200 years of the gospel at Grove Chapel
Paul Yeulett
2019 marks the bicentenary of Grove Chapel, Camberwell, south London, an historic, independent and non-conformist congregation in which the gospel has been faithfully preached throughout its history.
It all began with the conversion of a young man from Hertfordshire called Joseph Irons (1785-1852), who very soon experienced a desire to preach Christ and, through a remarkable series of providential events, found himself preaching at Camden Chapel in Camberwell, a mile or so from the present site of Grove Chapel. After being rejected by those in charge of the church for preaching God’s sovereign grace and faith in Christ alone, a breakaway group called Irons as pastor of a new church, in a new building.
Dr Enid Parker 1920 – 2016
Paul Yeulett
On 8 April 2016, Dr Enid Parker, known
as ‘Asamolta’ or the ‘Red Lioness’ to the
Afar people of East Africa, went to be with
the Lord she served for so long.
By the time she was born in Edenfield in
Lancashire in 1920, her father’s health had
been ruined by the Great War; he died when
Enid was only seven. Her mother was unable
to care for Enid and her two brothers, who
were all cared for by relatives.
Words are becoming cheapened and debased
“When words are many,” wrote Solomon – while his wisdom remained with him – “transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent” (Prov.10v19). It is a lesson that is especially timely right now.
We have never seen such a proliferation of words as we do today, due largely to the digital communication revolution. The inevitable result is that words become cheapened and debased. In the same way as a cash-strapped government discovers that mass money-printing leads to inflation, so it is with the reckless (mis)use of words. The more people talk – or text, or tweet, or emote, or sound off – the less they truly say. The purchasing power of their words is shrunk.