In 1937, a very large, very heavy bible was given to a woman who lived in Taree.
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According to her grandson, an evangelist named Mr Monteith would come by their Cundletown house regularly and noticing that the print in the grandmother's bible was very small, Mr Monteith brought her new one.
But it's no ordinary, run-of-the-mill bible, it's an inscripted antique version of The Comprehensive Bible first published in 1827 by Samuel Bagster in London.
The edition indicates it was printed in 1841 as a gift to a reverend in England.
"This bible is presented to the Rev. P. P. Agnew, by the church and congregation of the Independent Chapel, Brackley, a token of their respect for his piety, talents, and integrity," the inscription says.
It's dated December 1841. In Victorian Brackley, there would have been two chapels around the time this book gifted. One was most likely Methodist and the other Independent.
According the Project Gutenberg EBook of Memorials of the Independent Churches
in Northamptonshire by Thomas Coleman, Brackley chapel was built in 1836, at a cost of 650 pounds and was capable of seating about 300 people.
However, the congregation seemed to have a high turnover of preachers. In between the fully fledged pastors, many students of the Newport seminary were supplied to fill the spot. It's possible that P. P. Agnew was among these.
"Brackley is a small market town and ancient borough, near the south-west extremity of the Northampton county; it has, in former times, been a place of considerable importance," Coleman wrote. "In the early days of Methodism, John Wesley might have been seen sometimes, preaching to a rustic throng from the steps of the market-house. But the Independent Church in this place is of very recent date, and its history will therefore be comprised within a very small compass."
The Comprehensive Bible contains the old and new testaments, various readings and marginal notes, a general introduction, introductions and concluding remarks for each book, as well as philological and explanatory notes. It even covers off on sacred writings, ancient versions and coins, weights and units of measure.
Anne Keen
Anne has been a journalist with the ACM (Australia Community Media) since 2016. She primarily works at the Gloucester Advocate but also contributes to the Manning River Times.
Anne has been a journalist with the ACM (Australia Community Media) since 2016. She primarily works at the Gloucester Advocate but also contributes to the Manning River Times.
