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 •tti'ptii»i>
 
 5C>^
 
 HiJloiHcal Sketches 
 
 OF 
 
 No nco nfo rm ity in Ch efh ire.
 
 
 
 Tia£*s from, wki£k Mm sU.rs 
 vare ytxUd in 16bO and lb6'> 
 
 '^ O p s H 
 
 - *^ " ^^^^.SJa 
 
 ^
 
 Historical Sketches 
 
 ONCONFORMITY 
 
 The County Palatine of Chester, 
 
 Various Ministers and Laymen in the County, 
 
 mftfi a fHa^j. 
 
 I LONDON : Kent & Co., 23, Paternoster Rozv. 
 
 9 MANCHESTER: Septimus Fletcher, Joh?i Dalton Street. 
 
 MDCCCLXIV.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 {HE origin of the prefent volume may be briefly 
 told. At a meeting of Miniflers and Delegates 
 ^^s) from the Independent Churches of Chefliire, 
 held early in 1 862, to celebrate the Bi-centenary of Englifli 
 Nonconformity, three short papers were read upon the rife 
 of Diffent at Knutsford, Tintwiflle, and Hatherlow, and 
 a suggeflion was made that a series of similar papers 
 shotcld be prepared by miniflers i?i the county upon Non- 
 cojtformifl hiflory in their refpeclive localities. The 
 suggeflion was adopted, a publication committee chofen, 
 and a lifl of contributors prepared. The Rev. C. Chap- 
 man, M.A., who undertook Chefler, Wirral, and Malpas, 
 was obliged, through ill-health, to relinquifli his part, 
 which cojifcquently devolved tipon me, together with the 
 superi^itendence of the refl; and the work has grown to a 
 much larger size than was at firfl anticipated. Chefliire, 
 though not so rich in Nonconformijl memorials as Lan- 
 cafJiire or Yorkfliire, has a share of interefl proportionate 
 to its size. Amojig the contributors to the voltcme are the 
 Revs. A. Clark of Stockport, S. Ellis of Wilmflozu, J. 
 Johns, B.A., of Northwick S. \V. Mc.All, M.A., of 
 
 2072375
 
 Preface. 
 
 Macclesfield, W. B. Mc.William of Middlewich, R. G. 
 Milne, M.A., of Tinhviflle, W. Rhodes of Sandbach, J. 
 Pywell, Baptifl Minifler, of Stockport. J. Turner late 
 of Knutsford; Don:or Beales of Coftgleton, Meffrs. T. 
 RiGBY ^/"(^z'^r,^;/^ Joseph Thompson of Bowdon. The 
 name of each contributor is attached to his paper, and 
 each is refponfible only for his onm. Other minifiers 
 have fnrnifiied notices of particular churches. 
 
 Regarding thefe contributiojis my work has been to 
 prevetit repetition, to snpply information occationally, and 
 to secure unity. In addition to printed sources of infor- 
 Tuation, inc hiding the treafures of the Chetham Library 
 i7i Manchefier, I have searched the Regifiers in several 
 parifiies, and the MSS. i^i Dr. Williams s Library, 
 Lambeth Palace, the Britifii Mufetim, and the Record 
 Office. I gratefully acknowledge the affifiance of many 
 friends in co Heeling materials for the work, par tic tclarly 
 that rendered by Mr. Mc.All, in prepari7ig the Index. 
 
 WILLIAM URWICK. 
 
 Hatherlow, March 1864.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Introduction i — Ixix 
 
 Lists of Nonconformist Ministers Ixvi 
 
 Deanery of Chester i — 64 
 
 City of Chester : — 
 
 gl. The Bishops i 
 
 §11. The Nonconforming Ministers of 1662 ... 12 
 
 glll. The Nonconforming Churches since 1 6S8 . . 28 
 
 § IV. Queen-street Independent Chapel .... 38 
 
 § V. Common Hall-street Independent Chapel . . 47 
 
 Barrow ........... 49 
 
 Bruera and Christelton 5° 
 
 Doddleston ........... 5^ 
 
 Eccleston, Famdon, Hargrave 52 
 
 Plemondstall 53 
 
 Pulford, Tarporley 54 
 
 Tarvin ........... 5^ 
 
 Thornton 63 
 
 "Waverton 64 
 
 Deanery of Wirrall 65 — 94 
 
 Backford 66 
 
 Bebington 68 
 
 Bidston, Burton 69 
 
 Eastham 70 
 
 Heswall and Neston 72 
 
 Shotwick 73 
 
 Thurstaston, Wallasey 75 
 
 West Kirby 76 
 
 Woodchurch 82 
 
 Brombrough .83 
 
 Overchurch, Upton 88 
 
 Birkenhead : — 
 
 Woodside Independent Chapel ...... 90 
 
 Oxton Road Independent Chapel 91 
 
 Liscai-d Independent Chape! ...... 93 
 
 5
 
 Contents. 
 
 Deanery of Malpas 
 
 Mai pas 
 
 Independent Chapel, Malpas . 
 
 Independent Chapel, Threapvvood 
 
 Aldford 
 
 Coddington, Handley, Harthill . 
 
 Shocklach 
 
 Tattenhall 
 
 Independent Chapel, Tattenhall 
 Tilston ...... 
 
 Worthenbury ..... 
 
 Deanery of Nantwich . . . . 
 
 Acton, Nantwich . . . . 
 
 Baptist Chapel, Nantwich 
 Independent Chapel, Nantwich 
 
 Wrenbury ...... 
 
 Audlem ...... 
 
 Baddiley ...... 
 
 Barthomley ...... 
 
 Bunbmy ...... 
 
 Coppenhall 
 
 Crewe Independent Chapel 
 
 Church Minshull 
 
 Weybunbury ..... 
 
 Wistaston, Marbury .... 
 
 Deanery of Middlewich .... 
 
 Astbury, Congleton .... 
 Independent Chapel, Congleton 
 
 Church Lawton ..... 
 
 Davenham and Moulton Independent Chapels 
 
 Middlewich ..... 
 
 Independent Chapel, Middlewich 
 
 Over, Minshull 
 
 Independent Chapel, Over 
 Independent Chapel, Minshull . 
 
 Sandbach ...... 
 
 Wheelock Heath, Chapel 
 Independent Chapel, Sandbach 
 Independent Chapel, Brereton . 
 Independent Chapel, Haslington 
 Independent Chapel, Wheelock 
 
 Goostrey 
 
 Holmes Chapel ..... 
 
 Swettenham ..... 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 95— I '4 
 
 95 
 
 98 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 lOI 
 
 102 
 103 
 104 
 107 
 108 
 
 15—150 
 "5 
 134 
 135 
 138 
 140 
 141 
 142 
 144 
 148 
 148 
 148 
 148 
 150 
 
 151 — 202 
 
 151 
 
 159 
 
 161 
 
 162 
 
 163 
 170 
 
 175 
 180 
 
 183 
 186 
 191 
 193 
 193 
 194 
 
 195 
 196 
 197 
 200
 
 Contents. 
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield 
 
 Gawsworth 
 
 Note — Rev. H. Newcome 
 Macclesfield ..... 
 
 Townley Street Independent Chapel 
 
 Roe Street Independent Chapel 
 
 Bollington Independent Chapel 
 
 General Baptist Chapel 
 
 Prestbuiy 
 
 Bosley ...... 
 
 Chelford 
 
 Wincle 
 
 Wilmslow ...... 
 
 Dean Row Chapel . 
 
 Wilmslow Independent Chapel 
 Alderley ...... 
 
 Baptist Chapel, Warford 
 Mobberley ..... 
 
 Independent Chapel, Knowles Green 
 Stockport 
 
 Tabernacle Independent Chapel 
 
 Orchai-d Street Independent Chapel 
 
 Hanover Independent Chapel . 
 
 Particular Baptist Chapel 
 Norbury ...... 
 
 Hazelgrove Independent Chapel 
 Hatherlow Independent Chapel 
 
 Independent Chapel, Marple Bridge 
 Cheadle 
 
 Independent Chapel, Gatley 
 
 Independent Chapel, Cheadle 
 
 Disley 
 
 Dukinfield ...... 
 
 Independent Chapel, Dukinfield 
 Hyde 
 
 Union Street Independent Chapel 
 
 Zion Independent Chapel 
 Mottram 
 
 Independent Chapel, Mottram 
 
 Independent Chapel, Staleybridge 
 Tintwistle, Independent Chapel 
 
 Note — Rev. W. Eagshaw 
 Northenden ..... 
 
 Deanery of Frodsham 
 Ashton-on-Mersey 
 
 Cross Street Chapel 
 Sale Independent Chapel 
 
 page. 
 203—364 
 203 
 217 
 223 
 236 
 248 
 251 
 253 
 255 
 256 
 257 
 259 
 260 
 270 
 277 
 278 
 280 
 283 
 285 
 286 
 291 
 302 
 306 
 
 307 
 310 
 312 
 312 
 
 332 
 335 
 337 
 338 
 338 
 340 
 347 
 348 
 349 
 350 
 350 
 351 
 352 
 352 
 361 
 363 
 
 365—464 
 
 • 365 
 . 366 
 
 • 367
 
 Contents. 
 
 Bowdon 
 
 Partington Independent Chapel 
 
 Bowdon Independent Chapel 
 
 Altrincham Independent Chapel 
 Ringway 
 
 Hale Chapel .... 
 
 Heyhead Independent Chapel . 
 Northwich 
 
 Independent Chapel, Northwich 
 Great Budworth .... 
 
 Wliitley 
 
 Allostock 
 
 Rosthem 
 
 Bucklow Hill Independent Chapel 
 Knutsford 
 
 Independent Chapel, Knutsford 
 
 Baptist Chapel, Millington 
 Frodsham 
 
 General Baptist Chapel, Kingsley 
 
 Grappenhall 
 
 Lymm 
 
 Independent Chapel, Lymm 
 Warburton, Runcorn .... 
 
 Independent Chapel, Runcorn 
 Hill Cliffe Baptist Chapel . 
 Daresbury, Weaverham 
 
 Over Teover 
 
 Nether Peover 
 
 Notes 
 
 Indices 
 
 
 
 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 380 
 382 
 382 
 387 
 390 
 390 
 396 
 398 
 404 
 412 
 
 437 
 437 
 448 
 450 
 450 
 45 1 
 453 
 454 
 455 
 456 
 
 457 
 459 
 461 
 462 
 464 
 
 465—492 
 493—504
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 § I. 1540— 1640. 
 
 VVhex Henry VIII. threw off the yoke of Rome and made Henry VIII, 
 
 himself Supreme Head of the Church of England, he devised ^ 
 
 Ten Articles embod}ang the doctrines and ceremonies of 
 
 Romanism, " to establish Christian quietness and to avoid 
 
 " contentious opinions among us." These articles show that 
 
 the King though no longer a Papist was still a Roman Catholic. 
 
 They were not enforced ; Cranmer's books, the Institiitioti and 
 
 Erudition of a Christian man, became the standards of doctrine ; 
 
 but Henr)% while he persecuted Romanists for keeping fealty 
 
 to the Pope, enforced conformit)'^ upon Protestants by means of 
 
 "the Bloody Statute, the whip with six strings." Before his 
 
 death he assisted Cranmer in the preparation of another code 
 
 of Articles, thirteen in number, Protestant in their tendency and 
 
 resembling the Augsburg Confession. 
 
