The Gospel Standard

A High-Calvinist Magazine “The Gospel Standard; Or Feeble Christian’s Support” started in 1835 by a printer named John Gadsby (1808-1893). This was the son of William Gadsby (1773-1844), whose aim it was to support and promote the gospel labours of his father. Referring to the origin of the magazine, John wrote: "I suggested to my father that we ought to have a magazine of our own. He was quite startled, and said, 'Jack!' (he mostly called me Jack), ‘you cannot afford it. You will lose money by it.' “‘I quite expect so,’ I replied, ‘but that is of no consequence for the Lord has given me a good business, as you know. We ought to have a magazine.' “He took time prayerfully to consider, and then said, ‘Well, if you begin, I will try and help you, and I hope our labours will not be in vain.' “Now, without his help, I could not have commenced. He, therefore, was the founder. I was only the originator.” William and John were the first editors, followed by others among which were John M’Kenzie (?-1849), Joseph Philpot (1802-1869), Grey Hazlerigg (1818-1912), Charles Hemington (1830-1904), Joseph Hatton (1821-1884), James Dennett (1828-1900), James Popham (1847-1937), John Gosden (1882-1964) and Benjamin Ramsbottom (1929–2023). In 1878, the Gospel Standard Aid and Poor Relief Societies acquired ownership of the magazine, the trustees of these organizations referred to as the Gospel Standard Committee. A Directory was also included, whose “ministers and churches have signified their adherence to the fundamental enrolled Articles of Faith of the Gospel Standard Societies. This embodies separation from all Strict Baptists who do not hold as essential these Articles, and it is expected that the solemn subscription and its implications will be honoured by all whose names appear, by loyalty to our distinctive position as a body of Churches.”