Identification
- Title: A Help to the Unlearned in the Study of the Holy Scriptures: Being An Attempt to Explain the Bible in a Familiar Way. Adapted to common apprehensions, and According to the Opinions of Approved Commentators. Vol. II
- Author: Sarah Trimmer (1741 – 1810)
- Publisher: Gilbert & Rivington
- Place of Publication: London
- Year of Publication: 1832
- MSU Library Call Number: BS660..T75 1832
Description
The debossed leather cover of the book looks to be in a blotchy, depressed state. It’s beginning to peel back in the corners of the book. The portfolios are in their original binding and remarkable condition when considering the age of the book. Although the book feels fragile, it’s still relatively easy to traverse the pages of the book, albeit cautiously through certain portions. As we continue into the book’s contents, most pages are heavily stained with; I presume, oils from fingers. The title page is missing a piece of the page in the bottom right-hand corner. With the book closed, the pages look exceptionally discolored and as brown as the leather bound to the book.
This book intends to assist readers without formal biblical studies education in the late 18th century. Furthermore, the book aims to make studying the Holy Scriptures more accessible to a broader audience. The author provides commentary, explanations, and advice to readers to help them navigate and understand the puzzling complexities of the Bible. The goal is to empower individuals by engaging them with sacred text and promoting a deeper spiritual connection and understanding of religious teachings.
The book was written and published when Sarah thought society needed it most—the late 18th century marked the Enlightenment movement, which denoted reason and individualism. However, it also marked the time for religious revival and reform, with a growing interest in exploring the Bible and its teachings. Trimmer recognized that many people needed the education and resources to engage with the Holy Scriptures fully. Therefore, her work aimed to bridge the gap and provide a resource for the “unlearned.”
About the Author
Sarah Trimmer, an English writer, was not only an author but also an educational reformer and a devoted Christian. She’s known for her contributions to literature and education during the late 18th century. Moreover, she’s also known for her contributions to children’s literature, such as “The Guardian of Education,” a periodical published in 1802.
Inscriptions
The book only had three two things written within it. I believe the number of notes are so few because it’s seen a religious text, and it’s disrespectful to write and inscribe over holy words from the scriptures.
When you first open the book, we are met with the book plate. On the left-hand side, it looks like some sort of ownership agreement. Although, I’m unable to make out the top portion where it says “In the Parish of”. However, I was able to determine that it’s some sort of religious institution because “In Parish of,” means a local community church. It also says “In the Diocese of London,” which means the district under jurisdiction of a bishop of London.
There is a “3” on the top left-hand corner. The “3” is out of context; however, it could mean that it’s the 3rd book to be published or marking the order of the books to go on the shelf for someone’s personal collection. Another idea is that the 3 represents part of the postcode district, which is PR3, for the Parish of Chipping.
A handful of pages had a semi dog-eared pages in what seems to be accidental. This starts on page 397 and lasts for 20 or pages.
Oil stained pages, from what I presume to be from readers fingers as they produce oils. This can be found throughout the entire book.
Provenance
On the title page, bookplate, and embossed on the cover, there is evidence that the book was part of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK), which was founded in 1698 by Thomas Bray. For over 300 years, this charity organization has worked to increase the awareness of the Christian faith, initially in the UK but now worldwide. The organization is still active to this day.
Thomas Bray
Thomas Bray was an English clergyman and abolitionist who helped establish the Church of England in Maryland, the Society for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge, and the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. Bray was born in Marton, Shropshire, to a poverty-stricken couple, Richard and Mary Bray, who were farmers. He was well-educated, studying at Oxford University. He achieved a B.A. and M.A. at other schools. However, he completed work for his B.D. and D.D. at Oxford but could not pay the fees associated with the degrees. After graduation, he became a chaplain to the family of Sir Thomas Price in Warwickshire. Thomas wrote his first volume of four Catechetical Lectures after discovering that many poverty-stricken country parsons could not obtain or read theological books. Theology is the study of the Scriptures. The text garnered the attention of Henry Compton, Bishop of London. In 1696, he was appointed as his commissary to organize the Church of England in the Colony of Maryland.
Publisher
The publisher Printed for J.G. & F. Rivington, originally called “The New Conger,” was founded by Charles Rivington and his partner Bettesworth in London in 1736.
