UC NRLF B M sab ^fi7 m ' lOJlonconfbtmris •"L.930otce6tet; o -J) NONCONFORMITY IN WORCESTER Thomas Rowley Hill, J. P. Mayor of Worcester, 1858. High Sherifl' of Worcestershire, 1870. M.P. for W^orcester, 1874-18S4. Di-acon of Angel Street Church from 1858. Nonconformity in Worcester WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH MEETING IN ANGEL STREET CHAPEL, AND A\ APPENDIX or LISTS OF MIXISTERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, AXD EXTRACTS FROM THE XOX-PA ROCHIA L REGISTERS. BY THE Rev. WILLIAM URWICK, M.A. FelUm.' of the Royal Historical Society, and Author of NoNCOXrORMlTY IN UliRTS. Bible Triths and Chlrcii Krrors, a Ckntenary Memorial oj the St. Albans Congregational Sunday Schools, etc. etc. London : SIMPKIX. MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KKNT &: Co. Ltd. Wo RC ESTER : GREAVES (late OSBORX) Foreg.\te Street. 1897. LOAN STACK PRINTED BY GEO. W. JONES, 35 ST. BRIDE STREET, LONDON, E.C. CONTENTS. /// Mcmon'am of Thomas Rowley Hill ... I. — A Worcestershire Lollard Martyr II. — The Martyr Bishops of Worcester III. — The Puritan Lecturers IV. — The Commonwealth Ministers V. — The Nonconformist Persecution... VI. — The Pastors of the Angel Street Congregational Church : — The Rev. Thomas Badland The Rev. Chewning Blackmore The Rev. Francis Spilsbury ... The Rev. Francis Blackmore ... The Rev. Joseph Carpenter Thomas Urwick, Assistant The Rev. John Allen, M.D. ... Thomas Urwick, Assistant The Rev. Thomas Urwick The Rev. Thomas Belsham, M.A. The Rev. Joseph Gummer The Rev. George Osborn The Rev. Daniel Fleming The Rev. Robert Vaughan, D.D. The Rev. George Redford, M.A., D The Rev. William Flavel Hurndall, Ph.U The Rev. John Hartlett The Rev. Robert Vaughan Pryce, LL.B., M The Rev. Septimus March, B..\. Thomas Rowley Hill, Esq., J. P. VI I, —The .\ngel Street Sunday Schools VI H. — The Baptists in Worcester IX. — The Countess of Huntingdon's Chapel Page i-xvi 5 26 D. M.A .A. / 37 57 74 86 95 97 100 102 1 10 1 12 113 119 120 121 127 129 '31 133 136 139 M5 155 708 APPENDIX. Page. I. — Walker's Sequestered Clergy ... ... ... ... i6o II. — Parll^mentary Survey of 1650 touching Church Livings in Worcestershire ... ... ... ... 163 Augmentations and Admissions ... ... ... ... 172 III. — The Ejected Ministers of Worcestershire, 1660- 1662 176 Collections for the Distressed Piedmontese Protest- ants, 1655 178 The Quakers during the Commonwealth ... . . 180 IV. — Names of Places of Meeting and Preachers licenced under the Indulgence of Charles II., 1672 ... 182 V. — Non-Parochial Registers at Somerset House in the CUSTODY of the Registrar-General, List for Worcestershire ... ... ... ... ... 186 Extracts ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 192 Return of Churches, Chapels and Buildings for Religious Worship, District of Worcester ... 211 Morrice Lists of Congregations in Worcestershire 213 Note on the Gillam Papers ... ... ... ... 216 Note on the Sunday Schools ... ... ... ... 218 Index. Names of Persons, Places and Subjects 225 PORTRAITS AND ILLUSTRATIONS, 1. Thomas Rowley Hill 2. The Burning of the. Lollard Martyr, John Badby 3. The Martyr Bishops, Latimer and Hooper. 4. RicfLVRD Baxter ... 5. W^orcester Cathedral as a CoNCRECATiONAt Meeting-House ... 6. King Edgar's Tower 7. Facsuhle of the Angel Street Covenant in THE Handwriting of Thomas Badland h. Rev. Thomas Urwick 9. Rev. George Osborn 10. Rev. Robert Vaughan, D.D. .. 11. Rev. George Redford, ^L.A., D.D. 12. Rev. VV. F. Hurndall, Ph.D., M.A. 13. Rev. John Bartlett 14. Rev. R. X'aighan Prvce, LL. B. 15. Rev. Septimus March, B..A. 16. The New Sunday Schools, Angel Street Frontispiece. to face page 3 17 37 49 61 /[ its most active and devoted supporters. His sound judgment, his sincere religious earnestness, the union in him of wise firmness with an amiable and kindly temper, all combined to make him invaluable in the conduct of the business of the Church, especially when from time to lime it has had to regret the removal of higly esteemed ministers. Mr. Hill was for a great number of years a member of the diaconate, being for a large part of the time senior deacon, and took a very active interest in the work of the Church. He often read the lessons, and those who have listened to him on those occasions were greatly iv In Memoriam. impressed with the clear tones and reverential spirit in which he performed that duty. " He was one of the best readers of Scripture I have ever heard " is the comment of one who knew him well as a helper in the services. The financial aid which he gave in the re-building of the chapel, the schools, the class- room, the church parlour, and the Manse at Battenhall, together with his regular contributions to the local work of the Church and its branches, would amount to a princely sum, to say nothing of the handsome donations which he gave to the Con- gregational Churches in Malvern, Broadway, and in most other towns in the county. His help was valued not only because of its intrinsic worth, but because of the encouraging stimulus it gave to others to in some degree follow his noble example. He gave largely to the London Missionary Society, the Church Aid Fund, and the Home and Colonial Mission Fund — indeed it is but a few weeks since we recorded his gift of ;;^i,ooo to the first named society." — Borrow' s Worcester Journal^ Oct. lo, 1896. Help to Episcopalians. "But while he was generous to Nonconformist objects, his purse was often at disposal for other denominations. He gave help to the restoration of the Cathedral, the Cathedral School, and St. Helen's Church, and was a very generous donor (;^i>30o) to the fund for the re-building of Suckley Church in 1879. Up to 1883 the living of St. Andrew's, in this city, was about ;^75 a year, towards altering which, good Churchmen in the parish had repeatedly tried and failed. The matter was brought to the notice of Mr. Rowley Hill, who exerted himself energetically to bring influence to bear upon the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, and an accumulated fund of some ;^3,7oo Thovias Rowley Hill. v (which had been left by a wealthy Worcester lady for the purpose of supplementing the incomes of poor clergymen in the city) was brought to light, and assigned to St. Andrew's parish, thereby raising the stipend of the Rector to something like jQ2^o a year. — Barrow's Worcester Jounui I , Oct. lo, 1896. His Efforts in Promotion of Education. The British Schools, Worcester, were established at the beginning of the century and have been supported by friends of education belonging to all the Christian Denominations For fifty-six years Mr. T. Rowley Hill contributed liberally to the Funds as an Annual Subscriber ; and as an Active Manager and President of the Schools for many years, he always took a practical and deep interest in their welfare, encouraging all connected with them with his own kindly influence. In illus- tration of this it may be mentioned that Mr. Hill has been accustomed at the Annual Prize Distribution, to present every child who had made full attendances during the year, with a new half-crown; and the number increased each year accordingly. In the year 1892, consequent upon the requirements of the Education Department, it was found necessary to make great structural alterations in the school buildings. Mr. Hill threw himself heartily into this work, and by his own example empha- sized his influence upon others. He purchased at a heavy cost, and then presented the site for a new Girls' and Infants' School premises ; out of a total cost of £2,9^^ he contributed jQ22po ; and thus the work of renovating the Boys' School, and providing new schools for the Girls and Infants, with an increased accommodation for 270 children, is entirely paid for. The managers in recognition of the munificent kindness of Mr. vl In Memoriam. Hill, erected a Brass Mural Tablet in the Boys' Schoolroom, bearing the following inscription : — British Schools. This Tablet, erected by the Managers of these Schools, gratefully records their indebtedness to the munificence of Alderman T. Rowley Hill, D.L., J. P., the originator of and principal contributor to the Renovation of the Boys' Schools, and the erection of the New Premises for Girls and Infants. May 31st, 1894. This was formally unveiled by Miss Westcombe on the occa- sion of the opening ceremonies on that date when Geo. H. Williamson, Esq. Mayor of Worcester, presided. Mr. T. Rowley Hill was present, and "feelingly acknowledged the kindness which had been shown towards him, and the honour conferred upon him by the erection of the tablet. He also gratefully acknowledged the assistance which had been given by all their friends in carrying out that work. They had all worked together harmoniously and energetically, and those who had been specially charged with official duties, the Treasurer, Mr. E. P. Evans, and the Secretary, Mr. Geo, Lewis, had devoted a great deal of time and care to the work. They were also much indebted to Mr. Berry, the Head Master, and the Ladies' Committee, for the energetic support they had given to the enterprise." Thus he evinced the charming grace of his character, as he took the honour due to himself to place it at once on the shoulders of others. At a Meeting of the Committee of Managers on Tuesday, Oct. 27th, 1896, Mr. George Lewis presiding, the following resolution was passed unanimously: "That we sorrowfully Tlionuis Roii'hy Hill. vii record the death oi our venerable, respected, and beloved president, Mr. T. Rowley Hill, whose munificent j^cnerosity this splendid block of school building's attests, whose kindly sympathy with the work carried on hero his manifold deeds of g'oodness prove, but whose many excellences it were impossible to enumerate. For 56 years Mr. T. Rowley Hill was a liberal subscriber to the funds of this school, for over 35 years an active member of this Committee of Management, and for over 20 years the honoured President. As a committee we gladly recall the pleasure we have derived from our intercourse with him here through so many years — the value of his counsel, the accuracy of his judgment, the largeness of his heart, with the teachers his sympathy, with the children his kindliness, and with all his benevolent inlUience. And as we cherish his memory and seek to carry on the work here, in whose welfare he loved to take such deep intetest, we acknowledge that the loss we have sustained by his removal we cannot adequately express. Resolved further, that we desire to express our condolence with the familv of the late Mr. T. Rowlev Hill in sending them a copy of the foregoing resolution." — Fumishedby Mr. E. Berry, the Head Master. He was Chairman of the Worcester School Board, and a member of the Suckley District School Board, and chairman of the Governing Body o'i the Boys' and Girls' British Schools at vSt. Martin's Gate. In the original building of these schools he had a part, and for the building of the girls' school in con- nection therewith, in 1893, he gave the site, valued at £^100, and towards the building fund £.\ooo. He was one of the most priMiiinenl promoters of the Library movement in Wor- cester, and later oi the Victoria Institute scheme, the suc- cessful completion of which owes much to his generosity and influence. He was once secretary to the Old City Library, viii In Memoriam. which formed the nucleus of the Public Library, and subscribed ;^5oo towards the cost of establishing the Free Public Library on the adoption of the Public Libraries Act. He was one of the first subscribers, of ;^iooo, to the Victoria Institute scheme, and since contributed an additional ;^50o, the last subscription being in response to a special appeal in 1894, when the founda- tion stone of the Institute was laid. It was a recognition to his devotion to the promotion of education that he was elected in November, 1887, one of the Six masters, the governing body of the Royal Free Grammar School, and it is worth noticing that he was the first Nonconformist elected on that body. By this his interest in education, shown by his part in the maintenance of the British Schools and the School Board of which he was chairman up to 1886, was extended to the old endowed schools of the city, with the interests of which he further identified him- self by a noble subscription of ;;^iooo towards augmenting the endowment of the Cathedral School. Mr. Hill's disinterested and splendid services to the city in a variety of capacities was recognised by a public testimonial in 1881. The testimonial took the form of a portrait, and there were 989 subscribers. The portrait, which represents Mr. Hill in the House of Commons, was painted by Mr. Frank Holl, and was hung in the Guildhall at a large public gathering on Sept. 27, 1881. It bears this inscription: "This portrait of Alderman Thomas Rowley Hill, M.P., was painted by means of subscriptions given by his friends and fellow citizens, and was placed in the Assembly Room, Guildhall, in recognition of his private worth and distinguished public services to the citizens of Worcester during his long life among them, of the thorough identification of himself with the interests of the city and county of Worcester, and of the affectionate esteem felt for him by all classes. — Sept. 27, 1881." — Ibid, Thomas Roivlcv Hill. ix In behalf of General City Charities. In the Royal Albert Orphan Asylum at Henwick, Mr. Hill always took a special interest. He was one of the three trustees, and a prominent member of the committee, at whose periodical meetings, he also invariably acted as chairman. He was an annual subscriber, whilst his munificent donations to the institution can best be measured by the fact that he was by them entitled to no less than 67 life votes. He had given no less than ;^i325 to the Asylum, while the late Mrs. Hill had also given ;^200. But what to many will count as more than financial aid the most bountiful, was the ever ready sympathy and cheerful kindliness which he displayed in all affairs of the Asylum, in which and its youthful inmates he always took so fatherly an interest. He was a frequent and ever welcome visitor. Mr. Hill was a Vice-President of the Worcester General Infirmary, amongst whose life-governors he was numbered by reason of his donation of ;^ioo to its funds, and he was at one time a member of the Executive Committee. He showed his approval of the efforts made recently to raise a special fund for providing a Nurses Home in connection with that institution by a generous donation of ;;^5o. Very little known to the public is one good instance of Mr, Hill's munificence. Twenty years ago or more he established some Almshouses in the Bath Road. The houses, of which there were four, are of a good size, and were built especially for the purpose. They are for aged women, and each of the occupants receives seven or eight shillings a week. In Memoriam. He contributed ;^ioo towards the erection of the new Rail- way Mission Hall in East Street, which was recently opened ; and in the foundation stone-laying proceedings of which he took part. It were impossible even to mention all the public charities and charitable societies to which Mr. Hill was a regular subscriber. In fact he helped practically everything of a useful character in the city. — Worcester Chronicle, Oct. lo, 1896. " The Public Library movement might not for many years to come have been brought to a successful issue, but for the impetus it received from Mr. Hill, and his offer of a site near the Public Hall; and although that site was not adopted, the ready support he gave to the suggestion that the value of the site should be a cash contribution to the securing of another site, rendered great help in making it possible to carry on the movement. From time to time, at critical points, when it seemed likely that the whole movement would collapse, Mr. Hill came forward with renewed and liberal efforts ; which not only added substantially to the funds of the committee, but incited other liberal-minded men to give contri- butions also. Mr. Hill during his lifetime declined, with his natural shrinking self-effacement, to have his name connected with any part of the building, but his death has removed all such barriers to the recognition of his services, and they were able now to fully give vent to their inclinations in doing honour to one who had done so much service for the city. The dramatic coincidence of his death, with the opening of the institute would inseparably connect his name with the Victoria Institute. Whatever the City Council or they themselves decided upon, it was true that the memorial of a long and glorious reign would also be the monument of one who had during the greater portion of that reign been one of Thomas Rowley Hill. xi the most eminent and useful citizens of Worcester." — Speech of Mr. Frederick Corbet ; Worcestershire Chronicle, Oct. 24, 1896. Reference was made to his death, in Worcester Cathedral by Canon Knox-Little ; at the Countess of Hunting-don's Church, by the Rev. E. J. Boon ; in the Sansome Walk Chapel, by the Rev. Forbes Jackson, of Reading ; in St. Michael's Church, by the Revs. M. T. Spencer and R. Thursfield ; by the vicar of St. Paul's, the Hon. H. Douglas ; by the Rev. A. Maitland in St. Martin's. Funeral sermons were preached in Angel Street Chapel, by the Rev. Septimus March ; in Park Street Chapel, by the Rev. F. J. Yeats ; in St. Clement's, by the Rev. F. H. RiCHiNGS. Resolutions of respect and appreciation were adopted by the Worcester Liberal Association, the Infirmary Committee, the County Justices, Knightwick Farmers' Associ- ation, Public Library Committee, Cathedral School Governors, Association of Worcester Free Churches. Funeral Sermon by the Rev. Septimus March, in Angel Street Chapel, Oct. 18, 1896. The preacher gave out as his text Job v. 26, "Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in its season." That had been so in the case of their departed friend, who had gone to his grave in his full age. It was not of the circumstances, historical or biographical, or of the details of his life, said Mr. March, that he would speak that morning, but rather of his character — not the environment, but the man. The late Mr. Hill had been what was usually called successful, and he wished to speak (i) of the character- istics that led to thai success, and then (ii) the characteristics which accompanied it. Their friend had been characterised by diligence — the speaker had never known him idle ; and he was xii In Memoriam^ also marked by punctuality^ and was always methodical and pro7npt. His correspondence he had attended to the first thing in the morning with rapidity and terseness. Another character- istic was thrift. He knew how to husband his resources and disliked wastefulness and extravagance. Decision of character had also marked the late Mr. Hill. He did not spend his time weighing the pros and cons of a subject, but almost by intuition arrived at his conclusions, and would give a decided "Yes" or " No." He had, moreover, a strong will. Those who had strong wills were in danger of obstinacy, which had been rightly defined as ' ' Will asserting itself, but unable to justify itself." But if Mr. Hill ever found he could not justify his attitude on any subject he would come round and repent, per- haps not in words, but in actions. He was also characterised by strict integrity, always upholding the motto that " Honesty is the best policy." Many people had these characteristics, and by them had climbed to large success. But they haa not possessed the further characteristics (ii) which had accompanied their friend's success. If they had possessed them, when they became successful they had gradually lost them, because many were the perils and spiritual dangers which beset a prosperous man. In his success Mr. Hill had been characterised by generosity. Their friend had given out of his abundance ; yet no one was more ready than he to do honour to those who "gave the widow's mite," and gave out of their penury. Nevertheless, he was certainly a most generous man. It was in truth, a somewhat rare characteristic, for the more men got, the more loth were they to part with what they had. The personal ambitions grew ; so when one saw a noble exception, it was well to mark it. Mr. Hill's generosity had been thoughtful, not impulsive. He thought matters over, and gave sas Thomas Rotvhy Hill, xiii with discrhnimitiott, and unostentatiously. When he g-iive not anonymously he wanted to stimulate the generosity of others, but there were many quiet, unseen rills of liberality which had trickled here and there, bringing- comfort and cheer to the poor and sad. Another characteristic was hmnilt'tv before God. The De Profundi's (Psalm 130) which they had heard that morn- ing was one of the two Psalms which Mr. Hill had asked should be read to him on his bed of suffering. Love and affec- tion, too, had characterised their late friend, who, if he had not worn his heart upon his sleeve, possessed one nevertheless. If the well was deep the water when reached was sweet. He had faith in ;;/«;/— that was to say, if he trusted a man he trusted him out and out. And with faith in man went loyalty —loyalty to his country, to his Sovereign, the Christian Church here, and the preacher might add, to him also as his minister. Mr. Hill had something better— /rt/'M in God. Early in life he gave his heart to Christ, resolved to do His bidding come what might. Every day he looked into God's Word, spoke with Him, took counsel with Him. And so he lived uprightly, the seed thus early planted in good soil having struck root, had grown, developed, and ripened. For eleven years Mr. Hill had represented the city in Parliament, and how well he did it ! and at the end of those eleven years he was rejected. But he did not thereupon say he would have "nothing more to do with these people," nor had he manifested any resentment ; he set himself to do all he could for the advantage of his fellow citizens, and so the city had been perhaps the gainer by that rejection. Eleven years of life remained to him, and during those years he cared for the culture of his own soul at the same time that he cared for the interests of those round about him. Six years ago Mr. Hill lost his wife, the partner of so many changeful years, and the mother of his children. Then his sons and xiv ■• Jn Memoriam. daughters,* having passed from under the parental roof one by one, and his wife gone, a certain lonesomeness fell upon him. Yet ' ' He was not all unhappy, his resolve Upbore him, and firm faith and evermore Prayer from a living source within the veil Kept him a living soul." The preacher passed on to Mr. Hill's last illness, when after a while his mind seemed clouded and lost to impressions of the outer world. On the afternoon of the day of his death, the preacher said he had gone into the silent room and had gazed upon the face which bore a look of exceeding gentleness. The old lines of strength, and force, and rugged vigour seemed smoothed out. " Now abideth these three, faith, hope, and love — the greatest of these is love " — he had reached his per- fection. Such, added Mr. March, was his word-picture of Thomas Rowley Hill. Some it would not satisfy, they would think he had put too much or too little colour into it, and that light and shade were not properly balanced — he could not help it. It was as he had known him those nineteen years. He hoped that they might all derive some lessons of usefulness as they gazed upon the past. And their friend was now gone into his grave, or rather through the grave to his Eternal Home, in a lull age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season." The Pastor delivered the closing words with evident emotion, which was shared by all as the words of the grand hymn, ** Lead, Kindly Light," rose and filled the chapel. The Blessing was then given, and all stood in solemn silence as Mr. L. G. Winter, who had presided at the organ, played * Mr. Hill leaves two sons and two daughters. — Mr. Thomas W. Hill, of Froxmere Court, Crowle, Mr. E. Henry Hill, of Broadwas Court, Mrs. Kane, wife of the Rev. R. N. Kane, Rector of Suckley, and Mrs. Wilson, wife of the Rev. J. \Yilson, Rector of Knightwick. Thomas Rowley Hill. xv the Dead March in "Saul," with which the service ended. — The Worcestershire Con^egational Ma gazme^ October, 1896. Memorial Service at Malvern. There was an overflowing congregation at Holly Mount Con- gregational Church, Malvern, on Sunday morning, Oct. 18, when a service was held in memory of the late Mr. Thomas Rowley Hill, Appropriate hymns were sung, and the sermon was preached by the pastor. Rev. Walter Lee (Secretary of the Worcestershire Congregational Union), who took for his text Hebrews xi., 4, "He being dead yet speaketh." After refer- ring to the patient way in which Mr. Rowley Hill had borne his last illness, the preacher said : During that time and while his faculties were still clear, he frequently requested the Bible to be read to him, and would himself point out the family portions. He also liked to hear some of his favorite hymns. The last passage of Scripture which he was heard to utter (this with much feeling) was the beautiful and significant verse, "The darkness is past and the true light now shineth." Ves ; whatever of doubt or difficulty, or darkness, there had been in his life, all these had disappeared in the chamber of his afflic- tion. The true light now shineth — the light of faith and hope and love revealed to him, in the presence of that Saviour whom he had loved and faithfully served for more than 60 years. The city and county of Worcester mourn the loss of a true gentleman, a simple, earnest, diligent, upright statesman, a municipal philanthropist, a humble, faithful, noble Christian ; and we in the Church, who knew him well and remember his many kindnesses to our Church, and his profound interest in our welfare, likewise mourn his loss, and join in expressions of respectful sympathy and condv^Ience with the members of the xvi In Memoriam. bereaved family. "He being- dead yet speaketh." His character, his example, his influence, yet speak for him and of him, and speak to each of us, saying, "Go thou and do likewise." Among the characteristics of his life were his remarkable sense of stewardship with regard to the possession and use of his wealth, his time, his talents, and his energy, and his fidelity to convictions, especially with regard to his political and ecclesiastical principles. None could fail to observe his unaffected modesty and humility; there was not a trace of vanity or pride within him. Finally, there was his devoutness of life. He was a man of prayer ; he conducted family worship in his house morning and evening regularly. They thanked God for the noble and useful life which Mr. Rowley Hill was enabled to live — for the ripe old age to which he was spared — for the preservation of his faculties to within a few days of his end, and, above all, for the inspiring example he has left to speak for him to his family, and to all men. — Worcestershire Chronicle, Oct. 24, 1896. Nonconformity in Worcester IVif/i Lin Account of the Congregational Church, and Lists Referring to the County. •>...* I. a TI\aorccc>tcr6hirc Xollai^ nDart\>r. HE Protestant NonconformistsofEng-land trace their orii^in to and take their stand upon The Holy Scriptures as containinj^*^ all things " ^^ vI Z^?^ necessary to salvation, teaching renewal o{ the Holy Spirit, and redemption through our Lord Jesus Christ, in opposition to the Ecclesiastical figment of apostolical succession, and miracle-working priests who, in the sacraments oi baptism and the eucharist, give by magic regeneration and spiritual life. Nonconformists go back to the Reformers before the Reformation, and find their spiritual 6 2 Nonconfo7nnity in Worcester. forerunners in Wyclif and the Lollards. Worcestershire can boast of its Lollard martyr, John Badby by name. In an old chapel of Worcester Cathedral called the Carnaria, dedicated to Thomas a Becket,* and probably in the crypt, on Saturday, the 2nd of January, 1409, sat the reverend father in God, Thomas Peverell, lord bishop of Worcester, holding his court as chief judge ; and before him the accused, a Lollard named John Badby, a Worcestershire man of good family (for Robert Badby had held the honourable office of Escheator for the county in i389-9of), described 2iS faber, which Foxe renders Artificer, " a layman of Evesham in the county of Worcester. " He is accused of maintaining what Nonconformists still maintain in the face of sacerdotalism : — That the sacrament of the body of Christ consecrated by the priest upon the altar is not the true body of Christ by virtue of the words of the sacrament, but that after the sacra- mental words spoken by the priest, the material bread doth remain upon the altar as in the beg-inning-. John Badby said expressly, he would never while he lived believe that any priest could make the body of Christ sacramentally ; that when Christ sat at supper with his disciples He had not his body in his hand. Bishop Peverell having by threats and persuasions endeav- oured in vain to move the culprit, gave sentence, pronounced Badby a heretic, and sent him to headquarters. When * Valentine Green's Histoty of IVoixester, I., 98. t Nash's IVofcesterskire, Int. 13. ■t^MM — o H 5 o :2 z - A IVot'CCsfcrs/iirc Lollard Mitrfyi: 3 hroui^-ht before the Archbishop o^ Canterbury in London, Badby said, " he would believe in the omnipotent God in Trinity; but if every Iiosl being consecrated at the altar were the Lord's body, there would be twenty thousand gods in England." The Archbishop in St. Paul's ratified the Bishop of Worcester's sentence, and handed the heretic to the secular power. In the afternoon of Wednesday, March 5, 1409, John Badby, the Worcestershire artificer and layman was brought to Smithfield, and there, being put into an empty barrel, was bound with iron chains fastened to a stake, having dry wood put about him. Meantime, the prior of St. Bartholomew's in Smithfield, brought the /lost^ in great pomp, with twelve torches borne before, and held it up to their poor victim at the stake, demanding how he believed in it. '' I know well," he replied, '' it is hallowed bread, but not God's body." And then was the tun put over him and the fire kindled. When the innocent soul felt the fire he cried " Mercy ! " calling upon the Lord ; and the prince, the king's oldest son, looking i>n, ordered them to quench the hre, and offered him life and a yearly stipend it he would forsake heresy and accept the faith oi holy church. But, continues Foxe, " this \aliaiit champion for Christ, neglecting the prince's fair words, being fully determined rather to suffer any kind oi torment than so great idolatry and wickedness, refused the offer oi worldly promises. He 4 Nonconfo7'rnity in Worcester. persevered invincibly to the end, not without a great and most cruel battle, but with much greater triumph of victory ; the Spirit of Christ having always the upper hand in His members, maugre the fury, rage and power of the whole world." * Nearly five centuries have passed since John Badby, layman of Evesham, in Worcestershire, was tried and con- demned in Thomas a Becket chapel in Worcester Cathedral. But while the error which he rejected is still maintained by many ecclesiastics of the English Establishment, thank God, the truth and firmness of the martyr, and the sim- plicity of the Gospel he confessed, are the watchwords of English Nonconformity in Worcester and in Britain still. As Wyclif exclaimed, the Truth must prevail. * Foxe, Acts and Monuments, Townsend Ed. IH., 239. Wilkins' Concilia, iii., p. 234. B* * ' Wj';fe'>' II Z\K flDart\>r Biehops of Morccstcr. OKCESTER as a cathedral city possesses the honourable distinction of having among its r- \ \ . vy/ i^i bishops the two most noble Protestant martyr- -^hj. Uk LlSi bishops of the English Reformation, Hugh Latimer and John Hooper. Hugh Latimer was born about the year 1491 at Thur- caston, in the county of Leicester, where his father was a yeoman farmer. At the age of 14 years he went to Cam- bridge, took B.A., and a fellowship of Clare Hall, in 1510. He took orders at Lincoln, was zealous in the Popish religion, and preached against Philip Melancthon in 1524.* About this time he formed a friendship which led to his • Foxe, Acts anJ Monuments, Townsend's Ed., VII., 437; Memoir by G. E. Corrie, Parker Soe. ; Cooper, Atfunec Cantab., I., 30. 6 Nonconformity in Worcester. conversion. He used to walk in the fields with the martyr Thomas Bilney, of Trinity Hall. Latimer writes: — "Master Bilney, or rather Saint Bilney, that suflFered death for God sake, was the instrument whereby God called me to knowledge. For I may thank him, next to God, for that knowledge that I have in the Word of God. For I was as obstinate a papist as any was in England. Bilney came to my study at Cambridge, and desired me for God's sake to hear his confession. I did so, and to say the truth, by his confession I learned more than afore in many years. So from that time forward I began to smell the Word of God and forsake the school doctors and such fooleries." * In December 1530 Latimer addressed a very able and eloquent letter to Henry VHL, urging free liberty of READING the Holy Scriptures. In August 1535 he was elected bishop of Worcester, and consecrated during the ensuing month.! ''Here," says Foxe,j "he continued, instructing his diocese according to the duty of a diligent and vigilant pastor," giving the following lines to say to communicants at the communion : — Of Christ's body this is a token, Which on the cross for your sins was broken ; Wherefore of your sins you must be forsakers, If of Christ's death ye will be partakers. His home was at Hartlebury, and he issued instructions to his clergy each of them, " to obtain if possible a whole * Foxe, Townsend's Ed. iv., 642. t Latimer to Cromwell, Sept. 4, 1535 ; Le Neve, Fasti, 298. X Acts and Monuments (Townsend Ed.), vii., 461. The Martyr Bishops of Worcester. 7 Bible, or at least a Nkw Testament both in Latin and English before Christmas."* "That each of you read over and study every da)- one chapter at least." . . . "That preaching- be not laid aside for any manner of observance, such as a procession or other ceremonies." In Worcester cathedral he caused an image of the Virgin to be stript o{ its ornaments and jewels. He was in his reforms ably supported by Henry [Rami) Holbeach, then the prior. The image when stripped turned out to be the statue of some bishop. "Worcester is behind," writes Latimer, "an ancient and poor city, and yet replenished by men of honesty, though not most wealthy, for by reason of their ' lady ' [the image] they have been given to much idleness, but now that she is gone, they may be turned to laboriousness, and so from ladyncss to godliness. But sir," continues Latimer: — "This city is greatly charged with three things, their school, their bridge, and their wall. As for their school it hath been maintained heretofore by a brotherhood called a Gyld.f I trow, not without some guile, popishly pardoning, and therefore now worthily decried ; so that I am fain myself, poor as I am, to retain the schoolmaster there with my livery, meat and drink, upon the holiday, and some part ^.