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British Union Conference
Executive Committee
October 10, 1974
FRONT ROW: K A Elias,
(Scottish Mission President),
PH Stearman, (Welsh Mission
President), Donald Lowe,
(South England President),
Edwin H Foster, (British Union
President), George L Anniss
(British Union Secretary/
Treasurer), 8yran W Bafl (North
England President),
Ernest Logan (Irish Mission
President) .
SECOND ROW: R D Vine
(Editor), John Prince (Hamp
stead church elder),
W J Sanders (Colporteur, Corn
wall), Roy E Graham (Newbold
College President), G Murphy
(Bolton church elder), Richard
Parr (Wimbledon church elder).
THIRD ROW; Bernard F Kinman
(Temperance Secretary),
Kenneth H Gammon (Steward
ship and Lay Activities Sec
retary), Derek Beardse/l (Youth
Secretary), Dennis H Uff!ndell
(Voice of Prophecy Director),
W J Arthur (Publishing Sec
retary), Hugh Dunton (Stan
borough School Headmaster).
BACK ROW: Stanley Maxwell
(British Advent Missions Sec
retary), E A Pender (The Stan
borough Press Manager), Alan
Evans (Granose Foods Ltd.
Manager), Colin Wilson (Crietl
Nursing Home Manager),
INSET: Dr. L G White, who was
absent when this picture was
taken.
FOREWORD tian nothing happens by chance but This historical issue goes forth
every event fits into a predestined with the prayer that the way of life
plan. Similarly, the Church of God that truly represents the Seventh-day
by E. H. FOSTER
is guided by an unseen Providence Adventist Church may make a much
BRITISH UNIOK CONFERENCE PRESInENT to a predetermined destiny. SeH-will greater impact on the people of the
and other human frailties have British Isles in the final few years
AGAIN and again God through His thwarted and delayed the divine pro of earth's history than it has in the
messengers has encouraged His gramme as an objective portrayal century portrayed in this publication
people to keep in lively remembrance of history clearly teaches, whereas that the words of the prophet may
the evidence of His guidance and submission to the divine will per be fulfilled:
blessing in their personal lives and mitting God's plan to be imple 'Remember ye not the former days,
in their corporate history. The Scrip mented has brought true success. neither consider the things of old.
tures are replete with admonitions \Ve welcome Dennis Porter's his 'Behold, I will do a new thing;
and examples urging them to bear tory of Seventh-day Adventism in now it shall spring forth; shall ye
in mind these divine providences. the British Isles not only for its not know it?' (Isa. 53:18, 19).
Said Moses: 'Only take heed to thy undisputed professional quality and
self and keep thy soul diligently, lest for its useful and fascinating record
thou forget the things which thine of a small but significant Church
BRITISH UNION PRESIDENTS
eyes have seen and lest they depart that has maintained its distinctive
Wm.lngs
from thy heart all the days of thy identity for almost one hundred
J. N. loughborough
life: but teach them thy sons, anda years~a century characterized by 1894-1896 D. A. Robinson
thy sons' sons' (Deut. 4:9). As marked changes in religious and 1896-1897 H. E. Robinson
stimulus to complete commitment political thought; in social standards 1897-1900 W. W. Prescott
and consecration Samuel urged the and in personal values ~ but we 1900-1905 O. A. Olsen
people to 'consider how great things commend this work to our readers 1905-1908 E. E. Andross
he [the Lord] hath done for you' for careful study so that they may 1908-1916 W. J. Fitzgerald
(I Sam. 12:24). And further, God discern the hand of God in history. 1917-1922 M. N. Campbell
through the prophet Isaiah counsels: There is humour and pathos in, the 1922-1926 J. E. Jayne
1926-1932 W. H. Meredith
'Remember the former things of old; experiences and events that make
1932-1936 W. E. Read
for I am God, and there is none up the story. Failures and successes,
1936~1946 H. W. lowe
else' (Isa. 46: 9). strengths and weaknesses, are faith
1946-1950 E. B. Rudge
History has invaluable lessons to fully delineated. As we view these 1950-1958 W. W. Armstrong
teach the responsive observer, es word pictures of the past they can 1958'-1967 J. A. McMillan
pecially as the power and wisdom inspire us to meet more effectively 1967-1970 B. E. Seton
of God are recognized as directing the challenges of the present and the 1970- E. H. Foster
in human experiences. To the Chris- future.
2
upheavaL Those, certainly, are vital of any of our leaders or other workers
parts of it and usually make for more of past days have 1 been able to find.
dramatic and interesting' reading. Hut, It is my earnest hope that the pub~
in Milton's words, 'peace hath her lication of this essay will prompt any
victories no less renowned than war'; one who has such to get in touch 'with
and such progress as has been made me, or the librarian of Newbold
by the Adventist Church in this College. Such things ought to be pre
country-and 'would to God it had served and if their pTesent owners do
been greater-is worth telling about not 'want to part wi th them, they can
also. easily be microfilmed and returned.
