William Gadsby

William was just one of fourteen children born to John and Martha Gadsby at Attleborough, Warwickshire on or around 3 January 1773. He was born into poverty and only briefly attended Nuneaton church school, starting work as a ribbon weaver at age 13. Being older than most of his siblings, he often had to care for them and this taught him the importance of leadership. [5] By age 17 he had forgotten how to read.[6]

His conversion to Christianity was also at this age: "But when the Lord was graciously pleased to quicken my soul, being then just 17 years of age, and showed me something of what sin really was, I really feared it then, and a turn in my mind took place of a very different kind... I was then solemnly and blessedly led to believe in God's free mercy and pardon." After this, he briefly attended an Independent Chapel in nearby Bedworth, however after meeting Pastor John Butterworth and conversing about the point of believer's baptism, he joined the Cow Lane Baptist Church in Coventry where he was baptized the same day on 29 December 1793. [5]

The Barn at Hinckley

Despite his impoverished upbringing and his strong belief that this should prevent him from preaching, William Gadsby felt called to form his own church in an old barn at the town of Hinckley. [7][5]

Because of his lower class background, as well as his opposition to the Church of England, he faced much opposition. This included an attempted assassination, when he was stoned by thugs through a hole in the roof of the barn. When members of his congregation attempted to chase after them, he commanded them saying "God will see to it that I am not hurt". [5]

The Church of Desford

He also began preaching to a small chapel in the village of Desford from 1794. This congregation had a proper church but was very poor. Thanks to donations from his loyal congregation, he began to sell drapery goods from land he bought in Hinckley as well as building a house. [5][8]

Hinckley Ebenezer Chapel

In 1802, Gadsby and his flock began constructing a new independent chapel known as Hinckley Chapel. It was a difficult project due to the poverty of his congregation, and they were often mocked by locals. Gadsby preached here until he moved to preach in Manchester in 1805.[9][2]

His experiences here would influence his future theology and politics, especially his left wing economic values.[10]

Gadsby originally had no intention of moving to Manchester, however after leaning that there was a chapel called "Back Lane Particular Baptist Chapel" that was without a pastor, he requested that he be allowed to preach there for a month as he attended to "business".[11] He did not initially state it out of embarrassment but he did not have any business in Manchester but he had heard the people of Manchester were very charitable and so he sought to beg for money as his funds for Hinckley Chapel were dangerously low.[6]

Eventually his sermons were admired by the congregation at Manchester and in 1805, he decided to settle there and become pastor for this chapel.

This event not only coincided with Britain's victory at Trafalgar, but also the start of much social discontent in Manchester, of which Gadsby would play a large role.[5][10]

38 Year Ministry

Back Lane Particular Baptist Chapel would later be renamed to Rochdale Road Chapel and not long after becoming pastor, Gadsby managed to attract an even larger congregation.[5]

As well as this, he often travelled on foot across much of Northern England, spreading the Project of Strict Baptism to the poor and working class, as well as starting more than 40 new Strict and Particular Baptist Chapels.[11][12]

Just as many other dissident Protestant groups such as the Lollards of the Peasant Revolt and the True Levellers of the English Civil War, Gadsby's ministry showed a deep concern for the issues of social injustice and laissez faire economics. His Christian socialistic ideas also came from his families continued poverty when he was growing up and the perceived bourgeois attitude of the established Elizabethan Church.[10][1]

After the massacre of protesting workers by the British Army on August 16th 1819, known as the Peterloo Massacre, Gadsby joined with many other political agitators in signing a "Declaration and Protest". In a letter to a friend in London, he wrote "I can assure you there is little else in our town but tyranny and oppression".[5]

It was this sense of social injustice that caused him to help to form the Anti-Corn Law League.[13]

He often enraged upper class circles for bringing his socialist ideas into his sermons, however he was often praised by his working class congregations. On one occasion, he claimed the mantra of landlordism was "the labouring, the industrious people of England shall not partake of the fruit of the earth, if we can help it, for we are determined to keep the greatest part for ourselves". When he attempted to continue, he was drowned out by the cheers of the crowd. When he apologised for detaining them for so long there were cries of "go on".[10][4]

Gadsby died on 27th January 1844, two weeks after turning 71. [5][14]

• A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship