Isaiah Birt (1758–1837) and the Baptismal Controversies in Devonshire

• Published in: Bunyan studies no. 27; pp. 79 - 98
• Main Author: Song, Baiyu Andrew
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Newcastle Upon Tyne Northumbria University, Department of Humanities, Faculty of Arts, Design and Social Sciences 01.01.2023
• Subjects: Baptism; Religious congregations
• ISSN: 0954-0970

1766).6 His father William ministered to the Baptist congregation in King's Stanley, a village about 48 kilometres from where he lived.7 While growing up in Coleford, Isaiah Birt was sent to Bell's Grammar School at Newland, but, due to his Baptist background, he experienced violent prejudice.8 John Birt recalled that his companions, having imbibed the notion that there was no law to protect those who were not christened, took the opportunity of their going and returning, to inflict upon him every annoyance which boyish wantonness and ingenuity could contrive. After a severe conflict, he thoroughly thrashed them both; and from that time forward they ceased to meddle with him.11 Remarkably, John Birt noted that 'these early contests prepared [his father] zealously to advocate his principles as a Baptist, when they became the principles of his understanding and his choice [...and] though he ceased to employ carnal weapons, he continued occasionally to give hard knocks'.12 Isaiah Birt experienced conversion after hearing Edward Burn (17621837), a Methodist preacher who at the time was probably studying at the Countess of Huntingdon's (1707-1791) Trevecca College.13 He then was baptised and joined Usk Baptist Chapel in Monmouthshire, Wales, under the ministry of Edmund Watkins (1720-1798).14 According to his biographer, Birt's baptism took place on a day of such hard frost that 'it was necessary to break a hole in the ice' for the ordinance.15 With Watkins' encouragement, Birt was sent to study under Caleb Evans (1737-1791) at Bristol in 1779.16 Meanwhile in Plymouth, though Philip Gibbs (1728-1800) had Bristol graduate John Norman (d. 1782) as his assistant, the latter died in 1782.17 Thus, in January 1782, the congregation called Birt, upon Evans' recommendation, to assist Gibbs and it was during this probationary period that Samuel Pearce (17661799) came to faith through Birt's sermons.18 Though the Plymouth congregation was formed in 1640, it had suffered severe declines since 1722, and by 1748 there were only eight members.19 Since Gibbs was called in 1749, the congregation experienced growth. [...]two years later, the congregation tore down their dilapidated building and built a new meeting house on the same site in the Pig Market.20 A year before Birt's arrival, the congregation planned a new site in Liberty Fields (now Pembroke Street) at Plymouth Dock (Devonport) for members living in the area.21 After a period of probation, Birt was ordained on 15 January 1784 to minister to the Plymouth Dock congregation. Five years later, since the Pig Market congregation had moved to Howe Street, and the relationship between the two congregations became strained, the Plymouth Dock congregation decided to separate themselves from their mother church.22 As the congregation grew, Birt personally purchased the vacant Wesleyan chapel in Morice Square to form a second congregation.23 In June 1798, the Plymouth Dock congregations welcomed William Steadman (1764-1837) to assist Birt.24 Like the Pig Market congregation, Pembroke Street and Morice Square were considered as one church under the co-pastorate of Birt and Steadman.