^i his living beside, because he is honest, and bringeth up their youth after the best sort. •Slrype, Memorials, (ed. 1S22) I. ii., 36S. tThe Guild of the Holy Trinity at Worcester, Nash, II. Afp 138. 8 Nonconformity in Worcester. Vouchsafe the two Friaries, Black and Grey, with their appurtenances, upon this poor ancient city to the maintenance of the aforesaid three things, so necessary for many good purposes, popishness changed into holiness, beggars unbeggared to avoid beggary, when lip-labouring of a few lewd friars should be turned into right praying of the whole city and town." * Latimer was commissioned by the Crown to examine the famous imposture of the Blood of Hales. It was a noted relic kept in the Abbey of Hales in Gloucestershire, said to be a portion of the Saviour's blood shed on Mount Calvary for our salvation ; and the sight of it was supposed to certify those who came and saw of their cleansing and safety. Latimer exposed the deception. He writes : — " We have been bolting and shifting the blood of Hailes all this forenoon. It was wondrously and craftily enclosed and stopped up, for taking of care. And it cleaveth fast to the bottom of the glass that it is in. And verily it seemeth to be an unctious gum and compound of many things. We, Hugh, Bishop of Worcester, Henry, Prior of Worcester, Stephen, Abbot of Monastery of Hales, and Richard Tracy, Esq., Oct. 28, 1538, repaired to the said monastery and have viewed a supposed relic called the blood of Hales enclosed within a round berall garnished in silver. It was opened before a multitude of people, and we found within, a little glass with gum, coloured like blood, honey clarified and coloured with saffron." Latimer was very liberal in his diocese. He writes : — * These two friaries were accordingly granted to the bailiff and citizens of Worcester in the following year. Turner's A'l^/zV/a, 626-27 ; London, 1744. The Martyr Bis/iops of Wanes/ cr. 9 '' I am more inclined to feed many t^rossly and neces- saril) than a few delicioush- and voluptuously. I deli^-ht more to feed hungry bellies than to clothe dead walls." '^ Among^ the Protestants whom Latimer appointed to help in his diocese or to be his chaplains were Thomas Garrett or Garrard, and Thomas Gybson, the printer. Garrard (born circ. 1500; died 1340), had been educated at Carpus Christi, Oxford, and learned the truth o{ the Gospel from the Holy Scriptures. Latimer had him as his chaplain at Hartlebury in i >36.t In Latimer's Register IL, fol. 6/;, Thomas Garrett is named as incumbent of Hartlebury (1539), by Latimer's appointment. He was a firm and consistent Protestant and was compelled to carry a faggot in open procession from St. Mary's to Friswide's, in Oxford. His accusation was, " dispensing abroad works of Martin Luther, and teaching the errors contained in them, namely, that we are justified by faith only, and that every man may read and preach the Word of God." \ He was burnt at Smithfield, 30 July, 1540. Thomas Gybson graduated M.B. at Cambridge in 151 1. He wrote a Concordance to the New Testament, printed by iiimself, aiul published in London, 1533. " This bringer, Thomas Gybson, is a poor suitor to \our Kirdshiji (Cromwell) •24 Dec. 1538, I hirtkbury. Latiimr t.j oikj in prison, Strypc, Memoiiuls, III., part ii., p. 296. Ed. of 1822. t Latimer's IJ/e atui LiUcn, by Corrie, Parker Soc., II. 41S. \ I-'oxc, Acts and Mon., v. 421-428. Townscnd's Ed. lo Nonconformity in Worcester. that he may by your favour have the printing of our book. He is an honest, poor man, and will set it forth in good letter and sell it cheap." * He fled to Switzerland in the reign of Mary, and was in Geneva in 1557. He had on his return a license to practise physic. He taught the Oxford clergyman, John Daye, printing, afterwards the famous Protestant printer of Elizabeth's reign. His wife and daughter became members of the English congregation at Geneva, 20 Nov., 1557. He died in 1562.! Thos. Gibson's device was a sleeper awakened by one who points to the rising sun. Day adopted this device with the punning motto, "Arise, for it is Day." Latimer took the part of the poor against the oppression and injustice of the rich. He wrote a letter to Cromwell in behalf of a minister named Large, "who was wronged by one Mr. Clopton, a papist commissioner. This Clopton had never heard Large, nor could (if he had) have judged of his doctrine, yet he stirred up the people against him as Master Nevell can tell you."| Latimer looked after the remote parts of his diocese. " Persuade Anthony Barker (of Stratford-on-Avon), to tarry and preach there, to the reformation of that blind end of my diocese." § Dr. Barnes hath preached here with me at Hartlebury, and at my , * Latimei's Life, by Corrie, II. 380. \ Diet. Nat. Biog., Cooper, Athena: Cantab., I. 217, 553. \ From Pershore, in his visitation, 6 Oct., 1537. § Latimer's Works, Corrie (Parker Soc.) II. 384. The Martyr Bishops of Worcester. ii request at Winchester and Evesham. Me is aKme in handHng- a piece of Scripture, and in setting tortii Clirist he hath no fellow." * But Latimer's influence was most telliniif in the steps he took for Bible Reading and Bible Circulation. He had as chaplain Rodolph Bradford, t who had been imprisoned two years in Ireland as a hawker of Frith's Eiii^lish Testa- ments, and for preaching- the Gospel. And he prepared the way to bring as a resident in Worcester, the printer John OswEN from Ipswich, appointed by Edward VI. " prynter for the Principality of Wales, and marshes of the same." In the British Museum are three New Testaments in Eng-lish printed by Oswen in Worcester, one small folio, 1548 ; ox\Q^ quarto, 1550 ; and one a pocket Testament i6mo. To Worcester belongs the honourable distinction of being the first English city outside London in which at this early date English Bibles were printed for the use of the people. And beautiful specimens of Black-letter printing they are, well worth a visit to the British Museum Library to see. That John Oswen was himself a zealous Protestant is clear from his address *' The Printer to the Reader^ " prefixed to one of his New Testaments. He says: "Whereas some Testaments have had notes at the end oi the chapters, I have added notes, but not in the margin, or there would not • Ibui. p. 389. t Born at Twyfonl in Oxfordshire, educated at Eton, at King's, Camb. 1519., D.D >n 1535- 12 Nonconformity in Worcester. be room for noting other places of vScripture. The best means to understand Scripture is to turn to other places makino- mention of the same thinQ'. Also the unlearned might read the notes as if they were Scripture. So I put them at the end of the book. Here is an Almanack at what time the sun rises and sets through every month of the year, and what Lesson in the New Testament is read at Matins and Evensong. Imprinted the xii daye of January, Anno do. M. CCCCC. L. at Worcester by John Oswen." * The following are specimens of the notes : — Close of Prologue to the Romans. Now go to Reader, and according to the order of Paul's writing even so be thou. I. Behold thyself diligently in the law of God, and see there thy just damnation. 2. Turn thine eyes to Christ, and see there the exceeding mercy of thy most kind and loving Father. 3. Remember that Christ made not his Atonement that thou shouldest anger God again, neither died He for thy sins that thou shouldest live still in them. Neither cleanseth He thee that thou shouldest return as a swyne unto thine own puddle again ; but that thou shouldest be a new creature and live a new lyfe after the will of God, and not of the flesh. And be diligent, lest through thine own negligence and unthankfulness thou lose this favour and mercy again. Farewell, f * See Oswen's New Test. Preface, Brit. Mus. Lib. t John Oswen's New Testament, 1548, i6mo., B. M. Lib. The Miuiyr Bishops oj l\' on ester. 13 "Jesus, oratter the Hebrew /t'-sv/^/, is by interpretation Savioi'k. Christ, in Hebrew Messias, siij^nifies iinointal. Kmanii-:!- is interpreted God itu'//i iis, wliitli name was ^iven unto Christ because He, being God, was (as Paul witnessetli) fuuiul like unto us in all thini;'s, sin only excepted." " When Paul says ' Faith justifieth,' understand thereby faith causeth that we be accounted just, reputed rit^hteous, and that our sins be not imputed to us, but forj^iven for Christ's sake. When James saith, ' works justify,' he means this : — Works declare us just, and show evidently that we be ri<;hteous. — Thus thou shall make them accord."* Soon after the passinof of the Act of iJie Six Articles., Latimer resigned his bishopric, i Jul)', 1539, and when he first put off his rochet in his chamber amon|»" his friends, suddenly he o-ave a skip on the floor for joy, feehngf his shoulder so light, and being discharged, as he said, of such a heavy burden.! Although the House of Commons, 9 Jan., 1548-9, desired that Latimer might be reinstated in the see of Worcester, he peremptorily refused to accept that or any other bishopric. On the accession of Queen Mary, he was committed to the lower, and on 16 October, 1555, was burnt to death with Bishop Ridley at Canditch near the front oi Balliol College, Oxford. In the flames he addressed to Ridley the memorable words, "Be o^ good comfort, master Ridley, and pla\- tiie man : we shall this * Ibid. Note on the Epistle of James. t Foxe, Acts and Afonumint!:, as before, vii. 463. 14 Nonconformity in Worcester. day by God's grace light such a candle in England, as I trust, shall never be put out." * It is true that the principle of religious equality was not fully understood by any religious party in Latimer's day ; but the statement that he cruelly preached at and taunted a Romanist before his sufferings will not bear investigation. The Romanist to be executed was Forest, v/hom Burnet t describes as "an indifferent kind of person;" and there is a letter extant from Latimer to Lord Cromwell, saying '' Sir, if it be your wish as it is, that I shall play the fool after my customable manner when Forest shall suffer, I would wish that my stage stood near unto Forest, for I would endeavour myself so to content the people, that therewith I might also convert Forest, God so helping, or rather altogether working ; wherefore I would that he should hear what I shall say." Latimer considered the duty so distasteful that he calls it " playing the fool ; " yet he desires, seeing the King ordered him do it, that the preaching might be blest to the conversion of the man. We have not the very words preached, but this expression of his intention frees Latimer from the accusation of wanton taunt and cruelty on the occasion. | * His dress was noteworthy when on his trial. "He had a kerchief on his head, and upon it a nightcap or two, and a great cap (such as townsmen use, with two broad flaps to button under the chin), wearing an old threadbare Bristowe frieze gown girded to his body with a penny leather girdle, at the which hanged, by a long string of leather, his Testa- ment ; and his spectacles without case, depending about his neck upon his breast." Thus he appeared before his judges. Foxe, as before, vii. 529. \ History of the Reformation, IV., 432. \ Remains of Latimer, Corrie (Parker See), I. 266, H., 391-2. The Martyr Bishops of U\)rccstcr. 15 It must be remembered also that the executions of Papists were few and far between, and on pohtical grounds; whereas those of Protestants were wholesale in Mary's reign, and in accordance with the doctrine of Romanism, still avowed in the Syllabus and Vatican Decrees.* In proof of the firm hold which the teachings of Latimer, and the reading of Holy Scripture had taken upon the families of Worcester, and even upon the young, we cite the following narrative: — t In 1546, John Davis a boy of twelve years, pupil in the Grammar School, was apprentice or servant in the house of Mr. Thomas Johnson, Apothecary in Worcester, his own uncle, who used to read the New Testament and other good English books, and composed a Ballad on " the Shaven Crowns." John learnt himself to read these books and imbibed their teachings ; but his mistress, Alice Johnson the Apothecary's wife, made complaint, and at the suggestion of certain of the Canons and one Thos. Parton, and the wife of Nicholas Brooke, organ maker, planned a way to betray the boy. They employed a schoolfellow (Oliver Brooke), under pretence to be instructed, to see his English books and to get hold of some of his writings against the Six .iHii/es. The boy was siezed and im- prisoned ; one Richard Howborough held his finger in the candle to persuade him from burning, and frighten him to recant. But John was firm, and was removed to an inner prison called the Peep-hole, "where Robert Vould the bailiff • Syllal'USy Dec. 8, 1S64. § V 24 ; § X. t The Imprisonment of John Davis, a boy of Worcester. Written by himself in after life. MS. Harl. 425. fol, 69. .SV/- Camden Society, Nichols, J. G. 1 6 Nonconformity in Worcester. laid upon him a pair of bolts, so that he could not lift up his small legs, but slipt them forward upon the ground, the coldness of which irons he felt in his ancles all his life." With these bolts fastened to him he had to lie night after night on the cold ground. His relatives were not allowed to see him ; but two Canons came to see if he would recant. He was brought before the bishop's chancellor in the Worcester Guildhall. Being found guilty he was sent back to the common gaol, among thieves and murderers, to await execution. But by the mercy of God he was rescued, before the sentence was finally pronounced Henry VIII. died, and Edward VI. came to the throne. This steadfast boy endured in prison from August 14 till within seven days of Easter. In Mary's reign he had to leave the country. He lived to grow to riper years and became a minister of Christ's Gospel.* Let us hope that many an English boy or girl taught in our English Board Schools, without priest or catechism, to read those Holy Scriptures, "that are able to make wise unto salvation," in these days of semi-Romish churchism, will be firm to witness for Christ and His gospel in riper years, should the Whitgift and Aylmer of 1897 succeed in setting aside the Bible for clerical-indoctrination and church-superstitions in old England again. The other martyr Bishop whose life and death honour the see of Worcester and sowed the seeds of Protestant Nonconformity in the city and county was John Hooper. Born in Somerset, he graduated B.A, at Oxford in 15 19, * Foxe, Acts and Alonuments, Townsend's Ed., viii., 554. 1 D-, O o ?^ X ^ h^ ■^ ■5 X ^ o k '!''■ .v)'^''/^/;f ''~^ J ■^ ■^ K .'-0 O ^ The Martyr Bishops of Worcester. i 7 and embraciiii^ tlie tenets oi Martin Luther, was as a preacher oi Christ's Gospel compelled to flee once and again from the inquisitorial persecution of ecclesiastics in England. In 1546 he found refuge in Switzerland. He married Anna de Tserelas, a lady of Antwerp, at Basle, in 1546. He settled in Zurich, and enjoyed the warm friend- ship of Bullinger, whose love of Holy Scripture he imbibed, and followed Zwingli and John Laski * in his views of the simplicity of Christ's church and its organization. Hooper returned to England in 1549, and became chaplain to the Protector Somerset. In 1550 he refused the bishopric of Gloucester, because he would not wear the vestments, which he regarded as impious, and opposed to Scripture. Edward \'I. with his own hand erased the obnoxious requirement, and issued a dispensation freeing him from any pains and penalties incurred by a departure from the forms of consecration. Nevertheless, the clerical party succeeded in imprisoning him for a time. By the advice o{ Bucer he was consecrated March ur oi Christ, our only Mediator and Redeemer. In the sacrament o'i the Lord's Supper there is no transub- stantiation, no corporal or local presence of Christ in, under, or with the bread and wine ; but |it is to be partaken] spiritually by faith, believing the Son of God to be made man, and that by His death He might satisfy for the sins of the world. Among- his injunctions (1551) to the clergy are the following : — That every one of you preach every Sunday. Be diligent in reading and studying the Holy Scriptures. Teach the Ten Commandments as they stand in Exodus xx. and no otherwise.* Remove all images and signs of superstition from the church, f • It is well known that Romanists omit the second commandment, and make the number up to ten by dividing the Tenth Commandment into two. t This had already been done in Worcester. " 1547 and 8. The great brazen candle- stick and iK-am of timl)cr l>efore the High Altar was taken away. 10 Jan. So were all the Images on the High Altar, and on all the church, destroyed. No candles hallowed or borne on Candlemas day. No Ashes hallowed on .\llhallow day. No Palms hallowed nor + l)orne on Palm Sunday. No creeping to the + on Good Friday. No fire hallowed but the I'.iscal Taper and the Font, on E.astcr eve. On E.ister Day at the Resurrection, the Pix witli the S.icrament in it was taken out of the sepulchre, the Quire singing Christ is Kisni, without procession. 20 Oct. The Cup with the Hody of Christ was taken from the High Altar in the Cathc- er, nor font; and on Easter Tuesday, April 2j, the mass, mattins, and evensong, said and ^ung in ENr.!.!-^!!, 1549. All Mass-lxx)ks Graduals, Grailes, Pies, Portuasses, Legends, brought to the Bishop of the sec and burnt.'' ColUcla in lUst. Dan. Hughes, Edgar Tower, Worcester. From Bp. Blandford's Diary. 22 Nonconformity in Worcester. No man in the parish that use to keep open any ale-house, tavern, tap-house, is to do so at the time of service, before noon or after noon. No glass painting of any image or picture of any saint in the windows. That ye cause to be defaced all such images as do yet remain painted upon any of the walls of your churches. That there be provided in every church a Bible of the largest volume in English, and the Paraphrase of Erasmus in a box. And among the enquiries for the people are the following : — Whether the Table for the Communion be decked and apparelled behind and before as altars were wont to be decked. Whether the table stand in such a place as the people may most conveniently hear the godly psalm and prayers said by the minister at the time of service and the Communion. Whether there be a Bible of largest volume with the Para- phrase of Erasmus in English, in a convenient place in the church ; so that everybody may come to the same at time convenient. Whether all images are taken clean out of the church. Whether the clergy require any to come to auricular confession. Regarding the effect of these articles in his Worcester diocese, Hooper writes on July 6, 1552. " Since my coming down I have been to Worcester, and thought not to have departed thence till I had set things in good order as near as I could. But the negligence of the ministers in Gloucestershire compelled me to return." He came back to Worcester soon, bringing with him the same articles, which TJic Marivr Bishops of \Vo)ccsicr. 23 led him \\\\o ct^iitroveisy witli two ot the canons of the Cathedral, Henry Johffe and Robert Johnson, who objected to sig-n. Mr. Cheke and Mr. Hurley were on the bishop's side. ** I dare say," he writes, '* there is not a church to preach God's word in more j^oodly within this realm, but I see much mischief in mens hearts by many tokens." He was untiring- in his ministerial labours, preaching every day, and occasionally three times a day. " I entreat you," writes his wife to Bullinger (Apr. 3, 1551), "to recommend him to be more moderate in his labours, for he preaches four, or at least three times every day." The lives of his family as well as his own were placed in jeopardy by the sweating sickness, a fatal disorder then prevalent. On the death of Edward VI. (6 July, 1553), and the accession of Mary, he was summoned under the sway of Romanism to Richmond, and imprisoned in the F'leet ; and after many persecutions and privations he was burnt to death at Gloucester, on Feb. 9, 1554-5. He walked cheerfully to the fatal spot, and there knelt down and prayed thus : — " O Lord Jesus, for whose love I leave willing^ly this life, and desire the bitter death of the cross with the loss of all my worldly thiiii^'s, Thou sccst that when I miijht live in wealth to worship a false God, I choose rather the torments of my body and the loss of this my life, and have counted all but vile dust that I might win Thee. Such love, dear Lord, hast Thou laid up in my breast that I hunger for Thee as the deer that is wounded desireth the soil ; so send Thy Holy Comforter to aid and strengthen this weak piece of earth, that I may pass 24 Nonconformity in Worcester, through the fury of this fire into Thy bosom. O Heavenly Father forgive me my sins as I forgive all the world. O sweet Son of God my Saviour, spread Thy wings over me." His last words were, " Lord Jesus have mercy upon me ; Lord Jesus receive my spirit."* It is evident that our history would be lacking in its very foundations, had we omitted the lives of these two nonconforming bishops of Worcester, who by their teaching and in their martyrdom sowed the seeds of Protestantism — and " kindled such a candle in England as by God's grace shall never be put out." To them we owe an open Bible, a simple communion-table, a plain gospel preached in Eng- land, an abhorrence of Ritualism and Sacerdotalism, whether Anglican or Roman ; and the distinctive features of our British Christianity, Welsh, Scotch, and English. Our watchword is, as Chillingworth put it, THE BIBLE ONLY. Nothing so clearly indicates the Romish Geist now influencing many priests and prelates of the Establish- ment, as does their present outcry against our Board-schools, — " ONLY the Bible in them." After three centuries our eyes behold the two Hierarchies, Roman and Anglican, warring side by side, and with one voice, against the Bible ONLY — against the sufficiency of Holy Scripture in the hands of the people. For them Latimer and Hooper suffered in vain. Protestants may have the conflict of the Reforma- tion over again, but victory must again be on our side. The Nonconformist plea is demonstrated ; Reformation in * Bishop Hooper's Works, Parker Society, Biog. notice, vol. II. xxix. The Martyr Bishops of Worcester. 25 the seventeeiitli ceiitur\' tlicl not g^o far eiunu^li. Next time it will be more complete, Hebrews iv. 12. I searched in vain for any wills o{ I.atimer and Hooper in the Preroj^atixe court. Whatever little they possessed was confiscated. IMiey i>-ave up all for Christ. Staying- at St. Leonards-on-Sea while writin*^ this, I \isited three churches of the Eng^hsh Kstabhshineiit. In the first, Purg-atory was preached by a priest dressed up in scarlet hke the Pope, a g^reat cross carried before him by a stalwart youth in red ; processions, bowings to the altar, crossings, &c. In a second, similar bowings and crossings, lighted candles on tlie altar, behind which was a painting, and above in the window the body of Christ on the cross ; banners borne in procession about the aisles ; and this admonition in a small book in the pew : — " Fix your mind on the great fact that you are present at the Sacrifice ; notice when the Consecration takes place, so that you may not let our Lord's Sacramental Advent pass without doing homage to Him as He visits the Altar in His humility." In a third, the Romish Mass was transacted ; gorgeously apparelled priests, mimicking to the letter the genuflections and posturings of that church, which simply scorns their Orders and condemns them as lay-schismatics. Prayers were gabbled over like the Latin oS. the Missal, incense in clouds, grovelling prostrations before the host, elevation of the host ; the elements not given to the congregation ; in fact all the idolatry which their own prayer book designates as *' blasphemous fables and dangerous deceits." This spectacle is transacted week by week and year after year beneath the eyes of the bishop who either approves or connives. And this is the religion practiced with impunity in the church whicli Protestant England is paying for and patronizing by law. III. ^be puritan Xccturere. [URiNG the Marian persecution, many Protestant ministers fled to Germany and Switzerland, and found a home in the Reformed churches of the Continent. Among these was Edwin Sandys.* He went to Strasburg for a year, and thence to Peter Martyr's house in Zurich. He returned to England on Jan. 13, 1558-9, and was made Bishop of Worcester, 21 Dec. 1559, and one of the translators of the Bishops' Bible, 1565. He continued at Worcester till 1570. Edwin Sandys was disposed to favour the Puritans, and rebuked Queen Elizabeth for having a crucifix. He had for his chaplain at Worcester, t Thomas Wilson, j who had found a refuge at Frankfort. Returning in 1559, he was * Born 1519 at Hawkshead, Furness, Lancashire ; B.A. of St. John's, Cambridge, 1539, and afterwards Vice-chancellor of the University. See Cooper's Athena; Cantab., II., 25, t Neal, Hist. 0/ the Puritans, I., 132, 160. \ Born in Westmoreland, fellow of St. John's, Camb., 1548. The Puritan Lecturers. 27 ordained and made a canon o{ Worcester. In the Convoca- tion o\ 1562-3, he with Robert Avys, served as proctor for the Chapter of Worcester, and voted (as did Bishop Sandys), ag-ainst the habits, the cross in Baptism, kneelino- at the Communion, the minister turning- his back to the people, and other ceremonies which the Puritans objected to as Romanistic* He afterwards became Dean of Worcester, and vicar of Blockley. His predecessor in the Deanery, Dean Pedder, also gave his vote against the habits and other ceremonies. Indeed, among those present there was a majority (43 against 37) on the Puritan side ; but by means of proxies the motion was negatived by a majority of one. Wilson and Avys, representing Worcester, also signed certain articles demanding, "that all images of the Trinity and of the Holy Ghost be defaced, and that roods and all other images that have been, or hereafter may be superstitiously abused, be taken away out of all places, public and private, and utterly destroyed." t Another Puritan preacher and lecturer in Worcester was Robert Abbot, elder brother of Archbishop Abbot. He had been educated at Guildford, his birthplace, J and was scholar of Balliol College, Oxford, in 1375. He became rector of All Saints, in Worcester, in 1588. A sermon he • Slrypc, Annals, I. i., 264, 502. Neil, I. 150. t Slrypc, Annals, I. i., 508, 512. ; Fuller's Worthies, Surrey. Abbot married Bridjjet Cheynell, mother of the cmimnt rrcsbytcrian divine, Francis Cheynell, Did. of Nat. Htog. 28 Nonconfoi^mity in Worcester. preached at Worcester resulted in his appointment to lecture in the Cathedral on Sunday afternoons. Large congrega- tions gathered in the Nave, and listened to his Bible preach- ing, and his denunciations of Romanising tendencies. A work of his is extant entitled, " The Mirror of Papists' Subtleties ; discovering divers wretched and miserable evasions and shifts gathered in behalf of one Paul Spence, late prisoner in the Castle of Worcester, but now living at his liberty abroad. "''^ He tells us he published this book only for the citizens of Worcester, and people thereabouts, for their satisfaction in this cause, wherein he knew many of them de- sired to be satisfied. This was Robert Abbot's first-fruits, being a young man of thirty, and in the spring of 1590.! In the same year (1589-90) the Worcester corporation appointed a Lecturer "to preach at the College [as the Cathedral was then called] every Sunday, so long as it seems good to this house." The Lecturer was Mr. Kinnett,]: and he continued to fill the office till his death. He was succeeded by Mr. Harkell,§ and in 1627 the corporation petitioned Charles L for a prebend for the Lecturer, who received a portion of his income from them, which should have been supplemented by a grant from the Dean and Chapter. In 161 9 the king issued an order — (i) That the * Strype, Life of Whit gift, II. pp. 210, 21 1, t Robert Abbot afterwards became professor of divinity in Oxford, and Bishop of Salisbury. Sec Strype as before, and Diet, of National Biog. \ Noake's Monastery and Cathedral of Worcester, p. 551. § Noake, Worcester in olden times, p. 114. The Puritan Lecturers. 29 Sunday afternoon sermon be in tlie form o\ question anel answer. (2) That every Lecturer read divine service accord- inj^ to the Liturgy, in liis surplice and hood, before the lecture. (3) That where a Lecture is set up it may be read by a company of i>-rave and orthodox Divines, near adjoin- ing" and in the same diocese, and that they preach in ^owns, not in cloaks as too many do use. (4) That if a corporation ^42. We arc informed that John Halcister, parson of St. Nicholas, and Henry Hackct, parson oi St. Helen's, in the county of Worcester, have long continued to be very schismatical and seditious preachers, and that having • Commons^ Journals fll. March 7, 1642-3. t Sec my Noiif. in Unts, pp. 709, S34. D 34 NonconforTnity in Worcester'. abandoned their said cures, they are now actually joined the rebels."* Among the same letters from the king we find one to Prideaux, the Bishop of Worcester, warning him against Brownists, Anabaptists and other Sectaries. It is dated 22 Dec. 1642. " Charles Rex. Rev. Father in God, as often as we observe the distracted and calamitous condition of our whole kingdom, occasioned by the present rebellion, we cannot but notice, that a principal cause of the said rebellion have \sic\ been the great increase of Brownists, Anabaptists, and other Sectaries and persons mistaken and mispersuaded in their religion. And therefore for the remedying and preventing of anything of that nature that may be amiss in your Sea, and for putting in execu- tion of our Ecclesiastical lawes which lately have been almost neglected, Our will and pleasure is, and we do hereby strictly require you with all care and vigilance to attend your pastoral charge ; and to that end to reside at our city of Worcester, for the better taking account of such Acts and things as belong to your office and jurisdiction." The issue of this letter as far as the bishop Prideaux is concerned appears in the following : — " 1642, Dec. 12, for ringing a peale upon my lord bishop's return to Worcester, after eleven weeks' absence, since first the rebels entered Worcester," 2s. 6d. As to the demands of the Mayor and Citizens for their service in the Cathedral it appears they gained their point, * Bundle of Letters of Charles I. in the custody of the Dean and Chapter of Worcester, in the Chapter House. Henry Hacket, B.A., was appointed incumbent of Elmley Castle in 1633, and came to St. Helen's, Worcester, in 1636. 5^^ Nash's Worcestershire. The Puritan Lecturers. 35 and the Dean and Chapter, in spite of Laud and Charles I., had to yield, as the following letter shows : — " Sir, VVe have treated with the Mayor and Sheriffs and some of the special citizens about their petition against the D. and C, and do find them somewhat inchnable to peace. The terms, we gather, they will stand to, are : — The having their seats and the pulpit made as formerly they were. ;^20 per an. towards their Lecturer's stipend. The School to be reduced to the old place. Their freedom of Burial in the Church and Churchyard at the old rates. The weekly alms to be given to their poor as heretofore. That the offended Bishop may have satisfaction and his consent obtained to a peace and retraction of the petition, and that Mr. Tompkins the sub-dean (with whom they seem to be highly offended) must submit. Dated i Apr., 1641."* Among- the occasional Lecturers was the devout and learned Henry Bright, of Balliol College, Oxford. He took his M.A. Jan. 27, 1586-7. He was a native of Wor- cester, and became Master of the King's school in the city, a post which he filled for 35 years (i 591- 1626) with great efficiency. He had a most excellent facult\ in instructing youths in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, and most oi his pupils distinguished themselves at the Universities. For the last seven years oi his life he was prebendary of the Cathedral (fifth stall). He was an excellent preacher, resorted to far and near. He died March 4, 1626, and was • MS. in Edgar Tower. 36 Nonconformity in Worcester. buried in the Cathedral."* Fuller writes, *'I beheld Master Bright placed by Divine Providence in this city in the Marches that he might equally communicate the lustre of grammar learning to youth both of England and Wales." Joseph Hall, Dean of Worcester at the time, wrote Bright's epitaph, which Fuller gives, f * Wood's Fasti, II. 132. t lyoit /lies of England, Tegg's Ed. III., 376. The Rev. Richard Baxter, ISoin 1615, Died 1 69 1. Ministdr of Kidderminsttr, 164I-1662. IV. XTbe Commonwcaltb flDinieters. N the summer of the year 1636 a young man of twenty-three years, dehcate in looks and of weakly frame, visited Worcester to receive ordination at the hands of the old bishop, John Thornborough, now in his 90th year. The youth had never been to college ; but he was a good scholar ; and his application was backed up by Richard Foley, sometime mayor of Dudley, who had lately founded a grammar school in that borough, and had been advised to the appointment o( this young man as master. His examination being satisfactorily passed, the old bishop ordained, with other candidates, the young schoolmaster,* • Baxter did not take im/vsitioti of hanas to be absolutely essential to ordination. He mentions " a bishop of Worcester in his time, so lame of the gout that he could not move his hand to a man's head, and yet never heard a nullity suspected in his ordinations." Calamy's Abridgment, i., 134. The bishop referred to must have been John Thornlwrough, who was a martyr to the gout, and as we have said, 90 years of age when he ordained Baxter. Those ordained on the occasion probably had no bishop's hand on their heads. 38 Nonconformity in Worcester. and he became a clergyman of the EstabHshed Church. That young man was Richard Baxter, a name more widely known and honoured than that of the prelate who set him apart to the work of teaching and ministration. Little did the aged prelate think that the obscure, weakly, young schoolmaster before him was to become the leader of the Nonconformists of England, and one of the most voluminous and distinguished writers of the century. Baxter teaching scholars at Dudley, after a short ministry at Bridgenorth as assistant to Wm. Madstard, was in 1641 chosen minister of the parish church of Kidderminster, and exerted a wide and powerful influence upon the churches of Worcestershire, and the religious controversies of England throughout the Commonwealth, and after the Restoration, till his death on Dec. 8, 1691 ; and, in his writings, onwards to the present day. After his settlement at Kidderminster in the place of the incompetent vicar, Danse, Baxter had to withdraw a while on account of the excitement of the rabble, who cried, "Down with the Roundheads ; '^ and on his way to Gloucester, as he passed but through a corner of the suburbs of Worcester, they that knew him not cried, "Down with the Roundheads," and he was glad to spur on and be gone. "Coming to Gloucester," he continues, " I found a civil, courteous, and religious people, as different from Worcester as if they lived under a different Govern- ment. . . In Gloucestershire they were for the Parliament, The Comnionivcalth Ministers. 