Mr. Fenn continued his labours for about two years, with apparent success, when a sudden change in his views on the ordinance of baptism (which views he two years afterwards renounced) dissolved the connexion. From this period up to the year 1832, various ministers sustained the pastoral office, the greater part of which was by the Rev. W. Gough, now of Worcester. The church at this time became destitute of a pastor: the smallness of their number, the deep poverty of the people, and burdened with a debt, united in bringing them into a very distressed state. In this situation they had no other alternative but to apply to the Baptist Home Mission.* In answer to their application, the Rev. Mr. Stephens was sent, who remained with the church nearly four years, when an application was made for his services at Kidderminster, and after preaching two Sabbaths, they gave him a call, which he accepted. The church is again destitute of a pastor; never at any former period did they feel more disposed for exertion than the present; never was there a greater spirit of inquiry. Yet they are poor, many have been removed by death; and the church is quite unable to invite any one to the pastoral office so long as the present debt remains. They therefore affectionately and fervently appeal to the religious public, to assist them in getting off this sum, which is about £230, so that they may be enabled to have one who shall dispense unto them the word of life. It is earnestly hoped that the religious public will testify their sympathy by sending their contributions as under. Any donation will be thankfully received by the Rev. John Dyer, 6, Fencourt, Fenchurch-street; or to Messrs. Prescott, Grote, and Co., Bankers, 62, Threadneedle-street, London, on the joint account of Messrs. Onslow and Harris, with the Wem Branch of the Northern and Central Bank of England, Wem. Signed, on behalf of the church, * The church at Wem cannot pass over this part of their history without acknowledging their gratitude thus publicly, to the Committee of the Baptist Home Mission, for the timely aid they afforded, and also call upon the religious public for a more liberal support of that valuable institution, so that the weak causes of Christ may revive and flourish. APPEAL OF THE BAPTIST CONGREGATION, DUBLIN, TO THEIR CHRISTIAN BRETHREN OF EVERY DENOMINATION. At the commencement of the year, 1834, it was found, that the Chapel needed repairs to the amount of £300, and the school house required to be rebuilt; in these circumstances, it appeared desirable to sell the premises, and to build others in a better situation. Some respectable members of the Established Church, at the same time, wished to purchase the chapel, for the use of the poorer classes of Protestants in the vicinity, who did not attend any parish church; and as the doctrines of our "common salvation" would still be preached in the place, the Baptists sold it with the greatest willingness. The sum of £775, after paying the law expenses, was obtained by the sale. After much inquiry and consideration, an eligible site has at last been obtained-and it is intended to erect a neat Chapel; rooms for a Sunday and daily school; and a dormitory for the orphans; the estimated cost of which is £1800. The Baptists in this city are, however, but a small community, and unable to defray the whole expense of such an undertaking. The amount of their present funds is £1145. For the £655 still wanting, they must depend on the liberality of the Christian public. The Baptists, actuated by no sectarian motive, do not address themselves to any particular denomination, but to all who desire the advancement of the cause of the Redeemer, and entreat their co-operation in erecting a house, in which the doctrine of the cross will be preached to perishing sinners. Subscriptions will be received by the Mr. PALMER, North Earl Street, care of the Rev. H. Cone, of the Triennial Convention, and bore with him to England the highest testimonials to his character, and an introductory letter from his pastor, to Dr. Cox, and the Rev. John Dyer. The cause at Ensham had long been in a declining state, but there is every prospect of a glorious revival, under the ministry of brother Mathews. CHAPELS OPENED, &c. MURSLEY, BUCKS. A new Baptist meeting-house was opened at Mursley, Bucks., on the 14th of September, 1836. Mr. F. Franklin, of Coventry, preached in the morning, from