j fe*\the founding if , isi < - ILIII3I8AIKy • This book was digitized by Microsoft Corporation in cooperation with Yale University Library, 2008. You may not reproduce this digitized copy ofthe book for any purpose other than for scholarship, research, educational, or, in limited quantity, personal use. You may not distribute or provide access to this digitized copy (or modified or partial versions of it) for commercial purposes. CONGREGATIONALISM IM SHROPSHIRE. Rev. SAMUKL LUCAS. Rasv, PETER EDWARDS. Rev JOHN WILSON Eev. JOHN WHITRIDGE. Zbc four ffounoers- A HISTORY CONGREGATIONALISM SHROPSHIRE. EDITED ON BEHALF OF THE SALOP ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT MINISTERS AND CHURCHES BY ERNEST ELLIOT, Ml ' MINISTER OF STONEWAY CHAPEL, BRIDGNORTH. 1698 OSWESTRY s WOODALL, MINSHALL, AND CO., CAXTON PRESS. PREFACE. At the Autumnal Assembly held at Prees on the 4th and 5th of October, 1895, the Association unanimously resolved tbat tbe undersigned, as a special committee, be appointed to take what ever steps they deemed desirable in order to tbe suitable com memoration of the Centenary of its founding in February, 1796. It was mentioned that the Eev. D. D. Evans, who was Secretary of tbe Association from 1866 until his death in 1886, published in 1872, A Sketch of the History, Condition, and Work of the Congregational Churches of the County of Salop," in the introduction to which the author expressed the desire that "a work as complete as it can-be made," one "tbat may comprise the history of each church," should be compiled. For this task Mr. Evans possessed special qualifications, and the project thus set before himself he always kept in view, but did not live to cany out. At the request of the Committee, the Rev. Ernest Elliot, his present successor in tbe pastorate of Stoneway Chapel, Bridgnorth, accepted the onerous duty of pro- paring such a work, and it is largely due to his labours, together with the valuable help supplied by the various ministers of the county and other friends, that this volume, which is an effort to supply the want, has been prepared. Great use has been made of the valuable material accumulated by Mr. Evans, which his daughter, Miss A. M. Evans, of Bridg north, placed at the disposal of the Association. Without this material the work would have been difficult, if not impossible, and the best thanks of the Association are due to Miss Evans for her kindness. The County Celebration of the Centenary took place on the invitation of the Shrewsbury Churches at the Abbey Foregate Congregational Church on March 23rd and 21th, 1896, being presided over by the Eev. John J. Poynter, of Christ Church, Oswestry, Chairman for the year, who delivered an address on PREFACE. "Our Denominational Ideal." An address was also delivered by the Rev. A. Mackennal, D.D., of Bowdon, on "The For gotten Duty of Ministerial Leadership." The Centenary Sermon was preached by th& Rjev. 9?^ Eynon Davies, then of Glasgow, now of Beckenham, from the words, "His name shall be called Wonderful." The sermon was followed by a united Communion Service presided over by the Eev. T. Townsend, of Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury. At a Centenary Conference in the afternoon of- Tuesday, the account given at the commencement* of thia- book ofr the general work of' tbe Association was read by the Rev. J. B. Walton, B.A., LL.B., of Wem, who was Secretary from 1886 to 1895. Th© following resolution, moved by- Mr. J'. Evan Jones, J.P. (Shrewsbury), seconded by Mr. W. W. Coulson (Oswestry), and supported by the Eev. R. D. Green (Market Drayton), was unanimously adopted : — " That the Assembly rejoices in the formation of tbe Salop Association of Independent Ministers and Churches a hundred years ago, and gives praise to God for the noble men who com bined to found it, as well as for all the faithful ministers, who have, during the period of its existence, served' the Association, and been a blessing to the churches, with aU' who have in every way assisted them to ' feed the flock of God.' " It gives thanks for all the great and varied Christian work, which, under the Holy Spirit's influence, has been accomplished by them, and re-affirms its devotion to Frree Church Faith and Principles. It prays for the continuance and increase o£ the Divine blessing on all the service to which the churches set their hands, ' for Christ's sake and the Gospel's,' and for the abiding presence of the Master with them in their labours and witness- bearing for Him in the days that are to come." The Centenary Public Meeting was held on Tuesday evening when Mr. W. Woodall, M.R, presided, and the Revs. Dr. Mac kennal and T. Eynon Davies delivered addresses on the Free Churches of the past, and the Free Churches of the future. It is important, perhaps, to record that the Centenary Yeir is remarkable for the achievement for the first time of an attempt to secure a minimum stipend of £80 for the pastors PREFACE. Vll. of the aided churches in the county, a standard which was there upon adopted by the Church Aid Society throughout England. One pleasing feature of the celebration was the large atten dance of laymen, and the prominent part tbey took in the proceedings. The Abbey Foregate hospitality was extended to the wives of ministers and delegates, and the whole of the arrangements were most admirably conceived and carried out. The meetings will long be remembered for their cordial unanimity, and the spiritual blessing that attended them. J. B. WALTON, F. TINKLER, T. TOWNSEND. JOHN J. POYNTEK. Shrewsbury. EDITOR'S NOTE. In bringing the present task to a close, I desire to express my hearty thanks to all who have in any way contributed to the production of this volume — to those who have sent me the histories of the churches with which they are con nected, and to those who have lent photographs,, by the reproduction of which the interest of the book has been so largely increased. Especially does the work of the Rev. J. J. Poynter and Messrs. Woodall, Minshall, and Co., who have greatly assisted in the revision of the proof sheets, as well as in many other ways, deserve cordial recognition. ERNEST ELLIOT. Brit] two young men under preparatory instruction, or.e at Oswestry, the other at Ludlow " (in a footnote we read that the friends at Ludlow contribute £10 per annum towards the support of Mr. Watkin, the student who is residing there). " These students are usefully employed in preaching in the villages around." The report adds " We trust it is not too much to hope that this small beginning may ultimately lead to a regular Academical Institution." The Academy became a reality in due course, and its first anniversary was held at Oswestry (where I presume it was located), on Thursday, July 6th, 1820. In the circular issued on. the occasion, we find the following items of great interest even now : " At 9-30 an Examination of the Students at the -Tutor's house, (1) In English (2) In Hebrew, to mark its ' grammatical peculiarities, and to read selections from tbe writings of Moses, David, and Isaiah. (3) In Latin, to trans late one of Virgil's Pastorals. (4) Biblical Literature, to notice a few questions on the first twelve lectures of a series SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. upon this subject. (5) Two Essays." But this was not all- in the afternoon of the same day "Divine Service at the Old Chapel, for the administration of baptism to the Tutor's child by ths Eev. Mr. Barber, of Bridgnorth, and to preach an appro priate sermon. In the evening the Rev. Mr. Bell, of Wrexham, was appointed to preach a sermon on behalf of the Academy, after which a collection was to be made on behalf of its funds. N.B. — A printed account of the Academy may be shortly expected for the information of those wbo may become its supporters and friends." In a circular letter of 1823, we find Newport, Wollerton, and Dorrington, added since the last report in 1813. Aftc a cheering account of the work of- the churches in the county, Mr. Whitridge goes on to tell of the decease of Joseph Parry, and he evidently fears that the munificence be had shewn might in some cases tend to lessen contributions. He also says " Tbe ministers of our Denomination were among the first in later times to unite as a county for the advancing of the Eedeemer's Kingdom by means of itinerant preaching." Our friends at that time believed in special prayer, and passed the following resolution, " That a Special Union for Prayer to implore the more copious effusion of the Holy Spirit, be held once a quarter in each of the congregations of the county, namely on tbe evenings of the 3rd Monday in the months of January, April, July, and October." In 1831 there were twenty-nine churches, and a new secretary appears on the scene, namely Rev. T. Weaver, of Shrewsbury. • Ludlow withdraws, and for convenience sake joins tbe Here fordshire Association. At this time tbe reliance of the churches on the munificence of Mr. Parry was beginning to tell on the contributions of tbe churches, for outs(ide. Shrewsbury they were only £24 and there was a balance due to the Treasurer of £66 6s. 2d. The report of 1839, which is a record of the previous three years, is most interesting as a story of ministerial work. Take the following extract : " In the neighbourhood of Bishop's Castle', there are seven stations regularly supplied, beside others where occasional services are held; at Cwm' Cae a httle chapel has been erected. In connection with Bomere- heath, there are nine stations, in addition to Harmerhill, where SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATlONAHf-ii 7 a good congregation has been collected, and an interesting church founded. A favourable, and we believe providential opening _ having presented itself at Broseley, an interest has been commenced there, which we hope will soon, under the divine blessing, rise to vigour and efficiency. At Dorrington the minister occupies two out-stations, and renders occasional service in others. With Grimpo and Frankton there are four stations entirely, and one partially connected" (mention is made of the new chapel at Longden). Then the report goes on to say " Associated with Marten there are four villages or hamlets, where the word of life is dispensed. With Minsterley there are six. In the year 1837, a new chapel was built and a church formed at Ollerton, and which was worked by the ministers of Market Drayton. The Minister of Pant affords rehgious instruction to four other stations. In connection witb Prees there are "four stations, and the same number are regularly visited by the minister at Preeshenlle. In the vicinity of Ruyton and Wilcot, four places are supplied witb the means of grace. And in the populous neighbourhood of Wellington, three stations are occupied. Of course our es teemed brethren, whose labours are thus directed to upwards of fifty stations, meet with various measures of encouragement and success. The result on the whole is highly gratifying." And yet our brethren of that day are not satisfied while re joicing in their own success and that of kindred denominations, for they say, "A wide field is yet unoccupied, and there are multitudes in Shropshire living and dying without a know ledge of salvation." Have we not here in this report the same evangelical enthusiasm as we have seen in the early days of the Association? But anxious times were at hand. In the report of 1839 and 1840, Mr. Weaver refers to the finances of the Association. During the first 30 years, tbe resources depended on subscrip tions and collections in tbe different congregations. Then comes the story telling the amount of Mr. Parry's munificence. He had given £3,500, but this was reduced by £1,350, which ought to have been provided by the churches in collections and subscriptions. It was wise to put a stop to the reduction of the capital, if possible, so that the interest might be a ti SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. permanent benefit to the aided churches. But alas! in later years this was not regarded. About eight months before the Jubilee of the Association, namely on July 23rd, 1845, a special meeting was held at Wem, under the presidency of Mr. Pattison, to consider what could be done with reference to chapel debts. The previous period had been one of chapel building, and when we remember that during this time the churches had increased from four to thirty-two or more, and tbat the original chapels had to be. enlarged or rebuilt, and that new chapels had to be erected in small towns and in many villages, we can quite understand' that large demands would be made upon the friends of Congre gationalism in the county. But the enthusiasm of the churches had led to grave difficulties; and the meeting to consider chapel debts in its first words laments the disastrous influence. They give a list of fifteen churches, and these nearly all be longing to the villages and all receiving aid from its funds,- that are indebted for their buildings in sums varying from £10 to £250, in all no less a sum than £2,210. Tbe Associa tion resolves, " Tbat for this purpose a subscription be opened in all the churches, on behalf, in those not included in the above list, of a general fund, and in those above enumerated of their own respective debts, for monies either payable at once or by monthly or weekly instalments, according tO" con venience. The general fund to be distributed in aid of such of the above-named churches as are unable to liquidate their entire debt, in proportion to the amount raised by themselves towards it." A Shropshire Chapel Debt Liquidation Com mittee was formed of representative laymen from all parts of the county. " The ministers, though not on this committee, pledge their cordial support to the effort thus recommended, and undertake to bring the matter before their respective churches.'' But this is not all — they resolve " That for pre venting the unadvised erection or alteration of places of worship or schools within the county, the treasurer and sec retary of the Association, together with the district secretaries and seven lay members of the churches, to be elected at the annual meeting, be constituted a Board (to be named the Chapel Building Board), for advising as to the erection or SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 9 alteration of places of worship and schools. And that no chapel or school case shall henceforth receive the sanction of this Association, unless tbe written approval of the Chapel Building Board shall have been obtained to such case before any expense has been— incurred respecting it." Then follows the last resolution, " That inasmuch as debts bave not infre quently been incurred or increased by the neglect of churches to discbarge their current annual expenses, it shall henceforth be required of all churches receiving aid from the funds of this Association, to present to the annual meeting at Shrews bury a statement in writing of their accounts, and in case" any church shall fail to present such statement, or to meet any deficiency of income which such statement may disclose,' the grant from this Association shall absolutely cease to such church until the account be presented, and the deficiency (if any) be satisfactorily provided for, and that this rule come into operation before the next January meeting." That is in January, 1846, about six weeks before the Jubilee of tho Association. It would appear from the last of these resolutions that up to this time the churches aided had not sent in a financial statement. But now on account of the debts on several of the chapels, it was found needful tbat the Association should be kept acquainted from year to year as to their position and means. So far as the writer of this paper knows, the Jubilee was not kept. Was it because the state of the finances was such that they felt more inclined to pass it by than to make it known ; or was it that they thought the best way to keep the Jubilee was quietly and without any fuss, to remove the existing debt on so many churches 1 The next report was not issued till 1849, and it is for the previous four years, namely 1845, 1846, 1847, and 1848. It states that the Associa tion comprises twenty-eight pastors and thirty-seven churches, and evidently during this period the county had been divided into districts. Nothing needs to be recorded till we come to the Bicentenary of the Ejected Ministers in 1862. Some of us remember that all over the country, our churches and County Unions were filled with a new enthusiasm and an earnest desire that some- 10 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. thing should be done to commemorate in a worthy fashion this great event. And in this county we can see traces of it. Upwards of £260 was subscribed by the churches and friends of the county. And this amount was appropriated in the following ways: The extinction of chapel debts; for erecting new chapels; for the Salop Associations Account; for general national fund for Memorial Hall ; for lectures, tracts, etc. ; for Abbey Foregate Memorial Chapel; and for new schools at Swanhill. Looking at the dates when some of our churches were built, we find that two Welsh churches were built, one in Shrewsbury, and the other in Oswestry, in 1862. During the last fifty years, eight new churches have been built; Oakengates, 1848; Quinta, 1858 ; Abbey Foregate, 1864 ; Church Stretton, 1864 ; Broad Oak, 1867; Madeley, 1872; Nantmawr, 1875; Weir- brook, 1883. In this period some of our churches have dis appeared — Noble Street, Wem, — non-Congregational up to the early years of this century, when it became one of our churches, and remained so till its decease in 1874. Agden and Co ton Mission Chapels in the Northern District have been sold to the Primitive Methodists. Another of our churches, that of Bomere Heath, is rented by tbe Calvinistic Methodists. Daw ley, a mission station for many years, has ceased to exist. Wellington, too, has disappeared from our list, but it is hoped that some day it may be revived. We have lost a number of our churches across the Welsh border, but they are most of. them flourishing churches of the North Wales Union. Our churches, with but one or two exceptions, have Sunday Schools, and these, for the most part, are in a flourishing con-. dition. Our pastors in many places have manses in which to dwell, whicb are a credit to the denomination and the churches. At the present time, fourteen or fifteen of such are to be found, and the majority of tbem have been built within the last twenty-five years. As to the funds of the Association,soon after Mr.Thomas Barnes of the Quinta, was appointed treasurer, a challenge was given by him that if the churches would double their contributions, in other words raise £200 instead of £100, he would give £100, thus raising the income to £300 a year. Whether this SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 11 was taken up or not I am not able to make out. In several of the balance sheets there is no mention of this special amount, so the churches would appear to have failed to take up the challenge. In 1876, the Secretary of the Cheshire Congregational Union wrote to this Association stating that the committee was pre pared to give £50 a year for three years to the Salop Association for the augmentation of ministerial stipends, on condition that an equal additional sum be raised in the county towards that object. This neighbourly help was rendered in a most gracious way by the Cheshire county. Further, it may be stated that just as the last year's promise was fulfilled, the Church Aid and Home Missionary Society commenced its operations, and this Association has every reason to be grateful for the aid so generously given up to the present time. This reference to the finances of the Association would be incomplete if no men tion were made of the effort which was originated by our present treasurer (H. E. Rogers, Esq.), to raise all min isterial stipends to a minimum of £80. This we are thankful to say has been accomplished. There are at the present time thirty-two pastors, several of whom are pluralists, having two or even three churches under their charge, and there are fifty-five chapels with some few out-stations. This paper must not be closed without mention of the officials of the Association — its treasurers and secretaries. And first of all, the treasurers with the years they laboured on behalf of the county: — Joseph Parry, Esq., Shrewsbury ... 1796 to 1817 Rev. John Whitridge, Oswestry ... 1817 to 1820 (Mr. Whitridge was secretary as well, no treasurer being found during these years). Sir J.Bickerton Williams, Kt., of Wem 1820 to 1855 J. B. Grierson, Esq., Bridgnorth ... 1856 to 1861 Thomas Barnes, Esq., The Quinta ... 1861 to 1887 (For a few months after the resignation of Mr. Barnes, Mr. Walton, tbe secretary, acted as treasurer). Samuel Jackson, Esq., Shrewsbury ... 1888 to 1892 H. E. Rogers, Esq., Shrewsbury ... 1892 to — io SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. The secretaries are as follows: — Rev. J. Whitridge, of Oswestry ... 1796 to 826 Rev. T. Weaver, Shrewsbury ... 1822 to 1852 (Mr. Weaver was joint secretary with Mr. Whit ridge from 1822 to 1826). Rev. Joseph Pattison, Wem --- 1847 to 1866 (Mr. Pattison was joint secretary with Mr. Weaver for five years). Eev. D. D. Evans, Bridgnorth ... 1866 to 1886 Eev. George Kettle, from the spring to the autumnal meeting of ... --- ••• 1886 Eev. J. Brignall Walton, Wem ... 1886 to 1895 Eev. W. E. Jenkins, Shrewsbury ... 