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Rev Samuel Clark D D 1684 - 1750 A Much Loved Pastor

December 4th 2000 marks the 250th anniversary of the death of a notable and much loved pastor of this church.

Samuel Clark came from a long line of Puritan ministers. He was a distinguished Bible scholar and a caring pastor. His ordination in the Dagnall Lane Chapel (where we used to meet) in 1712 was attended by several notable 'dissenting' ministers of the day. The closing exhortation at the service was delivered by Matthew Henry, the famous Bible commentator.

Pastor Clark ran a weekly Bible class for young people, teaching scripture and practical Christian living. Following this he published a book of Scriptural Promises, a compilation of Bible texts assembled under 170 headings. This book remained popular well into the nineteenth century. Isaac Watts, the hymn writer, wrote an introduction in which he described Clark as 'The worthy author of this collection, whom I have long known and esteem and honour'. In about 1720 Samuel Clark founded one of the earliest charity schools for the children of Protestant Dissenters. It lasted for well over 100 years.

When the orphaned thirteen year old Philip Doddridge (and later hymn writer) arrived destitute in St Albans, Clark immediately took him on, treating him as a son, guiding his education and encouraging his call to the ministry. They remained lifelong friends. Doddridge preached at the funeral of his older friend remarking, "To him under God I owe even myself and all my opportunities of public usefulness in the church".

On Sunday December 2nd 1750 Samuel Clark conducted the Lord's Supper in the chapel and two days later was called into the presence of his Saviour.