HATHERLEIGH, North Devon.-Previously to the settlement of our present minister, - we had been three years without a pastor, during which period we had no accessions, but on the contrary, our numbers were considerably decreased by the removal of our members to other places; and though our congregations on the Lord's day continued good, yet as a church, our condition and prospects were no way cheering. In November laat we invited the Rev. W. Clarke, then of Bideford, to supply the pulpit for a month, at the end of which time he received a unanimous call to become the pastor of the church; to this call he aceded, and immediately commenced his labours. Finding, upon trial, that a congregation could not be convened In the chapel on a weeknight, it was thought advisable to have cottage meetings in various parts of the town, a plan which succeeded beyond our expectations. On the 11th of March we commenced a protracted meeting for the purpose of promoting a revival of religion.
At six o'clock in the morning a prayer meeting for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was held, and during the day we had proof that the Lord heard and answered; the enquiry was excited in the hearts of many sinners, "What must we do to be saved?" and three were enabled to rejoice in Christ as their Saviour.
We have had a meeting in the chapel every night since the commencement, which is always well attended, and frequently crowded, and it is with heartfelt gratitude to the Head of the Church, that we are enabled to state that more than one hundred and thirty persons have, within the last four weeks, professedly surrendered their hearts to God, and felt a sense of his pardoning love. And the good work is still going on; every day the number of believers is increased and we hope to see many more brought from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. It will not be supposed that such a glorious work could go on without exciting considerable opposition: this we have had, ss the broken windows of our chapel testify, and this we have still, but it is a matter of course, I need not further describe it. Jehovah is on our side, and that is sufficient. We shall therefore urge on our way, rejoice in the Lord," and "joy in the God of our salvation."
From, "The Baptist Reporter," June 1848, page 140.
HATHERLEIGH, North Devon - I am happy to inform you that the revival here is still progressing. Since the last account in the Report was written, about eighty persons living in this town and neighbourhood have been hopefully converted to God, and this in the midst of as great persecution as we ever witnessed; indeed we have cause to thank God for the protection afforded us by the laws of our country, as we are fully satisfied that without this even our lives would be in danger. But the Lord makes the wrath of man to praise him; this we have proved; the very steps taken by the enemies of the truth to ruin our cause, have, like Paul's imprisonment, "fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel." But it must not be supposed that all the opposition and persecution which we have to endure is from "the wicked,"- by no means: men whose names are "Reverend," and whose persons as well as calling are believed to be peculiarly sacred, have made, and are still making, the most strenuous efforts to put down the strange proceedings of the baptists. But the work is evidently of God, and therefore cannot be overturned. We desire to follow the example of our blessed Lord, by praying for our persecutors; and with gratitude to God, to whom all the praise and glory is due, we point our adversaries to large numbers, who, a few weeks ago, were enemies to God by wicked works, but are now walking in the way to heaven, and adorning the doctrine of God our Saviour In all things, and this is our answer to those that examine us."
From, "The Baptist Register," June 1849, page 230
I cannot discover where this church was.