Volume Thirteen - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - even more aspects - Slavery - echoes of the past . . . .

1839 - The Bristol Channel Mission - The attention of a clergyman of the Church of England (the Rev. J. Ashley, LL.D.) was, some time ago, directed to the Islands in the Bristol Channel, of which there are four : - Lundy, Caldy, and the two Holms. Having ascertained that none of these islanders enjoyed public worship, he visited the Flat Holm and Steep Holm, and repeatedly performed Divine service on both these islands, which was well attended by the inhabitants, and occasionally by some of the pilots, who often land there. Finding these endeavours  for their welfare were most kindly and gratefully received, he led to extend his views to a still more important sphere of usefulness. The result of his Christian labours was the formation of the Bristol Channel Mission Society, - truly a national religions undertaking, and one which we hope to see warmly patronised by the wealthy and religious. - The Cambrian [241] [361] 6th July 1839.

The Rev. Ashley records in his log that during the period 1837 to February 1843, he visited 6,990 vessels and by 1850 he claimed to have visited some 14,000 vessels at sea, but this figure is not substantiated. During this time he had sold many Bibles and Prayer Books but patrons were reluctant to part with their money and the necessary funding was not forthcoming. The annual cost to run the Mission's, vessel and crew, was estimated to be c.£2,000 in 1840. [equivalent to c.£177,000 in 2025]. [1355]

Perhaps a factor in the lack of funds received from sailors attending services on the 'Eirene' was that they had not yet been paid-off because they were effectively still at sea and their voyage, or the contract known as 'Articles of Agreement' had not yet been fulfilled, i.e. had no money in their pockets!

The gravestone of the Rev. John Ashley whom rests at the Holy Trinity Church, East Finchley, North London: - In Loving Memory of Rev. John Ashley LL.D who died 30th March 1886 aged 85 years. Founder of the Missions to Seamen 1835 which he conducted for 21 years on board the Eirene in the Bristol Channel.