1. Think about why people might change the direction of their lives. Perhaps, as in the case of Theophilus Lindsey, their conscience tells them that what they are doing is not right. But what other reasons might people have?
2. What does it mean to 'assent' to something? Are there things that you are expected to assent to but don't feel that you really can?
3. Theophilus Lindsey and his wife were active amongst their parishioners in Catterick in trying to forestall deaths from smallpox. Until the early twentieth century, smallpox was one of the most serious (and often fatal) diseases. Try to find out whether there were any special isolation hospitals built near you where patients could be kept away from the community to try to prevent the spread of the disease.
4. Read the newspaper report of the opening of Lindsey's new chapel. Does it seem to you that the reporter was critical of Lindsey and the chapel or does he write favourably about them?