John Alexander

“ Alexander, as a narrative not only full of interest to all who desire the advancement of religion, but full of instruction to all who question the power of the voluntary principle. Here we have an account of a chapel raised, of a church formed, of a congregation collected to the number of 1000 persons, of missions planted in two neighbouring hamlets, of a large Sunday school established, and of the active and efficient maintenance of all these during thirty years, by a comparatively poor body of persons, at an expense altogether of upwards of twenty-two thousand pounds. ”

“ While we disclaim all regard to doctrines derived merely from the word of man, we find that the religious sentiments we profess, and which we receive as the word of God, correspond with the doctrines commonly called Calvinistic, and that our sentiments respecting church discipline correspond with those which are maintained by the body of Protestant Dissenters commonly called Independents. ”

“ Several other Institutions, which it is needful or desirable should be formed in connection with a church of Christ, exist among us; some of which are more particularly for the use of our own congregation, and others for the general interests of humanity and religion. The Society for the relief of our sick and aged poor, was instituted in 1821, and has all along been most economically and efficiently conducted by a committee of ladies, who meet for business once a month, and who visit and relieve the needy and afflicted objects. ”

“ On one of the afternoons, the service was conducted by the venerable and excellent Bishop of the Diocese, who preached from the same pulpit that had been occupied in the morning by the Dissenting minister; and during our stay there, we had sermons from ministers belonging to almost every evangelical denomination of the Christian church. In our own place of worship too, it has often been our privilege to contribute, in some degree, to the general communion of saints; especially at the Lord’s table, the first place at which Christians should meet, and the last at which they should separate. ”

“ The doctrines contained in our religious creed, and which we firmly believe to be recorded in the scriptures of truth, comprise the being, perfections, and unity of God; the union of the divine and human natures in the person of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; the personality, deity, and influences of the Holy Spirit; the fall of man, and its awful consequences in the universal depravity of human nature; the atonement made for sinners by the obedience and death of Jesus Christ ”

“ Having invited your presence, as ministers of Jesus Christ, to recognize and acknowledge our formation into a christian church, we deem it proper to give you a brief account of those doctrines of religion which we profess to believe and to experience. ”

“ As one consequence of these appeals and urgings, your pastor has always been associated with many fellow-labourers in the work of the Lord, who have been distributors of tracts, collectors for public Institutions, christian Instruction Agents, Sunday School Teachers, conductors of prayer meetings, and preachers of the gospel in the neighbouring villages. And by so doing, you have been the means of converting sinners from the error of their way, and of saving their souls from death; your personal piety and the prosperity of the church has been advanced ”

“ A church needs however not only a Pastor, as its Bishop, who is to “give himself continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word,” but Deacons also, to superintend its temporal affairs, and “to serve tables.” The church therefore, in the first instance, chose two of its members to that office; a number which has been increased again and again, as the necessities of the church required. ”

“ Mary’s Chapel—Baptists as well as Independents, affectionately sympathised with our circumstances; and in the course of a few days presented to us the noble sum of upwards of a hundred guineas; the walls were re-built; a new and substantial roof was raised; and we returned to the place on the 16th of March, 1828, with as large a congregation as we had when we left it, and which from that time continued to increase till every seat was occupied! Then too, the God of all grace began to enrich us with a greater increase of spiritual prosperity. Many sinners were converted ”

“ On such occasions, when every brother is free to hold, and free to express his own convictions, it is a degree of liberty which, though liable to abuse, is one of the invaluable privileges of the church of Christ ”

“ One of the objects to which we directed our attention, soon after the opening of the chapel, was the formation of a Sunday School. Several young persons, of piety and zeal, offered themselves as teachers, some of whom continue to the present day, honourably and usefully employed in the beneficial work. We began in July 1820, with eighty-one scholars. The pastor advised the teachers to form the committee out of their own body; to have no more rules for the regulation of the school than circumstances rendered necessary; to conduct all their affairs religiously ”

“ And let any people, under the influence of religion, which is the true voluntary principle, be suitably appealed to by their minister for pecuniary help, on behalf of institutions for the spread of the gospel, and he will be far from injuring either them or himself. They will become better and happier by helping others, and he and his family p. 41will be the better and the happier too—at least such is the testimony which the pastor of Prince’s Street can bear, relative to himself, and to his liberal congregation. ”

“ During that important period, it has been my privilege to reside in this city, and to exercise my ministry among you the members of my church and congregation; and the close of such a period, affords a suitable opportunity for presenting you with a brief history of the erection of our place of worship, of the formation and advancement of the church, and of other circumstances, connected with our spiritual and ecclesiastical affairs. ”

“ But, during these thirty years, while these remarkable changes and improvements have been taking place, a whole generation of human beings, not less in number than eight hundred millions, have finished their earthly course, and have passed into eternity! ”

“ Having thus entered the chapel, our attention was soon directed to the desirableness of forming a church. After much deliberation and prayer on the subject, thirteen persons of good report among us, agreed to unite together in christian fellowship, believing each other to be the disciples of Christ, and having the sanction of the minister, and of various christian brethren. On the 8th of March, 1820, they held their first ecclesiastical meeting in the vestry of the chapel. The Rev. William Hull, of the Old Meeting, Norwich, and the Rev. Alexander Creak, of Yarmouth, presided. ”

“ The chapel was opened for divine worship in 1839, and the Sunday School was formed in the same year. Four religious services are conducted in the chapel weekly, by members of our church; about eighty children are instructed in the Sunday School; and there is a Vestry Library for the use of the congregation. The Sunday School at Trowse was established as early as 1821, and about seven years afterwards, we began to preach the gospel there; but we did not occupy the present chapel till 1830. There is religious service in it four times every week ”

“ Of the fourteen persons who thus composed this infant church, seven are alive and remain unto this day: six hundred and sixty-eight persons have since been added to them making the whole number six hundred and eighty-two; an increase, for which devout gratitude is due to Him by whose gracious power alone sinners are constrained first to give themselves to the Lord, and then to his people according to his will. ”

“ We have, therefore, “not robbed other churches” for the support of our own; but all our contributions have been given on the voluntary principle, and as a freewill offering, which in many cases have, no doubt, been given as unto the Lord, and not unto men. ”

“ It has indeed been contributed by a people who have often been taught the duty and importance of giving both money and personal efforts to the cause of Christ, as a testimony of allegiance to their Lord and Master, and as a means of personal prosperity and usefulness. ”

“ The text in the morning was, 2 Corinthians iii, 18: “We all, with open face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” At the close of the service, I informed the congregation of the legal decision which had been given by the Barrister to whom the question had been referred, and I gave notice that my last sermon in the Tabernacle would be preached in the evening. A very large congregation assembled, and much excitement p. ”

“ Catholics, and Protestants of all denominations, have been rendered equally eligible for civil offices, and for senatorial seats; slavery, throughout the British Colonies, has been abolished; commerce has been brought into fellowship with freedom; the power of steam has increased the facilities of manufacturing and of travelling a thousand fold; and various institutions, for benevolent and religious purposes, have been established in our p. ”

“ The speeches delivered on this interesting occasion were reported in the Norfolk News of April 10, 1847, and the following account of the meeting is extracted from its columns:—
“On Tuesday evening the congregation of Prince’s Street Chapel, Norwich, held a Soirée in St. Andrew’s Hall, for the purpose of celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of the ministry of the Rev. John Alexander. About eight hundred persons of all ranks, and including some of various religious bodies, were present, p. vin testimony of one who has earned in no common degree, the esteem of his fellow citizens. ”