From Memoirs of Ministers
Click to return to the main tree
27. Woollacott, Christopher was born on the 15th September 1789. From his infancy he was blessed with the bright example and earnest prayers of a Christian mother to whose influence, under Divine blessing, his early decision for God may be traced. The immediate occasion of his conversion was the illness of his only brother, who was dying of consumption, and for whom, as he was often heard to say, his first real prayer was offered. This solicitude led him to feel his own deed of a Saviour, and about the same time the two youths entered, through faith in Christ, into the enjoyment of Gospel peace. Shortly after his conversion Mr Woollacott was baptised, and united to the church at Pembrook-street, Plymouth Dock, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Mr Gray, formally of Northampton. His gifts as a speaker very soon attracted the attention of the minister and the church, by whom he was encouraged to devote himself to the ministry of the Word. His preparatory studies were carried on under the superintendence of the Rev. Isaiah Birt, then pastor of the sister church at Plymouth, by whose assistance and council he greatly profited, and his gifts as a Christian teacher were rapidly developed. At one time the connection between himself and Mr Birt seemed likely to become permanent. On the removal of the latter to Birmingham it was arranged that Mr Woollacott should accompany him as his assistant minister; but Providence has otherwise ordained. Shortly before the time at which they were to leave Plymouth, the Baptist church at Modbury in Devonshire to which he had preached several times with great acceptance, unanimously invited him to become its pastor. This invitation he saw his duty to accept. The ten years of his ministry there appear to have been greatly blessed. Although the population was small, the chapel had to be twice enlarged, and the little church increased, until from sixteen it numbered seventy members. Financial and family matters, however, rendered a change necessary, and he accordingly preached with a view to the pastorate at various churches, from all of which he received cordial and unanimous invitations. After devout prayer and consultation with friends on whose judgement he could rely, he decided to accept the invitation from the church at Westminster, and on October 5th 1823, he entered on his pastoral labours there. His connection with the church continued for about ten years, and his labours were attended with much success, nearly 200 members having been received into fellowship during that time, amongst whom were his eldest son, now deacon and founder of the Baptist church at Maldon and his eldest daughter, now Lady Lush, one of the most useful members of the church at Regents Park. A new chapel, larger than the one he first occupied, was erected during his ministry. In this he hoped he might be permitted to labour to the end and sometimes said, “I shall die in my nest”. Circumstances, however, which led him to leave, accompanied by a number of his friends, and to accept the pastorate of the church at Little Wild-street, Lincoln’s-inn-fields. There as at Modbury, the church there had been reduced to the lowest ebb. It had been without a pastor for seven years and the congregation seldom numbered more than ten persons. He and his friends did their best to revive the cause, and their efforts were attended with pleasing indications of success. His first sermon, preached on January 1st, 1834, was from the text: “I determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified;” and for the thirty years of his ministry there, the resolution therein expressed was constantly maintained. Many were added to the church, of whom not a few have gone before to glory, whilst others remain to tread in his steps. In the winter of 1862 his beloved wife to whom he had been united for fifty-four years was prostrated by an attack of paralysis, from which she never fully recovered. Up to this time, she had been the true pastor’s wife, rendering him in various ways valuable assistance. The loss of this he greatly felt and as his own health was beginning to fail, he, with the advice of his son-in law and daughter, Sir Robert and Lady Lush and other members of the family, was led to announce his intention of retiring at the end of 1863, when he would have completed his fifty years ministry as a Christian pastor, after which he would only preach occasionally as his health might permit. A valedictory service was held on the 1st January, 1864, in which the Revs. W. Brock, P. Dickerson, W. Landels, E. Wells,, P.W. Williamson, S. Wills, D.D. and G. Wyard took part, and bore testimony to the respect with which they regarded their venerated friend. After this he preached occasionally for some years. Lately, however, he has been incapacitated for all ministerial work, and, practically dead to the world, has been quietly and patiently waiting for the final change. Mr Woollacott’s labours were not confined to the pastorate. He published in an interesting little volume, now out of print, a history of the church at little Wild-street from 1690 to 1858, with biographical notices of its pastors. For many years he was the honoured and indefatigable secretary of the Baptist Tract society, whose interests he laboured hard to promote, and not a few of its best tracts were from his pen. He was the author of no less than twenty-two of these, all of which were characterised by that clear, concise style and useful tendency which secured for them a very general acceptance. The affection of a large number of descendants surrounded him to the last; and, when at length death came, it fell on him as gently as sleep on a wearied child. Quietly, without a struggle, and with out a pang, he passed away and “was not, for God took him,” on January 2nd, 1879, and in the ninetieth year of his age. He was interred, amid many tokens of love an respect, in the family grave of his son-in-law, Sir Robert Lush at Kensal-green cemetery.
