Page:A History of Horncastle from the Earliest Period to the Present Time.djvu/101

82 D'Oyleys, whose seat is at Adderbury, Oxfordshire. His father was many years Pastor of the Independent Church of Forest Green, Gloucestershire, his mother being daughter of a Church of England clergyman. An engraving of him is still preserved, framed, in the vestry of the chapel.

Mr. Pain was succeeded in the ministry of the chapel by the Rev. J. Kelsey in 1844; he died in Adelaide, South Australia; and from 1845 to 1848 the Rev. W. C. Fisher held the post. The Rev. Samuel Gladstone succeeded him, and officiated from 1848 to 1853. He afterwards went to Sleaford.

The Rev. J. G. Roberts was Minister from 1853 to 1856. He married a daughter of the late Mr. T. Meredith; there being a tablet to the memory of the latter, on the west side of the south wall of the chapel, with this inscription, "In affectionate remembrance of Mr. Thomas Meredith, who departed this life July 30, 1858, aged 66 years. As for me I will behold Thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness."

The Rev. Thomas Betty succeeded in 1857, and held office till 1863, when his health broke down; his last entry in the books was written on Feb. 19, 1863, "God bless them all, church and congregation. Amen." He returned and died at Knottingley, March 26, 1865. During his ministry a debt of £75 on the chapel was paid off, and in 1859 a minister's house was purchased for £250, and some £30 spent in repairs, the money being raised by a bazaar.

The Rev. Thomas Lord followed in 1863, and ministered till 1866. He succeeded in paying off the debt on the British School, and on leaving the town was presented with a handsome timepiece by the Committee of the School. He had as a youth attended the chapel of Dr. Doddridge (already named) in Northampton, but left there in 1834. His first pastorate had been at Wollaston, from 1834 to 1845; then removing to Brigstock, where he ministered from 1845 until his transfer to Horncastie in 1863.

He was succeeded by the Rev. J. E. Whitehead, from 1867 to 1871. During his ministry several improvements were effected in the interior of the chapel, including the erection of a commodious platform; oak furniture and elegant fittings being added, and the seats of the choir re-arranged.

The Rev. W. Rose followed from 1872 to 1878. He had been stationed at Portsea, but visited Horncastle in July, 1872, to preach for Home Missions, and was afterwards invited to undertake the ministry here. Being a native of Boston, and having resided for some time in Spilsby, he was glad to return to his native county, and commenced his ministry in January, 1873. During his pastorate the old seats in the body of the chapel were removed, and modern open benches substituted. In 1874 a plot of land was offered by the late Mr. W. A. Rayson for new school premises. Mr. Rose and the late Mr. J. E. Ward, as Treasurer and Secretary, took up the matter, and the present schools were erected on the south of the chapel. On the ground floor is a spacious room, 39-ft. long by 24-ft. wide; there is a vestry for the minister, an infant classroom, and a kitchen with convenient arrangements for tea meetings; above are six large classrooms for boys and girls. These were opened April 29, 1875; among the contributors being Mr. Samuel Morley of London, at one time President of the Society, and Sir Titus Salt, who both, with Mr. W. A. Rayson, gave £50 each.

After Mr. Rose's retirement both he and Mrs. Rose still continued to take a kindly interest in matters connected with the chapel. She was a member of