39 in Worcestershire wholly for the king-. When I had been at Gloucester a month, my neig'hbours of Kidderminster came for me home. So I bid my host (Mr. Darney, the town-clerk) and my friends farewell. After a time I was fain to withdraw from Kidderminster ai^'-ain, and being- with one Mr. Hunt, near Inkborough, there came a party of the Earl of Essex 's army to block up Lord Byron in Worcester. They lay in a meadow near Powick, above a mile from Worcester, and I went to see them. There were several excellent divines as chaplains to the several regiments, of whom Mr. Bifield and Mr. Moor quartered with us at Kidderminster. The brigades in Kidderminster marched off to Worcester, and seeing no safety in stopping at home, and there was such excellent preaching among them at Worcester, that I stayed there among them a few days. Hereupon I was persuaded to go to Coventry, to stay with Mr. Simon King, the minister, sometime schoolmaster with me at Bridgenorth. After a month's stay, I complied with a desire that I should preach to the soldiers once or twice a week, and remained a year, following my studies as quietly as in a time of peace." * Baxter goes on to relate how he was induced to become chaplain to Col. Whalley's regiment, which was sent to lay • " During the siege (June, 1646) Dr. Warmestry and Richard Baxter took the oppor- tunity of discoursing upon points of divinity. The first point which Baxter undertook to defend was, th.nt there was no difTerence lK-twecn a church and any common place. They disputed for several hours and parted friends." N.ish, II., App. 98; AV/////af the nth monili, 1655. March 20, 1655. 44 Nonconformity in Worcester. Tho. Wright, Teacher at Hartle- bury. *JoHN NoTT, Teacher at Sheriff Hales in Staffordshire. *Henry Osland, Teacher of the Church at Bewdley. John Hill, Minister at CHfton- upon-Thame. *Tho. Baldwine, Minister at Wol- verley. *RiCH. Wooley, Minister at Sal- warpe. John Freeston, Minister at Hampton Lovet. *RiCHARD Sergeant (late of Stone), Preacher at Kiderminster, ^Andrew Trusteram, Pastor of the Church at Clent. *Tho. Bromwich, Minister at Kemsey. Tho. Francke, Teacher at Nan- ton-Beachamp. John Tayler, Minister at Dud- ley. *WiLL. Spicer, Minister at Stone. ^Humphrey Wolden, Minister of Broome. Sam. Bowater, Rector of Astley. *Benjamin Baxter, Minister of Upton-upon-Severne. Will. Lole, Minister at Priton. Tho. Francis, Minister at Doder- hill. Tho. Jackman, Minister at Bar- roug-h. Will. Durham, Pastor at Tre- ding-ton. Tho. Easton, Pastor at Batesford, Gloucestershire. Giles Collier, Pastor of the Church at Blockley. *George Hopkins \ Ministers at Tho. Matthews ) Evesham. Joh. Dalphine, Pastor of the Church at Honiborne. Joseph Treble, Pastor of Church Lench. Will. Willes, Preacher at Littleton. Rich. Beeston, Preacher at Breedon. *WiLL. Kimberley, Preacher at Ridmerley. Preachers in the City of Wor- cester. Jo. WiLLMOT, Preacher at Per- shore. Fra. Hyatt, Minister at Ecking- ton. Robert Browne, Minister at White Lady Aston. *Gervice Bryan, Pastor of the Church at Old Swineford and Sturbridge. John Dedicote, Preacher at Abbotesley. "^Joseph Baker Rich. Fincher The Commonwealth Ministers. 45 The names marked with an asterisk are mentioned by Baxter himself in Reliq. Baxf.^ and he adds others who joined chiefly from other counties, viz. : — Mr. WiLSBV, of Womborne. Mr. Dowley, of Stoke. John Reignolds, of Wolver- John Spilsbury, of Bromsgrove. Hampton. Mr. Juice, of Worcester. Joseph Rocke, of Rowley. Edw.\rd Bouchier, of Church-hill. Giles Wooley. Stephen Baxter. Ambrose Sp.\rry, of Martley. *' All of them worthy men, eminent for piety, modera- tion and ministerial abilities." Baxter also gives in full a statement dated Sept. 20, 1653, to this effect : — " We, whose names are under written, haviiii^ had conference with divers of our brethren in the ministry of Worcestershire concerninsj their Ag'reement and Association . do approve of their Christian intendments in the general. Tho. Warmestrv. Tho. Good."* In their Association the Ministers agreed upon a Monthly Meeting at certain market towns, and these were constantly kept up at Evesham and Kidderminster. They arranged to have lectures in every place in the county that had need. They chose four worthy men, Andrew Tristram, Henry Oasland, Thos. Baldwin, Jos. Treble, to preach one Sunday a month at places most in need. It was • Rfliif. Bajct., P.irt II., p. 149. "This is ih.it Dr. Warmcstr)," adds Baxter, "who, when I «as silencal by Bishop Moriey, and he made Dean of Worcester, came purposely to my flock to preach those vehement tedious invectives, of which more hereafter." 46 Nonconformity in Worcester. called the Londoners' Lecture, because the Londoners gave pecuniary assistance in its support. One of the Articles of Agreement ran thus : — XX. R. I. — We judge it convenient to meet in five several Associations at five several places in the county, namely, at Worcester, Evesham, Upton, Kidderminster and Bromsgrove, and this once a month on a day to be agreed on (or oftener if need require). XX. R. 17. — We shall once a quarter, the ist Friday of March, May, August and October (and oftener if urgent occa- sion require), send delegates from all these Associations, to Worcester, where we shall hold a more general meeting, for the resolving of greatest difficulties, and the more unanimous carrying on the work of the Gospel. 18. — We should admit into these our Associations the neigh- bour ministers also of other counties where no such Associations are, or are so remote that they can not well join in them.* We meet with a ' ' Judgment and Advice of the Associated Ministers of Worcestershire, held at Worcester, Aug. 6, 1658, concerning the endeavours of ecclesiastical peace and the Waies and Meanes of Christian Unity, which Mr. John DuREY doth present ; sent to him in the name and by the appointment of the aforesaid Assembly by Rich. Baxter, pastor of the church at Kidderminster, 1658." It contains the following brief but weighty statements : — "The Scripture is a Rule both plain and perfect, a heretic may misinterpret the words of any other Confession as well as * Christian Concord, or the Agreefnent of the Associated Pastors and Chinches of Wor- cestershire ; with Rich. Baxter's Explication and Defence of it, 1653, pp. 14-17. The ConunonivcaltJi Ministers. 47 the words of Scripture. The remedie for Heresy is not to impose another Rule of fjiith than Scripture (as if this were insutTicient and we could mend it). Subscribed in the name and by the appointment of the Assembly of the Associated Ministers of Worcestershire, held at Worcester, Aujj. 6, 1658, by us : — Richard Baxter, pastor of the church at Kcderminster, John Boraston, pastor of the church at Bewdley. Thomas Wright, pastor of the church at Hartlebury. Giles Collyer, pastor of the church at Blockley. George Hopkins, pastor of the church at Evesham. Joseph Trebell, pastor of the church at Church Lench." It is noticeable that the siq-nature of wo minister resident in the city of Worcester appears to this letter, and that in the list of Associated Ministers the only names for Wor- cester itself are, Joseph Baker and Richard Fincher. In the Parliamentary Survey of 1650,* the following city ministers are mentioned : — City of Worcester. — St. Swithin's, Rowland Crosby. St. Clement's, wo'^ minister. St. Peter's [Cathedral] Simon Moore. St. Hellen's and St. Martin's, Thos. Juice, by sequestration of former in- cumbent. • Given in full al the end of this Yolume in the Appendix. 48 Nonconformity in Worcester. St. Michael's in Bedwardine, Simon Moore. All Saints', noe minister. St. Nicholas, noe minister at present. In the Lambeth Palace Library are many MS. volumes of Augmentations of ministers' stipends, and here in 1653 we find the following : — All Saints' and Nicholas, in Worcester, Richard FiNCHER, ;^50. College, Peter's, Nicholas, and St. Michael's, Simon Moore, ^50 (a godly painful minister). Martin's, Tho. Juice, ;^20. Relating specially to Simon Moore (or More) we have the following : — "Whereas ;;^300 a year was heretofore granted out of the Revenues of the Dean and Chapter of Worcester for mortgage of maintenance of the ministers of the city of Worcester, which was given 29 April 1649, settled on them by order of the Committee of the said County, as by order of the said Com- mittee for Plundered Ministers 29 Nov. 1649 appeareth, by which Order the Trustees for the sale of Dean and Chapter lands were appointed to pay ;^i5o for one half year's rent unto the said ministers ; And Mr. Simon More and Mr. Gilbert Cox, ministers of the said city, to whom there became due out of the said rents, June 24th last, one half year's rent, amounting to ;^i5o. It is ordered that Mr. Gervice Bucke, Receiver of o s U M ;^ X SJ H ~^ X ^ a: -J r^ s ^ J o < a: >; M • ^ I *;:; H "^ < c ;; '~rj ^ K ^O ti) H S; w '-<, The Coinmomvcalth Ministers. 49 the same, do forthwith pay unto the said ministers the said sum of ;^i50, taking' tiie said ministers their acquittances for the receipt thereof. Nov. 29, 1650."* On the same topic the following occurs in the Edgar Tower MSS. in Worcester: — "Order to John Tilte from the Committee for the city and county of Worcester for the payment of ;;^2o out of the over- plus of moneyes remayning in his hands raised by the sale of lead for the repayring- of the College Church at Worcester," to "Mr. SvMON Moore, Minister of the Colledge att Worcester, being a very faithful preacher of God's Word, and of singular good iiffection to the Government of this Commonwealth," who had "suffered greate losses by the Scotch Army at Wor- cester." Signed by B. Lechmere and four others. 13 Sept. 165 1. "Order for a further sum of ^\q to be paid to Simon Moore out of the overplus of money raysed of lead taken of the Colledge church to repaire and keep the same ior a publicke Meeting Place for the service of God." Jan, 17, 1652-3.! " By the Committee for the City and County of Worcester. Forasmuch as Simon Moore, minister of the Coll. of Wore, hath very small and incompetent maintenance for his great pains in preaching the Word and the performance of other ministerial offices there since his augmentation hath failed ; And for that there is some surplus of money yet remaining in Mr. John Tilt's hands of ye Money raised of lead taken off the College Church to repair and keep the same for a public Meeting Place • Lambeth MSS. Augmentations, 979, fol. 455. t Hist. MSS. Commission, Fourteenth Report, Appendix Part I'll/., pp. 188, 9. £ 50 Nonconformity in Worcester. for ye Service of God. It is therefore thoug-ht fitt and ordered that the said John Tilt shall pay unto Mr. Simon Moore Tenn pounds out of the said surplus in his hands. 17 Jan. 1652. Gervase Bucke. Wm. Collins. John Nash. Edw. Elvines. Tho. Young. Received from Mr. John Tylt according to this present order, the sum often pounds, Jan. 22, 1652, By me, Simon Moore."* From these documents it is clear that Symon Moore was a distinguished man, and held a very important position in the city of Worcester during the Commonwealth. Baxter calls him an old Independent ; the first Congregational church formed in Worcester had him for its pastor, and the Cathedral as its meeting-house. The first notice we find of Simon Moore is as a chaplain in the Parliament Army, when he and another chaplain visited Baxter at Kidderminster. Mr. Moore was chaplain to Lord Wharton's regiment, and, says Baxter, "Mr. Bifield and Mr. Moor quartered with us at Kiderminster." Thence they soon marched off to Worcester, and Baxter followed, "and there was such excellent preaching among them at Worcester that I stayed among them a few days.f This was probably the occasion of Moore's settlement in the city and at the Cathedral. He is described as " a very faithful preacher of God's word, * MS. in Edgar Tower, Bundle No. 9. See also Hist. A/SS. Cow. Report 14, Appendix Part VJJJ., p. 188. t Reliqui(x Baxter, pp. 42, 43. The Commonivcalih Ministers. 51 and of singfular g-ood affection to the government of this Commonwealth,* who had suffered great losses by the Scotch army at Worcester." What the sufferings of the citizens were, is evident from the following : — ''To the Right Hon. the Counsell of State. The humble petition of the Inhabitants of the Citty of Worcester sheweth : That the extreme poverty and sadd desolation of the citty of Worcester occasioned by the Scottish king coming thither in August last, and the un- avoidable sacking of the said citty upon the reducing thereof and (since that) a great mortality amongst the principall inhabitants, hath putt an absolute incapacity upon that place to pay the arrears of contributions due from that citty, beeing a county of itselfe. That a Troope of Coll. Tomlinson's regiment, now at Worcester demanding the Arreares of this last six months beeing jQsi^ ^^^^^ take free quarter till it bee paid, which causeth the choice inhabitants and commoners to withdraw themselves and the remaining Commonalty almost to despair, they beeing soe farr from abilitie to pay that but for the charity o{ the out county o'i Worcester, who gave them ;^500, and the charity of some other places and persons, many families had ccrtainh' perished for want of bread. • MS. in Edgar Tower ; ///>/. AISS Commission 14/A Report, App. rait VIII., pp. l88, 9. 52 Nonconfo7'inity hi Worcester. This being the true condition of that miserable place your Petitioners humbly pray, that the said Troope may bee ordered to some other place, and the arreares of contribu- tion suspended, till the pleasure of the Parliament be knowne, the peace as well as the necessity of that people imploring it at your hands. And they shall pray &c. Signed in their name by me, Edw. Elvines." "^ [The Mayor]. Every effort was accordingly made in behalf of those who thus suffered in the cause of liberty and of the Common- wealth. Simon Moore, prominent as a sufferer was the special object of the Counsell's care. The proceeds of the sale of lead from an old steeple belonging to the Cathedral were devoted, first to the repair of the Almshouse and the church itself, to be a Public Meeting Place for the Service of God, and then to provide an adequate stipend for the minister. It is easy to explain the coolness that sprang up between Simon Moore and Richard Baxter. Moore believed in Cromwell, Baxter did not. Baxter regarded Oliver as a self-seeking man, and did not shrink from plain censure of him and his troops, in the pulpit. "The Committee men," he says, "looked sowre, but let me alone. Yet none of the soldiers ever meddled with me, nor was I by any of them in those times forbidden or hindered to preach one sermon, except only one Assize sermon which the * B. M. Add. MSB. 34, 326, fol. 54. The Co?n7}ionwcaltk Ministers. 53 High SherifT had desired me to preach, and afterwards sent me word to forbear, as from the Committee, saying that by Mr. Moor's means (the Independent preacher at the Colledge), the Committee told him tliat they desired me to forbear, and not to preach before the Judges, because I preached against the State. But afterward they excused it as done merely in kindness to me, to keep me from running myself into danger and trouble." * The following also relates to Simon Moore : — ^* Peter's in Worcester. In pursuance of an order of the Trustees of Aug. i, 1654. It is ordered that Captain John Silverwood, receiver, do from time to time pay unto Mr. Simon Moore, minister of Peter's, in the city of Worcester (approved according to the ordinance for approbation of publiquepreachers) the yearly summe of fowerscore and tenne poundes out of the rents and profitts of the impropriate tithes of Peter's in Worcester in possession of the said Trustees to be accounted from the 25th day of March 1655, and to be from time to time continued and paid unto him for such time as he shall discharge the duty of the minister of the said place, or until further order of the said Trustees. Provided that this order be first entered with the auditor. Edw. Cressett, Ri. Sydenham, Ra. Hall, Jo. HuMFREV, Jo. PococK. Dated P^eb. 26, 1655."! Worcester Cathedral Officers. — " Upon the humble peti- tion of John Sayers, Richard Browne, John Biddle, Nicholas Cottrell, and John Leight, officers oi the late Cathedral of Worcester, it is ordered that the summe of ;^20 be paid unto them out of the arreares of rent due before Jan. 6, 1649, • Rdiquict Baxlcriaiia, Part I., p. 67, t Lambeth MSS. Augmentations, 972, fol. 419. mmmmmmm 54 Nonconformity in Worcester. towards their releife, to be distributed by Mr. Hopkins. And Mr. Lawrence Steele, Treas., is to pay the same accordingly (fol. 103, 106). To the poore officers of the Cathedral of Worcester ;^20 to be distributed unto them by Mr. Hopkins according to their respective necessities. Dated Nov. 22, 1655."* Provision was also made for the other ministers of the city : — Dec. 10, 1656. '■'^ Andrew's in Worcester. In pursuance of an order of his Highness and the Councell of July 10, 1656, It is ordered that the yearly summe of ;^5o be and the same is hereby granted to the Minister of Andrew's in the city of Worcester, to and for increase of his maintenance. And it is further ordered that the said ;^5o a year be from time to time payd unto Mr. Joseph Baker, Minister of Andrew's in Worcester afore- said (approved according to the ordinance for approbation of publique preachers, Nov. 16, 1656), out of the rents and profitts hereafter mentioned.! April 28, 1657. Upon consideration had of the Petition of the Parishioners of Andrew's and Hellen's in Worcester, prayeing the discharging of the arreares of tenths due out of the said parishes to these Trustees, as also the payment of the Augmentation of ;^5o a year to Mr. Baker minister there, from the time of his settle- ment ; It is ordered that Captain John Silverwood, Receiver, do certifie unto these Trustees how long the said tenths have * Lambeth MSB. Augmentations, 967, fols. 96, 103, 106. t Lambeth MSS. Augmentations, 972, fol. 633. The Commonwealth Ministers, 55 been in arreare, and how much they amount unto ; where- upon they will take the said petition into further consideration.* Similar grants were voted by the Council of State in London during- the Protectorate to Richard FiNXHERofAll Saints and Nicholas, ;^50, Thos. Juice, of Martin's, ;^20.t Provision was also made during- the Protectorate for a Schoolmaster of the Free School : — Nov. 22, 1655. Worcester Schoole. Whereas the yearly stipend of ;;^i5 heretofore payable by the Dean and Chapter of Worcester to the Schoolmaster of the Free School of Worcester, together with a diett allowance in the Colledgf of Worcester, in lieu whereof he hath received ;^5 a yeare ; And whereas there hath been a further yearly allowance due unto the said schoolmaster from the said Dean and Chapter in wheate and barley amount- ing to ;^io a year ; which said several sums amount in all unto ;i^30 a year. It is therefore ordered, that the said yearly summe of £)2P t>e from time to time paid unto Mr. Thomas Barefoote, schoolmaster of ye said schoole, out of the rents and profitts of the tithe-corne of Clewe Pryor, in the Co. of Wor- cester, from March 25 last, and to be continued and paid to Mr. Barefoote, for such time as he shall discharge the duty of schoolmaster there. { The following is interesting concerning the Pcntecostals or Whitsun-farthings, a sum raised at a farthing per head from tiic householders in a chapolry or dependent church, • Lambeth MSS. Au;^iiuittattous, 974, fol. 405. "t Lambelh MSS. Au.^. 972, fnls. 76, 168, 296; Au>^. 981, fol. 141. X Lambeth MSS. Augtiuntatioiis, 967, fol. 13. ^mmmmmt^^fmmmmm^ 56 None 071 formity in Worcester. and paid to the mother church at Whitsuntide. They are mentioned in a grant of Henry VIII. to the Dean and Chapter of Worcester. They amounted for Worcester to about £^.* June 26, 1656. Mr. Richardson, Dean and Chapter of Worcester, Whitsun Farthings. — It is ordered that Stephen Richardson of the City of W., gent., doe and he is hereby authorised and appointed from time to time to collect gather and receive all oblations commonly called by the name of Whitson Farthings payable to the Dean and Chapter of W. and arising and becoming due and payable out of several parishes in the Counties of Wor- cester, Hereford, and elsewhere, and all arreares thereof. And all person and persons by whom the same are payable are hereby appointed and required to pay the same unto him the said Mr. Stephen Richardson ; and it is further ordered that all such persons as shall refuse to pay unto the said Stephen the arreares of the said Whitsun Farthings from them respectively due, doe by themselves or by some other person or persons by them sufficiently authorised in that behalf, answer their neglect before these Trustees on the 4th Nov. next. Jo. Thorovvgood, Ed. Cressett, Jo. Humfrev, Jo. Pocock, Rich. Young.! * Noake's Notes and Quaies, 23, 56. t Lambeth MSS. Augmentations, 974, fols. 165, 322. V. Z\K fl^onconfoniiicit iPcrsccution, iSERABLE as vvas the Stuart Dynasty in its four successive kings, it accomplished one good ^ thing ; it brought out the noblest heroism of the English race both in Church and State. The goodly company of Puritan Refugees ; the Pilgrim Fathers, founders of the United States ; Milton, Oliver Cromwell, and the statesmen of the noble army of the Commonwealth ; Nonconformists driven from their cures ; these we owe to the contemptible pedantry of James, to the untrustworthy lawlessness of Charles I., to the dissolute meanness of Charles II., and to the Romish deceptions of the second James. Perhaps the highest act of heroism was under the notorious Act of Uniformity, when nearly three thousand God-fearing ministers were driven from their cures, into silence and poverty, fine and imprisonment. They might have remained ; a stroke of the pen, a single signature was all required. But rather than sign they 58 Nonconformity in Worcester. would have cut off their right hand, rather than violate conscience they would have gone to the scaffold. That treacherous and deceitful Act, violating the pledges given upon the Restoration, swept the learned, true, and good from the churches, and brought in in shoals the incompetent, the cruel, the unscrupulous. Worcestershire, like every other English county, is full of illustrations of this. Take one example. At Kidderminster laboured the holy, loveable Richard Baxter, author of The Saint's Rest. He had come thither twenty years before, at the unanimous call of the parishioners, who had as unanimously petitioned for the removal of the former incumbent (one Dance) as " utterly insufficient for the ministry, presented by a Papist, unlearned, preached but once a quarter, and then in such a way as to expose him to laughter, and a frequenter of Ale- houses." This man knowing his unfitness compounded the business, keeping his income of jC20Q> a year, and pay- ing ;^6o for Baxter to do the work. For twenty years, in season, and out of season, Baxter laboured in the pulpit, and from house to house, producing a revival and reforma- tion that is traceable even still. To George Morley, the Restoration Bishop of Worcester, is due the crime of silenc- ing Richard Baxter, and like a wolf among the sheep, of making havoc of his church, imprisoning the most pious and upright among them. Baxter might have been a bishop ; he was offered the bishopric of Hereford ; but on conditions which meant the violation of truth and conscience, of those The Noticonforinist Persecution. 59 very Protestant principles, wliich Morley had befe^re him- self professed. Morley sits in his episcopal throne, Dance is restored at Kidderminster, and Baxter is driven as a fugitive throug-h the land, in poverty, and in prisons oft. Calumny was the usual clerical weapon against the Non- conformists of that day ; and it is a weapon wielded still, though happily our civil and religious liberties, so dearly won, secure us against fine and imprisonment. The Chris- tian Knowledge Society is publishing a series of popular little volumes, entitled, Diocesan Histories^ and in the Worcester volume we find the following statement regarding Richard Baxter : — "When Baxter wished to take the place of Mr. Dance as Vicar of Kidderminster, ho wrote freely of him, not only as a week and i<^norant man who preached only once a quarter, but as *a frequenter of ale houses, and sometimes drunk.' But when afterwards confronted with Bishop Morley, and aware that he would have to give proof of his assertions, his tone was altered. According to the bishop's account, which seems to be uncontradicted, he said then of Dance that he was a man of unblameable life and conversation, though not of such parts as would fit him for the care of so great a congregation."* • Diocesan I/islorics, l^'orcaier, by J, Gregory Smith and Pliipps Onslow, 1893, p. 233. Besides the />/o/s above quoted, the book contains many errors. Juice, of St. Martin's is named "/use" (p. 24S) ; the rarliamcntary Survey of 1650 is slyletl "an Inquisition of '653" (p. 250). On p. 252 it is affirmed that "Baxter never administered the Lonl's Supper," whereas Baxter speaks of having 600 communicants, RcUquiiC Baxttriatut, part I. p. 85. Simon Moore, the Independent ministei- of the Cathedral is in one place desig- nated ^* RUhard Moore" (p. 243), and on another page we are told he "had taken posses- of the Cathedral," (p. 260), the truth being that he had been appointed minister there by the then existing authorities. ■■9 6o Nonconformity in Worcester. This statement is false and calumnious from beginning* to end. Any honest man who knows Baxter's life and writings would at once repudiate it. Baxter did not en- deavour to supplant Dance ; he did not accuse Dance ; the accusations were made to the Parliament Committee by Dance's own parishioners, who having come to an arrange- ment with Dance, invited Baxter (as we have narrated) to preach at Kidderminster, and then unanimously elected him. Dance was afterwards sequestered by the Parliament, but Baxter never removed him from the Vicarage house ; " so far was I," writes Baxter, '' from seizing it as my own, or removing him out of the town. But he lived in peace and quietness with us, and reformed his life." * This gives the lie to the slander that Baxter, before Bishop Morley, "changed his tone when aware that he would have to give proof of his assertions." " I was somewhat wearied," writes Baxter, " to be every day caluminated and hear new slanders raised of me." As to Bishop Morley's account being " un- contradicted," though Baxter, like Christ before Pilate, bore the accusations silently, more than one reply was published in vindication of Baxter. The writers of this new calumny need to be reminded of the Ninth Commandment. It is a pity that a respectable and useful society should unwittingly be made the vehicle of it. In the city of Worcester four able and godly men — all Independents and Pastors of Congregational churches, * Reliq. Baxter.., Part I. page 97. King Edgar's Tciwer, A.D. 1005. Where the Old Records of tlie See, the ISislmiis' Kegistei> and the Acta, &c. are kept. The Noncoufonnist Pcyscciition. 6l were driven from their cures. First was Simon Moore, "the old Independent," as Baxter styles him, whose con- gregation was gathered in the Cathedral. He had as his assistant for a time, Mr. Gilbert Cox. In his place came the new bishop, Morley, of whom we have spoken, with a long train of ecclesiastics, dean and canons, exchanging the simplicity of Congregationalism for prayer-book Royalism in ritual and dogma. Simon Moore was through the fury and rage of the consistory and the mob, harrassed, fined, robbed, and imprisoned, and at length compelled to leave Worcester. In the Acta of the Bishop's court, we find among hosts of names of honest and pious citizens who would worship God according to their conscience, the following : — "Feb. 1664. St. Peters^ Worcester. Contra Magis- triun SiMONEM Mori:, prcscntat, for not coming to his parish church." * Usually this charge was followed up by fine, excom- munication, and imprisonment. At the sacrifice of home, and property, and friends, the good man was at length compelled to leave the city. He went to London, and his name occurs among the eminent ministers who found their refuge in the great city, and preached as occasion served, t Sccofidly, we have Thomas Juice, son-in-law to Simon Moore, and also an Independent Minister, gathering his • Ada of the Consistory Court, kept in the E(l_t,'ar Tower. t Calamy, Accounl, p. 53, 768, 9 ; Conlin. 77, 8S4. ■■■I 62 No7ico7iformity in Worcester. church in St. Martins. He was ^'a sober, grave, serious, peaceable, blameless, able minister. He lost ^100 per afimim by his ejection. And afterwards for a livelihood for himself, his wife, and three children, he taught a little school, till the Corporation Act took place, when he was forced to abscond. He was afterwards pastor of a congrega- tion at Reading, in Berkshire, and there died before the end of the century."* Thirdly. From All Saints and Nicholas was ejected Mr. Richard Fincher, a moderate Independent, a zealous, able preacher, and of a good life, t At first he taught a school for his support, and in 1669 took part in preaching at the house of Mr. Thomas Stirrup and Mr. Thos. Smyth every second Sunday. J He took out a licence to preach upon Charles H.'s Indiilgence of 1672. ''Licence to Richard Fincher to be a Congregational Teacher in the house of Richard Cornton, in Worcester." § He afterwards became pastor of the church in Unicorn Yard, London. He died Feb. 10, 1692-3, and his funeral sermon was preached by the excellent Mr. Slater, and afterwards published. Mr. Slater writes : — " In all my conversation with Richard Fincher I found him to be of a sweet, affable, loving- temper. He had good natural parts, which were cultivated and improved by acquired learning. * Calamy, Account, p. 769. t Reliquics Baxteriance, Part III., 91. I Lambeth MSS., 639, fol. 272. '- § R.O. Preachers' Licences, Charles II., 1671-2. The Nonconformist Persecution. 63 He had found mercy to be faithful, having- been so all along to his great Lord and Master, standing his ground like a rock unshaken in the days of sorest and most violent temptation. Yet he was a man of peace, and would follow it witli all men, so far as he could go without forsaking truth and holiness. He was a very modest person, clothed with humility. He was a workman that needed not to be ashamed. He died Feb. 10, 1692-3." * Foinih. From St. Andre^vs went forth Joseph Baker, a learned man, of a blameless life ; one who preached con- stantly, and catechised the people, and conferred with the several families (especially before he first admitted them to the Lord's Supper) personally. He was a man of extra- ordinary prudence, calmness, patience, gravity, and sound- ness of judo^ment. Neither for prelacy, presbytery, nor Independency, as then formed into parties ; but for that which was found in all the parties, and for concord upon such catholic terms. The parish of St. Andrew, where he was minister, had but about £6 a year maintenance, of which he took none, but gave it to a woman to teach the poor children of tlic parish to read, living upon his own, and some small Augmentation granted by the Parliament, t Mr. Joseph Read asked him upon his death bed what thoughts he then had of his Nonconformity. He answered that "he gladly would have continued the exercise of his Ministry, if he could have had liberty for it, without sin • Wilson's Diss. Churches, IV. 228-230. t RtliquiiC Baxleriana, Part III., pp. 90, 91. nssamBs^iHiHBMHH 64 Nonconformity in Wo7xester. against God ; but when it came to that, there was no remedy."* He removed to Old Swinford, where Thomas Foley lived ; and here he died ; and a monument in the chancel of the church bears this inscription : — " Reverendus Josephus Baker obiit 25 Mar. A. D. 1668, (St. 42. Juxta S.E. supradicti Josephi f rater germanus Johannes, natus 1631^ denatiis Dec. 6, 1678." t Thus it is clear that Congregationalism in Worcester had its origin in the Cathedral itself, St. Peter's and St. Michael's, when the first Independent church was gathered, and so widely spread among the citizens that other congre- gations were gathered after the same order in St. Martin's, All Saints' and Nicholas, and St. Andrew's, under the pastorate of three other Independent ministers. Though scattered by the penal laws of the Restoration these churches still worshipped in secret conventicles amid the storm of hate and persecution till the Indulgence of 1672, and of 1687 followed by the Toleration Act, enabled them to build their own places of worship and bear public witness to the truths of New Testament Christianity. Fifth. We now come to the name of a fifth noncon- forming minister, himself a native of Worcester, who began to exercise his ministry immediately after the passing of * Calamy, Aaouiit, I. 769. t Nash, II. 215. The Nonconformist Persecution. 