 In the beginning of Edward VI.'s reign the First Book of Edwar<i VI. 
 Homihes was issued, and Somerset the Protector took the lead ^^'^'' 
 in the popular movement against Romanism. A law was made 
 to extirjjate from wall and window in churches every picture or 
 image of saint. The disfiguring of churches often attributed to 
 Roundhead soldiers was really the performance of edicts in this 
 and Elizabeth's reign. The first prayer book of Edward VI. 
 was imposed by an Act of Uniformity in 1549, and an effort 
 was thus made to check the Anabaptists and convert the 
 Papists. The second service book, more Protestant than the 
 first, was pubhshed in 1552. and the Forty-two Articles, 
 b
 
 ii Introduction. 
 
 afterwards reduced to Thirty-nine, agreed to by tlie bishops 
 and other learned men in the synod at London, were set forth 
 by royal authority in 1553. 
 Hooper'sNon- The key-note of Puritanism in England was struck by 
 1550.' Bishop Hooper. Nonconformity began with his objections to 
 the Anglican articles and ceremonies. Cranmer submitted the 
 draft of the forty-two articles to the several prelates for their 
 As to Doc- approval in 1550. These articles teach the Augustinian and 
 26. Lutheran doctrine that the sacraments confer grace, but a strong 
 
 party among the English Protestants held Calvin's doctrine that 
 the sacraments are only signs and seals of grace, and Hooper 
 lately returned from Geneva and Zurich became the leader of 
 this the Puritan party. When offered the bishopric of Gloucester, 
 he objected to three of Cranmer's articles. The 26th (now the 
 25th) upon the sacraments was specially obnoxious to him, 
 because while avoiding the Romanist contifiere gratiam it em- 
 bodied the Augustinian conferre gratiam, a doctrine condemned 
 by Calvin, who called the sacraments seals, and by Zwingli, 
 who held them to be only signs, of grace. Hooper and his party 
 objected to an article which taught the efficacy of the sacra- 
 ments to confer grace, and herein lay the germ of Puritanism 
 doctrinally considered. 
 As to Ceremo- The Other two articles objected to by Hooper were those 
 ,- T^ which relate to the Ordinal and Prayer Book. The young King 
 
 Edward struck out with his own pen the words Hooper stumbled 
 at in the oath of supremacy; but Hooper's dislike of the ceremo- 
 nies and vestments (which he held to be Popish) for some time 
 hindered his conforming. Cranmer was inclined to yield to his 
 reasons ; Bucer at Cambridge, and Peter Martyr at Oxford, 
 sided with him, yet they recommended him to acquiesce for a 
 time, till the vestments were abrogated by law. Hooper was 
 firm however, was silenced and even committed to the Fleet ; 
 and after the lapse of about nine months the matter was com- 
 promised ; Hooper consenting to be robed at his consecration 
 as bishop of Gloucester and on public occasions, but receiving 
 permission to dispense with the vestments afterwards; as did
 
 Introduction. 
 
 HI 
 
 also Latimer, Coverdale, and Ridley. Herein we have the germ 
 of Puritanism in relation to ceremonies. 
 
 The reaction of Mary's reign checked the advance of Puri- -Mary, 1553. 
 tanism in England. Protestant bishops were ejected; Gardiner, 
 Heath, and Bonner restored ; and Roman Catholic services 
 re-established. It was decided by Maiy's first Parliament that 
 no punishment should be inflicted on any who declined to 
 attend those services; but Cardinal Pole having come to England 
 as the Pope's legate, and being established as the Queen's 
 adviser, the fires of Smithfield were kindled, and the noble army 
 of English mart}TS lighted a candle in England which has never 
 been put out.* 
 
 Elizabeth did not at once subvert the hierarchy that Mary Elizabeth, 
 had re-established. The Protestant exiles returned home,t but ^ ^^' '^' ^^^ 
 the priests held their livings and went on celebrating mass. 
 
 The Acts of Supremacy and Uniformity passed in the first ActsofSupre- 
 year of her reign are the fetters by which the Anglican Church Uniformity 
 is bound to the State ; the first transferring all power from the '559- 
 clergy to the crown, the second prohibiting all changes of rites 
 and discipline except by Act of Parliament. Elizabeth's design 
 was manifestly to bring about a comprehension of Romanists 
 and Protestants, and while the Articles satisfied the latter, the 
 Service Book met the sacramental views of the former. Though 
 the Catholic bishops refused the oath of supremacy, and were 
 consequently deprived, very few parochial priests resigned their 
 
 * At Chester, one Hook, a true witness of the Lord's truth, was burned 
 for the same. — Clark'' s Martyrologie, page 481 ; see also the account of Marsh, 
 page 2. 
 
 t Among the exiles was William Whittingham, A.M., born at Chester 
 1524, educated in Brazenose College, O.xford, Fellow of All Souls in 1545. 
 He Hed to Frankfort, and thence to Geneva, where he became pastor of the 
 English church, and was employed as one of the translators of the Geneva 
 Bible. Though a firm Puritan he was appointed Dean of Durham, and 
 held that preferment till his death in 1579. Also Christopher Goodman, B.D., 
 born at Chester 15 19, educated at Brazenose College, Oxford. He accom- 
 panied Whittingham to Frankfort and Geneva. On his return from exile he 
 settled in Scotland, and was appointed minister of S. Andrew's 1560. In 
 1571 he was cited before Archbishop Parker. In 1584 he lived in his native 
 county, where he was probably silenced for his nonconformity. Archbishop 
 Usher visited him on his deathbed. He died in Chester 1602, and was 
 interred in the Cathedral. 
 
 William Whit- 
 tingham. 
 
 Christopher 
 Goodman.
 
 IV 
 
 Introduction. 
 
 Elizabeth's 
 Protestantism. 
 
 Spread ot 
 Puritanism. 
 
 livings. Elizabeth's Protestantism was not against altar candies, 
 vestments, or even mass, but against the jurisdiction of the 
 Pope in her realm. On this ground only, and by the strength 
 of her character, she won the homage of her people as the 
 Protestant Queen. In the popular regard she was not only the 
 head but the strength and support of the church, without whom 
 it must fall. This belief is quaintly expressed in one of the 
 Embletns of Whitney,* the Cheshire poet of her reign. The 
 device is an obelisk or spire, with ivy twined round and clinging 
 to it, with the motto underneath Te stante, virebo, and the 
 following explanatory lines : — 
 
 A mightie Spyre, whose toppe clothe pierce the skie, 
 An iuie greene imbraceth rounde about 
 And while it standes, the same doth bloome on highe 
 But when it shrinkes, the iuie standes in dowt ; 
 The piller great, our gi^atious Princes is : 
 The braunche, the churche whoe speakes unto hir this : 
 I, that of late with stormes was almoste spent, 
 And brused sore with Tirants bluddie bloes, 
 Whome fire, and sworde, with persecution rent, 
 Am nowe sett free, and ouerlooke my foes. 
 
 And whiles thow raignst, oh most renowned Queene, 
 By thie supporte my blossome shall bee greene. 
 During the first ten years of Elizabeth's reign the Puritans 
 habitually disregarded the Act of Uniformity, and refused the 
 Popish ceremonies and vestments — cope, surplice, alb, and 
 stole. A proposition to aboUsh these was lost only by a single 
 vote in Convocation. In one church might be seen the 
 Romanist altar with crucifix and candle, and a priest perfonning 
 mass ; in the next the altar dismantled, a plain communion 
 table of wood set up on tressels, and a Puritan minister in black 
 Geneva gown ofticiating. The Queen hated the Puritan 
 innovations and commanded Archbishop Parker to enforce 
 Uniformity. He summoned the London clergy ; thirty-seven 
 out of ninety-eight refused the vestments and were consequently 
 deprived. Conformity was enforc od in other parts of the 
 
 * See page ii6 of this volume. The Rev. H. Green of Knutsford has 
 kindly furnished the extracts here and elsewhere given from Whitney's 
 Emblems, which is a very scarce book.
 
 Inti^odticitOfL V 
 
 country with similar result. " Alas my Lord," said Whittingham, 
 dean of Durham, tq Archbishop Parker, " that such compulsion 
 " should be used towards us and such great lenity towards the 
 " Papists." Every^vhere the most earnest and praiseworthy 
 ministers were, on account of their nonconformity, deprived of 
 their livings. 
 
 The University of Cambridge was " a nest" of Puritans, and Thomas Cart- 
 foremost therein the Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity ^^'^'^ ' '"°' 
 began to lecture not against the vestments merely but against 
 Episcopacy. Cartwright introduced a new element into the Puritan views 
 Puritan cause, adopting, with the Calvinistic creed, the Genevan Qo^ernmait. 
 form of church government. He maintained that bishop and 
 deacon are the only orders named in Scripture, that the govern- 
 ment of the church rests in Presbyteries, that the bishop should 
 be pastor of one congregation, and should be chosen by the 
 church itself Whitgift entered the lists against Cartwright 
 and a severe controversy ensued, the issue of which was that 
 Cartwright was deprived, silenced, and imprisoned. The 
 party espousing his views was strong both at Cambridge and 
 throughout the country, as the manifesto entitled "An Admoni- 
 " tion to Parliament" proves. The jus divhmm was now for 
 the first time claimed for one particular form of church govern- 
 ment — the Presbyterian. The opponents of Cart^Tight, who 
 may be called the prelatical party, contented themselves at 
 first with simply maintaining the right of the state to adopt any 
 form of church order and ceremonial not explicitly prohibited 
 by Holy Scripture. Hooker was one of this party, though he 
 maintained that as far as the testimony of Scripture favours any 
 polity it favours Episcopacy rather than Presbyterianism. As 
 the controversy continued, however, the assertion of a jure 
 divino Presbyterianism was met by the counter assertion of a 
 jure divino Episcopacy. 
 
 Meantime the famous bill imposing subscription to the Stat. 13, EHz. 
 Articles upon the clergy of the Establishment was passed by ^' '^' '"'" 
 Parliament and received the Royal assent ; but through the 
 influence of the Puritans who objected to the Ordinal, the
 
 vl Introduction. 
 
 subscription required was limited to all the Articles of religion 
 7vhich ONLY concern the confession of the true faith and the doctrine 
 of the sacrafnenfs. The Act was thus ambiguously worded by 
 the House of Commons in order to relieve the Nonconforming 
 clergy from subscription to any other Articles except those 
 relating to doctrine — leaving it to individual opinion to decide, 
 Avhich these were. Not more than a hundred of the Puritan 
 clergy throughout England refused this easy subscription, 
 (hiiulal, Arch- While Grindal was Archbishop, Puritanism flourished. Open 
 bishop, 1575. attempts were made to form Presbyteries according to Cart- 
 wright's model, and Prophesyings, i.e. lectures against Popery, etc., 
 were set up in various counties. "It seemed good to the Lord," 
 says a Cheshire minister at this time, " haA-ing compassion on 
 " His people to raise up and establish many holy exercises of 
 " religion both in Cheshire and Lancashire, which were kept 
 " constantly ever}^ month and maintained worthily by the godly 
 " labours of the faithful ministers and messengers of God in 
 " those parts with great and comfortable success and fruit."* 
 Whiigift Whitgift, on his elevation to the see of Canterbury, 
 
 Archbishop, demanded subscription to three Articles, commonly called 
 Whitgiffs Articles, relating to the Royal Supremacy, the Prayer 
 Book and Ordinal, and the Thirty-nine Articles. These after- 
 wards received a formal sanction in the 36th Canon, but they 
 were now enforced by the Archbishop's authority, and in oppo- 
 sition to the House of Commons. He also introduced a most 
 un-English weapon against the Nonconforming clergy, the oath 
 The Ex officio Ex OFFICIO, by which commissioners had power to examine 
 Oath, 1584. accused persons upon their oaths for the better trial and opening 
 of the truth, obhging them to answer to twenty-four inquisitorial 
 articles of impeachment whereby they might criminate them- 
 selves. Those who refused to take the oath and bear witness 
 against themselves were liable to the severest punishment. The 
 Lord Treasurer Burleigh said of it, " I have read your twenty- 
 " four articles formed in a Romish style to examine all manner 
 
 * Hinde's Life of Bnieii, page roo.
 
