Hull

HULL:
Hull-Fish Street Congregational Church History up to 1868.

In 1769, some persons withdrew from Dagger Lane, and purchased a piece of ground in Blanket Row, on which they proceeded to build a small chapel, which was opened for Divine worship April 9, 1769, the preachers being Rev. T. Knight, Halifax (whose sermon was published), and Mr. Lambert, who was then a probationer for the pastorate. Soon after (May 21, 1769), a church was formed, Josiah Jones, Edward Riddell, Daniel Tong, Thomas Hutton, William Bain, William Robinson, Andrew Gray, Mary Beaumont, Barbara Bain, Ann Key, and Margaret Robinson being the first members. These stood, according to the usual custom, in a circle with hands clasped, professing their faith in Jesus and attachment to each other, whilst Mr. Lambert, then a member of the church at Heckmondwike, attended as a witness and offered prayer.

The pastors of Blanket Row and Fish Street have been the following :-

• 1769. Rev. GEORGE LAMBERT (Heckmondwike Acy.); ordained March 14, 1770, over a church of eleven members. In 1773, the increase of the congregation demanded the enlargement of the chapel; but this not sufficing, a plot of ground was purchased in Fish Street, and a new building was erected (1782), for which an appeal was made to the public. In 1802, the chapel was extended so as to accommodate 1047 persons.
• In 1803, some of the deacons and members visited several places in Holderness, then destitute of the Gospel. Mr. H. Earl was about this time engaged as a stated missionary, and regular services were instituted at Skipsea, Beeford, Long Riston, Leven, Patrington, and several other places. In many of these chapels were erected.
• Under Mr. Lambert's useful and earnest ministry, the congregation continued to increase, and became settled and powerful. Mr. Lambert published two volumes of sermons, besides occasional discourses. He was widely known and greatly esteemed till his death, in 1816.* He was minister forty-six years. In the latter part of his life Rev. George Brown was his assistant.
• 1817. Rev. JOSEPH GILBERT, from Nether Chapel, Sheffield. He published an address at the funeral of his predecessor, and in 1825, a memoir of Rev. E. Williams, D.D. The impaired state of his health caused him to leave Hull for Nottingham in Nov., 1825. He afterwards published a volume of Congregational Lectures on "the Doctrine of the Atonement."
• 1827. Rev. JOSEPH Fox, from Bolton. Mr. Fox left Fish Street for Sheffield, 1831.
• 1831. Rev. THOMAS STRATTEN (Hoxton College), from Sunderland. Mr. S. was an able and valuable minister, and was the author of several well-written tracts and sermons; besides an able work entitled "The Book of the Priesthood." There was also another volume on "Tithes." He took part in a vigorous controversy which raged in Hull on the subject of ecclesiastical establishments about the year 1834, and published a "Review of the Hull Ecclesiastical Controversy."
• A secession from his congregation took place in 1841, and Albion Chapel was erected for their accommodation. Mr. Stratten died at Hull, 1854.
• 1854. Rev. ROBERT BOWMAN (Airedale Coll.), from Chelmsford. Mr. B. removed to Heckmondwike 860.
• 1858. Rev. EDWARD JUKES (of Highbury Coll.), from Orange Street, London. Mr. Jukes left Hull for Uxbridge, 1867.
• 1867. Rev. G. T. COSTER, (New Coll.), from Barnstaple, the present pastor.

NOTES:-
* He was among the "Fathers and Founders" of the London Missionary Society, and preached one of the first sermons "before the Society in London.