Thus in this brief chronicle, both Thus, perforce, my story is not a
aspects-controversy and progress work of original research in the true
vvill be found. In a famous statement, sense, but simply a bringing-together
Oliver Cromwell enjoined Lely to of facts scattered largely through the
paint his portrait "1,vith 'warts and pages of the i.Wissionary Worker and
everything' included. There are neither the 1'vlessengcr (1 should add that the
many, nor serious, warts on the record most complete fIle of those journals in
of the Adventist Church in Britain, this country begins only in 1908 where
but such as there are are included here, as publication commenced in 1897).
for this is history not hagiography. One Perhaps its publication will cause
does not love one's wife less for telling enough new material to be brought to
her that she has a pimple on her light for there to be a second-and
forehead. One does not love one's much better edition in 1978.
Church less, or become less devoted to I trust that I shall be forgiven
its interests, by pointing out that oc {or the inevitable concentration upon
casionally mistakes have been made by London and \.'Vatford. This also was
it in a century of history. dictated hy my sources-or lack of
Here, too, I must stress a very im them, and perhaps could be remedied
portant point. I am by no means in in a centenary edition four years' hence,
sensible to the working of the Holy if those sources can be amplified in
Spirit in human affairs, and that His the meantime. Ohviously in an essay
leading has been seen in the history of this nature only an overall picture
of this movement I am certain. But can be drawn, and so individuals 'will
no references will be found to it here. often find no reference to themselves
J have written not primarily as a be or their areas, not because they are
liever, but as an historian. I have tried not important, but because either their
to stand outside the Church and vin\' deeds were not recorded in the sources
it as a secular historian, 'with no prior at my disposal, or because of the
commitments, would do. exigencies of space.
INTRODUCTION NI y story is therefore, 1 hope, an To an Adventist of my generation,
affectionate one, as befits one member names like L. VV. Barras or the
of a family writing about the other Kingswood Estate were known but
members, but .it is set 'within a purely meant little, save that t.hey were
earthly frame .o f reference. It is also usually uttered by one's seniors in a
a heavily factual story. This is not tone that implied that they were im
ONE hundred years ago-in 1874- because I have no opinions on some portant historically. They seemed al
the first Seventh-day Adventist of the matters I have dealt with, but most as remote and shadowy to me
missionary stepped ashore in because 1 do not consider this the place in my youth as perhaps King Arthur
J.
Britain. He was, of course, N. to air them. If my own opinions (or, did t.o the Romano-Britons submerged
Andrc"ws and he did not stay long be for that matter, errors of fact) appear by the Anglo-Saxon invasions. To read
cause his chosen destination was to have crept in at any point and about them (and other equally, or
Switzerland. Four years later the be anyone wishes to take issue with them, more, remote people and places) and
ginnings of a permanent mission in I shall be happy to hear from him. find them becoming, as it were, clothed
Britain 'were established. The purpose That they are my opinions, and not with flesh and blood (or grass and
of this .essay is to trace briefly some of those of the denomination, goes with trees) has been an interesting ex
the events that have transpired In out saying. perience. Perhaps this essay will
tha t cen tmy. It may be thought a heavily factual serve-however inadequately-to put
A columnist, J. A. Cooper, writing story in another sense, too: namely other, later, people and events slmi
of the Stanborough Park golden that it keeps its nose close to the larly upon the rr;lap of the conscious
jubilee in the TVesl Herts and Watford grindstone of what actually happened ness of younger Adventist generations.
Observer all August 9, 1957, said, and is little enlivened lsith the flesh In short, I hope that. my readers-
'Here we have a veritable vVelfare and blood that a greater variety of veterans who 'were there', young people
State in microcosm on vVatford's door sources might have given it. This is whose 'world is so different in many
step, a bold experiment 'which has pros not my choice; it was dictated by the respects from much of that described
pered over 50 years, and to some paucity of materials. A very few people heTe, and others like myself in the middle
extent has gone unnoticed-just be have obliged me with reminiscences or -will find a little of the interest' in
cause its citizens "have no history" general information; and one church reading this that I have found in
except peaceful quiet progress.' In l\h. produced some early records for my writing it. D. S. PORTER,
Cooper's view, apparently, history must perusal. To those 1 am grateful. But Oxford,
necessarily consist of controversy and not a single letter, or diary, or memoir September, 1974.
3
A CENTURY OF ADVENTISM IN THE occurred on October 10, 1845 and it
was largely to restore confidence that
BRITISH ISLES Himes himself visited Britain in the
summer of 1846. He found a num
ber of organized Millerite congre
gations in such places as Truro,
a brief history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Britain
Plymouth, Exeter, New Radford, U ck
field (Sussex), Liyerpool, London
(where there were two groups), Derby,
Bristol and Lincoln. In these places
chapter 1 THE BRITISH MILLERITES the believers usually built or hired a
hall, while in Birmingham, Sheffield,
Leeds, Tiverton and other towns,
A.
DVENTlSM-in the broadest sense of the British Isles, more or less as smaller groups- met in private homes.
fi
of that term-has a long history the native Adventist movements were In Scotland the only organized group
in Britain. To go no farther disappearing in frustration 0 r seems to have been one of some thirty
back than the early nineteenth century, fanaticism. converted Campbellites at Hawick, al
its manifestations are sufficiently strik The Millerite journals had carried though it is interesting in view of
ing. Irving, Drummond and the Albury copious extracts from contemporary developments that had already taken
Park Conferences are well known. British writers on prophecy and, as place in Washington, New Hampshire,
Perhaps less so is it that the largest the other haH of a tww\vay traffic, that Millerite preachers were enter
part of the impetus behind the origin Millerite writings found their way to tained, and Millerite literature sold,
and rapid growth of the various British seaports, especially Liverpool, by the Glasgow bookseller, James Begg,
missionary societies, the British and and American Millerites of English a Seventh-Day Baptist.