65 the Act of Uniformity, in 1663. He gathered round him as their pastor the scattered members of those Independent churches that had worshipped in the Cathedral and other parishes of Worcester during the Commonwealth, and who as sheep without a shepherd were harassed, fined and im- prisoned, because they would not attend the new establish- ment, nor partake of the sacrament kneeling in the Romanist manner. His name was Thomas Badland. The family was one of high standing in the county. Richard Badland, an ancestor, perhaps grandfather, was Bailiff of the city of Worcester in 1566,* and the name of John Badland occurs in the charter of the city given by James I., Oct. 2, i62i.t Thomas Badland was born in Worcester in the year 1634. He became minister of Willenhall, Staffordshire, in 1656. We find his name among the ministers who gave certificates to John Oxford as minister of Arley, in Staffordshire, in 1658 (Nov. 10). The names are, " Henry Osland, Ri. Fincher, Tho. Badland of Willenshall, John Wheeler, Fr. Brom- wich, John Women, John Tayler." \ Thus he appears side by side with Richard Fincher and oilier well known Wor- cestershire ministers in recommending John Oxford. From Willenhall Thomas Badland was ejected for Nonconformity in 1662, and he came at once to Worcester, his native city, where he had relations, and where he found a ministerial • Nash, App. 112. t Valentine Cireen, Hist, of W'., I. 36. ♦ Larabelh MSS. Aupiuntatiotts 999, No. 415. Oxford married Elizabeth Foley of Old Swinford. F mmmm 66 Nonconformity in Worcester. friend and brother in Richard Fincher. He then was a young- man of 29 years, but he at once began to gather the Nonconformists to worship at the risk of fine and imprison- ment. The Acta of the Bishop's court (now in the Edgar tower) are full of names of citizens cited, fined, excommuni- cated, and imprisoned ; their only crime being non-attend- ance at church, or at the Communion. The following may serve as examples : — " St. Clement's. Ri. Chandler presented for not coming to church, and not receiving the sacrament at times appointed. James Chandler, James and Mary Russell, ditto. St. Martin's. Arthur Jones, for not baptizing his child. John Dawby, Wm. Hughes, for not coming. St. Peter's. Valentine Combe, for working upon holy days, especially upon Candlemas day last past. Constantine Moule. St. Nicholas. Thos. I nee, for keeping school without licence, and not coming to the sacrament. John Carpenter, Fran. Haynes, ditto. St. Andrew's in Wore. John Watts, Thos. Haywood, John Timbs, John Tyler, R. Woodward, John Roberts, for not coming to church to hear divine service upon Sundays and holy days. St. Cleynent's. James Elley. Contr. Henry Baldwin, senior, for not con- stantly frequenting his parish church, neither receiving the sacrament. William Adney, for not receiving the Sacra- ment at Easter last and other times. John Dawson, Jacob King, John Davies, The Nonconformist Persecution. 67 Edm. Pritchett and his wife. Mary, wife of Thos. Price, for not comings to her parish church. St. Helen's in Wore. John Wolley,* schoolmaster, for work- ing upon holy days, especially upon St. Andrew's day, Nov. 7, 1664. Michael Hacket and Roger Clark [Mayor in 1685], for not coming, &c. St. S^vMen's. John Bearcroft [Mayor in 1669], Wni. Swift, t S/. Michael's. Peter Rogers, John Cowles, ditto. All Saint's. Ambrose Meredith, W'm. W'iiecler. St. Peter's. Mr. Simon Moor, for not coming to his parish church, Ri. Yarnold, Wm. Elley, Thos. Cooke, Walter Bradley." + The usual course was first, presentation and admoni- tion ; then fine ; next excomminiication and imprisonnicnl. Calamy mentions two or three cases. Mr. Ri. Wooley, ej'ected from Salwarpe, who came to live in Worcester, was indicted "for not coming to church, and for keepincf meeting-s. A warrant was issued to levy /"20 upon him. All his cattle to the value of /'40 were hereupon driven away from him, and houi^-ht b)- the wa\sidc for _/'i3 liy a friend o\ Mr. Wooley's, and at that rate he had them at;ain. The constable was afterwards forced to levy £^ more upon his goods, which he also paid. Another person was forced to pay £\o, and £\o more was levied upon several other • Ejected minister of Broomsgrove, Nash, I. 167. t Buried in St. Swithcn's where is a family monument. " In memory of Wiiii.im Swift of this city, Esq., who was buried Feb. 20, 1688." Nash, II., App. 119. \ Acta in Cupboard, Edgar Tower, 1664. mmmmmm^m 68 Nonconformity in Worcester. hearers, some of them being day labourers, which lay very heavy. One Mr. Robert Humphreys, an Anabaptist preacher and inhabitant of the parish of Claines, two miles from Worcester, for preaching in his house, had by a warrant three cows taken from him, worth about ^15, and all the goods in his house that were of any value ; and he could never get anything restored. And one Mr. Wm. Pardoe, of the same persuasion, who lived at Tenbury, for not going to his parish church was excommunicated, and by a writ de excom. cap. was committed to the county goal, where he remained about six years to April 1671. God grant we may never see such doings more." * To understand these proceedings it must be remembered that the Act of Uniformity in 1662 was followed by the Conventicle Act, July i, 1664, "for suppressing seditious Conventicles, inflicting on all persons above the age of sixteen, present at any religious meeting in other manner than is allowed by the Church of England, where five or more persons beside the household should be present, a penalty of three months' imprisonment for the first offence, of six for the second, and of seven years' transportation for the third, on conviction before a single justice of peace." Again, the Oxford or J^ive Mile Act, Oct. 31, 1665, enacted that those who refused the oath, " I will not at any time endeavour any alteration of government in Church or State," shall be incapable of teaching in any public or * Calamy's Account, I. p. 776. The Nonconforviist Persecution. 69 private schools, or of takinir any boarders, under pain of £^o\ and shall not come or be within five miles of any cit}', town-corporate or borough, or within five miles of any parish, town or place wherein they have been parson." As the people for the most part refrained from accusa- tions under these persecuting Acts, the Bishops sent letters of enquiry to all the clergy, making them informers against the Nonconformists. The following is the letter of the Bishop of Worcester, Walter Blandford : — The Bp. to the Clergy- of the Places where Conventicles were kept. Sir, having received an order dated June 8, 1669, requiring me by the assistance of Parish Ministers and others to make strict and diligent enquiry within my diocese as well as in places peculiar and exempt as those of my own proper jurisdiction : — 1. What and how many conventicles or unlawful assemblies under pretence of religion arc held in every town and parish, and in whose houses ? 2. What are the number thai usually meet al llicm, and how often ? 3. Of what sect, condition, and sort of people they consist? 4. Who are their ministers and teachers, the leading or principal persons frequenting and promoting their meetings? 5. What authority they pretend and from whom, and from what ground they look for impunity? I do hereby require you by virtue of the said order, that some time before the 14th of the next month, you deliver or cause to be delivered to me in writing under your hand (accord- ing to the several articles of enquiry above mentioned) a true ■HHBI 70 Nonconformity in Worcester. and particular account of such unlawful proceedings under pretence of religion as are or lately have been within your parish, that so I may give notice (as you also are from time to time to do) to the Justices of the Peace for the suppressing of them. Yours aflFec. W. W.* We have not succeeded in finding the replies sent by the Worcestershire clergy, but in Lambeth the Returns are imperfectly given for the various Dioceses [see Appendix) and here is that for the city of Worcester, 1669 : — Parish. Sects. Numbers. Quality. Heads and Teachers. St. Nicholas in Wore. About Of all sorts. Mr. Richard AttthehousesofMr. 200. Some people FiNCHER, Mr. Thos. Stirrup and of good suffi- Thomas Bad- Mr. Thos, Smyth, ciency. lam {sic) Non- every second Sun- formists. day. Another in the house of About 40. Of all sorts. Unknowne.f Mr. John Edwards and of good in the parish afore- accompt. said. Within three years after this, Charles II. stayed this Prelatical espionage and persecution by issuing his Declara- tion OF Indulgence, March 15, 1671-2. It declares ''that the execution of all penal laws against Nonconformists be immediately suspended, and this our Indulgence as to the allowance of public places of worship, and approbation of the preachers shall extend to all sorts of Nonconformists." * In a file of letters deposited by the late Bishop of Worcester in the Edgar Tower, t Lambeth MSS. 639, fol. 272. The Nonconformist Persecution. 71 Under this, the following" placesand persons were licensed in the City of Worcester. 177 Licence to Thomas Badland to be a Pr. Teacher in the house of Wm. Cheatle, in Worcester. 22 April, 1672. The house of Wm, Cheatle, in Worcester, licenced for a Pr. Meeting Place. 22 Apr., 1672. Licence to Rich. Fincher to be a Congregational Teacher in the house of Rich. Cornton, in Worcester. The house of Rich. Cornton, in Worcester, licenced for a Pr. Meeting Place. The house of Eliz. Stirrup, in Worcester, licenced for a Pr. Meeting Place, 22 July, 1672. Licence to Rich. Wooley to be a Pr. Teacher in the house of Eliz. Stirrup, in Worcester. 22 July, 1672. 251 Licence to Rich. Wooley to be a Pr. Teacher at his own house, in the city of Worcester. Sept. 20, 1672. 257 The house of Rich. Wooley, in the city of Worcester, Pr. Sept. 30, 1672. 273 The house of Rich. Smith, of ye city of Worcester, Pr. Nov. 18, 1672. The house of Ann Sworle, of the citty of Worcester, Pr. Dec. 9, 1672.* Thus it appears that three nonconforming- ministers, Thos. Badland, Rich. Fincher and Rich. Wooley ejected from Salwarpc, who had come to live in Worcester, took out Licences to preach under the conditions of the Indul- gencc of 167 1-2, and that six places for religious worship, • Record Office, S. P. Dom. Ch. II , Preaching Licences, 3&1. !■!■■ 72 Nonconformity in Worcester. Presbyterian or Independent, were licenced, namely the dwelling-houses of Wm. Cheatle, Rich. Cornton, Elizabeth Stirrup, Richard Wooley, Richard Smith and Ann Sworle. The respite and calm produced among the harrassed Nonconformists did not last above two years. In the course of the next year the king cancelled it, and the fear of Popish ascendancy prompted Parliament to pass the Test Acty March 25, 1673-4, which rendered the reception of the sacrament according to the Establishment, and a renounc- ing of the dogma of transubstantiation, a necessary condition for government appointments. The high church or court party preached passive obedience, and enforced these laws against Nonconformists. Thus persecution with Judge Jeffries as its minister, and the clergy as its abettors, con- tinued till the death of the king. During the first year of James II.'s reign some of the Episcopal clergy continued their obsequious betrayal of the liberties of their countrymen, but the latitudinarian party awoke the hostility of the king, who was a Romanist, and who, for the sake of Romanists, relaxed the penal statutes and issued, April 4, 1687, a Declaration for Liberty of Conscience^ suspending all penal laws against Nonconformity, and abrogating all acts which imposed a religious test. The Nonconformists generally, while they took advantage of their new liberty, joined hands with their fellow Protestants within the Establishment against the common danger now threatening the country, The Nonconformist Persecution. 73 and rejoiced in the acquittal of the seven bishops who refused to recog^nize the king's dispensing power. This was the year, 1687, when the Nonconformists of Worcester adopted, as pastor and people united, their Chris- tian profession and covenant. The news of the landing of the Prince of Orange was hailed with joy by them, and in the first year of William and Mary the Toleration Act was passed. snm VL ^be pa6tor6 of tbe Umci Street Conoregatioual Cburcb. I. — The Rev. Thomas Badland. I 663- I 698. ORE suffering for conscience sake during five and twenty years had not crushed, it had strengthened the fortitude and faith of the Worcester Nonconformists ; and now that Hberty of worship dawns for them, the page of history records their Christian Profession and Covenant, couched in clear and solemn words, and signed by a goodly band of faithful followers of Christ, united in fellowship to HIM as their Divine Head, and under the care of the wise and brave pastor who had ministered to them all through those years of persecution. We rank Thomas Badland first of the Angel Street Pastors, and give in full and in facsimile the Document we have named. The Pastors of the Angel Street Church. 75 " 1687. — The record of a particular Cluiich of Christ at Worcester, consisting of Pastor and people united in the Christian profession and covenant following. We do beleive that there is ono: only God ; the Father, Infinite in being, wisdom, goodnesse and power ; the maker, preserver and disposer of all things, and the most just and mercifull Lord of all. Wee beleive that mankind being fallen by sin from God and happinesse, under the wrath of God, the curse of his law, and the power of the devill : God so loved the world that he gave his only Son to be their Redeemer : who being God, and one with the Father, did take to him our nature, and became man, being con- ceived of the Holy Ghost in the Virgin Mary, and borne of her, and named Jesus Christ : and having lived on earth without sin, and wrought many miracles for a witnesse of his truth, he gave up himselfe a sacrifice for our sins, and a ransome for us, in sulTering death on the crosse : And being buried, he rose again the third day, and after- ward ascended into heaven, where he is Lord of all in glory with the Father : And having ordained that all that truly repent and beleive in him, and love him above all things, and sincerely obey him, and that to the death, shall be saved ; and tho\- thai will not shall be damned ; and com- manded his ministers to preach the gospell to the world. He will come againe, and raise the bodies of all men from the dead, and will set all the world before him to be judged according to what they have done in the body. And he will 76 Nonconformity in Worcester. adjudge the righteous to life everlasting, and the rest to ever- lasting punishment, which shall be executed accordingly. We beleive that God the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of the Father and the Son was sent from the Father by the Son, to inspire and guide the prophets and Apostles that they might fully reveal the doctrine of Christ. And by multi- tude of evident miracles and wonderfull gifts to be the great witnesse of Christ, and of the truth of his holy Word : and to dwell and work in all that are drawen to beleive, that being first joyned to Christ their head, and into one Church which is his body, and so pardoned, and made the Sons of God, they may be a peculiar people sanctified to Christ : And may mortify the flesh, and overcome the world and the Devill ; and being zealous of good works, may serve God in holinesse and righteousnesse : And may live in the speciall love and communion of the saints, and in hope of Christ's coming and of everlasting life. We do heartily take this one God for our only God and our cheif good, and this JesusChrist for our only Lord, Redeemer and Saviour, and this Holy Ghost for our Sanctifier ; and the doctrine by Him revealed and sealed by His miracles, and now contained in the Holy Scriptures we do take for the law of God and the rule of our fayth and life. And repent- ing unfeignedly of our sins, we do resolve through the Grace of God sincerely to obey Him, both in holinesse to God and righteousnesse to men, and in speciall love to the Saints, and communion with them, against all the temptations of The Pastors of the Angel Street Chureh. 1 1 the Devill, the world, and our owne flesh, and this to the death. Thomas Badland Pastour. WiUiam Hodges. Mr. Ths. Wooley. Mr. Allex. Bearcroft. Mr. Wildy. Mr. Wm. Chetle. Mr. Thos. Smith. Elizab. Badland. Mrs. Hannah Stirrup. Mrs. Mary Cook. Mrs. Eliz. Stirrup. Marg-aret Lokier. Jane Hanking. Eliza Brown. Mr. Joseph Richards and his wife Elenor. Henry Neale Rich. Wheeler and An his wife. Eliz. Walker. Katherine Blackwell. Mr. John Heard and his Wife. Mrs. Sarah Chetle. Mrs. Elizab. Chetle. Mrs. Dorothy Woolly. Mrs. Mary Longmore. Mrs. Eliz. Dolman. Mrs. Abio-'ill Hio-mns. Margaret Ta^'ler. Ann Owen. Cisely Fincher. Elizabeth Luggon. Margaret Wells. Joseph Fincher. Bridget Smith. Miss Mary Walton. John Kent. Mrs. Sarah Chetle, daught. to Mr. William Chetle. Mrs. Anne Harris, wife to Mr. Ric. Harris. Mr. John Evans and his wife Anne." r^fd^x T^^ S^^mjf -frs^j^S:, -i.'y.w^Sw--^*— ' ' JfT -ff. TL"**^ ■•— Ai « — J— ^ A-.— 8o Nonconformity in Worcester. ^ ^ Vx^ ^^ ^.^ ^ ^- ^ . The Pastors of the Angel Street Church. -tf«7na? &*«^^^ />«^Hir 9i2.-^^ ii^^ic^ >^^^ ^,f<* 81 82 Nonconformity in Worcester. ''The number of communicants," says Mr. Samuel Blackwell in his MS., " added in Mr. Badland's hand-writ- ing is forty. After 1687 to Feb. 22, 1699, it is 120. The place of worship was at the lower end of Fish Street where the front part of the Porcelain Manufactory now stands [now Dent's glove manufactory], but no part of the old building now remains. It had been lighted up at night by three small brass Chandeliers which, with some iron candle- sticks to stick into pillars, and some of the wainscot of the pews, were made use of in the present Meeting-house." "The usual religious services were on Lord's Day morning and afternoon ; occasionally in the evening. The clerk began with singing. Then a short introductory prayer. Then a portion of the Old, and a portion of the New Testament. Then a hymn ; and a long prayer before The Pastors of the Angel Street Chinr/i. 83 sermon. After sermon a Psalm or hymn, a short prayer, and the usual blessing- concluded. The Lord's Supper was administered every two months ; and there was a pre- paratory service on the Thursday preceding. When any person wished for communion, the Minister, after satis- factory private interview, stated to the Communicants at the conclusion of the next ordinance, that A, B, or C, (naming" them) desired Communion at the next Sacramental service. No allowable objection having been made, the Minister announced to the assembled Communicants that A, B, or C, having been proposed at the last service were there and then to take their places. The collection for the poor was made from pew to pew by the Elders while the last hymn was being sung." Among the places of religious worship certified under the Toleration Act for Protestant Dissenters is the following: — "Worcester, Warmstree House, certified for religfious wor- ship of Protestant Dissenters by Thomas Badland, i October, 1689."* The Toleration Act was entitled " An Act for exempting their Majesties' Protestant subjects Dissenting from the Church of England from the penalties of certain laws. It thus introduced a new name for the Nonconformists namely Protestant Dissenters, and by this name (and not Pres- byterian or Independent) the Trust deeds of the chapels built under its protection designated the worshippers. The • Somerset House Large folios, Rdurus, Vol. VIII., Bosou^hs. 84 Nonconformity in Worcester. Act expressly excluded from its benefits Roman Catholics and deniers of the doctrine of the blessed Trinity. No place of worship therefore could have been built under its protection by Unitarians. Presbyterians and Independents in rivalry during the Commonwealth had been brought to concord by a common persecution, and the two Denomi- nations in and about London resolved to adopt the name The United Brethren under certain Heads of Agreement comprising such principles as both could agree to sub- scribe. This procedure was followed by several counties, and by the wholesome influence of Richard Baxter it found in Worcestershire a congenial soil. Thus it came to pass that in the Angel Street church-documents the designation Presbyterian is interchanged with Congregational. The church-government and discipline however, were evidently, and from the first, simply Congregational. The Pastor, Thomas Badland, was assisted for some years after the drawing up and signing of the Church Covenant, by the young minister who came to Worcester in 1688, and who succeeded him, Chewning Blackmore."^ Mr. Badland died May 5, 1698, and was buried in the chancel of old St. Martin's Church. ''On a monument fixed to the south wall of the south aisle of St. Martin's Church," says Nash, " is the following inscription " : — Under these seats lies interred the body of the Rev, Mr. Thomas Badland, a faithful and profitable preacher * Account of C. Blackmore by Geo. Benson; Blackmore MSB., Dr. Williams's Lib. The Pastors of the Angel Street Church. 85 0/ the Gospel in this city for ^^yca?'s. He rested from his labours, May 5, A.D. 1698, crtat. 64. Mors mihi vita nova. When St. Martin's Church was pulled down in 1 76S, the marble tablet which recorded his name was, with the rest of the building materials, thrown carelessly aside, and broken in many fragments. These were discovered and purchased by a Trustee of the chapel, and, "the tablet was repaired at the expense of the congregation, and erected in the vestibule of Angel Street Chapel, where we trust it will long remain." It did remain there till the chapel was taken down, and it is now erected near the pulpit in the present chapel. There is extant a "Sermon preached at tiic funeral of Mr. Thomas Badland, a Nonconforming Minister at Kedderminster, by R. White, B.D., and Vicar of Kedder- minster, London, 1693." "The following discourse was delivered before a numerous congregation both oi ministers and people, both Conformists and Nonconformists, about the beginning of F^ebruary last. R. White, August 22, 1693." Each leaf of this Sermon bears at the head these words, " A Sermon preached at the funeral of Mr. Thomas Badland." But Thomas Badland was still living at this date and did not die for five years after. Moreover, he was never minister at Kidderminster. Furthermore, the description given of the minister is inappropriate to Mr. 86 Nonconformity in Worcester. Badland ; — speaking- of his suffering from two diseases, the stone and the gout, and of '' his beingf a long time withheld from the public exercise of his ministry," also of "that reverend person" (meaning Ri. Baxter), "under whose conduct he was when he came first to be an inhabitant of the town." In Palmer's Nonconformist Memorial* the sermon is rightly taken as having reference to Thomas Baldwin of Chaddesley, who, after his ejectment, settled with the Dissenters of Kidderminster, and of whom Baxter says, " he had been our schoolmaster." Thos. Baldwin died in Feb. 1693, and he clearly is the minister described. The name Badland has been printed in mistake for Baldwin, 2. — The Rev. Chewning Blackmore. 1688-1737. Chewning Blackmore was the son of a worthy noncon- forming minister, the Rev. William Blackmore, of St. Peter's, Cornhill, M.A., of Lincoln College, Oxford, or- dained by Prideaux, Bishop of Worcester, and granted Presbyterian orders from the Classis, and chosen Scribe to the Provincial Presbyterian Assembly in London. t His wife's name was Mary Chewning. * Vol. III. p. 389. t William Blackmore was minister at Pentlow, Essex, in Dec. 1645, ^ cure which he resigned in 1646, and was succeeded by Henry Esday. He was one of sixty ministers who petitioned Cromwell to show no violence to the king. He was involved in Love's plot, but TJic Pastors of the Angel Street Church. 87 "William Blackmore and Mary Chewning were lawfully married in our parish church of Mary, Islington, May i, 1660. William Barber, clerke of Mary, Islington." " 1662-3, J^'^' -• Baptized Chewning ye sonne of Mr. Wil- liam Blackmore and Mary his wife ; born the ist of January." Chewning" Blackmore was at school (1672) under John Benson, M.A., of Peter House, Camb. (nonconforming- minister of Little Leig^hs) at Writtle, in Essex. He was afterwards at school at Newington Green. Thence he went to Oxford in preparation for the ministry, and the Rev. Henry Cornish of Oxford gave him a testimonial dated April 18, 1688, describing him as ''an unblemished and spiritually accomplished member of the small congregation in Oxon, to which I bear pastoral relation."* The Rev. George Benson in a funeral sermon from Heb. xiii., 7, gives the following account : — " In the beginning of the year 1688, he came to this city (Worcester). He was, at first, assistant to good old Mr. Badland (who was also one that maintained his regard for the cause we espouse) in a very iniquitous time, and when it was dangerous to be so. Upon Mr. Badland's death he became pastor of this church, and how well qualified he was for the office, and with what constancy, diligence, and success he was was releasee! by Cromwell at the intercession of his brother. I le was at St. Peter's, Corn- hill, from 1649 to his ejectment for Nonconformity in 1662. lie retired into Essex. In April 1672 he was licensed to be a Prcsb. Teacher in his own house, and his house was licensed to be a Presb. meeting-place. The house is descrilx;d as in Home-Church. He was buried at Romford, Essex, 18 July, 1684. See David's None, in Essex, 599, and Pedigree of thi Blackmore Family, by Charles E. Blackmore Bowker, in Dr. Williams' Lib. • Ch. Blackmore MSS. a^ before, Dr. Williams' Lib. 88 Nonconformity in Worcester. employed in the duties of it, many of you can tell from long experience. It may, I think, be said of him that he was a person of a sedate, serene, and I might say somewhat reserved temper, one of great gravity in the pulpit and out of it. His presence had an awe with it wherever he came, and there seemed to be an authority in his whole carriage. . . His piety was observable every day and in his whole conduct ; he was a man of prayer and in devotion constant. The matter of his preaching was spiritual and practical ; he preached Christ and Him crucified much, and the peculiar doc- trines of the gospel revelation. But practical religion lay near his heart, and was his most constant theme- He was the father of our Denomination in this part of the island, and was one way or other concerned for many other churches besides his own ; and he was long an ornament to his function and a credit and support to the Dissenting interest ; for that cause he always shewed a most steady regard, and no one can well give a greater testimony of it than by designing most of his sons for the ministry, and actually educating two of them (as he did) in that way. He thought that Noncon- formity was built on the most stable principles, and it was his settled judgment that a further reformation is really necessary, in order to a more general and effectual reaching the great ends of Christianity. This was our ancestors' opinion long ago. His behaviour towards young ministers was kind and obliging. He was very exact in governing his family. This was the man whose excellent ministry and service this congregation enjoyed for 47 years. For the last three years of his life he endured a grievous failure. He died Aug. 2, 1737, ' in the 75th year of his age." The Pastors of the Angel Street Church. 89 In 1694 he married Abigail, daughter of Kdward Higgins and Alice (nee Franks) his wife, of Worcester, members of the church. Abigail was born 1676, married 1694, died 21 April, 1734. Their children were : — 1. Abigail, born and baptized Aug. 23, 1695. She was wife to Rev. Joseph Mottershead, minister of Cross Street Chapel, Manchester, who was born at Godley, 17 Aug-. i6 years pastor of the Kidder- minster Church, and died in 1727. His son, Francis Spils- bury, was born at Kidderminster in 1706, and was placed for the ministry under the tuition of Dr. Ebenezer Latham, at Findern, Derbyshire. He completed his collegiate studies at Glasgow, attending the Lectures of Professor Simpson. Returning to Kidderminster after his father's death he became assistant to his father's successor, Matthew Bradshaw, and thence he removed to Bromsgrove as suc- cessor to an excellent minister, the Rev. James Thompson. Here his ministry was highly appreciated. Upon the death of Chewning Blackmore he accepted the invitation of the church in Angel Street to become their pastor, 1737, and re- mained seven years. He was acceptable, popular and useful. He had the offer of a good living in the Establishment, at Ashby-de-la-Zouch, in Leicestershire, but he firmly and promptly rejected the proposal.* Being urged to come to London to be co-pastor with the Rev. John Barker at Salter's Hall, he settled in London, and his life was pro- longed to a good old age. He died March 3, 1782, in the 77th year of his age. He was a man of amiable character. He was firmly attached to the doctrines of grace, and was Baxterian in his theology. He kept up his connection with Worcester by an annual visit, at which time he preached and conducted a series of public services. * Woithington's Sermon on the death of Francis Spilsbury, pp. 22-24. Toulmin's History of Dissenters, p. 561. TJic Pastors of the Angel Street Church. 97 4. — The Rev. Francis Blackmore. i744» 1745- Francis Blackmore and liis brother Edward Chewnini^ Blackmore were received with others to Communion, June 15, 1 72 1. Francis, after his studies for the ministry, was ordained as the successor oi the Rev. Daniel Hii>'t,''s, minister at Eve- sham, who died in October, 1728. Next he became assistant to John Warren,* of Coventry, and ox\ the removal of Mr. Spilsbury was invited to succeed him as pastor, Mr. Stokes continuing Assistant. "This connexion too soon became so very unfortunate that the elders and managers expelled Mr. Blackmore, who, on a Lord's Day morning, finding the pulpit occupied by Mr. Adams, of Bewdley, left the place instantly and never entered it afterwards, yet never resigned or would give up his claim to be pastor as long as ho lived. He resided in the house in Foregate Street till his death in the year 1760, and was buried in St. Andrew's Church, where some account of him still remains. t Mr. • John Warren was one of Mr. Woodhouse's pupils. lie was chaplain to Philip Foley, of Prestwood, near Kidderminster, and thence went to be assistant to Mr. Tongat Covcntrj', then as co-pastor with Joshua Merrcl, and then as sole pastor, till his death in 1742. Toulmin's His. of Dissenters, 562. t St. Andrew's, "South He, at the e.ist end.— Francis Hi.ackmokk, A..M., oiriit dit vi^simo Dticmbris, AD. 1760. — Rev. KdwaRD Chewning Hi.ackmorr [minister of Stoke-upon-Scvem], died Nov. 1st, 1787, aged 82. A neat marble monument near this place of the family sepulture, w.xs jnit up for the father, ClCKWNlNG Hla( K.MORK, and his wife, Abigaii., in 1741, with a I^ilin inscription." Valentine (J reens ///i/rr<-j/^, Vol. II., Appendix, \>. 108. Edward Chewning Blackmore lived in Worcester unmarried, amid a fine collection of books, and rode over to Stoke on .Sundays. He jocularly observed that he never received as much for preaching as kept his horse. H 98 Nonconforrtiity in Worcester. Stokes immediately withdrew from Worcester and became minister to a small congregation at Ledbury, but for some years before his death resided in Worcester or its vicinity." Francis Blackmore is described as " a man of refined tastes and religious spirit, of rational piety, and great devotion, free from any undue attachments to the opinions of men in the affairs of religion." He married Mary, daughter of Robert Wilkes of Bromsgrove, by whom he had issue two daughters and a son named William Wilkes Blackmore, who settled in business in Manchester.* During Mr. Francis Blackmore's time serious disagreements had arisen between the managers of the congregation and the Corporation, The ground upon which the present (1841) building stands was the property of Mr. Timothy Colles, whose name appears in the Register of members Feb. 18, 1703. The usual renewable lease from the Corporation for 41 years was made to him of a garden with the " Blanquet " or " Banquett- ing-house " thereon, in 1708, the year in which the chapel was erected. The lease was again renewed to the same Timothy Colles, and under the same description in 1722 ; which lease was never renewed, and of course expired in 1763. The dis- agreement above alluded to having increased, the present building and premises were sold to Rowland Priddy and Jos. Priddy for the understood and avowed purpose of converting the present building into a playhouse, and the Corporation executed a lease dated June 2, 1740, to those persons for the usual term of 41 years, but to commence from Michaelmas, 1763, the time the lease was to expire. To prevent this, two leading * Blackmore Papers, pp. 61, 63. The Pastors of the Aiigcl Street ChtireJi. 99 men of the conj^roi^ation, Rkiiarp Buoao and PuiLir FiNCHER, Esq. of Shell, purchased, with property belong-ing- to the congregation, freehold premises in Mealcheapen Street, intending to take down and remove all the building except the " Banquotting Mouse," and leave the groiuid as a garden just as it was before 1708; intending to build another Meeting House on the freehold property in Mealcheapen Street. This becoming probably known, proved so offensive to the late Alderman Johnson, whose dwelling house adjoined the free- hold, and who did not like a Presbyterian Meeting at his next door, that a final arrangement was made that the premises should be held under the lease to the Priddys for the first fourteen years of their renewable lease ; that it should be after- wards renewed for the congregation at a fine of £,^\ los., and a nominal rent of 2s. and capons. It was consequently so held till a new lease was granted for 41 years, renewable as usual every fourteen years, from Michaelmas 1777, to fifteen persons therein named, upon the reserved rent, usual covenants, and renewable fine of _^'3i los. This was the first lease ever granted to trustees ; and oS. these fifteen persons the late Mr. T. Hodges was the indisputable survivor. The lease has ever since been regularly renewed, under the same description, and in the same terms in the years 1791, 1H05, i8ig, and 1833. The present trustees have now (1841) consented to the proposed terms for enfranchising the same under the late Municipal Reform Act. During Mr. Blackmore's time also Mrs. Sarah Carter left a lea.sehold house in Foregate Street for the dwell- ing of the ministers ; it has, however, been long since sold.* Ill 174;^ Isaac M.addox, who attacked the Puritan historian, D.\niel Neal, became Bishop o^ Worcester, as • From Samuel Bl.ackwcirs MS., written 1S41. lOO Nonconformity in Worcester. successor to the beloved John Hough. In childhood a pastrycook's boy, Maddox was sent, by an exhibition of some Dissenting friends, to college at Aberdeen.* But, entering the Establishment, he was made curate of St. Bride's, and after other promotions. Bishop of St. Asaph in 1736; and, in November 1743, was translated to Wor- cester ; he died in 1759. His strictures upon Neal's History of the Puritans, were fully answered by Neal himself in his Review of the principal facts objected to^ and by Joshua TouLMiN, in notes to his edition of Neal's great work in 5 volumes, 8vo, 1822, in which he also refutes the objec- tions of Zachary Grey and William Warburton, Bishop of Gloucester. 5. — The Rev. Joseph Carpenter. 