WILLIAM GEORGE'S SONS LTD.
89 PARK STREET
BRISTOL 1
FAMOUS CHAPEL TO
Iy
BISHOPSGATE LANDMARK
When the final service is held at Bishops- 1
?ate Chapel, E.C., on the evening of Sun- 1
:lay, July 30. it will close a history of over
two centuries, and leave the heart and home
of Nonconformity, the City of London, with
only one church of that body, the City
Temple, Holborn-viaduct.
City workers desirous of seeing the last
of the old place will have the opportunity,
at a midday service next Tuesday, when
the Rev. Dr. Campbell Morgan will preach.
There is no intention of permitting the
last representative of Nonconformity in the ]
City to lapse. A comprehensive scheme of
restoration and improvements, to which the
City Corporation has contributed, is now
in hand.
K
ANCIENT MEETING-HOUSES, &c.
ANCIENT MEETING-HOUSES ;
OR,
MEMORIAL PICTURES
NONCONFORMITY IN OLD LONDON,
GODFREY HOLDEN PIKE.
HE IS THE VICTOR WHO TO TRUTH DOTH YIELD."
LONDON :
PASSMORE & ALABASTER 18, PATERNOSTER ROW.
S. W. PARTRID&E & Co.. 9, PATERNOSTER ROW.
MDCCCLXX.
TO THE
PASTORS, OFFICE-BEARERS, & CONGEEGATIONS
PROTESTANT DISSENTERS.
THE present volume is dedicated to you with all con-
fidence as to the respect you cherish for the prin-
ciples it illustrates, and the esteem in which you
hold the sainted men whose lives it records. A re-
view of the severe conflicts, and of the heroic exer-
tions of the fathers in the faith, it is sent forth as
an affectionate memorial of their loyalty to con-
science, their fidelity to revealed truth, and of their
sublime steadfastness amid difficulty and suffering.
It thus seeks to extend the pure fame of those
worthy confessors who so nobly defended the prin-
ciples of civil and religious liberty when fiercely
assailed by the corrupt forces of tyranny and priest-
craft ; to whom, therefore, under Divine Providence,
the present generation must trace its priceless ad-
2072012
Vi DEDICATION.
vantages. An endeavour is also made to do honour
to those nonconforming worthies of the eighteenth
century upon whom devolved the grave responsi-
bilities which arose out of the moral victories of an
earlier period. The reader will learn something of
the patience, courage, and cheerfulness with which
the Dissenters in the old City toiled while carrying
on the work of Christ a work now happily ex-
panded into the unexampled evangelistic efforts of
the present era. By a faithful examination of
original manuscripts and other standard autho-
rities, it has been sought to preserve accurate
memories of the rapidly disappearing sanctuaries
of old London ; and thus, in some degree, to per-
petuate the influence of those centres of religious
life. The book is circulated with the hope that it
may strengthen the love of freedom which so emi-
nently distinguished the pastors, officers, and mem-
bers of the Churches in less peaceful times, thus
leading to a yet wider diffusion and a more mani-
fest triumph of the Spirit of Liberty.
G. H. P.
Enfield, March, 1870.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
DEVONSHIRE SQUARE.
Introductory Allusion to the Baptist in Hudibras Jasper
Fisher First planting of the Society in Devonshire- square
WILLIAM KIFFEN and his biographers Early troubles
and conversion Secedes from the Established Church
Joins the "Independents" under John Lathorp, and com-
mences preaching His marriage Is imprisoned Other
troubles Enters into the Dutch trade His rapid nse
Ecclesiastical condition of England on the eve of the civil
wars Kiffen an officer in the Parliamentary army Bap-
tismal controversies " Gangrene" Edwards The custom of
anointing New troubles Alleged plot to murder the King
A missing MS Domestic sorrows The Hewling tragedy
Battle of Sedgemoor The "bloody" assizes Eeaction
of public opinion Kiffen is called to Court Made an alder-
man Secedes from the church His liberality Death and
character THOMAS PATIENT Dies of the plague in 1665
Is succeeded by DANIEL DYKE His death The ancient
discipline at Devonshire -square EICHARD ADAMS His
persecution Succeeds Kiffen Disputes about psalmody
MARK KEY Sir GL and Lady Page Dr. SAYER EUDD His
church removes to Devonshire -square Disagreement with
the people Libelled by Ivimey Eemoves to Maze-pond
Vlll CONTENTS.