Foreign Bible Society and-most of all descent sent back the glad tidings to It has been estimated that during
-the London Society for Promoting those they had left behind in the old its peak, between 1842 and 1846,
Christianity among the Jews (now the country. The printed and written word British Millerism numbered some two
Church's Ministry among the Jews) was soon followed by the living thousand to three thousand adherents.
lay in the widespread belief that the preacher. Robert Winter, an English From 1847, when Robert Hutchinson,
Advent, or more usually the millen man converted in America, set up a who had come over with Himes, re
nium (for the majority of believers press in London and in 1843 claimed turned to Canada, the cause began to
in the doctrine were post-millen to have printed 15,000 copies of decline. That decline was hastened by
nialists), was at hand. As Dr. L. E. Millerite works. He also preached in persecution-particularly severe in the
Froom has pointed out, much of the the open-air in London with his chart west country-by the constant ac
agitation of the doctrine focused of the prophecies of Daniel and cusations that the Millerites were
roughly upon the 1820s or 1830s. There Revelation 'hoisted up on a pole'. A Latter-Day Saints (a charge that
was, however, a far less marked ten camp meeting was planned for May Seventh-day Adventist ministers would
dency in Britain than in America to 1843 'if time continues' and in the still encounter three-quarters of a
concentrate upon a specific date. The autumn Robert Winter could write that century later) and by the schisms and
movement (if such it can be called) 'thousands are now looking for the com controversies engendered by diverse
was therefore much less closely-knit, ing of the Lord and believe it is at prophetic interpretations and repeated
more diverse and consequently less the door nearly whole villages have time-setting. In the late '40s and early
easy to trace. It was a delta with many turned to the Lord'. In August 1844 '50s many Millerites were reconverted
often shallow channels, some broad, Joshua V. Himes was busy with plans to Campbellism and some threw in
some narrow, but all eventually run for visiting England 'if time be con their lot with the nascent Christa
ning into the sand, whether of non tinued a few months'. delphians. The General Conference of
Adventist extremism as in hving's Time continued longer in Britain, Adventist Believers, formed after the
case, or simply sheer disillusionment as for the believers there seem to have Albany Conference of 1845 to hold
probably happened with many others. favoured 1845 rather than 1844 as the the American believers together and
Even this is perhaps too strong a word date of the anticipated advent. In the which existed for two decades, had
in the case of the post-millennialists, spring of that year, William Barker, neither funds nor workers to spare for
as one can hardly say that the millen another English convert from America its declining British branch. Some can·
nium has failed to begin when one who had returned to his native 1and, gregations, notably at Plymouth, held
did not profess to know exactly when was 'lecturing in the streets and together for a few years and there
it was due to do so. commons in most of the large were doubtless isolated groups and in
lf early nineteen th c e n t u r y towns in the South of England, and dividuals scattered about in poverty
Adventism in Britain was a delta, the likewise in Norfolk, Suffolk, and the and obscurity.
American movement, associated with Isle of Wight'. He intended, 'should
One such individual was probably
the work of ,Nilliam Miller, on the the vision tarry', to work in London
John Spearing of Brighton, who in
other hand, was a swift-flowing, cIear that \\linter. Charles Dealtry preached
1850 thought it worth while to bind
cut, deep channel. Its sources may have Millerism in Nottingham in 1843-4
up a copy* of the Boston i11idnight
been diverse but there was no doubt and founded a chapel at New Radford.
Cry, voL 1, no. 1 and inscribe his
about the point at which it would There was even a short-lived British
name in it. There is also evidence of
flow into the broad ocean of eternity. edition of The il;1idnight Cry published
a group, significantly enough, at
Between March 21, 1843, and March there between August and December.
Ulceby in 1863. They were led-ap
21, 1844, later refined to October 22, Dealtry then moved on to the west
propriately-by one Charles M.i1ler
1844, was that point. Before that point country where he had some success in
and the names of at least two other
was reached, however, Millerism had Bristol, Exeter and Plymouth, despite
members, Mrs. Sarah C. Lyon and Mr.
flowed into another ocean, the Atlantic, intense opposition.
and its message had laved the shores The British 'Great Disappointment'
;$ Now in the Newbold College library.
