Pilgrims & Prophets Christian Heritage Tours

17/10/2026

STREET BATTLES ABOUT RELIGION

During the later 1800s, faith was taken back onto the streets by the Salvation Army which targeted poor areas of cities and also places of drinking and frivolity like seaside resorts. They faced opposition from local interests such as publicans and brewers who often had influence over local police forces. Rival disruptive groups called the
'Skeleton Army' were allowed to0 get away with provocative behaviour.

Many of the Army’s greatest ‘battles’ were fought at seaside resorts where commerce and evangelism came head-to-head. At Weston-super-Mare there was much disruption caused as the ‘Skeletons’ tried to drive the Salvationists away. In 1882 magistrates issued orders banning public assemblies that threatened the peace, but the Salvationists assembled anyway. Sergeant Gillbanks then arrested the Salvationist leaders.

The Salvation Army took the case to appeal. They argued that there was nothing in their activities which in itself threatened to breach the peace. It was ruled in the case of Beatty v Gillbanks that they should not have been arrested as their own intentions of playing music were peaceful – the unreasonable threat of disorder came from others. This was an important ruling that has been used in recent cases in the UK. Street preachers should not be arrested just because someone else might react with unreasonable violence.

This is one of the major cases discussed in my book 'Freedom of Belief in Britain' which you can get here: https://trentwithambooks.com/products/freedom-of-belief-in-britain

08/10/2026

NOW PUBLISHED: NOTTINGHAMSHIRE HISTORY WALKS

We are delighted with what a beautiful book this is! Lots of great colour pictures throughout, old maps, ancient buildings, even some old paintings of the scenes as you explore seventeen fabulous walks across Notts!

A perfect Christmas gift for everyone in the county.

Order now from: https://trentwithambooks.com/products/nottinghamshire-history-walks

06/10/2026

THE CONTROVERSIAL WILLIAM DELL

This rather dark portrait is of William Dell, one of the most interesting if sometimes confusing figures of the 1640s to 1660s. Schooled as a puritan at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, he took on a benefice in Bedfordshire where his most famous action was to get John Bunyan to preach at Christmas 1659 – an act which his parishioners complained about.

Long before that he had won many enemies as a radical opponent to the spread of Presbyterianism and had in his turn been accused of antinomianism. During the Civil War he rose to influence as a chaplain with Fairfax and the New Model Army, was present at several key victories and even took the marriage of General Ireton.
Dell was also concerned about the direction being taken by the Westminster Assembly making him, like Roger Williams, unpopular with William Prynne and others who favoured Presbyterianism. His sermon to the House of Commons in 1646 was thus controversial, but the tide was turning against the Presbyterians.

Dell had some other controversial opinions. He wrote a pamphlet denying there was any spiritual value to baptism, which became popular with Quakers. He thought degrees in Divinity were a waste of time – ‘there needs nothing to the ministry of the New Testament but only God's pouring out his Spirit' he wrote. He wanted to see secular schools in every town and village.

Dell’s dispute with the Assembly was because he, like Williams, did not agree with political interference in religion. He explained this in ‘The Way of True Peace and Unity in the Churches’, and added that congregations should choose their own ministers aligning himself to a degree with the Independents.

His career came crashing down with the Restoration and Dell lost his various jobs. His biographer concluded he had ‘a talent for making enemies’ and doubtless this reduced his impact, but he is an interesting example of English religion in transition and a little footnote in the story of those who saw the importance of separating Church and State. So he makes a brief appearance in my book ‘Freedom of Belief in Britain’ which you can get from Amazon, bookshops and direct from: https://trentwithambooks.com/products/freedom-of-belief-in-britain

03/10/2026

LAST FEW DAYS FOR SPECIAL OFFER!

The printed copies of 'Notts History Walks' are on their way from the printer, so the special pre-publication offer of 10% off will finish when they arrive - which leaves a few days only! After that we will list it at the normal price of £18.95 but for now it is only £17.00.

The map shows the starting points of the seventeen walks across the whole of Notts - see if you can guess where they go! Some are shorter...and some are longer, but they are all fascinating explorations of the Notts historic landscape.

Order now from: https://trentwithambooks.com/products/nottinghamshire-history-walks

28/09/2026

NEW BOOK IN THE 'BAPTIST TIMES'

An article about why our new book is important has appeared in the 'Baptist Times'.

Baptist church member and historian Adrian Gray introduces his new book, which shows how we in Britain won the right to freedom of belief and expression – but also how fragile this may be

28/09/2026

NOW TAKING PRE-ORDERS

Trent Witham Books are now taking pre-orders for the beautiful new book, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE HISTORY WALKS. Seventeen of the best walks in Nottinghamshire, beautifully illustrated with colour pictures and walking guides, and each one narrating the fascinating history of the surrounding landscape.

