By John and Angela Magee. Part of a series of articles on the History of Emmanuel Church in Salisbury.
The maintenance of the church building and the manse needed on-going attention and required regular input at Council and Church Members' Meetings. The roof of the Wesley Hall needed intensive work. Mr. Royle had discussed the need with the architect, Mr. Ashenden, and at the October Church Meeting brought the matter before the church. The estimated cost for the work was £2,000. Added to this was vital work that had to be done on the Manse which was expected to be approximately £340. Both the Maundrell Trust and the Trueman Trust had indicated a willingness to help towards these expenses, but even with these generous gifts there would be a need for the church to bear the greatest part of these expenses. Although the church finances were in a good state and anonymous gifts were regularly received, there would not be sufficient in the funds to cover these costs. To avoid opening another fund, it was proposed at this meeting that a Gift Day be arranged for a time in February where opportunity would be provided for members to give as they were enabled. Saturday, February 28, 1976, was unanimously designated as Gift Day for the proposed plan. £2,915 was received that day to help defray the repair expenses to the church building.
The possibility of having a Children's Mission or Holiday Club in August 1976 was discussed towards the end of 1975 when the Youth Council met with Mr. Derek Tidball who was the Director of Evangelism at London Bible College. Eight students from the College were expected to work alongside the church Youth Leaders and assist in Bible teaching and recreational activities during the week of outreach. It was also hoped to encourage family members from the community to attend the Family Service which would close the week of meetings. As these students were travelling from London it was put to the church that they should consider providing accommodation for them all. It was also thought helpful to precede this week of evangelism with an evangelistic training weekend. Consequently an invitation was extended to Pastor Erroll Hulse of Cuckfield Baptist Church to visit the following February when he would address the Biblical principles underlying evangelism.
The tape ministry was experiencing a number of technical difficulties that were hindering the clarity of messages recorded. Despite a number of attempts to correct these problems it was decided that new equipment was the best solution. In the end the system was revised by the company Blackmore Vale and a new recording system was purchased. It was hoped to eventually purchase a four track recording machine which would multiply the number of tapes recorded simultaneously. This, however, was postponed to a later time. Mr. Peter Berry not only had a particular burden for the success of the tape ministry among the members but had a vision for this work to reach into the homes of people in England and further afield. His desire was that God would so bless this work that a means would be found whereby these sermons could be broadcast around the world and many souls blessed through the faithful ministry at Emmanuel. Technology had not yet reached the stage of being able to fulfill such aspirations but in time God was to enable the church to make use of such ministries as Sermon-Audio and bring to pass the longed-for wishes of Mr. Berry. His zeal and patient waiting upon the Lord's timing remain a source of encouragement to the church today.
The church was involved in supporting the work of Sudan Interior Mission (S.I.M.) but took a keener interest in this work when the UK Director of the Mission wrote to the church informing them of the intention of Miss Margaret Jehan (a former member at Emmanuel Church) to work with them as an associate missionary. The Director had hoped to receive the approval of Emmanuel Church in this and to be able to assure Miss Jehan of the church's support for her in this new work. A letter affirming this was duly sent to the Director. It was later brought to the Church Council's attention that Miss Jehan had particular needs in this mission work that were not being met and Mr. Royle on behalf of the Council sought to find out how best to practically help.
A cause for particular prayer throughout the latter half of 1975 was the compromised health of Mrs. Rita St. John. Concern was expressed that some measure of support should be forthcoming for her and her husband. The Church Council approached Mr. St. John about the matter and offered to provide a holiday for them in the hope that this would give some relief. Others outside of the church fellowship were also affected by the poor health of Mrs. St. John and some like Mr. Derek Rowe of Uxbridge Road Tabernacle were prompted to supplement the costs of this respite break. The compromised health issues of Mr. Clapton (an elderly man, converted at the church) and of Miss Anne Hall were also brought to the prayerful and practical attention of the church.
The successful work of the church bookstall - and the enhancing of members' personal libraries - was primarily attributed to Mr. and Mrs. E. Thick who not only supplied the bookstall with the best of Christian literature but did all in their power to encourage members to buy and read them.
