THIS STONE Is erected in Memory of THOMAS, THE SON OF THOMAS AND MARY KNIBB, OF THIS TOWN. HE WAS BORN AT KETTERING, OCTOBER 11TH, 1799, AND DIED AT KINGSTON, JAMAICA, APRIL 25TH, 1824- WHO RETURNED TO THIS COUNTRY WITH THEIR INFANT SON, AND DIED AT NORTHAMPTON, JANUARY 31ST, 1825. "He distant regions sought, with eager pains, THOMAS BURCHELL. THOMAS BURCHELL was born December 25, 1799, at Tetbury, in Gloucestershire, and at his ordination service he gave this account of his early life : "It was my happiness to possess pious parents, who ever cherished the most earnest solicitude for the spiritual as well as temporal interests of their children; and who never neglected any favourable opportunity of instilling into their minds the reverential fear of God, veneration for the Scriptures, and love to religion. From earliest infancy, I had a kind and affectionate mother, who watched with tenderest concern to improve every occasion of leading my mind to the Saviour, as the best and most beneficent of beings; and of impressing me with the conviction of the baneful and destructive nature of sin; that I was myself a sinner against the Most High, and that Christ alone could save me, and cleanse me from the pollutions of guilt by his blood." Being thus carefully trained in the fear of the Lord, he very early devoted himself to the service of Christ. In his eighteenth year he was baptized. (November, 1817) and admitted into the fellowship of the church at Shortwood. No sooner had he experienced the power of religion in his own soul, than he began to make known the Saviour of sinners to others. In one of his private walks, while reading the word of God, and meditating upon its contents, a gamekeeper from a thicket suddenly presented a loaded gun to his breast, mistaking him for a poacher; an explanation ensued, conversations followed, which led to the keeper's conversion. At another time in crossing a river in a boat on urgent business, he found that he was in company with a gang of smugglers, who, mistaking him for a custom-house officer, threatened to destroy him. Assuring them of their mistake, he faithfully warned them of the evil of their ways, which resulted in a most remarkable change in their conduct and mode of life, as he learnt on his first return to England from Jamaica. On the 29th December, 1818, he preached his first sermon at the village of Nympsfield. His mind had been some time exercised on missionary labours, even before he had himself personally felt the power of religion in his own soul. In his childhood, when his parents described the condition of the heathen, and what was being done for them, he felt his soul interested on their behalf. In his boyhood he listened with delight to Christians as they conversed on the efforts, success, and encouraging prospects of missionaries; and as he advanced in years, he anticipated with eagerness the arrival of the monthly periodicals relating to missions. regularly attended the monthly missionary prayer-meetings, and listened with delight to the address. He Thus the fire burned within him, until he could conceal the object of his desires no longer, and he therefore sought the advice of other Christians on the subject. By his pastor and friends he was recommended to the Baptist Missionary Society. He met the Committee on the 25th November, 1819, was accepted by them, and on the last day of the same month, entered Bristol College for preparatory study. He was ordained as a missionary to Jamaica on the 14th October, 1823, at Trowbridge, in Wiltshire. The Rev. T. S. Crisp addressed the assembly from Matt. xiii. 38, "The field is the world;" after which, he addressed the usual series of questions to the candidate for the ministerial office; the ordination prayer was offered by the Rev. J. Saffery, of Salisbury; the Rev. W. Winterbotham gave the charge, which was founded on Rom. x. 12-15. The audience were struck by the terms employed by the large-hearted Saffery, when, in the ordination prayer presented by him, he desired of God that "He would not withdraw his servant from the field of labour until he had been instrumental in the conversion of at least ten thousand souls." His ordination service produced a deep impression His biographer relates that a person being there, who was a stranger to vital godliness, he became converted to God, and left the communion in which he had been brought up, though only nominally connected with it, and with his family lived many years, maintaining a consistent and honourable course to the end of his days. Another witness said, years afterwards, that he never attended such a service; that at the time he felt confident that God was about to do a great work through Mr. Burchell as an instrument, that subsequently he had watched with intense interest his proceedings as they were recalled from time to time in the missionary world, and that he had found all his expectations realized. On the 17th November, 1823, Mr. and Mrs. Burchell embarked, and, after a stormy passage, arrived at Montego Bay, the 15th day of January, 1824. He entered upon his labours on January 25th, by preaching at Crooked Spring, from Luke ii. 10, “Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy." On the 1st day of July, having secured a house at Montego Bay, he preached two sermons, and on the 29th of the same month he formed a church consisting of twelve members. On the 6th day of June he baptized thirty-three persons, on a profession of their faith in Christ, in the Barnett River, where it discharges itself into the sea; the engagements, however, of this memorable day gave great offence to the white population, and occasioned great opposition. On the following morning he was summoned to appear before a bench of magistrates, where a long discussion took place, in which the magistrates evidently intended to overawe him, and prevent as much as possible the religious instruction of the slaves. On the following Monday he again had to appear at the court-house, where there were present from twenty to twenty-five magistrates on the bench, who endeavoured to throw him off his guard by their violent behaviour. But from all these snares he was mercifully delivered. On the 26th June he formed the church at Crooked Spring, not being able to do so at an earlier period, as he found much among those who professed a love to the Saviour of a discouraging nature. On the morning of that day sixty-four persons were baptized, the Lord's Supper was administered the same day; and the season was found exceedingly solemn and affecting. Mr. Burchell now found his labours increasing on every hand, and was anxious to form day and Sunday schools, but he was without help; he therefore urgently wrote to the secretary of the Baptist Missionary Society for aid. "Send at once," says he, "two more missionaries at least." This appeal, however, did not meet with a favourable response from the Committee. His health failed, he obtained temporary relief by a change on ship-board. Openings for mission work presented themselves on every hand, and an eligible offer of premises was made at Ridgeland in Westmoreland on the one side, and at Falmouth on the other side of the island. It however became absolutely necessary for Mr. Burchell's health that a voyage should be taken to England. Mr. and Mrs. Burchell, and their little boy, therefore arrived in England in the early part of June, 1826. He soon began to make known the state of Jamaica, her need of missionaries, and the openings which Providence was making; but although the state |