This is a walking book designed to take with you, or to read at home - so you can get double the use out of it!

Order now for a 10% discount for delivery in about two weeks.
https://trentwithambooks.com/products/nottinghamshire-history-walks

27/09/2026

FANTASTIC NEW BOOK! NOTTINGHAMSHIRE HISTORY WALKS

Our next new book builds on the success of the history walks organised by Adrian Gray in the last few years to bring you a book that you can read at home and whilst on the walks. Very excited about this one.

Adrian Gray’s book makes a personal selection of seventeen of the best walks for exploring the Nottinghamshire historic landscape including some rarely visited but distinctive locations. Every walk is accompanied by an historic map and a detailed commentary, enlivening every step of your way through the county, making this a unique companion or those who enjoy the outdoors (or indoors!) but want to understand where they are.

Pre-publication special offer of 10% off! Order here:
https://trentwithambooks.com/products/nottinghamshire-history-walks

24/09/2026

NEW BOOK ON AN IMPORTANT TOPIC....

Freedom of Belief is an important topic for us nationally and also in our local context.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1FWiALBS1z/

23/09/2026

MARTYRS OF THE 1590s

Although a lot is written about Catholic martyrs during the reign of Elizabeth, much less is said about those on the Protestant-Separatist wing. There were several of these in the later stages of Elizabeth's era including two at Bury St Edmunds and then the three influential puritans Barrow, Greenwood and Penry.

They were executed at a time when being 'disloyal' to the Church of England was seen by some as being disloyal to the state of England itself. In this sense they were fortunate not to be hung, drawn and quartered as traitors as the Catholics were - though in their case the argument that they served a foreign power could also be used.
In this context it is not surprising that many advanced puritans chose to live in the Netherlands, including those who were to become the Mayflower Pilgrims. Meanwhile the issue of the entwining of State and Church continued, and recently caught out our new PM with its complex solutions of the role of the PM regarding CoE appointments.

This is all part of the theme of how freedom of belief developed in Britain which you can read about in my new book 'Freedom of Belief in Britain': https://trentwithambooks.com/products/freedom-of-belief-in-britain

06/09/2026

NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE'S AMERICAN LEADER

Brumby Hall and nearby Manton are closely associated with Richard Bellingham, who became Governor of Massachusetts Bay.

Brumby came into the family of Richard Bellingham by the marriage of his father into the Wisley family and is detailed in Richard’s will of 1577 – he was then living at Manton. Richard had the manor house at Brumby and left Brumby Wood to his son John specifically ‘for the maintenance of Trent bank’. He left his warren at Brumby, Scunthorpe and Frodingham to his brother Thomas for life. His will’s ‘supervisors’ were from the Tyrwhitt family – known Catholic sympathisers. By 1583 John was receiving instructions from the Commissioners of Sewers to repair the important causeway across the Carrs from Brumby.

The famous Richard Bellingham was born c 1592 as the son of William Bellingham and Frances Amcotts – another famous Lincolnshire family; William’s residence is usually given as Manton. This would be a likely birthplace though some claims have been made for Boston. He studied law, then moved to Boston (Lincs) with his family where he became ‘Recorder’ in 1625 – a senior legal official. From 1628 he played a leading role in the Massachusetts Bay Company.

Richard Bellingham left for New England in 1634 – at the tail end of the ‘Great Migration’ from Lincolnshire and even after John Cotton had managed to slip away. But Bellingham had a lot to lose – and his process of liquidating his assets had been started in 1633. Yet he had also suffered a major loss in a legal battle with Lord Greville with £800 damages.

He immediately took on high office in Massachusetts and took his own second wedding service; this was controversial as the young lady was nearly thirty years younger and sought by another. He was also important in the story of the Massachusetts Bay Company.
Bellingham seems to have had a difficult relationship with John Winthrop though the balanced view of the ODNB is that he was a ‘competent and respected leader.’ Other historians though have seen him as argumentative and his record on religious persecution is very questionable, especially regarding Quakers and also Baptists. He voted for the banishment of Lincolnshire’s Anne Hutchinson, who he must have known from Boston since she and her husband were close to John Cotton.

Nathaniel Hawthorne also chose to make Bellingham an important figure in ‘The Scarlet Letter’, the famous New England novel. He also included ‘a reputed witch-lady’ sister for Bellingham who was later executed as a witch in 1656, Mrs Hibbins. She was a real person but only his ‘sister’ in the style of the times: she was the second wife of the man who had married Bellingham’s sister, Hester, who had died in England in 1634.