Psalm xxvi. 8; Mr. Theobald, from Fenny Stratford, from John iv. 24; and Mr. P. Tyler, of Haddenham, from 2 Thess. i. 7-10. Several neighbouring ministers of different denominations assisted in the devotional services. Our venerable and esteemed brother Franklin, expressed his pleasure at the contrast he now witnessed in the village to what it was in the days of his youth, when he used to go a little distance from his native place to hear the gospel in the Established church. At that time," he said, I do not remember to have known one praying godly family in the village; but now I trust there are many. I must also express my pleasure at the conduct of your worthy and liberal clergyman, who has kindly granted us the loan of several seats for our present accommodation." The place was crowded to excess, so that Mr. Theobald was obliged to preach in the open air. With the liberal aid of one friend from Oxford, the prompt kindness of many more, and the collections of the day, no debt remained on the place, but a few pounds will be necessary to complete the inside. It will be gratifying to the friends of the Baptist Home Missionary Society to learn, that the ten pounds they liberally granted to this cause in 1819, has been blessed as the means of so much good being done. The other place that had been fitted up and let, at a yearly rent, to the Bucks. Association, is sold and taken down, and this neat and commodious meeting-house has arisen, and is invested in trust, for the use of the denomination. "The Lord hath done great things for this poor people, of which we are glad." FARSLEY, YORKSHIRE. On the 11th Dec., a new Baptist chapel was opened at Farsley, near Bradford. It will seat nearly 700 persons. Mr. Saunders began the services of the day by giving out the 132nd psalm, he also read and prayed; after which, a sermon was preached by the Rev. R. W. Hamilton, (Indep.) of Leeds; in the afternoon and evening sermons were preached by the Rev. I. Birt, of Manchester; and J. E. Giles, of Leeds. On the Lord's day following three sermons were preached by the brethren H. Dowson, Bradford; J. Macpherson, of Hull; and Ely, (Indep.) of Leeds. The collections on the two days amounted to about 254, in addition to upwards of £400 which had been previously raised by the congregation." LEEDS, YORKSHIRE. The Baptist chapel, South Parade, Leeds, was re-opened on Friday, Nov, 23d., and following Sunday, when sermons were preached by the Rev. James Acworth, M. A; R. W. Hamilton; Dr. Raffles; J. Birt, and H. Dowson. The chapel in its present state seats 1400 persons, and is one of the most complete and elegant Dissenting structures in the kingdom. The cost of the enlargement, £1700, together with that of the first erection, £5,250, has been defrayed by the church and congregation, who have also built another chapel at Hunslet, in the immediate neighbourhood of Leeds, which will accommodate 800 hearers, and will be opened (D. V.) on Friday, Jan. 6th, 1837. We are requested to state, that the public meeting announced in our last to be held on the 3rd inst., at the Baptist Chapel, Clapham, is unavoidably delayed till the 10th inst. Those ministers and friends who have long wished to see a place of worship more suited to the wants of the denomination, and the character of the neighbourhood, it is earnestly hoped will be present on the above occasion. Tea will be provided at Five o'clock, in the vestry, and the chair to be taken at Six precisely. RECENT DEATHS. DR. RIPPON. We have to announce the death of the Rev. Dr. Rippon, which took place on Saturday, Dec. 17th, in the 86th year of his age. This venerable minister was pastor of the Baptist church formerly worshipping in Carter-lane, Tooley-street, Southwark, from which place they were re moved in consequence of the building of the new London Bridge, and subse| quently assembled in new Park Street. In his pastoral office he laboured with great success for a number of years, perhaps without any precedent. He accepted this charge on the 1st of Au gust, 1774, which office he filled for upmark that Dr. Rippon succeeded the wards of 63 years. It is worthy of revenerable and learned Dr.John Gill, who was pastor of the same church for the period of 54 years, by which it appears that the pastoral office of this church was filled by these two eminent servants of God for the period of 117 years. The interment took place in