1 744-1 760. (Thomas Urwick, Assistant.) Soon after the lamentable disagreement referred to, the Rev. Joseph Carpenter, of Warwick, was invited to officiate, and accepting the invitation became the acknowledged pastor. He must, however, have known all the pre-existent circum- stances. He expressed surprise that the Congregation should invite so old a man, but said, if they grew tired and * John Chambers' Biographical Illustrations of Worcestershire, p. 356. The Pastors of the Angcl Street ClmrcJi. lOi wished a change, they would not have much trouble in getting rid of him. The Rev. Thomas Urwick became his Assistant in the year 1754. Mr. Carpenter was much es- teemed. He resided in the house left for the minister till his death about the year 1760. He is supposed to have been buried at Bromsgrove. He and Mr. Francis Black- more seem to have died about the same time. Joseph Carpenter pursued his academical studies at Alcester in Warwickshire, under Mr. Joseph Porter, from whom many gentlemen merchants and ministers received their education. In the year 17 15 he was settled at War- wick, and continued there till 1744, when he removed to Worcester to succeed Mr. Blackmore as pastor of the Presbyterian congregation. His removal to this place gave him, in the review, great satisfaction, and in a letter, dated Oct. 3, 1752, he says, "Surely, if ever any one was under a particular direction, I was in that affair." Mr. Carpenter spent the rest oi his days in this connection, and died about the year 1758. He published two sermons, one on occasion of a fast, and another preached at Coventry, Sept. 19, 1742, upon the death of the Rev. John Warren, from I John, iv., 16. Several of Mr. Carpenter's letters to Mr. John Ward, of Taunton, appeared in the Protestant Dissenters' Magazine for August, 1798, vol. 5, p. 283 289. He married, and left a daughter, who became wife to Wm. Kettle, of Birmingham, who left a son and two daughters. I02 Nonconformity in Worcester. the youngest of whom became wife to Rev. John Kentish of Birmingham. Mr. Carpenter had a brother, John Car- penter, of Woodrow, near Bromsgrove, from whom des- cended the late Benjamin Carpenter of Bromsgrove, and Dr. Lant Carpenter, who were first cousins.* 6. — The Rev. John Allen, M.D. 1 760-1 764. (Thomas Urwick, Assistant.) The Rev. John Allen, M.D., of London, accepted an invitation to succeed Mr. Carpenter, Mr. Urwick continuing Assistant. He resided when at Worcester in the minister's house in Foregate Street. He was a pupil of Samuel Jones at Tewkesbury. He had first been settled for a short time at Nailsworth in Gloucestershire, whence he removed to London in the autumn of 1730, to succeed Dr. John Evans as co-pastor with Mr. James Read in the congregation in New Broad Street, Petty-France. He had for many years a large and substantial congregation, and made a handsome collection for the fund. He was a highly respectable man, a good, judicious preacher, and in his religious sentiments a moderate Calvinist. Besides his stated services in his own congregation, he was for some * W. Wilson's Biog. Coll., \. 33S. The Rev. Thomas Urwick, Minister of Aug,-/ Strcti Church, I 764- I 775. [From u portrait in Pdsiets in the Coward Tnistees' Room, Xfzv Colteg-e, Hainpstead.) The Pastors of t lie Angel Street Church. 103 years afternoon preacher to the congregation in Hanover Street under the ministry of the aged Dr. Earle. He was also one of the preachers o{ the Thursday Lecture in the same place. Dr. Allen was at Worcester from 1760 to 1764, when he resigned his charge and retired to London. He died Dec. 31, 1774, in the 73rd year of his age, and his remains were interred in Bunhill Fields, where a flat stone is raised over his grave, which contains the following inscription : — The Reverend Doctor Allen who departed this life, December 31st, 1774, In the 73rd year of his age. " Well done thou good and faithful servant." He was some time with the Independent Church at Shrewsbury.* 7. — The Rev. Thomas Urvvick. 1764-1775- Thomas URWiCK,t the second son of Samuel Urwick,| was born December 8, 1727, at Shelton, near Shrewsbury, • History of Diss. Churcha, \\. 225; Dr. Williams's Lib., W. Wilson's Biog. Coll., I. 14. t Abridged from the Walter Wilson MSS., M. 4, in Dr. Williams's Library; endorsed, " ?"rom the Rev. Tuos. Taylor, of Carter Lane, who furnished me with this account when I was writing Thi Dissenting Churches, in 1809. Walter Wilson." \ Sami EL Urwick owned a small estate of about 400 acres at Shelton, which he farmed. He wxs a Nonconformist, and nephew to Edward Urwick, B.A., incumbent of Eastham from 1690 till his death in 1701, .and master of Tenbury School. (Nash, L 367). On the I04 Nonconfor^nity in Worcester. where he received his classical education. Discoveringf a strong incHnation to the Christian ministry, and encouraged by the Rev, Job Orton (on whose ministry his parents were constant attendants), he entered, in 1747, the college at Northampton, under Doctor Doddridge. After Doddridge's death he went to Glasgow in 1752, where he finished his academical studies under Dr. Leechman. '* In 1754 he received a unanimous invitation from the congregation at Worcester, under the pastoral care of Mr. Carpenter, to assist him in his growing infirmities. Upon Mr. Carpenter's death in 1758, the congregation wished him to fill the vacant office, but this he declined ; and Dr. Allen, though advanced in years, was invited from London and induced to accept it ; Mr. Urwick at ye same time agreed to become his assistant, and frequently preached both parts of ye day, and some- times for two or three months together without any pecuniary reward for his extra services. Dr. Allen's infirmities in- creasing with his age, he resigned ye charge in 1764, and Thomas Urwick was unanimously chosen as his successor. The duties of ye office which he had now undertaken he blank pages of the Register book of St. Juliana, Shrewsbury, now in the Shreivshury Free Library, there are several notices of baptisms in Nonconformist families, such as, "Thomas, son of Job Orton and Mary his wife, said to be by an Independent Teacher, baptised Sept. II, 1721." Again, " May 27, 1723, Mary, d. of Job and Mary Orton said to be baptised by Mr. Berry a Dissenting Teacher." There are also notices of the whole family of Samuel Urwick, "Farmer in Shelton," who were ^^ said to be baptised" by Mr. Berry. The Rev. Charles Berry was assistant to Dr. John Gyles at Shrewsbury from 1721, and after Dr. Gyles's death in 1730 he continued sole minister till his death in 174I} when Job Orton succeeded. Dr. Allen and Ch. Berry -were fellow students under Samuel Jones at Tewkesbury. IVilson Memorials, L 27, New Coll. Hist. Lib. The Pastors of the Angel Street Church. 105 discharged with so much acceptcince and usefuhiess, that few ministers were ever more beloved by their hearers. And in this situation it is probable he would have continued to ye day of his death, had not circumstances arisen which he thought required his removal ; an event which took place in ye year 1775. The two or three following years he spent among his friends, and in looking about for some retired situation where he might end his days. With this view he accepted an invitation from a small congregation in ye village of Narborough* near Leicester, and here he thought to have found what he had been seeking. But ye great Lord and Head of ye Church would not suffer a ser- vant so well fitted for advancing his glory to remain in ye obscurity in which he wished himself to be buried, and in ye year 1779 he received an invitation from ye congregation at Clapham to fill ye vacancy which ye much lamented removal of their excellent pastor, Dr. Furneaux, had occa- sioned. This important office, after serious deliberation he thought it his duty to accept, and here, as in his former situation, he made full proof oi his ministry till ye infirmities of age disabled him for stated services; occasional ones he still continued clioorfiilK- to perform, frequently for Mr. Philipps,! his worthy successor, and sometimes for other of • Thos. Urwick succce.iiis) as minister of Narborough and Great Wigslon in June 1776, and remained there till 1778. Sit Non-parochial Registers in Somerset House, Leicesttrshire, 43, I. t Jamks PurilPrs was assistant and successor to Thos. Urwick in the Clapham pastorate. Fie was here 23 years, and diem and l)aplisecl at Worcester, 1S23, gradualetl B. A. in Classics at London University, studied divinity at I-ancashire Independent College, was assistant to VVm. Jay at Hath two years, pastur of El>cnezer Chapel, Birmingham, resignetl in 1855; died Oct. 6, 1857. He wrote Hours ivith the Mystics, a much valued work. See Congregaiional Year Book, 1859. 122 Nonconformity in Worcester. ground and build up the old waste places.' This was the strongest argument I could press upon him to give Worces- ter his most serious consideration. On this point I am justified in saying that his efforts have been highly blessed by God. There are few of the churches in the county and its vicinity that have not received advantages from his aid and guidance. The churches at Hereford and Bromsgrove will stand as monuments of his successful efforts." * In January 1827, he was led into a controversy from which, when it came to be generally known that he had taken part in it, he derived great reputation. A public challenge to point out any errors in doctrine or morals of the Romish church was accepted by him, and led to a con- troversy in which he displayed extraordinary learning, and rare argumentative capacity. For a time the letters of " Horace Bentley," under which signature he wrote, were ascribed to Dr. Hook, then Dean of Worcester. The con- troversy ended in the Papist publicly confessing himself beaten by the sources of argument agreed upon, viz., the Christian Fathers. It was in connection with this controversy that the University of Glasgow conferred upon him the honour of LL.D. ; and shortly after a similar honorary degree of D.D. was conferred by the University of Phila- delphia. Dr. Redford was a great supporter of the Literary and Scientific Institution then existing in Worcester ; he was * MSS. of Mr. Richard Evans, 1840. The Rev. George Reoi-okh. n.l),, LI.. I). Miin^l, r .'I InrJ Sf:..f C/'ii,,. ,\ l^.'; \Su, The Pastors of the Angel Street Chiireh. i 23 among the earliest antagonists of church-rates and the corn-laws, and was a frequent contributor to the magazines and reviews. He was chosen Chairman of the Congrega- tional Union for 1834, and delivered a series of Lectures upon TJie Holy Scriptures Verified.^ On Feb. 28, 1828, Messrs. Stephen Burden and Robert Newman were chosen deacons of the church. It was agreed that no one be employed as a village preacher or reader of sermons, until he receive the sanction of the minister or church. Mr. Henry Humphreys was appointed to preach at Droitwich, Ombersley, and Upton Snodsbury, and Messrs. Charles Martin and Winspere be requested to read sermons and conduct devotional exercises at Upton Snodsbury ; the Rev. Geo. Redford to select such sermons as he thinks most proper to be read. Messrs. R. Newman and Ri. Evans were deputed to receive donations to defray expenses attending village preaching. April 17, 1829. — Good Friday, being the day appointed by the Congregational Churches as a day of humiliation and prayer, the church met at 6.30 a.m., at 10.30, at 2.30 ; and in the evening they united with the Baptist Church in Silver Street, and with the VVesleyans in a devotional meeting in Pump Street Chapel, when the three ministers George Redford, Thos. Waters, and Joshua Marsden engaged in prayer, and delivered each a short address. * Noakc, Worcester Seels, pp. 136, 137. 124 Nonconformity in Worcester. Dec. 30, 1830. — Mr. Thomas Hill, engaged in the Sunday School, and teaching in the Villages, having offered himself as a candidate for missionary work, received the sanction and recommendation of the church to the Mission- ary Society. This is one instance to show how from the Angel Street Sunday School, Teachers have gone forth as ministers, missionaries, or evangelists, and in other depart- ments of Christian service. "Sept. 8, 1848, Church Meeting.^ — -It was resolved unanimously, that since it has pleased Almighty God to remove by death our much valued Deacon, Mr. Richard Evans, after honourably discharging the duties of that office for thirty-four years, we place on record this testimony of our deep sense of his valuable services, of our respect for his memory, and of our gratitude to the great Head of the church for having spared him so long, and made him so useful to this Christian Society." * *' Nov. 3, 1854. — After a statement of the labours of the home missionary at Ombersley, and of the opening of a chapel at Hallow, resolved that Mr. Thomas Rowley Hill, having purchased, repaired, and fitted up a small chapel at Hallow, and having offered the free use of the same to the Sunday School Committee, the Church accepts, thanks Mr. Rowley Hill, and prays for a divine blessing on the work there." * Minutes of Church Meetings, Angel Street Church. The Pastors of the Angel Street Church. 125 Nov. 20, 1856. — Dr. Redford, having suffered severe indisposition for more than twelve months, and all reasonable hope of recovery having- vanished, addressed an affectionate letter of resignation to the church recounting the history of more than thirty years of peaceful and almost uninterrupted labour. Upon his retirement the church voted him an Annuity of ;^ioo, and presented him with a sum of upwards of ;^iooo. After his retirement he resided at Edgbaston, Birmingham, occasionally visiting Worcester. In March, i860, he administered the ordinance of the Lord's Supper in Angel Street Chapel. On May 16 he had an apoplectic seizure, and breathed his last on May 20, i860, in his 75th year. His remains were interred in the graveyard at the back of Angel Street Chapel ; on which occasion the Rev. T. R. Barker, tutor of Spring Hill College, delivered an impres- sive address, and the Rev. Robert Vaughan, D.D., preached on the following Sunday. For literary avocations, especially those naturally issuing out of his ministerial character or cognate thereunto. Dr. Redford possessed qualifications far beyond the common range of even highly educated persons. V^w outside the old Universities were more accurately learned in the Hebrew and Greek tongues, or more profoundly skilled in Divinity and Theology. He possessed extraordinary powers of observation and comparison, a quick and clear perception, great command of language, a singular faculty of combina- tion, and remarkable administrative talents. There was a 126 Nonconformity in Worcester. calm dignity and self-possession in his bodily presence which, when he entered any company, at once impressed even strangers. A man thus diversely gifted, and a ripe student besides, could not but have been of the utmost service to any cause which he espoused, and we may fairly describe Dr. Redford as a great pillar and ornament of Nonconformity. His active and comprehensive mind was by no means confined within the limits of his pastoral charge. Whilst ever faithfully discharging this, any move- ment that a man in his profession could with propriety co-operate in, whether for advancing the social, the moral, or the religious welfare of those amongst whom his lot was cast, might always count upon receiving his support. He was constant and earnest in pleading the cause of the Bible Society, of all Missionary schemes, of the Anti- slavery Society, and always ready to lend his aid in promot- ing objects of piety, charity, or benevolence. He was instant in season and out of season in all works which had for their aim to elevate the social condition of the citizen, to increase his comforts, to liberalise our institutions and prorhote good government, to spread sound moral and religious knowledge, the better inculcation of Christian doctrine, and the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom. As a preacher he was original, eloquent, and argumentative, always felicitous, and often pungent in illustration, never failing to interest, but always carrying his hearers along with him ; dexterous exceedingly in the practical application The Rev. William Flavel Hl'rxdall, M.A., Ph.D. AJinislcr of Aiigcl Stird Church, 1S57— 1860. The Pastors of the Augcl Street Church. 127 of his theme, aiul in making a discourse tell upon the audience to whom it was addressed, much resembling- in this respect his friends the Rev. Dr. Urwick of Dublin, and the Rev. J. A. James, of Birmingham, with whom he was intimately associated during his career in Worcester.* 14.. — The Rev. William Flavel Hurndall, Ph.D., M.A. 1857-1860. W. F. Hurndall succeeded Dr. Redford, entering on the pastorate in October, 1857. In 1858 Messrs. Thomas Rowley Hill, Charles Martin, David Everett and Richard Jordan were elected Deacons. It was determined to rebuild the chapel ; Alderman Padmore, afterwards M.P. for Worcester, gave ;£^iooo, and other leading members ;{i^500 each. Speaking thirty years afterwards at the Bi- centenary meeting in 1887, Dr. Hurndall said : — " I came to Worcester as a youth almost fresh from college with great fear and trembling as Dr. Redford's successor. From the members I received much kindness, especially from the quaint and kindly Mr. Padmore. In the old chapel were two extraordinary pillars that extended from floor to roof, • In the Dklionary of National Biopaphy a full memoir of Dr. Redford's life and work is piven. He was born in London, 1785, educated at Huxton Academy, and in Glasgow College, where he graduated M.A. in l8ll. His first p.astorate wxs at Uxhridge, 1812, and while there he edited the Congrcgnt tonal Magazine, and compiled (with H. T. Riches) a history of Uxbridge. For a list of his works see Diet. 0/ National Biog. 128 Nonconformity in Worcester. designated by some, Jachin and Boaz. New comers were induced to take sittings behind these immense pillars, and, complaining that they could not see the preacher, were told 'that faith cometh by hearing.' This did not settle their minds, and it was resolved to substitute a more modern and commodious Building. In this we had valuable help from the late Joseph Wood, a man highly esteemed as a citizen and a Christian. We had the largest from Mr. Padmore and four others who raised the first total of ;^30oo. Mr. William Joseland was one of the most energetic collectors. One day when he was calling upon a contributor, there was in the room a very poor woman regarded as a pensioner of the church. We generally called her ' Poor Mary.' Mr. Joseland was going out of the room without asking her for anything when she stopped him and said, ' You don't ask me for anything.' He replied, 'No, we consider you to be too poor to help in anything of this sort.' She said, ' I have enough in the bank to pay for my funeral, and I am quite sure my friends will not let me want, therefore put me down for £2..^ I remember seeing the list of subscribers. Poor Mary was at the top with £2^ and Mr. Padmore ;^iooo. Angel Street has many associations connected with its name. May this chapel always make this to be an Angel street, a Mahanaim, a via sacra, where there shall be visits of angels, frequent and full of blessing."* The new building, which cost ^5800, was opened on May * T/ic Bi-caitena^y Supphniait, p. 7. The Rev. John Baktlett. Miiiisli-r of Aii!;el Stiwi Church, i85o— 1870. TJic Pastors of tJic Angel Street Church. 129 31, 1859. Sermons were preached in the morning by the Rev. Samuel Martin, of Westminster, and in the evening by the Rev. Newman Hall, LL. B., son of Mr. Vine Hall, formerly bookseller, of Worcester. T. Rowley Hill, then Mayor of Worcester, presided at an Afternoon Meeting. The collections amounted to ^^275. On Feb. 2, i860. Dr. Hurndall was oblio-ed through ill health to rcsii^n the pastorate.* 15. — The Rev. John Bartlett. i860 1870. John Bartlett commenced his ministry here on Sunday, Aug. 19, i860. He was born at Portsea, Dec. 26, 1828. His education was for a time pursued under the Rev. W. Arnot of Portsea, and afterwardsas a student of New College, London. In 1855 he became co-pastor with Dr. Bennett at Falcon Square. Thence he came to Worcester. In 1S70 he went to Park Church, Halifax ; and in 1875 to Castle Gate, Nottingham. His health giving way, he removed to Forest Hill, but had to retire altogether from active service in 18S6. Regarding Angel Street, ho writes, " I went to a handsome new Chapel just opened and paid for. The partially scattered congregation were g^athcred, and the • Dr. liurncl.iU was bom nl Dasingstokc, July lo, 1S30. After leaving Worcester he \v.x<; Head Master at Mill Hill three years, and then kept a private school at Kickmansworth, 1S64-1SS3. After a short ministry at Littlchampton, he retired to Scarborough, where he died, Aug. 19, 18S8. K I'^o Nonconforfnity in Worcester. larger chapel filled. Then followed years of steady, united, fruitful work, the people responding to every call with a vigorous activity and great liberality." 28 January, 1861. — The Draft of a Trust Deed of the New Chapel at Omhersley was presented and approved ; and Thomas Rowley Hill, Joseph Grainger, D. Everett, Richard Joseland, C. Martin, James Tomlins, Fredk. Kelly, E. Wall, Wm. Joseland, George Brecknell, and Joseph Brecknell were elected to be Trustees. Sept. 2, i860. — The Pastor informed the Church that the Chapel dX Fernhill Heath had been opened under favour- able circumstances, and a Sabbath School commenced there. March 2, 1864. — Mr. Joseph Grainger presented a Report from the Home Mission Committee, stating that some land and a Cottage at Pole Elm had been purchased by him, and that he was willing to make over the property to the Church if they would undertake the responsibility of providing a Chapel and Schoolroom. On March 20th, it was resolved that the Church approves of the property being placed in trust, and that the Home Mission Committee be requested to proceed with building a chapel as soon as funds can be provided. 10 Oct., 1866. — The death of Mr. Charles Martin was reported. A sympathetic resolution was passed recording that Mr. Martin was the oldest church member, having joined the church, Dec. 29, 18 15. The Rev. Robert Vaughan Prvce, LL.B. Minister of Angel Street Chnreh 1871 — 1876. The Pastors of the Angel Street Church. 131 31 Auq-., 1870. — Rev. John Bartlett resigned the pastorate on account of Mrs. Bartlett 's health. On Sept. 7 a resolu- tion was passed, unanimously regretting Mrs. Bartlett's ill- ness, recording that the resignation did not proceed from any want of cordiality between pastor and people, recounting the affectionate earnestness of Mr. Bartlett's ministry, and his great devotedness to the interests not only of the church, but of the whole county. He afterwards became pastor of a church at Nottingham, and continued there till 1886. He took part in Bi-centenary Celebration oi 1887. 16. — The Rev. Robert Vaughan Prvce, LL.B. 1871-1876. Feb. 8, 1 87 1. —The Rev. Vaughan Pr)ce accepted the pastorate of the church. 25 Feb. 1874. — Mr. George Edwards was appointed an evangelist (salary ;^7o) to visit and preach in the villages under the direction of the Pastor. July 3, 1872. — A room in the adjoining premises was rented and fitted up for the Infants' Class. " 26 Feb. 1S73. — Regarding the use of sacramental wine at the Lord's Supper it was carried unanimously that the use of unfermented wine in the vill.'igc stations be sanctioned, and that the vestry be instructed to arrange a separate service in 132 Nonco7iformity in Worcester. the adjoining chapel with unfermented wine for those who prefer it." In a letter noticing- a series of sermons delivered by Mr. Vaughan-Pryce upon special subjects, the late Mr. John NoAKE, writing in January, 1873, said : — These sermons would do credit to the pulpit of any Christian Church, and ought to be accepted and prized by all of every denomination who value zealous and highly skilled labour in the cause of religion. A course of Paley, Butler, and other first-class writers on the subjects indicated, is to be enjoyed only by those who have considerable time and abilities of no mean order at their disposal ; but Mr. Pryce's sermons have popularised the great Doctors in Divinity in a way peculiarly his own, being pregnant with the rich fruits of deep and extensive research, presented in a masterly and original manner. Dec. 20, 1876. — The Rev. R. Vaughan Pryce announced that he had accepted a call from the church at Stamford Hill, that in so doing he was obeying the Will of God, that his relations to this Church and its officers were of the happiest kind. A resolution was passed unanimously regretting the resignation, expressing affectionate regard to Mr. Pryce, and rejoicing that the resignation was not occasioned by diminution of affectionate sympathy between pastor and people. The Rev. Robert Vaughan Pryce was born in Bristol, The Rev. Septimus March, B.A. Minister of Allied Street Church since 1877. The Pastors of the Angel Street Church. 133 Dec. 15, 1834. His mother was a sister oi Dr. Robert Vau(>-han, and his father was for many years Librarian to the city, and a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. R. V. Pryce was educated in Queen Elizabeth's Hospital, Bristol, and after some years in business, entered New College, and graduated in London, B.A. in 1859, LL.B. in i860, M.A. in 1861. He was minister in Brighton from 1862- 1871 ; in Worcester, 1871-1876; in London (Stamford Hill), 1877-1889, when he came to be Principal of New College, Hampstead. 17. — The Rev. Septimus March, B.A. From 1877. In July, 1877, Rev. Septimus March, pastor of Albion Street Chapel, Southampton, accepted the call o^ the church to the pastorate. A new house at Battenhall was built for the pastor in the following year. In June, 1880, Mr. Marsh was laid aside by serious illness. Mr. Kvcrctt, leaving Worcester, resigned the deaconship; and the church passed a resolution recognising Mr. Everett's Sabbath services extending over 23 years. He died in 1884, having been 39 years a member. In 1881, Messrs. Tow.nshend, WiLLi.\M JosELAND, and Henrv Dav were elected deacons. 134 Nonconformity in Worcester. Mr. Frank Joseland was, in April, 1882, recommended for admission to Spring Hill College as a missionary student. In the same year the Pastor reported the formation of an Association of Worcester Free Churches, and it was agreed that this church join the Association. It was also resolved to celebrate the Bi-centenary of the open enrolment of this church under the pastoral care of Thomas Badland in 1687, by an improvement in the Sunday school accommodation. In 1887, Messrs. W. Tkmple Bourne, Thomas Bryce, and W. E. Tucker were elected deacons. Septimus March, son of Henry March, Congregational minister, was born at Newbury, Berks, in 1840. He was educated at a school at Taunton, afterwards designated " Independent College," and entered Cheshunt College in 1858. In i860 he graduated B.A. in the London Univer- sity. After five years study under Dr. Alliott first, and after him Dr. Reynolds, he undertook the pastorate of Albion Chapel, Southampton, when he was ordained, June 3, 1863; the Revs. Thomas Atkins and John Woodwark took part, and the Rev. Henry March, his father, gave the charge. During his pastorate here of fifteen years the membership of the church was doubled.* Coming to Worcester in 1877, he took great interest in the Bi-centenary Celebration. The site, costing ^^2600, for the new Sunday School was given by Mr. T. Rowley Hill, who also contributed ^1000 towards the building, which cost nearlyfive thousand pounds. * While here he published Memorials of Charles March, Commander, R.N., afterwards issued by the Religious Tract Society, under the title, Life on the Deep. The Pastors of the Angel Street Church. 135 The foundation or memorial stone bears the following' inscription : — This Micmorial Stone OF New Sunday School Buildings erected in connection with the bl-centenary of the founding in 1 687 of the Congregational Church, Worcester, WAS laid by Mr. T. Rowley Hill, J. P., D.L., May I, 1 888. The buildino- consists of a central hall with gallery on three sides, and 22 class-rooms opening to the area and gallery, so that in very few minutes the entire school can be summoned from several class-rooms for united service. The young men 's and young women 's classes in the new building increased at once and rapidly, and are a great power for good, many being Church members. They have Mutual Improvement and Christ iiui Endeavotir Societies. It is confidently hoped that these beautiful and commodious rooms will be the home of the school and the nursery of the church for many generations.* Mr. March informs me that the membership of the church has increased from 238 in January, 1878, to 426 in the beginning oi 1896. In the Bi'Ccnienary Suppleincnt oi the Angel Street Church, pub- lished in 1887, we find the following : — " Broadness of mind and intellectual sincerity are among the best traditions of • Statement of Mr. Waltkr Price, one of the Snperinlendcnts of the Sunday School at Anyel Street, April 21, 1S96. 136 Monconformity in Worcester. the past in Angel Street. Those qualities are happily well represented in the present minister. Under Mr. March's direction the organisation of Angel Street Chapel has been efficiently maintained in every branch. " Owing to ill-health the church granted him a six months furlough in 1895, during which the services were conducted by Mr. Donald MacDonald, student of New College, who still remains as assistant to Mr. March. Thomas Rowley Hill, Esq., J. P. Our history would be obviously incomplete without a brief notice of the senior Deacon of the Worcester Congre- gational Church. Thomas Rowley Hill, son of William and Elizabeth Hill, was born at Stourport in this county on March i, 18 16. His parents were active and consistent Nonconformists. When John Wesley came to Stourport, among those who were early moved by his teaching were Mr. Hill and Mr. Rowley who, with a few other residents in that town stood by him, and resolutely held their ground against the crowds that were ready to handle the preacher roughly. The son of this Mr. Hill was William Hill, F.R.A.S., who married a daughter of Mr. Rowley, who had stood beside his father in resisting the mob and protecting Wesley. Thomas The Pastors of the Angel Street Church. 137 Rowley Hill is their son. In 1822 the family removed to Worcester. His mother was a member oi the Wesleyan church ; his father became member and afterwards a deacon of the ConsT-reijational church in Anq-el Street. Having received his early education, he was sent to London to study at University Colleg'e. As a member of the firm of Hill, Evans and Company, he eng^aged in business. In 1833, he became a member of the Angel Street Church, and on June 26, 1838, he married the daughter of l\Ir. Richard Evans, deacon and trustee of this church, but she died within a year of her marriage, on May 5, 1839. In 1842, July 26, he married the daughter oi the late Edward Evans, J. P., of Worcester, a prominent and highly respected burgess, and also a member of the Congregational Church. In 1857, he was elected deacon, and in the following )ear (1858), he filled the office of Mayor of Worcester. He was chosen Justice of the Peace for the city in 1S60, and for the county in 1865. He was made High Sheriff' oi the county in 1870. He was elected Member oi Parliament for Wor- cester in 1874, and was in the House of Commons twelve sessions, till 1885. During this period he was a consistent supporter o{ Mr. Gladstone and the Liberal Party. His vote was always given on questions o{ importance to Dis- senters. His constituents did him the honour of placing his portrait, painted by Frank Moll, in the Worcester Guild- hall.* • See Celebritits of the Day, Nov, l88l, pp. 127-13J. 138 Nonconformity in Worcester. As a deacon and trustee of the Congregational Church the kindness of his heart and the HberaHty of his hand have found their fullest expression. The record of chapel and schools bears abundant witness to his wisdom and strong common sense in guiding, and his promptness in responding to every proposal for the advancement of the Redeemer's Kingdom ; and his help and sympathy have not been con- fined to the Congregational Church, but have gone forth to sister churches and to beneficent societies at home and abroad. It is at his suggestion and in compliance with his request that this work has been compiled. H U a H in X X VII. Zbc Hiujcl Street Sim^a^ Scboole, 1707 to 1807. [By Mr. Walter Price, one ot the Superintendents.] URiNG the first decade from the commencement of Sunday schools by Robert Raikes in Gloucester, in 1780, their g'rowth was small. Here and there some large hearted friend o\' children caught the idea, and made efforts to follow the example ; but generally the method was so novel, and, to the majority of people, so impractical, that little was done. Graduall)-, however, the thing grew, and during the second decade, 1790 to 1800, considerable advance was made. The church in Angel Street was early in the field, and there can be little doubt that the first Sunday school in 140 Nonconformity in Worcester. the city of Worcester was that established in 1797 by the Rev. G. OsBORN, the then pastor. Mr. Osborn was a man of larg-e benevolence and tender spiritual sympathy for the young-. He fairly doted on his Sunday school, fostering it with a tender wisdom which could not fail to secure success. The first school, which was exclusively for boys, dates 1797 ; a second for girls was commenced in 1798 — each having 50 to 60 scholars, so that they are now rapidly approaching their centenary. It is curious at this distance of time to note that Mr. Osborn should have found it necessary in a sermon preached at Angel Street, November 9, 1800, to defend and vindicate the movement from the astounding proposition that the schools were " Seminaries of Atheism." In spite, however, of misunderstanding and opposition pro- gress was marked, and we find early reference made to the establishment of schools at Birdport, Countess of Hunting- don's, and at Pump Street Wesleyan Chapels. Mr. Osborn passed to his eternal rest on Tuesday, November 10, 181 2. His singularly beautiful character and devotion to his cherished work has borne abundant fruit ; and to this day some of his descendants are actively engaged in the Sunday school. It it interesting to note that at the time of Mr. Osborn's death the Sunday school work was progressing in England and Wales by leaps and bounds. In 1813 a great meeting of the "Society for the support and encouragement of The Afio-ci Street Sunday Sc/iools. 