Letter to the Editor of the East and South Devon Advertiser: King’s Teignton Mission: Sir, The Revd. R. W. Row, the Congregational Minister of King’s Teignton, has on more than one occasion related an anecdote, in which it is stated that when the devil offered all the Kingdoms of the world as the reward of worship paid to him, he reserved King’s Teignton to himself on account of its exceeding wickedness. Such testimony coming through the pure channel of Nonconformity is of course beyond contradiction. Can we be surprised then that when an extraordinary effort has been put forth to wrest this unfortunate parish from his cherished possession, and that this effort has been eminently successful, Satan should use every endeavour to keep his own and the better to do his work should even make tools of earnest but mistaken people to hinder those who are striving to tread the narrow way that leads to life eternal? But of this we are sure that He Who is with us is stronger than he that is against us. Your readers may like to know what the Mission has affected in addition, increased bitterness against the Church. It is early yet to judge the good done. But one of the immediate results was a desire on the part of many who before had cared for none of these things, to enter into closer communion with their Lord; and the Bishop of the Diocese to meet their need held a special Confirmation Service in the parish Church Monday, the 20th inst., when about 70 parishioners were confirmed, not a score of whom were under 20 years of age. A large portion of them were working men who were not ashamed to come forward and acknowledge the Master whom they had lately been taught to serve. And on Christmas day a much larger number of parishioners celebrated their Christmas joy in the great thanksgiving service the Church: Trusting and believing that the work thus begun will prosper notwithstanding all opposition. I am, your obedient servant, A PARISHIONER. King’s Teignton, December 30th, 1875. … also … Sir — Mr. Savery Pinsent in his interest about Church matters at King’s Teignton seems righteously indignant that the clergy whom the fullness of his dissenting truth and charity would delight to drag through the mud of newspaper controversy and pelt with dirt, do not return to the charge of journalistic encounter. To many, no doubt, parson baiting may seem a manly and noble art. But, perhaps, the parsons themselves feel the force of Savery Pinsent’s own quotation from the Apocrypha, and forbear to touch pitch lest they should be defiled therewith. Mr. Pinsent’s allusion to the morality of brothels, &c, (and why should a man talk of such a thing of which he has no experience?) may tend to justify respectable people in not commenting on his language. A LAY AGENT
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Referenced
GRO0798 Devonport: Savery Pinsent: 1815 – 1886