The membership continued to grow throughout this year.
If 1975 was a year when the church experienced tokens of God's favour and mercy then 1976 proved to be a time of even greater outpouring of Divine blessings. The visit of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a memorable high-point to mark the Pastor and Church's Anniversary weekend held in February 1976. Dr. Lloyd-Jones preached powerfully on the Lord's Day. His morning text was taken from Acts 16 when he spoke concerning the conversion of Lydia, while in the evening he preached from 2 Corinthians 5:17 emphasising the need for the great change of spiritual conversion. At the close of the evening service the Doctor prayed very movingly for Mr. Watts and his future ministry at Emmanuel Church.
Dr. Lloyd-Jones was affectionately known as "The Doctor" because, prior to the Lord's calling him to preach the Gospel, he had practised as a medical doctor. He is singularly remembered for his ministry at Westminster Chapel, London.
He will be remembered chiefly as a biblical expositor. In his heyday in the '50's and '60's at Westminster Chapel, Buckingham Gate, he would hold a congregation of 2,000 people spellbound for an hour to an hour and-a-quarter. He combined the analytical prowess of a scientifically trained mind with the passion of a Welshman1
One would be remiss not to mention the Westminster Fellowship which Dr. Lloyd-Jones was instrumental in starting and is so well associated with. On the first Monday of each month Mr. Watts, along with Rev. Philip Williams, a friend from Fordingbridge, travelled up to London for the meetings of the Fellowship and in those days some 200-300 ministers were regularly in attendance. The ministers who attended these meetings received from him such apposite schooling to declare, defend and adorn the whole counsel of God from their pulpits. The cause of the lifeless church was often addressed and many present will be familiar with the conclusions the Doctor so often returned to.
The short and most serious answer which the Doctor urged on ministers and others was the lack of realization that God was the living God. This showed itself in our pre-occupation with what he called 'our greatest enemy', namely religion, and our being immersed in our own plans and actions which we then presumed to baptize by special prayer. We praised the Gospel instead of proclaiming it, defended it by apologetics instead of declaring it by assertions, and we had become exhibitionist theologians instead of ambassadors with a message from the King2.
However one may view the Doctor and his ministry, it is not hard to concede that God raised him up at a time of great spiritual poverty in England and used him wonderfully to equip ministers to restore the preaching of the Word to the centrality of worship and to re-awaken in Christians a love of the writings and experiences of our Puritan forefathers. All who heard him throughout the Anniversary weekend had cause not only to marvel at his eloquence and winsome preaching but to rejoice in what God was doing in the land through His faithful servant.
An unexpected resignation from the Church Council early in the year left the Council members with no alternative but to co-opt one of the brethren to fill the vacancy. Mr. E. Thick was suggested and approved by the members. The addition of Mr. Thick to the Council proved to be a most excellent choice. He brought to the Council Meetings very helpful advice and suggestions and his skills in the practical running of the church were invaluable for many years to come. The church at the February AGM was in no doubt about the suitability of Mr. Thick to this position and demonstrated this by their unanimous support of his election. A further new member was elected to the position of deacon at this meeting - Mr. Derek Richardson. The Church Council was strengthened both practically and spiritually by such appointments.
A decision was reached by the church to appoint Messrs A. Neate to carry out the necessary roof repairs to the Wesley Hall at a cost of £2,802. This was expected to take four to five weeks.
The first suggestion of the necessity and benefit of the church electing Elders was discussed at the February Council Members' Meeting in 1976. The church was considered to be in a favourable position to facilitate such an election: the church was at peace, the church had a new constitution and mature Christians were now in membership.
To guide the church in this important matter a series of Bible studies on the eldership was considered advisable. The intention of the council would be conveyed to the membership in the form of a circular letter. The Bible series began in May and addressed the qualifications and responsibilities of elders as well as their relationship to church members over a ten week period. This series was then compiled into three booklets under the expert typing skill of Miss Jean Osmond and was printed (see Appendix).
The church rejoiced with Richard Ward and Ruth Westlake when they were united in marriage on April 10, 1976. The service was held at Emmanuel Church.