1741, the company published its first volume of Samuel Richardson’s novel Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded. A year later, Charles passed away, and his two sons, John and James Rivington, took over the business. James had little interest in the company and emigrated to the United States to pursue trade in N.Y.C. However, John stayed with the company.
1760, John was appointed publisher to the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. Later, John appointed his sons Francis and Charles into the company.
In 1810, Francis admitted his eldest son, John, as a partner.
In 1827, George and Francis, Charles Rivington son’s, also joined the firm. The firm published two series of Cheap Repository Tracts with the imprints of J.G. & F. Rivington and J.G.F. & J. Rivington on behalf of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge from 1829 – 1851.
The publisher could be located at No. 62 St. Paul’s Church Yard until 1853. In 1890, the business was bought out by another publishing company in the London area called Longmans.
Possession History
Parish of Chipping Ongar
Thanks to a kind gentleman named Alan Sennett at the Diocese of London, England, I could decipher the Parish’s full name, as it is the Parish of Chipping Ongar in the shire county of Essex. From various phone calls to the churches in the area, I believe the book was signed by Ongar United Reformed Church in Chipping Ongar, Ongar, UK, anywhere from 1832 to 1847.
Ongar United Reformed Church
The church was formed in 1662, initially named Ongar Congregational Church, during the reign of Charles II. The current building was built in 1833, and an addition of a school hall in the rear in 1919 after a fire burnt down the original building. The most notable Minister to the church was a man named Rev. Isaac Taylor. He was a precursor for the present-day library in Chipping Ongar. He organized a Sunday school and weekly night-time meetings and Started a book club for mechanics within the district. He had two daughters, Ann and Jane, who wrote many verses for the young children. It is noteworthy that Jane Taylor is the author of the song “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” its 223rd anniversary was in September.
“On 5th October 1972, the United Reformed Church Act was passed, combining the Presbyterian Church of England and the Congregational Church in England and Wales to form the United Reformed Church of England and Wales. In September 1981, this was unified with the Re-formed Association of Churches of Christ in Great Britain and Ireland to become the United Reformed Church of the United Kingdom.” – ongarurc.org.uk
Mary Hart
After speaking with Robert Lee at the Essex Record Office on the phone, he provided me with insights on Mary Hart (1811-1861) via email. Mary Hart was born around 1811 (+/- 1 year) in Bobbingworth (Ongar, Essex), England. At the age of 50, she passed away in October 1861 in Bobbingworth. She married to a Daniel Hart and they both resided at Willingdale Doe, Bobbingworth in 1851. The couple had several children shown in the census image below. On January 4th 1847 is when came became the owner of the book.
MSU Special Collections
It’s hard to discern when MSU got their hands on the book. There is only writing on the first few pages, with Mary’s entry being the only one showing ownership. However, we can take an educated guess based on the knowledge presented to us. MSU was founded in 1855, and the unique collections unit was founded in 1962. Assuming the book didn’t leave England until traveling to the Americas was more accessible for the average person and wasn’t donated until Special Collections was founded. The book came into possession of MSU somewhere between 1962 – 2023.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the vague possession history of the book is unfortunate; however, we do know the significance of the book and the author. The literary aspect of the book demonstrates the author’s ability to communicate complex ideas in a clear and accessible manner effectively. She made it easy for people to engage and follow the Holy Scriptures. The book carries great significance in the religious aspect. It allowed people to understand the bible better and promoted a more profound connection with faith. It contributed to the religious revival and reform movements of the late 18th century. Lastly, the book was a vital educational resource. It addressed the needs of the unlearned in a period when formal education was not widespread. The lack of markings in the books is due to the book being of religious text. It would be considered disrespectful to mark in a book with words of the Holy Scripture. To further prove this theory, there is only writing where it’s prompted, at the beginning of the book, and on a blank page.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Bray
http://www.artuk.org/artworks/thomas-bray-16561730-founder-of-the-society-for-promoting-christian-knowledge-133844
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivington_(publishers)
https://www.ongarurc.org.uk/history/
Robert Lee at Essex Record Office
Alan Sennett at Diocese of London
Created by Jackson Brinn in Fall 2023 for Dr. Brockey’s HST 475 class at MSU.