 Introduction, vii 
 
 " of ministers, to be executed ex officio viero. And I find them 
 " so curiously penned, so full of branches and circumstances, 
 " that I think the Inquisition of Spain used not so many ques- 
 " tions to comprehend and to trap their priests."* Whitgift 
 vindicated it by saying '' it is hard to get witnesses against the 
 " Puritans, because most of the parishioners favour them, and 
 " will not appear against them." Bishop Chadderton, though Enforced by 
 Puritanically inclined and a promoter of the Prophesyings, very Chester, 
 stringently enforced the Queen's supremacy upon Romanists, 
 and withal the use of clerical vestments and conformity to the 
 rubric upon the Puritans of his diocese. Richard Vaughan also, 
 who held the see of Chester for eight years — from 1596 to 1604 — 
 cited many Lancashire and Cheshire ministers before him in the 
 Parish Church of Aldford, and required of them conformity to the 
 ceremonies and subscription to the canons. The majority of 
 them refused and were silenced. During this season of oppres- 
 sion, the Papists in different parts of the country rejoiced. Mr. 
 Goodwin of Chester says, " the Papists in Cheshire rejoiced at 
 " Whitgift's proceedings and severity." The excellent Puritan 
 already quoted, William Hinde of Bunbury, says that " Popery 
 " and prophaneness, two sisters in evil, had consented in Tarvin 
 " parish, as in many other places, together to advance their 
 " idols against the ark of God." 
 
 James the Sixth of Scotland and First of England, who is James T. 1603. 
 described in the Dedication which still disgraces our Enghsh 
 Bible as a mo:4 tender and loving mirsi?ig Father of the Church 
 was, according to the plain witness of impartial history, a 
 " learned, foolish, and slobbering Scotchman, wallowing in 
 " beastly dehghts." During his reign the court and nobility of 
 England sank into the slough of debauchery, and Puritanism 
 became the synonyme for common decency.t He was quite 
 intoxicated by the powers which the royal supremacy gave him 
 when he ascended the English throne. " Do I mak the judges? 
 
 ^Neal's ruritans, vol. i., page 338-9. 
 + Forster's Grand Remonstrance, Introductory Essay, page 90. Sanford's 
 Great Rebellion, page 86.
 
 vni 
 
 Introduction. 
 
 The Millenary 
 Petition. 
 
 Hampton 
 Court Confer- 
 ence, Jan. 14, 
 16, 18, i6oa. 
 
 Bancroft, 
 
 Archbishop, 
 
 1604. 
 
 " Do I mak the bishops? Then, God's wauns ! I mak what 
 " likes me, law and gospel." The Puritans of England presen- 
 ted modest and moderate petitions signed by 750 ministers in 
 twenty-five counties, and by many more in other counties,* 
 amounting to upwards of one thousand, desiring reformation of 
 certain ceremonies and abuses of the church; and James, though 
 he despised them, complied so far as to appoint a conference at 
 Hampton Court, to consider the Puritan objections. On the 
 prelatical side Avere nine bishops and as many dignitaries ; on 
 the Puritan side, four ministers, viz., Drs. Raynolds and Sparks, 
 professors of divinity in Oxford, and Messrs. Chaddertont and 
 Knewstubbs of Cambridge. On the first day the King heard 
 the bishops graciously ; on the second, when the Puritans 
 began to explain their grievances, he interposed with violent 
 abuse ; on the third the prelates explained the oath ex-officio to 
 His Majesty's satisfaction, and the only request the Puritans 
 obtained was the new translation of the Scriptures. 
 
 Bancroft being raised to the primacy on the death of Whit- 
 gift, engrafted the "Whitgift Articles" on the code of Canons 
 which were now formally enacted. By the absolute order for 
 subscription which this code embodied, a large number of the 
 Puritan clergy were driven to relinquish their cures. Their 
 number was 746 in twenty-four counties, and Neal reasonably 
 infers that in the fifty-two counties of England and Wales there 
 were twice as many. In Cheshire there were twelve non- 
 subscribers, some of whom were imprisoned or fled to Holland. 
 Their principles were nevertheless embodied in Mr. Bradshaw's 
 treatise, " English Puritanism," which maintained that every 
 congregation of men ordinarily joining together in the true 
 
 * Neal, quoting Clark, names 800 as the total number of signatures ; but 
 Clark intimates that other petitions to the same purport accompanied those, 
 subscribed by 750, from twenty-five counties ; so that the total number of 
 signatures was probably above 1000. 
 
 + Lawrence Chadderton was born in Lancashire in 1546, and belonged 
 to the same family as the Bishop of Chester. He was chosen one of 
 the translators of the Bil)le, held the mastership of Emmanuel College, 
 Cambridge, for many years, and died in 1640.
 
 Inirodudion. ix 
 
 worship of God, is a true visible church of Christ ; that such 
 churches are not subject to any other superior ecclesiastical 
 jurisdiction, and that every church should have liberty to 
 choose its own officers. 
 
 The synod of Dort brought into view the growing Armi- Synod of Dort, 
 nianism of the English prelates. The King indeed sided with ' ' ' 
 the decisions of the Calvinistic divines, but this was owing 
 chiefly to his friendship with the Prince of Orange, Baxter 
 declares it to have been the most excellent assembly the world 
 had seen since the days of the apostles. While favouring the 
 Puritans, it roused the persecuting spirit of the bishops. In 
 Chester diocese Bishop Lloyd had suffered the Nonconforming 
 clergy to preach without annoyance. Nicholas Byfield, a 
 powerful preacher and writer on behalf of the doctrinal Puritans, 
 was suffered to remain several years as pastor of S. Peter's in 
 Chester. John Bruen of Stapleford was one of his hearers and 
 patrons.* But Lloyd's successor. Bishop Moreton, acted with 
 great severity. He drew up the -S^^y^^^/^^r/^, which the King Book of 
 issued to encourage recreations on the Lord's Day, such as ^°'^''''' ' ' ' 
 dancing, archery, leaping. May-games, and Whitsun-ales, and he 
 enforced the reading of it in the churches of his diocese. Among 
 those who suffered by his severity were William Hinde, minister 
 of Bunbury, who was esteemed the ringleader of the Noncon- 
 formists in the county; Julines Herring, and Robert Nicholls 
 of Wrenbury, Joseph Midgley of Rochdale, and Thomas Paget 
 of Blackley Chapel, in Lancashire. These ministers were 
 summoned before the High Commission, and suffered fine and 
 suspension. The last named Thomas Paget gives an interesting 
 account of the Bishop's severity, and informs us that many of 
 the most worthy knights and gentlemen of the diocese espoused 
 
 * See page 59. Nicholas Byfield was born in Warwickshire 1579, and 
 educated in Exeter College, Oxford. He was son to Mr. Richard Byfield, 
 who became minister of Stratford-upon-Avon in 1596. In the year 1615 he 
 removed from Chester to Isleworth in Middlesex, where he laboured for 
 fifteen years, till his death. He was a Nonconformist to the Ceremonies, a 
 strict observer of the Sabbath, and a Calvinist. — See Fiiller^s Worthies, 
 vol. iii., page 286; JVeafs Puritans, vol. ii., page 1 18; Hinders Life of 
 John Bruen.
 
 Introduction. 
 
 Laymen's Let- 
 ter in behalf of 
 Cheshire Puri- 
 tans, i6i9. 
 
 Severity 
 towards them. 
 
 Charles I., 
 1625. 
 
 the cause of the distressed ministers, and wrote an appeal in 
 which they expressed themselves as follows : — 
 
 Right Reverend, &c. — Whereas we understand that divers of our painful 
 and discreet ministers are lately, by letters missive from your lordship and 
 others of His Majesty's High Commission for causes ecclesiastical within the 
 diocese of Chester, enjoined to appear before you, to answer such matters as 
 shall be objected against them ; We, whose names are subscribed have 
 thought it fit to acquaint your lordship with our opinion of those ministers, 
 for the preventing, if need require, of such sinister and malicious informations; 
 which, in these cases are frequently stiiTed up against men of their sort and 
 quality, sometimes by lewd and profane persons ; and many times by the 
 disguised, subtil, and superstitious Romanists and Church Papists, whose 
 hearts are wholly against us, all the while their faces are seemingly for us. 
 We have observed, so far as we are able to judge, in these our ministers, 
 integi-ity of hfe and conversation, orthodox soundness of doctrine, diligence 
 and painfulness m their places, sobriety and peaceableness in their disposi- 
 tions, and freedom from faction. Also, the great good and profit which our 
 congregations, where they live, have abuiidantly received from their ministry; 
 therefore we are emboldened to entreat your favour, &c. 
 This letter was delivered to his lordship at Stockport, of which 
 parish he was rector ; but after reading it he observed : " They 
 " whom the letter concerneth are the worse to be liked for the 
 " good testimony here given of them ;" and accordingly they 
 were forced to make several expensive journeys to Chester, 
 were exposed to the rudest abuse of the bishop's officers, and 
 were afterwards silenced. Their objections as Nonconformists 
 were particularly against the cross in baptism, the use of the 
 surplice, and kneeling at the Lord's Supper.* About two years 
 afterwards, hoping the storm was bloAvn over, they sought to 
 obtain liberty of preaching from Bishop Bridgeman, but instead 
 of this, attachments were brought from the High Commission 
 to apprehend and bring them to York and there to imprison 
 them. In this strait they withdrew and hid themselves. The 
 storm had yet to spend its fury. 
 
 Charles I., though he had received Presbyterian baptism, 
 had grown up to manhood with a hatred of Calvinism and a 
 
 *See Defence of Church Government in the Presbyterian, Classical, and 
 Synodical Assemblies, by John Paget, late able and faithful pastor of the 
 reformed English church in Amsterdam. To which is prefixed An Adver- 
 tisement to the Parlia?nent, by T. P. (Thomas Paget). London, 4to, 1641.
 
 Introduction, xi 
 
 strong inclination to Arminianism and Romanism. His domes- 
 tic life was without blemish, but his Roman Catholic wife 
 Henrietta Maria encouraged him in his unconstitutional and 
 unprotestant career. Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, was 
 his faithful adviser and sen^ant in his traitorous course in affairs 
 of State; and Dr. Wilham Laud of S. John's College, Oxford, who 
 was successively advanced to the Bishopric of London and Arch- 
 bishopric of Canterbury, was his chief minister in ecclesiastical 
 matters. Despotism and High Churchism were thus naturally 
 linked together in opposition to constitutional government and 
 Puritanism. While the King \dolated the constitution and the 
 engagements of the petition of right, holding despotic sway in 
 England without calling a Parliament for eleven years, im- No Parliament 
 prisoning the foremost of England's statesmen and levying taxes 
 by force of arms, the High Church clerg)- preached passive 
 obedience and non-resistance, and the bishops, with Laud at 
 their head, enforced conformity by the fines, the imprisonments, 
 and the tortures of the High Commission. 
 