Further weddings were anticipated in the coming months following the engagements between Julian Hollick and Esther Ten-Pow, and Mr. Watts and Gillian Collins being announced. This latter friendship had been kept a strict secret and while Mr. Watts was away taking a meeting in North Devon, Mr. Lewis Halsey announced the news of the engagement to the surprised and delighted congregation.
Encouragements were noted in the youth work when three boys attending Covenanters requested discipleship classes and when the testimony of Veronica Slade was heard. This acted as an incentive to continue in prayer for the young people.
The content and format of The Messenger magazine took on a recognizable appearance for its readers, as it became an established Christian circular. The "Letter from the Pastor" addressed issues pertinent to the Christian life and strengthened the foundations of doctrinal truth for its readers. Regular reports were given from those responsible for Missionary work, the women's Prayer Fellowship and all aspects of the Youth Work. Book reviews, the children's section, meditations, financial reports and the epilogue all proved valuable contributions to the magazine. The all-familiar "News of the Fellowship" (or "News Roundup" as it was then called) kept everyone up-to-date with what was happening at Emmanuel Church. As it was shared with others, so its circulation extended, and many prized it as a source of spiritual encouragement and instruction. The magazine also became a useful instrument to reinforce aspects of the teaching being received in the church. And so began important teaching on Biblical worship which was later to bear influence upon the public worship at Emmanuel Church.
The members were also privileged to receive other Christian literature through the church on a regular basis. These included The Evangelical Times, The Banner of Truth, The Bridge (Uxbridge Road Tabernacle magazine), The Chronicle (Devizes Baptist Church magazine), Reformation Today, The Gospel Magazine, The Bible League Quarterly, and Gospel Tidings, thus providing a well-orbed source of contemporary Christian literature.
As the Youth Work continued to expand, the need for extra classrooms became a pressing matter of concern. The stage area of the Wesley Hall was the most suitable place to accommodate this need, but much work was required to transform it into classrooms. The City Council had been approached for financial assistance but declined because it was considered too expensive a project. Despite the discouragement, Mr. Thick was not deflected from obtaining the desired goal. If sufficient volunteers came forward he would take on the task of building the classrooms with as many as would contribute to the labour. The Fabric Committee had not long to wait for volunteer workers!
Much discussion centred on the work of the Evangelistic Committee at the September church meeting. Mr. St. John brought a report to the meeting on behalf of the Committee. In response to the lack of understanding of the Gospel conveyed by those visited on the door-to-door work, Mr. St. John had prepared a series of eight tracts (or "broadsheets" as Mr. St. John called them) addressing some of the basic tenants of the Christian faith. It was hoped that these tracts would eventually be distributed throughout the homes of Salisbury and then followed up by a visit from a church member. The tracts proposed for distribution included topics on the Bible, God, Man, the Lord Jesus, Eternity, Conversion, and the Church. Mr. St. John also had opportunity to write about the Gospel in the local Salisbury paper. Around that time Mrs. Borrett and her son Richard (who are still valued members) had started attending the church and eventually joined in membership. A Visitation Conference was planned for November 20, to which all members were invited. At the following church meeting Mr. St. John was able to report that a new church leaflet was being produced and a series of special services organised to cover questions that unbelievers might be interested in. The Open Air Meetings continued throughout the summer months.
Some amount of discussion centred on the crèche as there was not an agreement of the upper age limit for those children who were there during the Lord's Day service. The Council eventually proposed six as the age limit for children. Although this was passed in voting it was not done unanimously.
Mr. Watts brought to the church meeting held September 23, 1976, the necessity of the church being governed Biblically by qualified Elders and Deacons. The series of sermons preached on the Eldership was completed and it was time for the church to act and to express its mind on the election of elders. The procedure of nominations and election was explained and a period of time appointed for prayer, meditation, and submission of written recommendations to Mr. Watts. If a name occurred regularly throughout the recommendations, and that name was approved by the Pastor, then a special Church Meeting would be called for November 23, where a vote could then be conducted.
