John Wesley In Colchester – (Part 2)

Another two years passes by before we find Wesley in Colchester next and once again he finds them in bother.  (Monday, 14th January 1782).  “Being informed that through the ill conduct of the preaching things were much in disorder at Colchester, I went down hoping to strengthen the things which remained that were ready to die?  I found that part of the class leaders were dead, and the rest had left the society.  The bands were totally dissolved; morning preaching was given up and hardly any, except on Sunday, attended the evening preaching.  This evening however we had a very large congregation, to whom I proclaimed ‘the terrors of the Lord’.  I then told them I would immediately restore the morning preaching and the next morning I suppose a hundred attended.  In the daytime I visited as many as I forcibly could, in all quarters of the town.  I then enquired who were proper and willing to meet in the band and who were fittest for leaders either of bands or classes.  The congregation this evening was larger than the last and many again put their hands to the plough.  Oh may the Lord confirm the fresh desires He has given, that they may no more look back”.

John Wesley, now a man of 79 years of age, once again visits Colchester in November 1782, where he arrives on the 5th, a Tuesday, and states “In order to strengthen this poor feeble society, I stayed with them until Friday, preaching morning and evening and visiting in the day as many as I could, sick or well.  I divided the classes anew, which had been strangely and irregularly jumbled together, appointed stewards, regulated temporal as well as spiritual things and left them in a better way than they had been for several years.

Friday, 4th July 1783, Colchester just merits a mention as Wesley travels home from Harwich after a three week visit to Holland, also 8th January 1784.

A year later, 17th January 1785, “I set out for poor Colchester to encourage the little flock.  They had exceeding little of this world’s goods, but most of them had a better portion.  Next day, Tuesday, I went on to Mistley Thorn, a village near Manningtree.  Some time since one of the shipwrights of Deptford Yard being sent hither (from Ipswich in 1780) to superintend the building of some men of war, began to read sermons on a Sunday evening in his own house.  Afterwards he exhorted them a little and then formed a society.  Sometime after he begged one of our preachers to come over and help them.  I now found a lively society and one of the most elegant congregations I had seen for many years, yet they seemed as willing to be instructed as if they had lived in Kingswood.  Wednesday, the 19th, I returned to Colchester.”

In August/September 1786 Wesley calls at Colchester twice on his way to and back from his third visit to Holland.

On 11th October 1790, we come to Wesley’s last visit to Colchester.  He is now an old man of 87 years, but still travelling around the country practically non-stop.  “Monday 11th I went on to Colchester and still found matter of humiliation.  The society was lessened, and cold enough, preaching again was discontinued, and the spirit of Methodism quite gone, both from the preachers and the people.  Yet we had a wonderful congregation in the evening, rich and poor, clergy and laity.  So we had likewise on Tuesday evening, so that I trust God will at length build up waste places”.

We have two other accounts of that Monday evening meeting.  A Mr William Candler was also present and was deeply impressed.  He had never before entered a Methodist Chapel.  Hearing the Town Crier announce that the Reverend John Wesley would preach that evening in the Methodist Chapel he determined to attend, resolved to cast his lot in with the Methodists and become an earnest local preacher and full of zeal for his Master’s cause.  This was the result of the interference of the vicar of St. Peter’s, the Reverend Robert Storry, who had unscrupulously endeavoured to withdraw the Methodists from their chapel.  Wesley in this sermon gave the following rebuke “there is a sheep stealer in this town, who takes both sheep and lambs from his neighbour’s fold at will.

Now I charge that man to desist, or to meet me, and answer for his deeds at the bar of God in the Day of Judgement”.  The reverend gentleman was in the congregation, and his subsequent conduct showed that he was not a forgetful hearer.  Another member of the congregation was Henry Crabb Robinson, then a lad of fifteen years of age, an articled clerk in Colchester at that time, who most of his long life kept a journal.  He was a friend and acquaintance to almost everybody in the literary world of his day and one of the founders of London University.

He writes “I was present at an exhibition which had a powerful effect on my mind.  It was I believe in October 1790, and not long before his death, that I heard John Wesley in the great round Meeting House at Colchester.  He stood in a wide pulpit, and on each side of him stood a minister, and the two held him up, having their hands under his armpits.  His feeble voice was barely audible but his reverend countenance, especially his long white locks, formed a picture never to be forgotten.  There was a vast crowd of lovers and admirers.  It was for the most part pantomime, but the pantomime went to the heart of the kind I never saw anything comparable to it in after life”.

Henry C Robinson writes to his brother on 18th October 1790.  “I felt a great satisfaction last week on Monday, in hearing that veteran in the Service of God, the Reverend John Wesley.  I was informed in the afternoon that he was in town and would preach that evening.  Unfortunately a sick man had sent to have his will made directly, and it was given to me to write.  But Mr Francis seeing how mortified I appeared gave it to someone else, and I went to the Chapel.

