JOHN GILL'S GRAVE IN BUNHILL FIELDS
As some of you know, who have been to Bunhill Fields, London, that great campus sanctorum, it contains the grave of many Baptist, and other Nonconformist, worthies of the past: John Owen, John Bunyan, Isaac Watts, Susannah Wesley (a Nonconformist till her early teens, and the daughter of the great Samuel Annesley), John Rippon, etc.… A number of the graves are suffering the ravages of time typical of stone and mortar in an urban setting like London. Among the graves in the latter category is the table tomb of John Gill (1697-1771), the most prominent English Baptist of his day.
Jeff Straub, professor of Church History at Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Plymouth, Minneapolis, e-mailed me recently about the state of Gill’s grave and that the grave can no longer be easily identified. He rightly suggested seeking to do something about it. He has just written to an official in the City of London to see if a bronze marker with details about Gill can be possibly erected to mark the grave.
He and I hope that the cost of this project could be borne by raising funds among interested British and American Baptists who hold John Gill in high esteem. It is hoped to announce specifics at the large Baptist gathering next August in Charleston, South Carolina (see “Baptist History Celebration”, http://www.baptisthistorycelebration.org), where some 450 Baptists—both historians& history buffs—will gather to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the signing of the Philadelphia Confession. Those of you are interested in helping in this worthy commemoration, please make a note to check back here or at the “Baptist History Celebration” site then.
Jeff Straub, professor of Church History at Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Plymouth, Minneapolis, e-mailed me recently about the state of Gill’s grave and that the grave can no longer be easily identified. He rightly suggested seeking to do something about it. He has just written to an official in the City of London to see if a bronze marker with details about Gill can be possibly erected to mark the grave.
He and I hope that the cost of this project could be borne by raising funds among interested British and American Baptists who hold John Gill in high esteem. It is hoped to announce specifics at the large Baptist gathering next August in Charleston, South Carolina (see “Baptist History Celebration”, http://www.baptisthistorycelebration.org), where some 450 Baptists—both historians& history buffs—will gather to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the signing of the Philadelphia Confession. Those of you are interested in helping in this worthy commemoration, please make a note to check back here or at the “Baptist History Celebration” site then.
Dr. Haykin,
You and Jeff are right. There should be some historical marker for Gill's tomb. How will others who make their way to Bunhill Fields be able to mark the spot where one of our great Baptist fore-fathers was placed to rest until the resurrection. I commend you both and look forward to helping in some way.
Allen Mickle
Posted by
Allen R. Mickle, Jr. |
11:35 p.m.
Since Gill's tomb is in a railed-off area of Bunhill Fields, I have had to be shown to the tomb by a grounds-keeper on both occasions I have visited it.
I see that John Owen's tomb has been restored recently. Could we petition the authorities to do the same for Gill?
I am in fact torn between Gill (Baptist) and Thomas Goodwin (whose tomb has never been the same since it was struck by lightning).
Posted by
Highland Host |
3:13 a.m.
Highland Host:
Dr Straub is making enquiries of the city officials about Gill. I did not know about Goodwin's grave. I heartily agree about something being done for it as well.
Michael.
Posted by
Michael A G Haykin |
9:18 a.m.
One of the ground-keepers at Bunhill fields pointed out Goodwin's tomb to me and told me about the lightning strike.
Posted by
Highland Host |
5:37 a.m.