Cross-roads chapel—Ebenezer chapel—Fourth pastor—Chancery suit—Debt paid—Fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth pastors—Improvements—Jubilee.

It was about this time and in some measure owing to the above proceedings that the chapel at Littleton (known as the Cross-roads meeting) was erected upon the site of a cottage and grounds purchased for that purpose, which was put in trust for the use of the Independents, and though never actually attached to the cause at Market Lavington, yet mainly dependant upon the friends of that place and occasionally supplied by the minister, its chief reliance is upon lay agency.  A proposal was made to take it under the direction of the church here (in 1854), as it was thought likely to promote its success, but as opposition was made thereto by one of the trustees, the attempt was relinquished, and they are left to their own resources.

From this, in the year 1839, a party seceded and formed themselves into a distinct body embracing Baptist views, and built Ebenezer chapel upon ground given by the Earl of Radnor.  They have never been able to maintain a minister, but are dependant upon lay agency.

In the year 1829, an invitation was sent to the Rev. Thomas Sturgess, then settled at Melksham, requesting him to supply the pulpit at Lavington; at the termination of his probationary visit, he was requested to settle over them.  He complied and took up his abode among them.  Alas! how varied are the forms of evil, and how diverse are the phases in which it can appear; just as are the dispositions of the human mind so will there be found an adaptation in error, in perfect accordance with the nature p. 52of the reptile so fitly chosen as an emblem of the author of all evil, “The serpent,” as one of our poets has expressed it, “takes a thousand forms to cheat our soul to death,” compression or dilation, the assumption of any device or colour, just as suits his purpose, so that the progress of truth be impeded.  We have before noted how one after another of the servants of Christ have been constrained, by sinful perversity of their people, with wounded hearts and streaming eyes, to vacate their post; but now the scene somewhat changes, and the cause is to be assailed in a more vulnerable point.  Ruin hovers over it, and how deliverance is to be obtained or from what quarter it is to come is a mystery.  The debt arising from the enlargement in the time of the first pastor, and which had been suffered to continue, presses upon them, and assumes the form of a Chancery law suit: the property is attached, and the people are quite inadequate to combat it; but as all who are acquainted with law well know that as far as the defendant is concerned, it admits of no delay, but if allowed, like a leech, will glut itself with the very vitals of life.  The people put forth their utmost efforts, and then made application to the Wilts Association of Independent or Congregational Churches for assistance.  Having no funds available for this purpose at their disposal, they recommended the case to the Churches of Christ generally—the minister of the place travelling the county to solicit their aid.  It was his privilege soon to realise the object which enabled him to discharge the debt by which the suit was stayed.  He remained till 1834, when he removed to Marlborough, where he continued some time, then left for Sidmouth, and afterwards for Collumpton.  In a few years he relinquished the stated ministry, and removed to the North of England.  For the space of two years they remained without a shepherd, in a great measure arising from p. 53the diversity of temperament the human mind everywhere exhibits, and in no case more so than in matters of religion, especially in the democratic cast of the Dissenting Churches, which is an evil to be deplored, as too often affording to one individual the opportunity of governing a Church through the power of influence exerted over minds incompetent to a just discrimination of things; yet, when compared with the other evil resulting from the concentration of power in one individual, in the form of patronage is much to be preferred, as less likely to be injurious to truth.  To the reflecting mind, the fact herein advanced will receive abundant confirmation in the diversity of creeds and professions with which the Christian world abounds, causing more animosity and heart-burning than any thing else, and from which very few Churches have escaped.  During this interregnum their reliance was chiefly upon neighbouring ministers and what lay agency could be made available, which, unless judiciously employed, will of itself be productive of evil, by exalting some aspiring mind beyond his proper sphere.

In 1836, the Rev. John Young was recommended and at their invitation settled among them, but after about twelve months’ residence, owing to some unpleasant affair of a personal nature, he deemed it advisable to retire.  Recourse was then had to ministerial friends far and near, and that for the space of about five years; during which they enjoyed comparative quietness and prosperity.  In 1841, those who preferred a resident ministry to the dissipating mode of mere supplies (which, however pleasing to such as admire variety, is not the best for promoting true............