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[ transcription of Obituary Notice in the Year Book of the Congregational Union of England & Wales for 1872, page 335, from a copy in Dr Williams's Library, London ]
LYNCH, Thomas Toke, late of Mornington Chapel, Hampstead Road, was born at Great Dumow, Essex, July 5, 1818. Of his early history little is known. He entered on the ministry at Highgate in 1848. He removed to Grafton Street, Fitzroy Square, and thence to Mornington Chapel, where he preached to a small, but intelligent and appreciating congregation, till death released him from his labours, and his life-long sufferings.
His published works - "Theophilus Trinal", "The Rivulet", "Sermons for my Curates", and other works, demonstrate that he was a genius, a poet, a philosopher, and a divine.
His preaching, which was generally only once on the Sabbath, and once on a week evening, possessed peculiar interest and charm to the intelligent and thoughtful.
He never appeared in the pulpit in mental deshabille, or insulted his flock by offering that which came without toil. Indeed the richness and the variety of his utterances were the marvel of all. By careful study he grought out of his treasury things new and old; and while he searched out the most suitable thought from the stores of his intellect, he summoned his heart to yield the flow of his warmest love. He strove to go to the root of every subject, to see it for himself, to meet its difficulties, to illuminate it by the lights which he cold throw on it from every side.
The remarkable power of Mr Lynch, the peculiarities of his mental and spiritual character, could only have been produced in the high temperature of continued affliction. He had, combined with no ignoble ambition, native gifts of great strength, and variety, and richness, and originality. He had a highly sensitive nature, which caused him to feel everything acutely, pleasure and pain, generosity and meanness, justice and injustice, honour and slights. He could not, therefore rest in neutrality; he approved or disapproved strongly, and spoke with corresponding decision and warmth. And this sensibility brought him into loving sympathy with nature, and furnished him with apt and affluent analogies, and gave him the soul and skill of the poet. But mind and heart and life, gifts and faculties, were all affected in their development by the suffering that he endured, by pain and feebleness of body, sometimes by a deep sense of injustice inflicted by those who could not or would not understand him.
In childhood, when bright spirits generally make all things bright, he began the discipline of suffering. In early manhood, when strength is at its prime, he had to bear the burden of exhaustion and feebleness. In riper years, when thought and fancy had reached their highest mental vigour, by sheer force and determination, he had to master the disabling influence of ill health. No one who saw him only in public had the smallest idea of what he endured day by day at home.
Death came at length to release the patient sufferer. Often had the "King of Terrors" threatened to strike the fatal blow. "Life was for weeks together almost like one continual act of dying." But the end came and the last adieu was given, and the frail tenement was forsaken for the "bright inheritance of Heaven".
Mr Lynch was buried at Abney Park Cemetary, May 17th, 1871. The Revs J.C.Harrison, Newman Hall, and Edward White officiated on the mournful occasion.
The following lines, forming part of one of the "Rivulet Hymns", were read by Mr Hall at the funeral.
- "Departing in peace,
- With gentle release,
- The dream-weary soul from its slumbers is freed;
- And hearing heaven's lays,
- It cries in amaze,
- `Ah, Lord, and now am I in heaven indeed?
- "`How can I believe
- I no more shall grieve, -
- For ever awake from my dream-burden sleep?
- Too full my delight,
- The morning too bright;
- Ah, Lord, I'm so happy, permit me to weep.
- "`What light and what balm!
- What thrill, yet what calm!
- My heart feels at once like a bridegroom and bride;
- Lo, coming on me
- Thy likeness I see;
- Ah, Lord, 'tis enough, - I am now satisfied.'"
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(The Rejoice & Sing Enchiridion:edited by David Goodall; last amended 20/12/03)