This church on the Bedfordshire/Huntingdonshire border, first at Hail Weston and afterwards at St. Neots, had members from adjoining Bedfordshire villages. The Church Book is in the possession of the St. Neots Congregational church, as also is my transcript of it. Other copies of the transcript are with the County Record Office, Bedford and with the County Record Office, Huntingdon.

[Lists of members from foundation of the church until 1713 No places of residence are given but against the names of Jane Coates and Ann Francke on p.6 is the annotation ‘dismissed from Rowell’ (i.e. Rothwell, Northants.) in 1702.]

July the first 1691.

The day above written being set apart in a most solem manner by prayer and fasting we who did before in a solem manner congregate together by mutuall covenant and agreement to walke together in the holy ordinances of our Lord, wee did therefore the day above written, by prayer and fasting, and beging counsell of the Lord after severall calls to the worke, then choose, elect, set apart and ordaine our beloved brother Luke for to goe in and out before us, and to minster the holy ordinances of our Lord amongst us, and do therefore before the Lord with all our hearts cordially and sincerely with one consent, accept approve of our said brother to be our leader and commit the pastoral charge into his hands under the Lord, and submite ourselves to him as being chosen by us and by the Lord for us, and give unto him the right hand of fellowship, and pray to the Lord for a mighty blessing upon our procedings in this great concerne and set to our hands to confirme our procedings untill it shall please the Lord to provide better for us. Nathaniell Hews. William Bywaters. Thomas Peacock. John Bartie. William Aspland. Symon Haircocke. Daniell Eaton. John Nutter. Gilbert Taylour. James Measure.

August the 19th 1691.

This cause began in the 1650s and in its early days had groups of members not only in Bedfordshire but also in north Hertfordshire. Among churches springing from the Kensworth one are those at Park Street, Luton, Beds., and at Dagnall Street, St. Albans, Herts. The first (surviving) Church Book of Kensworth is in St. Albans Public Library, but the photographic copy in the possession of the St. Albans church was used for the transcript. Copies of the transcript are also with the St. Albans church, with St. Albans Public Library and with the County Record Office, Bedford.

For other information on the Kensworth church and its offshoots, see W. Urwick, Nonconformity in Hertfordshire, 1884; C. E. Freeman, ‘A Luton Baptist Minute Book 1707-1806’, B.H.R.S. xxv; W. T. Whitley, ‘Edward Harrison of Petty France’, Baptist Quarterly vii, No. 5, January 1935. E. A. Payne, The Baptists of Berkshire 1951 (pp. 147-9) prints the minutes of three area meetings of Baptist church messengers in 1652 and 1653. At the meetings at Wormsley on the 3rd of the 9th month 1652 and at Tetsworth on the 17th of the first month 1652/53 messengers of the Bedfordshire Baptist causes at Kensworth and Eversholt were present, as well as messengers from Berkshire and Oxfordshire causes.

The names of the prospective members of the baptized congregation of the church of Kinsworth, taken the 9 day of July 1675, and regestered upon the 22 day of March 1675 by mee Hugh Smyth, Wheathamstead, Heartfordshire.

St. Albans

Brother Haward, elected elder; Sister Haward; Brother Gurney; Sister Gurney; Sister Hart; Sister Archer; Brother Dearmer, elected deacon; Brother Wyatt; Brother Hale; Sister Davy; Sister Impy; Sister Cocking; Sister Guile removed from Eversall; Brother Gould aded Sept. 1676; Sister Gould aded Sept. 1676; Sister Gregory removed from Pety France; Brother Spuford aded 1678; Brother Sleep added 1678; Brother Gould, senior; Sister Sleep; Sister Gould; Brother Sleep, senior; Sister Sleep, senior, from Helmstead; Brother Alsward, 1690; Sister Alsward, 1690; Brother Fr. Sleep, junior, aded 1693; Sister Joyner, aded 1693.

Mims and Ridge

Brother Buckingham, Sister Buckingham, gon to the freewillers; Brother Ham; Sister Ham; Brother Collis; Sister Collis; Brother How; Brother Emerton; Sister Emerton; Brother Page; Sister Page; Brother Jerom; Sister Jerom, fell away; Brother Woodyer, added April 9, 1676; Brother Ellis, aded Ma.

In this towne of Bedford, and the places adjacent, there hath of a long time bene persons godly, who in former times, (even while they remained without all forme and order as to visible church communion according to the Testament of Christ) were very zealous according to their light, not onely to edify themselves, but also to propogate the Gospell, and help it forward, both by purse and presence, keeping alwayes a door open and a table furnished and free, for all such ministers, and Christians, who shewed their zeale for, and love to, the Gospell of Christ. Among these that reverend man Mr. John Grew was chief, also Mr. John Eston, senior, and brother Anthony Harrington, with others: men that in those times were enabled of God to adventure farre in shewing their detestation of the bishops and their superstitions. But as the saide these persons, with many more, neither were, nor yet desired to be, imbodied into fellowship according to the order of the Gospell, onely they had in some measure separated themselves from the prelaticall superstition, and had agreed to search after the non-conforming men, such as in those days did beare the name of Puritanes.

But when it pleased God (who had before appointed that holy ordinance of the communion of saintes) to shew this mercy to this people, he placed Mr. John Gifford among them for their minister in Christ Jesus and to be their pastor and bishop and the steward of God to communicate unto them the knowledge of his will, in the holy misteryes of the Gospell. Of whom (because their appeared a more then ordinary hand of God in his call to the ministery and his place and office among them) take this short relation of him, both before and after grace received.