Concurrent to plans being made for the election of an Elder, preparations were also underway for another event that was to usher in great happiness not only for the individuals involved but also for the entire church fellowship. That event was described by one as "The Wedding of the Century". It was of course the wedding of the Pastor of Emmanuel Church to his beloved Miss Gillian Collins. The wedding took place on Saturday, October 9, 1976, when family, friends, and church members joined with the bride and groom to bear witness to this solemn occasion. After the ceremony the church was invited to join family and friends for the reception held in the hall at Odstock Hospital.
Perhaps the delight and privilege of the church in welcoming Mrs. Watts as the Pastor's wife can best be expressed in the words of another Pastor's wife, Mrs. Jean Harris, when she wrote to Emmanuel Church in the Messenger Magazine:
You, dear friends, are singularly blessed for Mrs.Watts has worked with you, prayed with you, shared some of your burdens - in fact been a loving Church Member for some time. It is not given to every local church the joy of knowing that their Pastor's wife was "born again" in the fellowship, baptized and received into membership and just recently married in the church and because of all this she belongs to you in a unique way and is your special responsibility3.
Nominations for the eldership were brought to the Church Council Meeting for November 9, 1976. Overwhelming support was given to one individual, Mr. W.L. Wicks. Mr. Wicks had proven himself to be a spiritually-minded, teachable, faithful, and exemplary church member and council member over the years and had secured the respect and love of all church members. In all of this he was most suited to the office of the Eldership.
He was, however, a Paedobaptist (having been brought up among the Exclusive Brethren who practised "household baptism" in their homes) and this would of necessity exclude him from exercising the office of Elder as this view was contrary to the position stated by the Church Constitution. Having entered into discussions with Mr. Watts on the subject of baptism, both Mr. and Mrs. Wicks were more inclined to favour this position. Mr. Wicks became convinced and made request for believer's baptism. Once baptised, Mr. Wicks was then eligible for ordination to the Eldership.
A Special Church Meeting was called for November 23, to allow the church members to vote. The Pastor, and the other officers, brought to the church the recommendation that Mr. W.L. Wicks should be formally recognized as the most suitable candidate for the Eldership. Following a question time, voting papers were distributed, and the result demonstrated a very favourable support for Mr. Wicks. However, at the December church meeting a query was raised regarding the number of votes Mr. Wicks had actually received and whether this achieved the required 75%. It was necessary for Mr. Watts to make some clarification regarding the voting result and urged upon them the benefit of giving their full support to Mr. Wicks. Mr. Vellacott (who had been in membership with his wife for some time) was recommended to be co-opted to replace Mr. Wicks on the diaconate and the church voted accordingly. The work of Church Treasurer was taken over by Mr. D. Radford.
A further Thanksgiving Day was proposed for March 5, 1977, for past and future blessings, and it was suggested that financial gifts might be given to help cover expenses for the new classrooms, tape equipment, and heating for the manse. It was hoped that all would consider this day in the spirit in which it was intended and not as a "fund-raising event" as someone had suggested.
As with most Members' Meetings in the year, there were new members to welcome. Among those accepted for membership at the September meeting was Mrs. J. Collins, mother of Mrs. Gillian Watts. What a particular joy this occasion must have been, when both mother and daughter were not only converted under the same ministry, but bound in spiritual and familial love to the same Saviour. The membership of our dear late sister Mrs. Elizabeth Lee was also approved at this meeting. The church was blessed to have her in membership for a further 28 years and even now continues to give thanks to God for the gift of her life to us. Elizabeth's husband Chris was converted through the ministry at Emmanuel Church. His baptism was a joint baptism service with Mrs. Collins. However, both baptisms were deferred until December 12, because of drought restrictions.
As the A.G.M came round again for another year, it acted as a reminder to members to reflect upon the Lord's goodness to the church as they heard various reports from the ministries engaged in. It was noted at this meeting that it was not possible to secure a speaker for the Missionary Weekend and so the Council agreed that for this year Mr. Watts would take the meetings. More regular gifts for the support of Miss Jehan in Ethiopia were proposed as the church acknowledged a particular duty of care for her. A letter was sent from Mr. Wicks enquiring about her specific needs and how the church could help her. Her reply came promptly but contained the news that on the recent death of her father she had returned to the Channel Islands and the possibility of her returning to Ethiopia looked most unlikely. She did appreciate the concern and interest shown by the brethren at Emmanuel.
