OB Research

I am a complete amateur when it comes to "computing," but I need a website/ forum as I am unable to access information from any of my known contemporaries.
I have it in mind to research the meetings of "Brethren commonly so called," especially those  with whom I have had personal association over a period of 40 years or more.
If there is anyone "out there" who may be able to furnish any information, I would love to hear from you. History or comment of any "hue", it does not matter if it is hostile!

 

Tyntesfield Wraxall

As late as 1959 there was a Brethren Assembly at Tyntesfield, Wraxall in Somerset. The address was Tyntesfield Park Chapel and appears to have been situated within the grounds of what is now a National Trust property. Their website gives no indication of any such meeting. If anyone has information regarding the gathering there please would you let me know.

Tyntesfield Visit

Tyntesfield Visit 

I have managed to trace some information on the Tyntesfield meeting. An article in "Precious Seed," a magazine devoted to Assembly principles, dated 1951, reports of an Assembly formed there in December 1950, with just 4 in fellowship. The location is reported to be an old U.S.A. Hospital Camp "near Bristol." It further speaks of an estate comprising 160 families.
A gospel campaign was held there in 1951 and 5 adults were said to have "professed faith in Christ as Saviour."
We visited Tyntesfield today (18/09/2006) before we had this information to hand, without any success.
Please if there is anyone "out there" with more information, let me know, I would be extremely grateful.

Bristol & District Assemblies

Bristol and District Assemblies
In 1959 (the earliest listing I have,) 25 Assemblies in the Bristol district were recorded. All shared a considerable uniformity in belief and practice. In the current "Assemblies Address Book," sixth edition 2006, 17 are listed, a significant decrease numerically, especially when the smallness of many of the gatherings is taken into account. Much more disturbing is the loss of the distinctive testimony once borne almost universally in the meetings. Coupled with closures due to "splits" within local Assemblies, some which could have and should have been avoided. Since 1969, or there abouts, I have seen the closure of at least 10 gatherings in Bristol. (If the mathematics do not add up it is because other meetings were commenced in that period.)
But to return to the "loss" suffered by the Lords' people in th Assemblies, not to speak of the loss to the Lord Jesus Himself.
Within the current list there are meetings that would never have been included in the (even relatively recent) past. They are being referred to as "progressive," whatever the nature of their defection from the truth they once held, or in some cases have never held. Many are "charasmatic" in character; many allow sisters to participate audibly in the gatherings; music, drama, even dance is a part of their "worship;" pastors are appointed; arbitrary decisions are made by "leaders" without any referece to the whole Assembly, or else determined by a democratic voting system; Many and various organisations, committees, etc. are set up; a hymn book of the lowest standard is used in almost every meeting; familiarity and flippancy, even in addressing our God, is quite commonplace; the use of modern translations of the Scriptures is now widely accepted; the buildings used for convenience in gathering are now frequently referred to as "chapels," or "evangelical churches," or something similar, with a view to disowning any connection with the past testimony!
This might appear to be merely a tirade born of frustration, (I am frustrated, I admit), but I just hope there are other brethren and sisters in this area who are as concerned as I am, and will pray with me for the intervention of the Saviour in this sad declension and departure from the truth. Please forgive the absence of references to Scripture, but this is just a "feeler" to see if anyone shares my distress.
If you would like to check on things I have said, suffice it to say, much of it is first hand knowledge, and some is readily found in local literature and on websites often "belonging"to a particular meeting.

Closures

Assembly CLOSURES 

Two more meetings have now closed permanently. In Cardiff the Assembly at North Clive Street, a meeting where I have been priveleged to preach and teach over a period of more than a decade, finally succombed to fewness of numbers, ill health and advancing years.With the closure of the Assembly at Cadoxton in Barry, South Wales, there is no longer any Assembly testimony in that town, the only other meeting closed some years ago.The saints from both meetings have gone hither and thither and these are sad days. If we are grieved, how much more is the heart of the Saviour.Denominational "churches" appear to be thriving and new "meetings" spring up almost daily. Any information that is made available as to how they meet, invariably proves to illustrate just how far they are removed from "the faith once for all delivered to the saints."

Declension

DECLENSION
My recent information in regard to local Assemblies in the West of England and South Wales only serves to prove the sad demise of our collective testimony. There are more and more closures, and few if any, newly-formed gatherings.
Declension is the result of a turning away from first principles. The character of many meetings may be judged by what has become acceptable without recourse to "what saith the Lord."
A significant "aid" to brethren and sisters seeking to find a company of believers cleaving to the Lord and the word of His grace, (through removal or other circumstances; e.g. recently born anew, holiday.) is the "Assemblies in Britain" address book. Earlier publications of this book omitted companies who tolerated false doctrine or fundamental error. This is apparently no longer the case. Companies who have no history of adherence to New Testament church principles are included. Meetings to which any believer with a modicom of light would never venture near. Yet they are listed as if conforming to the pattern we attempt to imitate.
Some of the practices I have evidence of include clerisy, the sisters taking an audible part, speaking in tongues, many other "charasmatic" features and any amount of musical accompaniment at all the meetings, even the "Breaking of Bread" when this is (infrequently) held. Part of our difficulty stems from the acceptance of a "denominational" hymnbook, foisted upon many assemblies no doubt. The hymns included are often vain repetition, simplistic to a fault, using familiar language when addressing Persons of the Godhead, even addressing the Holy Spirit in contradiction to the Word of God. Many of the "hymns" could not be sung without accompanyment, rendering them useless under certain circumstances. Among the contributors we have the inclusion of Roman Catholics, and indeed they are happy to use the hymnbook in question, itself a sad commentary on the books' reception among the assemblies of Gods' people. A further sad observation in regard to this danger is the fact that a lot of doctrine imbibed by simple believers is based upon hymnology! In conclusion let us beware of taking for granted the pristine nature of any meeting listed in the "address book" and where possible use an alternative hymnbook. (A number of gatherings still allow visiting speakers to choose the hymnbook used prior to the introduction of "M.P.")

Bible Versions

BIBLE VERSIONS
Only just a few moments ago I discovered what the initials "E.S.V." actually stand for in connection with a "translation", (I use this word loosely,) of the Bible. Apparently it is the "English Standard Version," said to be "adapted from the R.S.V"or "A revision of the 1971 edition of the R.S.V." A cursory glance "on-line" was sufficient to see that it is as awful a corruption of the Word of God as its predecessor. No doubt it will gain the same popularity and do as much damage to souls as the R.S.V.
While on the subject of new translations of the Scriptures, what is the point of the "NEW K.J.V., and why have so many "brethren" resorted to it? In some of the magazines purportedly Assembly-based numerous references are cited from it. Continuing in that line of thought, why is it when quotations, footnotes, bibliographies, etc. appear in the magazine articles there are very few, (and in most cases none at all,) from "brethren" writings? Is our precious literary heritage no longer valued?

Brethren Works

BRETHREN WORKS
For some reason unbeknown to me the prices of  Brethren books have escalated to dizzying heights. Some years ago I sold a significant number of Brethren titles. A little while ago, grieved by such stupidity, I ventured to purchase as many titles as possible. Many of the books are nigh impossible to find, and many more fetch astronomical prices. Buying from the U.S. is beyond the "purse" of the vast majority (I suspect) especially with soaring postal charges; despite the relative weakness of the dollar.
Does anyone know the reason, or at least have an informed opinion, as to why these "works" have become so desirable and expensive? There appears to be so much hostility directed at the "Brethren, commonly so called," with many of the distinctive features of "our" way of gathering being derided. Brethren of earlier centuries (19th & 20th) are spoken of contemptuously, along with their distinctive teaching. "Dispensationalism"and "The Rapture" are particular subjects of ridicule. So, why do these books command such prices? I must admit to be completely baffled. Is it possible that there is a "remnant testimony" and each and all of us are unaware of one another? How precious that would be!!