4
Frank Wilber, are known. lVIiller died Millerite belief there may well afford
in 1866 but the group continued and the reason. Apart from this, however,
in 1873 there were ten members. It if there is a link between Millerism
has never been entirely clear why the and Seventh-day Adventism in Britain
second area of endeavour of the early it is a missing one, not now likely to
Seventh-day Adventists in Britain be discovered, in view of the paucity
should have been this somewhat out of the records of the two movements
of-the-way corner of Lincolnshire, but in their latter and earlier days
the knowledge of a survival of respectively.
chapter 2
SCATTERED FOOTHOLDS
I T was not therefore to his spiritual his way to Switzerland which had pre
forebears on the Advent side that sumably been chosen as the location
J. N. Andrews addressed hImself for the first Seventh-day Adventist
when he landed briefly in Britain on overseas mission in preference to the
his way to Switzerland in the autumn more obvious Britain because of earlier
of 1874, but to those of like faith re work done there by an unofficial
garding the Sabbath, the Seventh-Day mis-sionar},_ Andrews was to return
Baptists. Andrews ·would have had no briefly to Britain in 1879 but not until
difficulty in knowing where to go. Not others had driven in the entering
only was he himself the author of the wedge for the three angels' messages.
recently published History oj the The first of those others was "William
Sabbath, but also William M, Jones* lngs, who arrived at Southampton
the American pastor of the Mill Yard from America by way of Switzerland
Seventh-Day Baptist church in London, on May 23, 1878, thus making Britain
was already a contributor to the the sixth non-American country to be
Review and Herald and much more entered by Seventh-day Adventists
inclined than most of his fellow after Switzerland, France, Germany,
religionists to be friendly towards the Denmark and Norway.
Adventists, with whom they shared few Southampton was an obvioWi place
beliefs apart from the Sabbath. to begin and this ,\'as reinforced by
His Adventist fellow-countryman the fact that lugs himself, although a
and he visited scattered Seventh-Day Dorset man, had lived in the town REVIEW & HERALD HARRY ANDERSON
Baptist believers in England and before emigrating to the United States J N Andrews and family, first missionaries
Scotland. Andrews then proceeded on with his parents at the age of eleven obfa rtkhien gS efover nUthv~edrpayo oAl,d v1e87n4ti.s t Church, em
and still had relatives there. His initial
-* Jones had become minister at Mill Yard in visit was probably simply for the pur as on ships in the port. That short time,
1872 in succession to the s'cholarly Wl,J,liam Henry pose of visiting these and he remained however, was sufficient to convince him
Black, who 'thought in Latin, saId his prayers in
Hebrew, and read his New Testament lessons .from but two weeks, taking the opportunity of the prospects for Seventh-day
tLhoen doorni gi(n>a1l'8 7'6G).r epeka'g e (c13. 7)M. . Davies, Unorthodox to distribute literature on land as wen Adventism in Britain and within a
short time he was back and before the
Staff of the International Tract Society (ITS) predecessor of T'he Stanborough Press end of the year was able to report ten
Ltd. Address: 451 Holloway Road, London. Date about 1900.
Sabbath-keepers. He needed help and
BACK ROW: Brother Ritchie (in charge of our Book and Bible House), H W Armstrong (father of
Worsley Armstrong), Father Bacon (lather of Alfred Bacon, Mrs. V Shone, etc.), W A Spicer (eventually in response to his request to the
General Conference President), Mr. Howarth (lather of Mrs. G W Baird), Harry Armstrong, Miss Adams, General Conference for it, J. N,
MIDDLE ROW: Miss Betty Hurd, W W Prescott, E J Waggoner (Editor and Author), D A Robinson,
Mr. Mason, Miss Alta Waggoner (later Mrs. Harry Armstrong). Loughborough and his wife landed at
FRONT ROW: Mr. Pickwick, Miss Nellie Marsh, W T Bartlett (Assistant Editor and later Chief Editor), Southampton on December 30th,
Miss Wright (17-year-ofd sister 01 Dr. Gertrude Brown 01 Crieff).
Loughhorough began to preach in
Shirley Han on January 5, 1879. In
the spring a 60-foot tent was purchased
for £85 and, assisted by Maud Sisley,
newly arrived from Switzerland,
Loughborough commenced an eyan
gelistic campaign on a site at the
corner of "\Taterloo and Shirley Roads
on May 18th with 600 in attendance.
The meetings continued almost daily
until August 17th, by which time the
number of believers had risen to 30.
From then on meetings were held at
'Raveus\vood', 252 Shirley Road, which
was rented for £40 a year on August
29th and which provided living ac
commodation for the workers as well
as a meeting-place, On January 11,
1880, a Tract and Missionary Society
5
was organized with 36 members, who and the church clerk recorded that
sent out copies of the American Signs 'there seemed to be a general feeling
of the Times by post with accompany that this was the right thing to be
ing letters to those they thought might done'. It was not done, however. The
be interested. Three days later the church contrived to keep going in
first Seventh.day Adventist baptism The Academy, and even to finance its
took place ·when six candidates were endeavours in novel ways, as when in
immersed in a font specially con 1915 its assistant minister, the irre
structed at 'Ravenswood'. In June, pressible A. S. Maxwell, paid for a
1880, the believers ventured a little campaign by personally selling Present
way outside Southampton to pitch their Truth in the town. The 1917 session
tent at Romsey, but here the English of the South England Conference was
climate intervened and gales brought held there and for two years (1919-21)
about an early termination of the the rooms at the back, which in earlier
meetings, but at least one person began years had often been let out to help
to observe the Sabbath. Other meetings pay the rent, became the office of the
held that same summer at Taunton Conference before its move to Lindrick
were rather more successful and a few House, North London. In 1928 the
believers, who remained unorganized, local membership was at last relieved
were gathered ·out. of the burden of paying rent.
