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A History of Preston in Hertfordshire
A selection of newspaper articles (November 2025)
Note: This collection of newspaper cuttings will be contain additions as the month moves on.
ADDRESS BY DR. J. H. HUTTON.
In the delightful sunshine of Wednesday evening a large congregation of about a thousand people
gathered in the beautiful wooded hollow known as “Bunyan’s Dell” in Preston Woods, near Hitchin, to
pay tribute to the immortal dreamer. This formed part of Hitchin’s contribution to the year’s
tercentenary celebrations.
Through his friendship with the Foster family of Hitchin, Bunyan used to go to Hitchin for the purpose
of preaching, and it was in this Dell, which now bears his name, that he held services in secret
sometimes at midnight, sometimes in the wintry weather when snow lay deep. Shielded under the
trees of the dell he had his guard (the party of tenements) and to hold their ground from the law, his
friends posted look-outs at the approaches to the Dell. It is hard to imagine such scenes as were
witnessed in those woods over two hundred years ago. The people of the district are devoutly grateful
to the owners who have given warning of these historic places and preserved them for posterity. The
Dell was first used for a service in 1924 and has now become one of the most beautiful open-air
sanctuaries in the county. Wednesday’s gathering was under the auspices of the Howard Baptist
Church, Hitchin, and amongst those present were many members of the Porter family of Ippollitts,
who are descended from the dearest of Bunyan’s stalwart. The Rev. E. Edward Cockerill, M.A., and
Mr. Robert, members of Bunyan Meeting, Bedford, were also present.
Mr. Percival Hinton, the historian of Hitchin, presided, and in the supporting of the platform, they were
amongst the clergy, Dr. John A. Hutton, M.A., D.D., Editor of the British Weekly, and the principal
address was given by Dr. Hutton. Others supporting the Rev. E. Bernard Cockerill, the Rev. B. E.
Knights (Minister of Tilehouse Street Baptist Church, Hitchin), and the Rev. F. E. Rees, Amwell, Herts,
under the congregational umbrella lighting. The service opened with the singing of “Jesus, Lover of
my Soul,” and a prayer, after which Mr. Edward R. Cockerill, especially written by Bedford’s brother,
Cadell, the settled of the preacher, Mr. Cockett led the prayers.
In his introductory remarks the Chairman dwelt on the historical associations of the locality, especially
the Hitchin slope, which Bunyan is believed to have ascended. In making a reference to the note cut
about 300 yards off opening of the Dell, the Chairman spoke of which Bunyan’s stock of pipe and
paused many a long hour.
Dr. HUTTON ON BUNYAN’S SIMPLICITY AND MODERNISM.
The subject of the address was John Bunyan, and Dr. Hutton said that if one could read The Pilgrim’s
Progress now, after three hundred years, it was extraordinary to find how modern was Bunyan’s day
by day insight into men’s hearts, a book which has ever been written. Because it was the book of the
human heart, it must ever remain fresh and true. The broad stand with Bunyan’s faith in the moral
ideal. They thought the Church was losing its faith in God, but it was not so much a loss of faith as a
change in the sense in which they used the word “faith.” It was in a different form. Faith in God must
be interpreted as faith in life itself, in its good meaning and purpose, in the good purpose that lay
behind all experience. Bunyan’s experience was the very essence of modern life—the struggle with
doubt, the victory through faith, the discovery that by losing one’s life one could find it. Bunyan’s faith
was not in theology, but in life.
**The service was followed by a series of tableaux and orchestral selections representing scenes
from the life of John Bunyan and scenes from The Pilgrim’s Progress, together with the singing by
Madame Gamble of “The Shepherd Boy” and “The Land of Heart’s Desire,” the words having been
written by Bunyan. These tableaux and selections made one complete service, artistically delightful
and fitting conclusion to a memorable day. They were skilfully executed by members of the Hitchin
Free Churches, so skilful at times that although the audience had been requested not to applaud, in
view of the reverent nature of the performance, ripples and spontaneous applause could not be
repressed.
THE ETERNAL SADNESS OF YOUTH.
The day’s proceedings opened at Tilehouse Street Baptist Church in the afternoon, when a large
congregation was present at a service conducted by Dr. Hutton, at which Mr. F. E. Guyton on behalf
of Hitchin. Madame Gamble charmed the congregation with two solos, “The King of Love My
Shepherd Is,” and “The Bright Seraphim” of John 4:16, “And we have known and believed the love
that God hath to us.” This, he said, should read, “And we know and believe the love that God hath for
us.” He spoke of the love of God which drew out the eternal sadness of youth. Those who seemed to
have finished life before they had begun it. He said it had always been the great sorrow of youth to
see the world’s sadness.
After the service a reception was held in the Church Hall, when Dr. Hutton preached a short sermon
on “The Meaning of Faith.” There were many in that hall who had lost the old faith, and it was a
wonderful thing that they should find it again. He said that it was by those who had faith in God’s work
of wonder that they would find new strength. We have lost health, life became easier as it proceeded,
and faith became more sure.
JOHN BUNYAN’S FIDDLE
Did you know that Bunyan was a fiddler? That he was so was revealed by Mr. Reginald Hine, the
historian of Hitchin, who presided at the Commemorative Service in “Bunyan’s Dell”, Preston Woods,
Hitchin, on Wednesday evening last, and who mentioned in his introductory outline of Hitchin’s
associations with Bunyan that a member of Tilehouse Street Baptist Church, Hitchin, had acquired
John’s own fiddle, made by his own hands.
I wonder if he ever played the old traditional tune of “The Pilgrim Hymn”, sung with such vigour by
three thousand Guides and Scouts in Russell Park on Saturday.
BUNYAN’S DELL TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS AT PRESTON, HITCHIN. 1928
Bedfordshire Times and Independent 13 July 1928