1895 to 1896 (At the end of 1896, on the resignation of Mr. Jenkins, the Eev. T. Townsend, of Shrewsbury, became secretary). The writer of this paper, from what be has read, or from -personal knowledge, has learnt to regard both treasurers and secretaries (with one exception, and that himself), very highly for their works' sake. Services without stint have been ren dered by them, and while brotherly to all, they have sought, ' if possible, to be most brotherly to those who needed it most. Can we learn from the old century any lessons that may be of service in the new? I think we may. (1) Does, not the old evangel need to be. filled with the new spirit? The enthusiasm of the men of the early days was like a very fire within the breast leading to great and constant self sacrifice. It was not kindled by man, but by the Spirit- of the living God. (2) Our brethren were a united baind in prayer. They had fixed times when, all over the county, they met in towns and villages and hamlets, to pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Unity in this, to-day, would be an untold good. (3) Then as regards grants — Our forefathers, if I interpret them aright, paid their brethren for itinerant services. They did not make grants to churches, and call them "Aided," but to ministers, who were considered free like their richer brethren, the only difference being that they were paid for work done outside the sphere of their own church. Going back for a moment to the report of 1839, where there is given such a record of Mission work as one rarely bears of now, we find there were in.connec- SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 13 tion with the churches, stations varying from three to eight. What were these so called stations? I have asked one who knows a great deal about the Independency of that time, and am told tbat many of them were neither small meeting bouses, nor schoolrooms, nor even farm houses (though there were a few of this kind), but cottages where they could gather but a handful of people together. These were the small rills that fed the stream of Independency in those days. Would they not do the same now? Undoubtedly our village churches, and those in smaller towns, would be strengthened as these were in the earlier half of the century. Let the central church and its ministers be free, but let them have grants for mission work done. This would be pleasanter for both ministers and churches, and would conserve a principle for which we as Con gregationalists are very jealous, that is, our freedom. One objection might be raised against the outside work — that it would be a great burden to tbe ministers. This I do not see. We have our Christian Endeavour Classes, and these might be all tbe better and all the healthier if they had mission work to do. The writer of this paper knows of one such class that has gone out bodily to hold Cottage Meetings in ths hamlets around the town. In conclusion, we have in the churches of our Association all the elements tbat go to the making of its work a great success in the new century. We have the experience of past successes, and past failures to learn from. Let us, then, trusting to the arm that is mightier than the mighty, enter upon the new era with prayerful confidence and with a large hope. We have a place peculiarly our own — a work that we are especially called to do in this county — that is, to reveal the simplicity and freedom of church life and church work. " Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." Note. — I am especially indebted in this paper to Mr. Joseph Parry-Jones, Oswestry (a descendant of Joseph Parry, the first Treasurer), Mr. E. Bickerton Williams, Birmingham (grand son of Sir J. Bickerton Williams, Wem Hall), and to Miss Evans, daughter of Eev. D. D. Evans, Bridgnorth, for papers, without which this history could not have been given, and which have been simply invaluable to the furtherance of that end. J.B.W. Swan Ibill, Shrewsbury. The historian of the English Baptists conjectured that the Congregational Church at Swan Hill, Shrewsbury, was the oldest in the kingdom, though Hanbury, in his " Historical Eesearches," gives the precedence to the " Church worshipping in Union Street, Southwark," London. When Wycliffe and his followers restored the Bible, so long prohibited to the populace, an opportunity was created for the rise of Indepen dency in England. Shrewsbury was the scene of some of the earliest labours of these godly, but persecuted men. In the reign of Henry IV., "the third Sunday after Easter," A.D., 1407, William Thorpe, or Thorp, a priest, whose parents had " spent mickle money " upon his education, having embraced the "faith," then called heresy, proclaimed it from the pulpit of St. Chad's Church. He condemned the favourite tenets of Popery, and many of its prevailing corruptions. Fox, in bis Martyrology, calls him for so doing '' a valiant warrior undei the triumphant banner of Christ " ; and besides chronicling his imprisonment and sufferings, has given his " Examina tions " when brought before intolerant ecclesiastics, " storied witb his own pen." After the Eeformation also, tbe people of Shrewsbury had abundance of " good seed' " scattered among them. One of the " sowers " was Julines Herring, of Sidney College, Cam bridge, who, for a season, preached every Tuesday morning at St. Alkmund's Church, and upon Sundays- also. In addition, he repeated his sermons at several houses "by course." He was, however, often interrupted and suspended, and ultimately silenced. When the last calamity happened, he preached a most affecting discourse " in Draper's Hall, where he lived " on Neh. i., ii., and on Jer. xxxvi., 5, " I am shut up : I cannot go into the house of the Lord." When every hope of regaining 16 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. liberty for his ministry at Shrewsbury, where he had dwelt for seventeen years, was gone, he removed to Wrenbury, near Whit church. Thence in 1637, he retired to Holland, and became pastor of the English Presbyterian Church there. In that city he died on March 28th, 1644, aged 62. The exact time of the appearance of Congregationalism at Shrewsbury is unknown. Conjecture may fix upon the time when Mr. Herring was silenced. Nor is it improbable. But be that as it may, we know on the testimony of the Eev. Job Orton, that a society of Independents was certainly in existence before the restoration of Charles II. The Eev. James Quarrell was the minister. This society is believed to have existed, in association with the Baptists. Such union was not uncommon then. Wrexham and Pershore may be mentioned as instances. In 1662, it was again proved that Shrewsbury was a strong hold of Nonconformity, for in that year several ministers left the Establishment. Eev. Eichard Heath was ejected from the living of St. Alkmund's. He was a very learned man, greatly valued at Cambridge, was part Editor of Walton's Polyglot Bible; he removed to Wellington in 1666, when the Five Mile Act came into force, and died there in a few weeks, declaring as to his Nonconformity, " Truly, I would not have done but as I did, for a thousand worlds." Eev. John Bryan, M.A., was ejected from St. Chad's, whither he had removed from the Abbey Church. He was often fined and imprisoned. He fled to Shifnal to escape the effects of tbe Five Mile Act; but on King Charles's Indulgence in 1672, returned to Shrewsbury, when he preached, along with his colleague, until his death in 1699. Eev. Francis Tallents, M.A., was ejected from St. Mary's. He had been a "noted Tutor" at Cambridge. After his ejectment, be travelled abroad, but returned in 1673, and preached with Mr. Bryan in tbe houso of Mr. Hunt (Col. Hunt, of Boreatton), and from 1691 onward, in the High Street Meeting House. But great as these worthies were, eminent for their liberal and charitable spirit, and revered as they have been by tho Congregationalists of Shrewsbury, they were not the founders of Congregationalism in that town, and are represented in direct line by no Nonconformists of this age. SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 17 Rev. THOMAS WEAVER. 18 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. As has been already stated, a society of Independents existed previously to 1662, and the people worshipped at the King's Head. Or rather, as Owen and Blakeway say in their ''His tory of Shrewsbury" (vol. ii., p. 482), "as we suppose, in the King's Head Shut (or passage), for one cannot believe that :i religious assembly was holden in a public bouse. The King's Head Shut, now generally called the Peacock Shut, is that which runs from the bottom of College Hill into the High Street." Soon after the passing of the Act of Uniformity in 1662, the Rev. Titus Thomas, who was ejected from Aston Chapel, near Oswestry, became pastor. He was a man of great piety and usefulness. Philip Henry said of him that he was " ;•• worthy good man, and not so straitlaced as some others." He died and was buried at West Felton in December, 1686. Soon afterwards, another Dissenting congregation was formed in Shrewsbury. When the Revs. F. Tallents and J. Bryan re turned to the town after the passing of the Toleration Act, they both eagerly embraced the privilege of again publicly proclaiming the Word of Truth. Thus another congregation ww gathered together, and a chapel was built in 1691. On the walls Mr. Tallents caused to be written, " This church was not built for a faction or party, but for promoting repentance and fai ill. and in communion with all that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." This society was nominally Presbyterian. Tht Independents remained a separate congregation until 1741, when the Rev. Job Orton, an Independent, a native of Shrews bury, who had been educated at its Grammar School, and after wards at Dr. Doddridge's Academy at Northampton, was invited to become pastor of the Presbyterian Church, on the under standing that the two congregations should be united. The Rev. Titus Thomas, tbe minister of the Independents, who died in 1686, was succeeded by the Eev. David Jones, whom we can trace as pastor in 1696, and as late as 1708; the Eev. John Allen, M.D., who removed to Nailsworth in 1725, and subsequently to London and Worcester; and the Eev. John Dobson, who removed to Walsall about 1740. It is interesting to note that from about 1720 to 1729, the SHROPSHIRE CO-NGREGATIONALISM. 19 Rev. GEORGE KETTLE. 20 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. Independent Congregation consisted of 150 hearers, twelve county voters, eleven borough voters, and one esquire ; and it is pleasant to know that the Independent and Presbyterian Societies maintained friendly relations with each other. After the Eev. John Dobson's departure from Shrewsbury, only a few weeks elapsed before the "remains" of the Inde pendents desired to join the Presbyterian congregation, and bo united with them in one church, under the ministry of the Re-/. Job. Orton, the favourite pupil of Dr. Doddridge, and tha author of his " Life, Character, and Writings." Accordingly, on November 5th, 1741, they were admitted to fellowship, and had scats appointed them. Twenty-three were so received, Mr. Orton's father being among the number. A list of th-;;.r names is preserved among the records of the High Street Chapel, in Mr. Orton's handwriting. On that interesting occasion it r:as unanimously resolved to drop the distinguishing names of Presbyterian and Independent, and to use only the name of Christian. Owing to the delicate state of the pastor's health, an assistant soon, became necessary, and after the Revs. Francis Boult and Mose& Carter had served in that capacity, the church in 1743 invited the Rev. Joseph Founes, of Cradley, near Stourbridge. In 1765, Mr. Orton quitted the pulpit altogether, bis last ser mon being delivered on September 15th, which was his birthday. He afterwards administered the Lord's Supper several times. The Rev. Benjamin Stapp, of the Academy at Warrington, now preached to the congregation with a view to becoming assistant to Mr. Founes. Although his services were disapproved by many, be clung to his admirers, and accepted an invitation, from them. This produced a separation. In a letter dated 1st January, 1767, and addressed by the dissentients to 'their " Christian brethren into whose hands it should come," they represent the " majority of the Trustees of the Chapel, and some subscribers, and members who were not subscribers (the whole about forty), as having chosen Mr. Stepp, against the judgment of the other Trustees, Subscribers, and members, who were not subscribers (in the whole about eighty)." They therefore call themselves a " great majority." They '' did not approve of Mr. Stapp," they go on to say, " partly, becauso SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 21 Rev. W. E. JENKINS. 22 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. he was in an unjust and unusual manner forced upon the con gregation ; but chiefly, because his strain of praying and preach ing was not agreeable and edifying to them." They add— " as he chose to settle contrary to the most faithful representa tion of the number of those who were dissatisfied and their solemn remonstrance against his coming, this majority, with the advice and concurrence of their pastor, the Rev. Mr. Orton, thought it their duty to separate from their brethren, and to provide another place of worship, and minister, till Providence should open a way for their re-union." " This we have done," they declare, "on the principles of liberty, as Protestant Dis senters, to assert our undoubted right to choose our own min isters ; and we trust also upon truly Christian principles, being desirious to have the vital truth of the gospel preached to us, and the interest of religion promoted in us and our posterity. And though it is with sensible regret that we have left the ministration of the Rev. Mr. Founes, yet we have been under a necessity of doing it." Tbe secession of a majority, double the number of the min ority, leaving the latter in full possession of the whole property, is probably unique in the history of Congregationalism. A likely explanation is, that when the Independents united with the Presbyterians, the trustees of the chapel were members of the latter body — the building being theirs — a few Independents being added to the Trust afterwards. So that when the dis agreement took place, the original body still had the majority of trustees, and were thus masters of the situation. The seceders retired to a large malthouse, belonging to Mr. Gaun.wl, nearly opposite to Allatt's school. They met for worship for the first time on October 12th, 1766, Mr. Orton being present. Mr. Robert Gentleman, then a student at Daventry Academy, preached to a numerous assembly. His text in the morning was Hebrews iv., 16, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace te help in time of need." It the afternoon he preached from Ephesians iii., 18, "Unto me who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among tho Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ." On the 31st of that month, Mr. Gentleman was unanimously SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 23 invited to become tbeir minister, and " assistant " to their "pastor, Mr. Orton," which invitation he accepted. It is well to remark that Mr. Orton did not then consider himself their pastor. Indeed, he had taken up his residence some day3 before at Kidderminster, where he abode until his death. As no prospect of re-union appeared, a piece of ground was purchased at Swan Hill in Mr. Brown's garden, and on the 13th April, 1767, the foundation stone of a new meeting house wa? laid. On Sunday, June 21st, 1767, Mr. Gentleman again preached at the Malthouse, this being the first time since he had accepted the invitation of the church. His text was Eomans xv., 29, "And I am sure that when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of tbe gospel of Christ." The chapel at Swan Hill was opened on September 10th in the same year. On its front, the following inscription was engraved : — This building was erected in the year 1767, For the public worship of God, And in defence of the right of majorities in Protestant Dissenting Congregations To choose their own ministers. A i. tbe opening tbere were "present nine ministers beside Mr. Gentleman, and about six hundred people. Mr. Gentleman being in the desk, the Rev. Mr. Morrice, of Leominster, went up into tbe pulpit, and began with prayer. He then read the 8th chapter of the 1st Book of Kings, and came down, while Mr. Gentleman read the 132nd Psalm, and sang it in metre. Then Mr. Cole, of Wolverhampton, went up, and prayed the long prayer. Mr. Gentleman gave out another Psalm. Mr. Robins, of West Bromwich, preached from Luke viii., 18, ' Take heed, therefore, how ye hear.' Much applauded. Mr. Gentleman then gave out a third Psalm to be sung; and Mr. Morgan, of Oswestry, concluded with prayer; all which took up near three hours time." Mr. Gentleman's ordination service was still longer. It was held on April 6th, 1768, and the contemporary MS. from which the account of the opening service has been taken, says of it : — 24 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. " Rev. Mr. Maurice, of Bridgnorth, began with prayer, and then read two chapters out of Timothy and Titus, being St. Paul's exhortation to young ministers ; afterwards, by an introductory discourse, he opened the business of the day. Mr. Horton, of Xantwich, sang the 132nd Psalm, and, in the intermediate parts of the service, gave out five other hymns and Psalms suitable to the occasion. Mr. Cole, of Wolverhampton, prayed the second prayer. Mr. Eobins, of West Bromwich, preached the sermon from 2nd Chron. xxxi., 4, 'Moreover, he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the Priests and the Levites that they might be encouraged in the law of the Lord.' Mr. Morgan, of .Oswestry, examined Mr. Gentleman by the usual questions, when Mr. Gentleman read the Confession of his Faith; and kneeling, all the ministeis laid hands upon him. By whicb they expressed their appro bation and consent of him to the ministry. Mr. Fawcett, of Ividdermmster, gave the benediction with a prayer; Mr. Jones, of Walsall, gave the charge ; Mr. Llewellen, of Walsall, concluded with prayer." The solemnity " lasted four hours and twenty minutes. N.B. — Rev. Mr. Eeece, from Leominster, attended, but was only a spectator." Mr. Gentleman resigned his pastorate on June 24th, 1779, and removed to Carmarthen, to superintend the Dissenting Academy there. According to Bogue and Bennett, he did not long remain in that position. The Independents withdrew from the Academy, and Mr. Gentleman became minister at Kidder minster. His successor at Shrewsbury was the Rev. Samuel Lucas, who had been a student at Homerton, and afterwards settled at Walsall. Mr. Lucas commenced his ministry at Swan Hill in July, 1779, and remained pastor until May 25th, 1797, when he resigned, owing to incapacitation by a paralytic seizure. He continued to reside in Shrewsbury until his death, which took place on January 29th, 1799. He was buried in the ground attached to the chapel. Mr. Lucas was one of the founders o( the Salop Association. He was succeeded by the Rev. Thomas Weaver, of Hoxton Academy, who entered on his work on 23rd December, 1798, and was ordained in Julv. ' 799. At the ordination service, the SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONAL] SM. 25 Mr. J. EVAN JONES, J.R, Chairman of the Association, 1897. 26 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. Rev. John Wilson, of Market Drayton, opened with prayer and reading of Scripture. Rev. Peter Edwards, of Wem, delivered the introductory address and received Mr. Weaver's Confession of Faith. Rev. Robert Simpson (afterwards D.D.), Mr. Weaver's- Theological Tutor, offered the Ordination Prayer, and gave the charge from I. Timothy iv., 12, " Let no man despise thy youth ; but be thou an example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." Rev. Jehoida, Brewer, of Birmingham, preach-d to the people from I. Thess. ii., 12, " That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto His kingdom and glory." The service was concluded with prayer by Eev. John Whitridge, of Oswestry. The hymns were given out by Rev. David Francis, of Welshpool, afterwards of Ludlow. In tbe evening, Mr. Brewer again preached. Several evangelical clergymen were present. The Rev. William Thorp commenced his labours at Swan Hill in August, 1844. He had studied at Spring Hill College, Birmingham. On September 23rd, 1845, he was ordained to tbe co-pastorate. Rev. Joseph Pattison, of Wem, commenced the service by reading the scriptures and with prayer. Rev. Richard Fletcher, of Manchester, delivered the Introductory Discourse. Rev. Thomas Raffles, D.D., of Liverpool, who was unexpectedly present, received the Confession of Faith. Rev. Thomas Weaver offered the Ordination Prayer, and Rev. John Angell James, of Birmingham, gave the charge, based on Hebrews xiii., 7, " They watch for your souls, as they that must give an account." In the evening, Rev. T. R. Barker, Classical Tutor at Spring Hill College, gave the charge to the church. His text was II. Cor. xiii., 9, " For we are glad when we are weak, and ye are strong; and this also we wish, even your perfection." The Rev. Thomas Weaver continued his labours at Swan Hill until the 13th of February, 1852, when death very suddenly overtook him. He appeared in his usual health in the morning, and conversed with great cheerfulness and animation on the subject of the Protestant Alliance, recently formed in the town, He parted from his friends in the afternoon, and went to see on some business the Rev. C. E. L. Wightman, vicar of St. Alkmund's. Not finding him at home, he was shown into a SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 27 parlour to await his arrival. When the Vicar returned, he found Mr. Weaver lying prostrate beside the chair on which he had been sitting. Already life was extinct, and every feature and every limb showed that his spirit had passed to its heavenly home without a struggle or a pang. It was therefore with peculiar appropriateness that the Rev. John Angell James chose as the text for his funeral discourse, " Enoch walked with God : and he was not ; for God took bim." Mr. James's sermon on that occasion was delivered in Swan Hill Chapel on Tuesday, February 24th. On the Sunday after Mr. Weaver's death, bis co-pastor, the Rev. W. Thorp, preached a funeral sermon from the words, " While He blessed them, He was parted from them and carried up into heaven." Mr. Thorp now became pastor, and continued his faithful ministry until ill-health compelled him in 1864 to resign his charge, to tbe great regret of his sympathising people. The Rev. Geo. Kettle, of Burton-on-Trent, who bad been educated for the ministry at Hackney College, was next chosen pastor, and commenced his labours on December 3rd, 1865, During his pastorate — in the year 1868 — the chapel was en larged and partly rebuilt. The original walls, being a yard thick, were allowed to remain and to form a portion of the present beautiful structure. These alterations were mado at a cost of £2,000, which was all paid at the time of opening. Commodious schoolrooms were erected in 1880 to supersede the old rooms, which were built soon after the Sunday School was established in 1799. Mr. Kettle preached his last sermon on Sunday evening, December 23rd, 1888; and, by a most remarkable coincidence, chose as his text, " The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended." On the next morning, he was suddenly seized with an alarming illness. The doctors declared that the aortic valve of the heart was ruptured. He survived three days, and then quietly passed away. The Rev. Geo. Kettle was only the fifth minister who bad presided over the interests of this church from its origin in 1767 to 1888, a period of 121 years; and one of the ministers, Rev. William Thorp, had served eight years as co-pastor before he succeeded his colleague as pastor. 28 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. In January, 1890, the Eev. W. Emlyn Jenkins, of Bagillt and Greenfields (Flint), formerly of Bangor College, commenced his ministry at Swan Hill, having received an absolutely unanimous invitation from the church to become pastor. Tbe Eecognition Service was held on March 10th in the same year. The Eev. W. E. Jenkins, at the Autumnal Meetings of the Salop Association held at Prees on October 7th and 8th, 1895, was chosen secretary of the Association, in succession to the Eev. J. B. Walton, B.A., L.L.B., of Wem. Towards the close of 1896, he received and accepted a unanimous call to the pas torate of High Barnet. His farewell sermons were preached at Swan Hill on Sunday, January 3rd, 1897, and a hearty vale dictory meeting was held on Thursday evening, January 14th. '^-ZtZZZ, \%%'Z^$sZZ? o{^\7T\Zf SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 29 rCH ccooQJ O si X H Christ Chinch, Oswestry It is not possible to give the exact date of the formation of the church now assembling at Christ Church, Oswestry. There was no doubt a Congregational Church in existence in the town ship of Sweeney, two miles south of Oswestry, as early as 1651. A Meeting House, however, had been erected in Oswestry itself in 1G59, and vestiges of the ancient burial ground are yet to be seen near the mansion at Sweeney — the residence of Mr. Stanley Leighton, M.P., who is a direct descendant of Mr. Baker, tlie then owner. Some of the gravestones are still legible. For example : — " Here lyeth the body of A blessed saint honest Jane, ye wife of Ambrose Mos tin, deceased, July 26th 1651. Witness, Walter Cradock with all the saints that knew her." " Here lyeth Mrs. Abigail Chetwood, daughter to Sir Richard Chetwood, who died the 1st of May, 1658." Burials also took place after Mr. Nevet formed the Congre gational Church at Sweeney, and the record of one of these remains thus — " Thomas Baker, Esq., deceased Mar. 19th, aged 68, A.D., 1675." Mr. Baker was member for Shropshire during tbe Common wealth, and also High Sheriff. The Rev. Rowland Nevet was SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 31 CHRIST CHURCH, OSWESTRY. 