At 12:05 sharp the unveiling ceremony of Abingdon’s third blue plaque began as the town crier rang his bell and read out the citation to Daniel Turner.

Revd Michael Hambleton , the predecessor of the current minister, Revd David – just to the right of the picture, has done a lot to keep the memory of Daniel Turner alive through his book “A sweet and Hopefull people – the story of Abingdon Baptist Church” which is to be reprinted round about Heritage Open Weekend.

After a short speech, Revd Michael unveiled the blue plaque, the fifth on this building, 35 Ock Street (the other four are there to keep the wall together). I jest… There are now 62 real historic blue plaques in Oxfordshire and this is the first to celebrate a non-conformist Minister. Abingdon has a great history as a hot bed of non conformity which Abingdon Baptist Church still carries on to this day.

In his own day Daniel Turner was well known as a preacher,  pamphleteer, hymn writer and poet, although few of his hymns are sung today. His most lasting legacy today was that he preached tolerance and understanding in an era which was marked by sectarianism and division.

In many ways Daniel Turner was a century or more ahead of his time. But locally he was also loved as a saintly man and a fine pastor, and was known throughout the town as “Good Mr Turner.”

Our current Mayor, Mike Badcock, was also the Mayor of Abingdon 21 years ago when Revd Michael Hambleton was first ordinated at Ock Street Baptist Church. Mike did one of the readings at that service 21 years ago.