 A scheme was set on foot by the Puritan laity to promote The Feoffees 
 preaching in the country by establishing lectures in the market ''' 
 towns of England, and a number of feoffees were chosen to 
 purchase church property which had fallen into private hands, 
 in order to pro\-ide adequate salaries for the lecturers. Laud 
 instituted proceedings against this movement, and the property 
 the feoffees had purchased was confiscated to the King ; but in 
 spite of this injustice the lecturings were continued with success 
 in different counties. In Cheshire in particular " the ministers 
 " had their spiritually glorious monthly exercises at Northwich, 
 " Namptmch, Knutsford, Macclesfield, Bowden, Frodsham, 
 " Budworth, Torporley, Tarvin, Ince, Motteram, &c. ; and 
 '' solemn assemblies, besides their blessed Sabbaths, frequented 
 " by sundry of the renoAvned gentry and ver}' many well-disposed 
 " people, whereby they purchased to themselves a good degree 
 " in Christianity."* Among the ministers engaged in these 
 
 * Paget's Defence, Preface,
 
 xn 
 
 Introduction, 
 
 El caetera 
 
 Oath, 
 
 June 30, 1640. 
 
 Petitions 
 against it. 
 
 exercises were Samuel Eaton and Samuel Clark of Wirrall, 
 Sabbath Clark of Tar\'in, Thomas Langley of Middlewich, 
 Julines Herring and Robert NichoUs of Wrenbury, William 
 Hinde of Bunbury, and Thomas Paget of Blackley and Stock- 
 port. But the High Commission at York* was more tyrannical 
 and unprincipled than that in London, and Bridgeman, then 
 bishop of Chester, lent his aid in prosecuting, fining, and 
 silencing from time to time these zealous ministers. t 
 
 The crowning act of prelatical tyranny was the Et caetera 
 Oath, embodied in the canons of that convocation which ille- 
 gally sat after the dissolution of the Parliament of April 1640. 
 This oath, which obtained its name from a vague etc. in the 
 middle of it, contained the following words : — 
 
 " I, A. B., do swear that I approve the doctrine, discipline, 
 " or government established in the Church of England, 
 " nor will I ever give my consent to alter the government of 
 " this church by archbishops, bishops, deans, and archdeacons, 
 " ET CAETERA, as it stands now established. . . If any 
 " beneficed person in the church shall refuse this oath, he shall 
 " after one month be suspended ab officio; after a second month 
 " he shall be suspended ab officio et beneficio; and after a third 
 " month, if he continue to refuse, he shall be deprived." 
 
 The Puritan clergy in London, and in several counties, 
 petitioned against this Oath with the accompanying Canons, 
 and through the influence of the nobility, who presented a peti- 
 tion to the King at York, complaining of this and other 
 innovations,* prosecutions on the strength of it were postponed ; 
 but Laud, true to the policy called Thorough, caused many 
 ministers to be deprived for refusing it. 
 
 * Richard Neile, Archbishop of York, is described by Mr. Prynne as " a 
 " Popish Anninian prelate, and a persecutor of all orthodox and godly 
 " ministers." 
 
 t Eaton had to fly to New England ; Samuel Clark w.is driven hastily 
 from his parish, but found an asylum at Coventry ; Thomas Langley was 
 exiled from Middlewich for five years, and found a refuge with Julines Her- 
 ring, Robert Nicholls, and others, at the house of John Bail of Whitmore, 
 and at Lady Margaret Bromley's of SherifT-Hales, in Shropshire. 
 :J;Forster's Grand Remonstrance, page 251.
 
 Introduction. xiii 
 
 § 11. — The Long Parliament, 1640 — 1648. 
 
 The new Canons and the Et Caetera Oath, together with the 
 attempt to impose Episcopacy upon the Scots, brought to an 
 end the reign of civil and religious tyranny in England. The 
 Scots were already in anus, and patient England could no 
 longer endure. The King was obliged to call Parliament again, The Long 
 and that assembly now met which, to use the words of Lord js'^ov. 4, 1640. 
 Macaulay, " in spite of many errors and disasters is justly en- 
 " titled to the reverence and gratitude of all who in any part of 
 " the world enjoy the blessings of constitutional government."* 
 One of its first ecclesiastical acts was the assertion of the prin- 
 ciple (December 15th) "that the clergy have no power to make 
 " any canons whatsoever, or othenvise to bind the clergy or 
 " laity of this land, without common consent of parliament;" 
 and "that the canons of 1640 contain matters contrary' to the 
 " King's prerogative, to the fundamental laws and statutes of 
 " the realm, to the rights of parliament, and to the property and 
 " liberty of the subjects." Laud was committed to the tower 
 and the bishops were openly threatened. Bishop Hall put forth Episcopacy 
 his Humble Remonstrance in behalf of Episcopacy, upon which 
 an outspoken reply appeared, contrasting the primitive with the 
 prelatical church, condemning Episcopacy and advocating 
 Presbyterianism, by Smectymxuus, a word composed of the 
 initial letters of the authors' names. t Petitions from various 
 counties against the dominant Episcopate were sent to Parlia- 
 ment. In Cheshire, the Puritans were foremost in petitioning 
 against abuses in Church and State, and a document signed by 
 the bulk of the common people was presented to Parliament. 
 
 * The members for the county of Chester were Sir W. Brereton and 
 Peter Venables ; Venables being a Royalist withdrew and was succeeded by 
 George Booth. The members for the city of Chester were Thomas Smith 
 and Francis Gamul, who being Royahsts were succeeded by Wilham Edwards 
 and John RadcHff. 
 
 t The authors were Stephen Marshall, Edward Calamy, Thomas Young, 
 Matthew Newcomen, and William Spurstow. 
 
 threatened.
 
 XIV 
 
 Introduction. 
 
 Cheshire Teli- 
 tion against 
 Episcopacy, 
 1641. 
 
 Tyranny of the 
 Prelates. 
 
 J )issolution of 
 their Offices 
 desired. 
 
 Hereupon the Royalists in the county drew up a counter 
 petition to the King in favour of Episcopacy. These documents 
 are of so much interest that we give them here in full : — 
 
 The Humble Petition of the Free-holders, and the rest of 
 THE Inhabitants within the Countie of Chester. 
 
 Sheweth, — That whereas the manifold unsupportable burdens where- 
 withal our consciences and estates have been long oppressed, with a continual! 
 increase thereof, have at last so tyred and infeebled our strength, that we 
 find ourselves unable to subsist any longer under the weight thereof : wee 
 dare not now neglect to take the present opportunitie of serving the Lord's 
 providence in the use of this nieanes, which we hope is of His owne 
 appoynting for our reliefe. But as we have in some measure implored God, 
 who is the blessed Author ; so wee thought our selves bound humbly to 
 Petition this honourable and renowned Assembly (convened in Parliament) 
 for redresse of our miseries, being the likelyest instrument, so farre as we 
 apprehend (not limiting the Holy one of Israel) for that end and purpose, 
 which we humbly pi-ay may be duly considered, as we make bold to tender 
 them in these few lines followang. 
 
 Our miseries are such as are either Ecclesiastical or Civill ; first Eccle- 
 siastical, and that in regard of the usurping Prelates, their lawlesse dependent 
 officers, and their irregular manner of worshipping God prescribed unto, and 
 cruelly imposed upon us by them : for as touching the Prelates themselves, 
 we conceive them to be the Popes substitutes (per accidens) at the least, if 
 not by solemne covejianted allegiance ; as it may appeare by their Lording it 
 over God's heritage, both Pastors and People, and assuming the poiver of 
 the Keyes onely to themselves, contrary to God's sacred word. 
 
 Therefore we humbly Petition you this honourable Assembly, as you 
 tender the glorie of God, the King's Prerogative, the Subject's libertie, the 
 purity of God's sacred Ordinances, and the welfare of Posteritie, or with the 
 downfall of Antichrist and his adherents, to stirre up the zeale and strength 
 wherewith the Lord hath endued you, and couragiously proceed (unto your 
 immortall praise) against these His mightie enemies, and secret underminers 
 of the good estate of our Church and Common wealth, and utterly dissolve 
 their Offices which give life to the most superstitious practises in or about 
 the worship of God : And so together with the ruine of their Antichristian 
 Offices and Government, we also humbly pray may fall to the ground their 
 impious Courts, with all their dependant Officers (even from the Chancellors 
 to the Parators), their corrupt Canons, booke of Articles, the E^iglish refined 
 Masse-booke of Comtnon Prayer, with all their popish significant Ceremonies 
 therein contained ; the strict imposing whereof, hath driven out of this our 
 English nation many of our most godly and able Ministers, and other his 
 Majesties loyall Subjects, able both for person and estate to have done good 
 service to God, our KiriL; and Countrie. .... 
 
 ^Yee most humbly beg that the revealed will of God contained in the 
 Books of the Old and New Testaments, and recorded for our practise in the
 
 Introduction. 
 
 XV 
 
 true Book 
 Canons. 
 
 of 
 
 dayes of the gospell, may be that Rule which your Honors would be The Bible the 
 pleased to follow. O what glory would it be unto our God, our King, and 
 Nation, what beauty unto our Church, what honor unto this Noble Parlia- 
 ment, and what confusion to the enemies of his Majesty and loyall Subjects : 
 if wee might see the morall Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles made old 
 England's Canons, then might our Ministers have liberty to preach God's 
 word, and administer 'the Sacraments according to the mind of Christ, and 
 our Congregation power to execute Ecclesiastical Censures \nthin themselves : 
 Then might his Majesties Subjects meete together, and pray for the King 
 and Queene and their posterity, without punishment and false calumniation. 
 O this would make our peace with God, and good men : This would make 
 our Land impregnable, and our Soldiers courageable ; This would unite our 
 Kingdome in peace, and cause us and our little ones to sleepe in safety : 
 This would cal backe the banished, and release the Lord's imprisoned : This 
 would advance our TNIordecais, and hang our wicked Hamans : This would 
 replant our conscionable Ministers, and supplant the Lordly Prelacy : This 
 would take away illegal exactions, and bring our people to due subjection ; 
 this would take away extorted Herriots, excessive fines, and unlimited boones, 
 for it would learn land-Lords more compassion, and Tenants due submission ; 
 yea, this would make a sweete Harmony bet\%'ixt Rule and Obedience in all 
 Relations. 
 
 Which that it may now happily be effected, we earnestly implore the 
 Lord of Heaven to bend your noble spirits to this great work of God, which 
 so sweetly ushereth al other comforts. 
 
 And so we shall ever pray. Sec. 
 
 The Cheshire Petition for Establishing of the Common Cheshire Peii- 
 
 Prayer Book and Suppression of Schismatiques presented to the tion/^r 
 
 King's INIajesty, and from him recommended to the House of ^V^^^^'^^^Vi 
 Peers by the Lord Keeper, *" 
 
 Your Petitioners, &c., Do humbly present to your mature consideration 
 that the present disorders of many turbulent and ill-disposed spirits are such 
 as give not only occasion of present discontent to your Petitioners, but seeme 
 to import some ill event without early prevention. 
 
