Richard Baxter - Preacher, Teacher, Pastor, was a man ahead of his time in how he thought. Today, as in the past, his reputation has encouraged pilgrims to travel from all over the world to visit the places where he lived and preached. The Early Years Richard was the son of a poor Shropshire gentleman. In later life he said that as a boy, he had ‘lied, scrumped and gambled’. He confessed that he had also been addicted to apples and pears once making himself sick on a ‘surfeit of fruit and cheese’. At the age of 23, a more mature Richard, was appointed as a schoolteacher in Dudley. At the same time he was ordained as a clergyman and preached his first sermon at St. Thomas’ in the town. In 1639 he moved to Bridgnorth where he became curate at St. Leonard’s Church. His cottage can still be seen opposite the church. The Kidderminster Years For twenty years Richard made his home in Kidderminster as ‘preacher’ at St. Mary’s. He was invited by a group of disgruntled church members who were very put out by the infrequent preaching of the Vicar! They were puritans, not ‘kill joys’, but Christian men and women who passionately wanted to live every moment of their lives in the presence of God and to the glory of God. They were hungry for sound teaching which they were not getting. They would not be disappointed by Richard Baxter! Richard Baxter – Preacher and Pastor Richard immediately made an impression. His preaching must have been electrifying because new galleries had to be installed in St. Mary’s Church to accommodate the crowds. He preached with conviction and many lives were touched. In his day Kidderminster was a small, dark, town of some 5,000 people. It was notorious for ignorance and immorality -especially drunkenness- of the inhabitants! After 14 years, during which Richard visited every home, everything was changed. A friend said, ‘The bad were changed to good and the good to better’. People even spoke of Kidderminster as ‘a colony of heaven’. ‘….when I came thither first, there was about one family in a street that worshipped God and called on His name, and when I came away there were some streets where there was not past one family in the side of a street that did not do so’. Richard Baxter – Author During his years in Kidderminster, Richard wrote some of his most famous books and hymns including the classic ‘The Saints Everlasting Rest’ which continues to inspire and console. Hymns such as ‘Ye Holy Angels Bright’ are still much loved today and sung in our churches. His books have never been out of print and ‘The Reformed Pastor’ is still used today in the training of pastors and ministers. The Dangerous Days Richard’s time in Kidderminster coincided with the bloody Civil War which would lead to Oliver Cromwell’s coming to power and England’s transformation into a republic. Richard was caught up in all the event’s of the day, even serving for a time as chaplain to one of the regiments of Cromwell’s New Model Army. When King Charles II was restored to the throne in 1660 new rules governing church life and organisation were imposed. Richard was unhappy with these and went into self-imposed ‘exile’ after preaching his last sermon in Kidderminster. Unexpected Happiness Sometime after his departure from Kidderminster, the world was amazed to hear that Richard Baxter had married! His wife, Margaret Charleton, was much younger. It was a marriage that brought them both great joy. It was also a new kind of marriage as Richard and Margaret lived as equals as well as partners. When she died at the age of 45 Richard was heartbroken.ExileThe last thirty years of Richard’s life were spent in London. He pursued his vision of a Church big enough to welcome everyone and allow people to have different opinions. He wrote furiously and preached tirelessly. Often he was persecuted. Even worse, when King James II came to the throne Richard was put on trial before the notorious Judge Jeffreys who dismissed him as ‘a Rogue and Knave’. Richard was fined 500 marks and sent to prison. The Last Days Richard died, aged 76, on December 8th 1691 and was buried beside his beloved Margaret in Christ Church, Newgate, London, a church that no longer stands. As he lay dying he said "I have pain: there is no arguing against sense; but I have peace. I have peace." "Keep us, O Lord, while we tarry on this earth, in a serious seeking after You, and in an affectionate walking with you, every day." ...with thanks to Sue Bullock and Iris Baggott
St Mary’s church tower has contained bells since at least the 16th century, and most probably long before. The current bells form a ring of 12 bells dated 2002 cast at Taylors of Loughborough – the result of a ‘millennium’ project to replace the previous bells and frame because of accumulated changes and repairs over the years. The previous ring of eight was cast in Gloucester in 1754 by the well-known firm of Rudhalls, and we still have one of them in the tower which can be used occasionally. Bells generally last a long time! Whilst the cost of the installation in 2002 was approaching £150,000, several of the bells were given by families or supporters as a memorial, and some were given by local companies or organisations – so the installation is very much part of the ‘Town Church’ and owned by all! Whilst the Tower therefore contains a lot of history, the activity of bellringing is a practical exercise acting as ‘the voice of the church’, as the bells are not only rung for regular Sunday services but also on special days of national or local celebration. Thus we rang for the King’s Coronation, and previously for many occasions for our late Queen, as well as often for weddings and the occasional special service or anniversary. The bells are also rung for practise – where we will normally quieten-them down a bit by closing some sound control doors over the louvres – this is kinder to the neighbours. The clock chimes the hours and quarters on the bells when we are not ‘ringing’ them, but again this does not happen at night, when the control system switches the chimes off. Bellringers of the churches of Worcestershire belong to the local society – the Worcestershire and Districts Association of Change Ringers – which keeps us in touch with each other and arranges practices and meetings of various kinds to further the Art of Ringing. We take an active part in the Northern Branch of this organisation, and occasionally host meetings. St Mary’s was also the venue for a stage of the national ‘Twelve-Bell Competition’ on two occasions, when ringers from all over the Country came to Kidderminster to compete. Unfortunately our band here is not quite up to the standard of Birmingham, Worcester and St Paul’s Cathedral! But they all enjoyed the new bells which we have here, and we listened to some first-class ringing. The present Band of Bellringers enjoy teaching newcomers to the Art of Ringing, and are looking for more recruits to join. We usually meet for practice on Thursday evenings at 7.45 – 9.15pm, and of course we ring for Sunday morning service at 10.15 – 11.00am. Contact the present Tower Captain David Struckett on 07976 746225 or email dstruckett@aol.com for further details. (some extra practices are usually arranged for newcomers to learn how to ‘handle a bell’, but they are soon able to take part with the others!).