32 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. ejected from tbe vicarage of Oswestry in 1662, and took refuge at Sweeney. He was born at Hodnet in 1614, educated at Shrewsbury School and Edmund Hall, Oxford, taking his M.A. degree in 1634. In 1635 he was episcopally ordained, and became vicar of Stanton-on-Hine Heath, near Wem, Shropshire, where he continued many years. In 1650 he became vicar of Oswestry. After his ejectment, he remained for thirteen years chaplain to Mr. and Mrs. Baker, and minister to tbe Noncon formist- Churches at Sweeney and Oswestry, until his death on December 8th, 1675. He was buried at Morton Chapel, near Oswestry. A son of his was a Congregational minister at Bridg north. Mr. Xevet is spoken of by his contemporaries as being a man of the most saintly character. Dr. Calamy in his " Non conformist Memorials," states that when tbe plague prevailed in Oswestry, Mr. Nevet still continued witb his people; and it was an opportunity of doing much good. His funeral sermon was preached from ii. Peter i., 14, by Philip Henry, who was one of Rowland Nevet's most intimate friends. Tbe next minister and successor in the chaplaincy was tbe Rev. James Owen, who was born near Carmarthen. His friends were all of High Church principles, and they bad preferment to bestow; but following the dictates of his conscience, Mr. Owen became a Nonconformist, as did every member of the family, nine m number. He studied under the Rev. Edmund Jones, of Brynllwarch, in Glamorganshire (the tutor of the first Welsh Nonconformist Academy), and entered upon his career during the beat of per secution. Spoiling of goods and imprisonment (of which details are given in bis well-known biography by the Rev. Charles Owen) only gave augmented energy to his soul, and firmness and intrepidity to his character. From a prison he wrote thus to a friend: "If the Gospel be not worth suffering for, it is not worth preaching. It is indeed an honour after we have preached the truth to be called forth to suffer for it." Mr. Owen, in November, 1676, received his call to the pastorate cf Sweeney, the duties of which he discharged with great fidelity in connection with those of chaplain to Madam Baker. In 1679, Mr. Owen removed on Madam Baker's death to Oswestry. By Royal license, dated 25th July, 1672, "a room or rooms in the SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 33 Rev. JOHN WHITRIDGE. 34 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. house of Hugh Edwards at Oswestry," had been licensed as " a place for the use of such as do not conform to the Church of England who are of tbe persuasion commonly called Congre gational"; but the exact date when the first chapel was built is not precisely known. It was situate at the bottom of what is now called Arthur Street. There is no doubt the Congre gationalists of the town of Oswestry had for years had a separate place of meeting there/ and contemporary records give an in teresting account of the persecutions they underwent. One record states that "all the principal women frequent the con venticle." Mr. Owen was a man of exalted piety, a,nd very distinguished literary attainments. In the year 1681, Dr. W. Lloyd, Bishop of St. Asaph, summoned Mr. Owen to meet him at the Oswestry Town Hall on September 27th, "to give account of what right be exercised the ministry, not having been ordained by a Bishop." The Bishop brought with him the famous Mr. Henry Dodwell, as assistant. Mr. Owen had two able supporters, the Rev. Philip Henry (who was a dear friend of his), and th© Rev. Jonathan Roberts, of Llanfair. The dis cussion lasted seven hours, the Bishop and his co-ad jutor asserting " that the episcopal is the only valid ordination," and Mr. Owen and bis friends maintaining the contrary. No converts seem to have been made on either side. It must in fairness be said of the Bishop that he behaved with great courtesy and kindness towards his opponent, and kept up his friendship with him until his death. During his residence in Oswestry, Mr. Owen undertook the education of students for the Presbyterian ministry, supported by " the Presbyterian fund." His labours in North Wales were also incessant, and he pubhshed a large number of pamphlets, some of which — particularly those upon the "Occasional Con formity" controversy — passed through many editions. In 1696, and again in 1699, he received hearty invitations to Manchester. In the latter year he received also a call to Shrewsbury. For some time he wavered in bis choice. Writing to his brother, he said : " I have yours and another from our good Manchester friends, whose importunities I am scarce able to resist and less able to comply with. If I should remove, Salop will urge hard that they ought to come first in consideration. Pray for me SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 35 Me. THOMAS MINSHALL, Several times Chairman of the Association. 36 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. that God will guide to the best. Oh that I knew what was most pleasing in His sight." In another letter he wrote : " There war a meeting of our county ministers, who unanimously declared" for my removal to Salop, which I have, after many thoughts, at length resolved on ; it being a public post, and near the Welsh country, as also to Oswestry and Wrexham, which are very uneasy at the thoughts of my leaving them, especially poor Oswestry, who keep themselves within no bounds of sorrowing.'r He removed to Shrewsbury in 1700. While there, he discharged the duties of the pastoral office with fidelity and acceptance, and also laboured at the head of the theological seminary, which was founded by Francis Tallents in the year 1663. His valuable life came to an end at the early age of fifty-two in 1706, and his intimate friend, Matthew Henry, preached his funeral sermon,. in which he adverts in the most touching terms to tbe lifelong friendship of his father and himself with one " with whom many a time I have taken sweet counsel." Mr. Owen's successor at Oswestry was the Rev. Jenkin Evans, of whom little is known. He began his pastorate almost directly after the resignation of Mr. Owen, and the following high tribute is paid to bim by Matthew Henry : " He was a good worthy minister, and an excellent man. He was much beloved in< Oswestry, and did good tbere and the country about." While Mr. Evans was minister, a deed was prepared under the provisions of which the Rev. James Owen and others who- had left Oswestry, made over their interest in pews and sittings in the chapel to their successors.* In an old copy of Baxter's Works, in the possession of the minister of Christ Church for the time being, there is the following autograph of Jenkin Evans : — "A Paragraph out of Sir Henry Ashhurst, Bart., his letter to me, January 20th, 1707. — ' I do intend to give you Mr. Bax ter's four great volumes for your life and your sons after you, if Dissenting Minister (or Ministers) : but if not, I will give tbem to the Dissenting Ministers of Oswestry, in time to come.' Accordingly, this set was sent me. — Jen. Evans." This "Deed for ye Seats in ye Chappel " is dated 1701. SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. Rev. .1. LOCKWOOD. 38 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. Mr. Evans died August 19th, 1709, in his thirty-fifth year. Matthew Henry, accompanied by Mr. Kenwick, of Wrexham,. and others, went to Oswestry to preach his funeral sermon from IT. Timothy i., 12, on the 25th August. Mr. Evans was a native- of Glamorganshire. He translated the whole of Henry's " Scrip ture Catechism" into Welsh, and it was at his suggestion that Mr. Henry added the texts of scripture in proof of each reply. From this period the records are for a time scanty. Whether Jenkin Evans wa3 immediately succeeded by the Rev. Joseph Venables or otherwise, is uncertain; but from the copy of a letter still extant bearing date, January 31st, 174f, it is man ifest that Mr. Venables had been pastor for some years. Indeed, froir :ui autograph of his, found in the copy of Baxter's Works, it. is clear he was minister in 1725. The conduct of Mr. Venables does not seem to have been so consistent as the members of tbe church could have desired, &nd in 1734, a remonstrance was handed to him by John Felton, signed by twenty-one of his fellow members. Ten years later, nis conduct was still more unbecoming a minister of religion, and the trustees sought an " opinion " from Mr. Thomas Hunt, junior, a barrister at Shrewsbury. By this time — 1746 — the differences between pastor and people had become very great. Eventually, chiefly through the instrumentality of Mr. Felton, Mr. Venables was induced to resign. His successor, the Rev. Thomas Morgan, was a man of an altogether different spirit, and, under his ministrations, Non conformity again began to prosper. In his time, the! first regular chapel was built. Up to this period tbe meeting house was at tht< conjunction of "Street Arthur" and Willow Street; but in 1748, "a Building and Malt Mill, lying in Oswestry near the Castle Hill, and then, or late in the possession of John Evans," was purchased from " Richard Thomas, of Oswestry, gentleman." A circular was issued appealing for funds, addressed "to the Ministers of Christ and all other Charitable and well disposed Christians, to whom these presents shall come." It was signed by the pastor, deacons, and leading members " in ye name of all ye rest " A recommendation was appended, signed by the Revs. Job Orton, Joseph Fownes, Ebenezer Keay, Jen. Jenkinsr and Joseph Baker. SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 39 Rev. T, GASQUOINE. 40 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. The new chapel was opened for Divine worship in July, 1750. It stood on the same site as the present "Old Chapel," now converted into Sunday School rooms. Mr. Morgan beginning to be pressed down under tbe weight of years, it became necessary that he should have an assistant. The choice of the church fell upon the Rev. Edward Dewhurst, a native of Lancashire, who had been a student in Coward College, then at Daventry, under the Rev. Dr. Ashworth. Before long, Mr. Morgan retired, and Mr. Dewhurst became sole pastor. After remaining at Oswestry for some years, Mr. Dewhurst removed to Cottingham, near Hull, where he died about 1784. He is said to have been greatly distinguished by his modest reluctance to appear in public, though, as a preacher, he pos sessed no mean qualifications. His successor at Oswestry was a Mr. Davies, who remained only a brief period, after which the church was for a season supplied by various preachers. lhe 13th day of September, 1777, was the beginning of a new era in the history of the church at Oswestry. It was on that day that the Rev. Edward Williams (afterwards Dr. Williams), removed from Ross to Oswestry, who stated that there was then " scarcely anything belonging to a Christian Church besides the Meeting House." The church then finally assumed the Inuependent or Congregational form of government, ~ud greatly revived and increased under the faithful and judicious ministry of this devoted man. The congregation became so numerous, that in 1783, the chapel was enlarged to meet its demands. Dr. Williams consented to receive several of Lady Glenorchy's students, to educate for the Christian ministry, and in May, 1782, the Congregational Fund Board in London having ap pointed Mr. Williams successor to Dr. Davies, the Welsh Academy was removed from Abergavenny to Oswestry. After continuing his labours with great diligence, zeal, and success for over fourteen years, he accepted in 1791 a call to Carr's Lane, Birmingham. In 1795, he became the first Prin cipal of Rotherham College, where he died in 1813. His dis tinguished career as Principal, and as author of many theological works, still of high repute, with the position he took as one of SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 41 Rev. J. J. POINTER. 42 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. the leaders of what may be called the Modern Moderate Cal vinistic School, is well-known. It was in the early part of Dr. Williams's ministry at Oswestry, that a Sunday School was first established. This was about the year 1781, and was either contemporaneous with, or even earlier than, the school founded by Robert Raikes at Gloucester. Dr. Williams also preceded Thomas Charles by several years in the establishment of Welsh Sunday Schools. The Rev. John Whitridge was the next pastor at Oswestry. His pastorate began on March 25th, 1792, and did not end until his death on October 11th, 1826. His labours, here were abundantly blessed. It is said that he was the first, or one of the first, of our county ministers wbo took to London a collection, for the London Missionary Society at its formation, and he was present (riding to London on horseback), at one of the first meetings of that society in September, d795, at Baker's Coffee House, Change Alley, Cornhill. His predecessor, Dr, Williams, had written the first appeal for the new society. He preached in numbers of the surrounding villages, being instrumental in aiding, with others, in the formation of the Congregational Churches (the members of which for a while were on the Old Chapel roll and attended communion at Oswestry) at Dovaston, Ruyton-xi-Towns, and other villages, such work being his great delight. During his ministry, the chapel was twice enlarged; first in 1794, by the erection of a gallery, and again .in 1808 by a con siderable addition. He largely promoted and became first sec retary of the Salop Association of Independent Ministers and Churches. In course of time, the Rev. John Whitridge, junior, became assistant to his uncle, and also superintended the preparatior of several young men for the Christian Ministry. At the end of five years he left for Manchester. From Midsummer, 1826, until about two months after the elder pastor's death, Mr. Waterfield, of Rotherham College, came as a temporary supply. Mr. Whitridge was buried in a vault underneath the Old Chapel, the Rev. Peter Edwards, of Wem, conducting the service. On the following Sunday, the Rev. Thomas Weaver, of Shrewsbury, preached the funeral sermon. SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 43 Mr. P. H. MINSHALL. Chairman of the Association, 1890. 44 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. In April, 1827, the Rev. T. W. Jenkyn, D.D., of Wem, be came pastor. He was exceedingly popular, and bis labours were blessed to many. In 1830, it again became necessary to •enlarge the chapel. Accordingly, the old building was all pulled down, with the exception of part of one wall, and rebuilt. The opening services were held in April, 1830, the preachers being the Revs. J. Thorpe (Chester), T. Weaver (Shrewsbury), and T. Raffles, D.D. (Liverpool). D^. Jenkyn was most active in the establishment of Mission or Branch Churches in the neigh bourhood, and among others the churches at Preeshenlle, Whit tington, Carneddau, and Pant, were founded by him. In 1835, Dr. Jenkyn removed to Stafford, afterwards becoming tutor at Coward College, and died in 1858. He was succeeded in the Oswestry pastorate at Christmas, 1835, by the Rev. William Reeve, a returned Indian Missionary. Owing to failing sight, he retired from ministerial duties after eight years service at Oswestry, and went to reside at Bristol. He became quite blind before his death. Mr. Reeve was succeeded by the Rev. John Davies, a minister of great ability, but feeble health. He remained a few years, and then removed to Welshpool. In 1851, the Rev. James Matheson, B.A., of Nottingham, became the minister. Mr. Matheson, although a man of delicate health, was of remarkable intellectual capacity and force of character. He was an earnest worker in every movement for the intellectual, moral, and religious welfare of Oswestry, and was greatly be loved by his people, some of whom still remember him after an interval of more than forty years, with the deepest gratitude for the quickening and invigorating influence of hie ministry, which, considering how short it was, exercised a re markable effect upon the congregation of tbe Old Chapel. He returned to Nottingham in 1855, and died in 1878 The next pastor was the Eev. John Lockwood, B.A., who came from Cheetham Hill, Manchester. Mr. Lockwood was a man of a gentle, cultivated, and devout spirit, and, in his own way, carried on the new order of things with regard to Congregation alism ushered in by Mr. Matheson. There are many who still remember his insight into character, wise counsels, ready -nd -affectionate sympathy, and supreme unselfishness, which cared Jor others most and little for himself. " Eetaining his own be- SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 45- lief in the Christian faith, his was one of those rare souls which rejoice too much to meet with human goodness wherever it is found to look at the garment in. which it is dressed, or to care about the name by which it is called; the older he grew, the wider his spiritual horizon seemed to become, and his true cath olicity, springing from a spirit of singular simplicity and un- worldliness, gave an unusual charm to Mr. Lockwood's character, for those who knew him well." Mr. Lockwood left in 1863, and after pastorates at Paignton and Parkstone, died in September, 1888. Mr. Lockwood's successor was the Eev. Thomas Gasquoine, B.A., who had been minister of Greenfield Chapel, Bradford. He began his pastorate on the 7th of February, 1864, and held it for about sixteen years. They were eventful years in the history of the church, for in Mr. Gasquoine's time, the building in Arthur Street, which had been for so long the Meeting House of tho congregation, was transferred after extensive alterations to the Sunday School, and a new church, henceforth called Christ Church, was erected in a much better position, adjoining the Old Chapel. The memorial stone was laid on the 7th of September, 1871, and the building, which was constructed .at a cost of about £5,000, was opened on the 18th of October, of the following year. Mr. Gasquoine's activity was not confined to bis own church, or his ministerial duties, which be discharged with an energy and devotion that had characterised all his life. Like other ministers of the Old Chapel, he took a prominent part in public affairs, and occupied an influential position in tbe town. When the first School Board was elected in 1876, he was one of the three Independent members, and he was an earnest adherent of tbe Liberal party, ready to take his share of work, aud always counted among the most effective speakers on the plat form. When he came to lay down his work at Oswestry in 1880, his departure was felt as a loss to the public life of the town, and so well had bis congregation worked, that during his pas torate, they had raised the sum of £13,000 for religious and philanthropic purposes. Happily there was no long interregnum after tbe departure of Mr. Gasquoine. The choice of the congregation soon fell with practical unanimity upon the Eev. J. J. Poynter, then a student 46 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM at Rotherham, now. the United Yorkshire College. In Sep tember, 1880, he entered upon bis pastorate, which has already been the longest in the history of the church since the death of the Rev. John Whitridge. Mr. Poynter, who was ordained October 8th, 1880, has seen four vicars of Oswestry, and all the other churches change their ministers, and is now senior among the clergy of the town. His untiring energy, often triumphant over feeble health, has enabled him not only to take a large share in tho many and ever-increasing activities of Christ Church, but to discharge ihe duties of a citizen called upon to fill various public offices, of which one is the Chairmanship, for 1 he second year, of the Oswestry Town Library, and another the Viee-chiiirmanship of the School Board, in both of which he shows the liveliest interest, as in everything connected with the welfare of the town. Mr. Poynter's ministry will be remembered, among other things, for the revival of • activity in the Village Churches in the neighbourhood of Oswestry. Assisted by the liberality of the Oswestry congregation, the churches at Maes- bury and Carneddau have been provided with a pastor, the first being the Rev. E. M. Edmunds, ordained 18th October, 1883, now pastor cf the church at Ruabon ; second, the Rev. John Williams, ordained 9th of October, 1390, now pastor of the church at Dalton-in-Furness ; and the Rev. J. Davies Jones, the present pastor, who was ordained September 25th, 1891, and, largely through Mr. Poynter's efforts, there has been a great increase of work and prosperity in the other village churches iu the North-west corner of Shropshire. With all these de mands he his found time also to devote himself to the interests of the North Wales English Congregational Union, of which he was Chahman in 1892, and the Salop Association of Independent Ministers and Churches, of which he occupied the chair in 1884, and, for the second time, in the centenary year, an appropriate choice, since his predecessor. Mr. Whitridge, was one of the founders, and the first secretary of the Association. The more Mr. Poynter engages in work for others, the more acceptable his services seem to be at home, if we may judge by the large congregations which assemble Sunday sfter Sunday to listen to his words at Christ Church. SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 17 4^ SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. flDaesburj?. As far back as the year 1808. probably earlier, there was a Sunday School held at Maesbury, in the house of Mr. Richard Blunderfield, both be and his wife being members of the Old Chapel, Oswestry. About the year 1330, Mr. Lacon, one of the Old Chapel deacons, began a Sunday School at Gwernybrenin in connection with which preaching continued in a dwelling house until in 1831 a chapel was built, the opening services taking place on Good Friday of that year, when the preachers were the Rev. Thomas W. Jenkyn, afterwards Dr. Jenkyn', and the Rev. William Williams, of WTern. The Rev. John Roberts, of Llan- brynmair, preached there later. There is record of individual members from this neighbourhood also attendinc' service and communion at that time in the Old Chapel, amongst them Mr. and Mrs. John Evans, of Park Farm, Mr. John Davies, Mr. Edward Dodd, Mr. Henry Pool, and Mr. Edward Tunley, so that, as in other of tbe neighbouring districts, it is clear tbat Christian work was being carried on in the villages before chapels were erected, and it may perhaps be said that tbe first rays of evangelical light in these villages in modern times were shed through the Old Chapel. In 1851, Mr. Peter Blease, of Liverpool, of Her Majesty's Customs, came to Maesbury, and finding no place of worship or service held tbere, he began services in a house near the smelt ing works. There were also preaching services in the stable of the lodge belonging to Llwyn Onn, and on this stable being required for its original purpose, they were removed to the kitchen of Union House, where the pulpit still exists, and on special occasions services were held in a malt kiln. In 1355, it was deemed expedient to dispose of the building at Gwernybrenin, and with a small sum from tho sale of it, and on a site given by Mr. Richard Evans, a chapel at Maesbury was built, the fittings being transferred from Gwernybrenin and made use of here. At this time the preaching was conducted by various lay helpers from Oswestry and elsewhere, under the superintendence of the Oswestry pastor, the preachers being en- SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 49 tertained by Mr. Whitfield, Woolston, one of the leading sup porters of the place. In the list of Sunday School superinten dents, arc the names of Mr. John Jones, Mr. John Evans, Mr. Edward Humphreys (uncle of Mr. James Humphreys, the present superintendent), Mr. David Eichards, who came from Meifod, and with his family rendered valuable service. Mention also should be made in this connection of Mr. Evan Davies (uncle of Mrs. Woollam, who, with her family, is devoted to the cause") and Mr. Eichard Davies, who only recently passed away, Teachers, as in the case of Carneddau and Whittington, amongst them Mr. Jones, Printer, came regularly from Oswestry. A new chapel was built in 1868, when 500 visitors sat down to tea, and in the evening an open air meeting was held, Mr. Thomas Barnes, of the Quinta, in the chair, and addresses were delivered by the Revs. T. Gasquoine, T. Davison, of the Quinta, George Kettle, of Shrewsbury, and Messrs. Thomas Minshall and D. C. Davies. An account of the first anniversary service held on 15th May, 1890, appeared in the " Oswestry Advertizer " of the following Wednesday. The preacher at the, morning and evening services was the Rev. D. Rowlands, B.A., then of Welshpool, now of Brecon Memorial College, and in tbe afternoon the Rev. John Jones, Wesleyan Minister, Oswestry. From a statement read at a public meeting on the Monday evening following, by Mr. D. C. Davies, Mr. I. F. Whitridge presiding, it appears that the total cost of the new chapel, chapel house, and Vand, amounted to £900, of which there had been paid during tbe first year, £450. Addresses were also delivered on this occasion by Mr. Humphreys, Morton, Mr. Hughes, Maesbury House, and Mr. Whitfield, Woolston. The work at Maesbury has known perhaps more than the usual vicissitudes attending Christian effort in the rural districts, but as in the case of Carneddau, it has continued in spite of difficulties, and has in various ways helped to refine and brighten the village life, especially since the appointment of the assistant ministers, the Revs. E. M. Edmunds, J. Williams, and J. Davies Jones, referred to more fully in regard to Carneddau. Here also, there are week-night meetings for prayer and Bible study, also a Band of Hope, carried on under the superintendence of the Pastor. 