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South Molton Gospel Hall
'An Open Brethren
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Missions to Spain, Portugal & Ireland Although Robert Chapman labored for the Lord in a small town in rural England, his view of the Lord's interest extended far beyond the borders of England.
Both countries were strongholds of corrupt Roman Catholicism. Evangelicals were persecuted. Chapman was burdened for these countries and studied their languages until he was fluent. He took several walking trips through these countries carrying smuggled Bibles and engaging individuals in conversation with a view to the gospel. Later he lead several families to migrate from England to Spain for the gospel and returned to strengthen and encourage them.
1848 Chapman, then age 45, took three months to walk through Ireland visiting the assemblies and preaching thegospel.
Elizabeth ("Bessie") Paget Miss Bessie Paget met with believers meeting outside the established Church of England. She had a profound influence on Anthony Norris Groves and George Mueller, as well as Robert Chapman. In the 1820's Elizabeth Paget raised up a church in the village of Poltimore. By the 1830's she moved to Barnstaple, residing at #9 New Buildings St. There she opened her home and lead the Sunday School work. Bessie also set up a soup kitchen for the poor at her home. Bessie Paget was Chapman's constant helper until she passed away in 1863 aged 80. In life sister Paget and Robert Chapman were co-laborers in the Lord's service; in death they shared the same funeral plot and gravestone.
George Mueller had a close companion in his labor- Henry Craik. The Lord also provided a yoke-fellow for Robert Chapman. William Hake was 7 years older than Chapman and had a large family. Chapman was single. However, as Chapman wrote, "Our hearts were presently knit together in the fellowship of the Spirit ... Each found in the other a lover of the Scriptures, and bent upon obedience to the Lord without reserve." Hake had a quick temper "but God's grace is all sufficing to subdue what it forgives." For many years the Hake family resided in Exeter (40 miles away in S Devon.) In the 1840's Hake moved to Bideford, only 10 miles from Barnstaple. When Bessie Paget died, the Hakes moved into #9 New Buildings St. They added a large dining room on the rear which became the regular location of a Thursday evening District meeting. Because of the large number, believers from various districts met by rotation for Bible study and fellowship. Hake and Chapman systematically visited the homes of Barnstaple, beginning at the southern edge and working their way to the north side, distributing gospel tracts and visiting homes. William Hake continued his visitation ministry until he was 95. The towns-people referred to the two elderly brothers as "the patriarchs". They must have presented a striking scene - two white-haired brothers: William Hake, tall and slim; Robert Chapman, shorter and stocky, visiting the homes from door to door to share the gospel and minister Christ! William Hake died peacefully in 1890 at the age of 95. Robert Chapman was greatly grieved by his coworkers death. He wrote: "Though so sorely bereaved, I am strengthened and guided to carry on the service in which I once had my beloved yoke-fellow to bear burdens with me. 'The night is far spent, the day is at hand." He edited a volume of Hake's letters and writings entitled: Seventy Years of Pilgrimage. Robert Gribble Robert Gribble was born into a poor family and received a minimal education. He supported his family through a drapery (cloth) business. He was awakened spiritually about 1815 and began settling up Sunday Schools in villages around Barnstaple. After one year about 300 children were attending. Parents asked Gribble to speak to adults on Sunday evenings. His ability increased and several house churches or cottage meetings were raised up through his preaching. Robert Gribble's strategy of gospel labor was to stay in a village for a period of time, preaching the gospel and raising up the new believers, typically 20 to 100 and then moved on. John Nelson Darby remarked to Wigram concerning Gribble: "How is it Wigram, that although you and I preach the gospel more clearly than many, we see so few results, yet they tell us, that in N. Devon, this Mr. Gribble in his meetings, only repeats a few Gospel texts and makes a few simple remarks, and souls are saved and assemblies formed." (Rowdon, p. 252-3)
In 1852 when 20-year old James Hudson Taylor was burdened for China, he eagerly sought the advice of Robert Chapman. Later Chapman encouraged him to start the China Inland Mission and became one of its first "referees"- supporters and advisors. Hudson Taylor visited Chapman several times in Barnstaple. One invitation reads : "My dear brother Taylor. Consider our claim on you. We desire to fellowship with you in your work. Oh! Come and speak to us your brethren here. Say when you can come. " (Peterson, p. 159) To a sister about to visit China Chapman wrote: "I cannot but rejoice with you in your resolve to see fellow-laborers in China. They all, with dear Brother Hudson Taylor, have been ever in my heart at the throne of grace." He interceded daily for that work in China until the end of his life.
One writer says: Chapman "was one of George Mueller's
oldest and most intimate friends. More than once, in critical
periods of this work [among orphans], Mr. Mueller sought and
obtained his valuable counsel." (Peterson, p. 163) George Mueller's
published diary masks the identity of individuals. However, it is
likely that Chapman is Brother 'C----n' who spent more than 2 months
at Bristol in late 1835 (Rowdon p. 146) |
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