Eagle Street, London, Baptists

Eagle Street Baptist Church, London – Samuel Medley presented himself for baptism by profession of faith on 21 December 1760 (f. 110v.) and was called out to preach on 27 July 1766 (f. 125r.).  Medley signs the minutes for 3 October 1766 (f. 128v.).  Thomas Vernor, “stationer on Ludgate Hill, gave a satisfactory account of a work of God on his soul while destitute of ye means of grace at Gibralter & was accepted” (f. 120v.).  A B. Vernor also attended (f. 121v).  At the church meeting on 8 December 1765, it was announced that Noah Symmonds “winessed a good Confession (at Mr Say?, Printer in Ivy Lane)” (f. 123v.).  John Langford and Noah Symmonds were baptized together on 5 January 1766.  John Langford (later Baptist minister) had joined the church on 8 December 1765 and was called to preach on 9 March 1766 by the church (ff. 123r., 124r.).  Symmonds signed the call. A Mr. (David or Guy—f. 7r.) Medley was in the church in 1766, and exercised his “gift with universal acceptance” before the church on 1 August 1766 (f. 125v.).  He was asked to preach at Harlington and the church approved (f.  247r.). A B. Symmonds shows up in December 1766 for not attending communon (f. 130r.).  In January 1767 B. Symmonds informs the church that he has joined elsewhere, having “rent himself” from Eagle Street (f. 131r).  In January 1772 a J. Fox (the word inserted above his name appears to read “painter,” but could be “printer”), along with some others, is accepted into membership and baptized on 26 January (f. 8r; f. 151r.).  His wife, Mary, gave an account of her experience and was received into the church on 28 June 1772 (f. 153v.).   George and Mary Bagster joined in May 1774 (f. 162r.).  At the meeting on 4 July 1779, everyone is present except Sister Clifford and Mr. Fox (172r.).   Ebenezer Smith chosen as assistant pastor on 24 June 1781 (f. 174r.).  See Church Records for Eagle Street, later Kingsgate, Holborn, vol. 1, 1737-85 (Angus Library, Regent’s Park College, Oxford).

Thomas Hopkins, pastor, died in November 1787, having served as pastor since early 1785.  In August 1785 Mary Ryland (later Carpenter) was received as a member of the church (f. 10-11).  William Smith came as pastor in 1789.  George Bagster Jr., signed the minutes of the church meeting on 3 November 1785 (f. 18) [this is Samuel Bagster’s brother.  Samuel would later take over the publishing firm of Robinson]; he also signed for Smith’s call (f. 62).  His father also attends there (f. 70).  He was baptized in July 1789 (f. 64).  A Mr. Moxon attends as well (f. 63), but he withdrew in 1790 (f. 69).   A Thomas Hardy attended as well, formerly under the care of Mr. Burnham, being received in July 1789 after giving “a satisfactory account of the Lords gracious dealings with hs soul” (f. 64).  He shows up again in 1807 for “immoral” conduct (f. 367); after confession, he is given a reprieve (f. 385).  Nevertheless, he continued in his ways of “drunkenness” and was dismissed from the church in February 1809 (f. 388).  A John Robinson attended as well, but not the London publisher and bookseller (f. 65); the Robinson gave a profession of faith and was baptized in October 1789; his name disappears by 1794 and in 1798 he is called before the deacons for “drunkenness and profane swearing” (f. 212).  He confessed and promised to act correctly in the future, and thus avoided dismission (f. 215).  He failed to keep his word, however, and he was dismissed from the church in March 1798 (f. 216).  An Amelia Alderson (most likely this is not the writer who later became Mrs. Opie) was received as a member on 2 April 1795 (f. 140).  In December 1789 Daniel Burton and his wife Sarah join the church (f. 67).  A Mr. Hawkesworth attends as well (f. 69) but he was shortly thereafter excluded.  John Fountain is baptized and received into the church in December 1794, coming from Oakham (f. 133).  Just prior to that, a Robert Ingle joined as well.  He signs for the minutes in February 1796 (f. 150).  William Smith resigns in October 1801 (f. 258-60), due to a degree of dissatisfaction among a group of members with his ministry.  Daniel Burton signs the minutes after his resignation (f. 264).  Joseph Ivimey from Wallingford took over in 1804 (f. 314); Burton signs the minutes for 31 January 1805 (f. 328).  He dies sometime before 1822.  James Trinder joined the church in late November 1805 (f. 347).  A Thomas Smither joins on 31 December 1795, but according to the list at the end of the book, he was later excluded (f. 149).  [This is probably Daniel Burton and his wife Sarah, who in December 1789 joined the church at Eagle Street in London (see Eagle Street Church Book, 1784-1822, Angus Library, Regent’s Park College, Oxford, f. 67), where Joseph Ivimey (1773-1834), the Baptist historian and early leader of the Baptist Union, would shortly commence his ministry, succeeding William Smith, who resigned in October 1801 (f. 258-60) due to a degree of dissatisfaction among a group of members with his ministry.  Daniel Burton signed the minute book after his resignation (f. 264) as well as after the succession of Ivimey on 31 January 1805 (f. 328).] See Church Records for Eagle Street, later Kingsgate, Holborn, vol. 2, 1784-1822 (Angus Library, Regent’s Park College, Oxford).