Southampton S.D.A. church, Shirley Road.
In 1881 Loughborough went back A. A. John, who had come from
to America to attend the General 7 accessions. Mrs. "White came again America with Loughhorough in 1882,
Conference session and when he re in July, 1887. travelled on almost immediately to
turned in January, 1882, he brought Large-scale evangelism came to Immingham by boat, walked the eight
with him Adelbert A. John and his Southampton in September 1893 when miles to Great Grimsby and on March
family, George R. and Mrs. Drew. J. S. Washburn began meetings in the 7th began tract and preaching ministry,
Jennie Thayer, and his own son and Victoria Rooms. The attendances were the latter in both the open-air and
daughter. Meanwhile the new members so large that, despite the fact that no halls. Meanwhile, George R. Drew of
had continued the work of sending fe-wer than four meetings were held the same party did literature work on
out Signs, a thousand being distributed each Sunday, a move had to be made the other side of the Humber at HuH
in each of the years 1881 and 1882. to the more commodious Philharmonic among ships docked there, before mov
From the latter year onwards a supple Hall, while retaining the Victoria ing on to similar work in Liverpool
ment of English news was inserted in Rooms for subsidiary meetings. Even in April, 1883. On June 4, 1883, John
each copy. so it was found impossible to control began a series of open-air meetings at
At 'Ravenswood', in September 1883 the crowds desiring to gain admittance the village crossroads in U1ceby about
the first Seventh-day Adventist church and as a result the Victoria Rooms were twelve miles from Grimsby, where, as
in Britain was officially organized with abandoned altogether. Both in the has been noted, there is evidence of a
19 members although in fact there were frequency of the meetings and the continuing interest in Adventism in
some 65 persons by then who had crowd problems this campaign curio the ·'60s and '70s. These were supple
signed a covenant to keep the com ously foreshadowed another held almost mented from June 10th by meetings
mandments of God and the faith of sixty years later in London. in the Foresters' Hall. The sen'ices
Jesus, 37 of whom had been baptized As a result of Washburn's meetings provoked opposition and in 1883 and
in the 'Ravenswood' font. In the fol· the Southampton membership rose to 1884 public debates on the Sabbath
lowing month Loughborough, his wife, 120 and the question of a permanent question were staged in the village.
and daughter returned to America. In meeting-place became urgent. It was The first was largely under the auspices
1884 the headquarters were moved to solved two years later on September of the local Anglican clergy supported
239 Shirley Road and, as a conse 28, 1895, when The Academy, a church by a speaker from the Lord's Day Rest
quence, the press recently installed at like school building, inevitably, of Association of London; the second was
'Ravenswood' was moved to Grimsby. course, on Shirley Road (No. 157) was conducted by the local Methodists.
J. H. Durland succeeded Loughborough purchased by the denomination for The Ulceby Adventists recorded that
and remained in charge at Southamp £865. This is still the meeting-place of this debate lasted for four hours and
ton until he moved to Kettering in the Southampton church, but its his 'several made an attempt to save the
1887, although he also ran an evan tory has not been uneventfu1. In 1902 papal Sunday but in vain. The truth
gelistic campaign at Exeter in August its minister, Ritchie Leask, apostatized gained the victory. The first reply de
1885. During his ministry Mrs. vVhite and special sermons had to be preached cided two in favour of the truth, an-d
visited the church in 1885. After to counteract his influence with certain the last convinced many ,of it, and
Lougbborough's departure the church members. Perhaps partly as a result closed the mouths of most of those
led a pilgrim existence up and down of this mishap the membership de who opposed the truth.' By May, 1884,
Shirley Road, including for a while a clined and in 1907 the British Union twelve people (mainly members of two
temporary return to 'Ravenswood' and Conference, hard pressed for funds to families, the Armstrongs and Shorts)
a sojourn in a back room of the home pay for Stanborough Park, sent its had signed the covenant and they were
of two believers at No. 120, For a time President, E. E. Andross, to the formally organized· as a church on
it had no permanent minister, but Southampton business meeting on September 28, 1884. On August 24,
Southampton being what it was, it June 30th to propose that the building 1885 Mrs. vVhite visited the group.
never lacked visits long or short from should be sold, the original advance Meanwhile at Grimsby the believers
visiting brethren, among them D. A. repaid to the Union and the balance had leased a large house in Heneage
Robinson and \iV. A. Spicer, and was used to purchase a plot whereon might Road, where on July 5, 1884, they or
even favoured with a series of revival be built a smaller chapel. The ganized the second church in Britain
services by a visiting New Zealand Southampton members were perhaps with 13 members. To this house also
evangelist in 1890 which resulted in weary of paying rent to the Union the press was removed from Southamp-
MEMBERSHIP. RECEIVED-HOW AND
-REW ARD-£IO
Among the converts resulting from A A John's Ulceby
campaign were the well-known Armstrong family,
prominent in ministry and administration of the
-----
------- ---- British Church. TOP: Four Holloway visitors pose
THI S1DDATI QUESTION! beside the Armstrong home in Ulceby (1970).