GEORGE BRAITHWAITE Early life and conversion Becomes
a Baptist, and commences his ministry Unpopularity of his
treatise against public-houses Accession at Devonshire-
square Quarrel between that church and the Society at
Maze-pond His last days and death JOHN STEVENS
Charges against him Division in the church Some par-
ticulars of his life WALTER RICHARDS His brief pastorate
and resignation JOHN MACGOWAN Early life Talents as
a writer Death TIMOTHY THOMAS His disadvantages
Genial nature Death The future of Devonshire-square.
PAGE 1
CHAPTER II.
PINNERS' HALL.
Ancient associations of the site The hall is leased by the
NonconformistsANTHONY PALMER His troubles Eemoves
to London Works with G. Fownes Death EICHARD
WAVEL Sufferings The Merchants' Lecture Sabba-
tarian Baptists Dr. Watts and his people in Pinners' Hall
JEREMIAH HUNT His talents Friendship with Collins
and Lord Barrington JAMES FOSTER His early days
Eemoval to London Visits Lord Kilmarnock Foster and
his eulogists His popularity and defective teaching CALEB
FLEMING Early life Becomes a Socinian partisan Extinc-
tion of the church PAGE 61
CHAPTER III.
CROSBY HALL.
Early history of the promises The hall is leased by the
Presbyterians THOMAS WATSON His devotion and industry
Death STEPHEN CHARNOCKE His ancestor ' ' Eosicrucian"
Early life of Stephen Settles in Dublin Eeturns to Lon-
don and serves under Watson at Crosby Hall Works Last
resting-place False story about him SAMUEL SLATER
CONTENTS. ix
The lecturers at Crosby Hall BENJAMIN GROSVENOR A
protegH of Keach Secedes from the Baptists Great prosperity
of the church under his pastorate Eetires Society becomes
extinct ; PAGE 79
CHAPTER IV.
THE OLD JEWRY.
The site named after the Jews Sufferings of its early
inhabitants Description of the old meeting-house EDMUND
CALAMY SAMUEL BORFET JOHN SHOWER Early training
He travels over Europe Rome in the seventeenth cen-
tury Travelling adventures Returns to England in 1687
His engagement at Silver-street under John Howe Removes
to Cripplegate Erection of the Old Jewry Meeting-house
Correspondence with Lord Oxford on the Occasional Con-
formity Bill The promoters of that measure Robert Harley,
Earl of Oxford Shower's last days TIMOTHY ROGERS
A strange story belonging to the Old Jewry, note "A
broken vessel " JOSEPH BENNETT His early trials SIMON
BROWNE Shepton Mallet his birth-place, see note Settles
at Portsmouth Removes to London, 1716 Extraordinary
hallucination He retires to Shepton Mallett Continues his
studies Describes his own case, see note Behaviour in
company His works Cause of the delusion Death and
character THOMAS LEAYESLEY His unpopularity SAMUEL
CHANDLER His education and college companions Settle-
ment at Peckham Is engaged on a lectureship at the Old
Jewry Removes to London Popery and the Pretender
The Gentleman's Magazine and the Dissenters Romanist
disputes Chandler's zeal against the papacy His action in
the Rebellion year, 1745 His great success Mary Chandler
DR. MILES His singular industry RICHARD PRICE
Early discipline Removes to London Settles at Newington-
X CONTENTS.
green His book on Civil Liberty Admirers and detractors
Doctrinal views Death of Mends Centenary sermon on
the Eevolution Death THOMAS AMORY Not popular An
archdeacon is invited to assume the pastorate NATHANIEL
WHITE ABRAHAM: EEES His vast industry in preparing
his Encyclopaedia His popularity and professorship at
Hoxton Last days of the Old Jewry Meeting-house
New chapel in Jewin-street Death of Dr. Eees DAVID
DAVIDSON Discouraging state of the congregation The
pastor resigns Extinction of the society Eeflections
PAGE 95
CHAPTEE V.