50 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. It may here be added tbat owing to the combined efforts of the congregation in town and in the villages at various times the buildings at Maesbury, Carneddau, and Whittington, are entirely free from debt. Garnefc&au. The first preaching services in connection with our denomin ation at Carneddau were held some time before the opening of the present century in the house of a Mr. Eichard Evans, who was in membership at the Old Chapel, Oswestry. These ser vices were occasionally conducted by tbe Eev. John Whitridge ; and side by side with work carried on by the Calvinistic Metho dists (who built a chapel in 1793), may be considered to be the founding of Free Church life in that neighbourhood. It should next be recorded that at an early period in the century there was Sunday School teaching at Gronwen, during Mr. Whitridge's time — probably about 1808 — Mr. Sabine and Mr. J. Davies, of Oswestry, being teachers. Somewhat later than this a Sunday School was established at Craigforda, in the cottage of Martha Eogers, daughter of the wood-ranger. This school was presently transferred from Craigforda to the house of Mr. John Francis, Nantywiber, and not long after again was removed, this time to the house of Mr. Morris Jones, above Tynycoed. Here it was unusually well attended and successful. Still later it found a home on the opposite side of the valley in a cottage of two rooms, the lower with a sanded floor, on the Mill Bank, Llanforda. A former resident at Candy, now living at Coedygo, has still in his possession a Bible inscribed with his name 2nd October, 1837, by Mr. Thomas Minshall, who had charge of the work at Llanforda, and with his sister Miss Margaret Minshall (after wards Mrs. Richard Jones), Messrs. Charles and John Minshall, Knox, of Craigforda, Thomas Owen, of Sweeney, Abraham Davies, and employees, from the Golden Ball, Oswestry, used to visit the neighbouring cottages systematically, and conduct prayer meetings and other religious services. SHP.OPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 51 KrU < Ko < p O 52 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. There were also occasional meetings under the care of Dr. Jenkyn, of the Old Chapel, Oswestry, with the aid of Mr. Knox and Mr. Thomas Minshall, when sermons were preached in both Welsh and English out of doors on Sunday afternoons. Amongst the recoUections of this time is that of Foreign Mis sionary meetings, addressed, at least on one occasion, by native converts. Concurrently with this work yet another school established in 1831, was, carried on in a cottage at Trefonen, and prayer meetings were held in the house of Mr. Thomas Sockett, until the first Carneddau Chapel was built. The first superintendent of this school was Mr. Joseph Jones, of Oswestry. He was followed by Mr. Richard Jones (father of Mr. Parry-Jones, Town Clerk of Oswestry). Mr. R. Jones also taught the infants' class in this Sunday School for sixteen years, and it is recalled that there was at that time great opposition on the part of the clergyman at Carneddau, and that on one occasion he pur sued the Sunday scholars round a field in front of the chapel with a whip. Mr. Thomas Yorke (father-in-law of Mr. William Jackson, of Oswestry), and his family were for many years warm local supporters of the cause. Tbe chapel itself, , no doubt owing to the exertions of Dr. Jenkyn, was erected in 1834. The Llanforda School appears to~ have been closed in 1850, and tbe scholars transferred to Carneddau, but as late as the pastorate of the Rev. John Lock- wood, there was preaching, by him and others, once a month at Gronwen. The Carneddau pulpit was supplied from time to time during these years by neighbouring ministers, including the Revs. Evans, of Sarney, John Griffiths, of Domgay, and by lay- preachers from Oswestry, the Old Chapel ministers exercising oversight and rendering occasional service-, the members coming in to Oswestry for communion originally and for a long period. It is interesting to note that the continuity of Sunday School teachers from Oswestry in this neighbourhood has remained unbroken, a number still going to Carneddau on Sunday after noons. In addition to those already named as Superintendents the following may be mentioned, viz., Messrs. J. Whitridge Davies, Turner, John Morris, Gibson, Abraham Davies, and SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 53 Rev. J. DAVIES JONES. 54 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. Isaac F. Whitridge. With the advent of Mr. Whitridge, a new impetus was given to the work, and the chapel was restored. He died suddenly in March, 1894, and, by his own express wish, was buried amongst the people he loved and served so well, in the chapel graveyard at Carneddau. This burying ground, which adjoins the chapel, was purchased as the result of subscriptions collected by Mr. John Hughes and other friends in 1868. The present superintendent is Mr. W. H. Davies, of Oswestry. The growing necessities of the work in all directions having led the mother church at Oswestry to appoint an assistant minister for the villages, the Rev. E. M. Edmunds, of Bala College, was ordained in October, 1883. He was succeeded, on removal to Ruabon, by the Rev. John Williams, ordained October, 1890, and on Mr. Williams's removal to Prees by the Rev. J. Davies Jones, of Brecon College. Mr. Davies Jones was ordained September, 1891, ,^nd, full of activities of various kinds, including cottage prayer meetings, Band of Hope, and village Eisteddfodau, carries on the pastoral work jointly with that of Maesbury. The work at Carneddau, like most rural work, has suffered from agricultural and mining depres-i sion, as well as from the hostility of Established Church neigh bours, but it has produced many excellent men and women, some of whom have passed away, and some have gone to live useful Christian lives elsewhere throughout the country, whilst many remain to bear consistent Christian witness in the district in which they have been brought up. TKabittington. The village of Whittington with its picturesque Castle ruin? is situate some two miles from Oswestry. There were resident here sundry members of the Old Chapel, Oswestry, prior to the year 1840, when, owing to their efforts, public worship was begun in Whittington, and a Sunday School established. At the same time, it would appear from contemporary records, that the viUage "abounded in immorality and vice." SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM.. 55 ?Jw Ph aoMH& O H|2iI— I HHl-HM 56 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. In 1840, two cottages with land adjoining, were purchased, and converted into a place for religious meetings, the trust deeds of "lease and release" being made out in the names of " Thomas Roberts, of Plasucha, in the parish of Ruabon, of the first part; John Husband, formerly of Whittington, now of Manchester, of the second part ; David Thomas, Samuel Roberts, John Davies, Thomas Davies, and James Vaughan, Oswestry, of the third part; and Nathaniel Minshall of the fourth part." This was during the pastorate at the Old Chapel of the Rev. William Reeve, and the Oswestry Church minutes of that period have various entries with reference to financial aid to the Whittington branch of the church, in common with those of Carneddau and Maesbury, of the progress of the work, the proposing and receiving of members, tbe providing of " itinerant " preachers, etc. From an interesting account in the " Evangelical Magazine " of December, 1844, it appears that " the want of a more com modious place of worship was so greatly felt as to induce the friends of the cause to venture in the direction of another chapel." The new chapel was opened on Sunday, 8th September, 1844, when sermons were preached in the morning by Mr. Roberts, of Oswestry; in the afternoon by the Rev. J. Davies, Mr. Reeve's successor in the Oswestry pastorate ; in the evening by the Rev. J. Minshall, of Spring Hill College, Birmingham. The account goes on to say that " as tbe congregation are ex tremely poor, and the church at Oswestry has several other local claims of a similar nature pressing upon it, it is hoped that some friends of the Redeemer whose eye this statement may meet, may feel disposed to render a little aid to this attempt for the moral and religious improvement of the neighbourhood," and it is noted as " a circumstance of some little local interest that the chapel contained the identical pulpit in which the late eminent John Howe preached." This pulpit is now preserved in the Old Vestry, Arthur Street, Oswestry. The work in these earlier times met with no little opposition even from the clergy of the neighbourhood, and in tbe memory of many, and up till quite recent times, there were to be seen at Whittington in large print painted upon the walls of prominent buildings such texts as " Mark them which cause divisions . . . SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 57 and avoid them " in obvious admonition against those devoted workers for better life along evangelical and free church lines. Mention is made of Mr. R. Sides, who lived for several years in the chapel house, Mr. Edward Husbands, a small free-holder at Babbin's Wood, and Mr. Thomas Lewis, Iron Mills, as being, with others, instrumental in originating and sustaining the work. To these, in later days, may be added the names of Mr. Thomas Minshall, who took special interest in tbe cause, and rendered it excellent service, for several years conducting the services with great acceptance one Sunday in each month, and Messrs. R. O. Wright, Thomas Davies, P. H. Minshall, and D. C. Davies. In the Oswestry Church minutes of 4th April, 1851, amongst other appointments for the Country Chapels appear those of Mr. T. Davies, and Mr. Edward Husbands, as Superintendents at Whittington, and as in the cases of Carneddau and Maesbury, the members have been considered upl to the present time ap form ing an integral part of the Oswestry Church and under its pastor ate, the Old Chapel ministers preaching occasionally, the communi cants at first coming in to Oswestry for the Lord's Supper, but at later periods there were quarterly afternoon communion services in the villages at which the Oswestry pastor presided. With iKei appointment of the Rev. E. M. Edmunds, as assistant minister for the villages in 1883, a new era was en tered upon for the work of Whittington as well as Carneddau and Maesbury. On Mr. Edmunds's removal to Ruabon, the Rev. W. E. Hughes, now of the Quinta, then of Preeshenlle, took partial oversight, preaching one Sunday in each month, conduct ing week-night preaching and prayer services and Band of Hope and other meetings. These duties have in his turn been taken over by his successor, the Rev. E. Garmon Roberts, who, still in connection with the Oswestry Church, is at present m charge of the work. It having been long felt that a chapel more suited to modern requirements and in a better position should be erected, a suit able plot of land has generously been given by the trustees of the late Mr. Thomas Minshall, of Oswestry, not far from tbe ex isting building, plans have been prepared for a new structure,and a. considerable sum already collected by local effort and friends 58 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. in Oswestry, so that it is confidently hoped that within a few months, in its new sanctuary, the work at Whittington may enter upon a future of still wider usefulness and still greater spiritual prosperity. penplan Xane- Christian work of various kinds has been carried on here for several years past by members of Christ Church. The chapel originally belonged to the Welsh Wesleyans, but on their ceasing to make use of it, it was purchased by the late Mr. Charles Minshall, of Wilmot Croft, Oswestry, and lent for the purposes of the mission, a kindness whicb has been generously continued by the trustees of Mr. Minshall's estate. Amongst tbe earliest of the devoted band of workers were Mr. R. O. Wright, senior, Mr. John Lewis, and Mr. John Powell, who still continues to- take part. Mrs. Askew Roberts also had a class for women, afterwards carried on by Mrs. J. Whitridge Thomas. In later days a committee, annually appointed in church meeting at Christ Church, has had charge of the various agencies in the budding and amongst the people. Like much other work of this kind, the effort here has had its vicissitudes, but besides those who have " entered into rest," there are men now in various parts of the world leading useful and honoured lives, who trace their first influences for good under God to the instruction received in the Penyllan Lane Sunday School, the Band of Hope, and Temperance meetings, and Sunday evening services for children and adults which have continued in face of discouragements and difficulties to be held. In connection with the mission, religious services have been held in a lodging house, and cottages in the neighbourhood, which have been attended with much blessing, and there is frequent visitation of the needy and suffering in tbeir homes. A Penny Bank also is held every Saturday evening. Of late there has been a considerable accession of helpers, and, with an increase in the attendance at the services, a general quickening of interest and with deepening spiritual influence, a feeling of hopefulness that still greater results may be looked for in days to come. Jt '.'"r- CHAPEL STREET CHAPEL, WEM. (LXHem. moble Street. As early as 1558, a curate named Barnard, refused to bury one William Glover, a gentleman who dissented from the popish ceremonies then practised in the town. His corpse was buried in a field in the neighbourhood. His brother, Robert Glover, had been burned at the stake at Coventry in 1555. For some years previous to the passing of the Act of Uni formity, Wem had the privilege of the ministry of the Rev. Andrew Parsons, M.A., who took part in the ordination of Philip Henry in Prees Church, and whom Henry describes as an "active, friendly, generous man, and a moving, affecting preacher.' The historian of Wem says of him, " Though de vout and religious, laborious and pathetic, yet deeply infected with Puritanical principles." Mr. Parsons had been minister in Devon some years before the Civil War. Being driven to London, he became well-known to the celebrated Mr. Pym, who sent him down to Wem when it was garrisoned by the Parlia ment. In 1660, he was fined £200 for seditious words falsely sworn to have been spoken by him in a sermon, and ordered to be imprisoned until the fine should be paid. He removed to London, where he died in 1684. The curate at the Chapel at Edstaston was the Rev. Samuel Taylor, of Magdalen College, Cambridge, and he became the pastor of a congregation at Wem, where he preached as often as liberty and health allowed. He was often in great straits for want of means to support himself and family; and bis bouse was burned in the great fire which consumed a large part of Wem in 1677. In these, early days, Mr. Taylor and his people met in private SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 61 Rev. PETER EDWARDS. 62 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. dwellings, attended Divine worship in the Parish Church, and held their meetings at other hours of the day. But eventually, during the pastorate of the Rev. R. Latham, the people for sook the services at the church, being provoked by the con tinual attacks of the curate, the Rev. Moses Hughes; and a barn was fitted up as a meeting house in Leek Lane, now Chapel Street. Mr. Taylor died in 1695, his funeral sermon being preached by Philip Henry. He is described by the clerical historian of Wem as a clean, nice, little, slender man. Philip and Matthew Henry often exchanged services with him. He is also mentioned in the sermon which the Rev. Francis Tallents preached on the occasion of Philip Henry's funeral. (This discourse was printed in the Eighteen Sermons, p. 297, October, 1816). The next pastor was the Rev. Richard Latham, who died on March 20th, 1706, Matthew Henry preaching his funeral sermon. After him came the Rev. Richard Lathrop, a native of West Felton, who had been educated at Sheriff Hales by Mr. Wood- house. He resigned in 1706, and was succeeded in the pastor ate by the Rev. William Fisher, wbo left for Ledbury in 1711, when Mr. Lathrop returned to Wem. In 1715, the meeting house was pulled down by a mob and burned. In 1716, a new meeting house was erected on another site — "Sarah Thornhill's garden in Noble Street" — by the voluntary contributions of the Dissenters, added to the £60 which was paid by the High Sheriff as compensation for the damage to the old chapel. Mr. Lathrop removed to Ledbury in the same year, and was succeeded by the Rev. Thomas Holland, a native of Madbury, in Cheshire, who had been educated at Mr. Cborlton's Seminary in Manchester, under the Rev. Joseph Cunningham. He married Mary, the daughter of Mrs. Savage, who was sister to Matthew Henry. He was "large, strong, and swarthy." Although Mr. Holland's income was small, he was generous; and it is said of him that he sometimes playfully boasted that he had educated ten chUdren, three of them at Dr. Doddridge's Academy, in a manner tbat qualified them to fill respectable situations in a respectable manner; that he always had a place at his table for any friend that called upon him ; that a beggar never left SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 63 Rev. G. SMITH. 64 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. his door without some sort of relief; and that he never had a dun at his gate, for he paid ready money for every article he purchased, except his milk score, which was discharged every Saturday night. One of the silver Communion cups was presented by him bearing this inscription: "The gift of the Rev. Mr. Holland, to the Dissenting Chapel in Wem, 1752." This cup corresponds to one given two years previous by Mrs. Bassnett. The Rev. T. Holland re-organised the church, and his son Philip's name stands first on the list of members. He pub lished two volumes of sermons, said to be remarkable for their eloquence. He died, September 26th, 1753, aged 63, and was buried in Wem churchyard by the side of MiU Street, exactly opposite the door of the Buck's Head Inn. During his ministry, several friends increased the provision for the minister's support, and a chapel parsonage was pur chased. In 1730, a library was presented by several individuals, containing a large number of large folio volumes, and it was directed that the hearers '' who tarry after sermon " might read for their edification. The strength of the congregation at one time under Mr. HoUand was reported thus — 180 hearers, 25 county voters, 24 tradesmen, 14 farmers, 10 yeomen. Mr. Holland's son, the Rev. Philip Holland, who was born in Wem, succeeded his father, and was ordained in the chapel in 1754. The Rev. Mr. Harrop followed, in whose time Unitarian views were adopted. He continued his ministry until 1781, and was succeeded by Mr. Haughton, wbo stayed until 1787, of whose ministry no particulars have been banded down. Next came Mr. Hazlitt, who remained until 1813. He was the father of the celebrated W. Hazlitt. Samuel Taylor Cole ridge often visited bim at Wem, walking there from Shrewsbury, reading on his way. One room in the parsonage is known as Coleridge's room. The Rev. J. Whithead was the next pastor, who stayed until 1817. He was much esteemed. To do him honour, his people presented the chapel with two massive antique brass chandeliers, afterwards removed in favour of gas. In 1817, the ministry of the Rev. Thomas Toller, of SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 65 Sib J. B. WILLIAMS. 