 The pure seed of our Faith (the Doctrine of the true reformed Protestant 
 Rehgion, established by so many Acts of Parliament, and so harmoniously 
 concurring vrith the Confessions of all other Reformed Churches) being 
 tainted with the tares of divers Sects and Schismes lately sprung up amongst 
 us. . . The Liturgy wherein the famous Church of England, our dear 
 mother, hath just cause to glory ; and may she long flourish in the practise 
 of so blessed a liturgie ; yet it is now not only depraved by many of those 
 who should teach conformity to established laws, but in contempt thereof 
 in many places wholly neglected. All these daily practised, with confidence, 
 without punishment, to the great dejection of many sound Protestants, and 
 not only seem to portend but menace some great alteration. And not 
 occasioning so great insultation and rejoicing in some separatists, as they
 
 XVI 
 
 Introduction. 
 
 Revision dan- 
 gerous. 
 
 Puritan An 
 madversions. 
 
 The Grand 
 Remonstrance 
 Dec. I, 1641. 
 
 containing themselves within the bounds of ci\il government do commit many 
 tumultuous (if not sacrilegious) violences both by day and night upon divers 
 churches. 
 
 Therefore your Petitionei-s being all very apprehensive of the dangerous 
 consequences of innovation, and much scandalized at the present disorders, 
 Do all unanimously pray that there be admitted no innovation of Doctrine or 
 Liturgy, that holy public service being so fast rooted by a long settled con- 
 tinuance in this Church, that in our opinions and judgments it cannot be 
 altered (unless by the advice and consent of some National Synod) without 
 an universal discontent. And that some speedy course be taken to suppress 
 such Schismatiques and Separatists whose factious spirits do evidently 
 endanger the peace both of Church and State. 
 
 And your Petitioners shall ever pray. * 
 
 In reply to this latter petition, the Puritan, Thomas Paget, 
 ])ublished certain animadversions. He speaks of it as " that 
 " uHAvorthy Remonstrance," and says, "This is a sad consequence 
 " of Prelacy in Cheshire. Ah and alas ! that Cheshire — the chief 
 " shire — not long agone reputed and deservedly esteemed for the 
 " profession and power of religion more excellent than their 
 " neighbours, should now turn to a degenerate plant of a strange 
 " vine to the Lord. But yet it may be thought in a charitable 
 " construction, that the most of them subscribed the Remon- 
 " strance in their simplicity, not knowing whereto it tended, or 
 " else in an inconsiderate haste, being urged to do so quickly 
 " what they did, since dispatch was the life of the business and no 
 " copies permitted to be taken. Howbeit it is not to be doubted 
 " that He that walketh amid the golden candlesticks doth 
 " graciously take knowledge of many names in Cheshire, it may 
 " be 7,000, that, as Juda, do yet rule with God and are faithful 
 " to the saints." This writer also intimates that the framers of 
 the other petition " do not seek for Presbytery, but seem rather 
 " to affect a popular government." That petition indicates an 
 Independent, rather than a Presbyterian bias. 
 
 On the re-assembling of Parliament the Grand Remonstrance 
 was debated, agreed upon, and presented to the King. It 
 
 * Published together with a letter to the Bishops, by Sir Tliomas Aston, 
 Bart., 1641. Annexed to the Petition were two extracts from sermons 
 preached at S. John's, Chester, and at Knutsford, by Samuel Eaton, who 
 was just returned from New England.
 
 Introduction. xvil 
 
 contained the strongly-worded charge against the bishops that 
 " they tell the people that our meddling with the power of Epis- 
 " copacy hath caused sectaries and conventicles, when it is 
 " Idolatry and the Popish ceremonies introduced into the 
 " Church by command of the Bishops, which have not only 
 " debarred the people from them, but expelled them from the 
 " kingdom." It further declares, " Our intention is to reduce 
 " within bounds that exorbitant power which the Prelates have 
 " assumed unto themselves, so contrary both to the word of 
 " God and to the laws of the land." 
 
 It is not needful here to trace the King's suicidal conduct 
 upon receiving this Remonstrance ; the successive acts of force 
 whereby he sought to sustain his unconstitutional despotism, 
 especiallythe attempted Arrest of the Five Members. The Par- December 30, 
 liament had marked out for itself in the Remonstrance its future ^ '^'' 
 course, and in accordance therewith there followed the impeach- 
 ment of the twelve bishops for treason, and the organization of 
 the Militia, together with the appointment of Deputy Lieutenants 
 in the several counties to carry out the decrees of Parliament. A 
 division now became manifest in most English counties between 
 the Royalists and Prelatists on one hand," the Parliamentarians 
 and Puritans on the other. Cheshire sent up to Parliament two 
 Declarations to the effect that "as it is a sacred truth that a July 20, 164^. 
 " kingdom divided cannot stand, so it is a legal principle that 
 " his Majesty is the head and the Parliament the representative 
 " body of his kingdom, and in the cordial union of his Majesty 
 " and his Parhament consists the safety, glor}^, and happiness 
 " thereof" " The King and Parliament are like Hypocrates' August 12. 
 " twins ; they laugh and cr^', live and die together, and both 
 " of them are so rooted in our hearts that we cannot disjoin 
 " them." 
 
 The prevailing feeling of the county was decidedly in favour Majority in 
 of the Parliament, and the Royalists were in a small and hope- J^e Padfamem 
 less minority. Being people of influence however, noblemen 
 and landlords, they sought to coerce their tenants and to muster 
 an army for the King. The following extract from an account 
 c
 
 XVI 11 
 
 Introduction. 
 
 The Array 
 versus the 
 Militia. 
 
 Conduct of 
 
 Royalist 
 
 troops. 
 
 MTitten at the time shows the state of parties in the county : — 
 
 The Commission of Array, for the county of Chester, having long 
 oppressed the country by taking their money, arms, horses, and compelling 
 the inhabitants between sixteen and sixty years of age frequently to meet at 
 places by them appointed, under great penalties ; some gentlemen in the 
 county, of generous spirits, began to raise up a body for their own defence, 
 and this course proved successful. Many thousands discovered themselves 
 which way their hearts inclined, who formerly durst not appear for the 
 militia. The Commission of Array were forsaken of their own tenants, over 
 whom they had cruelly tyrannized, and the body of the county in a short time 
 grew so vast that they possessed themselves of divers towns most considerable 
 for the securing of themselves and the whole county : Nantwich was the 
 chief, and this was their rendezvous. 
 
 The Array fled to Chester for sanctuary, Master Bridgeman taking the 
 government of the city, who was as imperious as the Bishop his father 
 among the ministers. The recorder, the two Gamuls, and Master Thorp, 
 were the leaders of the Malignant party. A council washolden ^t the Palace, 
 where the Bishop, his sonne, and the Lord Kilmurray were chief, but the 
 Lady Cholmondely was to hold up all, without whom nothing could pass. 
 These were the devisers, but Sir Edward Savage and other papistical and 
 malignant persons were expeditious to execute. 
 
 When they perceived the citizens offended at their usurpations, the 
 hearts of their soldiers turned against them, they sought a Pacification 
 between them and the Deputy Lieutenants, Mr. Marbury and Mr. Main- 
 waring. Tarporley, midway between Chester and Nantwich, was the place, 
 and Monday, 19th December, the time. . . Colonel Hastings sent his 
 troops to Mr. Lancaster's house, the pastor of Tarporley, a painful and pious 
 preacher. Thither the Lord Cholmley, who is Mr. Lancaster's parishioner, 
 sent many of his and Lord Rivers' horse, that fed upon his hay and corn, 
 and carried Mr. Lancaster's hay and barley in the sheaves and littered their 
 horses with the barley, though there was plenty of oat-straw in the barn 
 close by. Lord Cholmley said that Mr. Lancaster lost too little if he lost 
 all, and called him a stinking rascal, with other such opprobrious speeches. 
 In the same town they have plundered the hay, fuel, and all the 
 household goods of Mr. Ley, to the veriest bed cords : and at Utkington 
 they have beaten the servants and taken rich apparel and furniture to the 
 value of 200/. and more. They have plundered Stapleford, Mr. Bruen's 
 house, and Mr. Judson in Rushton, of all that he had, which they rate at 
 100/., and William Welde of the same town to the value of above 15/. ; Mr. 
 Torshell's house also, the pastor of Bunburie. In a word, there is not an 
 household in all these parts reputed religious, but less or more they have 
 pillaged them.* 
 
 ' The Unfaithfulness of the Cavaliers. — Civil War Tracts, British Museum.
 
 Introduction, xix 
 
 The Treaty of Pacification referred to in this extract was an Treaty of 
 attempted resolution of neutrahty that the Royahsts wished to Bunbury °" ** 
 enforce upon the county in order to check the Parhamentarians. December 23. 
 It was to the effect "that there be an absokite cessation of arms 
 " from henceforth within this county, and that the fortifications 
 " of Chester, Namptwich, Stopford, Knutsford, or any town, 
 " lately made by either part be presently demolished. That the 
 " Commissioners of Array procure from his Majesty a letter 
 " declaring that he will send no forces into the county. Signed, 
 " Robert Kilmurrey, Orlando Bridgeman ; William Marbury, 
 " Henry Mainwaring." Immediately upon the adoption of this 
 resolution the Royalists broke it, and the Parhamentarians 
 perceived that they had been deceived. A protest was printed, 
 entitled "Neutrality Condemned," excusing the deputy lieu- Neutrality 
 tenants for affixing their signatures, thus : — " The gentlemen o^aemned. 
 " that did subscribe are not so much blameworthy as those that 
 " did by importunate solicitation persuade them to it ;" and 
 giving the following account of the opposing parties : — " The 
 " well affected of this county to the proceedings of Parliament 
 " being jealous of the safety of their Religion, Laws, and 
 " Liberties, and withal weary of their taskmasters, resolved to 
 " get up and be doing, and to crouch no longer like Issachar 
 " betwixt their burdens. In number and strength they presently 
 '' exceed their adversaries, which makes their opposers first fly 
 " for refuge to Chester, and being there, for policy to the 
 " Bishop's palace, at the desire no doubt of the Popish party, 
 " who conceited that what came from thence was e cathedra, 
 " and not capable of errour or miscarriage." 
 
 The Royalists in Cheshire were prompt in obeying the 
 King's Commission of Array by seizing and imprisoning several 
 Puritan ministers and laymen who sided with the Parliament. 
 A Declaration was issued by the Lords and Commons " con- Declaration 
 " cerning the Releasing of divers worthy Ministers and other S?"^^™'"^ 
 " his Majesty's good subjects in the County of Chester who Sept. 8, 1642. 
 " are imprisoned and bound over to the next Assise for refusing 
 " to obey the illegal Commission of Array, and yeelding
 
 XX 
 
 Introduction. 
 
 Plundered 
 Ministers. 
 
 Committee 
 for Plundered 
 Ministers, 
 1642. 
 
 Its Objects, 
 
 " obedience to the Ordinance and Command of Parliament." 
 
