the Crystal Palace on the occasion of great religious festivals held there.

Mention of one new movement in the village during the ministry of the Rev. John Griffith will serve the two-fold purpose of revealing the very rapid growth of Nonconformity and the spirit of co-operation and fellowship existing between the different denominations. The first Jubilee procession took place in 1857 in which all the Nonconformist Churches took part. It was headed by a band. This expression of the unity of their Faith was both gratifying and a source of strength to Nonconformity of those early days.

As long as his vigour and health remained, the Rev. John Griffith maintained his popularity, and his congregations were well maintained. But advancing years brought enfeeblement and he was compelled to relax his efforts and go into semiretirement. He still remained at the Manse and took a lively interest in the life of the Church. But with his withdrawal from a full ministry the congregations began to fall off in numbers.

It became essential to find a successor who could re-awaken interest and hold the Church together, and the next Minister accomplished both.

The Rev. John Griffith as Pastor emeritus lived until June 16th, 1877, when he passed away, and was buried in the burial ground of his Church, the people deeply sorrowing over the loss of one so dear to their hearts. A tablet in the Church records," In loving memory of the Rev. John Griffith, who was the Beloved Pastor of this Church for 33 years. He died in the Lord, June 16th, 1877, aged 77 years. Also Mary, his wife, died January 10th, 1 879, aged 75 years."

Author: Shepherd, Robert Rev, MA (Cantab)

The First Religious Meeting House in Buckley in 'A History of Saint John's Congregational Church 1792 to 1947' by Reverend Robert Shepherd, M.A.(Cantab)"

Lamb's Pottery, Church Road, Buckley

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