66 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. Wymondley (Homerton) College, commenced. By him the- original doctrines were preached in the chapel. He was succeeded in 1820 by the Rev. Thomas William Jenkyn — afterwards D.D. — who, after seven years of successful labour here, removed to Oswestry. In his time the chapel was renovated at a cost of nearly £100. His successor was the Rev. J. Frederick Mandeno, who left for Newport at the end of 1840, and who eventually removed to New Zealand. After he had left Wem, he was followed in 1842 by the Rev. Edward G. Sadler, of Eotherbam College, who left for Nantwich. The next pastor was the Eev. Geo. Smith, who came from Devon in 1853, and who died on April 2nd, 1874, aged 75. At the close of his pastorate the church ceased to exist, tho members left uniting themselves- with the Chapel Street Church. The property was afterwards dealt with by the Charity Com missioners, one part of the endowments being given to Chapel Street Church, and the other for charitable purposes connected with the parish of Wem. All these charities are in the hands of a committee, of which Eev. J. B. Walton was elected per manent chairman. Cbapel Street This place of worship was opened on August 20th, 1775. Mr. John Henshaw (solicitor, born 1734; died February 1st, 1701), who had become converted through reading the publications of the Eev. James Hervey, joined Sir' Richard Hill, Mr. Lee, of Cotery, Mr. Poneys, of Berwick, and Captain Scott (afterwards- Rev. Jonathan Scott), in extending the Kingdom of Christ,- more especially in Shropshire. It was largely through Mr. HenshaVs zeal that the meeting house in Chapel Street, Wem, was built. In this chapel Jonathan Scott, Rowland Hill, and Cornelius Winter often preached. In 1777, the Countess of Huntingdon sent the Rev. John Hawksworth, her favourite preacher, to Wem. He remained for some time and during his ministry a church was formed. In 1781, Mr. Richardson, one of the Trevecca students, was pastor; but how long he remained here is not known. SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. Rev. J. PATTISON. SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM Rev. J. P.. WALTON, LL.B 68 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. About the year 1792, the chapel became Independent, and the Eev. Thomas Golding, who had beef trained by the vener able Cornelius Winter, became the minister. He left in 1795 unordained, and was succeeded by the Eev. Peter Edwards. Peter Edwards was born at Oswestry. He was educated for the ministry under the Eev. W. Clark, M.A., who was "emi nently qualified by classical and Biblical literature for the duties of a tutor," and who, while pastor of Baptist chapels at South wark and Exeter, had educated several persons for the ministry. His pupil, Peter Edwards, became pastor of a Baptist chapel in Portsmouth. Mr. Edwards became an Independent through reading ','Anti- paedo Baptism Examined," by Dr. Edward Williams (first of Oswestry, then of Birmingham, 1792, and afterwards, 1795 to 1813, Principal of Eotherham College). Mr. Edwards published his "Candid Eeasons on the subject of Baptism" in 1795, and in tbe same year settled as pastor of Chapel Street, Wem, on the simultaneous but unpreconcerted recommendations of the Eevs. Rowland HiU, Dr. David Bogue (Gosport), and Dr. Williams. He was undoubtedly a man of great individuality and pulpit power, and learning in some directions, for it is said that a Professorship of Hebrew was at one time offered to him. Mr. Edwards remained pastor of Chapel Street, Wem, until his death, which took place in March, 1833, at the age of 82. He was one of the four founders of the Salop Association. In the year 1826, the Rev. Joseph Pattison, of Rotherham College (who was born at the Leasows, Newcastle-on-Tyne, on October 21st, 1800), became assistant to Mr. Edwards, and was ordained co-pastor in 1828. The venerable pastor would often boast that there had never been a misunderstanding between them. On the death of Mr. Edwards, Mr. Pattison became sole pas tor. During his ministry, the chapel was rebuilt on a larger scale, a British School was opened, a cemetery was purchased, and a commodious Lecture Eoom was built. Mr. Pattison remained pastor until his death on May 29th, 1866. From 1847 he was Secretary to the Salop Association. His successor at Wem was the Eev. W. Cbampness, of Spring HU1 CoUege, who commenced his ministry in June, 1867, and SHP.OPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 69 was ordained on September 18th. The Rev. George Kettle, of Shrewsbury, commenced the service by reading and prayer; Rev. Mark Wilks, of London, gave an exposition of Congrega tional Principles; Rev. D. D. Evans, of Bridgnorth, asked the questions ; Professor Barker, of Spring Hill College, offered the Ordination Prayer, and Professor Bubier, of Spring Hill, gave the charge to the minister. In the evening the charge was given to the people by the Rev. H. H. Carlisle, LL.B., of Southampton. The Rev. W. Champness resigned in 1873 for a collegiate charge in Stockport, and was succeeded in November, 1873, by the Rev. J. B. Walton, B.A., LL.B., wbo had been pastor at Dukinfield HaU, Cheshire. During his pastorate, the har monium has given place to an organ; the chapel has been re stored at a cost of more than £800 j and a manse, one of the best in tbe county, has been built; the sum expended on the land and the building being £850. At one time a small church at Coton was worked by the ministers of Noble Street and Chapel Street Chapels, but this has been for many years in the hands of the Primitive Methodists of the Wem Circuit. BrifcQnortb. The congregation here was first gathered by tbe Rev. Andrew Tristram, M.A., Rector of St. Leonard's, Bridgnorth, who was ejected in 1662. Like many others of the ejected clergy, he practised medicine as a means of livelihood. He also preached privately in the town, and ministered in spiritual matters to those who, like himself, had become Nonconformists. Richard Baxter described him as " a man of more than ordinary ability in preaching and prayer — of an upright life." The records of the early history of the church are scanty, and we cannot tell where the Rev. Andrew Tristram and his successors laboured from 1662 to 1709, nor can we be at all sure who his immediate successors were. Mr. Tristram, it would appear, died in 1706, and was buried in St. Leonard's Church. But he does not seem to have been the pastor of the Dissenting Congregation until the time of his death, for in Williams's "Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Welshmen " it is stated that Charles Owen was " privately or dained" minister of a congregation at Bridgnorth between 1674 and 1680, that he returned to Bridgnorth after a re sidence in London, and died at Ellesmere in 1712. This Rev. Charles Owen, unless he has been confused with a later man of the same name who was minister at Warrington, wrote several controversial tracts in favour of the Dissenters. Calamy, in speaking of the Rev. Rowland Nevet, M.A., who was ejected from his living at Oswestry in 1662, states that his son John Nevet was minister among the Dissenters at Bridgnorth. He seems to have been here from 1680 until the time of his death, which took place in 1705. Twenty years after the passing of the " Toleration Act," viz. in 1709, the Nonconformists of Bridgnorth erected their first SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 71 rU < o < ¦AO H m Qo 72 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. meeting house on Stoneway Steps. It was considerably smaller than the present building, and was a double-gabled or double- roofed structure, built after the fashion of Matthew Henry's Chapel at Chester. The chapel fronted the East, had a gallery on the West side, and a large sounding-board over tbe pulpit. The roof was supported by two large pillars rising from the middle of the chapel. The cost of this erection is not known. The description of the site in the Trust Deed is " All that mes suage, cottage, or tenements, with all the gardens thereunto adjoining and belonging on the North side of the Stoneway, the which John Wilson hath lately purchased from Mr. Thomas Wollastone and Anne, his wife, together with the new building thereupon since erected," etc. The deed is dated August 2nd, in the 8th year of Queen Anne, 1709. This structure stood for 120 years. Some years before it was taken down to make way for a new chapel, an incident occurred which almost resulted in inflicting loss of life. One afternoon, the West side of the building fell on to Stoneway Steps. . Just before this occurrence, two friends, one of whom was- going up the steps and the other going down, stood and conversed in front of the- chapel. Immediately after they parted, tbe wall fell. Had they continued talking together for one half-minute longer, both must have been buried in the debris. From 1717 to 1729, the congregation is said to have con sisted of 1 20 hearers, 9 county voters, 26 borough voters, 5 gen tlemen, 9 farmers, ahd 28 tradesmen. Of this period the records are very meagre. In 1717, the Rev. Samuel Taylor was pastor, but no details of his work have come down to us. After him, the Rev. Fowler Walker was minister, who in 1724 removed to Abergavenny, in which town his death took place in 1751. His work in Bridgnorth was very successful. Between 1724 and 1747, tbe details are very confusing. Rev. John Richard Fleming was here in 1726, and is mentioned in Bogue and Bennett's "History of the Dissenters," as having conducted an Academy for the training of young men for the Christian ministry. But he was not pastor all the years be tween 1726 and his death, which took place about 1740, for it appears that the Rev. Josiah Owen, educated at Carmarthen SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 73- O h- f hH I r3HPh O Mo >H O H 02 74 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. ¦College, nephew of the celebrated James Owen, of Oswestry, was minister from 1733 to 1738 or 1739. Rev. Edward Evans, a native of Newmarket (Flint), left Car marthen CoUege in 1745, and was ordained at Bridgnorth in 1747. A fellow student of his, the Rev. Thomas Morgan, who wrote an account of his College companions, has in different parts of his book these two notes about him : — " Edward Evans . . .a wild young man, but of good parts. I hear he is now reformed and likely to do good work at Bridg north (Salop)." " He turned out very bad after all, and I have heard it said that he conformed in 1760." Such was the case. In Rees and Thomas's "History of the Independent, Churches in Wales," it is stated, "He turned out an immoral man, and after being expelled from the Dissenting ministry, he conformed in 1760." He became curate of Chetton, a viUage about four miles from Bridgnorth. After him, the Rev. Thomas Andrews became pastor of Stone way. He also conducted a school for young gentlemen in Dia mond Hall. He published in 1766 a translation of Virgil, which was mercilessly criticised. His death took place between 1765 and 1769. He was succeeded by tbe Rev. William Maurice, who died before 1797, and was buried under the pulpit of the old chapel. In the year 1797, came the Rev. WiUiam Evans, who was dis tinguished for his scholarship and deep piety. He was born at Bala in May, 1773, and when sixteen or seventeen years old ioined the church at Llanwchllyn. He became a student under Dr. Williams at the Oswestry Academy in 1791. Early in 1795, he became pastor of Lane Delpb in the Potteries, and removed thence to Bridgnorth in February, 1797, and was ordained to the pastoral office on April 8th, 1801. In December, 1801, he was invited to Stockport, but although his Bridgnorth congre gation was small, and his salary inconsiderable, be declined to to, when asked by his people to remain. In June, 1803, the invitation to Stockport being renewed, Mr. Evans accepted it, and entered upon his work there on September 29th. He would not leave Bridgnorth until compeUed by the considerations of a large family, and until " be had heard of a minister whom his SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 75 Rev D. D. EVANS. 76 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. dear people could affectionately receive as their pastor." He died at Stockport on September, 29th, 1314. How heartily he was attached to the Bridgnorth people is shown by the foUowing extract from a letter written from Stockport, April 16th, 1805, to Mr. WUhamson, Gunsmith, Bridgnorth: — "You do not know, neither is it in my power to tell you, how much we are pleased at hearing from friends whom we can never forget, however little many of them may think of us. Every friendly letter is like cold water to a thirsty soul." Mr. Evans's successor in the pastorate of Stoneway Chapel was the Rev. David Davies, a native of Llanybyther, on the bor ders of Carmarthenshire and Cardiganshire. He was educated at Carmarthen College, and in 1787 was ordained pastor of the Independent Churches at Kidwelly and Penygraig. Afterwards he settled in 1790 at Holywell, and remained there for teu years. Soon after his settlement there, he began a Welsh pub lication, which inculcated principles very far in advance of the times. For this he was in danger of arrest, and had to fly for a time and hide himself in order to escape imprisonment. In 1802 he removed to Welshpool, and in 1803 became pastor at Bridgnorth. He lived in Bridgen HaU, where he kept a school. He remained pastor of Stoneway until Ms death in 1807. His body lies buried inside the present chapel, near the middle window on the Eastern side. "' David Davies was a good, pious, and scholarly man, as well as a gifted and ingenious preacher, though few of his contemporaries understood his worth and usefulness." — ("Welsh Celebrities," p. 180). The people at Stoneway, after having been without a minister for two years, gave an invitation in 1809 to the Rev. Samuel Barber, who had received his ministerial training at Rotherh%jn College, under Dr. Edward Williams. He bad left that insti tution to become pastor at Ulverston, and at the time of his caU to Bridgnorth, had been settled there three years and a half. His ministry at Stoneway Chapel was long and successful. The congregations were so much augmented, that it was found needful to increase the accommodation. As the old chapel was sadly cut of repair, it was decided to take it down and to erect a new one — the present building. The new chapel was built in 1S29, the Rev. George Redford, SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 77 J. B. GRIERSON, ESQ., Treasurer of the Association, 1856 — 1861. 7$ SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. M.A. (afterwards D.D ), of Worcester, preaching at the opening services on Sunday, October 25th, in that year. Mr. Barber preached in the afternoon, and the collections amounted to £74. The Pastor, at his own charge, had a representation of the old building made by Mr. Philip Brown, of Shrewsbury, on the morning when its demolition was commenced. It is still in the possession of Miss Barber. The new chapel is said to have cost £1,000. It is interesting to note that Mr. John Sunderland, who was admitted a member of the Stoneway Church in November, 1826, afterwards went to Airedale College, and subsequently became minister at Bury. After the building of the new chapel, Mr. Barber remained pastor for sixteen years. His position was a difficult one, owing to the failure of the banks, and the consequent crippling of the resources of the people. But he met his difficulties in this re spect by teaching, in which work he gained great efficiency. The chapel was registered on June 3rd, 1837, for the Solem nization of Matrimony. Tne foundation stone of the new schoolrooms was laid on May 27th, 1841. The rooms were completed in 1842, at a cost of £483 15s. 10d., and were built upon tbe site of an old house, which Mr. Barber had occupied for some time. During Mr. Barber's pastorate, the church members entered into a covenant. They declared their belief in the Trinity, in the sinfulness of man, in the doctrines of the atonement, justifica tion and sanctification, and their conviction that the Scriptures contain the word of God. They pledged themselves to keep free from the world, to maintain private and family devotions, to refrain "from scenes of folly and dissipation — from the theatre, card table, ball room, and other places of amusement to which the multitude resort; to refrain also from inns, taverns, and public houses;" to fervently love one another, to duly attend the ministry they had chosen, and thex means of grace, to seek their own and others' spiritual welfare, and to " study the prosperity of the cause of God in our own place of worship, throughout the county, our beloved country, and the whole world." Mr. Barber's long pastorate came to a close towards the end of SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 79' Rev. W. J. P. WRIOHT, BA. SO SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 1845. The following is a copy of the entry in the Church Book, under date December 2nd, in that year : — " He withdrew from a mourning church and congregation after a ministry of more than thirty-six years, during which, amidst all the fluctuations of so lengthy a period, he was the means of building two chapels (the Stoneway and Broseley) and the schoolroom, of increasing the church to more than four times as large as he found it, and the congregation he left still more increased. Gloria, gloria, Deo. — S. Barber." For the remaining years of his life, the Rev. S. Barber con tinued to reside in Bridgnorth. He died in 1854. He was succeeded in the pastorate of Stoneway Chapel by the Rev. William Jackson, of Rotherham CoUege, who commenced his ministry on August 4th, 1846. He was ordained on Tues day, October 6th, when the Rev. John Hammond, of Hands- worth, offered the Ordination Prayer, the Rev. Professor Stowell, of Rotherham College, gave the charge to the pastor, and the Rev John Angell James, of Birmingham, gave the charge to the church. Mr. Jackson remained here only for a short period. After many years of active ministerial servicet he died at Bournemouth on September 24th, 1895. His successor was the Rev. Joseph Shaw, also a student of Rotherham College, who had settled at Guisborough, Yorks. He commenced bis ministry at Bridgnorth on June 27th, 1847. He remained here over two years, and added many members to the church. After two more pastorates, he accepted, in 1877, a call to Great Torrington, where he died on July 30th, 1893. Rev. Samuel Clarkson, of Howard Street Chapel, Sheffield, settled at Bridgnorth in 1851, commencing his ministry on -September 7th. A well-attended Recognition Service was held on November 4th. On July 1st, 1853, the pastor gave notice that he would resign at the end of September. Saving been earnestly pressed to withdraw his notice of resignation, he did so, but left a year later, viz., in August, 1854, giving as his reason for so doing that the circumstances of the locality seemed to hinder the cause of Dissent, and to preclude the hope of substantial progress at present. Mr. Clarkson died at Ilkley in 1886. His successor at Bridgnorth was the Rev. David Daniel Evans, SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 81 Rev. ERNEST ELLIOT ^2 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. a native of Blaenypant, Cardiganshire, who was born on October 14th, 1813. He entered Rotherham CoUege in October, 1831, and remained there until July, 1836. He then laboured in one of the Yorkshire dales without a settled pastorate, and in 1838, accepted the oversight of Melbourne Street Chapel, Gateshead, where he was ordained on July l7tb. His next pastorate was at Heanor, Derbyshire, where he remained four years, when he accepted a call to St. John's, Newfoundland; but being unable to endure the climate, returned to England, and settled at Bethesda Chapel, Burnley. His Bridgnorth ministry commenced on Sunday, April 1st, 1855. The Recognition Meeting was held on Whit-Monday, May 28th. His ministry here was long and devoted. In hia time the branch church was erected at Broad Oak. In 1867, Mr. Evans was chosen Secretary of the Salop Assoc iation, in succession to the Rev. Joseph Pattison, of Wem, whose death had taken place the year before. As stated in the Pre face to this book, he published in 1872, "A Sketch of the His tory, Condition and Work of the Congregational Churches in the County of Salop." In 1873, a move was made in the direction of obtaining an organ. In October, a committee was empowered to purchase one. The result was that an organ was erected in the chapel at a cost of £53 10s., and opened on December 14th. It was decided in 1879 to celebrate the Jubilee of the present chapel, which was built in 1829. Consequently, services were held on Sunday, October 26th, when sermons were preached by the Rev. George Hunsworth, M.A., of Kidderminster. On the following day a public meeting was held, presided over by Thomas Barnes, Esq., J.P., of the Quinta. The Pastor read a brief account of the Church's history, and a liberal coUection was taken. The long pastorate of Mr. Evans was terminated by his death on March 16th, 1886. On that day the Salop Association was sitting, and the following resolution was passed : — "We, the members of the Salop Association of Independent Churches, tender to you, our dear friend and honoured Secre tary, our deepest sympathy with you in your heavy and trying affliction. We pray that the Master in whom you have trusted, SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 83 and in whose service you have so honourably laboured, may fulfil His manifold promises of comfort and grace, enabling you, out of a calm and joyous experience to say ' I know in whom I have believed.' Allow us further to express our high apprecia tion of your self-denying exertions on behalf of our Association, and to assure you how sadly we miss your presence and counsel amongst us in our annual meetings to-day. J. E. Sawdat, March 16th, 1886. Chairman. Before the resolution was sent, however, tidings of Mr. Evans's death reached the Assembly, and, in its place, a letter of sympathy was addressed to the members of Mr. Evans's family. At his funeral, nearly all the Congregational ministers in tbe county were present, as well as the Revs. A. L. Oldham, M.A. (Rector of St. Leonard's, Bridgnorth), S. Goodall (Ilkley), A. Verran (London), W. J. Dyer (Baptist minister, Bridgnorth), and Thomas Peers (Wesleyan). Several prominent townsmen also attended. Mr. Evans's death took place after a lengthy illness. In fact, his last sermon was preached on the last Lord's Day in 1885. During his illness, a Testimonial Fund was instituted. It orig inated with the Salop Association, but was subscribed to by many who bad no connection with that body, or with the Con gregational denomination. By this fund the sum of £313 12s. 6d. was raised. It should be stated that at one period of his career, the Rev. D. D. Evans was offered a professorship at Spring Hill College, but declined it. His successor at Stoneway Chapel was the Rev. W. J. P. Wright, B.A., a student of New College, London, assistant min ister of Broompark Church, Sheffield. He commenced bis Bridgnorth ministry on Sunday, Outcber "rl, 1836. The Re cognition Service was held on Thursday, December 2nd, when tbe charge was delivered by the Rev. Professor C. C. Tyte, of Sheffield, and the Revs. George Kettle (Shrewsbury), J. B. Wal ton, LL.B. (Wem), J. J. Poynter (Oswestry), Samuel Evans (Broseley), T. T. Sherlock (Smethwick), and W. J. Dyer (Bap tist, Bridgnorth), took part. 34 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM Many important events Occurred during the pastorate of the Rev. W. J. P. Wright, the largest of which was the reseating of the chapel. At tbe same time the schoolroom Was repaired and enlarged, and a heating apparatus was put in. This renov ation took place in 1888. After being closed for some Weeks, the chapel was re-opened on Thursday, October 4th, by the Rev. W. F. Clarkson, B.A., who preached from John iv, 34, "My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish His work." The re-opening services were continued on the foUowing Sunday, when the Pastor preached morning and evening. About the same time, the congregation adopted the " Congre gational Church Hymnal," in place of the " New Congregational Hymn Book " and Supplement, then in use. In the summer of 1890, Mr. Wright received an invitation to the Congregational Church at Bilston. Being urgently pressed to remain by the people of Stoneway who assured him of a wide- and deep appreciation of his labours, he decided to- stay in Bridgnorth. The Pastor resigned in March, 1893, having received a call to the co-pastorate of the church at Middlesbrough, which he accepted, and in which sphere he remained until September, 1895. A Farewell Meeting was- held on Wednesday, April 5th, 1893, when an illuminated address was presented to the Pastor. Alderman McMichael presided, and addresses were delivered by the Revs. J. J. Poynter (Oswestry), W. F. Dawson (Madeley), W. J. Dyer and J. Parkes (Bridgnorth), all of whom testified to the high esteem in which Mr. Wright was deservedly held. The present pastor is the Rev. Ernest Elliot, of Hackney CoUege, London, wbo commenced his ministry on Sunday, Jan uary 21st, 1894, and was ordained on Thursday, February 8th, this being the first Ordination Service held in Stoneway Chapel since 1846, when the Rev. W. Jackson was inducted to the pastorate; and singularly, the Rev. James Parkes, Wesleyan minister, who was present at the Ordination of Mr. Jackson, was also present at the evening meeting on February 8th, 1894. At the Ordination Service, the Rev. W. J. P. Wright, former pastor, presided. Rev. J. S. Drummond, of Wolverhampton, offered the Ordination Prayer; Rev. Professor J. Radford Thomson, M.A., of Hackney and New Colleges, gave the charge SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 85 Ph anb [Pontcebui\>. Dissenting interest was begun at Minst-erley at the end of the «ighteenth century. Baptists and Congregationalists began work about the same time. The Baptists claim to have been the first, and to have invited the Independents to join them. The first Nonconformist minister who is said to have preached- at 'Minsterley wa'»' ». ¦ ¦4Ph < O &iz «1 Ph 146 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. removed; 3 have returned; and 11 have been suspended. So we are still a little flock. May the Great Head of the Church increase their number." Mr. Griffiths resigned in 1858. A new chapel was built in 1862 at a cost of £250. The largest subscriber towards this object was a Mr. John Watkin, a farm servant, who lived for many years at Plascarreg. He gave and left £60 to the building fund. The opening services were held in October, 1862, when the Rev. James Matheson, B-A. (Notting ham), preached. The oversight of the church was taken by the Rev. D. Davies, of Sarney, from 1 862 to 1868. He preached on© Sunday in each month, and presided at the Communion Services and church meetings. Mr. Thomas Williams, who was deacon at this time, and who had most faithfully served tho cause at Pant, com menced preaching at the request of the church in 1864. He entered Nottingham Institute in the year 1867, was minister of Wistanswick and OUerton for some years, and is at present re siding at Portland. In 1868 the church united with the church at Llandysilio in giving a call to the Rev. J. B. Harker, who was ordained either at the end of 1868 or the beginning of 1869. He resigned the pastorate of Pant in 1870. Mr. John Williams, of Llynclys, was a deacon of the church from 1868 to 1870, when he removed to Oswestry. In 1870 Mr. Francis Pugh, Llanymynech, and Mr. Joseph Sam- brook were appointed deacons; and Rev. Thomas Jenkins, of Sarney, took the oversight of the church, preaching once a month, presiding at the Lord's Supper, and attending week night meetings as often as practicable. In 1877 the church reunited with Llandysilio, and gave a call to the Rev. D. Horatio Shankland, the present pastor. The two churches received an equal share of the minister's services until 1881. In that year a manse was built at Llandysilio, that church deciding that a resident minister was needed for the j)lace. Accordingly the proportion of service rendered by the pastor to each church was altered. At a church meeting held at Pant in February, 1881, it was unanimously agreed to ask Mr. Shank- land to continue the pastoral oversight jointly with that of Llan- dysUio, preach one Sunday a month, administer the Lord's SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 147 Rev. D. H. SHANKLAND. 