 " The Declaration thus begins : — 
 
 Whereas information hath beene given, that divers persons wel-affected 
 to the peace and safety of the King and Kingdome, have been seized, appre- 
 hended, and imprisoned, and divers worthy Ministers Attached and bound 
 over to the next Assizes to be holden at Chester . . . the Lords and 
 Commons do hereby declare all those to be enemies to the Commonwealth 
 and disturbers of the peace of the Kingdome who seize or detain in prison 
 any persons for obeying the Ordinances and Commands of Parliament, or 
 for refusing the Commission of Array. And do require and command all 
 Lieutenants, Justices of the peace, and the Keeper of the Castle of Chester 
 and of other prisons in the said county, to take especial notice that so those 
 that are already imprisoned may be discharged and no further prosecuted or 
 molested by any usurped power or authority against the lawes of this Land. 
 
 Among the ministers thus imprisoned and plundered by the 
 Royalists, according to a list published by themselves, were 
 William Peartree late of Nantwich, Edward Burghall of Acton, 
 Richard Fowler of Barthomley, Richard Oseley late of Waver- 
 ham, Richard Eaton of Audlem, and Nathanael Lancaster of 
 Tarporley. 
 
 These cases of violence on the part of the Royalists were 
 so numerous, especially against the ministers who sided with 
 the Parliament, that a Committee was formed in London " for 
 " the relief of such Godly and well-affected ministers as have 
 " been plundered;" which took a leading part in directing the 
 appointments to the various parishes throughout England fron^ 
 1642 till 1653. The minute books of this important Committee 
 are some of them in the British Museum Library, and some in 
 the Record Office,* and in the beginning of these interesting 
 volumes we find the following entries describing its objects : — 
 
 December, 1642. This Committee or any four of them are to consider 
 of the fittest way for the rcliefe of such godly and well affected ministers as 
 have been plundered ; and likewise to consider what malignant persons have 
 benefices herein or about this town, whose livings being sequestered, there 
 may others supply their cures and receive the profits. 
 
 October 18, 1643. It is this day ordered by the Commons assembled in 
 
 * Additional MSS., British Museum, 15669-72. Record Office, Domestic 
 Interregnum, 286, 287, 319. Extracts from these volumes relating to 
 Cheshire will be found in the Notes.
 
 IntrodMctioii. 
 
 XXI 
 
 Parliament, that the Committee for Phindered Ministers shall have power to 
 enquire after malignant schoolmasters. 
 
 October 21, 1643. Ordered, that it be especially recommended to the 
 Committee for Plundered Ministers to take a great care that the Ministers of 
 the Assembly of Divines be taken care of and provided for in the first 
 place. 
 
 27th July, 1643. That the Committee for Plundered Ministers shall 
 nominate none to any Parsonage or Benefice but such as first shall be examined 
 by the Assembly of Divines or any five of them, and approved by certificate 
 under their hands. 
 
 That the Committee shall have power to consider of the informations 
 against scandalous ministers, though there be no malignancy proved against 
 them ; and shall have power to put out such as are of scandalous life, these 
 scandals being proved against them. * 
 
 This committee sat in London, and possessed absolute Its Powers, 
 authority in the appointment of ministers throughout England. 
 When cases of dispute between the patron or former holder of 
 the living and the minister nominated occurred, they sometimes 
 required the contending parties to appear before them with their 
 witnesses, but more frequently referred the dispute for settle- 
 ment to the Committee of Parliament for the county. They 
 could call in the help of the sheriff and justices of the peace in 
 any place to aid and assist in enforcing obedience to their 
 orders, and could require the Serjeant-at-Arms of the House of 
 Commons or his deputy to bring any one who neglected their 
 orders in safe custody to answer for his contempt. In all disputes 
 the final appeal was to them. An Act was passed May 31st, 
 1650, limiting their power by the appointment of a Committee Committee for 
 for Compounding Orders for Payment to Plundered Ministers. oJdSr'"''^'"^ 
 The orders of the Committee for Plundered Ministers were first 
 sent to this committee, who upon approval confirmed them, 
 entered them with their auditor, and forwarded them for execu- 
 tion to the Committees for Sequestration in the several counties.t 
 
 * Additional MSS., British Museum, 15669. 
 
 t The Minute Book of this Committee for Compounding Orders, containing 
 entries from October 1652 to September 4th, 1655, is in the Record Office, 
 Domestic Interregnum, No. 319. In 1654 the wording of the orders is 
 altered and "Petitions to," "Presentations from his Highness the Lord 
 Protector," are named. The signatures to the Orders are S.M., W.M., 
 E.W., R.M., A.S., J.R., EC, J.V.
 
 XXI 1 
 
 l7itroduction. 
 
 Westminster 
 Assembly, 
 July I, 1643. 
 
 TheCovenant, 
 a 7th August. 
 
 The famous Assembly of Di\'ines now convened by Parlia- 
 ment " to settle the government and Liturgy of the Church of 
 England," consisted of thirty laymen, viz., ten Peers and twenty 
 Commoners, and 121 Divines. John Ley, M.A., of Great Bud- 
 worth, was the member of the Assembly for Cheshire. Thomas 
 Case, another of the Divines, was for two years rector of 
 Stockport. The Independents were represented by the " five 
 Dissenting brethren," as they are called, who pleaded for Liberty 
 of Conscience, — Thomas Goodwin, Sydrach Simpson, Philip 
 Nye, Jeremiah Burroughs, William Bridge. 
 
 The Solefn?i League a7id Covenant Avas almost immediately 
 prepared and adopted, and taken by the members of the House 
 of Commons on the 25th September. The chief heads of the 
 oath were, that we shall endeavour, ist — The preservation of 
 the Reformed religion in the Church of Scotland, the reforma- 
 tion of religion in England and Ireland, in doctrine, worship, 
 discipline, and government, according to the word of God and 
 the example of the best reformed churches. 2nd — The extirpa- 
 tion of Popery and Prelacy. 3rd — To preserve the rights and 
 privileges of the Parliaments, and the liberties of the kingdoms, , 
 and to defend and preserve the King's Majesty's person and 
 authorit)^* Copies of the Covenant were sent to the Com- 
 mittees of Parliament in the several counties, to commanders- 
 in-chief and officers in the army, and ministers were required 
 to read it to the people " the next Lord's day after they have 
 Sufferings of " prepared the people to take it." Walker in his Sufferings of 
 the Clergy, a folio volume pubhshed in the latter end of Anne's 
 reign, " with all the virulence and partiality of the High 
 " Church faction in that age," to adopt the words of Hallam, 
 " endeavoured to support those who reckoned the clergy 
 " sequestered for refusing the Covenant at eight tliousand ; a 
 " palpable overstatement upon his own showing, for he cannot 
 " produce near two thousand names, after a most diligent 
 " investigation." t 
 
 the Clergy." 
 
 *Neal's History of the Puritans, Toulmin's edition, vol. iii., pages 
 59—62. 
 
 fHallam's Constitutional History, vol. i., page 585.
 
 Introduction. xxiii 
 
 Joseph Hall, bishop of Nonvich, himself sequestered, and 
 from his position well able to ascertain the truth, nor prone to 
 err through prejudice for the Parhament, confesses that " the 
 " Covenant was generally swallowed of both clergy and laity. ":j: 
 The following are the names given by Walker of clergy-men Sequestered 
 sequestered in Cheshire :— S cSshire. 
 
 John Bridgeman, bishop ; William Nicholls, Cheadle ; 
 
 George Snell, archdeacon; William Bispham,'"' prebend; 
 
 Charles Duckworth, prebend ; Edward Morton, Tattenhall; 
 
 Robert Morgan, prebend ; Thomas Mallory, dean ; 
 
 Henry Bridgeman,* Barrow ; Wilham Seddon,* Eastham ; 
 
 George Burges, Woodchurch ; — Eaton, Aldford ; 
 
 — Wright,* Harthill ; Thomas Bridges,* Malpas; 
 Patrick Carr,* Audlem; John Saring, Nantwich ; 
 Thomas Huchinson,*Astbury; John Robinson, Brereton; 
 John Ford,t Over; SamuelShipton,* Alderley ; 
 Edward Wyrley, ]Mobberley ; Peter Harrison,t Cheadle ; 
 Wilham Hutchin3,Gawsworth; Thomas Wright,* Wilmslow; 
 
 — Smith, Bowden ; Rowland Haywood,* Frodsham ; 
 
 — Morston, Christleton; Thomas Glover, W^est Kirby; 
 
 — Essex, prebend : — Hunt,+ S. Mary's, Chester. 
 This list contains only thirty sequestrations from upwards of 
 
 a hundred parishes and chapelries in the county, so that, on 
 Walker's sho%\'ing, two-thirds of the Cheshire clergy complied 
 with the Covenant. He is probably mistaken in three of the 
 names given (those marked t), and he has omitted a like number 
 who should be included, so that we may reckon the sequestered 
 clergy of the county in 1643-4 to have numbered about thirty; 
 most of them being sequestered, not as " scandalous ministers" 
 for immorality, nor on religious grounds for refusing the Cove- 
 nant, but as delinquents, or Mahgnants, i.e. champions for the 
 Royalist cause in opposition to Parliament. Thirteen of them 
 (marked with an asterisk) lived till the Restoration, and were 
 reinstated in their livings. 
 
 + Hall's Life, attached to his Works, folio edition, page 17.
 
 XXIV 
 
 Introductio7i. 
 
 TheDirectory, 
 Jan. 3, 1644-5. 
 
 Aug. 23, 1645. 
 
 June 6, 1646. 
 
 Self-Denying 
 Ordinance, 
 April 3, 1645. 
 
 Letter about 
 Cheshire, 
 Oct. 10, 1646. 
 Petition of 
 Cheshire 
 Independents. 
 
 Parliament did not set aside the Common Prayer Book 
 until the Assembly of Divines had prepared the Directory for 
 public worship, which was not a form of devotion, but contained 
 general directions regarding public prayer and preaching. It 
 was enacted that all ministers should read the Directory to their 
 people the next Lord's Day after their receiving it, and that 
 persons using the Common Prayer Book should be fined, for the 
 first offence 5/., for the second 10/., and for the third a whole 
 year's imprisonment. Petitions were now sent up from various 
 counties, praying for the establishment of the Presbyterian form 
 of church government ; and accordingly an ordinance was passed 
 by Parliament ordering the formation of classes and the election 
 of elders, and the division of England and Wales into classical 
 Presbyteries. But the plan was not carried out excepting in 
 London and Lancashire. The Independents were already 
 gaining influence, and were checking the intolerance of the 
 Presbyterians, who in the Westminster Assembly had an over- 
 whelming majority. One of the most important clauses in the 
 Self-denying Ordinance was that religious men might now serve 
 in Parliament without taking the Covenant as a first preliminary ; 
 and the liberty herein allowed was strongly advocated by the 
 Independents throughout the land. A Presbyterian, writing 
 from Lancashire, loth October, 1646, says : — 
 
 Since our Petition was received into the House of Commons the Sectaries 
 have promoted an anti-petition in Cheshire ; they style it ' The Petition of 
 the peaceable and well affected, that desire liberty 0/ conscience, as was 
 promised by the House of Commons in their declaration which they ordered 
 formerly to be read in the churches.' They have inserted some other 
 plausible things in it the better to draw on hands, promote it with great 
 secrecy, shew it to none but such as beforehand they have some assurance 
 will sign it. It was framed and set on foot by the members of the church 
 at Duckingfield, but I am confident they admit to sign it Seekers, Soul- 
 sleepers, Anabaptists, rigid Brownists, &-c. We hear of one minister in cm- 
 county who hath signed it that is a common drunkard, and two or three 
 young scholars who have begun to preach without ordination ; one of which 
 affirmed to me and some others that he would defend Independency with his 
 blood. Master Taylour and Eaton are wonderfully active both in Cheshire 
 
 and Lancashire. They much improve , who is become a great zealot 
 
 for them, and hath threatened some of the Godly ministers that live near 
 him to make their place too hot for them for denying their pulpits to Mr.
 
