First Christian Heritage National Conference Retford 11 th March 2016

Where am I?

The origins of Retford Baptist Church

In 1872 a new church building was opened.

…and now another! Plus the well……..

Retford: central to a small part of England that has changed the world through Christ That’s why we call it….the land of Pilgrims and Prophets Christians have been here since at least 627 AD In the 1300s local monks produced great spiritual works that are still being read today Thomas Cranmer, founder of the English Reformation, was born locally The cutting edge of radical puritan Christianity The founders of the English Baptist Church all born locally The first Englishmen to argue for full religious freedom The ‘Mayflower Pilgrims’ came from this area and led to the foundation of the Congregational churches The first spirit-filled Quaker congregations The home and heart of Wesley’s ministry Founders of the Baptist Missionary Society and Church M’y Soc. The origins of the Salvation Army

A small part of England that has changed the world through Christ That’s why we call it….the land of Pilgrims and Prophets Retford: + early puritans + first Quaker martyr Epworth: + puritans and Baptists + home of Wesleys Askham: + founder of English Baptists and defender of religious liberty Notts monasteries: + authors of ‘The Cloud of Unknowing’ etc. Mansfield: + the first Quakers Worksop: + Protestant martyrs + American Baptists Babworth: + puritans and pilgrims Scrooby: + Pilgrim Fathers Aslockton: + birthplace of Cranmer Gainsbro’: + early separatists and Baptists Edwinstowe: + burial of St Edwin the first Christian king in the North Glentworth: + significant puritan centre Sturton: + early puritans and Baptists + John Smyth, John Robinson and the Pilgrim Fathers

Rediscovering local heroes and heroines: John Lassells, 1546 Queen Catherine Parr

Sturton le Steeple: two great theologians in one generation….why? Influences? Lascelles? John Quippe Cambridge University John Smyth Lincoln Clifton Gainsbro’ 1606 Thomas Helwys Hugh Bromhead John Murton Sir William Wray Isobel Wray Sir Wm Hickman Sir Gervase Helwys John Robinson Norwich Richard Clyfton Ex-Babworth William Brewster William Bradford Bridget White Catherine White/John Carver Sturton le Steeple

The ‘Separatist Summit’: Coventry 1606 Hosted by a Lincolnshire woman Attended by leaders like Richard Clyfton, John Smyth, Richard Bernard and Thomas Helwys from North Notts According to John Cotton, it was Smyth who led the move towards ‘separation’ and by 1607 convinced Clyfton to follow him Smyth and Clyfton formed congregations at Gainsborough and Scrooby 1607 – John Smyth was in the Netherlands 1608 – Helwys paid for most of the others to go too; Robinson soon took over the Scrooby group 1612 – Helwys returned to England 1620 – members of Robinson’s congregation left for America

So the impact of the North Notts/West Lincs separatists was widespread: Congregationalists: developed in England and America from 1620 Baptists: Thomas Helwys returned to England, 1612 A further ‘wave’ of Lincolnshire radicals arrived from 1630….causing chaos!

George Fox ( ) Without honour in his own land: James Parnell

John Wesley

John Hunt ( ): Fiji

The challenges for us: We don’t have any single focal point or visitor centre There was not really a ‘story’ that engaged people Our strength is the wide range of different groups and individuals, not a single famous person It was assumed the ‘Mayflower Pilgrims’ were the focus – but they mean little to local people and many Americans also know little We want to: Use Christian heritage to increase our community’s pride in itself Teach Christians, many of whom may be ‘first generation’, about their own heritage Use history to explain the Gospel to people who know little about it Build links with Christians in other nations or areas Bring economic benefit into our area, which has little tourism Have some fun

Main focus on Bassetlaw, Notts, Lincs, S Yorkshire Building local community links Engaging individual churches and church bodies with exhibitions, oral history etc Engaging local business community Supporting an HLF bid project Organising ‘special events’ Range planned to cover all of Lincs and Notts Developing tour routes and guides Organising ‘local’ tours Liaising with tour operators and organisers from elsewhere Developing school resources Publications So we have set up…….

Retford: where the idea of religious liberty was first set out…. The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 18. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance. ‘For our Lord the king is but an earthly king, and he has no authority as a king but in earthly causes….Men’s religion to God is between God and themselves…..Let them be heretics, Turks (Muslims), Jews, or whatsoever, it appertains not to the earthly power to punish them in the least measure.’ Thomas Helwys of Askham, c.1612 ‘For our Lord the king is but an earthly king, and he has no authority as a king but in earthly causes….Men’s religion to God is between God and themselves…..Let them be heretics, Turks (Muslims), Jews, or whatsoever, it appertains not to the earthly power to punish them in the least measure.’ Thomas Helwys of Askham, c.1612 “The magistrate is not by virtue of his office to meddle with religion, or matters of conscience, to force or compel men to this or that form of religion, or doctrine.” John Smyth of Sturton-le-Steeple, c To the King: ‘It is not in your power to compel the heart; you may compel men to be hypocrites, as a great many are, who are false- hearted towards God and the state, which is sin both in you and them.’ John Murton of Gainsborough, c.1620 To the King: ‘It is not in your power to compel the heart; you may compel men to be hypocrites, as a great many are, who are false- hearted towards God and the state, which is sin both in you and them.’ John Murton of Gainsborough, c.1620 Then……… ….and now?

And we haven’t even mentioned: