NEW PARK-STREET CHAPEL.

17

chapel until the year 1757. It then became necessary to enlarge their borders. Another new chapel, or meeting-house, as they were then designated, was erected for the doctor's congregation, in Carter Lane, Tooley-street, near to London Bridge. The learning and piety of this eminent divine soon attracted a large congregation, and the reward of a sanctified intellect was a numerous and influential church, standing prominently out as one of the chief Baptist congregations in the land. Dr. Gill was the author of several important works. His great work was an exposition of the Bible, in nine folio volumes; his other works are still considered worthy of a prominent place in the library of the theologian and the scholar. The blessing of divine Providence rested eminently on this flourishing cause, and the pastor lived to celebrate his jubilee as minister of that church and people. For the long period of fifty-two years was the gospel-trumpet sounded among that favored people by this venerable man; and never were the doctrines of free grace more successfully and plainly preached than during the protracted ministry of this eminent servant of God. Dr. Gill died after a lengthened illness, October 14, 1771.

Another separation took place at this period, many of the members withdrawing, and forming a church in Dean-street, which afterward established itself in Trinity-street, where it still flourishes.

A young man, of only twenty years, from the Baptist Academy at Bristol, was invited to preach in the now destitute church of Carter Lane, for seven Sundays.

John Rippon, the youth we have named, was born near Tiverton, in Devonshire, April 29, 1751. After preaching for one year on trial, he was ordained pastor of the church, in November, 1773. Here he continued to labor with unabated zeal and fidelity during the long period of sixty-three years. Dr. Gill was their pastor for nearly fifty-four years, which, added to the pastorate of Dr. Rippon, gives a period of one hundred and seventeen years, during which this church had only two pastors. Dr. Rippon published, in the year 1787, a selection of 1174 hymns, which has had an extensive circulation. This selection is still used by the descendants of the doctor's congregation in New Park-street chapel. In the year 1790, the doctor commenced publishing a Baptist Register, giving accounts of all the Baptist churches and ministers in the land. This useful work was continued for twelve years, and then was suffered to die. Cotemporary with such men as Toplady, Romaine, Berridge, the Wesleys, John Fletcher, Rowland Hill, and others of great energy, strong faith, and sincere piety, yet Dr. Rippon maintained a distinguished position among these talented divines, and he was considered one of the most popular preachers among the modern Calvinists of his day; and his church was the largest belonging to the Baptists in London. It numbered four hundred members at the commencement of this century. His memory is cherished with much affection by many still living in Southwark; and even men of the world we have heard speak of him as the good man of the neighborhood. So great was his love

NEW PARK-STREET CHAPEL.

19

and zeal for the bodies as well as the souls of his congregation, that he commenced a subscription for the erection of alms-houses, and he succeeded in his work. First a house was taken near the chapel, after which three alms-houses were erected, and called after the founder. A benevolent lady, who was a member of Dr. Rippon's church, left money to endow and keep the alms-houses in repair. The property is vested in trus- ́ tees. They were removed from Carter Lane when new London bridge was built, and others erected in New Park-street, adjoining the new chapel, in 1832. Other interesting particulars respecting these alms-houses we have been favored with, through the kindness of Miss Fanny Gay, one of the inmates, and deaconess of the chapel, which we are obliged to omit. On a tablet placed on the first of these dwellings, is the following inscription:

DR. RIPPON'S ALMS-HOUSES,

Formerly in Carter Lane, Tooley-street, having been taken
down for the approaches to new London Bridge,
these were erected in their stead.

Anno Domini MDCCCXXXII.

He died a few days before Christmas, in the year 1836, aged 85 years, and was buried in Bunhill Fields, which event was solemnly improved by the late Dr. Cox, of Hackney, delivering a funeral oration in New Parkstreet chapel.

This now celebrated chapel was erected out of the purchase-money given by the city of London for the

Carter Lane chapel, and was opened May 6th, 1833, only three years before the venerable divine was summoned to mansions above. Mrs. Morgan, his much respected housekeeper, still survives as one of the occupants of Dr. Rippon's alms-houses, which are represented in the engraving. The chapel has been enlarged during the ministry of its present pastor, to which further reference will be hereafter made.

The Rev. C. Room, who had long assisted Dr. Rippon, occupied the pulpit for some time. He was followed by Dr. Angus, who was ordained pastor, but who left Parkstreet after two years, to enter on a wider sphere of labor, and who is now filling an important duty in the Baptist College for training young ministers. The Rev. James Smith next became the pastor of the New Parkstreet church. During his nine years' ministry, the church prospered much and increased greatly. On his removal to Cheltenham, where, as an author and an in

NEW PARK-STREET CHAPEL.

21

structive popular preacher, he has earned for himself a good reputation, the Rev. W. Walters, now of Halifax, accepted a call to the church. These frequent changes had not a good effect. The number of church-members, although increased by Mr. Smith's ministry, was comparatively small. From the extreme of prosperity, and from the highest point of eminence and influence, the church at New Park-street had greatly diminished in numbers, until the congregation did not occupy more than half the seats in the new chapel, and the income had become insufficient to sustain the pastor, and pay the ordinary expenses of the place. No part of England was less able to endure such a reverse as had come upon this once flourishing cause, than the locality around this place of worship. Celebrated as the immediate neighborhood had been for centuries for the Globe theater of Shakspeare, the bear-garden of Elizabeth, and though last, not least, the place where John Bunyan had often preached, the decline of the cause of God was not only to be regretted, but deplored. It was the source of many anxious and earnest prayers; and divine Providence was preparing and training just the man every way adapted to meet the wants of that extremely poor neighborhood. Mr. Walters was pastor about two

years.

A Sunday-school anniversary meeting was held in Zion chapel, Cambridge. A very young man was called upon to speak at that meeting. Another young man was present, himself a stranger, heard that speech, and was deeply impressed by it. Shortly afterward the