The Life And Ministry Of Richard Marsh
Gospel Standard 1882:
Death. On May 6th, 1882, Richard Marsh, of Hindley, near Wigan.
This dear, aged servant of the Lord was well known and highly regarded amongst the Strict Baptist churches in Lancashire and Cheshire.
When God the Spirit first met with him he was, like all of us by nature, wholly taken up with the things of time and sense. He was one of the bell-ringers at the parish church of his native place, Tyldesley, near Manchester, and also a member of a club of hand-bell ringers, to which carnal amusement he was very much attached. However, when the Lord began the work of grace with power in his soul, he was constrained at once to relinquish those so-called pleasures, and to seek for a shelter from the consuming wrath of divine vengeance. So noticeable was the change in his life and conversation that only a few months after the work began his old companions asked his wife what was the matter with her husband. She replied that she could not tell, but should shortly begin to think there was a reality in religion.
The good work commenced at the end of 1830, or beginning of 1831. Mr. Marsh and his sister, being orphans, had been brought up by their grandfather. About the time stated this relative died; and on his death-bed made some solemn remark to his grandson about the careless and sinful life he was leading. These words were impressed on the mind of the latter by the Holy Spirit, and made the means of leading him into a knowledge of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He then, seeing the need of repentance toward God and newness of life, and thinking to satisfy the demands of the law by his own supposed good doings, attended for a short period the services at his parish church. The food offered to him there was not, however, of that nature which could satisfy the cravings of a soul under the teachings of the Spirit; and he, therefore, in anxious search for spiritual sustenance, began to attend Lady Huntington’s chapel at Tyldesley. In course of time he was led to hear Mr. Hewlett, a curate in the Church of England at Astley. Here he became a member, and remained about four years, until Mr. Hewlett left the place. A large number of the congregation then separated from the church, and met for worship in a room under the ministry of the subject of this account, and another brother. These two addressed the people alternately, until 1840, when Mr. Hewlett returned to Astley, and the room was given up. Mr. Marsh then went about to supply at various places without distinction of sect; and being a man who had experienced many spiritual conflicts and temporal privations, his preaching was generally acceptable to the tried family of God.
One incident related by himself will show his simplicity and godly sincerity. Shortly after he commenced to preach, he thought he would give the people a better address than they had ever heard. He therefore borrowed two dictionaries, and picked out as many fine words as possible to help him along. On the Lord’s day morning he went to the room primed for the occasion, and priding himself beforehand on the sermon he was to deliver. He gave out his text and entered on his discourse without difficulty. His introduction was well approved; but when he began to open up his text the Lord quite shut his mouth, and he could not utter a single word. So, after looking for a short time at the congregation and they at him, he said, “Friends, I cannot go on. I have been stealing, and the Lord has found me out; but if he will forgive me, I will never do it again.”
After several years he married a second time, and became more closely connected with the Strict Baptists, to whom he ultimately united himself in church membership. He continued to supply for several of their churches, until the Lord called him home.
For several years past his aged and frail body has been at times brought very low; and on more than one occasion he and his friends have expected his dissolution. Those who saw him at such times can testify that he always spoke earnestly and comfortably of his desire to depart, and be with Jesus. The Lord, however, saw fit to raise him up, time after time, and to enable him to speak to the exhortation, edification, and comfort of his people.
He was very unwell during the last winter, but again appeared to be improving as the spring returned. He spoke twice, with comfort to himself and a blessing to his hearers, at Hindley, on Lord’s day, April 16th. In the evening he complained of feeling greatly fatigued, and from that time gradually and peacefully sank; until he yielded up his spirit into the hand of his Lord and Friend on May 6th. A short time before his death he said, “Give my kindest love to the friends, and tell them I am on the Rock, and that all hell cannot remove me off it.” His last words were, “There is no bridge over this river; but I feel a good foothold, and shall get safely through.”
Richard Marsh (?-1882) was a Strict and Particular Baptist preacher. He first came under the gospel ministry of Alfred Hewlett, during which time he began to preach. He eventually attached himself to the Strict Baptists, continuing to serve as an itinerate preacher, unbound by sects or denominations.