Bunhillfields burying-ground on the following Saturday, about three o'clock, Rev. Dr. Cox addressed the assembled mourners from the pulpit of the late pastor; the Rev. C. Room spoke over his grave; and on the Sabbath morning, the Rev. Dr. Collyer preached the funeral sermon at New Park Street chapel, Southwark, from Heb. ix. 27, 28. MRS. S. WILLIAMS. On the Sabbath morning of Nov. 13th, 1836, died Mrs. Sarah Williams, the beloved wife of the Rev. Daniel Williams, pastor of the Baptist church, Fairford. For about fifty years, she shared the joys and sorrows of her highly esteemed partner; during the same period, she walked holily and in love before her family, and the church of Christ; and after entering upon the eighty-first year of her life, she departed in peace to the enjoyment of her heavenly home. REV. J. TURQUAND. few days illness, in his fiftieth year, the Rev. James Turquand, pastor of the Baptist Church, Milford, near Lymington, Hants. He was lineally descended from a respectable family which fled from France, at the impolitic and cruel revocation of the edict of Nantz, by Louis XIV. Amiable in his temper, hospitable to his friends, and laborious in his ministry, he usefully occupied the sphere in which divine providence had placed him. The great Head of the Church honoured his ministry with important results. He was suddenly and unexpectedly taken to his final reward, amid the regrets of a large circle of Christian friends, and also of his ministering brethren in the immediate vicinity, between whom and himself, nearly twenty years of affectionate co Died on the 6th Dec. 1835, after a operation and uninterrupted harmony had subsisted. May the Lord soon provide a holy and useful minister for the destitute church, as his successor ! REV. S. SUMMERS, BRISTOL. Early on Thursday morning, Dec. 15th, in the 46th year of his age, this minister of the gospel was suddenly removed from a scene of active and extensive usefulness, which he had occupied but little more than three years. The day previous to his removal he was dining with a friend in his usual health, and in the afternoon took a walk round the square with a clergyman in the neighbourhood. Between two and three o'clock in the morning, perceiving himself somewhat indisposed, he requested Mrs. Summers to procure him a glass of water, which she did; he then said he was better, and laid himself down, but it was to rise no more among the living; his spirit instantly escaped, without any other intimation to himself or his distressed family. His remains were followed by ministers of all denominations of Christians in Bristol, and are deposited in the same vault with the remains of the venerated dead-Ryland, Anderson, and Hall. Mr. Crisp conducted the funeral service at his interment; and his funeral sermon, through the incapacity of his friend and brother, Mr. Price, of Devonshire Square, on whom it would most naturally have devolved, was preached by the Rev. E. Steane, of Camberwell. It is hoped a more full account will be furnished in a future number of this work: but we cannot close this brief notice without expressing an earnest hope that a volume or two of his sermons will be instantly prepared for the press, as it is well known they were fully written out by himself, and that they will be accompanied by such memorials of his history as his character deserves, and his friend's expect. NEW PUBLICATIONS. Catechism in the Words of Scripture, for Sunday Schools. pp. 16. Memoirs of the Life and Christian Experience of Samuel Bagster, Jun. By John Broad. Neat cloth, boards. Price 4s. 6d. Mr. W. Jones, Author of the "History of the Waldenses," has in the Press a Volume of Sermons, which, it is expected, will make its appearance on the 1st of March. The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, with the Text of the Common Translation arranged in Paragraphs, and Illustrated by Rhetorical Punctuation.—In two Parts. DISTRIBUTION OF PROFITS. The following sums, from the profits of this work, were voted to the widows whose initials follow, at the meeting of proprietors, on Tuesday, the 20th ult. RECOMMENDED BY E. Evans. .J. Williamson. J. Puntis. ..W. Yates. .B. Price. .J. Trimming. £3. 4. 3. S. I.. 4 E. C 4 E. P 4 .T. Thomas. 4. 3 ..J. Carver. B. Thomas. H. P 3.. .J. Jones. S. D 4. .J. James. D. Wilson. M. H. 3. W. Thomas. B. A. 4. .T. Dawson. A. M. 4.. S. W 4. M. R 4.. A. W 4. 