Johnson Hospital

Stamford Mercury - Friday 19 September 1879

The Johnson Hospital.— The foundations of the new Hospital have been excavated and concreted large quantity of materials have been carted on to the ground, the temporary workshops erected, and other preparations made for proceeding with the building, but at present very few hands are employed upon the works, and the progress appears to slow.

Stamford Mercury - Friday 14 October 1881

Opening of a New Hospital Spalding. Admiration and gratitude must felt by all the thoughtful people of Spalding and the district when they look upon the "Johnson Hospital." It is a noble building for a noble purpose—the gift of the late Misses Johnson, of Fairfax House. The formal opening took. place on Wednesday. The proceedings fitly commenced by a short service at 3 p.m. in the neighbouring church of St. Peter—a comely and commodious edifice reared also through the munificence of the Misses Johnson. There was a large congregation, more than could be seated. The prayers were intoned by the Rev. B. Mathews, the 1st lesson was read by the Rev. J. T. Dove, and the 2nd by the Rev. J. R. Jackson. The psalms were chanted by a powerful and surpliced choir, and the harmonium (played by .Mr. Price) was supplemented by several instruments. After the third collect the beautiful hymn "Saviour, blessed Saviour was sung. The Bishop of Lincoln then ascended the pulpit and delivered appropriate address, taking for his text, Go, do thou likewise." The passage occurred in lesson in the ordinary course of the Church weekly calendar, which his Lordship said was especially suitable to that special occasion. Alluding to the parable the Good Samaritan he said the compassionate man came to where the wounded traveller lay, poured oil and wine in his wounds, took him to an inn, and left him in charge of the host. The inn represents the Church of Christ—that which the venerable prelate hoped our Church is—that which he hoped the church in that town is—a spiritual community for healing, not by its own power, but by the oil and wine of the blessed sacraments which Christ has committed to the host. The host was the priesthood—Christ's ministers; and they were to receive all travellers with kindness. And the good Samaritan will come again. They did not look for their reward in this world. The clergy this county, the Bishop observed, are now suffering more than any other class. They do not look for a return in this world, but are looking for the Samaritan, and they know that what they spend more beyond what Christ has entrusted with them He will repay them. The two pence in the parable means something left in charge with the host for the use of the injured traveller. This was what regards the soul. The same good Samaritan Jesus Christ has provided for the body. Christ is the flesh of the body and the soul and the spirit of all. I dare say, his Lordship remarked, you know perfectly well there were no such things as hospitals before Christianity. I would to God, if there are any Secularists in this church hope there are none—or in this town—l hope they will consider that Secularism never built a hospital. Never! It never could. It labours in this world for the things of time. The medical men of Spalding look upon themselves as having a commission from Christ, doing Christ's work in the hospital there. It was in the necessity of things that Christianity should build hospitals, The Secularists and the Cremationists get rid of the body; but we hold our bodies in honour, because God has taken the flesh through the womb of the Virgin Mary and dignified the body, and because we know that by holy baptism our bodies are members of Christ and we are children of Christ; they are incorporated in Christ; and we are made temples of God the Holy Ghost. Of all the things which actuated and animated our dear sisters in Christ who have departed—Elizabeth Ann Johnson and Mary Ann Johnson—surely that which animated them was this: that they knew He had redeemed them; they knew they had been washed in the blood of Christ; they knew that Christ loved and cared for them in sickness ; and they knew that, with the eye of faith and the warm heart of faith, they had laboured for Christ and death could have no sting. At the conclusion of the address the choir moved down the nave, singing the hymn "The sons of God their conflict past," followed by the Bishop and the clergy in surplices, &c, among whom were the Revs. Canon Moore, Canon Wayet, E. M. Sanderson, J. R. Jackson, J. T. Dove, A. W. G. Moore, J. Sissons, P. W. T. Beechey. F. Nelham, and A. Harre. The procession, joined by several of the lay Trustees, approached the Hospital, at the principal door of which the Bishop was presented with the key and formal entry was made; and the staircase, the corridors, and the wards were soon crowded with visitors. The Bishop offered up prayer in the two wards and the hymns "Thou to whom the sick and dying and "Thine arm, O Lord, in days of old" were sung, the band showing remarkable readiness to accompany. The proceedings ended with the national anthem. The building, while it presents a pleasing feature to the passer-by, is admirably adapted to the necessities and comforts of the poor creatures whom bodily afflictions may cause to seek its hospitality. The architect was Mr. G. G. Hoskins, of Darlington; and the builders were Messrs. Bulling, of Ollerton, at a contract price of nearly £5,000.