14S SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. Supper, attend the church meetings, and other week night services. This arrangement continues up to the present time. The neighbourhood suffers much from change and fluctuations, and as a consequence the church suffers in every department of its- work. The present number of church members is only 25, although the last member, just received, numbers 93 on the Church Roll, 68 having removed or died between 1862 and 1897. There is also this change in the church and congregation : In the year 1870 old people wer© more numerous than young. Th© Sunday School was smaU. At present the reverse is the case; the Sunday School is large, the average attendance being from 90 tb 100, and young people form the majority at all the services. The singing has improved, a new organ has been lately pur chased, and the building has several times been painted and reno vated. Eyery effort is made to secure the best supplies for the pulpit during the pastor's absence, and Mr. Joseph Carsley, of: Llynclys, and several others work most energetically for the good of the church and Sunday School, to which tbere is a cloth ing club attached. The attendance of members at the Lord's- Supper is yery regular, the congregations being generally good, especially n the day the pastor preaches. There is one small endowment. An old friend of the church left £50 as a token of respect for the minister and office bearers. The church bas received many marks of kindness from the- present minister and former ministers and deacons of Christ- Church, Oswestiy. Iprees. The Gospel was preached by Nonconformists in this neighbour hood at a very early period. The Rev. Philip Henry was or dained in the parish church of Prees, when Aylmer Houghton was minister there, and, after his ejection from Worthenbury, preached at Westen, and other places jin the locality of Prees. He and his son, Matthew Henry, often preached in this district. After the passing of the Toleration Act in 1689, several houses were licensed as places in which to hold religious worship. Con gregationalists and (in later years) Wesleyans laboured exten sively here, though often persecuted by those in authority and power, as well as by the ignorant and bigoted populace. After a long and an arduous struggle, Dissent, and especially Independency gained strength and influence. Some persons of moderate means and standing in society professed their attach ment to Congregational principles, and a few of the more earnest united to form a small Christian brotherhood. Mr. Samuel Weston, of Coton, was one of the pioneers of Nonconformity in Prees. In 1807 he preached, together with others, at a house in Maypole End, now called Shrewsbury Road. The house was then occupied by one Humphries, a shoe maker. Mr. Weston took the precaution of licensing the house for preaching in the Ecclesiastical Court. Unaware of this fact, Mr. Wickstead, the presiding magistrate in the neighbourhood, and a bigoted Episcopalian, instituted an inquiry regarding the .congregations which assembled there. When met for Divine worship, the constable, named Drury, entered and demanded the names of the people present. A man named John Brooks .(who lived until 1869) said at once, " I am here-, with my wife Nellie — put our names down first." The case was tried at the magistrates' office at Whitchurch, and decision was given against 150 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. Mr. Wickstead, who was mulcted in costs. This circumstance gave rise to the building of the chapel. Mr. Samuel Weston was the chief promoter of the scheme for the erection of a place of worship, and built it almost en tirely at his own expense. The chapel was opened for worship on March 10th, 1810, when the Rev. Thomas Weaver, of Shrewsbury, preached in the morn ing, and the Rev. Wm. Macdonald, of Market Drayton, in the evening. This chapel, together with the one at Bishop's Castle, built in th© same year, cost £850. The first stated pastor was the Rev. J. Harris, afterwards of St. Alban's, who died there in 1871, aged 88. At the time Mr. Harris was minister at Prees, a Mr. Lewis was pastor at Whit church, whose services were- not considered so attractive as those of Mr. Harris ; and it is said that the Whitchurch people offered £50 to the people at Prees on condition that tbey would consent to an exchange of pasters. It is at any rate a fact that Mr. Harris went to Whitchurch, and Mr. Lewis settled at Prees. The two ministers remained in their new spheres for only a short time, Mr. Lewis leaving Prees at the end of twelve months. After his resignation the church had supplies until 1818, when th© Rev. Samuel Minshall, for some time a schoolmaster at Osw;estry, became minister. He seems to have resided in Wem, where he preached on Lord's- Day evenings for the Rev. Peter Edwards, then an aged man. In 1825, Mr. Minshall removed to Prees, and, in the follow ing year, became pastor of Whixall also. He taught a school at Prees. He was a man of Apostolic spirit and labour — of the most venerable mien in later life; and his name is still fragrant in the country where he lived. He continued to labour here until 1860, when, on account of growing infirmities and a stroke of paralysis, he was compelled to resign his charge, which he had honourably sustained for nearly forty-four years. He died on April 16th, 1861, and was buried in the burial ground adjoining the chapel, the Rev. Joseph Pattison, of Wem, officiating at his funeral. Mr. Minshall was succeeded by the Rev. W. C. Davies, of Domgay, who commenced his labours at Prees and Whixall oa SHP.OPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM 151 pu «! WWHPi Ph 152 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. April 14th, 1861, just two days before his revered predecessor went to his rest. Under the ministry of Mr. Davies, the present chapel was built, at a cost of £570. A preliminary meeting was held for consultation on August 12th, 1861, at which it was resolved to commence the erection of a new chapel in the following spring, and the sum of £84 was promised towards t{he building fund. Soon afterwards Mr. Denham, architect, Lord's Hill, kindly offered to furnish plans and superintend the work. The first stone was laid by Thomas Barnes, Esq., M.P. (who had given £50 to the building fund), on April 21st, 1862, in the presence of six hundred people. Th© church was opened for Divine worship on March 10th, 1863, March 10th being the day on whicb the old structure was opened in 1810. In the afternoon the Rev. Joseph Parker, of Manchester (now of the City Temple, and D.D.), preached; the Rev. Enoch Mellor, M.A., of Liverpool (afterwards of Halifax and D.D.), preached in the evening. The Rev. W. C. Davies held his pastorate until July, 1865, when he resigned and entered the ministry of the Estabhshed Church. The Rev. W. E. Whereat, who had laboured as an agent of the Home Missionary Society at Harmer Hill, next accepted the pastorate, and began his ministry on February 18th, 1866. He became seriously ill after he had preached his first sermon, and continued so for some months. He removed to Bristol, in the hope that the change might prove beneficial, but he died on the 23rd May in his 23th year, and his remains were interred in the Cemetery at Bristol. The Rev. J. Pattison, of Wem, prepared two funeral sermons, and left them in his desk to be preached at Prees and Whixall on the very Sunday his own funeral sermon was preached at Wem by the Rev. Professor Newth, of Lancashire College. The next pastor was the Rev. E. Kentish Evans, of Woolton, near Liverpool, who commenced his ministry on October 20th, 1867. The churches at Prees and Whixall became independent of the aid of the Salop Association in 1869. SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 153 Rev. J. E. SAWDAY. 154 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. In November, 1867, a vestry was built, the congregation worshipping in the Lion Room during the alterations. On October 7th, 1868, a meeting was held in the vestry to consider the expediency of altering and improving the appear ance of the church, when it was resolved to re-seat, paint and varnish the whole of the interior. The church was closed, and services were held in the Lion Room until December 6th. On Tuesday, December 8th, the opening services were conducted by the Revs. W. Champness, of Wem, and George Robinson, of Hadnall, after which a sermon was preached by the Rev. G. W. Conder, of Manchester. On the following Sunday sermons were preached by the Pastor. The Rev. E. K. Evans having resigned the pastorate, the Rev. T. N. Oliphant, of Walkern (Herts.), received and accepted a very cordial invitation, and commenced his ministry on Sunday, May 3rd, 1874. Mr. Oliphant resigned in 1877, and went to Burnley. In 1878, the Rev. J. E. Sawday, of South Devon, accepted a call, and commenced his ministry on January 3rd. A manse was completed in 1880, and occupied by Mr. Sawday the same year. It was built on a lease of ninety-nine years. Mr. Sawday remained here upwards of twelve years, exercising a faithful ministry, and then passed to his reward. He was buried in the chapel yard, where stands a monument erected by his numerous friends. In January, 1891, the Rev. J. Williams, of Oswestry, received and accepted a unanimous call to the pas torate. He remained five years, and in February, 1896, accepted a call to Dalton in Furness. During his ministry a new school room was built, and the chapel renovated, the whole of the money having been raised. In the autumn of 1896, the Rev. W. Gee, of Oakengates, received and accepted a unanimous call to take the oversight of the church. SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 155 Rev. JOHN WILLIAMS. 22Mi32 Mollerton. The congregation at Wollerton was first gathered by the Rev. Jonathan Scott, often caUed Captain Scott, on account of his original profession. He began to preach in the neighbourhood in the year 1768, and continued to do so for several . years, ex tending his labours to many towns and villages in the surround ing country. He died as minister of Glenorchy Chapel, Matlock Bath. j The Rev. John Wilson, his successor at Market Drayton, would no doubt also preach at Wollerton. The first chapel and manse were erected by the Rev.' Jonathan Scott about the year 1800. The money wherewith to build, together with an endowment of £300, was left by bis wife (before her marriage, Miss Elizabeth Clay, a native of Woller ton), who was a lady of eminent piety. Mr. Scott was succeeded in the pastorate by Mr. Buffery, and he by Mr. Waste. ' - The Lord's Supper was first administered at Wollerton, and the church formed, on October Q4th, 1813, by the Rev. Peter Edwards, of Wem. On the 13th of October, 1814, the Rev. Samuel Roberts was ordained pastor of the churches formed at WoUerton and Wis- tanswick. Amongst those present were the Revs. Peter Edwards, of Wem, John Whitridge, Oswestry, John Wilson, Matlock Bath, John Harris, Whitchurch, and David Lewis, New port. Mr. Roberts was a, native of Dudlestone, near Oswestry, and had been educated at Hoxton Academy. Owing to failing health, he resigned the work of the ministry in 1819, and under cook a printing business in Oswestry. On the 25th of December, 1819, the Rev. D. Davies accepted the pastorate of the churches at Wollerton and Wistanswick, SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM 1ST fZtnte 1889, and left in the following October for Faringdon (Berks.), and is at present residing at Portland (Dorset). SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 179 :. - rl * ¦; W PM PhOtdCQ3 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 185 Rev- S. JACKSON. 186 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 1864 to — Rev. — Pearson (late of Ryton-on-Tyne). Rev. Henry Hoddle. 1869 to 1871 Rev. John Brown (late of Hambledon). . August 27th, 1871, to March 24th, 1872, Rev. John Hamer. August 11th, 1872, to Autumn, 1873, Rev. W. Jenner (left for Dawley). In December, 1872, the Congregational Hymn Book was introduced in place of Dr. Reed's Hymn Book. The Recognition Meeting, in connection with Mr. Jenner's settlement, was held on the 26th of that month, and was attended by the Revs. George Kettle, of Shrewsbury, and D. D. Evans, of Bridgnorth. After Mr. Jenner resigned, the chapel was closed for a time. From March, 1875, it was supplied by a succession of students from Nottingham Institute. In August of that year, Mr. Con stant undertook the pastorate for twelve months. On May 9th, 1880, Mr. James Simkin, a member of the church at Eccleshall, became pastor. He resigned on January 1st, 1882, and went to Poleswortb, near Birmingham. On May 28th, 1882, Mr. J. Hubert Jones, B.A., became pastor. He resigned at th© end of the year. In 1883, the chapel was restored at a cost of £116, and about the same time the Rev. D. Phillips, of Bala College, settled as minister. He left in 1886 for Treclyn (Mon.) In September, 1887, Rev. W. Thomas, of Brecon CoUege, was called to the pastorate and was ordained in December, Revs. Dr. Morris, of Brecon College, George Kettle, of Shrewsbury, J. R. Lewis, of Dorrington, and J. B. Walton, B.A., LL.B., of Wem, taking part. In 1892, he received a call to Farndon, Cheshire. During his ministry, the church was renovated (1891). On December 30th, 1892, the Church Deeds were sent for safe keeping to Messrs. Minshalls and Parry-Jones, of Oswestry. On February 5th, 1893, the Rev. Noah Bevan, of Bangor College, accepted the pastorate. He was ordained in the same year, and resigned on July 8th, 1894. In May, 1895, the Rev. S. Jackson accepted a call to the ministry. He reports increasing congregations and a growing Sunday School. flDaiton. In the year 1809, Thomas and Priscilla Roberts removed from Minsterley, where they had been for several years connected with the Independent Church, into th© neighbourhood of Tre- lystan, Montgomeryshire. They were the only Dissenters for several miles round, and bad to walk every Sunday to and from Minsterley, a distance of fourteen miles. This they continued to do for three years. They suffered much persecution on account of their fidelity to their principles. In time they removed from Trelystan to a place named Bet- tows Farm, in the township of Marton, when they earnestly invited the Rev. George Ryan, of Welshpool, to preach in their house. After a long interval they succeeded in gaining his consent, and in the year 1814, he preached the first sermon there. Some time afterwards the congregations became too large to be accommodated in the house, and services were held in a barn which was fitted up with seats and pulpit. This arrangement lasted for six years, until Mr. and Mrs. Roberts removed to a house close to th© village; and at the same time two retired fanners of the name- of Watts came to reside in the village. They were members of the Independent Church at Bwlchyffridd, Montgomeryshire. These four earnest servants of Christ deemed it advisable that regular preaching should be established in Marton. They first procured a smith's shop for the purpose. Persecu tion and prejudice were rife, and Mr. and Mrs. Roberts witb their son, Mr. S. Roberts (who supplied the materials for this history of the chapel at Marton), were often pelted with rotten eggs, stones and other missiles on their way to and from the Bmithy. The Rev. J. Roberts, of Llanbrynmair, frequently preached there. The congregation becoming large, enough to 188 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. -encourage further ©fforts, th© Rev. J. Whitridge, of Oswestry, was invited to visit the village, and he being a zealous supporter of village preaching engaged to find supplies once a fortnight. The place was then supplied by two lay preachers of his- own congregation. Shortly afterwards, Mr. Whitridge succeeded in getting the Home Missionary Society to take Marton under its superintendence in connection with Forden, Montgomery, Churchstoke, Chirbury, and Worthen. After this, the North Wales Academy having removed from Llanfyllin to Newtown, some of the students engaged at Mr. Whitridge's request to supply Marton for the space of four years. In 1823 some Wesleyans came to reside in the village, and owing to party spirit, the Independents were prohibited from preaching in th© smithy, and so wer© compelled to preach in barns or sheds and in the open air. In the following year the Wesleyans converted an old stable into a preaching bouse, and they then with some reluctance lent their place- to the Indepen dents, who used it every other Sunday until the chapel was opened in the' summer 'of 1829. In 1825, the Eev. J. Jones settled at Forden, and at tne request of the Salop Association engaged to supply Marton, ind a grant of £20 was given. This was subsequently lowered, and at the present time (1896) stands at £10. In the year 1828, William Nevet, Esq., of Shrewsbury, bought an estate in the neighbourhood, and came to reside upon it. Being convinced that tbe Independents needed a more com modious and convenient place of worship, he determined to build a. chapel, which he did at his own expense. On July 15th, 1829, the chapel was opened for Divine Worship, the following minis ters preaching : — Eev. Messrs. Eoberts, of Warminster (Wilts.), Kent, of Shrewsbury (Baptist), and Jenkyn, of Oswestry. For some time after this the place was supplied by the Rjv. J. Jones, of Forden, the Eev. J. Ashford (Baptist), of Welshpool, and the Eev. T. Jones, of Minsterley. On October 11th, 1829, a church of twelve members wa* formed by the Bev. T. Weaver, of Shrewsbury, and the Rev. T. James, who preached from Matthew xxvi, 26. Mr. *nd Mrs. Eoberts, Mr. and Mrs. Nevet, and several others became SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 189' pqPh ] 7-'' '«^ \ . f i ¦-;¦ '-v Rev. W. BOWEN, 192 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. autumn of 1857, when he removed to Common Hall Street Chapel, Chester. The next pastor was the Eev. R. W. Lloyd, of Llanbadarn and Aberedw, Radnorshire, who commenced his ministry on October 18th, 1857. On March 10th, 1865, Mr. R. Lewis and Mr. J. Preece were chosen as deacons to act in conjunction with Mr. Samuel Roberts (son of the first deacon), who had served in that capacity for many years. Mr. Lloyd was a zealous and successful pastor, and mainly owing to- his energies a house was built in 1860 for the residence of the minister, at a cost of nearly £300. In his time the church underwent a severe ordeal, losing all its chief supporters and most of its working members; in little over than twelve months it lost nearly thirty members by death and removals. To the great grief of tbe church, Mr. Lloyd resigned his charge on May 28th, 1865, and removed to Wollerton. Before doing so he secured a successor in the pastorate of Marton Chapel, Mr. T. R. Davies, of Brecon College, who was ordained on October 3rd, 1865, when the Rev. W. Price, of Minsterley, asked the questions, Rev. L. Roberts, of Dorrington, offered the Ordination Prayer, Rev. H. Oliver, B.A., of Ponty pridd (Glamorganshire), gave the charge to the minister, and Rev. R. W. Lloyd gave the charge to the church. Mr. Daviw laboured here for three years, and in August, 1868, resigned his charge and removed to Bolton, Lancashire. In 1870, the present pastor, Rev. WUliam Bowen, of Bala College, was ordained. In 1874, a new chapel was built. The foundation stone was laid by WiUiam Nevet, Esq., son of the gentleman who erected the first chapel. The new structure cost £450. It was opened on Thursday, December 31st, 1874, by a sermon by the Rev. D. D. Evans, of Bridgnorth. Services were held on the next dav, January 1st, 1875, being conducted by the Revs. -D. D. Evans, R. W. Lloyd, W. Pj-icej, of Minsterley, and others. On Sunday, January 3rd, the Rev. R. W. Lloyd was the preacher. Associated with the church at Marton is that at Forden in Momtgomeryshire. The history of the latter church belongs SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 193 therefore to the history of Congregationalism in that county, but as it is united with Marton under the same pastor, a brief account of it will not be out of place here. Regular services having been held in a small cottage for some time, it was determined to form a church, which was done on October 8th, 1826, when five members wer© received into fellowship. A chapel was built by subscription in the same year. The opening services took place on December 12th and 13th, and at the same time the Rev. J. Jones, of the North Wales Academy, was ordained pastor of the newly-formed church. He was a native of Llanddeusant (Anglesey), where he was born on July 23rd, 1798. He studied at the North Wales Academy under the Rev. George Lewis, D.D., and the Rev. E. Davies. In the opening services, the following ministers took part: — Revs. T. Weaver, of Shrewsbury, L. Roberts, of Llan- brynmair, G. Ryan, of Welshpool, E. Davies, of Newtown, J. J. Beynon, of Dorrington, J. Davies, of Llanfair, J. Eees, of Sarney, T. James, of Minsterley, and others. In May, 1834, two deacons were chosen — Eichard Wilcox (who resigned in November), and Benjamin Davies. On November 30th, 1840, the Eev. John Jones died. He had removed somg years before to live at Marton, where he conducted a seminary for the education of ministers. He was -buried in Marton burial ground. At his funeral, Eevs. J. Owen, of Bishop's Castle, Isaac Francis, of the Bog Mines, and T. James, of Minsterley, officiated. His funeral sermon was preached by Mr. E. Jones, his last student. A short memoir of him will be found in the " Evangelical Magazine " for October, 1842. After Mr. Jones's death, Mr. Henley preached with great acceptance until his death, after which the pulpit was supplied by the ministers of th© church at Welshpool, until it was deemed advisable to place the church under the pastoral charge of the Rev. John Peter Jones, then minister at Marton. When the pastor removed to Bromyard, lay preachers (Messrs. John and Richard Phillips, of Newtown) supplied the pulpit, after which the Forden Church united with that at Marton in giving a hearty 194 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. invitation to Mr. T. Peters. From this time the history of the pastorate is identical with that of Marton. In connection with this pastorate there is a mission at Chir- burt, which was commenced early in the year 1863 by the Rev. R. W. Lloyd. The present pastor, Rev. W. Bowen, writes : — " Chirbury is a small village, and Church influence is very strong tbere. The congregations, especially in winter, are encouraging, and we hope the day will come when a Mission Chapel will be built there, and services held on the Sabbath. At present we have only week-night services." 