4 M. J 3. .D. Morrell. E. A. Claypole. E. Mansey. .B. Evans. S. Price. J. W 3. R. R. Stephen. J. J 3. .B. Thomas. S. W. 4. .J. Edwards. JANUARY, 1837. Subscriptions and donations received by the Secretary, Rev. S. GREEN, Walworth Mr. DYER, at the Baptist Mission Rooms; Messrs. MILLARD, Bishopsgate Street; SANDERS, High Street, Bloomsbury; LADBROKE & Co., Bankers, Bank Buildings; BURLS & Co., Lothbury; H. D. DICKIE, 13, Bank Street, Edinburgh; Rev. Mr. INNES. Frederick Street, Edinburgh; Rev. J. FORD, 6, Upper Cha lemont Street, Dublin; P; BROWN, Esq., Cardigan; Mr. J. HOPKINS, Bull Street, Birmingham; Mr. J. H. ALLEN. Norwich; and any Baptist Minister, in any of our principal towns. It should be known that, for the whole of the Christmas quarter's salaries the Committee has to provide by loan at interest; an undesirable, though absolutely necessary, measure the amount, as far as can be ascertained, will be from £480 to £500. The knowledge of this fact, we hope, will be sufficient to induce the necessary effort among our friends. As it has been determined to alter the time of holding the Baptist missionary meetings to an earlier period in the year than hitherto, we take the first opportunity of announcing that the accounts for the next report must close on the 20th of April, instead of June 6th, as advertised in last report. Our public meeting will be held, in all probability, on Tuesday evening, May 2d, at an hour and place to be afterwards announced. In a former Chronicle it was observed that, as Mr. Davis is now almost wholly employed in collecting for the Society, it became requisite to supply the station at Clonmell in some other way than hitherto. During Mr. Davis's absence our meeting-house has been well occupied by the Rev. Mr. Dill, a presbyterian minister, who is raising a congregation in that town; still, it was deemed not desirable to abandon such a station. Accordingly, Mr. Thomas Smith, late of Stepney, has proceeded thither; and but for the effects of a severe cold, caught in removing, would ere now have commenced his labours. A letter from him, of Dec. 14, says: "I much regret that your Society should have found me at the outset a useless and unprofitable labourer. A sick room is an unfavourable post of observation, or field of action; though a useful retreat for an estimate of our resources, and the practical discovery of where our strength lies. In this view, I hope the last three weeks have not wholly been lost upon me. Life is short-health is precarious-souls are perishing-eternity is at hand-what calls to work while it is called 'to-day'! We know that we possess the talent--but we know not the measure of time allotted for its employment. How solemn, then, the charge: Occupy, till I come.' Anything which serves to add solemnity to the trust is a messenger of God for good. I hope to preach next Lord's-day here; and the following to be at Thurles, which place I have not yet been able to reach. As to methods of doing good, both here and there, I shall hope to know and report something in my next communication." Mr. Davis is likely to remove to London, in order that he may be more efficiently employed in pleading the cause of the Society wherever his services in that department may be needed. The Society has also just engaged, as daily reader, under Mr. Bates's direction, a Mr. Mulhern, who has heretofore been occupied occasionally in a similar manner. From Mr. MULHERN to Mr. BATES. Coolavin, Oct. 22, 1836. Rev. Sir, As you must, from your visits to this part of the country, be too well aware of the more than ordinary opposition with which the gospel of truth, and its advocates, have to contend, I need not inform you that, while you have the pleasure to see popery, in many parts of your extensive district, hang down its head as if ashamed to stand before the truths of revelation, in this benighted vicinity it reigns almost without a blush. And were I to select a neighbourhood where nominal protestantism most closely vies with popery for ignorance of and opposition to the gospel message of mercy, this should be the one. Still, I don't feel discouraged; for I know that, as the strong walls of Jericho fell before the sounds of rams' horns, God's appointed means, so shall also the stern walls of mystery Babylon yet fall prostrate before the sound of the gospel, to rise no more. Therefore, I thank God, and take courage. It is now about four months since I ; G |