Category: Baptist History Tours

Leicester, England (#10)

by Debra Conley

Although our Tour does not always include Leicester (pronounced “Lester”), England, it is worth a visit for the history of Carey, Bunyan, and of English nobles.  It was here that Carey wrote his famous work, Enquiry, prompting local pastors to undertake his burden for missions. The site of Carey’s church in Harvey Lane was demolished a decade ago to make way for a Holiday Inn, but the road leading to the site still retains the name Carey’s Close. The English word “close” is used to mean alley or small entrance (like a driveway) to a property. The term comes from the idea that these accesses were small enough to be “closed” off at night, usually with heavy iron gates, to keep enemy intruders from approaching. The Central Baptist Church on Charles Street houses an interesting museum of Carey’s work.

It was while John Bunyan served in Oliver Cromwell’s Army that his life was changed by what he termed Divine intervention. Bunyan was to serve his military guard post on the Leicester Fort wall, but asked a comrade to take his place. That night his replacement was killed; Bunyan knew the Lord had spared him for greater things. That part of the old wall has been preserved at the fortress site.

In the original town square there is a huge farmer’s market sitting amid streets with their old world names: Horsefair, Cheapside, Gallows, and Hansom Way, home of the inventor of the Hansom Cab. The famed travel pioneer Thomas Cook began his business in Leicester when his first arranged train party rode to Loughborough for a Temperance Meeting.

Lady Jane Grey, England’s infamous 9 days’ Queen, was born here; King Richard III was killed in Leicester during the Battle of Bosworth (1485) and is buried in the Abbey of St. Mary. Cardinal Wolsey, staunch opponent of King Henry VIII’s divorce, caught pneumonia and died at Leicester Abbey. Leicester is also the setting of Shakespeare’s best tragedy, King Lear.

Nottingham, England (#9)

by Debra Conley

Our very first trip to Nottingham, England, was both curious and disappointing. History books told us that William Carey had several meetings at the Angel Inn and the work of his Baptist Missionary Society began to take shape here. So we took the two hour train trip from London and upon arrival, decided to walk the steep hill to town. When we arrived at one of the oldest churches that we thought might be Carey’s Friar Lane Baptist Chapel, we were met by a group of youngsters gathering there for a Halloween party. The Rector of the church met us, but sadly, he had never heard of William Carey.

So we headed for the other side of the old town section near the Nottingham Castle. It stands as impressive as most large fortresses do, complete with a statue of Robin Hood and plaques of the famous legend out front. We went inside and inquired about Carey of the Docent. He had never heard of Carey, either. Our next attempt was to contact the local librarian. Another strike, as she knew nothing of Carey.

Professor Rick had a picture of a plaque to Carey that was somewhere in Nottingham, but we never found it. We did find the original buildings and workings of the famous Lace District which still turns out thousands of yards of intricate lace work for markets all over the world. We ate the best Fish & Chips we have ever had right from a street vendor on the pedestrian square. But no plaque or information about Carey.

Three subsequent trips to Nottingham turned up nothing. Then last May, we made one last trip to find the plaque. We stopped in a small print shop (called “Christian’s Printing”) to inquire, and the owner remembered seeing the plaque on the under-street subway. That subway had been demolished a few years earlier, but he gave us specific directions as to where it had been. So we retraced the steps, becoming frustrated at finding nothing and facing the evening’s darkness. As we headed back to the train, walking along Maid Marion Way, we glanced at a newly fenced in tree and there was the plaque! It had been re-done and moved to this tree which was the spot of the first Carey meeting. The bad news: the Fish & Chips stand was gone!

Moulton & Olney, England (#8)

by Debra Conley

Our history of William Carey is completed with a visit to two small villages in the picturesque English midlands. The Carey Baptist Church of Moulton still retains a famous mural  depicting Carey’s life and the beautiful stained glass window with his memorable quote, “Attempt great things for God; Expect great things from God.” The small home with its cobbler bench and teaching materials is well-preserved. In the one room cottage home, Carey worked as a cobbler while teaching young boys as they sat by his bench. Hand-drawn maps are quite accurate since Carey only had descriptions from books to use. He depicted the Americas as the “land of the savages.” Carey’s pulpit in the corner of the cottage reminds us of his first love.

The town of Olney is about 15 miles from Moulton, yet Carey walked there often to hear John Sutcliff preach (Sutcliff Baptist Church still exists on the main square) and eventually the two became close friends and prayer partners. Sutcliff allowed his church to be used for mission meetings and was instrumental in helping spur interest in Carey’s work.

Olney is the location of John Newton’s original church, St. Peter and St. Paul’s Parish Church, a beautiful mix of gothic windows with a Norman tower. Inside you will find a stained glass window of Newton and a tribute to his most famous hymn, “Amazing Grace.” Newton later moved to a church in London (St. Mary Woolnoth) where he served until his death in 1807. His remains were moved back to the churchyard at Olney by his family and the grave is well marked towards the back wall of the cemetery.

Newton was responsible for the conversion of the poet William Cowper. The two worked together on hundreds of hymn published in 1779 as The Olney Hymns. Cowper also wrote numerous poems and literary works, but his hymns, such as “There Is A Fountain Filled With Blood” mark his spot in our Baptist history. The Cowper Museum is worth the small price of 3 pounds for a tour of the house and orchard gardens. John Newton’s home is across the orchard and Cowper and Newton often met in the Orchard to write and converse. Owned by a third party, the orchard was dubbed the “Guinea Orchard” by Newton and Cowper when they purchased the rights to walk through it for a Guinea.