 Introduction. 
 
 XXV 
 
 Eaton. We have through the mercy of God a learned and active clergy in 
 our county ; but Cheshire is miserably become a prey to the Sectaries ; they 
 have set up already there two or three Independent churches, and are setting 
 
 up two or three more. hath so far encouraged them, discouraged and 
 
 borne down the orthodox and well affected, that they could never to this day 
 get anything done against them.* 
 
 This curious epistle illustrates the correctness of the witness 
 of Adam Martindale, who says regarding 1646, "This was that 
 " bustling yeare wherein the Presbyterial and Congregationall 
 " governments were like Jacob and Esau strugling in the 
 " wombe. The latter not waiting for a civill sanction as the 
 " former did was got into possession at Duckenfield, in 
 " Cheshire . > at Gorton . . and at Birch. The Pres- 
 " byterians were as busie (especially some) to get their govern- 
 " ment settled all over the county [Lancashire], and that all 
 " separate congregations might be suppressed. A Petition was 
 " set on foot that summer to that purpose, subscribed by 
 " 12,578 hands; though (as is usual in these cases) multitudes 
 " of the subscribers were drawne on by the persuasions and 
 " example of others, and some of them soon after subscribed 
 " an anti-petition to it ; but at last leave was got and an 
 '' establishment, with some limitations, of the Presbyteriall 
 " government throughout the county, "t 
 
 Upon this temporary ascendancy of Presbyterianism, the 
 ministers of Cheshire, after the example of their brethren in 
 London and in other counties, adojDted and signed an attesta- 
 tion, which had been drawn up by Mr. Ley of Astbury. It was 
 entitled " An Attestation to the Testimony of our Reverend 
 " Brethren of the province of London to the Truth ofjesns Christ, 
 " and to our Solemn League and Covenant; resolved on by the 
 " ministers of Cheshire at their meeting May 2nd, and subscribed 
 " at their next meeting [at Northwich, according to page 10] 
 " July 6th, 1648." One of the sections of this essay is headed 
 thus : — " Divers of the Independent way, learned, godly, and 
 " charitable to their godly brethren, though Presbyterians. Yet 
 
 Tlie Bustling 
 Year, 1646. 
 
 Presbyterial 
 Government 
 set up in 
 Lancashire, 
 1646. 
 
 Cheshire 
 
 Attestation, 
 
 1648. 
 
 * Edwards's Gangrrena, page 167. 
 t Autobiography, pages 61, 62 ; published by the Chetham Society.
 
 XXVI 
 
 Introduction. 
 
 Presbyterian 
 judgment of 
 Independency 
 
 Signatures to 
 the Cheshire 
 Attestation. 
 
 " Independency an error, and, as some enlarge the tenet, the 
 " nurse if not the mother of many dangerous deviations both 
 " from truth and piety." The following is an extract from this 
 section : — 
 
 Though we acknowledge divers of our brethren of the Independent way 
 to be learned, godly, charitable, and kind to their Presbyterian brethren 
 (and some of them to be adverse in a great measure to such a toleration as 
 you might truly term intolerable and abominable, which that Catholic 
 advocate and patron of all irreligious religions proposeth), yet as we take 
 the tenet of Independency to be an error in itself, so do we find it by sound 
 reason and sad experience to be, if not the natural mother, yet such a tender 
 nurse and patroness to heretical opinions of all kinds that to it we may (for 
 a great part) ascribe the luxuriant growth and spreading of errors, heresies, 
 &c., so far over this kingdom. We hope the godly, both Presbyterians and 
 Independents, will be so \vise as to beware of such a breach as may incourage 
 and confirm their enemies, whether Popish, prelatical, or profane, against 
 them both. 
 
 The following is a list of the signatures to the Cheshire 
 Attestation — fifty-nine in all : — 
 
 John Ley, for the present preacher at Astbury \ 
 
 Thomas Langley, minister at Middlewich ; 
 
 Henry Masy, pastor of Oswald's in Chester; 
 
 John Glendole, pastor of Peter's in Chester; 
 
 Thomas Upton, pastor of Trinity in Chester; 
 
 William Pearetree, pastor of Mary's in Chester; 
 
 Benjamin Ball, pastor of John's in Chester; 
 
 Hugh Burroughs, pastor of Christleton ; 
 
 John Marigold, pastor of Waverton; 
 
 JosiAS Clark, pastor of Tattenhall ; 
 
 Richard Chapman, pastor of Thornton-in-the-Moores ; 
 
 George Cottingham, pastor of Plemstall ; 
 
 James Hutchinson, pastor of Dodlestone ; 
 
 Randall Guest, pastor of Poulford ; 
 
 William Anderton, pastor de Coppenhall; 
 
 Joshua Golborne, pastor of Eccleston; 
 
 Randall Adams, minister of Wallasey ; 
 
 William Glegge, minister of Haswall ; 
 
 Bryan Lascells, minister of Thurstaston ; 
 
 Ralph Poole, minister of Bebington ;
 
 Introduction. 
 
 xxvii 
 
 Samuel Marsden, minister of Neston; 
 Robert Frecleton, minister at Backford ; 
 Richard Hopwood, minister of Burton ; 
 William Hewetson, minister of Shotwick; 
 Henry Hatton, minister of Overchurch ; 
 John Murcot, minister of West Kirby; 
 Daniel Sunderland, pastor of Bunbury ; 
 Nathanael Lancaster, pastor of Tarpoiiey ; 
 Sabbath Clark, pastor of Tarvin ; 
 John Boyer, pastor of Barrow ; 
 Samuel Bowden, pastor of Frodesham ; 
 George Mainwaring, pastor of Malpas ; 
 William Holland, pastor of Malpas; 
 John Ford, pastor of Over; 
 John Roberts, pastor of Aldford; 
 William Bridges, pastor de Farndon ; 
 Samuel Catharall, pastor of Hanley; 
 James Marbury, pastor of Davenham; 
 Richard Fowler, pastor of Barthomley ; 
 Edward Burghall, pastor of Acton ; 
 John Pemberton, pastor of Congleton ; 
 Joseph Cope, pastor of Sandbach ; 
 Randall Sillitoe, pastor of LoAvton ; 
 Thomas Jeinson, pastor of Presbury; 
 James Watmough, pastor of Bowden; 
 Ralph Hall, pastor of Knotsford ; 
 Ephraim Elcock, pastor of Runckome; 
 John Hulme, minister at Great Budworth; 
 Robert Stringer, minister at Macclesfield; 
 Nicolas Stephenson, minister at Alderley ; 
 Nehemia Worthington, minister at Chelford ; 
 Nehemia Potte, minister at Wincle; 
 Richard Jackson, minister at Namptvvich; 
 Da. Kerr, minister at Audlin ; 
 Humphry Whittingham, pastor at Wistaston; 
 Thomas Swan, pastor of Baddiley; 
 
 Signatures to 
 the Cheshire 
 Attestation, 
 1648.
 
 XXVlll 
 
 Introduction. 
 
 Hopes of Pres- 
 byterians. 
 
 Strength of 
 Independents. 
 
 The Agree- 
 ment of the 
 People, 
 Dec. II, 164! 
 
 Presbyterians 
 oppose it. 
 
 Henry Griffith, minister at Wrenbury; 
 
 Edward Mercer, minister at Burldam Chappel ; 
 
 Henry Newcome, minister at Goosetree. 
 The fact that so many ministers in Cheshire as in other 
 counties put their names to an attestation so thoroughly in 
 favour of the Covenant and against toleration, shows how 
 general was their opinion that Presbyterianism would now be 
 firmly established in England. The King was in the hands of 
 the Scots \ he had even pledged himself to the Covenant ; the 
 whole of Scotland was with the English Presbyterian Royalists, 
 and they were confident of ultimate triumph. 
 
 In reality their overthrow was at hand. Indications from 
 time to time had appeared of the growing influence of the 
 Independents — the advocates of toleration, and only a few 
 months after the Cheshire ministers adopted their attestation, 
 the army published by way of probation, and tendered to 
 the consideration of the people, a paper called the Agreement 
 OF THE People, proposing to change the form of government 
 into a Commonwealth, without a King or House of Lords; and 
 that "all who profess faith in God by Jesus Christ, however 
 " differing in judgment from the doctrine, discipline, and worship 
 " publicly held forth, shall be protected in the profession of their 
 " faith and exercise of their religion according to their con- 
 " sciences, so as they abuse not this liberty to the civil injury of 
 " others, or the disturbance of the public peace." The Presby- 
 terians of Lancashire were prompt in replying to this paper, 
 resolving its proposals in the negative and declaring " for the 
 " satisfaction of the conscience and guiding of the practise of 
 " our churches, and for the general good of this church and 
 " nation," the unlawfulness of subscription to it.* 
 
 * " The paper called the Agreement of the People taken into considera- 
 " tion, and the lawfulness of subscription to it examined and resolved in the 
 " negative, by the ministers of Christ in the province of Lancaster. With 
 " fifty-four signatures," bearing date March 6th, 1648-9. See also Neal, 
 vol. iii., pages 417, 447.
 
 Introduction. xxix 
 
 § III. Commonwealth, 1648 — 1660. 
 
 Events now transpired in quick succession, which altered the 
 
 position of religious parties and prevented the ascendancy of 
 
 the Presbyterian Royalists. The Scotch army, led by Duke 
 
 Hamilton, marched southward into Lancashire, were defeated at 
 
 Preston and routed at Warrington by Cromwell and the 
 
 Roundheads, and fled across Cheshire to Nantwich, where the 
 
 remnant were made prisoners. Cromwell then marchedvictorious 
 
 into Scotland, as far as Edinburgh, and obliged the Scots to 
 
 renounce their engagement against England. Upon his return 
 
 the army presented to Parliament its humble unanimous 
 
 Remonstrance, followed by its Declaration, which Parliament Army Remon- 
 
 after much debating declined to consider, receiving the nov_2o 1648. 
 
 King's concessions at Newport as a ground of settlement. 
 
 Whereupon Colonel Pride, with his regiment of foot, guards Pride's Purge, 
 1 ^ -.-r r ^ 1 • December 6. 
 
 the entrance to the House of Commons, and purges it as 
 
 the members enter of forty-one Presbyterian Royalists on the 
 Wednesday, and others, making in all a hundred, afterwards. 
 The trial of Charles Stuart followed in the month of January; 
 his death warrant was signed on the 29th, Judge Bradshaw, a 
 Cheshire man, taking the lead ; and on the day following, as Charles I. 
 the Prayer Book by law established says, "the blessed mart>T j^n ^4 ^1648-0 
 suffered." The aboUtion of Monarchy, together with the House 
 of Lords, and the setting up of the Commonwealth and 
 Council of State caused as great a change in the Church as 
 it did in the State. Presbyterian Royalism was no longer 
 dominant. In place of the Solemn League and Covenant, a 
 new and very short oath was appointed, called the Engagement, The Engage- 
 viz., I do promise to be true and faithful to the Cojnmonwealth as ^^^ (^^° „„„ 
 // is now established, without a Ki?ig or House of Lords. This wealth, 
 was to be subscribed by all persons of eighteen years of age 
 and upwards; and those who refused it were excluded from 
 holding any place of trust in the Commonwealth, and even 
 from the benefit of the law. It was to be taken by all civil and
 
 XXX 
 
 Introduction. 
 