141 Sunday Schools" was held in London under the presidency of Mr. \\\ H. HoARK, at wliich it was stated that the Society had distributed 357,385 speUinq- books, 75,179 Tes- taments, 8,078 Bibles to 3,935 schools containing- 324,000 children. In this year also we read that Mr. Charles oi Bala j^ave an oncourao-inq" account of the work in Wales which led to the formation oi the Bible Society. To trace the history o'i the Sunday School is like follow- ini4 the course of a river, which though small in its begin- ning', g-radually deepens and widens as it flows, beautifying the landscape and fertilizing the adjacent land. At no period since their establishment have the Sunday schools at Angel Street failed to occupy an important position in the organizations of the Church. A comparison oi fig^ures at different periods will serve to illustrate this. Thus, in 1870 the number of scholars, all included, was 392 ; in 1890, little more than a \ear after the opening oi the new school buildings there were 520, at about which number tho\- have since stood ; as many as can be convenient!)' taught. But numerical increase, although important in itself, fails entirely to g'auge the nature and extent of the spiritual influences which have flown from this effort. Much of the best life of the Church has been nurtured here. Talents sanctified and employed in this sphere of Christian service, have been used by the Master for blessed results. It would be simply impossible to estimate the number oi those who 142 Nonconfor7mty in Worcester. during the 100 years now ending- have passed from the schools to the heavenly home, or to say how far-reaching" have been the spiritual results. Ministers and missionaries, preachers and evangelists, workers in every department of Christian service have gone forth, and are still going forth from these schools. It may be mentioned also that two former superintendents have been called by the people to represent the city in Parliament, and nearly every municipal office has been filled repeatedly by those who have been active Sunday school teachers and officers. Any account of Angel Street Sunday schools which left out of view the accommodation which has been provided for teachers and scholars would be incomplete. In this respect the Church has nobly done her part, coming forward from time to time to supply the growing needs of the schools. In the bi-centenary year of the founding of the church, 1887, the crowning effort was made. It was then that a splendid site adjacent to the chapel was acquired by Mr. T. Rowley Hill, and generously conveyed to the Build- ing Committee together with a cheque for ;^iooo as the starting of a building fund. Much enthusiasm was awakened, and on May i, 1888, the foundation or memorial stone of the present beautiful and convenient school buildings was laid. The inscription which is engraved upon the stone has already been given. The approximate cost of the Buildings and Site was £'],q>oo. The Angel Street Sunday Sc/iooh. 143 They consist of a larq-e hall, surrounded on two sides and one end, by a g-allcry. There are 22 class-rooms, rano-ed around, opening- to the area and gallery floor, so that in a very few minutes the whole of the school can be called together from their separate rooms for united service. This arrangement is most convenient, greatly promoting the comfort of all eno-ao-ed in the work. It is confidently hoped that these beautiful and com- modious rooms will be the home of the school for many generations. The senior department of the school was the one in which the benefit arising from enlarged and improved premises was most apparent. The young men's and N'oung women's classes increased at once and rapidly, and are to-day a great power for good, a large proportion of the members are members of the church, and many engaged in Christian work in home mission aiul village services. Nor does the work end on Sunday ; the young men hold a weekly meeting for mutual improvement and debate, whilst the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavour invites both sexes to a weekly meeting for praise and prayer, and study of God's Word. The Sunday School has lately been exposed to some rather searching criticism from professional and other chairs ; and some are inclined to think scant justice is being done to the devoted teachers who at much self sacrifice are giving themselves to the work. That the future of the Sunday 144 Nonconformity in Worcester. School will be one of increased efficiency and greater spiritual power, none who note the signs of the times, can doubt. Meanwhile, let us give praise to God for all that has been wrought. If the good man, Mr. Osborn, who founded the schools at Angel Street one hundred years ago could see the work to-day, might he not say, "What hath God wrought," and if he looked out on the wider sphere of England and the world might he not add, "Surely the little one has become a thousand, the small one a nation." VIII. Zhc Baptists in Morccster. ^^^^^^^^APPiLV the Rev. William Belshcr, pastor of ^ ^Si^ K the Baptist Church, Silver Street, in 1796, re- cords ill the Church Book, that he had before him an old MS. volume belong^ing- to the Baptists in Worcester, bearing- this title : — "A Book o( the records o( the Church o^ Clirist in Worcester, made in the iith nuMiih o( the year i()5S, h>' Thomas Fi-xknam ; consistin<^' oi' Believers baptised with water in the name of the Lord Jesus.' ' The next leaf begins, "The names of the members of the church, both brethren and sisters." The first name is Thomas Fecknam, and with him seventeen men and twenty-one women ; in all thirt\-nine members. It does not appear, continues Mr. Belsher, "that Mr. Fecknam wrote any more in the book L 146 Nonconfor^nity in Worcester. than the title page, the names of the members already noted, and some queries resolved at Alcester by the messengers of the Associated churches, met there the 12th and 13th days of the 2nd month, 1659, at which time the church at Wor- cester tendered with them by mutual consent. Two of these queries were from Worcester. It is probable that Mr. Fecknam was the minister. The name of one of the women members is Sarah Fecknam. As he wrote no more in the book, probably persecution drove him away and scattered his flock." From the Townsend MSS. it appears that on March 28, 1663, two of the Worcestershire Justices, Messrs. Townsend and G. Symonds, released out of the castle goal at Worces- ter, fourteen Baptists and many Quakers. In the Worces- ter county records the gaoler's list of prisoners in 1667 included Thomas Fecknam, said to be a leader oi the Quakers. No doubt this was the Baptist minister.^ We have already given (p. 68) Calamy's account of the imprisonment of Robert Humphrys of Claines, and Mr. Pardoe imprisoned at Worcester in 1664. " The next page " says Mr. Belsher, "of the Worcester records runs thus : — The Restitution of the Chu7xh of Christ i7i Worcester the loth of the \2th month 1666 to her com- munion and fellozvship with Him. On this restitution their names are put down, being but eleven men members, * Worcester Sects, by John Noake, pp. 156, 162, sqq. The Baptists in Worcester '47 and ten women ; in all twenty-one. The first name is John Edwards, who afterwards lived at Leominster. There, it is noted, he was broui>-ht very early to Christ, and was a great encourager of believers when he lived in Worcester. Elisha Hathaway is the second person named. He began to preach in this church about 1674, or possibly sooner, as he was then aged about forty. He was very useful through many years of persecution." In the Lambeth MSS. is the following list of Anabaptist conventicles in or about Worcestershire in 1669. Parish. Sects. Number. Quality. St. Nicholas in Wor- Anabaptist. About Of all sorts, Heads and Tiachers. Unknowne. cester, in the house of Mr. John Ed- wards. Bromsgrove and Kinfif's Norton. 40. and of good accompt. Several conventicles, but very few considerable persons in them, and their preachers are sonic- times Nonconformists, and in their absence otlier lavmen. Their names unknown. Defford, at the house 20. Mean. of Wm. Westma- COTE, who keeps a school. Kidmarley Dabilds. 60 or Mr. Smyth, 80. Mr. Preston, Mr. John Giles Lapworth, at the .About Poore people. Mr. Falx of house of a poor 6 or 8. Henley. widow, Rogers. 148 Nonconformity in Worcester. Parish. Sects. Number. Quality. Heads and Teachers, Alcester, one in the Anabaptist. At least Several lay persons, house of Richard 100. Jennings, theother in the house of Mr. Francis Bridges, and Sir John. There went out of this town seven score and odd persons against the king to Worcester. Alderminster Noe conventicle, but many inhabite in this parish. seditious persons Kingtone, at Anabaptists See the names the house of and on the Return. John and Bar- Quakers. bara Butler. Whichford... .. Anabaptists 20 or James Will- and other 30. more, Thos. sects. W H A T E L Y , one WoRDEN, Nonconformist. Birlingham... .. Noe conventicle, but some factious persons. inhabitants. See Returns for their names. Inkberrow, at Quakers. Some- the house of times the widow 300 or Stanley. less. Feckenham, at Anabaptists. the house of John Foynes. Dormston, at Anabaptist. 20 or Meane persons. house of the 30. John Poole. The Baptists in Worcester'. 149 Pcirish. Sectf. Nttmlh r. Quality. Kington, at the Anabaptist. 20 or Meane. house of 30- Samlel RorER. Kington, at the Anabaptist. 20 or I'oore. house of 30- William Havnes. Pershore, three I of Pres- 40 or 50. conventicles. byterians. I of Inde- 30 or 40. pendents. I of 12 families.* Quakers. Ili'ihii and Ttachers. Thos. F EC ken mam. Thos. Feckenmam, a cobbler, E.vgle- SON, a clothier, Henry Hansome. Among" the places and persons licensed for preaching under the Indulgence of Charles II., 1672, are the following : " The house of Tho. Ch.xpman at Whittington, Baptist, 25 Juiy» 1672. Licence to Manasshs King, to be an Anabaptist teacher in the house of Thomas Chapman. The house of John Langfokd of Kierwood in Worces- tershire, Anabaptist.! At a niccling held May 27, 1692, Ei.iSHA Hathaway was nominated as pastor ; W. Ranilal and W. Charles, elders; Matthew Handy and Kichard 1 lampion, deacons. During Mr. Ilathaway's absence in London, Mr. Holokk • l,.iiiil)cih .MSS. 639 fol., 272 i<]q. t R. O. Domestic, Interregnum, 38a. 150 Nonconformity in Worcester. preached at Worcester. By the the hand of John Willis of Alcester and Joseph Price of Tewkesbury, brother Hatha- way was ordained pastor. Mr. Pardoe who had been seven years in prison in Worcester was also in Hereford gaol four years. He died in Worcester 1692, leaving* a sweet savour of Christ. Elisha Hathaway was pastor of the Baptist congregation in Worcester nearly forty years, and died in 1 7 14, aged upwards of eighty years. The meeting house in Silver Street was built in his time and he was buried in it. The inscription on his grave run thus : " Here lieth the body of Mr. Elisha Hathaway, Gospel minister, teacher, and pastor of the congregation forty years ; having finished his work, by the Will of God he fell asleep in Jesus, 17 Sep- tember, 1714, aged 81."* Hathaway was succeeded by Isaac Poynting, who was minister some time at Frome in Somerset, but in 171 5 removed to Worcester, where he died. May 5, 1740, aged 63 years, having been 25 years pastor. He was buried in the meeting house yard. He left a son in the ministry who succeeded him. John Poynting, M.A., son of Isaac, was born at Wor- cester, October, 17 19, and educated at Bristol under Messrs. Foskett and Evans. After some years of probation in the ministry at Worcester, he succeeded his father as pastor. He was reckoned a good scholar and rather a recluse. In * William Belsher's account given by Mr. Noake in Worcester Sects, pp. 164-167. The Baptists in Worcestci-. 1 5 1 1774 the Collet^^'e oi rrovidence in Rhode Island gave him the degree of M. A. His income was so small that he was obliged to keep a boarding school. He died October 6, 1791, aged 72 years. He was never maried. The Rev. Lawrence Butterworth of Evesham gave an address at his grave and preached the funeral sermon on Isaiah iii. 10, 11. Mr. Poynting left upwards of /"i 200, of which he devised £100 to the particular Baptist fund in London for poor ministers, ^100 to the Widows' fund, and ^200 to the Academy at Bristol where he received his education. His only publica- tion was a sermon preached before the Midland Association at Bromsgrove, in 1768, on Psalm cxxxii. 16.* After the death of John Poynting there was no pastor from 1 791 till the settlement of William Belshek, Decem- ber 7, 1796. The chapel in Silver Street was rebuilt. During the rebuilding the congregation mot in Angel "Row" or "Lane" Chapel, the use o^ wliich was given b\' the Independents. Silver Street Chapel was re-opened Jul)- 27, 1797- Mr. Belsher kept a boarding* school for many years. He usually had from thirty to forty boarders, and lived in the Red House on Rainbow Hill, which commands a fine view oi thecity. Among his pupils, 1S07 8, was the present writer's father, William Urwick from Shrewsbury (afterwards of Dublin), regarding- whom when a schoolboy Mr. Belsher • Wilson's Biog. ColUcdons, Dr. Williams's Lib. 152 Nonconformity in Worcester. writes: "If all my pupils were like William Urwick, teaching would be delightful work ; he receives instruction with so much meekness and gratitude (which is not common to youth) that we cannot but love him."* William Belsher resigned the pastorate, from illness, on October 25, 181 7. At that time the number of members was 112 ; and up to that time there had been only four successive pastors of the church for 143 years. Henry Page, A.M., accepted the church's invitation to the pastorate, November 21, 181 7. He was then in his thirty-seventh year. He had been about fifteen years in Bristol. He was pastor at Silver Street ten years, and died at Boulogne in 1833. The number of members was 150 at the time of his resignation. Thomas Waters, who came from Pershore, succeeded Mr. Page on November 10, 1827, and resigned, from illness, August 31, 1838. He died two months afterwards. The number of members was then 199. During his ministry, namely in 1829, the chapel was considerably enlarged, a piece of [ground adjoining having been purchased for the purpose at a cost of ^275. The celebrated Robert Hall * Life and Letters of VV. Unviek, D.D., p. 4. It may lieie be added that Mr. Ricliard Evans, so long an active officer of the Angel Street Church, had l)een apprentice in Shrewsbury to Wdliam Urvvick's father, afterwards deceased, and acted with all the kindness of a guardian to the boy, inviting him to spend his holidays at his house, and shewing him attention in various ways. William Urwick was grand nephew of Thomas Urwick, minister of Angel Street Chapel. He preached in Worcester for three sabbaths in August, 1815, and for the Iii.>.h Evangelical Society in 1825. The Baptists hi Worcester. 153 of Bristol, and formerly of Leicester, preached at the re- opening from 2 '\\\w. iii. 5. F. J. Leifchild of Bristol, also preached from Psalm cxlix. 2. Enoch Williams was the next pastor. May 1839 to January, 1841. William Crowe followed in May, 1841, and was pastor for sixteen years. He was a man of unbending principle and irreproachable life. He was first an Independent, and a missionary in Travancore, having been trained at the Gosport College. Mr. John Noake names him as one of four good men, uniting in their advocacy o{ every good cause, and stimulating their fellow citizens to lend their aid. They were John Davies (Church o{ England), Dr. Redford (Independent), Willlxm Crowe (Baptist), and Samuel Darke (Quaker).* The Rev. J. J. Waite's system of choral psalmody was adopted by Mr. Crowe's congrega- tion, and the service of song was admirable. Mr. Waite resided at Hereford, but visited Worcester, where, though • John Davif:^ was rector of St. Clements from iSi6 till 1S58. Samukl Darkf. died July 20, 1856, aged 86 years. When a youth he was imprisoned for refusing to serve or to pay when "drawn" for the Militia. He joined the Society of Friends on Feb. 29, 1793, and for sixty-three years was ever among the foremost in demonstrating the folly and wicked ness of coercion in matters of religion, in promoting temperance, the circulation of the Scriptures, home missions, and in denouncing the slave trade, the corn laws, and capital punishment. His exertions in the anti-slavery cause were acknowledged in 1839, when his fellow citizens presented him with a timepiece bearing this inscription: — "To Samiki. Darke for thirteen years acting .secretary to the Worcester Anti-Slavery Society, presented by his co.idjutors as a testimonial of their esteem for his long, unremitting, gratuilous, and unobtrusive services, by which, more than by the individual efforts of any other fellow citizen, they believe the glorious triumph of negro freedom in the British Colonies to have been acceleratetl." NOAKE, ll'orusler Srcts, pp. 288-292. 154 Nonconformity in Worcester. completely blind, he instructed large classes with great success. Mr. Crowe resigned his ministry in 1857 after sixteen years' labour.* In January 1858 the Rev. H. E. Von Sturmer, M.A., succeeded to the pastorate. He was son of F. Sturmer, rector of Heapham, Lincolnshire, educated at Merchant Taylor's School, entered St. John's, Cambridge, and was baptised by Baptist Noel in 1856. The number of members in i860 was 200. In 1863-4 ^ ^'^w Gothic chapel was erected in Sansome Walk at a cost of ;^5ooo. Mr. Sturmer's pastorate terminated in 1873. He was followed by the Rev. T. G. Swindill who was here two years, 1874- 1876. The Rev. James Lewitt undertook the pastorate in 1876. He was educated at the Midland Col- lege, and entered the ministry in 1844. He was pastor here fifteen years till 1890^ when he retired^ and still resided at Kempsey. His successor was the Rev. Forbes Jackson, M.A. of Glasgow, where he studied as well as at Bristol. His ministry began in 1891, and he was pastor here five years. The Rev. J. Bell Johnston, M.A., of Edinburgh University and Pres. Theol. Hall, came from Galashiels, where he was minister from 1887, and under- the pastorate of this church, July 26, 1896. The present number of members is 405. * IVoiceiitr Sects, by J. Noake, pp. 1 73-178. IX. Z\K dountce^ ot 1l3untino^on'6 Chapel, 36lr^port Street, Morcester. KORGE Whitefield preachcd liis first sermon in Gloucester, his native city, June 26, 1736; but thoug^h frequently there and in many towns around, his memoir by Dr. Gillies makes no mention of any visits in Worcester- shire until 1743, when he preached at Kidderminster and Bromsgrove. "At Kidderminster," he writes, " I was kindly received by Mr. Williams ; many friends were at his house. I was iJfreatly refreshed to find what a sweet savour of good Richard Baxter's doctrine, works and discipline, remained to this day."* • Memoir of Georc.k Whitefielo, by John Gillies, D.D., p. 133. We ha.o lia years residence in Worcester. He was much attached to tlie Church Establishment. He was followed in the pastorate by the Rev. Mr. Hewlings, and in 1853 the Rev. T. Dodd became minister. He died at a gfreat age very recently. The present minister, the Rev. E. J. Boon, came eleven years ago. Schools were established by the Rev. John Harris in 1 79 1, reorganized by the Rev. Robert Bradley who came in 1799. They have been extensively useful. Upwards of 300 children are instructed by 40 teachers. Mr. Lake was succeeded at Lowesmoor Chapel by the Revs. E. Bayfield, Woods, Sanderson, Henry Wardley, during- whose ministry the chapel was renovated and re- opened April II, icS6o. Mr. Joseph Wood (afterwards Mayor) was both architect and builder. Mr. Wardley was here about twenty years. He was followed by the Revs. John Webb (here about 18 months), and E. J. Bowen, who stayed only a few months. The next settled pastor, W. B. BiRTT, remained twenty years. Mr. Enos Berry, a deacon of the Baptist church next officiated for ten years ; and the Rev. W. WiLLi.AMS (a Cheshunt student), preached here for two years. There is no pastor at present. Appendix. I. Malker'0 Sequestered Clergy, ^AMEs of those sequestered in Worcestershire, 1643, Out of 252 parishes there were, according to Walker, only 39 sequestrations in this county ; and even of these, several are mentioned in a vague, doubtful, fragmentary manner. Walker's spelling of names both of places and persons is retained. Worcester, John Prideaux, D.D., Bp., 1641. He was plundered and forced to sell his library for bread for his family. "I have eaten," he said, **a great library of excellent books." He died in the house of his son-in-law, Dr. Henry Sutton, at Bredon in Worcestershire. Christopher Potter, dean, once a zealous Puritan, and lecturer at Abingdon. Died March 3, 1645-6. Richard Holdsworth, dean, born 1590 ; one of the Assembly of Divines in 1643. Charles I. made him Dean of Worcester, while Holds- worth waited on him at Hampton Court. Died, aged 58, in 1648. ]]^alkcr's Scqucsfcfcd Clergy. i6i Edward Thornborouh, archdeacon, 1629, son of the old bishop. Died 1645. William Hodges, archdeacon. May 30, 1645, Rector of Ripple in Worcestershire, allowed to keep his living. [Not sequestered.) Died 1676. Giles Thornrorough, nephew of the bishop, Vicar of Crawley and Wolverley, canon, 1629. [Not sequestered.] Died 1663. Francis Charles, canon, and Rector of Salwarp. Giles Wooley, ejected from Salwarp in 1662. Wm. Westmacott, said to come in after Dr. Charles and ejected from Cropthorn in 1662. Anthony Tyringham, canon. Nath. Tomkins, canon, son of Thos. Tomkins, an eminent and learned musician, Rector of Broadway. Died 1681. Nath. Giles. Not mentioned by Nash. William Smith, canon. Rector of Tredington. Died 1658. Henry Wright, canon. Stephen Boughton, canon. Thomas Lawrence, canon. Herbert Crofts, canon. Robert White, canon. Harvington, Thomas Archbold, died in London ; his curate, W. Bridges, succeeded, and died 1654. Lindridge, George Benson, seized by Court of Worcester, 1645, died 1647 at Rock, was succeeded by one G. [John Gyles, pastor of Lindridge, died 1661. Nash H. 99.) Wolverley, Bowton. Doverdale, Kdwin Brace. [Not sequestered.] Hampton Lovett, Cooper. [Not sequestered, see Survey.] Free- stone succeeded, and was ejected in 1662. Fridaysharp, Cooper. Kidderminster, Dance (was restored), Ri. Baxter, ejected in 1662. M 1 62 Nonconformity in Worcester. Blockley, Geo. Durant ; G. Collier succeeded and conformed. Upton, Ri. Farley. Hartleboroug-h, Thomas Wright g-ot the living in 1655. Church Lench, Holiead. Alvechurch, HoUington, restored, Ri. Moore got it. Estham, Francis Kelly. Chadley Corbet, Lee or Leigh, restored, Thos. Baldwin succeeded. Floyford, Benj. Masters. White Lady Aston, John Moseley, Robert Brown succeded. Ombersley, Pilkington. Tredington, W. Smith (see above). Stone, Spicer. [Not sequestered, see Survey.] Ri. Sergeant, his son-in-law followed. Bredon, Sutton, restored, Beeston. Old Swinford Gervase Bryan followed. Knightswick, Taylor, Matt. Bolton, 1654. Dodenham, Thomas Warmestry, born in Worcester, dean after the Restoration. . Upton-on-Seven, W. Woodford, restored, died 1664 ; Benj. Baxter. II. parliamentary Survey of 1650, toucbing Cburcb XivinG6 in Morccstcrsbirc. AMBETH Library possesses among- many valuable MSS. relating- to the Commonwealth, the original Returns signed and sent to Parliament by the Jlrors appointed for several Counties of England in the year 1650. The object of the Survey was "to make enquirie by suffi- cient able men upon oath, of the number of Parsonages, \'icara^c.^ piesontative, and all other Ecclesiasticall liveings within the countey of Worcester with the values thereof with severall other thinges of us required as relation being had to the said commission more fully doth appeare." There is at Lambeth a very good Index to this Survey; the volume relating to Worcestershire is mainly No. 16, A complete summary of this Survey is in the British Museum Library. Lambeth MSS. Survey of 16^0, vol. 16. Lansdown MSS., B.M. Lib., 459. Parish. Valtu. Incuvibnit. Broomsgrove Vicarage ■•£lo os. od. John Hall, minister. Chadwick Chapel (3 miles distant) ... — Without minister. King Norton . 40 o o Tho. Hall. Mossly Chapel . 41 Whithall Chapel 5 ij 4 Tho. Moore, o o Ri. Ward. 164 Nonconformity in Worcester. Parish, Droitwich, St. Peters... Dodderhill St. Andrews, Droitwich Mary Whitton, near D. Nicholas ,, Rushocke Crowle... Sallwarpe Hampton Lovett Dovedale Elmly Lovett ... Upton Warren and Cooksley. Hadzor ... Fleckenham Tardebigg Boresley Chapel Old Swinford ... Northfield Coston Chapel Churchill Yardley King-ton Value, Incumbent, . 40 marks Thos. Garland. . .;^8o OS. od. No minister, sequestered, still living-, Will. Jones, sen. 6 13 4 Rob. Norbury. 36 o o No minister, no church. 26 o o No minister. 60 o o Henry Hunt. 50 o o Giles Thornburgfh. 70 o o Rich. Woolley. 50 o o Edw. Cooper. 25 o o Edwin Brace. 70 o o Edw. Best. — Joseph Bennet. o William Jones. 35 4 20 20 ID O lOO 20 O O O O 40 marks 50 o o 49 6 8 John Mason. Edw. Cooke. No maintenance but what the inhabitants give him. Gervase Bryan by sequestra- tion from Wm. Harewell. Timothy White. Thos. Homan. Rich. Penn. James Archer. Birch, by sequestration from Holden. Frankley (Hales Owen, Salop)f?oriirl?e"n"Lnt:et*o'n Henry Billingham. Cradley... Warely Chapelry to Halsowen Cudley ,, Pedmore 15 Edw. Paston. Rob. Willmore. 40 o o Tho. Malpas. The ParUiimcnta}'y Su^'7'ey of 1650. 165 Parish. Dudley Stone Church Lench ... Chaddisley Belbroughton ... Kidderminster... Mitton Chapel Segesbarrow . Cropthorne Fladbury Pinvin Chapelry Bradley Chapelry ... Washbourne and Alston Teddington ... Abburton Broughton Hacket Rouselench Elmly Castle ... Inkbarrow Bengeworth Evesham, All Saints ... St. Lawrence Dormeston Comberton, Magna Upton Snodsbury Burlingham Pirton Valtu. Incumbent, ...£^0 OS. od. 50 o o Spicer. ... 40 o o 50 o o Sam. Lea. ... 100 o o Rich. Tristram, presented by Roger VValden, yeoman. ... 160 o o Ri. Baxter, by sequestration from Dance. 10 o o Turner. (All'jwed by Rector of Kiddertniiister). 73 o o Tim. Wharton, by seques- tration from Turvey. 70 o o Will. Westmacote. ... 60 o o Mr. Elliott, Ellis his curate. 10 o o Pratt. 20 o o Bernard Maunder. 30 o o Edw. Kempster. 26 o o Roger Saunders. 90 o o John Wall. 18 o o John Hancox. ... 100 o o Wm. Watson, sequestered from Whyte. 18 o o No minister. 5 6 o Geo. Hopkins. — Tho. Mathewes. 18 o o Tho. Taylor. 26 13 4 Leonard Bagshaw [Baxter?] 14 o o William Shorte. 55 o o Ri. Conner. 71 o o Will. Lovell. 1 66 Nonconformity in Worcester. Parish. Grafton Flyford Breedon Norton Chapel Culsdon Chapelry Eckington Whitting-ton Chapelry to St. Peter's Kempsey White Lady Aston Churchhill Spetchley Stoake Pryor ... Cotheridge Shellesley parva Clifton-upon-Teme Keyer parva, Chapelry to Stoake blisse, Hereford Edvin Lench ... Keyer Magna ... Persher Abbey . . . Eastham Orlton Chapelry Hanley Child Chapelry Horney Williams Chapelry Suckley... Lulsey Chapelry Alfriche Chapelry ... ;^IOO 35 130 35 3 26 50 50 34 60 Value. OS. o o o o 19 18 o o o o Incumbent. od. John Dalbye. o Rich. Beeston. o Jonathan Davis, o Ambrose Joukes. o No minister. o Mr. Durman. 4 Tho. Bromwich. o Jasper Britten. o Tho. Barker. o Tho. Whitefoot. o Ri. Dowley, by sequestration from Toy, fifths allowed. 40 o o Theoph. Cooke (Sir Rowl. Buckley, ;^2o). 26 8 4 Edw. Lane. 27 10 John Greene. 16 Edw. Russell. 14 Ri. Jay. 30 Hugh Thomas. 30 John Cliffe. 68 ID 6 Edw. Benson. Arthur Bolsey, Mr. Benson. curate to 16 John Philips, Mr. Benson. curate to 14 Benson and Phili ps. 95 Thos. Littleton. Wm. Doughty, T. Littleton. curate to 16 Slade, curate to T. Littleton. The Parliamentary Survey of 1650. .67 Parish. Value Incumbent. Stanford ■ ■■£ao OS .od. Tho. Stedman. Bockleton ID Tim, Harris. Arley Kings ... 68 13 4 John Bayly. Tenbury ... 30 Thos. Good, Clarke, as curate to Mr. Clent, Vicar of Rock, in Herefordshire. Martley ... 107 Thos. Clent. Acton Beauchamp 40 George Fincher. Shrawley 80 John Jorden. Astley ... ... 160 Francis Marshall. Stocton... 25 Tho. Roberts. Hartlebury ... 250 Tho. Wright, by sequestra- tion from Smith ; fifths allowed. Bredicott 50 Will. Riccards. Hanbury 180 John Vernon. Oddingley 30 John Crumpe (presented by Sir Geo. Winter, Kt.) Powicke ... 30 Eliezer Jackson. Braunesford Chapel ry ... 50 Ri. Berchett officiates here and at Lench. St. Johns-in-Brad\varc ine ... 30 Dr. Wright. Claines ... 30 Geo. Stinton. Mathon... 22 No minister. Ombersley 30 No minister. Grimley ... 3 John Shaw. Hollow Chapelry . ... 28 John Best. Broadwas ... 40 I nark.s John Wall. Seavernstoake... ... 160 .Arthur Sail way. Tibberton ... 16 Henry Wynde. Hindley... 40 Rich. Woolley. 1 68 Nonconformity in Worcester. Parish. Huddington Martin Hussingtree Alvechurch Wichenford Woolverley Himbleton Warndon Whitley parva, Chapelry to Holt Stoughton, Chapelry to Kempsey ... Holt Upton-on-Severn Barrowe Chaseley Gt. Malvern ... Bushley Chapelry Elderfield Longdon Queenhill Chapelry Holdfast Chapelry is Staunton Redmerley Birch Moorton... Castle Moorton Welland Hanley Castle ... £10 decayed Value. Incumbent. ^i^j OS. od. Wm. Warner (Sir G. Win- 28 o o Tho. Cooke. [ter 3Q20). 130 o o Rich, Moore. 60 o o Joseph Maiden. 50 o o Laus Deo Maiden. 20 o o Arthur Barton. 50 o o Tho. Wyld. 31 GO Geo. Davis, by sequestration from Pauling, fifths allowed. 18 o o Geo. Allen. 78 o o Isaac Charles, by sequestra- tion from Panting, fifths. 200 o o Ben. Baxter, sequestered from Woodford, fifths allowed. 18 o o Mr. Jackman. 12 00 Nath. Winsmore. 800 John Ballard. 10 o o No minister. 30 o o Ri. Cole. 20 o o Nich. Ferrett. 50 o o Mr. Laight. 70 o o Edm. Atwood. 100 o o No minister. 55 o o Thos. Gilbert. 20 marks Mr. Evans certified for want of a minister. 40 o o Mr. Evans. 30 o o James Warwick, by seques- tration from Wheeler, fifths allowed. The Parliamcnta}-}' Sun'cy of 1650. 169 rarish. Madderfield Ripple ... Pendocke Newland Chapelry Croom Dabitet Value, •^55 os.od. ... 200 o o ... 60 o o I house 500 ... 64 o o Earl's Croome... ... ... 50 o o Hill Croome ... ... ... 56 13 o Little Malvern ... ... ... — Leigh ... ... ... ... 50 o o Old Barrow ... ... 40 o o North and Middle Littleton ... 30 o o South Littleton ... ... 25 17 4 Alder Marsden ... ... 30 o o Bishampton ... ... ... 90 o o Broadway ... ... ... 16 00 Throgmorton ... ... ... 600 Beoley ... ... ... ... 60 o o BefFord, chapel to St. An- drew.s, Parshore ... ... 12 o o Nanton Beachamp ... ... 70 o o Parshore, St. Andrew ... 20 o o VVicky«Jc/•> Rock 3 5 7 Grafton Fly ford 19 8 Rouslench ... 2 3 6 i8o Nonconformity in Worcester. £ s. d. £ s. d. Stowlton o 8 II White Ladyes Aston 3 Stoke Prior ... 4 9 5 Warndon 9 Stourbridge... 17 5 7 Woolverly ... 4 17 2 Stamford-on-Teame I Wickhamford 18 II Shelsey Beaucham... I 15 3 Witley Magna I 13 8 Severn Stoke 2 6 10 Worcester Citty — Stockton I 3 2 St. Swithin's 4 Shrawly 2 7 Martin's ... 3 13 4 Stanton 12 St. Peter's 4 2 9 Throgmorton 5 10 All Saints 8 15 i| Teambury ... I 14 5 Hellen ... 2 II 8 Upton-on-Severn ... 5 9 6 The Quakers during the Commonwealth. BESSE, History of Quakers, II. 50, Worcestershire, Evesham : Hum- phry Smith and Thomas Cartwright are imprisoned for refusing to swear. George Hopkins, the minister, pleaded that they refused to swear for tenderness of conscience. The Quakers made a representa- tion to Cromwell describing their cruel treatment. But when brought before the magistrates they kept their hats on, for which offence they were sent back to prison. Among them was Edward Pitway, a magis- trate. The fines were afterwards taken off and the prisoners discharged by order of the Protector, Sept. i, 1655. Thomas Goodaire for speaking to Richard Baxter after he had ended his sermon at Worcester, was sent to prison, p. 60. Richard Farnsworth was haled out of the steeplehouse at Worcester for asking the said Ri. Baxter a sober question. 1657, Thomas Allington going into one of the places of public worship where he stood still and spake not a word, was taken out and set in the stocks. Edward Bourne for exhorting the The Quaker's during the ConiniouivealtlK i8i people in the College at Worcester to fear the Lord and repent was committed to prison where he remained thirteen weeks. Robert Widder for speaking the words of truth to Richard Baxter in the steeplehouse at Kidderminster, was imprisoned there. [Baxter tells us that the Quakers at this time went naked through the streets, and entering the churches during service, shouted abusively up the aisles, calling the minister deceiver, hireling, liar. For this they were imprisoned ; but, on this ceasing, the ministers petitioned to repeal the penal laws against them. See Calamy's Life of Baxter, pp. 29, 102, 670. Neal's History, IV. 34, 3 19. J Major Wilde with party of soldiers going from Evesham to Worces- ter Dec. 31, 1662, drove Richard Walker, a poor sickly man above 60, before their horses on foot, and when he was not able to keep pace a soldier took and dragged him along by force ; the Major himself beat him down with his horse and threatened to pistol him. At length they set him on horseback, whipping the horse both up hill and down hill to the great pain of the infirm man who, when he entreated them to be more merciful to his weak body, met with nothing from them but scoffs and derision. He was thus brought by them to Worcester gaol, but the hardships he had met with by the way had so weakened his body that he died in a short time after his commitment. He was a man of a meek, innocent and Christian spirit, inoffensive in life and conversation, and generally well beloved by those that knew him. — Basse H. 68. IV. Bamee of Iplaces of fIDcettno aub prcacber^ Itcenccb unber tbe 3mBTIlX(3]emC]e of Cbarlee 33- in tbe ^ear 1672. S.P. Domestic Interregnum 38a. 'T^lxouNTY OF Worcester. ij^Kv^r Spilsbury Congr., Brom: Bromsgrove. — License toe John Spilsbury to be a Congreg. Teacher in his howse in Bromsgrove, Worcester, 19 Apr., 72. Bromsgrove Congr., Spilsbury's howse. — The howse of John Spilsbury in Bromsgrove, licensed for a Congr. Meeting Place, 19 Apr., 72. Bromsgrove Congr. Blick's howse. — Like for the howse of Nicholas BHck in Bromsgrove, Worcester, 19 Apr., 72. Congr. Above from Domestic Entry Book. In the loose papers is found the following which appears to be a granted application : — Mr. John Spilsbury, Teacher of the Congregationall perswasion at Bromsgrove in Worcestershire. The meeting place, at his own house, and at Mr. Nicholas Blicks Places Licenced for Religious Worship. 183 hoiis, nccr adjoyninir, and it" it may be, at Mr. William Tytts house also, wch lies neer. Moore Pr. Weathercock Hill.— License to Richard Moore to be a Pr. Teacher in his howse at Weathercock hill, Worcestershire. 22 Apr., 72. Weathercock hill Pr. Moores howse.— The house of Rich. Moore of Weathercock hill, Worcestershire, licensed to be a Pr. Meeting Place. 22 Apr., 72. Licence to Thomas Badland to be a Pr. Teacher in the howse of Wm. Cheatle in Worcester. The howse of Wm. Cheatle in Worcester, Pr. Meeting Place. Licence to Rich. Fincher to be a Congr. teacher in the howse of Rich. Cornton in Worcester. The howse of Rich. Cornton in Worcester Pr. Licence to Jos. Read to be a Pr. Teacher in Stambridge, Worcester. The howse of John Read in Stambridge, Worcester. The howse of Giles Lawrence at Broadway, Wore, Congr. Licence to John Westmakote to be a Congr. Teacher in Giles Lawrences sic at Broadway, Worcester. The howse of Thomas Worden at Broadway, Wore, Congr. Licence to Thomas Worden to be a Congr. Teacher in his howse at Broadway, Wore. The howse of Eliz. Stirrup in Worcester, Pr., 22 July. Licence to Rich. Woolly to be a Pr. Teacher in the howse of Eliz. Stirrup in Worcester. 