Charles Drawbridge was born in the borough of Southwark on June 15th 1805, three months before the Battle of Trafalgar. He was educated at the school of St Mary Overys and was apprenticed to a grocer. At an early age he commenced preaching around London, his first sermon being delivered in Waterloo-road in 1823.
During his itinerary he visited Raunds and from there was invited to preach for the Baptists at the “Top” Meeting. Afterwards he was invited to preach at the Succoth Strict Baptist Church, and at the age of 21 he accepted the pastorate of the latter church. The church prospered so that it had to be enlarged again & again. In 1864 the present chapel was built & opened by the Rev. James Wells of Surrey Tabernacle.
Whilst holding the pastorate at Rushden, he was for a time, Evening Lecturer at Zoar Chapel in Wellingborough.
He married Miss Ann Dulley, daughter of William Dulley of Wellingborough, founder of the firm of William Dulley & Sons, and they had one daughter. Their daughter named Dorothy Mary, married Mr. G. R. Mather, engineer of Cambridge.
He lived for the most part at Wellingborough and drove to Rushden to preach and continued the duties for 40 years, never missed a Sunday through incapacitation; an able preacher, in doctrine – Calvanistic.
He died in 1871 aged 66 and was buried in the old cemetery at Wellingborough. A tablet in Succoth Chapel reads “This Tablet is erected as a mark of esteem by the Members & Congregation of this Chapel”.
