
- c. 1650 -
Ossett, West Yorkshire
England
Families often think about what they can leave to their descendants, whether it be a large material inheritance or something even more valuable of a spiritual nature, such as the example of a true and growing faith in Christ. In the Bible, Timothy's grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice had put their trust in Jesus and had taught their beloved Timothy about that faith they had previously learned.
The greatest inheritance that this young man had received from the city of Ephesus was the spiritual instruction of those who preceded him, and the good example of these two women. In the same way, our ancestors were approved by God because they had faith and left us a valuable legacy that is passed down from generation to generation.
I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. (2 Timothy 1:3-5)
Days, months and years may pass but I still keep in my memory the hymns that my great-grandfather wrote when I was just a child. I remember him in every corner of his house, recording on old papers the profound experiences he had with God. The countless hours he spent praying and reading the Bible accompanied by an old guitar. "The Vine of the Lord", "Christ I want to praise only You", "Jesus you are my Owner", were some of the hymns from his vast repertoire. His mother, a passionate soprano and pianist, taught him that sometimes people can grow in a difficult context so that our spiritual understanding is elevated and we can see the good things that come from God.
This was also transmitted to my grandmother, who had a faith worthy of admiration and was characterized by her kindness, humility and love towards her neighbor. His faith was simple, honest and at all times he joyfully announced the Gospel, motivated by the declaration of faith that he repeated over and over again "firm and forward, hosts of faith, without any fear, for Jesus sees us." She enjoyed serving the needy, helping the homeless and praying for lost souls. She liked to show others the love and compassion that God had shown him, even with those difficult people, who despaired of God's grace.
Behind this pious woman of God were the constant prayers of her father, her grandmother and even her ninth great-grandfather Richard Foster (1648-1730), who in 1730 died after suffering severe pain from strangulation, but not before setting a good example and "raising many fervent prayers to God for his descendants, for his posterity" as recorded in a document from the early 18th century.
A Legacy of Faith
In a small town in England, at the end of the 17th century, there lived a man named Richard Foster (1648-1730), persecuted for his firm beliefs. This was my 11th great-grandfather, a pious and solid Christian, known in those days for his unwavering faith and his perseverance in preaching the Word of God.
On Friday 2 April 1706 he used his house in Ossett as a place of dissident worship and at the end of his life he suffered severe strangulation pains for a considerable time, at a time when it was dangerous not to conform to the official Protestant religion, and great efforts were made to catch those who held a different opinion.
In those years, preachers had to be licensed and could therefore hold their own services in their own homes, but nothing more. They were prohibited from meeting elsewhere in England, excluded from all civil and military positions, and not allowed to enter universities. It would be over a century before these restrictions began to be lifted, but despite the challenges he faced, Richard never gave up and continued to trust in the Lord, sharing his message of hope with everyone around him.
The Church of England described itself as Catholic and Reformed, with the English monarch as its supreme ruler, and although the lives of many Christians were in danger, a simultaneous effort was made to preserve the virtues of Christianity, while many adapted to the new rationalist and scientific thought. The dissidents felt that their lives were directed solely and exclusively by God and it was this absolute trust in Him that forced these Protestant groups to distance themselves from religious controversy within the established church.
For them, Jesus Christ was the sole head of the Church, and Scripture was the only sufficient rule of faith and conduct, thus opposing both the creeds and the offices of the Church of England. All who held office under the Crown were required to take an oath of loyalty and supremacy, sign a declaration repudiating certain teachings, and receive instructions in accordance with the established Church.
In 1703, Anne, Queen of Great Britain (1665-1714) received a delegation of these preachers, who were required to present their declaration of allegiance upon accession to the throne. He received them with great discourtesy and absolute silence, for his personal loyalty to the Church of England was genuine and sincere, but excessively intolerant.
They were difficult years, but these men and women took on the great task of continuing the work of God by distributing printed sermons and fervently preaching the Word of God. Gifted with wisdom, humility and courage, they acted with determination and faith, inspiring others to follow the same path of obedience to God, regardless of the circumstances.
Despite the epidemics and persecutions that killed many people in the Wakefield area, through these preachers the Gospel continued to reach all peoples and many responded to God's call to be witnesses of light to the world. When Richard Foster was granted permission to hold meetings at his home in 1706, he joined many other preachers who were eager to welcome the faithful despite recent prosecutions and imprisonments. It was during this time that the idea of a new building began to take shape, which later concluded with the construction of the so-called Congregational Church at the beginning of the 18th century.
The meeting place of the faithful was originally the pressing shop of Richard Foster, who set aside part of his tent for the Reverend Thomas Dickenson (1669-1743), his son-in-law, a nonconformist British minister from Northowram, successor to Oliver Heywood (1630-1702).
A 1710 deed of trust describes the house as a "meeting place for the religious worship of dissident Protestants." The new building was finally built following the increase in public subscriptions in 1732/33 and since then many pastors preached there.
The original church was described nearly two centuries later as a basic barn-like structure with stables for the horses of many members who traveled from afar to worship God, in times of much opposition. The singing was accompanied by a cello.
How difficult it is for us today to realize how much courage and determination was required of these men when they were expected to conform to the Church of England, its beliefs and the liturgical form of the service!
A document from 1731, written by the Reverend Thomas Dickenson (1669-1743), his son-in-law, successor to Oliver Heywood, describes Richard's dedication and character:
"He feared God from his youth and over many, surpassed many others in gifts and knowledge, and God honored him by making him eminent in grace and usefulness as well. He was a solid and judicious Christian, strictly pious and devoted in his duty to God, and conscientious in his dealings with men. Although he lived a considerable time and had a lot to do with men and business, he has left a good name, a righteous character behind him."
"He was an exceedingly caring and forgiving husband, a loving and tender father, and I'm convinced that he will be greatly missed in this place, for there are few like-minded so capable and willing to give themselves for God."
Extract from a letter written on 11 March 1731 by the Reverend Thomas Dickenson (1669-1743) (Richard Foster's son-in-law) to his daughter Mary Dickenson (1717-1804) (Richard Foster's granddaughter) in London, England, when she was 14 years old.
Another valuable preserved document that has been passed down from generation to generation, written by Thomas to his daughter, concerns Richard's character and his faith in God up to the time of his death. The sermon sent along with this letter is 12 times longer and shows great respect for his beloved daughter and father-in-law.
"My dear child, in response to your earnest and repeated request, I have at last redeemed some time from my other necessary and urgent occasions to transcribe the sermon that I preached at Ossett on september 18, 1730, being the day my dear and honored father-in-law, your good grandfather, was taken to the grave, having finished his career in this world, at 78 years of age."
"Children and grandchildren can and should consider a great and valuable blessing to be the posterity of those who feared God, occupied their time and place in the world with good purposes and were useful in their generation."
Extract from a letter written on 11 March 1731 by the Reverend Thomas Dickenson (1669-1743) (Richard Foster's son-in-law) to his daughter Mary Dickenson (1717-1804) (Richard Foster's granddaughter) in London, England, when she was 14 years old.
Richard Foster's story is an inspiring example of how faith, trust in God, and prayer can persevere in the face of any adversity. His legacy of faith continues to this day, reminding many of the importance of standing firm in our faith, praying for future generations, until Christ comes for his church.
Finally, after fighting the good fight, Richard was buried on 18 September 1730 with his father Richard Foster (1622-1710) in the former Anglo-Saxon churchyard of St Peter and St Leonard in Horbury, Yorkshire, England.
The fervent prayers of these men of faith who lived their consecrated lives led God to pour out his mercy on subsequent generations. And it was not in vain, the adverse situations they had to go through.
The posterity of the aged servant of God was greatly blessed, as many of them were pastors in different regions of England. His grandson, Benjamin Dickenson (1719-1798), was one of the founders of Square Independent Chapel and pastored with Titus Knight (1719-1793) in Halifax, the church in which John Wesley preached in July 1772.
When John Wesley (1703-1791) visited this congregation, he wrote:
"My old friend, Titus Knight, offered me the use of his new meeting, larger than Dr Taylor's (1694-1761) at Norwich, and finished with the utmost elegance; but I judged more people would attend in the open air, so I preached in the cow market to a huge multitude."
Benjamin Dickenson, grandson of Richard and son of Thomas Dickenson (1669-1743) and Hannah Foster (1674-1763), was strongly influenced by Wesley's teachings and carried the Word of God in and around Halifax until his death on February 16, 1798.
In 1806, Richard Foster, great-grandson of Richard Foster (1648-1730), officiated at the marriage of the Reverend Thomas Taylor (1766-1853) to Mary Rawson. Taylor was pastor of the Congregational Church from 1795 to 1808, and during this time 575 people were baptized, including his son, Thomas Rawson Taylor, who lived 27 years. Although his life was tragically short, he left a legacy in the form of sermons, poems and hymns and is best remembered for his words: "I'm but a stranger here. Heaven is my Home", which is said to have been written around the end of his life.
Many years after the death of Thomas Rawson Taylor (1807-1835), the composer of the music for "Onward Christian Soldiers," Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan (1842-1900) set his words to music. "Onward, Christian Soldiers", became Sullivan's most popular hymn and the theme of the hymn is taken from references in the New Testament to the Christian as a soldier of Christ, for example, II Timothy 2:3: "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ."
The Rev. Thomas Dickenson (1669-1743), a worthy minister of the Gospel, "was eminent and exemplary in his piety and usefulness," and was a great witness in all stages of life, living with meekness and universal charity. For over 40 years he continued to shine a bright light at Northowram, compiling The Nonconformist Register of Baptisms, Marriages, and Deaths: 1644-1702, 1702-1752, generally known as The Northowram of Coley Register after the death of Oliver Heywood (1630 -1702).
Of his death, the document records: "The Reverend Mr. Thomas Dickenson, minister in Northowram, died on December 26, 1743 at the age of 73 about one in the morning. Nature was very depleted, around July or August a visible decline appeared which gradually increased until the moment of his death."
"He was an eminent, helpful and faithful minister of God's word, meek and humble, a loving and tender father, a loving husband. A sincere friend and social neighbor, a cheerful companion, very temperate, had an unusual memory, lived well and he surpassed himself by seeking the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternity."
Today, more than 300 years later, these people are no longer physically present, but their prayers bear witness to the world of the God in whom they trusted.
Their stories continue to resonate, reminding us of the importance of trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ at all times. Although this body of ours is wasting away, inside we are renewed day by day and in due time we will reap, if we do not faint. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23)
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)
References
- Two Centuries of Worship and Work. Reverend J. G. Williams, 1917. A Short History of the Congregational Church, The Green, Ossett. 1717-1917.
- Memorials of the Families of Newsom and Brigg (Classic Reprint).
- The Nonconformist Register, of Baptisms, Marriages, and Deaths: 1644-1702, 1702-1752, Generally Known as the Northowram of Coley Register by Oliver Heywood and Thomas Dickenson. Page 307.
- Familiae Minorum Gentium by Hunter, Joseph, 1783-1861. 1894. Vol 1. Page 75.
- Horbury Parish Registers - Baptisms 1598-1739. Yorkshire (West Riding)
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