Kensworth

Summary

This cause began in the 1650s and in its early days had groups of members not only in Bedfordshire but also in north Hertfordshire. Among churches springing from the Kensworth one are those at Park Street, Luton, Beds., and at Dagnall Street, St. Albans, Herts. The first (surviving) Church Book of Kensworth is in St. Albans Public Library, but the photographic copy in the possession of the St. Albans church was used for the transcript. Copies of the transcript are also with the St. Albans church, with St. Albans Public Library and with the County Record Office, Bedford.

For other information on the Kensworth church and its offshoots, see W. Urwick, Nonconformity in Hertfordshire, 1884; C. E. Freeman, ‘A Luton Baptist Minute Book 1707-1806’, B.H.R.S. xxv; W. T. Whitley, ‘Edward Harrison of Petty France’, Baptist Quarterly vii, No. 5, January 1935. E. A. Payne, The Baptists of Berkshire 1951 (pp. 147-9) prints the minutes of three area meetings of Baptist church messengers in 1652 and 1653. At the meetings at Wormsley on the 3rd of the 9th month 1652 and at Tetsworth on the 17th of the first month 1652/53 messengers of the Bedfordshire Baptist causes at Kensworth and Eversholt were present, as well as messengers from Berkshire and Oxfordshire causes.

The names of the prospective members of the baptized congregation of the church of Kinsworth, taken the 9 day of July 1675, and regestered upon the 22 day of March 1675 by mee Hugh Smyth, Wheathamstead, Heartfordshire.

St. Albans

Brother Haward, elected elder; Sister Haward; Brother Gurney; Sister Gurney; Sister Hart; Sister Archer; Brother Dearmer, elected deacon; Brother Wyatt; Brother Hale; Sister Davy; Sister Impy; Sister Cocking; Sister Guile removed from Eversall; Brother Gould aded Sept. 1676; Sister Gould aded Sept. 1676; Sister Gregory removed from Pety France; Brother Spuford aded 1678; Brother Sleep added 1678; Brother Gould, senior; Sister Sleep; Sister Gould; Brother Sleep, senior; Sister Sleep, senior, from Helmstead; Brother Alsward, 1690; Sister Alsward, 1690; Brother Fr. Sleep, junior, aded 1693; Sister Joyner, aded 1693.

Mims and Ridge

Brother Buckingham, Sister Buckingham, gon to the freewillers; Brother Ham; Sister Ham; Brother Collis; Sister Collis; Brother How; Brother Emerton; Sister Emerton; Brother Page; Sister Page; Brother Jerom; Sister Jerom, fell away; Brother Woodyer, added April 9, 1676; Brother Ellis, aded Ma.