01 - Introduction

John Berridge (1716-1793) was, as Nigel R.Pibworth put it, an ‘individual’, one who demonstrated ‘a singular spirituality’. One-time Senior Fellow at Clare College, Cambridge, in 1755 Berridge was installed as the Anglican incumbent in the village of Everton on the borders of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire. Even so, he was, as yet, unconverted. At that time, he held to – and preached – salvation by works and the acceptance of orthodox theology. Towards the end of 1757, however, he was converted. Let his epitaph, which he himself prepared, tell the story – as it does to this day in the churchyard at Everton, where it speaks to all who will read and heed it:

Reader art thou born again?
No salvation without a new birth.
I was born in sin Feb. 1716
Remained ignorant of my fallen state till 1730
Lived proudly on faith & works for salvation till 1754
Admitted to Everton vicarage 1755
Fled to Jesus alone for refuge 1756
Fell asleep in Christ Jan. 22nd 1793.