22'M3232 MMii IRantmawu anb Bethel. Nantmawr is a scattered district rather than a village, and is distant about four miles west of Oswestry. The history of the Congregational Church at Nantmawr is closely connected with that of Bethel, the two churches having always been under the same pastorate. In the year 1818, Mr. Thomas Davies, The Mill, and other brethren from Penygroes, in the parish of Llanyblodwel, hegan to preach in the neighbourhood of Nantmawr in a small house called "The White House," occupied by Mr. John Morris. A Sunday School was also established. Afterwards services were held at Tydraw, afterwards at Tyeoch, then at Frondeg, the home of Mr. John Rees, who gave great assistance to the weak cause. Students from Llanfyllin College came here to preach every other Sunday, Rev. J. Ridge, of Penygroes, taking charge of the week-night services. Mr. Edward Davies, of Cutiau, Mr. Lewis Pugh and Mr. Rowland Roberts, of Bala, preached here occasionally. In 1825, Rev. J. Ridge left Penygroes and went to Bala, and Rev. E. Davies, of Treflach Wood, took charge of the church that assembled in the house of Mr. Edward Rees. The church at that time numbered fourteen. Services were held at Nant mawr every Sunday evening. Mr. William Tannat, Y Graig (the Rock), built a chapel in 1830 on a piece of land which he leased, and rented it to the worshippers for £2 per annum The Rev. E. Davies preached in the new chapel on April 24th, 1831, from Rev. ii., 8, 9, 10, and named the chapel Smyrna. On the following Sunday, a school was opened and attended by 100 persons. The formal opening of the chapel took place on June 9th and 10th, 1831, when several ministers preached. 196 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. a o wo P3&S3H Ofc SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 197 Rev. E. Davies laboured successfully here until he had a paralytic stroke which compelled him to retire. He still took a great interest in the church and found preachers to supply the pulpit, and Rev. J. Williams, of Llansilin, cam© monthly to administer the ordinance of the Lord's Supper. In May, 1838, at a church meeting held in the house of Mr. Edward Rees, Frondeg, it was decided to build a chapel it Sychtyn. The care of this undertaking was entrusted to Mr. Edward Rees and Rev. J. WUliams, Llansilin. Mr. Rees sold a piece of land, 11 yards long and 8 yards wide, for £6 10s. The foundation stone was laid by him on June 17th, 1838, when two sermons were preached, one in Welsh and one in English. The chapel was opened on November 5th and 6th, several minis ters preaching on the occasion. The chapel was named Bethel. The cost of the building was £117. Mr. Edward Rees and some friends in tbe neighbourhood carried all the building materials free of charge. Mr. John Rees, the son of Edward Rees, con ducted th© singing in Bethel for many years. In May, 1839, Mr. J. Howes was ordained to the work of the Christian ministry at Llansantffraid, and he took charge of Bethel and Smyrna until June, 1840, when he accepted the pastorate of Llansilin. On November 26th, 1840, Mr. Robert Thomas, of Llanwrst, was ordained minister of Hermon (Oswestry), Bethel and Smyrna. He laboured here successfully until May, 1858, when he lef* for Rhyl. On November 17th, 1858, Mr. Lewis Jones, of Brecon College, was ordained pastor of the three churches. Finding the work too much for him he soon confined his labours to Hermon, .Oswestry. Smyrna and Bethel were then without a pastor until January 3rd, 1863, when Rev. James Bowen, of Llansanan (Denbigh shire), accepted the call of the churches. Bethel at this time had a debt of £50 upon it, and another £50 was expended in needful renovation. The energetic pastor wiped off the amount in less than two years. In 1868, another renovation was made sat a cost of £40 which was speedily collected by Mr. Bowen. At Nantmawr, however, much more was needed. A new 198 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. Rev. J. HOWELLF SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 199 chapel became absolutely necessary. An appeal for funds was issued in 1872, and a freehold site procured at a cost of £50. The foundation stone was laid by Thomas Barnes, Esq., of the Quinta, on January 25th1, 1875. Mr. R. S. France, who worked limestone rocks in the neighbourhood, generously promised all the stones and lime which might be required as well as a dona tion of £5 to the Building Fund. His gift is estimated at £120. The chapel, which will acconilnodate 240 people, was opened on August 3rd, 1875, by .the Rev. A. Mackennal, B.A., of Leicester (now of Bowdon, and D.D.), the Rev. J. C. Galloway, M.A., of London, and others. The buildings, which comprise chapel, schoolroom, and minister's house, cost £2,500, which was collected for the most part by the pastor. The English language had made such progress in this neigh bourhood that it was deemed desirable to conduct the services in that tongue. For the sake of a few Welsh people, a sermon is preached once a fortnight in that language on Sunday afternoons. In January, 1884, the chapel was duly registered for the solemnization of marriages. On the last Sunday in December, 1888, the Rev. James Bowen closed his ministerial career, after labouring here for twenty-six years. He now resides at Southport. On January 1st, 1890, Rev. T. Nicholas, of Cefnyvaenor and Byrwydd, took charge of the two churches until the last Sunday in 1891, when he left for Malpas and Threapwood, Cheshire. During his ministry a school-house was built at a cost of £240. The present minister is the Rev. J. Howell, of Arthog, who commenced his pastorate on January 1st, 1893. iDovaston. Dovaston is a township of the parish of Kinnerley. It is eleven miles from Shrewsbury, which in former years was its chief market town, a position which is now occupied by Oswestry, from which place it is distant about seven and a half miles. The beginning of the present century found the inhabitants of this neighbourhood far behind the age. Savage sports, such as dog-fighting, cock-fighting, badger-baiting, and th© like, were indulged in at regular intervals around a pol© erected in some heath land near the site now occupied by the Congregational Chapel, the Parish Church being about a mile distant. During this state of things, on one Sunday afternoon in 1823 or 1824, there might have been seen standing upon a large stone at the corner of the road just below the present chapel a man of gentlemanly appearance and manner, with a burning zeal for the salvation of souls, preaching the words of Divine truth to as dark and benighted a gathering as it was possible to meet with during this century. Very soon the attractive power of the Cross was exercised upon the heart of a man named Thomas Williams, who opened his house for the preaching of the Gospel. Preaching was continued there for two years, and as time has dealt gently with th© old house it may still be seen standing with its thatched roof and paved stone floor. Whilst the services were being conducted in this house, the adjoining farm became occupied — through his connection with the then newly appointed Rector of Llandrinio, — by one of the few survivors of the 21st Light Dragoon Regiment which so narrowly escaped being annihilated in the battle of Waterloo. This farmer, whose name was Mr. Robert Cambidge, was a SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 201 te o H fl <>Oa HCS them." The Sunday School at that early period and down to the present time has been a powerful element of the church at Dovaston. To return to the history of the church. A separate com munity was organised in 1829, the people being up to that date members of the church at Oswestry. The Rev. J. Griffiths held tbe pastorate for ten years, during which time the church greatly prospered; at the end of that period he accepted an invitation to Llandysilio. The church was next placed under the charge of the Rev. D. Harris, of Ruyton-xi-Towns, and remained so fir twenty years. During the ministry of Mr. Harris, mission work was begun in outlying districts, and a new cause started at Melverley mainly through the efforts of Mr. John Price. On the resignation of Mr. Harris, the charge of the church was undertaken by Mr. George Cambidge, son of the man who had been military officer and zealous churchman. Of Mr. George Cambidge the church record says, " He well sustained the pastorate until 1863, when God took him. A man of whom SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 205- Rev. A. WHITTINGHAM. 206 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. it may be truly said, He lived highly respected and beloved and died sincerely and widely lamented." From 1863 to 1868 the pastorate was vacant, and the pulpit was supplied from various sources. In April, 1868, the Rev. J. Landel Jones, of the Memorial College, Brecon, was called to the pastorate which he held for twelve months. The Rev. Lewis Weaver, of Ruyton-xi-Towns, took the over sight of the church in June, 1869, and retained it until 1875. The pulpit was then supplied from various sources for some time. In 1876 the congregations had so increased that a larger building became necessary to accommodate them. Ther© were considerable difficulties in tbe way, and it was not until 1879 that the necessary accommodation could be provided. The plans for the new chapel were prepared by Mr. John Price, an old friend of the church, and in the summer of 1879, the founda tion stone was laid by Alderman Thomas Minshall, Oswestry. The building was opened on Christmas Day of the same year by the Rev. J. C. Galloway, of London. The cost of the new chapel was £400. The debt was cleared off, and the building renovated in 1890. The Revs. Dr. Jenkyn, Thomas Gasquoine, B.A., and J. J. Poynter, all of Oswestry, deserve special mention in this sketch for the signal services rendered by them to tbe church at Dovaston. In 1881, Mr. John Price retired from business and made his home at Dovaston, and up to the time of his death, which took place on January 22nd, 1892, acted as a kind of lay pastor of the church, also taking the oversight of little country causes in the surrounding neighbourhood. Under his care the church flourished ; of him the Eev. J. J. Poynter writes, " Such men are in our rural churches still, and in John Price's death we are reminded again of the debt the large town churches owe to smaller ones in unknown country places where the problems of rural Nonconformity are being worked out, amidst much difficulty and opposition, by unknown but brave and true- hearted Christian men." In December, 1892, the Eev. Albert Whittingham, of Brecon SHROPSH.RE CONGREGATIONALISM. 207 College, was invited to- the pastorate. He accepted the call, and commenced his duties in July, 1893, and was ordained in September of the same year. The union has proved to be a happy one, and has been productive of much good. The church is the scene of great activity, and, Mr. Whittingham reports, "is felt to be an increasing power in the neighbourhood." tSomere Ifoeatb. The first religious services at Bomere Heath were commenced not by natives but by people who had come to reside in the village. Some of these may be mentioned. Two sisters of the nam© of Ash, who had hved together for many years in the service of a Mr. Craig, of Shrewsbury, determined after their master's death to liv© at Bomere Heath. Another Shrewsbury woman, widow of a tea dealer named Wilkinson, came soon afterwards to reside on her own property at Yeaton Villa, about two miles distant. It is probable that these three women were members of the church at Swan HU1, Shrewsbury. Eichard Allen came her© in 1821, and built a malthouse which he worked for several years. He was a native of Madeley. Francis Oliver, a native of Yorkshire, was bailiff or land steward to a gentleman at Leaton Knolls, a place not far from Bomere Heath. William Maddocks, a farmer, came to reside at Grafton, about three miles distant, in 1824. He was a native of Bangor, in Flintshire, a pretty village two miles distant from Worthen- bury, where tbe renowned Philip Henry had once ministered. Mr. Maddocks's ancestors had lived at Bangor for many genera tions, and one of them — his great great grandfather — was the " Cousin William Maddocks " mentioned by Mr. Henry. These earnest people commenced holding religious services about the beginning of the year 1824 in a small place known as the Crab Mill. An old lady, still living, remembers the large wheel in a trough ajid a press which was used for making cider. The building is now occupied as a cottage. Tbe first preachers were members of Swan Hill Church, Shrewsbury, then under the pastoral car© of the Rev. Thomas Weaver. At the commencement the hearers were few, but at SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 20 length considerable attention was aroused. The preacher who had for some time made regular visits to th© place being re moved by death, application was made to the Salop Association for a stated pastor, th© people undertaking to contribute to his support. The request was acceded to, and Mr. George Rogers, ¦of Carmarthen CoUege, was invited to preach at Bomere Heath and the surrounding places. His introduction to the place was as foUows : — Mr. Weaver met him and said to him, " Rogers, there is an opening for a man like you at Bomere Heath, but it is a poor benighted place, and you will not get much." "I will go " was the ready reply. As the congregations continued to increase, it soon became necessary to build a larger place of worship. Mrs. Wilkinson, of Yeaton Villa, purchased a piece of ground and gave it as a site for the erection of a chapel, and weekly contributions were commenced with the object of providing the needful funds. The result was the erection of the present chapel, capable of seating about 300 persons, and at the end of 1827 reported to be " frequently full." It was finished, as a stone in the waU shows, in the year 1827, and was opened for worship in the same year. It was built of red stone from the Harmer Hill quarries, An old account book shows the total cost to have been £226 3s. 8d., and gives the names of nineteen people who gratuitously undertook the necessary haulagej asi weU as a list of articles "presented as gifts to the chapel by benevolent friends," e.g., the chandelier, three windows, pulpit bible, hymn book and cushion. This book also gives a list of contributions from Congregationalists in other parts of the county. The church of nineteen members was formed on Tuesday, November 13th, 1827, by the Rev. Thomas Weaver. The hst of the first members is as foUows: — Mrs. Hill, Mr. Oliver, Misses H. and E. Davies, Mr. and Mrs. Reddow, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Nunn, Mr. and Mrs. Withers, Miss J. Pate, Mr. Bunce, Mr. Davies, Mr. Oliver, Mr. Allen. The two first deacons were Messrs. Richard Allen and Francis 'Oliver, who have been mentioned above. The pastor was ordained in May, 1828. He married Miss 210 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. ^'5!M otnH$$&a \ ^^t"',iW/ tj^^'rw&tfm 1Ru^tons=oWbe=Eleven*XTown8. Nonconformists made repeated attempts in the latter part of the last century and the early part of this, to gain a footing in Ruyton. In 1785,> a, Richard Richards obtained a license to hold religious services in his house. The original license has, kindly been presented to the Ruyton Congregational Church by J. Parry-Jones, Esq., Oswestry. The following is a copy: — "Shropshire. — At the General Quarter Sessions of the Peace of our Sovereign Lord the King held at the GuUdhafll in Shrewsbury in and for the County of Salop On Tuesday in the week next after the Translation of Saint Thomas, The Martyr, to wit tbe twelfth Day of July in the twenty-fifth year of the Reign of our Sovereign, Lord George the third by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty five. Before Edward Pemberton, John Gardner, John Kynaston, Esquires, and others tbeir Fellow Justices assigned to keep the peace in the County aforesaid, and also to hear and determine divers Felonies, Trespasses and other Mis demeanours in the same County done and committed. Robert More, Esquire, Sheriff, ordered that the Dwelling House of Richard Richards at Ruyton in this County, be recorded as a Place of Religious Worship for his Majesty's Protestant subjects dissenting from the Church of England and it is hereby ordered accordingly. By the Court, J. LOXDALE. D.J.C.P." 228 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. How long services were held at this place and why they were discontinued is unknown. Nor is it known who Richard Richards was. Probably he was a Baptist, as the Baptists appear to have been th© first Dissenters to hold religious services in Ruyton, and at the close of the last century ther© were several members of that denomination in the neighbour hood. Among the most zealous was Hannah Price, the grand mother of Mr. John Price, Dovaston. In a paper which Mr. John Price read at the Jubilee Meeting of Ruyton Congregational Church in March, 1883, he said : " Dissenters had tried at various times to obtain a footing in the place but failed. First the Baptists from Shrewsbury ob tained permission to preach in a cottage not far from the Vicarage, owned by two maiden sisters, known in the village as Peggy and Betty ; but this was not allowed to continue for long. The Misses Kynaston, of Shrewsbury, who owned Ruyton Hall, purchased the cottage from the old ladies and then forbade preaching to be carried on in it." In their addresses at the Jubilee Meeting, both Mr. John Jones, one of the deacons (then nearly an octogenarian), and Mr. Price referred to the intellectual, moral and religious con dition of the inhabitants before Nonconformists preached here. According to the " Oswestry Advertizer " for March 28th, 1883, Mr. Jones " said if they had gone through the place from fifty-three to sixty years ago on a, Sunday, they would have found but one place of worship in it, and that was the parish church ; and at the time of service they would have found but few persons in the church, but the public houses full and many sitting outside around the doors and others oarrying drink to them, while others were playing at 'pitch and toss.' There was but one service in a- week in the church In those days the people of the village were Very ignorant and of lax morality, but God had looked down in mercy upon them and put it into the hearts of His servants to come and preach the Gospel unto them. He remembered two Primitive Methodist preachers preaching in the streets and they were mobbed out of the place and gave up coming.'' Mr. J. Price said : " Fifty-two years ago it may truly be said of Ruyton that darkness covered it and gross darkness the- SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 229 pqPu H-1HMH i PhOfcO H -XpP3 230 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. people .... Some of the farmers who lived at a distance from church and used to attend its service on Sunday mornings, used also to order their lads to come to church and to bring their plough coulters with them to the blacksmith's shop to be sharpened while they were in church, so that tbey could take them back with them. In fact, I am much mistaken if there is not one with us to-day who has taken part in those deeds of darkness." He also stated that " Sixty years ago, the village was notorious for pugilists. He had seen twenty men or more stripped in a, field in the middle of th© village fighting. He remembered seeing the parson's horse in th© blacksmith's pent house being shod on a. Sunday morning while the service was being conducted in the church, for the horse to be ready foi- the parson to go out on in the afternoon." The attention of the Rev. Dr. Jenkyn, of Oswestry, having been called to the place, he visited the village in the spring of 1832. He always drove in, and drew up in front of the Admiral Benbow," and using his gig as a platform, conducted services in the open air. The opposition was at first very strong, the pugilists and village roughs being supplied with drink beforehand and armed with old kettles, pots, pans, and brass instruments with which they tried to drown the preacher's voice; they had also rotten eggs and apples and dead cats to throw at him. On one of the first occasions the Doctor an nounced his intention of preaching on the following Sunday and brin-ing with him a legal friend. When he drove into the village on the following Sunday, he was accompanied by Mr. J. Lacon, an ironmonger, of Oswestry, whom the crowd inferred to be a lawyer. Although the roughs were supplied with bags of flour, the preacher was not molested, and Dr. Jenkyn preached from Luke xxiii., 33. Seeing that they had a man of steel to deal with, the mob soon ceased to interfere with the Doctor, who preached in Ruy ton every Sunday throughout the summer of 1832, sometimes in the open air, sometimes in an old barn which stood in the field adjoining the present " hearse bouse." Ruyton Park farm house had recently been buUt and Mr. Samuel Bickerton opened his door to Dr. Jenkyn to hold services in the spacious kitchen SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 231 Rev. T, MORGAN. 