Category: A Bird’s Eye View

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.

Execution Sites (#5)

by Debra Conley

Everyone has heard of Bloody Mary (Tudor) but may not know the history which earned her this nickname. After her half brother Edward VI’s death, the throne of England passed to her. She fervently set out to restore Catholicism to England, requiring death to all who opposed her. We visit one of the locations of many martyrs executed under her reign, Smithfield, a small garden set apart by a stone monument marking the spot of over 300 executions. Across the street is a memorial to William Wallace, the Scot who died for his country and whose ashes were scattered to the four corners of Britain. Close by is St. Mary Woolnoth Church where John Newton finished his pastoral career, St. Mary LeBow Church, known for its beautiful interior arches designed by Christopher Wren, and Christ’s Church Greyfriars, the church of the great commentator and preacher, Richard Baxter.

We also pass the Clink Prison, where many religious prisoners were held “in the Clink” until their execution at Smithfield. Just beyond the prison is Southwark Cathedral. The choir nave, the oldest part of the building, was the location for the trials of Protestant martyrs during the reign of Bloody Mary.

It was also at the Tabard Inn (which no longer stands) in this Southwark neighborhood that Geoffrey Chaucer began his journey of the Canterbury Tales. The Cathedral itself is one of the most charming of the smaller churches we see.

Returning toward our point of origin, we pass The Strand, an impressive street of original buildings leading to Westminster. Here is the home of lexicographer and poet Samuel Johnson, and St. Dunstan in the West, a church often used for lectures by William Tyndale and John Donne. Towards the end of The Strand is the Palace Hotel resting on the site of the original Exeter Hall where Charles Spurgeon preached until his own church was completed. We end our morning at Victoria Station, a bustling hub for many rail and Underground connections. Within the station are a connected hotel and a small shopping center with several restaurants. Try one of the local grab and go lunches, sometimes called a Pastie, which is a hand-held meat and vegetable pie in a flaky crust. Yummy!

Newgate Prison

Bloody Mary Memorial

The Clink