THE SABBATARIAN BAPTISTS IN OLD LONDON.
Old Cripplegate Curriers' Hall FRANCIS BAMPEIELD
His provincial experience Eemoval to London Persecuted
Scene in Pinners' Hall in 1683 The pastor's arrest and
death in Newgate EDWARD STENNETT His residence at
Wallingford The Castle and its privileges serve the cause of
Nonconformity A plot defeated Pastorate at Pinners' Hall
Death Abingdon JOSEPH STENNETT Early industry
Aids the Eevolution Becomes pastor of the Sabbatarians
A politician Marries a French Protestant Effects of revok-
ing the Edict of Nantes Tunbridge Wells in 1700 Stennett's
popularity as an author Many of his pieces lost Dissenters
and the war of the Spanish Succession Treaty of Utrecht
The Ministry court the Dissenters Stennett's reply Last
days and death EDWARD TOWNSHEND THOMAS WHITE-
WOOD EGBERT BURNSIDE His early days Singularities
Some account of his denomination, note Death Mill-yard,
Q-oodman's-fields The records not accessible Whitechapel
in the olden time Petticoat-lane under James I. Who was
Goodman ? The Wilson MSS. Founding of the Mill -yard
Society The people's peculiarities The Fifth Monarchists
CONTENTS. xi
JOHN JAMES His arrest and trial Prison experience
An enthusiast in life but brave in death. Execution His
character JOHN SAVAGE JOHNMAULDEN ROBERT CORN-
WAITE DANIEL NOBLE WILLIAM SLATER Places occupied
by the Sabbatarians Their character Other societies which
have settled at Mill-yard, note PAGE 159
CHAPTER VI.
BURY STREET, ST. MARY AXE.
The old chapel still standing Ancient associations of the
neighbourhood 'Founding of the church JOSEPH CARYL
Early life Conduct in the civil wars Appreciated by Crom-
well Great industry Death WILLIAM BEARMAN His
charities JOHN HOWE Libelled by Wood The Owen
family Early tutors Enters the Church Establishment
Removes to London Coggeshall Owen and the Long Par-
liament Removes to Oxford Wood's libels Writes against
popery, note Savoy Conference Returns to London Widely
esteemed Death and character ROBERT FERGUSON A
plotter and a renegade DAVID CLARKSON Works ISAAC
LOEFFS ISAAC CHAUNCY EDWARD TERRY ISAAC WATTS
His family Early life Tutors Returns to Southampton
Stoke Newington The Hartopp family First sermon
T. Gunston Illness The church's solicitude The Abneys
Theobalds Watts and the Unitarians Songs for children
1719 Watts and Bradbury The times he lived in The
clergy and the Jacobites State of the common people "The
good old times " Strange number of suicides Watts and
the Gentleman's Magazine Poetical prizes Sylvanus Urban
and his staff, note Blair's "Grave" Watts and his asso-
ciates Frequent illness The Countess of Huntingdon and
Dr. Watts Unhandsome behaviour of certain relatives
Last days and death SAMUEL PRICE MEREDITH TOWNS-
Xll CONTENTS.
SAMTTEL MORTON SAVAGE Tutor of Hoxton
College Life-work Death THOMAS BECK Eemoval
of the church to Founders' Hall, and thence to Bethnal-
green ................ PAGE 208
CTTAPTEE VH.
LITTLE CARTER LANE.
Ancient associations of the vicinity Wilson's description
of the chapel MATTHEW SYLVESTER Life, work, and cha-
racter EICHARD BAXTER Kidderminster in the olden time
Baxter's early life Education Condition of rural districts
in his youth Conversion Early industry Goes to Court
Great physical weakness Commencement of his ministry at
Dudley Precursors of civil war Abuses in the Church
Baxter and Kidderminster Great benevolence Civil war
Eough usage of Puritans Coventry in the war time Baxter
in the army Polemical disputes The COVENANT The Ee-
storation Dissatisfaction of Nonconformists A Court ad-
venture The Act of Uniformity Black Bartholomew Con-
dition of the Dissenters Margaret Baxter Her family
Baxter and the Charltons A charmer Marriage Margaret
as a wife Her death Eumours of plots Dissenters and
their friends London in the Plague time Acton Great
love of the populace for him Imprisonment The Ex-
chequer closed Persecution State of affairs in 1672 In-
dicted for calumny Account of the trial Last days
Closing reflections EDMUND CALAMY Family connexions
Home in Aldermanbury School days Visits to impri-
soned Puritans London and the great frost of 1684
James II. proclaimed Two remarkable incidents, note
English travels Andover Oxford Bristol Hoxton-square
Caution of the Nonconformists Calamy's visit to the Uni-
CONTENTS. xiii
versity press French prophets Account of ejected ministers
Walker and his collectors Some of his heroes not martyrs
Calamy's last days and death SAMUEL STEPHENS Samuel
Wright JEREMIAH BURROUGHS THOMAS NEWMAN
EDWARD PICKARD JOHN TAILOR JOHN FULLER, &c.