At another time and not knowing the man I should almost have ridiculed his figure, far from it now.  I looked upon him with respect bordering on enthusiasm.  After the people had sung one verse of a hymn he arose and said “It gives a great pleasure to find you have not lost your singing.  Neither men nor women you have not forgot a single note and I hope by the assistance of the same God which enables you to sing well, you may do all other things well.”  A universal amen followed.  At the end of every head or division of his discourse he finished by a kind of prayer, a momentary wish, as it were, not consisting of more than three or four words, which was always followed by a universal buzz.  His discourse was short, the text I could not hear.  After the last prayer he arose up and addressed the people of liberality of sentiment and spoke much against refusing to join with any congregation on account of difference in opinion.  He said “If they do but fear God, work
righteousness and keep His commandments, we have nothing to object to!”  He preached again on Tuesday evening.

On Friday, 15th October, this scene was again repeated, this time at Lowestoft, where the chapel was crowded to suffocation.  Present at this meeting was the Reverend George Crabbe, the Aldburgh Poet, most well known for his poem ‘The Village’.  Crabbe writing in this poem a true and realistic picture of village life as opposed to the usually idealistic scenes of rurality which had up till now been the fashion.

Crabbe, who was afterwards introduced to Wesley and noted his reverend appearance and his cheerful air, as a Church of England minister, was opposed to the doctrines of Wesley and Whitfield, opposed to ‘conversion and enthusiasm’ even more so when the Methodists seem to steal some of his congregation at Muston in Leicestershire.

I think that we can see from this picture of the times of Wesley, and this a period of great revival, that the spreading of ‘the Word’ was anything but easy.  In fact from the human angle it was a long struggle and an uphill battle.

When Wesley did not visit his flocks for sometime it appeared that they were inclined to backslide and indeed needed to be constantly visited by the man himself to once again boost their faith and their spirit, and indeed we read of conflict and division and disagreement amongst all the ranks from the highest to the lowest.

Thus we can see that there is really very little which is new in this life of ours.  Jesus said “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life and few there be that find it”.

Compiled and submitted by John Bland.


Good Friend's in Glory

Since the last issue of “The Lighthouse” we sadly acknowledge the passing into glory of three of our church membership, all nonagenarian ladies.  Ivy Smith on 5th August 2006; Judy Polley on 3rd September 2006 and Ivy Little on 5th September 2006; they were much loved and valued friends of us all.

Ivy Smith had been a church member for many years, involved in many areas of Christian service.  She was a member of the Women’s Fellowship, attended the prayer meetings, was on the flower arranging
rota, a much-valued helper at the Parent and Toddler Group, to name but a few.

Ivy was also a much appreciated and loved part of the Link Line Christian Fellowship team and choir.

A well known speaker at Ladies meetings, Ivy undertook many engagements at churches in the locality and could also be relied upon to produce one of her special poems for any occasion – a very active and busy lady indeed.

Dear Ivy will always be remembered for her smart “up-to-date” appearance, jewellery, make-up and high heeled shoes!  We all loved her dearly.

Judy Polley was a long term member of the Church and was also very active in her service of her Lord.

Judy regularly attended all services and meetings wherever possible.   President of the Women’s Fellowship for a time; a very active assistant at the Lunch Club, where she undertook her duties very seriously for as long as she was physically able.

A much valued member of the Link Line Christian Fellowship, Judy loved to sing in its choir and was always willing to help whenever and wherever she could.  It was her greatest delight to be among people, especially in the Church and at Grymes Dyke Court where she resided for several years.

Another dear lady whose loss to us is heaven’s gain was Ivy Little who came to our Church when the Layer Breton Chapel sadly closed its doors.  This had been her spiritual home for many years and where she had been actively involved in many areas of service for the Saviour whom she loved.

Ivy was a very quiet, unassuming lady, a tremendous “prayer warrior” who could always be relied upon to faithfully pray for any need requested of her.  Ivy was a loyal supporter of the Lunch Club and always enjoyed staying on for the afternoon meeting of the Women’s Fellowship.

Family life was of the utmost importance to Ivy and it was always apparent that she loved each member of hers very dearly.

Children were always very special to Ivy as she always made a point of enquiring after them, especially if they had any kind of problems and her prayers for them would be consistent.  During her latter years Ivy suffered her disabilities with great courage and dignity.  She was a really sweet and gracious lady.

We offer our thanks for the privilege of knowing these three dear ladies and for the memories we have of them.

“Give her the reward she deserves and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”
Proverbs 31:31.

Barbara Ratcliffe