Page:A History of Horncastle from the Earliest Period to the Present Time.djvu/108

Rh entertained during the whole of the first year (1873) the preachers above named. Others of note who followed were Mr. Layland of Nottingham, Leader of the Society in 1876; followed, 1877-8, by Mr. J. R. Boyle; to whom succeeded, 1878-9, Mr. W. A. Bates (afterwards of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia); Mr. W. J. Adcock, 1879-80; Mr. A. E. Beilby, 1880-1; Mr. W. Hall, 1882; and Mr. William Robinson, October of that year. At various dates the preachers were Rev. R. Storey of Heywood near Manchester, Rev. Mr. Wilkins of Nottingham, Mr. Skelton of London, Mr. Pulsford of Leicester, Mr. Cameron of Edinburgh, Mr. Fairweather of London, Mr. Ashby of Derby, Mr. Best of Hull, Rev. T. Prestland of London, Rev. Joseph Deans in 1899, and Rev. J. R. Rendell, President of the Conference; Rev. Lewis A. Slight of Northampton, 1900; Rev. J. T. Freeth of Bolton, President, 1901. From time to time preachers were sent by the New Church Conference, and later by the East Midland and Lincolnshire Association.

Three marriages were solemnized in the Chapel by Rev. L. A. Slight, viz., that of Miss Townell and Mr W. Chapman of Oundle, Dec. 11, 1900; Miss Elizabeth Hall and Mr. Edwin White, both of Horncastle, May 21, 1901; and Miss Florence Smith to Mr. Alfred Storton of London, July 9, 1901.

The Rev. Richard Mayes, the first resident Minister, came from Leicester, first preached here Feb. 23, 1902, and entered on his ministry in October of that year. Other preachers during that interval were Mr. Fairweather of Loughborough, Mr. L. A. Slight, Mr. Layland, Mr. W. Hall and Mr. H. Deans.

A Sunday School was opened with the Chapel in 1873; this was, at a later date, temporarily closed, but re-opened by Mr. Mayes. Under him, ably supported as he is by members the Townell and Blyth families, and others, the services, which are short, bright, and musical, are being attended by increasing numbers. Mr. Edwin Townell is still Secretary as he was in 1880; and with Mr. Mayes' ministry Mr. H. Freeman succeeded Mr. W. Hall as Treasurer.

The subject of this notice, no longer holding a ministerial charge, is by many years the doyen among Nonconformist preachers in Horncastle, being the oldest Congregational Minister in England. He completed his hundredth year on April 22, 1908; on which occasion he received a congratulatory telegram from His Majesty the King; while a public fund was instituted for a presentation to be made to him in recognition of the occasion, which he desired to be given in his name to the local Institution of Nurses.

Mr. Lord was born at Olney, Bucks., in 1808; and began his ministry in 1834, as pastor of a chapel at Wollaston, Northants, which he held for eleven years; thence removing to Brigstock, in the same county, where he laboured during 17 years. He subsequently held pastorates in Horncastle, Deddington (Co. Oxford), and Great Bridge, Staffordshire. He gave up permanent charge in 1878, continuing, however, to assist other ministers in that neighbourhood, until 1899, when, in consequence of failing eyesight, he removed once more to Horncastle, taking up his abode with his married daughter, Mrs. C. M. Hodgett, on the Wong (No. 7).

Mr. Lord has been an active worker in the temperance cause during more than 70 years; a member of the Liberation Society since its formation; a warm advocate of the Peace Society, of the United Kingdom Alliance; the