Last days of the old chapel Closing reflections. PAGE 265
CHAPTEE Yin.
THE KING'S WEIGH-HOUSE.
East-cheap in the olden time The original King's Weigh-
house Planting of the Church SAMUEL SLATER THOMAS
KENTISH JOHN KNOWLES Persecuted by Laud Quakers
and " Steeple-houses" His great zeal THOMAS EEYNOLDS
Called from Silver-street to the Weigh -house Early life
Return to London Settles in East-cheap JABEZ EARLE
and JAMES BEAD, his assistants Differences with the latter
Unkindness of brethren Death Psalmody disputes Non-
conformity after the Eevolution The latter event largely
promoted by the Dissenters Magnanimity of WILLIAM ILL
English liberty preserved by the Puritans Opposition of
Liberals to Comprehension and Why The Jacobitical
clergy Anglican encroachments Their effect Jacobitism
its own enemy Party writers Apostasy of Nottingham
The Schism Bill Anti-Nonconformist riots A clergyman
hanged Lingering love of Puritan customs The old Dis-
senters and Christmas-day Accession of George I. The
King insulted in the Churches Seditious pamphlets The
old Dissenters and their Sunday services The Bangorian
controversy Eenegades A meeting in Dr. Williams's
Library Test and Corporation Acts Methodism Tithes
and their opponents Alehouses The old newspapers and
their readers Ministers' stipends SAMUEL SANDERSON
Eemoves to Bedford Dr. WILLIAM LANGFORD Early life
XIV CONTENTS.
Life-work Death SAMUEL PALMER EDWARD VENNOR
Dr. SAMUEL WILTON Settles at Tooting His charity
Successful labours Early death JOHN CLAYTON Birth
and education Apprenticed to a chemist Introduction to
the Countess of Huntingdon Trevecca College in the days
of George III. An unpleasant adventure Clayton becomes
a Dissenter Acquaintance with Sir H. Trelawney
Introduction to the Weigh-house Ordination A Tory in
politics Marriage His life at home His preaching
Death PAGE 333
CHAPTER IX.
SALTERS' HALL.
The Company of Salters Their halls The Church planted
RICHARD MAYO Kingston Whitechapel Popularity
Great industry NATHANIEL TAYLOR Student life A hard
student Character Ministers born in 1662 WILLIAM
TONG Early life Temptation Ministry at Chester Plants
a church at Knutsford Removes to Salters' Hall Industry
One of Henry's continuators Death The disputes of
1719 Arianism in the West The ministers of Exeter
Half-yearly synods Circulation of pamphlets The "peace"
meeting at Salters' Hall Scene in the hall Subscribers and
Nonsubscribers Curious Tracts Both parties appeal to the
public Clark, the publisher JOHN NEWMAN SAMUEL
NEWMAN Early death JOHN BARKER Settlement at
Hackney Retires to Epsom Becomes associated with
Salters' Hall Doddridge Last days FRANCIS SPILSBURY
Early bereavement Strange cause of his settling in
London Life-work Death HUGH FARMER Student life
under Doddridge Removes to Walthamstow Mr. Coward
and his household regime Settles with the Snells Popularity
A London lecturer HUGH WORTHINGTON Early days at
CONTENTS. XV
Leicester Removes to London Success in the City Unex-
pected death The last days of Salters' Hall. . . PAGE 376
CHAPTER X.
