The year 1882 must have been a momentous one in the life of young J Sylvester Poulton - not only did he marry that year but, more importantly, he finally decided definitely to begin training for the pastoral ministry. In February he led an evangelistic meeting here in Childs Hill. By August he had given up his career - and was ready to commence studying at C H Spurgeon’s famous ‘Pastors College’. By this time Spurgeon was at the height of his popularity and was the president of the college. Mr Poulton is quoted as saying that Spurgeon’s personality ‘Has left a lasting impression for good upon my life’.
Following his college course Mr Poulton’s first pastorate was in Winslow, Buckinghamshire. He was there for five years. He was then called to Cote, near Aston, in Oxfordshire. There he had charge of some six chapels - aided by as many as 27 local preachers. The work involved a great deal of travel (on horse back) but Mr Poulton loved the work. ‘I had the privilege of preaching regularly seven times a week to the same congregations’ he writes. ‘So happy and useful did my ministry at Coate seem that I did not think any church would have drawn me away but Childs Hill.’
Mr Poulton had preached in Childs Hill several times since his first visit in 1832. When Mr Rickard retired in 1894 it is not surprising that, with their old pastor’s prompting, the congregation asked Mr Poulton to be their pastor. Mr Rickard preached his farewell sermon on September 23rd. No time was lost in calling his successor and by December 9th of that same year Mr Poulton had commenced his 35 years of ministry in this area.
Following his college course Mr Poulton’s first pastorate was in Winslow, Buckinghamshire. He was there for five years. He was then called to Cote, near Aston, in Oxfordshire. There he had charge of some six chapels - aided by as many as 27 local preachers. The work involved a great deal of travel (on horse back) but Mr Poulton loved the work. ‘I had the privilege of preaching regularly seven times a week to the same congregations’ he writes. ‘So happy and useful did my ministry at Coate seem that I did not think any church would have drawn me away but Childs Hill.’
Mr Poulton had preached in Childs Hill several times since his first visit in 1832. When Mr Rickard retired in 1894 it is not surprising that, with their old pastor’s prompting, the congregation asked Mr Poulton to be their pastor. Mr Rickard preached his farewell sermon on September 23rd. No time was lost in calling his successor and by December 9th of that same year Mr Poulton had commenced his 35 years of ministry in this area.