A Sl'1IWIAL
SEVENTH·DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
ULCEEY.
:r
H.I;.. P AS1"QR and. COMMITTEE of the above have great pleasure in
mVltmg the pub.hc to attend the Services in connection with the
opening of their new church edifice. And also herewith express
their 5~nc.ere thanks.to those who have con~iDuted so generously to
""Vill (D.V.) be held on the bUlldmg fund, Or rendered other assistance. Further donations
"!'bursda.y, .arch 6th, 1884, for the huilding fund will be thankfully received.
The Opening Services will, D.V., begin
AT SEVEN P.M., IN THE Friday, January 4th,
BAtt, U y,
r~I!~T!I~' At 7 p.m.,
And be continued on the Sabbath, (Saturday)
at 10~30 a.m., and 2-30 p.m.
The CONSECRATION CEREMONY will be conducted On SUNDAY
For the pUl'pose of replying to the positions ta.ken on the SABBA.TH (the 6th) at 2'30 p.m.
QUESTION by Rev. COX- an-d ot-hers-. ---- Services will be continued on SUNDAY at 6-30,
" Get bId Ihe truth ollce uttered, ,,,ul 'f'" "like .And whkh one. drdillO ;" i/. pfurid ,."..nd, Sanadb b,eavtehr fyo lElovweinnign g( thdeu r1i2ntgh) tahte 1w0'3e0e ka. ma.t, 7a pn.dm 2.,- 3a0n pd. mo.n,
A. ~ta~ nell.··/wm, l1mt drop' ;"'0 ito~ Not alII"" ' ...m dt of the '<"0 ../ 4 Mil .W• . " and on Sunday at 2'30, and 6-30 p.m.
It was c.a.1II!.d tIIat 8ullay Is tile Sallbatll or Lord's lay, The rite of Baptism will be solemnised.
u- A Reward of £11..0 will be given for a Text of Scripture The Committee regret that Pastor S. N. Haskell's health, and
proving this Statement. other engagements, make it impossible for him to be present. But
they are pleased to annOunce that Pastors]. H. Durland and D. A.
Several Ministers from abroad will be present to assist in tile Services. Robinson will assist in the services.
I t is our united and" fervent prayer that this may be a time of
DIscussION INVITED. personal consecration, and that Heaven's signal blessing may
A. A, JOBN, MinistOf. accompany these ministrations. All sittings are free.
(For the Committee),
A. ALLEN JOHN, Pastor.
Most of the land in the area was owned gelistic meetings in Bath and some
by the Earl of Yarborough; and eighty people joined the church, more
through his acquaintance with the than half of whom acknowledged that
Earl's steward, Armstrong was able to their initial interest had been aroused
make request for a plot on which to by reading copies of Present Truth
erect a church. The Earl allowed him sold to them by Stagg.
to choose any piece that he wanted Colporteurs were the spearhead III
and leased it to the denomination at Ireland, too. Following them came R.
one shilling a half-year. Building com F. Andrews who held a campaign in
menced in July, 1888, the members Armagh in 1885. It does not, however,
providing most of the labour and seem to have borne fruit, and the real
singing carols to help pay for the rest. origins of Irish Seventh-day Adventism
On January 6, 1889, the Vleeby church date from 1889 when William Hutchin
building, the first owned by Seventh son raised up a group of twenty at
Ulceby S. D. A. church, Lincolnshire. day Adventists in Britain and seating Banbridge. In 1891, twenty-seven there
Ground rent has remained unchanged at 100, was dedicated by S. N. Haskell, were organized into the first Adventist
21- [tOp} annually. Is this the world's who had personally subscribed five church in Ireland with members from
lowest?
pounds and promised to raise thirty both sides of what later became 'the
ton in the same year and from there more \vhile building was in progress. border'. Shortly after that a church was
in May, 1884, was issued the first num At Southampton, Grimsby, and organized in Belfast, although its first
ber of Present Truth under the editor Vleeby the pattern of Adventist evan building in Florenceville Avenue was
ship of M. C. 'Vilcox, who had arrived gelistic work in Britain, which was to not erected until 1909. A company was
with George 1. Butler, the President be largely followed thereafter, had raised up at Kilmoyle by R. Mussen
of the General Conference, earlier that been set-literature work followed by and R. W. Whiteside in the face of
year and had taken part with him in a public campaign, or vice versa. At considerable opposition such as was to
the second debate at Vleeby. A thou Risely and Kettering, the third area characterize the history of a small and
sand copies were printed of four pages (taking Southampton as the first and unpopular Church in that country.
apiece at a subscription price of half Grimsby-Ulceby as the second) in Work was started in Dublin about
a·crown a year for twelve issues. Even which a bridgehead was established, * 1898, although the date is uncertain.