FOOTPRINTS or THE BAPTISTS IN OLD LONDON.
Old chapels which have disappeared Crutched Friars
PAUL HOBSON Mark-lane The Baptists in Turners' Hall
EICHABD ALLEN Moral bravery and rough experience
Barbican GEORGE KEITH JOSEPH JACOB Presides over a
"reformed church "in Thames-street and in Southwark
Character of his followers WILLIAM COLLINS EBENEZER
WILSON THOMAS DEWHURST Wesley and Turners' Hall
Our fathers' mistaken notions as to the size of London
Gracechurch-street Du VEIL Conversion Searches for
truth Joins the Baptists A pastor commits suicide
Lampoons on Nonconformists Replies Great St. Helen's
East-cheap JOHN NOBLE Life and character State of
London in 1731 SAMUEL WILSON SAMUEL DEW Last
days of East-cheap meeting Tallow-chandlers' Hall
Thomas- street Joiners' Hall JOHN HARRIS JOSEPH
MAISTERS Tastes persecution Pinners' Hall THOMAS
RICHARDSON CLENDON DAWKES Huguenot settlers in
London Petty France named after them WILLIAM COLLINS
Simple Faith Zeal Death NEHEMIAH Cox A learned
shoemaker Puzzles his judges THOMAS HARRISON
White's-alley Laying on of hands The Commonwealth
era and its pamphlets Libels on the Baptists Petition to
Parliament Satires on religion An example, note Hounds-
ditch HENRY DANVERS Libelled by Macaulay A prolific
author Governor of Stafford Enemies A politician and a
patriot A "calumnious" tract Escapes to Holland Is
advertised for, note The authorities for depreciating his
character Dr. Calamy and Echard, note Macaulay's asper-
XVI CONTENTS.
sions unfounded Other assertions disproved Inferences
Baptists prosper under Cromwell More libellous squibs
Clerkenwell and its old gate JOHN YOXLEY Dr. WILLIAM
EUSSEL The Old Jewry JEREMIAH IVES Disputes with
a Eomanist Basinghall-street JOSEPH TAYLOR Dr. WIL-
LIAMS'S LIBRARY Eedcross-street THOMAS CRANER
AUGUSTUS CLARKE THOMAS MABBOTT Aldermanbury
Brewers' Hall, note Closing reflections . . . PAGE 412
r I.
DEVONSHIBE SQUAKE.
AMONG the many associations inseparably connected
with old London, those clustering around the Dis-
senting Churches of the seventeenth and eighteenth
centuries are pre-eminently interesting. Truly, in
many instances, these ancient buildings have passed
away ; and it is equally, true that the principal ones
which remain are appointed to destruction. While
traversing the city and its boundaries how many
hallowed spots are discovered hallowed through
once having been the resting-places of Religion, and
the scenes of the labours of men of whom the ages
they adorned were so often unworthy. Our curiosity
respecting these places is no ordinary curiosity, al-
though the sites may now be serving for common-
place merchants' warerooins. How vainly we re-
gret that there did not arise, at least a century ago,
some Nonconformist STOW or MAITLAND to hand
down facts and traditions now irrecoverably lost.
During the last century the Dissenters' chapels were
more numerous than may be imagined. On account
of altered circumstances they have disappeared. The
1
2 AXCIEVI MEETING HOUSES.
churches of the Establishment, on the contrary, re-
main, as under the voluntary principle they never
could have remained, to witness week after week
services conducted for the benefit of heedless walls
and empty pews. While, however, most of the
chapels of London proper have yielded to the action
of time, several remain intact ; and with one of these
Devonshire Square we open the present volume.
In the third part of Hudibras a couplet occurs
which modern readers will find obscure :
That represents no part of the nation.
But Fisher's Folly congregation.
