P65/28/3/15

The Reverend John King Martyn to the Reverend William Mudge, his son-in-law from Pertenhall to Ipswich

25 Feb 1831

From: 1831 To: 1831

"Poor Pertenhall has been such a scene of confusion, as you indeed already heard. On one Sunday we reckoned 7 places to which the flock were scattered - the Hulls etc. set off to Keysoe meeting - the Holliss to Tilbrook church - some to Swineshead the methodists, some to Kimbolton Church, others to Kimbolton chapel, others to Graffam, others to Mr. Knights at L. Staughton - at the earnest request of the rector we shut up the Chapel. At the time I consented to this I told him it would not answer his expectations of thus driving the people to Church in the morning... Accordingly, as I anticipated, it exasperated them more. They brought me a petition signed by 54 people, none of them members of the Society, for its re-opening - so last Sunday I preached there again. The next morning Thomas came up himself and affixed the following Bull to the Chapel door. "Take Notice Those persons who persist in upholding the Sunday Evening meeting at this chapel in opposition to the Church are requested to find some other place besides the church in which to receive the Sacrament as they cannot suppose it very agreeable to my feelings to administer it to those who come for their own convenience and at other times treat me with determined malice opposition and persecution. Witness my hand. Thomas Martyn. Pertenhall Feb. 21" ... He is quite besotted with apostolical succession and the Priestly power of regenerating infants etc... J. Bell and his wife and also the Walkers have made up their minds to join our communion at Kimbolton, and the Marks talk about it... J. Day has come back to us in a pleasing and much improved state of mind.." About 90 communicant members at Kimbolton. No reason to complain about George. He likes his fellow servants, all serious girls, and spends his evenings at home. Lydia has come to Communion with us, the Cook is a Methodist and the housemaid a seeker. They read and sing of an evening, and we feel very comfortable in our household, except poor John. Poor Betsy is much to be pitied. She has good plain sense and cannot but see and lament her husband's crazy conduct. I shall be happy to contribute towards the day school.

item

Martyn, John King,
Mudge, William,
Hull,
Hollis,
Knight,
Martyn, Thomas,
Bell, J.,
Walker,
Mark,
Day, J.,
Martyn, John,
Martyn, Betsy

PERTENHALL, general correspondence, Ipswich, KEYSOE, TILBROOK, SWINESHEAD, Kimbolton, Grafham, Little Staughton