Particular Baptist Fund 

Particular Baptist Fund. The following account is taken from Theo. F. Valentine, Concern for the Ministry (London:  Particular Baptist Fund, 1967).

The Particular Baptist Fund was formally organized in June 1717 in London, with Thomas Hollis (1659-1731) serving as the first trustee and treasurer (he left £500 to the Fund in his will). The Fund initially used Pinners’ Hall in London as its headquarters. Its objective was primarily educational—to develop and maintain an effective ministry within the Particular Baptist denomination, or, as the original 1717 letter reads, “for the support and maintenance of honourable Ministers, and providing for a succession of such.” From the beginning the country churches often distrusted the London churches, and in 1717 a separate fund in Bristol was established. The minister and one messenger could be sent by a church, primarily in London and its surrounding areas, to the meetings of the Fund for each £50 contribution made by that church to the Fund. Other individuals, not affiliated with these churches, could also serve as messengers to the Fund based upon their own private contributions. John Gill’s congregation in Southwark was one of the six London churches instrumental in the formation of the Fund, and Gill, while still at Kettering, received one of the first educational grants from the Fund in 1718. Gill would play a major role in the affairs of the Fund for the next 50 years. 

John Cooper was Secretary from 1792-96; Henry Keene of Maze Pond from 1772-92; Benjamin Tomkins from 1796-1811; Benjamin Lepard from 1811-26; John Robinson of Carter Lane (Gill’s church) from 1761-72.  Among the Treasurers were Joshua Warne from 1774-83; William Lepard and Joseph Gutteridge between 1798-1814; John James Smith and Boswell Brandon Beddome (not the one in the Flower letters) from 1814-21; Benjamin Shaw in 1821; W.  B. Gurney from 1842-45; and William Beddome from 1845-56  (46-47). Associate Members (donations of no less than £50) included Joseph Flight in 1772; James Smith in 1774; Joseph Gutteridge in 1794; Joseph Wickenden in 1804-05; Sir John Gurney and William Taylor in 1807 (Taylor would donate over £10000 from his estate in 1814—p. 22); Bannister Flight in 1818; W. B. Gurney in 1828; James Smith and William Lepard Smith in 1821 (48).

Valentine mentions that Currier’s Hall in Cripplegate was a founding church for the PBF, but by 1800 had moved to Red Cross Street with only a small group of members.  By 1810 the church had withdrawn from the Fund (this was the time that George the diarist began attending).  By 1876 the church had ceased to exist.  It was very High Calvinist (19).  Concerning Maze Pond, Valentine notes that in 1766 the church donated £50 to the Fund so the minister and three messengers could attend the meetings.  He mentions Joseph Gurney as being a deacon who contributed to the work of the Fund (18).  In 1798 William Fuller, Benjamin Flower’s uncle, left £1000 to the Fund to support six ministers at £5 each (30).  William  Steadman and John Foster received educational grants from the Fund (36-37). Caleb Ashworth (1722-75) began as a carpenter, then studied for the Independent ministry under Doddridge at Northampton.  Valentine notes that in 1766 Maze Pond donated £50 to the Fund so the minister and three messengers could attend the meetings.  He mentions Joseph Gurney as being a deacon who contributed to the work of the Fund (18).