John Saffery, Salisbury, to John Rippon, London, postmarked 27 July 1797.

My Dear Brother,

         At Bath I saw your Letter to Dr Ryland you have doubtless heard from him, & know that every thing is settled for Bror Steadn to take a Second Tour into Cornwall with one of the Students; he goes from Sarum this day fortnight – I suppose therefore you have given up the idea of going there at this time. Probably the Dr & Friends have suggested some other place, & that your route is already fixed – However if I drop a hint on this business I know you will not think it impertinent, & feel yourself at full liberty to pursue the path that shall ^be^ most likely to promote the great object the Committee ^& Society^ have in view – Bro: Steadn has mentioned the Forrest of Dean, the Collieries in Shropshire, & Herefordshire doubtless the attention of the Society will be directed to those places if possible – But if you prefer a Western Tour we both think the lower part of Somersetshire, & the North of Devon ^or ye whole County^ very desirable places to attempt something in this way – Friends at Wellington were mentioning this last year when we went down, & wishing if it had been possible we cd have done something at it there. They were again urging the necessity of exertions in those places at Bath – From the little I know of them I think Itinerant Preaching is needed more there than in Cornwall. The [fol. 6v.] Methodists have done little or nothing there; many Towns & Villages are intirely destitute of the gospel & at a far remove from it; & some of our Churches, as Stoke Gomer &c in a very wretched condition – Should any thing be done in those Counties it will be maintaining a kind of Connection with Cornwall, & perhaps afford advantages to future Labours, shd an Itinerancy be at any future time established, & maintained on a more permanent footing – I’ll only add, which is the earnest prayer of my soul, may the lord direct & succeed you –

         Thanks be to God there is so much done in the formation of Societies, establishing Funds, & employing means in various ways to promote the Saln of men at home & abroad – We have houses Licenced in Eight Villages in our Neighborhood, & preaching without doors in 4 or 5 more occasionally, & hope ere long to increase the number; in some of them things are very pleasing – We have from of our Fds who go out Lords days, one or two of them preach acceptably – Some of the places are 7, 8 & 10 Miles from S— & Horse hire &c is attended with considerable expence. We have this year opened a small subscription in aid of Village Preaching which will amount to about £7 which with £5.5.0 I recd from Mr Martin sometime since will cover the expences of this Year.

         I see the London Society have empowered their Committee to assist Churches in the Country in Village Preaching, but they will doubtless have abundant applications, & I don’t wish to trouble them. The Missionary Society have much to do & [fol. 7r.] I think it will not be prudent to apply to them if I can help it, especially as I have lately applied to them on behalf of Mr Wastfield a very active Bro: at Imber 10 Mile distant; & who began his Itinerant labours under their Patronage last Lords day, in a group of benighted Villages about 12 or 14 Miles from us on the Plain –

         I have been thinking whether the Managers of the Baptist Fund in London would not allow us something Annually for Village Preaching if application was made – I could wish to obtain something of them if I can, as it would be more permanent a continuance of Mr Martins kindness, or rather his supply from the Regium Donnum is uncertain; & even if he shd continue it I should be able to employ it all ^some way^ or other without puting [sic] a halfpenny into the Pocket of myself or Fds for our own use, or abating any thing of our own Subscriptions towards the support of Village Preaching.

         I have briefly stated these things for your Advice – If you can find time within this week or two, will you just inform me, whether you do not think I may prudently & properly apply to the Managers; & if so who is their Secretary – I am sorry you have been so ill & at the same time rejoice in your recovery – Thro’ mercy I am well, & remn Your very

                                                       Affecte Friend & Bro:

                                                                     J Saffery

NB I obse the Ordination of Mr Rowcliff[1] at Southampton is not in your Register. Perhaps you mean to introduce it in your next list of Churches – There is a Baptist Church at Southwick near Trowbridge, between that & Frome whch have never appeared in your Register – I think their present Pastor’s name is Norris. It is the Mother Church of almost or quite all in that Neighborhood. I think you shd get Mr Rawlin[g]s or Cooper to give you some acct of it

Address: Rev Dr Rippon | 11 Grange Road | Southwark | London

Postmark: Salisbury 27 June 1797

Note

1  Edward Rowcliffe served as minister at the church meeting at Borough Road, Southwark, from 1775-1796, after which he removed to the church in Southampton; thus, for many years he would have been a neighor of Rippon’s and only recently removed at the time of this letter.

Text: John Rippon Letters, British Library, Add. Ms. 25389, fols. 6-7.