[or this small effort there was not the work waS opened by colporteurs (two In 1886 S. H. Lane and R. F.
enough type and so when the first part ladies at Kettering) followed by publiC Andrews held public meetings in
of the paper had been printed on the tent campaigns by J. H. Durland Lochmaben, Dumfriesshire, Scotland,
presses of the Grimsby News Company after the ladies had moved on to but nothing seems to have resulted
Ltd., whither it had been conveyed Nottingham. This was also the method from them. In 1891 N. Z. Town (who
from Heneage Road in a wheelbarrow, employed in the city in which Ad was the first to work with large sub
the type had to be broken up and ventism scored its largest early suc scription books and who became the
used to set the rest of the issue. Sub cesses-Bath. George Stagg went there first Field Missionary Secretary for
scribers were sought by sending a few from America in August 1886 and be Britain the next year) worked in
copies free to addresses taken from the gan to canvass with Present Truth. Glasgow with a band of canvassers, but
Post Office Directory and following Four years later he was joined by it was not until 1893, as a result of
them up with a letter. Present Truth G; W. Bailey and two other colporteurs, the labours of a newly-baptized mem
became an eight-page illustrated semi who sold Bible Readings. In 1892, ber from Ireland named Hollingsworth,
monthly in 1885 and later a sixteen ]. S. Washburn held a series of evan- that the first Scottish company was or
page weekly. ganized-in Glasgow. By 1901 there
The first 'workers' meeting' in British Union colporteur group, 1901 were 20 believers in Glasgow and in
Britain was held at Heneage Road, and sBtAroCnKg R(2OnWd:) , FaDtohuegr laAsr mAsrtmrosntgro n(g1 st()6, thH)a, rrBy roAtrhmer that same year they were baptized and
even a rudimentary 'training school' Johnson (Health food salesman, 10th)
CENTRE ROW, sitting: J J GillaU pst), Brother
was held there in 1886 with a term Gallaher (2nd), Dr. A BOIsen (3rd) , Brother .. The first eventrn:dly ,to have a church school.
lasting two weeks. Twelve prospective Howarth (4th). Sitting on ground (right) is Brother opened a't Kettering on January 4, 1904, WIth
Wilkinson of Derby. twenty-seven pupils and closed down in 1908.
workers attended this and at its close
six young lady colporteurs, the first
-organized band in Britain, departed to
canvass Present Truth in Leeds. Mrs.
E. G. 'Vhite visited Grimsby in 1886
and held meetings both in the open
air near to what is now the Market
Place and also in the Town Hall,
where 1,200 listened to her. The oc
-casion of her visit was the fourth
European Mission Council, held in the
Mechanics' Institute.
Tn the following year, at the end
of her two-year stay in Europe, Mrs.
White preached in the Foresters' Hall
at Ulceby on July 24, 1887. The Ulceby
group was still without a meeting
place of its own, but this 'was about to
be remedied. The leader of the group,
in the absence of a minister, was
Edward Armstrong, the village baker.
II
Worker group taken at Stanborough Park, what comical effect, although one not and then went on to work in Ponty.
c.1908. altogether displeasing to a temperance pridd, where, in 1903, the first or
BACK ROW: G Nickells, J McAvoy, Schaeffer, movement like the Adventist Church. ganized church in vVales was established
John Taylor, McDonnell, J J Jensen, ? , ME
Olsen, J McClay (North England Conference Presi Forty-seven were baptized as a re with twenty-six members,. the nucleus
dent), J J Gil/att (Midland Conference President),
? , J Halliday, C E Penrose. sult of this campaign. The workers being provided by the conversion of
FRONT ROW: Professor H R Salisbury (previously then moved on to Swansea, but with C. E. Penrose, a Baptist minister, and
Duncombe Hall Col/ege Principal), Professor
Camden Lacey (Stanborough Park Col/ege Prin much less success, In 1899 all the some of his flock. The Newport and
cipal), A G Daniells (General Conference Presi workers were removed from Wales and, Cardiff churches were organized a few
dent (1910-1922), E E Andross (British Union Con
ference President), L R Conradi (European Divi in Meredith's words, 'the work was months later in the same year. By the
sion President), W H Meredith (Welsh Mission
President), M A Altman ((fish Mission President), left in the hands of those who had end of 1904 there were 140 members
John Gil/aft. only recently learned the truth. It is in Wales and, despite the apostasy of
organized into a church by H. E. not surprising that during this time a whole church at Abertillery in 1908.
Armstrong. some returned to the beggarly elements growth continued for several years un
In 1885, A. A. John held a tent of the world.' Meredith returned to til economic depression and consequent
campaign at Aberystwyth, assisted by Cardiff in 1901 where he organized the emigration combined to stunt it.
C. M. Keslake. From this first work first Adventist young people's society Meredith himself eventually became
in Wales there are said to have been in Britain (a separate young people's the first British President of the British
three lady converts but even their department for the country as a whole Union Conference in 1926.
names are lost to us. Apart from one did not come into being until 1905)
or two youth camps, there has been
no official Adventist presence in this chapter 3
part of vVales since.