22 July. The howse of Jos. Cooper in Kingsnorton, Wore. Pr. 22 July. Licence to Joseph Cooper to be a Pr. teacher in his howse at Kingsnorton, Wore. 22 July. The howse of Edward Rosse at Sukley, Worcester, Pr., 22 July. 184 Nonconformity in Worcester. Licence to Geo. Wright to be a Pr. Teacher in his own howse at Kingnorton, Wore. 22 July. The howse of Geo. Wright at Kingsnorton, Wore, Pr. 22 July. [The howse of Tho. Chapman at Whittington, Warw. Bapt., 25 July. Licence to Manasses King to be an Anab. Teacher in the howse of Thomas Chapman at Whitington, Warw. 25 July.] Licence to Jarvis Bryan to be a Pr. teacher in his howse at Old Swinford, Worcester, 25 July The howse of Jarvis Bryan at Old Swinford, Wore. 25 July. Licence to Rich. Serjeant to be a Pr. teacher in his howse in Hagley, Wore. 25 July. The howse of Widow Smirt at Everstame, [Evesham] Wore, Congr., 25 July. The howse of Hen. Osland at Bewdley, Wore. Licence to Henry Osland to be a Pr. Teacher in his howse at Bewdley, Wore. 25 July. The howse of Rd. Berkes at Old Swinford, Wore, Pr. 25 July. Like for the howse of Rd. Serjeant at Hagley, Wore, 25 July 72. The howse of Margery Milward att Dudley in Wore, July 25th 72. The howse of Fran. Trebell at Bartington, Wore, Congr., 25 July. Like for the howse of Hen. Osland at Bewdley, Wore, Pr., 25 July. Like for a Meeting house adjoyning the dweling house of Richard Moore in Kingsnorton in Worcestershire. August 12. Like for the house of Richard Moore in Kingsnorton, Worcestersh. Au. 12. Licence to Tho. Baldwin to be a pr. Teach, att Kiderminster in Wo ster sh. Augt. loth. The house of Tho. Jeare att Kiderminster in Worcestershire pr Auert. loth. Places Licenced for Religious Worship. 185 The house oi Tho. Baldwin of Kiderminster in Worcestersh., pr. Augt. 10. [Next to this comes "John Bond's house at " Broomyard," Hereford.] The house of Wm. Greene \:>i Easani in Worcestersh., pr. Augt. loth. The house oi Tho. Ingold of Hony Bourne in Worcestersh., pr. Sept. 5th. The house of ye Widd. Westowood of Broomesgrove in Worcestersh. Congr. The house of Tho. Ingle of Honeybourne in Worcestersh., Congr. Licence to Rich. Wolley to be a pr. teach, att his owne house in the Citty of Worcester, Sept. 30th. The house of John Langford of Kierwood in Worcestersh. Anabaptist. The house of Nicholas Blick of Broomesgrove Worcestersh., Congr. Sept. 30. Licence to John Spilsbury to be a Congr. Teacher, Bromesgrove, Worcestersh. The house of Rich. Woolley of ye Citty of Worcestersh. , pr. Sept. 30th. Licence to David Jones to be a Congr. Teacher at his owne house at at Dudlew [first written Dudley and then corrected] in ye County of Salop Sept. 30th. The house of Rich. Smith of ye Citty of Worcester, pr. Nov. i8th 72. The house of Kdw. Robins of Crapthorne in Worcestersh. The house of Blick of Broomsgrove, Worcestersh, pr. Dec. 9th. Licence to W. Randall Congr. Teachr. at his owne house att Ombersly in Worcestersh. Decembr. yth. The house of Ann Sworle of ye Citty of Worcester, Pr. Dec. 9, 1672. V. %\Bt Of Bon^parocbial IRcGistcrs anb IRecorbe bcpo^ 0iteb in Somereet Ibouse, in tbc cuatob^ of tbe 1Regi0traiv(5eneraL N the 13th Sept. 1836, Commissioners were appointed to inquire into the state, custody, and authenticity of Non-Parochial Registers and Records ; and they sent letters of inquiry to the various churches in England and Wales, requesting information, and suggesting the transfer of the documents to Somerset House, on the plea of safe custody and facility of access. The request was optional, and many declined to part with their registers, in particular the Roman Catholics and the Jews. The majority, however, of Pro- testant Dissenters through their ministers and other officers complied and deposited their Registers and other Records to be in the custody of the Registrar-General for greater security, legal validity, and easy reference. The documents in question are very numerous, and very valuable, as containing information regarding the successive ministers of the several churches, and in some instances minutes of church meet- ings, and intimations of interesting facts in the history of our churches. Non-Parochial Registers. 187 Down lo 1889, access free of chari^'e was enjoved by properly accredited persons to search and make extracts from these reg^isters for historical and Hterary purposes ; and the present writer, from i860 downwards, has from time to time availed himself of this obvious right. But in 1889 he received a letter from tlie Registrar-General refusing free access on the plea of want of necessary accommodation for applicants. The matter was brought before the House of Commons, and Mr. J. Carvell Williams, M.P. asked the Government to make representations to the Registrar-General to restore the facilities for many years enjoyed. On May 30, 1895, it w^as announced in Parliament that "the Registrar- General has made arrangements for the accommodation of any gentle- man whose application is backed by an introduction by any M.P. or other well-known person, and who wishes to consult for literary and historical purposes the Non-Parochial Registers and Records which are deposited at Somerset House. No fees will be charged for searching the registers by persons duly accredited." Since this date every facility has been given me, on occasion of my visits, by the chief clerk, Mr. Edward Whitaker. As the printed lists of Non-Parochial Registers and Records (Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1859), are not now to be had, those for the county of Worcester are here given. No. Place. Worcestershire — 1 Bewdley 2 ,, High Street . 3 Bloomfield Denomination and Date of Foundation. Baptist, 1649. Presb. 1696. Wesleyan, 1823, Number of Rei^istcr Books deposited and DeSiiiption of Entries therein. H'/tat Period extending over. I. Births ... Deaths and Burials. I. Birthsand 1722-1823. Baptisms. Burials... I. Birthsand 1823-1837. Baptisms. 1776-1836. 1 756- 1 836. 1812-1815. 1 88 Nonconformity in Worcester. No, Place. 4 Broadway 5 Bromsgrove, Worcester Street. 6 Bromsgrove, Chapel Lane, High St., for- merly Upper Meeting. 7 Bromsgrove, Little Cat's Hill. 8 Bromsgrove 9 Cradley... ID ,, Park Lane Chapel. 11 Dudley, King Street ... 12 ,, New Street Chapel. 13 ,, Wolverhamp- ton Street. Denomination and Date of Foundation. Independent, 1797. Independent and Baptist, 17S7. Independent, 1693. Number of Register Books deposited and Description of Entries therein. I. Wesleyan, 1833. Baptist, 1801. Presb. 1796. Independent, 1788. Baptist, 1766. Presb. 1704. II. Baptist, 1820. I. Births and Baptisms. Baptisms Births ... Births and Baptisms. Births and Baptisms. Burials... Births ... I. Births and Baptisms. Burials ... I. Births and Dedications. Burials ... I. Births and Baptisms. II. Births and Baptisms. Burials... Births and Baptisms. Births ... Deaths... I. Baptisms II, Births and Baptisms. Burials... I. I. What IWiod extending over. 1801-1837. I 788-1 804. I 804- I 836. 1739-1767. 1770-1837. 1772-1837. 1837- 1815-1837. 1835-1837. I 809- I 836. 1805-1837. I 789- I 837. 1818-1837. 1761-1826. 1 803- 1 837. 1816-1837. 1814-1837. 1743-1772. 1775-1837- 1831-1835. Non-Parochial Registers. 189 No. Place. Number of Deuomination and J-V s j j iVhat Period Date of touudat.o,,. i)[.,,^,^ii,„ ,f Entries therein. deposited and , , • _ -' - extenduic oz'er. 14 Dudley, King- Street ... Wesleyan, 1788. Births and Baptisms. 1804- 1824. II. Births and Baptisms. 1824- 1837. 15 ,, Wolverhamp- ton Street. Methodist New Connexion, 1829 Burials... 1829- 1837. 16 Evesham Wesleyan, 181 3. Births and Baptisms. 1813- 1837. 17 ,, Oat Street ... Presb. 1720. Births and Baptisms. Burials ... 1778- 1822- 1837. 1836. iS Feckenham, Astwood Baptist, 1793. I. Births ... 1788- 1837. Ch. and Alcester, Deaths... 1801- 1806. Warwicksh. II. Burials... 1800- 1836. 19 Great Malvern... Countess of Hunt, 1827. I. Births and Baptisms. 1828- 1837- 20 Kidderminster, New Meeting-. I'resb. 1872. I. Births and Baptisms. 1783- 1836. 21 Old Meeting: Independent, I. Baptisms 1727^ 1822. 16O2. II Baptisms 1785- 1791. III Baptisms 1822- 1837- 22 ,, Union St. Chapel. Baptist, 181 3. I. Births ... 1814- 1837. 23 ,, Wesleyan. I. Births and Baptisms. 1788- 1811. II Birthsand Baptisms. 1811- 1814. III Birthsand Baptisms. 1815- 1837. I go Nonconforinity in Worcester. No. Place. Number of Denomination avd ^^^1.'^"' ?°°^j What Period r\ . /■ r- J J- clepositea and , ,. Date of poiindation. „ -^y x extending over. ■' Description of ° Entries therein. 24 Kidderminster, Ebenezer Ch. 25 Sion Field ... 26 Leigh Linton and Suck- ley, also for Cradley in Hereford. 27 Oldbury 28 Redditch 29 M &c 30 Shipston-upon-Stour ... 31 Stourbridge, High Street. 32 ,, 33 Stourport Countess of Hunt,, 1820. Prim. Meth., 1823. Countess of Hunt., 1818. L Births and 1790-1798. Baptisms, n. Births and 1820-1837. Baptisms. \. Births and 1833-1837. Baptisms. L Births and 1818-1837. Baptisms. Wesleyan, 1801. L Births and 1832-1837. Baptisms. H. Burials... 1823-1836. HL Burials... 1836-1837. Independent, I. Baptisms 1824-1837. 1822. Burials... 1827-1837. Wesleyan, 1807. I. Births and 1810-1837. Baptisms. H. Births and 1835-1837. Baptisms. Baptist, 1778. L Births ... 1783-1836. Independent, 1790. I. Births and 1792-1837. Baptisms. Wesleyan, 1800. I. Births and 1809-1837. Baptisms. Wesleyan, 1785. I. Births and 1788-1813. Baptisms. II. Births and 1814-1837. Baptisms. Non-Parochial Registers. 191 Number of ,, _, Dettominalion and y\ , , , IVA/it Period No. Place. ,-, , j- r^ , .■ deposited and , , * Date of Foundation. jf .... r extcudini; oi'cr. ■' Description of ^ Entries therein. 34 Tenbury, Cross Street Baptist, 1816. I. Births ... 1820-1836. Chapel. 35 Tipton Green ... ... Wesleyan, 1766, I. Birthsand 1809-1837. Baptisms. 36 Worcester, Angel St — Independent, I. Baptisms 1699-1759. 1668. II. Birthsand 1778-1802. Baptisms. Burials... 1783-1793. III. Birthsand 1780-1795. Baptisms. IV. Birthsand 1810-1815. Baptisms. V. Birthsand 1810-1837. Baptisms. VI. Burials... 1815-1837. 37 ,, Silver St. Ch. Baptist, 1712. I. Births ... 1793-1836. 38 ,, Pump Street Wesleyan, 1800. I. Birthsand 1803-1837. Baptisms. 39 ,, Bridport St. Countess of 1. Birthsand 1784- 1829. Hunt., 1782. Baptisms. II. Birthsand 1830-1836. Baptisms. Society of Friends — 664 Monthly Meeting of Births ... 1660-1793. Worcestershire. Marriages 1663-1792. Deaths ... 1666- 1793. 665 to 676 Evesham and Alcester. 192 Nonconformity in Worcester. Extracts. Worcester, 36 I. Ang-el Street, Independent, 1699-1759. (Chewning Blackmore, Minister, 1699-1737.) [A small note-book.] 1699. — S. of John Fitzer. Deceased. Ann, d. of Mr. Wm. Swift. Jonathan, s. of Mr. John Ryley. John, s. of Chewning Blackmore. Elizab. d. of Humphry Wildey. Deceased. John, son of VVm. Perkins. Hannah, d. of Tho. Jolly. Deceased. Mary, d. of Tho, Cook. Hannah, d. of Ja. Haney. Elizab., d. to Jos. Tonerson. Deceased. William, s. of Nicholas Kent. Mr. Hand baptised a child of Griffith, a bastard • 13th. Thomas, s. of Tho. Wilsom. Joseph, s. of John Pool. Deceased. Hannah, d. of Tom. Mascal, a dyer. Anna, d. of Sa. Page. James, s. of Benj. Rastall. Ann, daughter of J. Ryley. Deceased. Tho., s. of Mr. Yardley, glover. Isabella, d. of Humphry Wildey. Deceased. Francis, s. of Tho. Smith. Jonathan, s. of Jonathan Hand. Deceased. Elizabeth, d. John Fitzer, clothier. John, son of Kennett. July 23. Mary, d. of Nicho. Kent, by Mr. Hand. 1700. — Jan. 16. Feb. 16. Apr. 4- May 6. June 5- July 24. 31- Aug. I. Nov. 26. Dec. 27. I70I.- —Jan. I. Mar. 12 c Apr. 7- 8. June 30- July 4- Aug. 31- Nov. 18. Dec. I. 1702.- —Jan. 19. Feb. 12. Mar. 15- Non-Paroclual Rro-/s/rrs. 193 1702. — Aug-. 6. Caleb, s. of The. Cook. 7. Anna, d. of Mons. De Gerat. Deceased. 9. Grace Jolly, d. of The. Jolly. Sept. 30. Mary, d. of Ri. Randal of Chuckley. Oct. 2. Ann, d. of Hen. Beng-oug-h. Deceased. 29. EHzab., d. of Tim Mascal, by Mr. Hand. Nov. 2. Ann, d. of Roger Peirce, at Little Whitley. Tho., s. of Tho. Wilsom, by Mr. H.wn. Dec. 13. John, s. of John Howe, weaver. 1703. — Jan. James, s. of James Reynolds. Feb. 12. Ann, d. of Ja. Harvey. 16. Bridget Waring-, adult. Deceased. Josiah, son of Tho. Smith. Mar. 29. Thomas, s. of Jolin Fitzer, clothier. Apr. 27. FntnciSy s. of Che. Blackmorc. Aug-. 7. Elizabeth, d. of Tim. Colly. 1704. — July 4. Marg-aret, d. of Tho. Cook. 18. Elizabeth, d. o'i Hen. Bengough. Deceased. Sept. 7. Joshua, s. of Joshua Avenant. Oct. 29. Walter, s. of Ben, Raglal, about this time. Nov. 30. Cocker, s. of Cocker Draper. Deceased. 1705. — Jan. I. .£"Lirch 8, I baptized (at his dwelling-house, in Sidbury), the son of Mr. Geo. Gorl, baker, named George. Worcester, Dec. 16, baptized ye son of Mr. Joseph Carter (at his dwelling-house), named Samuel. 1745. — I baptized (at his dwelling-house) the son of Mr. Douglas (Wm.), named William, May 30, 1745. Aug. 4, the s. of Mr. W'ni. Wotton, named James. Sept. 22, the d. of Mr. Budden, named Elizabeth. 1745. — Bromsgrove, Nov. 11, 1745, I baptized ye son of Rev. Mr. Samlel Philips, named Thomas Mann. Worcester, Dec. 8, baptized the dAter of Mr. Thomas Hammond, named Elizabeth. 1745-6. — Worcester, >Larch 7, 1 baptized the son of Mr. Benjam. Perkins, named William. The son of Mr. Wm. Dolglas, named Henry, Dec. 16, 1746. 198 Nonconformity in Worcester. 1747-8. — I baptized Rev. Mr. Sam. Philips's son, of Bromsgrove, at his house there, named Samuel. [A gap of ten years.] 1758.— June 26, I baptized, at Manchester, in my son W. W. B.'s house, in RadclifF Street, his son, named Robert Grierson. He was born about one o'clock in the morning, on the 12th of June, 1758, at Manchester aforesaid. (Last entry) : — April 29, 1759, I baptized (at his dwelling-house, Worcester), the son of Mr. Benjamin Blower, named Thomas. The above by F. B. — Francis Blackmore, i 743-1 759. (Here etids Register 36 I. Worcester, Angel Street.) * Worcester 36 II.- — Births and Baptisms, 1778-1802. Burials, 1 783-1 793. **A Register of Persons baptized by the Ministers of the Congregation of Protestant Dissenters, Angel Lane, Wor- cester." A Register of Baptisms. Mary, d. of John Fitzer. Robert, s. of Tim. Gillam. Thomas, s. of Jacob Stokes. Sarah, d. of Henry Hammond. Mary, d. of Webb. Thomas, s. of James Holliday. Andrew, s. of John Walker. Robert, s. of Thomas Rickards, Esq. Thomas, s. of Thomas Jenkins. Elizabeth, d. of Robert Taylor. William, s. of Wm. Oram. * Not copied in full. — W. U. 1778.- — Oct. 15- 1779.- -Feb. I. Feb. 15- May 7- II. July 4- Aug. 29. Oct. 25- 1780.- -Feb. 15- Mar. 6. Apr. 6. Xo)i-Pa roc /lid I Rciiisfcrs. 199 17S0. — May 14. Mary, d. oljolin Toxvcll. July 19. Hannah, d. of the Rev. Wm. WiiLLs of Bourn-heath. Aui^. 22. John, s. o^ Henry Bishop. Dec. 4. Ann, d. of Thomas Rickards. 22. Richard, s. ot" Ri. Blower. 1 781. — Jan. 15. WiUiani, s. of John OHphant. 17. Hannah, d. oi Henry Hammond. Apr. 22. Jane, d. of John Blaci<\vell. June 25. Henry, s. o^ Ri. Watson of Kid. July 18. Elizabeth Venner, d. of John Mayall. 20. Mary, d. of Ch. Brown. Aug. 9. Phebe, d. of Jacob Stokes. N.B.— All the fore-mentioned were baptized by the Rev. Thomas Belsham. Those that follow were baptized by the Rev. Jos. Gimmer. 1 781, Nov. 12, to Aug. 18, 17S5, forty-three Baptisms in all. '* N.B. — .All the lore-mentioned from page 3, and the date of Nov. 12, 1781, to that of the date Aug. iS, 1785 in- clusive, were baptized by me, Joseph Glmmer." N.B. --The Register continued on page 13. A threepenny stamp is affixed to each entrv. - W. U. 1785, Oct. 2, to June 20, 1791, fifty-two entries, four on a page, and each page is signed thus at the foot — "The above four were baptized by Jos. Gummer." 1788, May 28, Oliver Cromwell, s. o\' Oliver Field, Linendraper of the parish of St. Swithin, and IClizabcth his wife, born .Apr. 14. July 23, 1792, signed hy John liurrctt. Born Feb. 14, 1792, John, son oi John Flight, of the parish of St. Swithin, Wore, China manufacturer (deceased July 10, 1791), and Ann his wife. Present at the birth, .Ann Russell, midwife ; Mary .Ann Lamb, nurse. 200 Nonconformity in Worcester. John Barrett signs as officiating min. on July 25, 1792 Ministers officiating at further baptisms : — Thomas Williams, Hereford, Sept. 26, 1792. Thomas Jones, Jan. 7, 1793. John Dawson, Dec. 29, 1793. John Dawson, Dec. 30, 1793. Edwd. Williams, Jan. 19, 1794. Joel Banfield, Dec. 31, 1794, and six following entries. Edw. Williams, July 31, 1798, Aug. 4, 1798. Joel Banfield, 1799. Thos. King, July 26, 1799. Burials, 1783-1793. Worcester 36 II. ; at the end of the volume are : — (i) Ann Rickards, daughter of Thomas Rickards, Esq., of Bevere, in the County of Worcester, and Ann, his wife, was buried in the Meeting-house, June 19, 1781, by the Rev. Thos. Belsham. (2) Hannah, wife of Thos. Hodges Glover, buried in the Meeting- house, Feb 28, 1783. (3) Joseph, son of Tho. Rickards, Esq., buried Jan. 27, 1785, aged 3 weeks. (4) Susannah, wife of Henry Hammond, hop merchant, died Oct. 3, was buried Oct. 6, in the Meeting-house, 1786. (5) Ann Bulford, spinster, died Oct. 16, was buried Oct. 22, 1788, in the yard adjoining the Meeting-house. Aged 36. (6) Elizabeth Faulkner, spinster, died Jan. 6, buried Jan. 9, 1789, in the yard adjoining the Meeting-house. Aged 59. (7) George Gillam, died June 2, was buried June 10 (1789), in the Meeting-house. Aet. 8. Non-Parochial Rcs^^istcrs. 201 'A (8) Elizabeth, wife of Mr. Henry Bisliop, woolen- draper, died Oct. 19, was buried Oct. 24, 1789, in the Meeting-house, aged 43. Mrs. Sarah Stephens, died Jan. 25, 1789, was buried at the Baptist Meeting-house. (9) Mrs. Frances Hurt, wife of Mr. Joseph Hurt, of Birlingham, Worcester, was buried Dec. 27, 1790, in the Meeting-house. (10) Mrs. Williams, wife of Mr. Geo. Williams, of Worcester, glover, was buried in the Meeting-house, Feb. 7, 1791. (11) 1791. — March 24, John Dougl.as, of the city of Worcester, snuff-maker, died March 19, buried in the Meeting-house, March 24, 1791. (12) July 20, John Flight, of Worcester, china manufacturer, died July 6, was buried in the Meeting-house, July 20, 1791. Aged 25. (13) 1793. — March 9, Henry Bishop, of Worcester, woolen-draper, died Sunday, March 3, buried in Ihe Meeting-house, March 9. Per G. OsBORN. {14) 1793. — March 29, John, son of the late John Flight, of Worcester, china manufacturer, and of .Anne, his wife, died March 24, buried in the Meeting-house, March 29, 1793. Aged 13 months. Per G. Osborn. (This is the last en fry in Worcester 36 11.^ Worcester, 36 III. -Births and Baptisms, 1780-1795. Register of Baptisms in the Independent Society of Protestant Dissenters in the city ok Worcester, assembling in Plmp Street, Worcester. Twenty entries — 1780. — F'eb. I. Mary, d., Thos. and ,\nn Stokes, baptized by the late Pastor. 202 No7tconforniity in Worcester. 1781. — Aug. 8. Maria, d., Wm. Talbot, baptised by Thos. Williams, minister. 1782. — Sept. 18. Thomas, s,, Thos. and Ann Stokes, baptized by Thos Williams, minister. 1792. — Oct. 12. John, s., John and Margaret Nairne, born Oct. 9, by me John Lewis, minister. 1793. — Mar. 15. Elizabeth, d. of Oliver and Elizabeth Field, born Feb. 13, 1793, John Lewis, minister of Kingwood. Mar. 31. John, s. of John and Susanna Cope, born March 3, J. Lewis, minister. Apr. 14. James, s. of Wm. and Charlotte Scott, 2nd Dragoons, Feb. 4, J. Lewis, minister. Apr. 22. James, s, of Alex, and Esther Johnstone, sergeant, J. LEWiis, minister. Apr. 26. James, s. of James and Janet Richmond, quarter- master, J. Lewis, minister. Apr. 28. John Spooner, J. Lewis, minister. Apr. 28. James, s. of Sam and SusannaCope, J. Lewis, minister. 1793. — ^July 21. Ann, d. of Hugh and Elizabeth Dick, corporal, born July 17, J. Lewis, minister. Ann, d. of Ri. and Mary Stokes, born May 9, J. Lewis, minister. Sept. II. Charles Swift, s. of Charles and Marg. Yardley, 16 Aug., J. Lewis, minister. Dec. 2. Prudence, d. of John and Marg. Nairne, Dec. i, J. Lewis, minister. Dec. 30. Mary, d. of Joseph and Alice Ellis, Dec. 28, J. Lewis, minister. 1794. — May 18. Ann, d. of Adam and Elizabeth Glandenning, born May 4, J. Lewis, minister. July 3. Jane, d, of James and Sarah Steel, born June 11, J. Lewis, minister. Non-Parochial Registers. 203 1795. — Jan. 29. Margaret, d. of Charles and Marg-. Yardley, born Dec. 2, 1794, Will. Field, minister. Jan. 29. John, s. of Oliver and Elizabeth Field, born Nov 2, 1794, Will. Field, minister. ( The end of this register ) Worcester 36 1\'. — Births and Baptisms, 1810 1815. "The Register ok B.vptlsms belonging to the Protestant Dis- senting CONGREG.\TION ASSEMBLING IN AnGEL StREET, WORCESTER, having through some unhappy ditTerences been of late inaccessible, it has been deemed expedient that a proper list oi Baptisms be for the present inserted in this Book. This is done with a hope that at some future time this list may be transcribed into the proper Register belonging to the congregation." •Ann Burden, daughter of Stephen and Flizabeth Burden, born 18 Oct. 1809, baptized 20 July 1810, by Sa.mlel Lowell of Bristol. Wore. Aug. 1 811. John, the son of Richard Fvans of Haughton, Montgomcrjshire, and Esther his wife of Kidderminster, born ist July 1811, and baptized Aug. 27, 181 1, by me, .Alex. Steill of Wigan. Elizabeth, d. of Stephen and Elizabeth Burden of Worcester, born March 1, 181 1, baptized 27 Aug. 1811 b\ me, Alex. Steill of Wigan. Thomas, son of Stephen and Elizabeth Burden of Worcester, born Apr. 19, 1812, baptized Apr. 29, 1813 by mc, John Harris of Whitechurch. Hannah, daughter of Thomas and Hannah Evans, born Jan. 26, 181 1, baptized Apr. 29, 1813 by me, John Harris of Whitechurch. Eliza, daughter of Thomas and Hannah Evans, born June 29, 181 2, baptized Apr. 29, 1813 by me, John Harris of Whitechurch. 204 Nonconformity in Worcester. Esther, daughter of Stephen and Elizabeth Burden, born Dec. 7, 181 3, baptized Jan. 31, 1814 by me, John Harris of Whitechurch. Frederick Felton, son of Robert and Elizabeth Felton, hop merchant, born 5 Apr. 1801, baptized by the Rev. Mr. Bamfield of Bromyard. Elizabeth, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Felton, born 1 1 Nov. 1808, baptized by the Rev. Mr. Steel of Kidderminster. Catharine, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Felton, born Jan. i, 181 2, baptized Apr. 24, 181 2. D. Fleming. Lucy, daughter of John Young, glover, bapt. 28 Oct. 1814. D. Fleming. Mary, daughter of Thomas and S. Evans, born March 21, 1814, baptized Nov. 14, 1814. D. Fleming. William Henry, son of William Henry and Mary Woods, born 8 Dec. 1814, baptized 17 Dec. 1814. D. Fleming. James, son of John and Mary Morton, born Jan, 1815, baptized Jan. 1815. D. Fleming. Susanna, daughter of Stephen and Elizabeth Burden, born 16 Jan. 1815, baptized Oct. i, 1815, by Wm. Potter, Protestant Dissenting Minister. ( The end of this Register. — W. Vi.) Worcester 36 V. 36 V. (a large handsome folio in vellum). — Births and Baptisms, 1810-1837. Births, Baptisms and Burials, in Angel Street Meeting House of THE Independent Denomination ; deposited Jan. 30, 1837. George Redford, D.D., L.L.D., Minister. RicHD. Evans, ] ^ , ^ ^ ^ \ Trustees and Deacons. Stephen Burden, J It begins with those entries given above in 36 IV. from July 20, 1810, to Oct. I, 1815. Non-Pnrocliial Rcs^istcrs. 205 Then — 1816, March 10, Esther, daug'hter of Richard and Esther Evans, (late Cooper, spinster), grrocer. Broad Street, Wore, born Jan. 9, 1816, baptized by J. A. James, of Birmingham, 181 6, March 10, Sarah, dauf^hter of Thomas and Sarah Morgan, (late Whitfield spinster), baker. Bridge Street, born Jan, 8, 1816, baptized by J. A, James, of Birmingham. 1816, March 10, William Henry, son of William Henry and Margaret Woods (late Baxter, spinster), painter, born Feb, 18, 1816, baptized by J. A, James, of Birmingham. ♦ * ♦ ♦ ♦ 1824, June 28, Robert Alfred, born March 18, 1823, son of Robert V.\UGHAN and Susanna (late Ryall, spinster, Melcombe Regis, Dorset), pastor of the Church in Angel Street, baptized by George Clayton. [N.B. — Theofficiating ministers signing the registerare : — J. A.James ; John Berry ; John Richards, Stourbridge ; Joseph Turnbull, of Cains- cross, Gloucestershire ; Willlam Lani;, of Wells, Somerset ; Robert Vaughan, from Dec, 1822 to May 22, 1824. George Clayton ; John RoAF ; George Redford, Jan. 15, 1826-Oct. 31, 1837. — W. U.J Worcester 36, VI. 36VI.— Burials, 1815-1837. In 1823-1824 signed by Robt. Vaughan. 1826, Oct., signed by Geo. Redford, and by him onwards to Aug. 23, 1837. Worcester 37. Silver Street. — Births 1793-1836. Register Book of Bh^ths kept ln Silver Street Baptist Chapel, Worcester, founded 1712. The chapel now standing was built 1797. "The Register has been in the custody for some time ^^i Mr. Samuel 2o6 Nonconformity in Worcester. Daniel, Deacon, and is sent from the immediate custody of Thomas Waters of Hylton Street, Worcester, who has kept it for some time past as the minister. Sept, 12, 1837." First entry : — Aug. 30, 1793. James Nichalls, son of Samuel and Ann, registered by me, William Belsher, Minister of Silver Street Meeting-, Worcester. Samuel Daniell, son of Saml. and Mary, born May 10, 1800, "registered by me Henry Page, Pastor of the Church in Silver Street, Worcester," and then follows Elizabeth, Mary, Charles, Luiza, Emily, Daniell, Oct. 22, 1804, " by me, Henry Page, Pastor of the Church in Silver Street, Worcester." "The foregoing registers were copied from Mr. Saml. Daniell's Family Bible, with some additional circumstances communicated per- sonally by Mr. and Mrs. Daniell to Henry Page. The above statement is correct : — Samuel Daniell, Father, Mary Daniell, Mother. Witness to the signatures, Emily Daniell." Richard Baugh Day, 25 Dec. 1795^ Catherine Day, born 28 May 1797 Millicent Day ,, 5 Jan. 1805 Elizabeth Day ,, 30 Apr. 1807 Elizabeth Scandrett, born Aug. 31, 1797 Milborough Scandrett ,, Nov. 8, 1803 [ Regd. by me, Henry Charles Scandrett ,, Jan. 30, 1805 Mary Scandrett ,, Sept. 15, 1809 Alfred Scandrett ,, June 12, 1814 Henry Davis, born July 7, 1796 j „ • . j 1 tt r> ^ ' o Registered by me, Henry Page. James Davis ,, July 16, 1803 1 Bent. Price, born 21; Mar. 1798 \ „ , , ^t t-, ] Regd. by me Henry Page, mmister William Price, born 19 Oct. 1799 f } of Silver Street Meeting, Wor- Tohn Price, born I 1 cester. Edward Price, born 21 Dec. 1803 / Regd. by me, Henry Page, Pastor of the Church in Silver Street. Page, Pastor of the Church in SilverStreet. Non-ParocJi in I Registers. 207 John Kenyon Blackwell, born 14 Sept. 181 2 Sam. Holden Blackwell, Martha Dufty Hannah Dufty Sarah Dufty Robert Dufty William Dufty 8 May 181 6 20 Sept. 1806 12 July 1809 30 Nov. 181 2 15 Jan. 181 5 27 Jan. 1817 Regd. by me Henry Page, minister of Silver Street Meet- ing, Worcester. Catherine Oshorn Pitt ] Daughter of 1 July 11, 1815^ Fanny Hartley Joseph and < Aug. 12, 1816 ij^[,„., r 1 Cath. Pitt. ( Dec. 15, 1817 ) Sarah 1 Edwin Edmonds Rouse John Henry Rouse Emma Rouse Caleb Thomas Rouse William F'elix Rouse Eliza .Ann Rouse James Rouse me Henry P.\ge. Children of John and Sarah Rouse. Born 17 Dec. 1809 1 Registered by ,, 6 Feb. 181 1 1 me Henry ,, 15 Feb. 181 2 j Page, minis- ,, 9 Aug. 1813 V ter of Silver 2 Sept. 1815 Oct. 1 816 7 Dec. 1817 Street Meet- ing, Worces- ter. Henry Page, son of John and Elizabeth Page, born Mar. 19, 1781. Sarah .Ann Seli-e, daughter and only surviving child of James and .Aiui Selfe, was born at Trowbridge, March 1, 1780. Henry Page and Sarah .Ann Selfe were married at Trowbridge, 29th June 1802, and have had issue as follows : — 1. — Sarah .Ann Selfe Page, born in the parish i^^i .St. Paul, Bristol, I Sept. 1803. 2. — Emily Selfe Page, born in the parish of St. Paul, Bristol, 19 Dec. 1804. 3. — Eliza Selfe Page, born in the parish of St. Paul, Bristol, 27 Sept. 1806, died in London, July 22, 181 1. 4. — Mary Selfe Page, born in the parish of St. Paul, Bristol, 25 June 1808. 5. — Henry James Selfe Page, born at Bristol, 15 Nov. 1810. 2o8 Nonconformity in Worcester. 6. — Anna Eliza Selfe Page, born at Bristol, 3 July, 1812. 7. — Alfred Selfe Page, born at Bristol, 5 July 1814, died Dec. 24, 1815 8. — Caroline Selfe Page, born at Bristol, 16 Oct. 181 6. 9. — Ellen Selfe Page, born at Worcester, 4 Sept. 1819. 10. — James Selfe Page, born at Worcester, 18 Sept. 182 1. Registered by me, Henry Page, minister of Silver Street Meeting, Worcester, and father of the children above mentioned. [Last entry by Henry Page, 27 Jan. 1826. Thomas Waters, mini- ster, signs Feb. 1837. Last entry Sept. 5, 1837. J Worcester 39 L Births and Baptisms, 1784-1829. The Register Book of Baptisms at the Countess of Huntingdon's Chapel, Birdport Street, Worcester. Thos. Yeels, son of Wm. and Elizabeth Yeels, baptized Oct. 24, 1784 by Saml. Beaufov. Susanna Yeels, d. of Wm. and Eliz. Yeels, baptized Mar. 24, 1788 by John Child. . Nancy, d. of Thos. and Mary Carradine, baptized Apr. 7, 1788 by John Child. Thomas, s. of John and Ann Morgan, baptized Apr. 14, 1788 by John Child. John, s. of James and Jane Grob, baptized May 8, 1788 by John Child. Joseph, s. of Wm. and Martha Macklane, May 18, 1788 by John Child. William, s. of Bate and Mary Penn, baptized July 18, 1788, Wm. Collins. The Register is signed by several occasional ministers down to 1806. Then Rev. Edw. Lake begins, and his signature appears from 1810 to 1829. Non-Parochial Registers. 209 Worcester 39 II. Births and Baptisms, 1830- 1836. Almost all the entries are signed by Edward Lake. "The Rev. Edward Lake has kept the Books since 1810, and now holds them as minister, May 2, 1837. We have a Register Book from Kidderminster which is herewith sent." Worcestershire 21 L Kidderminster Old Meeting House, Independent, 1662. I. — Baptisms, 1727-1822. II. — Baptisms, 1785-1791. III. — Baptisms, 1822-1837. An Account of Baptisms in the Congregation of Baptized Protestant Dissenters in Kidderminster, 1727, Sept. 25 to Apr. i, 1742. The above account is the Rev. Mr. Bradshaw's, and ended with his life. A register of persons baptized by B. Fawceft chiefly in Kidderminster, but other places are expressly named. 1753, Feb. 13, Elizabeth, d. of Ri. and Rebecca Badland. 1755, Sept. 9, Lucy, d. of Richard and Rebecca Badland. 1757, Nancy / j^^.j^^^ ^f r; ^^d Rebecca Badland. Phebe \ 1780, July II, last entry of B. Faucett. 1779, Aug. 16-1781 Mar. 13, thirteen by R. Parminter. N.B, — In 1 781 baptism by Morris, Steph. Addington, John Lake, Thos. Belsham, Thos. Tavlok, John Bekkv, Benj. Davies, Thos. Williams, Jas. Wraith. Baptisms by John Barrett, 1782 -1797. 1798, Baptisms by Alex. Steill. P 2IO Nonconformity in Worcester. Joshua, son of Joshua Smith of Worcester, and Ann his wife, of Kempsey, near Worcester, born Jan. lo, 1798, baptized Nov. 2, 1798. 1801, Robert, son of Alex. Steill, of Gosport, Hants, and Mary his wife, of Winchester, born Oct. 31, 1800, baptized Feb. 3, 1801 by me, Thos. Gardner. Edward, son of John Evans, of St. Chad's, Shrewsbury, and Mary his wife, born Jan. 31, 1801, baptized July 4, 1801. Samuel, son of Alex. Steill, born May 26, 1803, baptized July 11, 1803, by me, John Berry. Thomas Helmore, minister, July 18, 1810. Joseph John Freeman, 1820-1822. Afterwards missionary in Mada- . gascar with the Rev. Mr. Johns, Kidderminster Old Meeting, Independent. Worcestershire 21, II. — Births and Baptisms. John Barrett, min. 1785-1792. Worcester 21, III. Kidderminster. "The books have been sent by the Minister, who has kept them since 1827. Robert Ross, 10 April, 1837. Society of Friends, Worcestershire, 664. " See mercy, son of George and Susan Adams, born in the parish called St. Clement, ye i8th day of ye 6th month, 1660. p. 5. — Mary, d. of Francis and Mary Fincher, born 28th of ist month, 1680. Francis, son of Francis and Mary Fincher, born 15th of ist mo. 1680-1, Non-Pa roch/ai Regisicfs. 211 Marriages, e.g. •'The 25th day of iith month, 1663, John Waight took Elizabeth Read to wife in ye presence of us whose names are under written, Thomas Jenkins, Abraham Armes, Mary Amphleet, Ri. Fidoe, Thos. Ball, Mary Jenkins, Edw. Stanton, Ro. Smith, Margaret Roberts, Abraham Roberts, Elizabeth Smith, Mary Hill. Francis Fincher took Mary Achelly, to wife 3rd day of 4th month, 1678. In presence of Wm. Pardee, Richd. Bott, Joyce Jefferyes. Rob. Smith, Alex. Beardsley, Mary Pardoe, Geo. Maris, Job Waring, Alice Maris, Tho. Reeves, John Love, Milliscent Hodgkins. [ These registers are very copious and remarkably ivell kept. — W. U. ] Return. — Churches, Chapels, and Buildings for Religious Worship. (Ordered by the House of Commons to be printed, 15 November 1882.) Places of Worship certified under Acts 15 & 16 Vict. c. 36, and 18 & 19 Vict. c. 81.* Registration District of Worcester. Nanu. \Vh(re situate. /ielij^ous Denomination. Mr. Haskew's large Garden Street, Wor- Latter Day Saints. Room. cester. A Building ... ... Boughton Street, Saint Wesleyan Methodists. John's in Bedwardine. • Places of Worship certified prior to 1st July 1852 do not appear in this list unles:> subsequently certified to the Registrar-General under the above-named Acts. 212 Nonconformity in Worcester. Name. Where situate. Religiotis Denomination. Saint John's Chapel ... Pump Street, Saint Wesleyan Methodists. Helen, Worcester. Friends' Meeting- Sansome Fields, Wor- Friends. House. cester. A Building In Bull Entry, Saint Wesleyan Reformers. Swithin, Worcester. St. George's Catholic Sansome Place, Wor- Roman Catholics. Chapel. cester. Zion Chapel ... ... Park Street, Blockhouse Wesleyan Methodists Association. Congregational Chapel Angel Street ... ... Independents. Primitive Methodist South Street, Block- Primitive Methodists. Chapel. house, Worcester. Lady Huntingdon's Birdport Street, Wor- Lady Huntingdon's Free Church. cester. Connexion. Baptist Chapel ... Sansome Walk ... Baptists. Brethren's Meeting Nicholas Street, Wor- Brethren. Room. cester. Ebenezer Chapel ... Swineshead ... ... Protestant Dissenters. Countess of Hunting- Lowesmoor ... ... Countess of Hunting. don's Chapel. don's Connexion. Music Hall ... ... Old Corn Market, Wor- Evangelization cester. Society. Mission Hall ... ... Wyld's Lane, Wor- Who object to be de- cester. signated. Working Man's Hall Silver Street, Worces- Protestants. ten Berkeley Room ... Shaw Street, Worcester Who object to be de- signated. Christ Church ... Castle Street, Wor- Presbyterian Church cester. of England. Congregations in WorccstcrsJinw 213 Natm. Whtre situalf. Religious Denomiuatioti. Christians' Meetings St. Nicholas Street, Christians, Room. Worcester. Baptist Chapel ... Red Hill, Worcester ... Baptists. Concert Hall ... ... Lowesmoor ... ... Salvation Army. Baylis's School Room Cherry Tree Walk, In- Who object to be de- firmary Walk, Wor- signated. cester. Congregations in Worcestershire, circ. 171 5. (Morrice MSS., Dr. Williams' Library.) N.B.— C. =City, or county town ; B.T. = 13orouijh town ; M. = Market town ; P. = Presbyterian ; I. = Indepenilent ; A. = Anabaptist ; B.