The clerk of the Broadmead (Baptist) Church took his job very seriously, keeping an historical record of the ministry of the church along with the official records. He has told us that Pastors Thomas Ewins, Thomas Hardcastle and George Fownes were all imprisoned for their faith and service for Christ. Most Baptists are familiar with the twelve-year imprisonment of John Bunyan, but there were many others. Francis Bamfield suffered for eight years in the Dorchester jail. Thomas Delaune died in Newgate prison, where John Millar was a prisoner for ten years. Henry Forty was incarcerated for twelve years at Exeter. Joseph Wright who pastored in Maidstone was imprisoned in the common jail there for twenty years.

The afore mentioned Broadmead clerk recorded – “On ye 29th of Nov., 1685, our Pastour, Bro. Fownes, dyed in Gloucester Jail, having been kept there for Two years and about 9 months a Prisoner, unjustly and maliciously, for ye Testimony of Jesus and preaching ye Gospel. He was a man of Great Learning, of a sound Judgment, an able Preacher, having great knowledge in Divinity, Law, Physic, &c.; a bold patient Sufferer for ye Lord Jesus, and ye Gospel he preacht.”