From an article in the May 2010 Walkern Journal – Walkern United Reformed Church: 1810 – 2010 by Olga Ginn and Janet Woodall
This year (2010) Walkern URC is celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Church being dedicated for worship. Over the next month, and indeed over the next year, we will be marking this very special anniversary. We will also be writing articles for the Walkern Journal on the history of the people who worshipped at the chapel in Walkern in the last 200 years.
After the passing of the Act of Toleration in 1689, dissenters were allowed to have separate places of worship, and to choose their own Pastor, but all buildings had to be registered with the diocesan bishop (i.e. of the Church of England). The earliest recorded date for this in Walkern is December 1699, when a congregation met in the house of one Edward Ives.
Various houses and barns were used as meeting places until, on 1 May 1810 the present building, owned by the Bulwar Lytton family of Knebworth, was opened for worship. A year later the congregation was formed into a church.
The Church Book contains a report of that first service:
April 29th 1811. This day by the divine permission, the Revd Mr Towne of Royston, and the Revd Mr Masler of Hertford met for the purpose of forming into Church order, those who had profest faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who were anxious to be more closely in the bonds of Christian affection.
Mr Towne in the most scriptural manner enquired of the friends in the vestry, the foundation of their hope and what the Lord had done for them – After which he went to prayer in the chapel – This being ended Mr Wm Baron was chosen as a proper person to converse with – Mr Towne enquired more explicitly respecting his experience of the things of God and of his evidence of being called from a state of natures darkness, to the Light of the Gospel. Having received satisfactory answers, Mr Towne by consent of Mr Masler, gave him the Right hand of fellowship. – the same proceedings were observed in the admission of the following persons. – Mr John Martin, Mr James Thomson, Mr Wm Ball, Mr Edward Wright, Mrs Peters, Mrs Ball, Mrs Ann Holiday, Mr Joseph Peters produced his letter of Dismission from the Church at Whitwell where he was also received a member, after which the Revd Mr Masler proposed Mr Jas Edward Miles as a member of the church which was also agreed to, and he was received by friends as a member, after which Mr W Baron was chosen Deacon of the Church.
The Revd Mr Towne, closed this part of the service with the most excellent advice which there is reason to hope was attended with divine blessings to some of the friends. After singing praises to the most high with grateful hearts, Mr Hasler addressed the infant Church from the 23rd of Matthew 8th verse “But all ye are Brethren”
The advice given was scriptural and affectionate and was like broadcast on the waters, was found after many days – The solemn services were closed with prayer and praise.
On 16 June 1811, the church invited Mr James Edward Miles to become their Pastor, but although he continued to serve the church for some time, he declined the invitation, and subsequently left the church. The first Pastor was Mr William Thompson
The list of attendees at that first service in 1811 are in the Church Book, (see below) and notes have been appended to some of these names allowing us a glimpse of what happened next: The Deacon, William Baron, removed to Wymondely in 1822; JE Miles removed to Stevenage; Joseph Peters “died with faith Dec 21 1823”.
Tantalisingly, Mr William Ball, whose name was later crossed out, has “excommunicated” written next to it. Sadly the reason for his excommunication cannot be easily deciphered, though we do know that William Ball died in 1823 aged 66 and was buried at St Mary’s.
showing the congregation at the first service in 1811
William Ball’s Excommunication
An email from Anthony Camp in the June / July 2010 WJ
I was interested in your article in the May 2010 Walkern Journal about the Walkern United Reformed Church.
I have a transcription, made by Joan Fry in 1993, of the Church Book that you mention and the entry about William Ball says (with spelling as given): “Excommunicated, having drawn back from his profishen Pg 11 & 12” which simply means that he had refused to attend the chapel.
I have indexed all the names and it appears that he and his wife had been admitted to the Congregation on 29 April 1811, and was present on 16 June 1811, but on 14 October 1811 “Mr J E Miles is requested to make applycation to him [Revd Mr Masler] Respecting our Brother Wm Balls’ absence from the ordinance of the Lords supper & nonattendance at the meeting. Mr Baron just visited him but obtained no positive cause for his absence. Some time after Mr Peter and Mr J E Miles paid a second visit – andeavered to show him the impropriety of such conduct and requested his answer before the next church meeting”.
At a meeting on 4 September 1814 “It was also appointed that two of the members should weight on Mr Ball, that he might give account of himself respecting some charges that was brought against him”.
At a meeting on 28 September 1814 “the case of our Brother Ball was pospond for another month.
At a meeting on 3 November 1814 “the case of Mr Ball was again brought before the Church and it was there unanimously agreed upon that his name should be taken from the Church Book and that he should no longer be considered a member amongst us”.
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