=Baptist; H. = Hearers. Plate of Meeting. Worcester, C. Evesham, B.T. Bewdley, B.T. Bromsgrove, M. Kiderminster, M. Dudley, M. Sturbridgo, M. Westmercote, near | i.r-n- t- ' William \ Tewkesburv. ' Preachers. Hearers. Chewning Blackmore, John Stokes, 1720. Hand Dec. 17 19 P. Daniel Higgs, died Oct. 1728. F. Black- more, 1728. P. Edward Oasland, Job Barret. P. James Thompson, died Nov., 1729. P. ... John Spilsbury, died 1727. Bradshaw, 1727- P Joseph Stokes. Pf. George Flower, ordained Apr. 14, 1698. P. 700 ;oo 400 I. 40 214 Nonconformity in Worcester'. Preachers. Place of Meeting. Precuhers. Hearers. Kingswood in ye \ parish of Kings' ' By several ; especially by Wotton. Pf.. ... — Norton. j Worcester, C. ... Pointing. A. Bewdley, B.T. ... William Thompson. A. Parshore, M. ... Timothy Thomas, died Jan., 17 16-7. A. Timothy Thomas, jun., died 1720. Bromsgrove M. ... William Peart. A. Upton-upon-Severn. Willian Hankins. A. Netherton, near) r>- u j i-i 1 a -, J, \ Richard Clark. A. Dudley. j Inkborough (once a \ Yernold A Fortnight.) j Vernold. A. Bengeworth (once a ) . fortnight.) ) ' 400 100 700 150 50 60 60 60 MoRRicE Records of Nonconformists. 17 16. Hearers. Hearers. I Bengsworth. B 60 8 Kidderminster. P. ... — 2 Bromsgrove. P 400 9 Netherton, nr. Dudley. B. 300 ,, B 150 10 Pershore. B 700 3 Bewdley. P 300 II Sturbridge — ,, B 100 12 Tenbury — 4 Dudley — 13 Upton-on-Severn. B. ... 50 5 Eversham. P 200 14 Worcester. P 700 6 Inkborough (once a fort- M B 400 night). B 50 15 Westmacote,seeGlostersh.4o 7 Kingswood, nr. King's Norton CoHorcpatioHS in Worcestershire, o o 215 Lists for 1772. Pn-sb. &> Indts. Bapt. 1 Bewdley . . . 2 Bromsgrove 3 Dudley 4 Eversham ... 5 Kidderminster 6 King's Wood 7 Pershore ... 8 Stourbridge 9 Upton 10 Worcester Cont;. Min. Cong. Min. 2 2 I 3 3 I 2 2 I 2 2 I Remarks : "At Eversham ye Paedobaptist Congregation is of late years much reduced. The Baptists at Bengsworth, its suburbs, have a small house, but it is well filled. At Upton there is a very neat house pretty well filled. At Worcester the Paedobaptist is pretty large ; the Baptist rather small. Kidderminster a xtry large congregation. At Netherton, near Dudley, are a few Baptists, but no meeting house, and a Sabbatarian Congregation near Upton. Kingswood is in King's Norton parish within seven miles of Birming- ham. They never had a resident minister, but were supplied by ministers from Birmingham. They have a parsonage house and some temporalities, about j£\6 or jC\S per annum, and have now a worthy laborious minister who lives among them and hath about 200 hearers where there used to be about 20. fOrtitn ; .August, 1773. | ^'^'-'— "^ --^ 2l6 Nonconformity in Worcester. At Brettle Lane, near Dudley, there is often a meeting of Persons who call themselves Dissenters ; Lady Huntingdon's pupils often preach there. Some Baptists attend, but they are no way regular as yet, though their numbers increase." Worcestershire : The Ministers who approved of and CONCURRED IN YE LATE \circ. I77O,] APPLICATION TO Parliament for the Repeal of the Corporation AND Test Acts. Benj. Fawcet, Kidderminster. Job Orton ,, Daniel Lewis, Kingswood. Wm. Wood, Dudley. J. Edge, Stourbridge. John Ash, Pershore. John Wells, Upton. Rich. Jenkins, Bromsgrove. WiLLM. Wells ,, James Butterworth, ,, John Pointing, Worcester. Lawr. Butterworth, Eversham. Thos. Urwick, Worcester. Edw. Chewning Blackmore, ,, Paul Cardale, Eversham. John Adams, Bewdley. James Vicory ,, John Jones ,, John Blackshaw, ,, Note on the Gillam Papers. During Mr. Rowley Hill's recent illness a number of papers and books relating to Angel Street Chapel, including a Minute book, cash books, and a manuscript history of the chapel, belonging to Mr. Robert Gillam, an old member of the Angel Street Congregation, were by his direction sent by Mr. F. R. JefFery of 5 Foregate Street, Worcester, to Mr. Hill. Owing to his state of health he was unable to look into them, A^otc on (he Gil la)) I Papers. 217 and they were sent back by one of his daughters to Mr. Jeffery. Messrs. Southall & Q.O. suggested that possibly, o\\ application from me, Mr. Jeft'ery would lend me the books and papers to make use of" them in the work I have on hand. Upon my promising to hand them over when done with to one of the trustees of Angel Street Chapel, Mr. Jeffer)^ has has sent me these books and papers. The minute book relates to the Evangelical Society and the Sunday School. The manuscript history corresponds with that of Mr. Blackwell of which Mr. Hill sent me a copy. But it contains a more detailed account of the unfortunate circumstances which led to the exclusion o{ the Rev. Francis Blackmore from the pulpit (p. 97), in great part vindicating and exculpating him and indicating that it arose from some jealousy between the assistant, Mr. Stokes, and him. It also explains more fully the Rev. Thomas Urwick's resignation (p. 107) in a way perfectly honourable to him, and tells us his last sermon at Worcester was from John xx. 28, My Lord and my God, in which he expressly opposed the Socinian hypothesis. As to the "financial difficulties" referred to (p. 115), and the costly Chancerv" suit, these Gillam papers throw considerable light. In the MS. History the following account is given : — "It was discovered that the Trustees of the Meeting House were all dead but one. That a verj' considerable sum of money, as a residuary legacy, had been received.* That no accounts had for many years been exhibited. That no information could be obtained where the title deeds oi the property were deposited. That twelve years had elapsed beyond the regular time of renewing the lease oi the Meeting House, &c. The surviving trustee being very desirous of continuing and strength- ening, if possible, the constitution of the Church on its originally evan- gelical principles and practice, measures were taken to set matters • The account book names the interest of /^7oo Consols belonging to the church, and ;{^400 the Dougla> legacy through the Rev. Thos. Urwick, besides other l>equests. 2i8 Nonconforfiiity in Worcester. generally to rights; but the obstinacy of an individual,* to whom all this irregularity was owing, resisting every attempt at a peaceable and candid investigation and arrangement, and refusing even to the surviving trustee the inspection of any documents relative to the concerns of the congregation, occasioned an appeal to the Court of Chancery ; and an information was filed in the name of the Attorney-General. This suit was opposed, every oflFer of accommodation was rejected, every means of procrastination which the practice of that court per- mitted were adopted, and the question never came to a judicial decision. When the general facts stated in the information had been established or admitted the quieting hand of death closed the contest." Note on the Sunday Schools. (See pp. 139-144-) AMONG the GiLLAM PAPERS (which have come into my hands since going to press) is a small quarto minute book, entitled, Worcester Evangelical Society, and containing information regarding the beginning of the Sunday School movement. "At a meeting of persons of different denominations, held in Angel Street Chapel, January i, 1795, this society was formed, to encourage evangelical preaching in destitute towns and villages, to promote the instruction of the poor and ignorant, especially children, by the establishment and assistance of schools and good books." The members then were, Messrs. Osborn, Flight, Barr, Roberts, Butler, Gillam, Richards, J. Allies, R. Allies, Higgins, Russell, Edmunds, Blackwell, Whittingham, Strickland. At a meeting in Bird- port Chapel, February 3, 1795, it was agreed "that the establishment * The Chancery Bill gives the name of Martin Barr as defendant in the suit. He kept possession of the Books as Executor of Timothy Gillam, the church treasurer, who died in 1794. Note on the Sunday Schools. 219 of a Sunday School in this city (to be visited by the members of this society, and to attend in rotation at the different places of worship), is a desirable object, and the Secretary, Mr. Osborn, is requested to apply for help to the London society. — April 7, 1795. That Mr. Venables be spoken to as a proper person to undertake the care of a boys', and Mrs. Ross of a girls' Sunday school, with the offer of from is. to 2s. per day according to the number. — May 5, 1795. Ox\ the report of Mr. Allies it was agreed to employ Mr. Venables as the master oi the boys' Sunday school at the rate of is. for 12, is. 6d. for i8, and 2s. for any number above 24, and this to take place as soon as a convenient room can be procured, if not in Mr. Venables' own house. — ^June 2, 1795. That the Secretary endeavour to engage Mrs. Ross to teach a girls' school at the same rate as the boys' ; and also to let her room for the two schools united, at least for the present. The Secretary having the prospect of visiting London soon, is requested to urge the application for the Sunday school fund. — September 8, 1795. That Mr. Barr be requested to engage a room for the Sunday school, to be opened if possible within the month. — October 14. Mr. J. Allies having offered the use of the vestry at Bird- port for the Sunday School, it is thankfully accepted ; and Mr. Allies is requested to engage Mr. \'enables to undertake the care oi the children as soon as possible. December 8. — That it is desirable speedily to engage a room for the Sunday school, as the vestry in Birdport is not thought adapted." These resolutions seem to have come to nothing, for at a meeting of the Society in Angel Street, "February 7, 1797— Present : Messrs. Black- well, Burden, Flight, Lewis, Osborn, Roberts ; it was resolved that the idea oi a Sunday school be entertained at a future meeting ; and our friends are requested to attend. — April 4, 1797. That Mr, Osborn consult Mr. T. Hunt to know whether he would undertake the tuition oi a Sunday school. — May 2. That as Mr. Hunt declines, the members be requested to look out a suitable person, and also for a room. That Mr. 220 Nonconformity in Worcester. J. Taylor be applied to as a suitable person.- — ^June 13. That the secretary settle with Mr. Curtois as master of the Sunday school, on condition of his undertaking the care of any number of boys under 40, and affording room at 2s. 6d. per week ; attending himself regularly on public worship with the school at Angel Street Chapel. — August 8, 1797. At the monthly meeting of the Evangelical Society these rules for the Sunday school attending Angel Street were agreed to : — " I. Every boy must be recommended by some member of the Evan- gelical Society, and his name be inserted in a book to be kept by the master. 2. The master and scholars are to attend school at 9 o'clock every Sabbath morning. Business to begin with prayer, and then to spend until 10.30 in spelling and reading, or learning some appointed catechism or hymn. 3. At 10.30 the master and scholars (two and two) are to walk orderly to meeting, and occupy seats in the gallery without noise or inattention. 4. After the first service they are to disperse for dinner; to meet at the school again at i, spell and read till 2.30, thne attend public worship, after which they are to return to school till 5, and then disperse for the day. 7. The members of the society are requested to attend in rotation, two at least every Sabbath, to inspect the school. 8. All who acquit themselves diligently and well shall be rewarded either with books or some part of clothing. " September 5, 1797 — That the attendance at the Sunday school has been very pleasing for the last two Sundays. That the secretary apply to Mrs. Ross of Sidbury to undertake a girls' school, and, if she can attend the business, that she be allowed the same, i.e., 2s. 6d. per week, as the master for any number not exceeding 40 girls. November 7, 1797 — That as Mrs. Ross declined the care of a girls' school, and we have neither room nor funds for the undertaking, we think it prudent at present to defer this matter. — November 22. To recommend a regular attention to the school to our friends, and that every boy reported to the visitors for ill behaviour, after three times being admonished shall be Note on the Sunday Schools. 221 expelled. That the secretary furnish a few spellingf books for present supply. That the back seat of the front g^allery is very elig-ible for the Sunday boys, and that ever>' visiting friend that can make it convenient be requested, not only to attend the school, but sit with the boys during public worship. — Februarj- 6, 1798. That the secretary' procure catechisms for the boys. That at least one visitor be publicly requested to attend ever>' Sabbath. — March 14. That two boys of the best progress be allowed to attend in the evening of the week days to learn writing of Mr. Curtois. — May 9, 1798. That Mr. Allies and Mr. Felton be re- quested to apply to Mrs. Maclean to undertake the care of a girls' Sunday school, and furnish room at the rate of 2s. per week. — June 22 Agreed to employ Mrs. Macle.an as mistress of the girls' Sunday school, she undertaking the charge of any number not exceeding 40, and also to find room for the same at 2s. 6d. a week. That the school com- mence on Sunday, July i, and be regulated by the same laws as the boys. June 12, 1799. — That the annual sermon for this Institution be preached on the last Sabbath in August next, and that suitable hymns for the occasion be prepared by the secretary. — October 2, 1899. There was collected for the benefit of this Society at Angel Street, at the annual sermon, .August 25, ^26 14s. 3d. ; and ^,2 2s. have been since received as annual subrcriptions. — November 6, 1799. That the subscriptions and collections for the Sunday School attending here be made out separately, and be kept as a distinct account in future. This was agreed to on Decem- ber 4, when it was also agreed that it is highly expedient to erect and provide rooms for the convenience of the schools. — January 2, 1800. That on account of the severity of the present season, the sum of one guinea each be granted to the Master and Mistress of the .Sunday schools, no regular increase of salary be allowable to either. That tlie amount of the several collections made at Angel Street meetings for the benefit of the schools there attending has been ^47 9s. i^d., which, with the grant from the London Society of ^5 4s. for the last year, makes a total of ^52 13s. ijd., out of which there has been expended 222 Nonconformity in Worcester. for the schools alone j[^2>^ os. lod. — May 13, 1800. That Mrs. Maclean having declined the girls' School, Mrs. Richards, of Silver Street, be elected on trial for three months at the rate of 2s. a week for tuition, and 3d. for the Room. — September 10, 1800. Present: Messrs. Evans, Gillam, Osborn, Stokes, Young, resolved that the Annual Sermons for the benefit of the schools be preached on the 3rd and 4th Sabbath of October next. — October 8. That the four most suitable girls be selected by the Visitors and Governess and be sent to learn writing from Mr. Curtois on the same footing as the boys. That it is expedient to present the boys and girls with some useful gifts, hats, caps, tippets or stockings. — 1801, February 10. That the receipt for the benefit of the Schools including the subscription and public collection, with the allowance from the London Society was ;^67 14s. 6d. ; the expenditure £,2'^ 14s. 2|d. ; and therefore the balance for the future support of the School is ^^40 os. 3^d. — February 9, 1802. That the sum of ^33 IIS. was collected at the Annual Meeting for the benefit of the Schools by the sermon, &c. — November 2. That no more children be admitted into either of the schools until next year, 1803. That a new pair of shoes be allowed to each boy and to each girl, to attend the Anniversary Sermon. That it seems advisable to provide new bonnets for the girls with strings, and new stockings for the boys. The Minute Book thus runs on to September 27, 181 5, on the same lines ; showing that the Sunday Schools down to that date were con- ducted by two paid teachers, one for the boys, the other for the girls ; that they met in hired rooms ; that visitors two by two in rotation came in to see that the rules were kept, and the teaching properly conducted ; that spelling and reading were among the subjects of instruction ; and writing on week evenings for the best scholars ; that the children received clothing every Anniversary as a reward for good attendance and behaviour, and that the effort was well supported both by annual sub- scriptions and the anniversary collection, when special hymns were Note OH the Sunday Schools. 223 printed and sungf. Mr. Osborn (the chairman and secretary) preached the annual sermon till his death in 181 2. Then Mr. Robert Gillam was chosen as secretary, Rev. J. A. James of Birmingham was requested to preach, but it does not appear that he came. The signatures to the minutes, November 19, 181 2, are — Benj. Burden. B. Stokes. S. Burden. Rob. Gillam. Sam. Pearce. M. Barr. Rich. Evans. Martin Barr, junr. Rob. Felton. Benj. Blower. Thos. Hodges. Josh. Lilly. Application at this meeting was made to the Trustees of .Angel Street for the use of the vestry as a schoolroom for the girls. This was granted. In 181 3 Rev. Mr. Brewer preached the annual sermon ; 1814 Rev. D. Fleming. INDEX Of Persons, Places, and Subjects. ( Xot including all in the Parlianu'ntary Sitnuy, or the Xoii-Pnrorhial Rri^istcrs. ) Abbotsley, 44, 174, 178. Abbots Morton, 170. Abbot, Geo., ^7 ; Rob., 27. Aberdeen, 100. .-Vber^avenny, 91. -•Vbberley, 178. Abery>>t%vith, ii. Abinjfdon, 32. .Act of \I. Articles, 13. ,, of Uniformity, 57 sqq. Acta of Bishop's court, 61, 66 sqq. Adams, Mr., 97 ; See Mercy, 210. .•\ddington. Dr., 113; Ste., J09. Adney, W., 66. .•\>;Tcement, Wore, ministers, 43- Albert the Good, iii. Alcester, loi, 146-150. Alderminster, 148. Allchurch, 177. Allen, J no., loj sqq. .Allies, Jas., 157, 169. .Allin^ton, Thos., 180. Alliott, Dr., 134. •Mmanack, Oiil, 1 j. All Saints', .•7, 48. 55, 61. 07. 1 7 J, 174. Aimslunises, ix. •Alvecluirch, 162, 168. •Mvely, 178. Ang-ier, Jas., 172. .'\nabaptists, 34, 147. Andrews, St., iv. sq., 54, 63. 03. 07, 172, 176. Anjfel Street Church, 74 14}; Rt^J^istiMs, l<)2-205. .Anti-slavery Soeietj-, 126. .Antwerp, 17. Archbold, Th., 161, 169. Arley Kinj^s, 65, 167, 178. Arnot, W'., 129. Arthur, Jas., 172. A.shby-de-la-Zouch, 96, 157. Ashworth, Caleb, 111. .Astley, 167, 170. .Association o'i Wore. Churches, 134. .Aston, J., 174. .Vstley, 4.f. Athcna;un>, Wore, iii. .Atkins, Thos., 134. Avys, Rob., 27. Badby, J., martyr, 24; RoK, 1. Badland, Thos., 65 xqq., 70, 74 vy. , 134, I S3 ; family, 209. i^adland, Ri., 6^, 200; [.,6:;; Eliz.,77. n.'idsey aiul Adlinicton, 178. Baker, Joseph, 44, 47, 54, 63, 172, 174; J.. 174; Henry, 66. Ba^shaw, L., 163. 226 Index. Bala, 141. Baldwin, Thomas, 44 sq., 86, 162, 174, 184. Banburj', 29. Banfield, Joel, 200, 204. Barber, Sam., 118. Barefoot, Thos., 55. Barker, Ant., 10; Jos., 96, 158, 173; R'm 109; T. R., 125- Barnes, Dr., 10; Thos., 158. Barr, M., 109, 117, 218. Barrett, J., 114, 196, 200, 209. Barrough, 44. Bartholomew's, St., 3. Barton-on-the-Heath, 175. Barting-ton, 184. Bartlett, John, 1 29-131. Basing-stoke, 129. Basle, 17. Bath, 118, 156. Batesford, 44, 175. Battenhall, iv, 133. Baug-hton, Ste. , 161. Baylis's Schoolroom, 213. Baxter, Richard, 37 sqq., 58 sqq., 155, 161, 165, 177, 180 sq. Baxter, Benj., 44, 162, 168, '74, 177- Baxter, Stephen, 45, 177. Bayfield, E., 159. Bayley, J., 167. Bayly, 167. Bay ton, 179. Bearcroft, Alex., 77. ,, John, 67. Beard, Jno., 77. Becket, T. a, 2. Beckford, 43. Bedford, iii. Bedwardine, 48. Beaufoy, Sam., 157, 208. Beeston, Richard, 44, 85 sq., 162, 166, 178. Belbroug-hton, 179. Belsham, Thos., 109 sqq., 199 sq., 209. Belsher, W., 145, 151 sq., 206 sq. Bennett, Dr., 129; Thos., 157 ; Jos., 164. Benson, Geo., 87, 161 ; Jno., 87; Bp., 156; Edw., 166. Berkes, Ri., 184. Berrow, 178. Berry, Ch., 104, 109; E., vi, vii ; J., 205, 20^ sq. ; Enos, 159; Th., 109. Best, Edw., 164. Bewdley, 40-44, 91, 97, 184, 171, 177, 179. 187. Bi-centenary Celebration, 134 ^S'- Biddle, Jo., 53. Biddulph, Thos., 156. Bilnej-, Thos., martyr, 6. Birdport Chapel, 140, 155- 158, 208 sq. Birlingham, 148, 179. Birtt, W., 13, 159. Birmingham, loi sq., 107, 118, 125. Bishop, W., 118. Bishampton, 179. Bible, I, II, 16, 22, 24, 94. Billing^ham, Hen., 164. Bishop, Hen., 201. Bifield, Mr., 39, 50. Birch, 164. Blackley, 175. Blackmore, Chewning, 84, 87-89, 192 ; Edw. Ch., 97, 193; Sarah, 194; Wm., 86 sq. ; Francis, 97 sq., 193, 196 sq. ; R. Grierson, 198 ; W. \\\ 98, 198. Blackwell, Sam., 82, 109, 1 16, 207 ; Cath., 77 ; Thos., 92. Blandford, Bp., 68. Blanquet, 98. Blick, Nich., 182. Blockley, 27, 44, 47, 162, 170, 178. Bloomfield, 187. Board Schools, x, 16. Bolton, Rob., 118; Matt., 162. Bockleton, 167, 179. Bonnil, Th., 174. Boling-broke, Lord, 156. Bond, Jno., 185. Boon, E. J., xi, 159. Boraston, J., 43, 47, 171. Bowater, Sam., 44. Boulogne, 152. Bourne, Edw., 180 sq. ; W. T., 134. Bourn-heath, 199. Bowton, Mr., 161. Bouchier, Edward, 45, 177- Bowker, E. B., 87. Bowmen, E. J., 159. Brace, Edw., 161, 164 ; Jos., 130. Bradford, Rod., 11. Bradshaw, Matt., 96, 196, 209. Bragginton, 91. Bradley, Ro., 157, 159. ,, Walter, 67. Breda, 44. Brecknell, Geo., 130. Bredicott, 167. Bredon, 162, 166, 178 ^y. Brethrens' Meetingf, 212. Brewer, J., 118. Bride's St., 100. Brian, J., 174. Bridg-enorth, 38, 118, 174. Index. 227 Bridger, Col. J., 42. Bridg^cs, Fr., 14S. „ Sir J., 148. ,, \V., 161, i6g. Bright, Henry, 35. Brighton, 133. Bristol, 118, 13:;, 150-153. Briscoe, Ri., 175. British Schools, v- vii. Britten, Jasper, 166. Broadway, iv, 172, 177, 179, 183. Broad, Ri., 99. Bromley, Hen., 109. Booke, Nich., 15 ; Oliver, '5- Bromwich, Tho , 44, 65, 166, 172, 177. Brotherton, J as., 157. Broughton, 32. Bromfiekl, 174. Broom, 44, 178. Broomyard, 185, 204. Brown, G., 105 ; J., 157 sq. ; Kliza, 77. Brown, Rob., 44. is., 134. Bromsgrove, 45 sq., 67, 91, 96 .S(/y. , 101 sq., 122, 147, '55. '^3. '73 ^W-. '79. »82, 188, 19H. Bucer, 17. Biicke, Geo., 48, 50. Hiinhill Fields, 103. Biillinger, 17. Burden, Bon., 109, 116. ,, Steph., ti6, 122, 203 sqq. Burder, J., 118. Biirton-on-Trent, 91. Bury, Ri., 169. Biishley, 179. Butler, Bp., 91 ; Hon., 174 John, 92, 148. Butler, Barbara, 148. Buttcrworth, L., 151. Byron, Lord, 39. Cams-Cross, 205. Calamy, Dr., 95. Cam, 1 18. C.'imbridge, 9. Carfax, 40. Carnaria, The, 2. Carpenter, J., 66, 102, 196. Carpenter, Jos., 100 sqq \ Ben., 102. Carpenter, Lant, 102. Carter, Sarah, 90, loS ; Han- nah, 108. Cartwrighl, Th., 180. Castle .Morton, 174, 179. Cathedral, Wore, iv., xi.. 28, 52. Cathedral School, iv. , viii. Causer, \V., 158. Chadsley Corbet, 162, 177. Chamberlain, J., 157. Chandler, Dr., ()i ; Ri., fi6. Charles I., 28-31. H.,41,70. Chapman, Thos., 149, 184. Charles, Mr., 141 : W., 149; Isiac, 168. Cheatle, \V., 71, 77, 174, 183; F.liz., 77, Sam., 77. Cheke, z},. Cheshunt, Coll., 134, 158. Chesterfield, Lord, 156. Chewning, Mary, 86 sq. Cheynell, Fr., 27; B., 27. Child. J., 157, 20S; Th., 174. Chiliingwiirtli, W'., 24. Christians' Meeting, 213. Church Lonch, 44, 47, 162, '75- Churchill, 45, 164. City Library, 109. Claines, 68, 179. Clare Hall Camb.. 5. Claugliton, Hp., 155. Clark, Roger, 67. Clapham, 105 sqq. Clayton, Geo., 205. Clent, 44, 178. Cleobury Mortimer, 174. Clement's, St., 66, 153, ^ '57. '7'- Clewe Pryor, 55. Clerkenwell, 158. Clopton, ID. Clirion-on-Tame, 44, i7t). Colles, Tim., 1)8. College, The, 28, 49, 181. Collier, Giles, 44. 47, 162. '70. '7.V Collins, \\'., 50, 157 sq., 208. Colville, Mr.,' 112. Combe, v, 6(>. Combi-rlon .NLigna, 105, 1 7<). Concordance, 9. Communion Table, 22, S3. Congl. .NLigazii'.e, 127. Consistory Coui^t, 158. I'onventii-le Act, OkS. Conventicles, 60 sqq. , '47 -^W- t'ook, ^L■lrv, 77. Cooke, Richard, 178. C\H>ke, Th., 67 ; Kdw., 164. Cooper, Kd., 161, 164; Jas., 1 18 ; Hugh, 176. Cooper, Joseph, iSj; Ri., '75 •^i'- Cork, 113, 1 19. Cornish, Hen., S7. 228 Index. Corporation of Wore, 98. Corpus Christi, 9. Cornton, Ri., 62, 71, 183. Cottrell, N., 53. County Assn., 114. Covenant, The, 40. Coventry, 39, 92, 97, loi. Coward Trustees, 105, 107. Cowles, J., 67. Cradley, 188. Cox, Gilbert, 48, 61. Crapthorn, 165, 185, 172 sq., 177- Creaton, 109. Christ Church, Presbyterian, 212. Crofts, Herbert, 161. Cromwell, Oliver, 41, 52, 180. „ Richard, 174 sqq. ,, Thos. 9, ID. Croom Dabitot, 169. Crosby, Rowland, 171. Crowle, 164, 179. Crowe, W., 153. Cureton, J., 157. Dalbye, J., 166. Daniel, Sam., 206. Danse, 36, 58 sqq., 161. Darke, Sam., 153; Leonard, 197. Darney, Mr., 39. Davies, J., 15, 16, 66, 153, 157; Benj., 209. Davis, J., 15, 16; Jon,, i66 ; Henry, 206. Dawly, J., 66. Dawson, J., 66, 114, 157, 200. Daventry, 109-111, 113. Day, John, 10; Henry, 133. Day family, 206. Dawby, J., 66. Declaration of Indulgence, 70, 182. ,, of Liberty of Conscience, 72. Deflford, 147. Dedicote, J., 44. Dodd, T., 159. Dodenham, 162. Doddridge, Philip, 104. Doderhill, 44, 164, 177. Dolman, Eliz., 77. Dolphin, J. 44, 174 sqq. Dormston, 148, 165. Douglas, H. H., xi ; Jno., 201 ; Jos., 1 16. Dowley, Richard, 45, 178. Doverdale, 161, 164. Droitwich, 123, 164, 173. Dublin, 127, 151. Dudley, 38, 44, 91, 172, 179, 184, 186, 188. Dufty family, 207. Durham, William, 44, 170, 174, 178. Durant, Geo., 162. Durey, J., 46. Eades, Ri., 43. Earle, Dr., 103. Earles Croome, 175. Eagleson, 149. Eastham, 103, 162, 179. Easton, Thos., 44, 175. Ebenezer Chapel, 212. Eckington, 44, 177, 179. Edgar Tower, ii, 21, 29, 35, 50 sq. , 66 sqq. Edgbaston, 125. Edinburgh, 154. Edward VL, 17, 23. Edwards, Geo., 131 ; Jno., 70, 147 ; Peter, 118. Ellie, Jas., 66; Wm., 67. Emlead, 175. Elmly Castle, 34, 165, 179. ,, Lovett, 164. Emblem, J., 157. Elvines, Ed., 50, 52. Engagement, The, 40 sq. Erasmus, 17, 22. Eton, II. English, a preacher, 156. Evangelization Soc, 212. Evans, Richard, i, 1 10, 116, 119, 121, 137, 152, 203 204 sq. ,, Edw., 116, 137, 210 ; E. P., vi. G-. 157; John, 77, 102, 210. ,, Thos., 43, 172 ; Anne, 77. Everett, D., 127, 130, 133. Evesham, 2, 4, 10, 44 sqq., 97. 165, \']\sqq., 179, 181, 184, 189. Evinlode, 170. Falcon Square, 129. Farmer, Hugh, 106. Farley, Ri., 162. Farnworth, Ri., 43, 180. Faucett, Ben., 107, iii, 209 sq. Faux, 147. Fecknam, Thos., 145 sqq., 148 ; Sarah, 142. Felton, Rob., 204. Fernhill Heath, 130. Ferrers, Earl, 157. Field, W., 203. Fincher, Richard, 44, 47, 55, 61, 70 sqq., 172, 174, 177, 183 ; Francis, 210. Indc 229 Finchor, Ph., 99; Cicely, 77- Josoph. 77. Findorn, 96. Findlay, J., 158. Five Mile Act, 68. Fish Street, 82. Feckenham, 164, 179, 189. Flower, Geo., 91 ; Benj., 198. Fleming, Dan., 119, 204. F"letcher, Ri., 175. Flig^ht, Jos., 117; Jno., 199, 201. Floyford, 162, 174. Foley, Ri., 37 ; Thos., 42, 174. ,, Philip, 91, 9<;, 178. Folkestone, ii. Foreg^ate Street, iii, 92, 97, 99, 112. Forest, 14; P.iul, 91 ; Thos., 91. Foskett, 150. P'orest Hill, 129. Foulkes, Ro., 174. Foynes, J., 148. Francis, Thomas, 44, 173, '77- Franks, Thomas, 44, 178; .•\lice, 89. Fredingfton, 179. Freeman, J. J., 210. Free School, 55. Freestone, John, 44, 161, >73- Fridayshar|-t, 161. Friends, Soc. of, 153, 2 1 o Sijq. Friaries, Black and Grey, S. Friswide's, 9. F"rith's Testament, 1 1. Frome, 150. Fiinieaux, Dr., 105. Galashiels, 154. Gardner, Thos., 210. Garland, Th., 164, 173. Garrett, 9. Gerrard, 9. Geneva, 10. Gilbert, Jas., 1 19. Qiles, John, 147, 171, 178; Nath., 161. Gillies, Dr., 155. (jillam, Qeo., 92, 116, 200; Rob. , 117, 121; Thos. ,117; Timothy, 218. Gladstone, W. E., ii, 137. Glascott, Mr., 156. Glasifow, 104, 154. Glastonbury, 118. Gloucester, 8, 23, 38, 92 iiS, 139. Glover, T. M., 200. Goodaire, Th., iSo. Good, Thos., 45. Goodwyn, Ro., 174. Grafton Flyford, 166, 178*/. Grammar School, viii. Great Wigston, 105. Grainger, Jos., 130. Green, \V., 185. Grey, Zach., 100. Griftith, J., 91, 157. Grimley, 172, 179. Guild of Holy Trinity, 7. Guildhb' ludc. \\ 231 Kiiii^'s Norton, 147, 16^^, 176, 1835-/. Kingtoiie, 148^1/. , 164. Kin^wood, jo:!. Kinnett, 28. Knighton, 170. Knightswick, xiv, 162. Knott, Jon., 1 18. Knox Little, xi. Kyre Wyard, 170. Lake, Edw. , 1 58 sq. , 208 stj. ; J., 209. Lancaster, Jos., 106. Lane, \\'., 205. Lancashire, Indt. Coll., 120. Langdon, 174. L;ingrv»rd, J., 140, 185. Lc'ipworth, 145. Large, 10. Laski, J., 17. Latter Day Saints, 211. Latham, ICbeti., c)6. Latimer, Hugh, 5 15- Laud, \V., 2c^l2>- Lawrence, Giles, 183; Thos., 161. Lechmere, .Sir. .A., 03; l^-- 49. Lecturers, rules for, 29, Ledbury, 107. Lee or Leigh, 162, 190. Leechnian, Dr., 104. Leifchild, F. J., 153. Leicester, 5, 153, 119. Leight, J. ,'53" Lenchwick, i73-^'/y.. 171). Leominster, 40, 147. Lewis, Geo., vi. ; J., no, 118, 202 ; \V., 158. Lewitt, Jas., 154. Library, Public, vii-x. Lincoln, 5. Lindridge, lOi, 171, 172, 173, 170. Littlehampton, 120. Little Lcighs, 87. Liverpool, 1 18. Littleton, 44. Lockier, Marg., 77. Lole, \V., 44. Lollards, 2-4. Londoners' Lecture, 48, Longdon, 173. Longmore, Mary, 77. Lovell, W., 165, 178. Lowell, Sam., 118, 120, 203. Lowesmoor, 158,?^/. ^ 212. Luggan, Kliz., 77. Lutiier, Martin, 9, 17. Macdonald, D., 136. i\Lidan, Rev., 156. Madagascar, 210. Maddox, Isaac, 99 sq. ^L-lllstard, W., 38. Mainwaring, Roger, 29. .Maitiand, A., xi. Maiden, Jos., 168. ^L•llden, Laus Deo, 168. NL'ilpas, Th., 164. Malvern, iv, xv, 173, 189. Malvern, Little, 169. Manchester, Cross St., 8«), 98; RaddifTSt., 198. M.insfield, Mr., 92. Mann, J., 118. March, Sept., ii, xi sqq., ^yy-^2,^\ ^"''- '.^4 ; Henr)-, '34- ^Larches, city in the, 36. Marshall, Fr'., 167. ^L■lrsden, Jos., 123. Martin, Ch., 123, 127, 129; Sam., 129. Martin, St., 47, 55, 61, 84, 171, 172, 176. Gate, vii. -Martlcy, 45, 177, 179. Master of Grammar School, 7. 35 ^l- ,, of British School, vi, vii. Martyr, Peter, 26. .%L-iss books burnt, 21. Matthews, Thomas, 44, 165, 172, 175. Masters, Benj., 162. Mason, J., 164. Mealcheapen Street, 9'^. Melancthon, Philip, 5. Mence, Jas., 109. Methodist Church, no. Meredith, .\mb., 67. Merrel, Josh., 97. .Midland Coll., 154. MichaePs, St., 48.67, 171 172, 176, 179. .Milton, J., 57. Miller, Hen., 170. Milward, ALirg., 184. Milton, 178. Moore, Simon, 39, 47 sq., 50, 61, 67, 171, 172, 176 ; Thos., r()V Moore, Richard, 162, 168, '77. i<\V .Morley, Geo., Bp. , 45, 58 sj^/. Morris, 209. Monthly Meeting, 45. Moreton-in-Marsh, 118. Moseley, J., 162. Moseley, 176. Mottershead, 89. Moule, C, 66. Nailsworth, 102. Nantoii Reachamp, 4.1, 178. Index. Narborough, 105. Nash, J., 50. Neal, Dan., 99 sq. ; Hen., 77- Neville, Ma., to; Ra, 170, 175- Newbury, 134. ,, Port, Boston, 156. Netherborough, 172. Newington Green, 87. Newman, Rob., 122. Newport Pagnell, iii. Nicholas, St., Z2, 55, 61, 70, 147, 171, 172. Noake, John, 132, 153. Noel, Baptist, 154. Non=parochial Registers, 186 sqq. Norbury, Ro., 164, 173. Northampton, 104, 112. Northfield, 164. Norton, 166. Nott, Ch., 43, 171, 172; John, 44. Nottingham, 109, 131. Nurses Home, ix. Oddingle}', 173. Oldbur}', 92, 190. Old Swinford, 44, 64, 162, 164, 184. Ombersley, 123, 130, 162, 173. 185. Onslow, Phipps, 59. Ordination, 37 sq. Orton, Job, 104, 107, 112. Osborn, Geo., io<) sqq., 140 sqq. , 201. Oswen, John, 10-13, 19. Osland, Henry, 44 sq., 91, 177, 184. Oswestry, 118. Overbury, 179. Owen, Ann, 77. Oxford, 9, 87. Oxford, John, 65. Padmore, Aid., 127. Page, Hen., 152, 206, 20"] sq,; Self, 206, 207. Pardoe, W., 68, 146, 150, 211. Parminter, R., 209. Parliamentary Survey, 163 sqq. Partington, Edw., 171. Parton, Th., 15. Pedder, dean, 27. Pedmore, 164. Pendock, 169, 179. Pensocks, 179. Pentloe, 86 Petty France, 102. Peters, St., 67, 171. ,, Cornhill, 86. Pentecostals, 55 sq. Penn, Ri., 164. Petition for ministers, 41. Pershore, 44, 149, 152, 169, 173' 179- Perrot, Tho., 196. Peverell, Thos., Bp., 2. Philipps, Jas. , 105. Perkins, Benj., \^ sq. Phillips, Edw., 173; Sam., 197 5-y. Pierpoint Street, 109. Piddle North, 179. Pilgrim Fathers, 57. Pilkington, 162. Pirton, 165, 179. Pitway, Edw., t8o. Poppleton, 170, 177, 179. Pocock, J., 53, 56. Pole Elm, 130. Poole, J., 148. Pitt family, 207. Poor Mary, 128. Porter, Jos., loi. • Portsea, 129. Potter, Christ., 2,2 sq., 160. Potter, Simon, 178; W., 204. Powick, 39, 92, 167. Poynting, Isaac, 150. Preston, Mr., 147. Price, Benj., 206; Jas., 109; Jos., 150 ; Thos., 67 ; Walter, 135, 139. Priddy, Rowl., 98 ; Jos., 98. Preston, Salop, 176. Prestwood, 91, 97. Prayer Meetings, 109. Prideaux, Bp., 34, 86, 160. Primitive Methodists, 212. Printers, 9, 11. Priton, 44 Pritchett, Edm., 67. Protestant Disssnters, 83 sq. Providence, Rhode I., 151. Provincial Assemblj', 86. Pryce, R. V., 131 sq. Pump Street, no, 123, 140, 201 sq. Quakers, 146, 148 sq., 153, 180 sq.., 210-212. Raikes, Ro., 139. Rainbow Hill, 151. Raffles, Thos., 118. Rand, 7. Randall, W., 149, 185. Read, Joseph, 63, 177, 183 ; Jas., 102 ; John, 183. Reading, 62. Redhill Baptists, 213. Redditch, 190. Reformers, i, 5-24. liidcx. 233 Reignolds, J., 45, qj. Registrar-General, 186 ^y. Reynolds, Dr., 134. Rhydd, The, 92. Richards, J., 118, 205; Jos., 77. '57- Ribsford, 171, 170. Richardson, Stcph., 56. Richmond, 23. Rickards, Th., 200. Richings, F. H., xi. Riches, H. T.,*i27. Ridley. Bp., 13, 14 Ridmerley, 44, i68, 179. Riley, 1 19. Rickmansworth, 1 29. Ripple, 169. Rini^wood, III. Redford, George, i, 121- 127, 153; .-\lex. 121., 204.V(/. Red more, 179. Roaf, J., 205. Robbins, Edw., 185. Rocke, 171, 179; Th., 11 1. Rocke, Jos., 45 ; Philip, 172. Rogers, P., 67, 114; Widow, >47- Roman Catholics, 186, 212. Romish ritual banished, 21. Rouse family, 207. Romans, Ep. to the, 12, \gs(j. Roper, Sam., 149. Ross, Ro. , 210. Rotherham, 1 19. Roundheads, 38. Rouslench, 179. Rowley, 45, 136. Russell, Jas., 66 ; Mary, 66. Rushock, 164. Rust, J., 157. Sacraments, 1 , 2, 6, 2 1 , 25, 83. St. Albans, 105. St. Johns Wood, 120. St. .Asaph, 100. St. Leonards-on-Sea, 25. St. Peter s, 47. Sahvarpe, 44, 67, 71, 164, 177. Sail way, Ar., 167. Salisbury, 1 19. .Salvation .Army, 213. Sambatch, .Ant., 174. Sanderson, 159. Sansome Walk, 154, 156. Scales, Thos., 1 18. Sandys, Bp., 25. Sayers, J., 53. Saunderson, 1 1 1. Scandrett family, 206. Scarborouj^h, 129. School Board, vii. Scotch .Army, 49. Scriptures, Holy, i, 6, 9, •-. 77- Seeker, Archb., 91. Sellon, W., 158. Sergeant, Rl., 42. 44. m, 102, 174, 177, 1S4. Seveni-Stoake, 167, 180. Shell, 99. Shaw., Sam., 173. Shelsey, 43, 17 1, 172, 180. Shelton, 103. Sheriff Hales, 44, 91 si/. -Shirley, Walter, 157 ; Wash., '57- Shrewsbury, 92, 103 .«rth. rcve.nled in all its native and divinely cultured bc.iiity. entitle the memoir to a very hi)jh place in biojjra phic.il literature. " — Irish Coni^rrf^ationat ^fagatine. THE PAPACY AND THE BIBLE : A Controversy between the Rev. Kenelm Valghan, of Archbishop's House, Westminster, and the Rev. Wii.i.iAM I'mvuK, M..\., of Hatherlow. THE SUFFERING SERVANT OF JEHOVAH: A Commentarv upon Isaiah the Fifty-third. With Dissertations. Price 6s., 8vo. lildinburgh : T. & T. Clark. " The comment.iry is Ic.nrncd and f.iirly complete. " — Acadfmy. " .\ work of Krcat and perm.inent v.-iluc. " — U'rrkly Rnne^v. " The thoroughness and candour <.■■( this exhaustive biiok .ire .ilike admirable. " — .-//Ar>i\o. 2 vols. MEYER'S HANDBOOK TO THE GOSPEL OF JOHN; vol. I. 8vo. CREMER'S LEXICON OF NEW TESTAMENT GREEK, with Supplement ; pp. 943. Demy 410. 3rd Edition. 1886, 14 DAY USE RETURN TO DESK FROM WHICH BORROWED LOAN DEPT. This book is due on the last date stamped below, or on the date to which renewed. Renewed books are subject to immediate recall. MAY ElSSe^S^ CIR. MAR 2 8 1979 RECEIVtl ) AHK25 '68 -8 > ^M 2 D >* >-^ LD 2]A-457>i-9,'67 (H5067sl0)476B General Library University of California Berkeley YD 2560V