232 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. during the following winter. There are several still living who attended these services. The site of the chapel and the graveyard were bought from Mr. S. Bickerton for £15. The garden on the east side of the chapel was bought for a nominal sum to be used as a burial ground, but up to the present the yard on the west side has sufficed. The Trust Deed was signed on December 26th, 1832, and the ehapel was completed in the spring of 1833. It contained several old-fashioned square family pews, and also a number of benches in the middle. It had seating accommodation for about 200 people, and cost about £500. Mr. Nathanael Edwards, of Ruyton, was the builder. While the chapel was being erected, an invitation to the pastorate was sent to the Rev. D. Harries, of Carmarthen College, who accepted it and settled here soon afterwards. Even before the walls were plastered, Dr. Jenkyn preached in the new chapel, which was formally opened on Good Friday, 1833, when Dr. Ross, Kidderminister, and Dr. Jenkyn preached the dedicatory sermons. In August the church was formed and Mr. Harries ordained. Dr. Jenkyn gave the charge to the minister from the words, " Do the work of an evangelist." Rev. Thomas Weaver, of Shrewsbury, preached to the people from the text, "I beseech you therefore that you confirm your love towards him." Rev. J. Pattison, of Wem, offered the Ordination Prayer. Revs. J. F. Mandeno (Wem), D. James (Hadnall), J. Griffiths (Dovaston), — Rogers and — Cooke (Baptists, Oswestry), also took part. Mr. J. Price, who was present, states that the tone of Dr. Jenkyn's charge was so very severe that the congregation sympathised with their young minister. In addition to Ruyton, Mr. Harries had charge also of the churches at WUcot, Dovaston, and Melverley. During the latter years of his life, he had charge of only Ruyton and Wilcot. Mr. J. Price joined the church in August, and was elected one of the first deacons. He and his wife lived for a short time in a cottage which stood nearly opposite "The Stores." Here a prayer meeting was held each Sunday before the evening service. SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 233 234 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. and the worshippers would afterwards march to the chapel, singing as they went, and would b© joined by others. When Mr. Price removed to th© house on the Brown Hill, now occupied by Mr. William Nicholls, the first Sunday School in the parish was held there. Mr. John Jones, one of the deacons, Mr. Robert Mansel Wilde, now of Wilcot, and Mr. J. Morris assisted in this work. Mr. Wilde also held classes in his house, Croft Cottage, Holden Lane, until the increase of num bers caused their removal to the chapel. Among the first members of th© church were the Rev. David and Mrs. Mary Harries; John and Elizabeth Price; John and Martha Jones ; Edward and Ann Jones ; Richard and Jane Bul lock; Robert Mansel and Sarah Wilde; Mary Griffiths; and Thomas Edwards. Of these the only survivors are Mrs. Martha Jones, now residing with her son in Shrewsbury, and Mr. R. M. Wilde, Wilcot. After much opposition, Mr. Harries and his wife won the esteem of the people, so that it was custcmary for many of them to attend service at the parish church in the morning and at the Congregational Church in the evening. Several of the principal farmers in the neighbourhood joined the church, and for several years the cause was in a flourishing state. For a long period the pastor and his wife conducted a. school, which was most successful. The chapel was registered for the solemnization of marriages on December 7th, 1866. After prolonged ill-health, the Pastor succumbed to an attack of paralysis on February 27th, 1867, in his 60th year, having just completed a faithful ministry of thirty-four years. After his death the church paid £100 to the executors of his will for the house in which he lived and the garden attached to it. As Mr. Harries had been unable to attend to his pastoral duties during his later years, the congregations had become small, and there. was urgent need of securing a successor. The churches at Ruyton and Wilcot on July 9th, 1867, invited Mr. J. Landel Jones, who shortly afterwards settled here. Or dination services were held on January 2nd, 1868. Eev. T. Gasquoine, B.A., of Oswestry, expounded Congregational Prin ciples; Eev. C. Bateman, Ellcsmere, asked the questions; Rev. SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 235 D. D. Evans, Bridgnorth, offered the Ordination Prayer; Rev. Dr. Morris, Brecon, gave the charge to the Minister from Mark ix., 29 ; and Revs. H. Griffiths, of Brecon, G. Kettle, of Shrewsbury, J. Watkins, of Grimpo, and W. Price, Minsterley, took part. In the summer of 1868, the chapel was reseated and refloored at a cost of £88. Re-opening services were held on July 23rd. The service in the afternoon was conducted by Rev. W. Crippen, of Boston Spa, and Rev. D. D. Evans, of Bridgnorth, who preached from I. Peter i, 12. Thomas Barnes, Esq., M.P., presided over a public meeting in th© evening. On January 10th, 1869, Rev. J. Landel Jones resigned his charge and he left at the end of March. Though brief, Mr. Jones's ministry here was successful. Finding only fourteen members on the roll, he soon raised the church and congregation to a more vigorous state. The Rev. Lewis Weaver, who had been for some years in the Primitive Methodist ministry, was invited on June 13th, 1869. On June 28th, the deacons of the Ruyton, Wilcot, and Dovaston churches, met at Wilcot along with the Revs. L. Weaver and D. D. Evans, of Bridgnorth. It was then arranged for Mr. Weaver to take the oversight of these three churches. He entered upon his labours in the foUowing month. During the first few years of his ministry, the work made good progress, the congregation increased, new members were admitted, and the debt was gradually paid off. But, unfortunately for a time the pros pects of the church did not continue so bright. The Jubilee Meeting was held on Good Friday, 1883. The Rev. L. Weaver, who presided, gave a lengthy statement of the work done during the fourteen years of his pastoral charge. The substance of the addresses delivered by Messrs. John Jones and J. Price has already been given. Mr. Weaver initiated the movement to form the church at Weirbrook. In October, 1887, he resigned, and left for Liver pool, where be still labours. For the next seven years the church had no resident pastor, the pulpit being supplied by lay preachers of the district. During this period severe losses were sustained through the death of the deacons, Mr. John Jones and Mr. Thomas Rees, 236 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. both of whom had served the church faithfully for many year*. The death of Mr. J. Price, of Dovaston, was also a great loss to the church. He was one of its first deacons and first lay preachers, and to the last he faithfully and lovingly served it. On Sunday, September 9th, 1894, it was unanimously resolved to invite the present pastor, Rev. T. Morgan, to take charge of the church ; the invitation was accepted, and Mr. Morgan com menced his ministry on the first Sunday in October. The Ordination Services were held on Wednesday and Thurs day, November 7th and 8th. On Wednesday evening, Rev. T. Townsend, Shrewsbury, delivered the charge to the church, from the words, " For the people had a mind to work " (Neh. iv., 6). On Thursday afternoon, Principal E. Herber Evans, D.D., Ban gor College, gave an exposition of Congregational Principles based upon the text, " The church of the living God " (I. Tim. iii., 15). Rev. W. E. Jenkins, Shrewsbury, offered the Ordin ation Prayer; and Rev. J. B. Walton, B.A., LL.B., Wem, delivered the charge to the minister. In the evening, Dr. Evans preached to a crowded congregation from Genesis I., 26. Revs. J. J. Poynter, J. Davies-Jones (Oswestry), and E. G. Roberts (Preeshenlle), took part in th© proceedings. Immediately after the new pastor took charge, a Sunday School and Band of Hope were formed, and week-night services held. In the summer of 1896, a new and commodious school was erected. The memorial stones were laid on July 9th by Mrs. P. H. Minshall and Mrs. James Edwards, Oswestry, Mrs. W. Tomlinson, Ruyton1, and W. Jones, Esq., J.P., Shrewsbury. The Pastor presided over the proceedings, and addresses were given by W. Jones, Esq., and H. E. Rogers, Esq., of Shrewsbury. In the evening a public meeting was held under the presidency of the Rev. J. J. Poynter, and inspiring addresses were given by Revs. A. Whittingham, Dovaston, E. G. Roberts, Preeshenlle, W. E. Jenkins, Shrewsbury, and Messrs. J. Edwards and P. H. Minshall, Oswestry. The building was completed early in October, and the opening services were held on the 29th. In the afternoon, the Pastor preached from Matt, vi, 10, " Thy Kingdom come"; and in the evening, Eev. Stanley Rogers, Liverpool, preached from the SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 237 words, " To-day I must abide at thy house " (Luke xix., 5). The building has seating accommodation for 250, and cost £324, of which £114 was paid in 1896. The roll of members has steadily increased, and is now (1897) larger than it has ever been. Special attention is being paid to the children and young people. A Christian Endeavour Society has been formed, and all branches of the work are in a ¦Vigorous and encouraging state. jfrankton. A family who formerly resided at Grimpo removed to the neigh bourhood of Frankton in the year 1832, and as there was no chapel close at hand, invited the Rev. J. Francis, of Grimpo, to preach in their house occasionally. After Mr. Francis and other preachers from Oswestry and district had continued their ministrations for some time, a church was formed in the year 1833 in a house occupied by William Gittins in Frankton Lane. The following ten members were united in Christian fellowship : Samuel Teggin, Edward Jones, Jane Jones, William Davies, Thomas Newnes, Richard Gittins, Joseph Davies, Margaret Davies, Thomas Roberts, and Margaret Hughes. Over this church the Rev. J. Francis presided for nine years. In 1834, as the congregations had greatly increased, a place of worship was erected at a cost of £420, after considerable difficulty had been experienced in procuring a building site. The Revs. T. W. Jenkyn, of Oswestry, and W. Williams, of Wern, preached at the opening services. In the year 1843, William Hodges became the minister. In 1846, a stable and other requisites were built at a cost of £45, which was soon subscribed. In 1852, some new pews were made and other alterations were undertaken, involving an expenditure of about £37. Mr. Hodges continued to be minister at Frankton until 1857, when he left for Bretherton (Lanes.) Soon afterwards Mr. J. S. Toft accepted a call to the pastorate. In his time a difference arose between Mr. Toft and some of tbe leading members, in consequence of which fifteen church members and sixty of the Sunday scholars withdrew from his ministry and wor shipped at the house of Mrs. Hewitt, some distance from the chapel. Towards the end of 1863, Mr. Toft retired, preaching his fare well sermon on the last Sunday in 1863. Theparty who had with- SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 239 drawn then returned; and on Thursday, February 4th, 1864, a meeting was held under the presidency of the Eev. William Hodges, when twenty-two persons were received into fellowship, and the church members on the following Sunday entered into a covenant with one another, resolving to watch over one another's spiritual interests, to endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, to attend regularly the house of God, to con tribute cheerfully of their substance, and to watch specially over the children in the Sunday School. After the church had remained without a minister until 1867 the Rev. Isaac Watkins entered upon the pastorate of Frankton and Grimpo on October 13th in that year. In the latter part of 1871, he accepted a call from th© church at Bretherton. Before leaving, he arranged with four of the leading members of the Frankton Church to be responsible for finding and enter taining supplies for three months of the year each, and in this way the pulpit has been filled up to the present time. In the year 1877, the interior of' the chapel was thoroughly renovated, the old high-backed pews being taken out and the gallery removed, and movable pitch pine seats being placed in the chapel. A pitch pine rostrum, was substituted for the old pulpit. The whole of the work cost £120, which was raised at once by the Frankton Church without appealing for help from outside. Mrs. Paddock, of the Ridge Farm, generously found, in the year 1880, sufficient money (over £100) for a new Sunday School adjoining the chapel. It is well filled, the scholars numbering between eighty and ninety. Mr. Carsley, of Montreal (an old scholar), provides a free supply of magazines every month for the scholars. During the last fifteen years, two new harmoniums have been purchased for the chapel and school, and also two heating stoves. The finances of the church are in a flourishing condition. The late Mrs. Paddock bequeathed about £600 to the chapel. The church membership at present numbers twenty-five. ^> Ifoarmei* 1btll. The Chapel at Harmer Hill* was built in 1834, mainly through the efforts of Mr. R. Bickerton, of Newton on the Hill, a viUage adjoining Harmer Hill. He was a staunch Congregationalist, and his generosity led him to give the site on which the chapel now stands. His efforts to gather funds to build the chapel were unwearying. Prior to this there had been no place of worship in the im mediate neighbourhood, which was noted for drunkenness and low morality. Under the ministry of the Rev. George Rogers, the standard of morality was speedily raised, the Pastor gathering round him a. band of workers whose mode of life influenced the village for good. A schoolroom was built in connection with the chapel, and a day school was commenced which was conducted by Mr. Rogers for several years with a large measure of success. Rev. George Rogers resigned the pastorate in 1859, and in 1861, the Home Missionary Society adopted Harmer Hill as a station, and Rev. W. Alnwick was located here. He laboured steadily and sincerely for some time, and was succeeded by a very able preacher and zealous pastor, Rev. W. E. Whereat. Under his ministry the congregations steadily increased. He left for Prees, where he commenced his ministry on February 18th, 1866, and died almost immediately afterwards. Mr. Whereat was succeeded at Harmer HiU by the Rev. Joseph Crewe, who, leaving his trade as a cooper, was ordained to the ministry. He laboured here in connection with the church at Bomere Heath, which, at his removal, was let to the Calvinistic Methodists, by whom it is still held. * For additional details, see history of Bomere Heath Chapel (pages, 208 — 212). SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 241 rU < o P3pqa p^ f the members of Queen Street Chapel, Wolverhampton, which exerts itself in teaching and preaching on all sides, and in this case has ex tended its operations into Shropshire. The cause commenced by the holding of a prayer meeting at the house of Mr. Robinson of Long Common. In August, 1857, Mr. Robinson applied to one of th© Queen Street lay preachers to conduct a service in his house. Since then tbe connection of Shiplev with Wolverhampton has been unbroken. On May 22nd, 1860, a piece of ground formed by cross roads at New Inns was purchased for the erection of a chapel. New Inns is a small hamlet in the parish of Claverley, and is distant half-a-mile from Shipley, and about as far from Rudge Heath. Upon this ground a Gothic chapel was erected. It was opened for worship on Tuesday, April 30th, 1861. The Rev. R. D. Wilson, of Birmingham, late pastor of Queen Street Chapel, Wolverhampton, was the preacher; the Rev. J. P. Palmer, of Snow Hill Chapel, Wolverhampton, and the Rev. D. D. Evans, of Bridgnorth, taking part in the service. On tbe following Sunday, Mr. J. R. Peacock, of Bridgnorth, and the Rev. J. Richards, of Stourbridge, preached. The total cost of the chapel was £420 lis. 6d., which was all paid by 1866. The friends who engaged in the work of preaching at Shipley coUected the greater part of the money. Shipley Church is a branch of Queen Street, Wolverhampton, with separate officers. Its history belongs, therefore, rather to the Staffordshire Congregational Union than to the Salop Association. ^S&'i&^B- J2& \ v \BPJ XTbe (SUunta. The Rev. T. Davison, who served the Quinta Church as pastor for twenty years, has said that "the residence of Mr. Barnes at the Quinta will be chiefly memorable for the erection of the Congre gational Church, a beautiful Gothic structure, covered with ivy and roses, and internally decorated with great taste, constituting it one of the chief attractions of the district. Ever since its erection, Mr. Barnes has entirely supported the ministry, by providing a lovely manse and a liberal salary, also personally, in conjunction with his late excellent wife, co-operating in all the varied activities of church and Sunday School work. The relations between Mr. Barnes and the minister were the most cordial and hearty. There was not the remotest approach to authority and dictation on the part of Mr. Barnes towards the minister, who entirely depended upon him for pecuniary support, but invariably the greatest respect and affection. This was the experience of twenty years by one of the pastors." As the name of Thomas Barnes, Esq., is so often met with in the history of Shropshire Congregationalism, a brief sketch of his career will be in place here. Mr. Barnes was born at Farn- worth in 1812. Receiving parental training of an exemplary Christian character, be became in early youth a true foUower of the Lord Jesus Christ, and was received as a member of the church at Famworth, then under the pastoral care of the Rev. D. Dyson. He was soon elected a deacon and superintendent of the Sunday School, efficiently filling both offices for several years. In 1837, he established, in conjunction with his father and brother, a day school, still known in Farnworth as "The Seminary." For some time he was treasurer to the Blackburn Academy (now Lancashire College). In 1849, he was made a magistrate for Lancashire, and from 1852 to 1857, and again from SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 281 rl< aoH teD S WE-i 282 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. 1861 to 1868 represented Bolton in Parliament as a Liberal. He removed to the Quinta in 1858, and was appointed a magis trate for Denbighshire, filling also the office of High Sheriff. He was treasurer of the Salop Association from 1861 to 1885. This office, to quote Mr. Davison again, "so far from being merely a nominal one and limited to the subject of finance, included in his estimation and fulfilment of it a real and hearty interest in the true welfare of the churches throughout the county. This was shown by the regularity of his attendance at aU the meetings of the- Association, and the wise counsels and practical suggestions he was so willing and able to give. In conjunction with our late esteemed brethren, the Rev. D. D. Evans, of Bridgnorth, and Mr. Thomas Minshall, of Oswestry, he went on several occasions tours1 amongst the churches, especially the weaker ones, in the county, to encourage and stim ulate them in their good work. " Those who were intimately associated with Mr. Barnes in the work of the Salop Association will always cherish the most pleasant and grateful recollections of his genuine devotion and real practical interest in all its departments of Christian work, and his old friends with whom he- worked so happily, as well as his new friends who may only know him by name, will earnestly pray that now he is laid aside by great physical in ability and entire incapacity for any active work, he may have a peaceful and happy waiting for his heavenly reward." Mr. Barnes passed to his rest April 24th, 1897. The Quinta Church was opened for worship on October 14th, 1858, there being a large gathering of ministers and friends. The following is a copy of the circular issued on the occasion by Mr. Barnes : — " The Quinta Congregational Church. Mr. Barnes presents his compliments to and invites to the Public Services connected with the Dedication of the above Church which will be held as follows : — "On Thursday, October 14th, the Rev. Dr. Raffles, of Liver pool, will preach in the morning, and the Rev. G. D. McGregor in the evening. "Services to commence at 11 o'clock a.m. and at half-past 6 p.m. " On the following Sunday, the Rev. Samuel Martin, of West- SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. m rlOOK omrl pointed. He remained until early in 1892, when he accepted a caU to the pastorate of Whitchurch. The next pastor was the Rev. W. F. Dawson, who received a unanimous call on April 10th, 1892, and commenced work on Sunday, June 26th;. He was ordained on Wednesday, April 12th, 1893; Rev. F. Tinkler, of Shrewsbury, presided during the earlier part of the service, Rev. G. S. Walker, of Sidcup. during the later. Rev. W. Gee, of Oakengates, offered prayer; Rev. W. Prothero, of Broseley, asked the usual ques tions and gave the eharge to the minister : Rev. W. E. Jenkins, of Shrewsbury, offered the Ordination Prayer. Soon after Mr. Dawson's ordination, the Sunday School was reorganised, and additional deacons were appointed. In May, 1896, Mr. Dawson received and accepted a call to the pastorate of the church at Lichfield. On the first Sunday in January, 1897, Mr. Matthew Charles, of Bangor College, opened his ministry at Madeley. The Ordination Service was held on Wednesday, February 3rd, in the afternoon, when the Rev. T. Townsend, of Shrews bury, presided. Rev. E. Elliot, of Bridgnorth, read a portion of Scripture and offered prayer ; Rev. W. Prothero, of Broseley, asked the usual questions ; Rev. J. J. Poynter, of Oswestry, gave an exposition of Congregational Principles; Rev. Silas Charles, of Ferndale. offered the Ordination Prayer; and Rev. Professor Davies, M.A., of Brecon College, gave the charge to the pastor. Afterwards a tea meeting was held, foUowed by a public meeting presided over by H. E. Rogers, Esq., J.P., of Shrewsbury. On the foUowing Sunday, the pulpit was occupied by the Rev. W. H. Jones, of Newport. Meirbrooh. The " Tabernacle '' at Weirbrook is an unpretentious iron structure, and is about a mile from West Felton, on the road side leading to Sandford. It owes its origin to efforts first made in 1874 by the Rev. Lewis Weaver, then pastor of the church at Ruyton-xi-Towns, and for some time it was a branch of that church. Mr. Weaver was closely identified with the formation of the "Gospel Tent Mission'' for Shropshire, which did good work in country places during the great religious activity caused by the first visit to England of Messrs. Moody and Sankey, the American evangelists. Tent services were held at Weirbrook in 1878, with encouraging results, and these were followed by a house-to-house visitation and cottage meet ings. Shortly afterwards, however, local influences closed every ¦door against th© workers, and preaching bad to be continued in the open air. Ultimately a small plot of land was gener ously given, at a nominal rent, by a neighbouring Roman Catholic landowner, Sir. H. T. Tyrwhitt, and the present building, capable of seating fifty persons, was put up at a cost of £60. By the liberal help of Mr. John Dovaston, of West Felton, a harmonium was purchased, and crowded opening services were conducted by Mr. Weaver on Sunday, December 16th, 1883. The amount required for the building was ¦gradually raised by special efforts and voluntary contributions. In 1887, Mr. Weaver removed to Liverpool, when the trust of the property passed to the Rev. John J. Poynter, Honorary Secretary of the North-Western District of the Salop Associa tion, and in the following year it was vested in trustees for the use of the Weirbrook congregation. In the year 1890, by mutual consent, Weirbrook was united with Grimpo as a joint pastorate under the care of the Rev. 314 SHROPSHIRE CONGREGATIONALISM. John Charles, now of Cefn, and this arrangement is continued under the present p'astor, the Rev. Henry Crane. In spite of adverse local conditions the place is fairly prosperous. The Sunday services keep their hold on the people, and these are supplemented by a week-day Bible Class for Women, which is conducted by the minister's wife, a weekly devotional service, h'me visitation, the occasional use of the lantern, and other similar agencies. From the hearty response to these efforts it is evident that the chapel supplies a real need, and that the little band of workers have not spent their strength in vain. 3 9002 00476 0436