In a sumptuous edition of Butler's poem, published
some seventy years ago, the annotator fails to make
clear the reference alluded to. He thought the poet
pointed at Quakerism ; and, therefore, our editor
may never have heard of William Kiffen. If such
was the case, Mr. Nash resembled a late reviewer,
who only recently, and for the first time, became
acquainted with the name of Thomas Shillitoe. The
lines, however, are apparently simply a parallel
which the author drew between the Long Parlia-
ment and the Baptist Assembly " neer Devonshire
Square." The distich, moreover, would seem to
refer to that period of our national history when,
in 1641, the King, on returning from Scotland to
Hampton Court, found discontent prevailing in
London and anarchy in Ireland a crisis which
sufficed to prompt the after-famous Remonstrance
DEVONSHIRE SQUARE. 3
of the Commons, who, with a strong military guard
about their house, were debating the state of the
nation. But we are informed by the editor alluded
to, " here is an equivoque on the word represent. It
means either to stand in the place of and be substi-
tuted by others, or to resemble and be like them. In
the first sense, the members they should pack would
represent their constituents, but in the latter sense
only a meeting of enthusiastic sectaries." From such
an allusion the inference is fairly drawn that, prior
even to the outbreak of the Civil Wars, the Baptists
presided over by Kiffen were a notable society.
There lived in London three hundred years ago, a
goldsmith of the name of Jasper Fisher. Vanity, it
would seem, was this old citizen's besetting sin ; and
therefore a principal aim of his existence was to
outshine his neighbours in splendour of living.
Truly enough, our goldsmith's susceptible nature
may have received a bias from the fact of uniting in
his own individuality a worker in the precious metals,
a justice of the peace, and a clerk in Chancery. Any
man, who by fortune or accident, found himself so
conspicuously raised above the vulgar, would natur-
ally set down a little ostentation to the score of self-
respect. It probably happened so with Jasper Fisher.
Whatever his illusion may have been, it prompted
the erection of a sumptuous mansion not very many
yards from the Bishop's Gate; and this house was
one of the finest homes which the old city then con-
tained. The spaciousness of the premises, the fine
1*
4 ANCIENT MEETING HOUSES.
apartments and costly fittings, together with the
luxuriant gardens, often became the theme of con-
versation among thrifty freemen, as they chatted
away their evening hours. In those distant days a
simpler speech and living prevailed. In a way most
quaintly graphic, old Fuller tells us how, "a she
citizen" once became persuaded that malt was spun;
for the fair damsel, upon collecting her thoughts,
remembered having noticed the threads. The little
things of life, moreover, attracted more attention
than they do in these faster times. It necessarily
happened that a man's movements were narrowly
watched when his neighbours' intellect, from sheer
lack of proper food, could so ill-afford to let others'
business alone. Thus the rearing of four celebrated
mansions was commemorated in what the burgo-
masters considered most respectable rhyme
Kirkelie's Castle, and Fisher's Folly,
Spinoltfs Pleasure, and Megsie's Glory.
The owner of the second-named house earned some
well-merited contempt by assuming a position which
his means were inadequate to maintain. Eventually
Master Fisher became involved in debt ; and doubt-
less his pecuniary difficulties obliged him to dispose
of this fair estate, which soon after passed into the
hands of several consecutive owners, among whom
stands out conspicuously the ancient name of DE
VERB. During the time that the mansion was
occupied by the Oxford family, the honour of a visit
DEVONSHIRE SQUARE. 5
was received from Queen Elizabeth, her Majesty
being then presented with some perfumed gloves
the first imported into Great Britain. William, Earl
of Oxford, died at this residence in the summer of
1628. His name appears in the list of parish bene-
factors a list not uninteresting, since one bene-
volent lady has left funds in trust for an annual
reunion of parson and flock. The property next
descended to the Cavendishes, and has ever since
been associated with their title.
Long prior to the date in question the Cavendishes
were connected with Bishopsgate ; for a Lady Caven-
dish was interred in the Church a hundred years
earlier.
The Society in Devonshire Square, London, is one
of the most ancient Dissenting interests in England.
The year of its first planting cannot be exactly stated,
but the documents in the possession of the Church
date from the reign of Charles the Eirst. The
people who obtained the original deed appear to
have migrated from Wapping after seceding from the
Church there, on a disagreement about the question
of open communion. This probably occurred about
the year 1638. Whether the retiring party coalesced
with others already established, or whether they
themselves were the sole nucleus of the new founda-
tion, it is not easy to ascertain. The original title-
deed is still preserved, and this is written in Norman-
Erench, the legal jargon of the times, a jargon which