It was encouraging to hear that both Mr. and Mrs. P. Woodger had applied for church membership and although both had come from a Pentecostal background they were now convinced of the Reformed faith and sought to unite themselves with the members at Emmanuel. Andrew Woodger, one of their sons, was completing baptismal classes and he, Mr. John Wicks and Mr. W.L. Wicks were baptized on 3 April. However, not everyone was able to appreciate the Reformed doctrines taught at the church and a request was made by one couple to terminate their membership in order to follow Brethren convictions.
Mr. Omri Jenkins was welcomed back to Emmanuel when he took the Pastor and Church Anniversary services on February 26-27. His ministry was well received and souls were affected by the Word preached and sought to be faithful to their Lord in the year that lay ahead.
The possibility of changing to "wine" and the "common cup" at the Lord's Supper was discussed at the Council Meetings in March and April. It was felt, however, after some discussion, that it was best to remain with the present practice of unfermented grape juice and individual cups.
A letter submitted from Mr. Berry on behalf of the Tape Committee was discussed at the April 26 Council Meeting. In his letter he requested the sum of £883 to buy the necessary equipment to update the machinery used for recording and copying the sermons preached throughout the week. He detailed in his letter the specific items needed and the cost per item. So encouraging was this work that he was able to report that an anonymous gift of £100 had been promised if the equipment was purchased. His request was unanimously granted.
The Council Members entered into detailed discussion at their April meeting on the subject of a possible change to the praise book Hymns of Faith which the church had been using for some time. Two objections to the continued use of this book were raised - its lack of variety and its lack of coverage of the doctrines of grace. The new publication by the Evangelical Movement of Wales, Christian Hymns, seemed more appropriate and contained a choice of over nine hundred hymns. The Council felt this was a more suitable book and brought it to the next Members' Meeting in May, where it was recommended as the means of improving public worship. It was unanimously accepted on the condition that the tune book was satisfactory. An order was placed later in the year for two hundred copies. On 27 January, 1985, at the recommendation of the Pastor and Elders Metrical Psalms would be introduced and two of these were to be sung at each service. Then, on the Sabbath of 4 December 1994, the hymn book would be removed. Through consistent teaching on worship, the church had come to the Biblical position of unaccompanied psalm singing in the public worship of God.
Mr. Thick gave a comprehensive report on the completed decorating work done to the Wesley Hall by Messrs. Neate and Son. The new Sabbath School rooms had also been completed and further help was needed to make progress with decorating these rooms and with some of the rooms downstairs. Carpet had been laid down the back stairs and was to continue down the corridor as soon as possible. While some questions were forthcoming it was generally considered a most worthwhile result which the Fabric Committee had achieved.
The Ordination Service for Mr. Wicks was scheduled for July 2, and Mr. Alan Gibson was invited to preach on that occasion. An invitation was also extended to Pastors John Thackway and F.J. Harris to assist with the laying on of hands in that service of recognition and appointment.
1. John Stott, "An Appreciation," in Martyn Lloyd Jones Chosen by God, Christopher Catherwood, ed. (Great Britain: Highland Books, 1986), 206.
2. Hywel Jones, "The Pastor's Pastor," in Martyn Lloyd Jones Chosen by God, Christopher Catherwood, ed. (Great Britain: Highland Books, 1986), 220.
3. Jean Harris, "On Receiving a Pastor's Wife," Messenger Magazine, December 1976-January 1978, 168-169.
The series of studies, with the general title "Elders", stated that as the church is "the church of God" (1 Corinthians 1:2), there must be inquiry into what the will of God is, as it is set forth in the Holy Scriptures. There it is made clear that Synagogue government (and not Temple government) was to be continued in the Church (Matthew 18:20; Hebrews 10:25 - "gathered" and "assembling" translate words derived from "synagogue"; James 2:2 mg.) and this government therefore evidently to be exercised by "Elders" or "Rulers" (Acts 13:15). Among the many points made were the following: