John Wesley's Journal:

July 1779: 'In the afternoon we went to Raithby. It is a small village on the top of a hill. The shell of Mr. Brackenbury's house was just finished, near which he has built a little chapel. It was quickly filled with deply serious hearers. I was much comforted among them, and could not but observe, while the landlord and his tenants were standing together, how "Love, like death, makes all distinctions void." '

July 1788: 'We went on to Raithby; an earthly paradise! How gladly would I rest here a few days; but it is not my place! I am to be a wanderer upon earth. Only let me find rest in a better world!'

'Possessed of a genuine missionary spirit. An acceptable preacher. Extremely modest. Would never suffer his left hand to know what his right did. An eminent instance of a gentleman of fortune consecrating his talents, his influence, his time, and his substance to the spread of true religion, at home and abroad. Left it as a solemn request, that nothing should be said of him by way of eulogy, in any sermon, or written of him by way of memoir, after his death.'

Wesleyan Takings (1840), pp. 316-17

'Mr . Brackenbury was a man of family and fortune; he was educated at the University of Cambridge, and in early life was brought to a saving knowledge of God. He formed an intimate friendship with Mr. Wesley and became a fellow-labourer in connexion with him. In the pulpit his address was calm, but impressive; his sermons were polished, instructive and edifying. He was somewhat nervous in his temperament, and occasionally, when he was engaged to preach, thought himself unable to perform the duty; and then the footman was required to take the pulpit, and the disappointed congregation heard the man instead of the master, who was mourning in secret over his infimities. One Sunday evening, at Raithby, I remember, he was sorely troubled on account of the imperfect manner in which he had that day ministered the Word of life, and said he thought that he would never attempt to preach again. Mrs. Brackenbury, a shrewd and sensible person, who knew that in these seasons of depression words of condolence and sympathy only increased his grief, replied tha\t indeed he was not qualified to preach, and would do well never again to enter a pulpit, but leave the people to find the way of salvation as best they might, or perish in their sins. This roused him from his despondency, and after observing that she resembled "Job's comforters", he dropped the subject.'

Thomas Jackson, Recollections of my own Life and Times (1873) pp.74-5

• R. Smith, Raithby Hall: memorial sketches of R.C. Brackenbury esq. (1859)
• 'The Will of R.C. Brackenbury' in WHS Proceedings 20 pp.170-74; 33 pp.125-28
• Frank Baker, in Methodist Recorder, 7 May 1958
• T.R. Leach, 'The preaching squire' in The Lincolnshire Historian, 1964
• E.H. Metherell, 'Robert Carr Brackenbury's Chapel at Raithby', in WHS Proceedings, 20 pp.170-74
• Oxford DNB
• [Sarah Brackenbury:] Methodist Recorder, Winter Number, 1901, pp.94-96