Berridge, John

(1716-1793)

   Berridge, an evangelical clergyman of Kingston, Nottinghamshire, graduated from Clare Hall, Cambridge, in 1734. In 1775 he became vicar of Everton, Bedfordshire, where he spent the rest of his life. He was friendly with John Wesley and George Whitefield and he became known as the "the pedlar of the Gospel." When ordered by the bishop to stop his itinerant preaching, Berridge quoted Mark 16:15: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature," and he carried on. His works were numerous and include: A Collection of Divine Songs, 1760 (mainly a collection of Charles Wesley's hymns). Sion's Songs: or Hymns Composed for the Use of Them That Love and Follow the Lord Jesus Christ in Sincerity. Sion's (342 hymns, some of which had previously appeared in the Gospel Magazine under the signature of "Old Everton," and others that were adapted from Charles Wesley), 1785 and 1815. Some of his other hymns: "Happy Saints Who Dwell in Light," "Since Jesus Freely Did Appear," "The Means of Grace Are in My Hand."

   Sources: Dictionary of National Biography. Electronic Edition 1.1. Oxford University Press, 1997. The Cyber Hymnal (http://www.cyberhymnal.org/index.htm). The Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) Hymnbook (http://igracemusic.com/igracemusic/hymnbook).