Forgotten Reformer

Miles Coverdale's name will be known to those who have an interest in English Reformation history and the translation of the Bible. He is a forgotten reformer nevertheless and retired headmaster G F Main has done us all areat service by means of his thorough research and his interestingly written book. Mr Main must bequite an expert on his subject, his sources ranging from classic ones like Foxe and D'Aubigne through to some rather obscure manuscripts tucked away in unlikely places. It wasa delight to read this well produced book. I was a little sorry to finish it. Highly recommended. I wonder if a coffee table version with pictures may be considered. Just a thought.

Lord's Day April 14 2024

Another good day yesterday. In the morning we carried on in the Sermon on the Mount. We then had lunch together, always nice. In the evening we were not quite double figures as we looked at another famous verse - Jeremiah 29:11. A ladt who came the other week after a ling time not coming to church came again with her grown up daughter. That was encouraging. One Iranian family was not there as they are desperately seeking accommodation as having obtained asylum they now have to leave the hotel. Others simply wait. Not easy. My assistant Eddie helped me this morning pointing out that Christ is the ultimate one who turns the other cheek, goes the second mle, etc. I really should have been on to that mhyself. Maybe I'm getting a bit lethargic.

Family, etc

One reason posts have been a little sparse of late is that we have been spending a lot of time with the family over the Easter holidays.

First, in the week March 24-30 we had visits from our Aberystwyth boys - our fourth son Gwion and his fiancee Lydia and my first son, Rhodri and Sibyl and their four sons. That was a great few days with various activities including a visit to London Zoo one day for me and the six, which was very much enjoyed.

Then on April 6 Eleri, myself and my fifth son Owain (and Alffi the dog) drove to Wales where we met up with Eleri's sister Catrin and her family in Monmouth. We then stayed with her other sister, Fflur, too and her damily in a house in Ross-on-Wye back over the border for two nights. On the Tuesday our two Cardiff sons, Dylan and Dewi and their families visited us. That was a lovely time too. On the Wednesday we headed to Cardiff and after a lttle more family time, Owain headed back to London (with Alffi) by train and Eleri and I headed to Aber. Eleri stayed there all the way until Wednesday when she came home via Merthyr, where an elderly family member's funeral was taking place. I left Aber on Friday April 5. There was a strike that day and so instead of the more obvious five hoour Aber-Birmingham-London trip it was more like seven hours getting from Aber to Shrewsbury to Newport to london on the last traiin. It was also necessary to go by bus from Aber to Machynlleth. Marathon journey then and back late but plenty of time to recover the next day.

At some point my youngest grandchild celebrated his first birthday. It's not been that easy  first year but looks very bonny and is full of life.

This last week has mostly been getting ready for my trip to Kenya which begins Monday. I was also busy at the Evangelical Library on Monday, leading the Midweek Meeting Wednesday, leading a men's meeting this morning (Saturday) and preparing for Sunday. Busy days.

Midweek Meeting April 10 2024

Six of us, four men and two women, gathered last Wednesday to look at Romans 3:1-19 and to pray. We all prayed in turn.

Lord's Day April 7 2024

Way behind with this but it's been a busy time. Last Sunday we began with communion, fairly well attended. I then preached from the sermon on the mount again, this time on oaths and vows. Good attendance on the whole. I'd forgotten to prepare a children's talk so I gave my testimony as I do at such times. Eleri was away in Wales so it all felt a bit different. In the evening we were very few so I was not over long (under the hour). We looked at another famous text - Proverbs 3:5, 6. Good day on the whole.

10 Popular Soap Bars

1. Pear's amber
2. Lux
3. Dove
4. Wright's coal tar
5. Imperial leather
6. Palmolive
7. Knight's Castle
8. Camay
9. Shield
10. Lifebuoy

Lord's Day March 31 2024

Easter Sunday in Childs Hill is unpredictable. Many go away, some stay and sometimes there are new people. That is how it was last Lord's Day. I preached through most of john 20 and 21 in the two sermons. We had a good number in the morning and many fewer in the evening, as is the pattern. One visitor was a friend of a regular but another was a person in the area who I hope we will see again.

Midweek Meeting March 27 2024

It was a little unusual the other Wednesday in that we had a Bible Study and then  churh members meeting before ending with a short prayer meeting. It went fine but I would rather not do it too often. The method of taking two separate nights, I think,works best.

Evangelical Library Lunch Time Lecture Joseph Ivimey

Last Monday we had an excellent Library lecture on zoom from Norman Hopkins on the Baptist pastor and historian Joseph Ivimey 1773-1834.

Ivimey, the eldest of eight was born at Ringwood, Hampshire and brought up under Arian influences, but became a convinced Particular Baptist. He was a tailor at first and came to London finding work but was unsuccessful and returned to the Hampshire, Dorset area, where he became an itinerant preacher. Early in 1803 he was recognised as a minister, and settled as assistant to Robert Lovegrove at Wallingford, Berkshire. He was chosen pastor of the Particular Baptist church, Eagle Street, Holborn, London, in 1804, and was ordained the next year.

From 1812 he was on the committee of the BMS. He was also first secretary of the Baptist Society for Promoting the Gospel in Ireland and visited Ireland in May 1814. In 1817, and again in 1819, he made missionary journeys to the Channel Islands. He believed in strict communion and advocated the abolition of colonial slavery.

He is buried in Bunhill Fields. There is also a tablet to his memory in the boys' schoolroom at Eagle Street.

In Writing 143 Now Out

The latest copy of the Evangelical Library Magazinw is out today.

Lord's Day March 24 2024

I was at Pains Hill Chapel in Surrey once again yesterday. Numbers were just inside or outside single figures but people listened well and there were almost as many in the evening as in the morning. I preached on love and peace from John 3:16 and Philippians 4:13. I had a very pleasant afternoon with a couple from the church and it was good to catch up with them. Eddie preached here.

Midweek Meeting March 20 2024

Seven of us were there last night. We looked at Romasn 2:1-16 and then prayed together. Everyone prayed. What a privilege.

Day Off Week 12 2024

There was some waiting to do yesterday. In the morning for the gas man to fix a leaking boiler, which he wasn't able to do and will have to come back. Then later it was for a new microwave we have bought. I eventually got oout to West Hampsted and had a coffee and bought some cheese (apres soleil - see here). Otherwise, I was working on blogs (especially here), reading the Mike Parker book and watching University Challenge, which I wasn't abe to the day before. On Monday and Tuesday this week I have unusually bought The Times newspaper. I bought them chiefly for the full page obituaries of rockstar Steve Harley and IRA supporter Rose Dugdale. Yesterday I also did several of the puzzles.

Lord's Day March 17 2024

A packed morning congregation once again. That included some visiting family members, a recently retired local pastor and his wife and the brother of a regular attender plus all the usual crowd. Some of the Iranians have just gained asylum but others still wait. It's tough. As we are working through the Sermon on the Mount the subject was divorce Not an easy subject but it seems to have been appreciated. In the evening we had communion then looked at another famos verse  - Philippians 4:13.

Wooden Spoon

 

Mason Grady scores Wales' third try

Sadly, after a fifth and final loss today Wales are defnites for the wooden spoon, Worst for twenty years.