History of UBC – Walter Davies
The Church approached no less than six individuals in the years 1884-1885 for the position of Minister but the question of an uncertain stipend remained an issue. Finally, Walter Davies of Llangollen Theological College accepted the pastorate in 1885. Mr Davies was not to enjoy a happy time at Upton. There was a time when he was threatened with prosecution over an alleged false declaration for a vote but the eventual outcome is not recorded.
Having weathered this storm, Mr Davies was not to remain long at Upton. The minutes of 28 th September 1887 record ‘The Pastor having pointed out the want of sympathy with him in his work which had for some time prevailed among some members of the Church…’ and he also considered the Church had also not fulfilled their contract regarding his stipend, although this is probably not true because the Church never had been able to offer a definite stipend.
This unhappy period did not end when Mr Davies left because in July 1889 it was discovered that the Minister’s baptismal gown was missing. Correspondence followed and Mr Davies obviously considered the gown was made for him and not for the Church and further correspondence followed expressing strong views on both sides. In his book, Rev Colin Rogers uses this example to illustrate two points.
1. The truth of the Apostle Paul’s words, ‘We have this treasure in earthen vessels.’ (2 Corinthians 4.7). We are all very ordinary people, with our human faults and failings.
2. That people record what they consider to be important at the time. We know that at the time this dispute about the missing Baptismal Gown was taking place, Upton Baptist Church was in the process of sending out to China a missionary, who was later to die in the Boxer uprising, but there is not a word of this recorded in the minute book!
To be continued…