In the early I 890s a second and THE GROWTH OF INSTITUTIONS AND
more lasting start was made by can
CONFERENCES
vassers working in South Wales. The
first convert from this colporteur
ministry was the coal-miner, W. H. THE work having secured footholds could testify that the latter at least
Meredith, contacted in the village of in Southampton, north Lincoln was an appropriate precedent! Between
Troedrhiwgwair [TredegarJ (what diffi shire, Bath, the Midlands, Northern 20 and 30 are said to have been im
culties its pronunciation must have pre Ireland and Scotland and being about mersed. Meetings were continued in
sented to the American canvassers!) in to do so in Wales, the biggest challenge public halls, one of them being
1895. Meredith was baptized the follow of all was taken up-London, The Duncombe Hall, later to be imperish~
ing year at Bath and was immediately pattern here was noveL A house called ably enshrined in British Adventist
invited to assist J. S. Washburn in a 'The Chaloners' in Anson Road, history, and by 1889 the London
campaign in Cardiff. Not only did he Tufnell Park, North London, was membership had risen to 65. At the
have to give out bills, post notices on rented in 1887 and a team of Bible same time as 'The Chaloners' was
hoardings, push a cart with advertising 'Workers from America was installed being leased the press was moved from
on it and walk the streets as a 'sand there. These went from door to door Grimsby to London and offices were
wich man', but he also had to wash inviting the people to take Bible set up at 451 Holloway Road with a
and scrub the seats in the hall after studies. Meetings conducted by S. N. City office in Paternoster Row, where
whitewashers had finished work on the Haskell were also held in the house Adventist publications were displayed
ceiling. His wages were £1 a week. on three days a week. The first baptism for sale. In 1892 home-produced sub
vVashburn believed in plenty of ad took place on June 9, 1888, in a tank scription books began to appear.
vertising. One of his posters bore constructed in the garden. This bap Hitherto they had been imported from
letters 7'6" x 3', while another, ad tism presented a number of difficulties, the Pacific Press. On August 23, 1894
vertising a lecture entitled 'The Pains primarily in screening the proceedings the International Tract Society Ltd.
of Hell', gained newspaper mention from the neighbours and obtaining a was registered under the Companies
because it had been partly pasted over sufficient supply of water at a suitable Act. In the following year the Society
a brewer's advertisement with some- temperature, Many later ministers fell foul of the Sunday trading re-
9
Team of Bible Workers, mostly American, who did door-to-door work in London. following year it was totally destroyed
CENTRE, sitting: Miss 8artlett, sister of W T 8art/ett. Standing with the women are W A Spicer and by fire. Money was raised largely by
D A Robinson.
loans from members to re-establish it
strictions and John I. Gibson, its Educational Department of the General in somewhat cramped quarters at 70
manager, was arrested on a charge Conference. In 1913 he became Super Legge Street, Birmingham, in November
of employing women and minors intendent of the India Mission, and 1900. Four large ovens were installed
on Sundays and fined £3. The Society it was while returning there in 1915 and one horse-drawn vehicle provided
refused to pay and therefore some of that he died, when the ship on which the sale means of transport. This
its equipment was distrained upon, he was travelling was torpedoed off brought in raw materials, conected
but, with the co-operation of sym the Egyptian coast. wooden boxes [rom local grocers' shops
pathetic fellow· printers, it was able to In 1901 the North London church for use in dispatch, and delivered goods
continue to publish Present Truth met at Duncombe Hall, Upper Hollo to the retailers and railway. It was
without interruption. In 1907, along way. It was vacant during the week, hardly an auspicious beginning, but,
\-vith its fellow institutions, the press and, although far from ideal, was the as with the other institutions, a new
moved to Stan borough Park and in best location for the school in prospect. day dawned when, in 1907, the move
1919 the name 'The Stanborough Press' On January 6, 1902, ','\ Training School to Stanborough Park was made. Here
\vas adopted. for Gospel vVorkers' opened with 32 there was not only room to expand,
London was also the scene of the students. The term lasted 21 weeks and but a first-class market near at hand
origin of another major Adventist in then the students, who had perforce
stitution. In 1899, in a private house to live in private lodgings, dispersed Duncombe Hall Training College (1902-4)
at Redhill, Surrey, ,V. W. Prescott and to sell books in London to earn their London, where ministerial training began
E. J. 'Vaggoner began a training school fees for the fonowing year. For that in Britain. It is now a ohurch.
[or ministers. This was little more than year, beginning on September 2, 1902,
had already been offered at Grimshy. the College moved to Holloway Hall
At the general meeting held III near the Press. It operated there for
Birmingham in ] 900 it "was voted to two years and then in J 904 moved to
raise £1 ,000 for a training school for I'I/Ianor Gardens, where two large houses
workers and £250 was quickly pledged. provided both living accommodation
On November 20, 1901, Homer and and classrooms. In 1907 H. Camden
Mrs. Salisbury arrived in Britain to Lacey became Principal and in the
rake charge of the new venture. same year the college moved into the
Salisbury was 31, but had had a wide house on the newly-acquired Stan
ranging experience in the Church. For borough Park estate.
three years he had taught in the South Another institution, founded shortly
African college, and then from 1896 to before the conege, had a more
1897 had studied Hebre"w in London, chequered career. Als early as 1897
returning to America to teach that imported heal th foods had been sold
subject and Church History at HattIe by the International Tract Society. In
Creek CoIlege. After his six years in 1899 a health food factory was opened
Britain (1901·7) he was to he Principal at Salford Mill, Harley, near Redhill.
of the Foreign ]Vlissionary Seminary in J. Hyde, a London master baker who
Washington, D.C. for three years, and trained at Battle Creek under Dr.
{or a further three, secretary of the Kellogg, was the founder. Early the
10