Mr. Gifford was a Kentish man, a great royalist, and an officer (viz. a major) in the King’s army. He had also his hand in that rising that was in that county, for which he was also apprehended and adjudged with 11 more to the gallowes.

The Carlton cause originated as a secession from that at Stevington. At first Independent, it later became Baptist, and since the late years of the 19th century has been Strict Baptist.

The first Church Book of Carlton is still in the church’s possession and is in an excellent state of preservation. Some years ago my friend, the late Rev. F. W. P. Harris made a full typed transcript of it, which I have checked, and a copy of which is in the County Record Office, Bedford. The early entries are given below.

A forme of marriage

The man: I, N, take thee M, to my wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this time forward, and according to God’s word, forsaking all others, to cleave unto thee, love, honour and cherish thee, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, ---------1 and in sickness, all straights and necessities, to--------- 1 thee a husband, and to protect thee according to God’s ordinance, til death shall us part. And this I promise to thee as the Lord shall me help, in the awfull presence of the one true God, and this present congregation. Amen.

The woman: I, M, take thee N to my wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this time forward, and according to God’s word, forsaking all others, to cleave unto thee, love, honour and obey thee, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in health and in sickness, all straights and necessities, to be a meet help unto thee, according to God’s ordinance, til death shall us part. And this I promise to thee, as the Lord shall me help, in the awfull presence of the one true God, and this present congregation. Amen.

A certificate to witness marriage

This is to certifie all the world, or whomsoever it may concern, that J.G. of S., the son of R.G. in the country of B., and M.B., of H. the daughter ofJ.B. in the county aforesaid, are lawfully joyned together in holy matrymoney, receiving and giving themselves up to each other as man and wife.

This Independent cause met first in the Bedford area, its members being former members of Rothwell, Northants., Independent church. A move was soon made from the Bedford area and in its early years the church recruited members not only from Bedfordshire but also from parts of Hertfordshire. The Church Book is still in the possession of the church as also is my typed transcript of it: another copy of the transcript is in the County Record Office, Bedford.

An interesting feature of this Bedford/Southill Church Book is that many of the early members came from Hertfordshire towns and villages e.g. Baldock, Weston, Clothall, Kingswood, Sandon, Cottered, Hadham and Standon. John Farrow, whose house in the parish of Weston, Herts., was licensed as a meeting place for Protestant Dissenters on 10 March 1696 is probably the same John Farrow of Weston who, with his wife Rebekah, became members of Southill church on 25 July 1703. (Urwick, Nonconformity in Herts., p. 626). The Southill Church Book records a church meeting at Weston on 16 May 1700 and others in 1703 and 1704. Members of the Bret family of Clothall, Herts., joined the Southill church in June and July 1703; the house of John Brett of Clothall was registered as a dissenting meeting place in November 1720 by John and William Brett (Urwick. op. cit. p. 787).

Christopher Muns, who joined the Southill church in July 1693 on dismission from Rothwell church, was received into membership of Bunyan’s church at Bedford on 5 July 1697, after protracted consideration of his case in view of his having been thrown out of the Southill church.

This following request was sent from the persons subscribing inhabitants in and about Bedphord on the 24 day of May 1693 to 5 churches of Christ, viz. Harfford, Rothwell, Wellingborow, Kimbolton, Needingworth.

Originally a branch of the Rothwell, Northants., Independent Church, the Kimbolton church became independent peaceably in 1692. It remained Independent during the 18th century but later became Baptist. My transcript of the first Kimbolton Church Book from 1692-1764, with a summary of later entries to 1823, is with the Church Book itself in the County Record Office at Huntingdon (with a copy in the County Record Office, Bedford). Only early entries of Bedfordshire interest are given here.

At a sollemne Church Meeting of the Church of Christ of Kimbolton….. 11th day of the Second month….. 1692/3….. Ann Staggers of Riseley and Elizabeth Garratt of Dean accepted. Susana Pentlow of Little Staughton defferred.

At a Church Meeting of the Church of Christ at Kimbolton being the 10th day of the third month 1693 then the Church proceeded to open the gates of Zion’s gates and there offered herself Elizabeth Johnson of Keysoe. Admitted.

The fourth day of the fourth month, being the Lord’s Day a letter was read which came from some freinds in and about Bedford, to request messengers from this Church of Christ to see their embodying together on the 23d day of the 4th month. Brother Rowlatt, brother Gurry, brother Marlin are apointed to go to Bedford….. to see their embodying together.

At a Church Meeting at Kimbolton the 20th day of the second month 1693, after some time solemnly spent in prayer and singing the Church proceeded to open the gates of Zion for the receiving of such as might offer themselves, and there offered themselves…..John Clapham, Pertenhall.

At a Church Meeting the 20th February 1697/98 Elizabeth Dawson, alias Thurgood, came to the Church and acckoledged her repentance for the wiked action she was cutt off from the Church for, and the Church was in some measure sattisfied with her, only agreed to send to the church at Bedford to enquire of her conversation.

At a Church Meeting the 30th day of the 10th moneth 1698 ….. Sister Flawn of Bonist being guilty of the breach of the Sabboth, brother Gurry and brother Sadington and appointed messengers to her to require her to be here the next Church meeting to answer to what is charged, or may be charged, against her.