 Stumbling- 
 block to the 
 Presbyterians. 
 
 Cheshire 
 debates about 
 the Engage- 
 ment. 
 
 military officers within a limited time on pain of forfeiting their 
 places, and it was to be sworn to and subscribed by all minis- 
 ters, heads of colleges, &c. " No minister was to be admitted 
 •' to any ecclesiastical living, or to enjoy any preferment in the 
 " Church unless he qualified himself by taking the Engagement 
 " within six months, publicly in the face of the congregation."* 
 The Presbyterian ministers who had taken the Covenant, and 
 had so recently ratified their oath by adopting and signing an 
 Attestation thereto, felt this new test- to be a serious stumbling- 
 block, t It gave rise to bitter discussion among them, and 
 though as in other counties many of the Cheshire ministers 
 took it, some of them were ejected from their cures for refusing 
 it. Adam Martindale of Rosthem gives the following interesting 
 account of the debates in Cheshire regarding it. 
 
 " This (the Engagement) occasioned many little pamphlets 
 " pro and con, but little to my satisfaction. I thought Mr. John 
 " Durie's discourse^ for it had more words than weight, and the 
 " bitter answer to him more maUce than matter. Much of that 
 " sort of papers was spent in a charge of usurpation upon the 
 " governors by one partie, and warding it off by another, which 
 " signified little to me who was satisfied of the usurpation, but 
 " doubted whether, notwithstanding that, the engagement was 
 " unlawful. All the ministers of any account for ability and 
 " good conversation in the neighbourhood that I used to con- 
 " verse with, save onely one, whose parts lay more towards 
 " prayer and practicall preaching than such mixed controversies, 
 " were for subscribing it. So also were my friends generally in 
 " Rotherstone parish, who would have been sadly grieved if I 
 " had been sent from them for refusing, as some good ministers 
 
 * Neal, vol. iv., page 8. Walker, page 146. 
 
 + Baxter says "the Sectarian party swallowed the Engagement easily, and 
 " so did the King's old cavaliers, so far as I was acquainted with them, but 
 " the Presbyterians and the moderate Episcopal men refused it." 
 
 * " Considerations concerning the present Engagement, whether it may 
 " be lawfuUy taken. Yea or No? By John Dury. London, 1650." Also, "A 
 *• Case of Conscience concerning Ministers meddling with State matters in 
 " or out of their Sermons."
 
 Introduction. xxxi 
 
 " were.'' Martindale then gives a full account of a meeting of 
 ministers at Warrington, at which he was the only champion 
 for signing the Engagement, arguing with them upon Jeremiah 
 xxix. 7, Romans xiii. &c. He continues : — 
 
 Many that were employed by the imposers of this new engagement Reasons for 
 assured us that the design was no more than that we should behave ourselves ^^S"^°S '^• 
 peaceably under that government, so long as it should continue . . And 
 indeed it was rationall to beleeve that by people's being true and faithful to 
 them they could meane no more but that they would live quietly and peace- 
 ably -ivithout plotting against them : . . for they deser\'e to be try'd for 
 fools if they beleeved that either the Royalists (which yet generally sub- 
 scribed, so farre as I can heare, — I am sure some high ones did) or the 
 Presbyterians, which generally were more averse to it, would ever be their 
 cordial friends, so as to suffer with or for them, or to help them up again if 
 once tlirowTi down. . . . About the same time came out an answer to 
 the Exercitation by Mr. Rous, and a learned (though little treatise) called the 
 Northern Subscribers' Plea, which gave many satisfaction and something 
 furthered mine. So that at last, being called on by the Justices, five or six 
 ministers in our neighbourhood subscribed, whereof I was one. 
 
 Besides the Northern Subscribers' Plea mentioned by 
 Martindale in this extract, a Discourse was pubUshed by 
 Samuel Eaton, the Independent, of Dukinfield, entitled "The 
 " oath of allegiance and the National covenant proved to be 
 " non-obliging." This was the substance of a private letter 
 written to a friend which had been opened before it reached its 
 destination, copied, and widely circulated in Lancashire and 
 Cheshire. Mr. Gee of Eccleston, in Lancashire, prepared a 
 Treatise entitled " A plea for Non-subscribers, or the Grounds Reasons for 
 " and reasons of many ministers in Cheshire, Lancashire, and '■^^^^^"g ^'^• 
 " the parts adjoining, for their refusal of the late Engagement ; 
 " modestly propounded either for receiving of satisfaction 
 " (which they much desire) or of indemnity till satisfaction be 
 " laid before them which they cannot but expect." Printed in 
 the year 1650. This book "came out too late to prevent any 
 " in our parts subscribing the Engagement," says Martindale, 
 " but though it did not convince me fully that I had sinned by 
 " subscribing, it bred in me some doubts and scruples."* 
 
 • Autobiography, page loi. He adds : — "In one of these fits of sickness Qualms of 
 " my scruples concerning subscribing the Engagement became heav>-, so conscience.
 
 XXXll 
 
 Introduction. 
 
 Chief ground 
 of objection. 
 
 First Associa- 
 tion of 
 Cheshire 
 Ministers, 
 Oct. 20, 1653. 
 
 That which made the Engagement so distasteful to the 
 Presbyterians was the circumstance that they had by taking the 
 Covenant bound themselves by solemn oath " to have before 
 " their eyes the honour and happiness of the King's Majesty 
 " and his posterity, and to maintain and defend the power and 
 " privileges of Parliament," i.e. consisting of two Houses, 
 Lords as well as Commons. The Engagement required them 
 to be true to a Commonwealth without either King or House 
 of Lords. This hindrance was not felt by the Episcopalian 
 ministers who had refused the Covenant ; for them the temis 
 of Conformity were easier than ever. Many of them, therefore, 
 gathered Episcopal congregations, or obtained parishes and 
 used the Common Prayer-book. * In like manner many 
 Independent ministers who had been kept out by the Covenant 
 now obtained cures, and by them the pulpits, vacated by the 
 non-engaging Presbyterians, were filled. 
 
 Presbyterian government had not been established in 
 Cheshire ; the Independent element was too strong in the 
 county to permit it. But a friendly spirit prevailed among the 
 ministers, and a Voluntary Association was formed among 
 them of both ministers and churches for mutual comfort and 
 advice. Adam Martindale gives the following account of it. 
 
 " In September 1653, at a meeting of ministers at Wilmes- 
 " low, the 14th day of that month, a motion was made, and a 
 " letter drawne to invite many other ministers to give them the 
 " meeting at Knutsford on the 20th of October, being the 
 
 " that I had a desire that two of my brethren that were of contrary per- 
 ' ' suasion would discourse in my chamber, for which I was as fit, considering 
 " the weakness of my body and braine, as to hear a lecture in Arabicke. 
 " After some time, when I was perfectly well again, and had leisure calmly 
 " to consider the thing, though I was not able to say it was absolutely 
 " sinfull, yet having suffered so much trouble of conscience by that unhappie 
 " thing, I took occasion in the pulpit to complain how hardly those tender 
 '* people that pretended so much to liberty of conscience had dealt with 
 " their brethren in imposing burdens upon them ; and mentioning the 
 " Engagement, I told the people that had I knowii so much as I now did, 
 " I beleeve I should never have meddled with it." Henry Newcome had 
 similar qualms of conscience about having signed it. See page 206 of this 
 volume. 
 
 *Nears Puritans, vol. iv., page 55-
 
 Introdtiction. xxxiii 
 
 " exercise day, as accordingly many did ; and there they agreed 
 " upon a voluntary association of themselves and their churches, 
 " if it could be done, for mutual advice and strengthening one 
 " another. Into this societie I quickly after fell, and met with 
 " much comfort and assistance ; but by this meanes our worke 
 " was encreased by meeting frequently about classicall businesse, 
 " and preaching in our tumes a lecture when we so met. If it Not authorita- 
 " be asked how I got satisfaction to act with them now, when voluntary. 
 " I had scrupled some things concerning classicall govermnent 
 " at the time of my being at Gorton, I answer, the case was not 
 " the satne. Here was onely a Voluntary Association of such 
 " as were desirous to advise and assist one another, nor did we 
 '* look upon ourselves as having any pastorall inspection over 
 " one anothers' congregations; but onely to be helpful to them 
 " in a charitable way ; we pretended not to any power to con- 
 " vent any before us, or suppresse any minister because dwelling 
 " in such a place, within such a verge, and differing from us in 
 " practice." This Association worked well, and a similar one 
 was formed in 1659 at Manchester among the Lancashire minis- 
 ters, but upon the Restoration both were dissolved. 
 
 In the same year that this religious and peaceful movement 
 was begun in Cheshire, great changes were transpiring in national 
 affairs. On the 20th of April Cromwell had dismissed the Rump ; 
 on July 4th he summoned the Little (Barebones) Parliament, Cromwell 
 which dissolved itself on December 12th, and four days after- j^j^^ ^jg "I'e-?. 
 wards Cromwell was elected Lord Protector of the 
 Commonwealth, with the "Instrument of Government" and 
 •' Council of fifteen or of twenty-one." 
 
 Four out of the Forty-two Articles which made the Instru- 
 ment of government related to religion. They were similar to 
 those embodied in the "Agreement of the People;" providing 
 that none should be compelled to conform to the public religion 
 by penalties or otherwise, and that Christians differing in judg- 
 ment shall be alike protected in the profession of their faith. 
 
 According to these articles Cromwell devised a scheme for 
 Church government in the country, which in its working proved 
 d ^
 
 XXXIV 
 
 hih'odMction. 
 
 The Triers, 
 March 20, 
 1653-4- 
 
 The Expurga- 
 
 tors, 
 
 Aug. 28, 1654. 
 
 Liberty of 
 Conscience. 
 
 more liberal and satisfactory than the Committee for Plundered 
 Ministers and the Presbyteries had been. "Thirty-eight chosen 
 " men, the acknowledged flower of English Puritanism, are nomi- 
 " nated a Supreme Commission for the Trial of Public 
 " Preachers. Any person pretending to hold a church living, 
 " or levy tithes or clergy dues in England, has first to be tried 
 " and approved by these men.*" Nine of them were laymen, 
 twenty-nine clergymen — Independents, Presbyterians, and two 
 or three Baptists. Any five were sufficient to approve, but no 
 number under nine had power to reject. 
 
 A second ordinance was made in the August following, by 
 which lay commissioners ( Expurgators they were called) were 
 nominated in all counties in England, from fifteen to thirty 
 in each county, whose duty was to inquire into and eject 
 scandalous, ignorant, insufiicient ministers. Ten or more of 
 the gravest and most noted ministers were to work with these 
 commissioners in each county, to assist them 'in judging of 
 cases of ignorance or insufficiency, but not to take part in 
 judging cases of scandalous life. The ministers thus chosen 
 acted also as assistants to the Commissioners for the Appro- 
 bation of Public Ministers, t 
 
 Under the guidance and control of these two commissions — 
 the Triers and the Expurgators — the Church Establishment in 
 England became more national than ever it had been before. 
 Episcopalians, Independents, and Presbyterians, alike received 
 clerical appointments. Many Episcopalians who had been 
 ejected for refusing the Covenant in 1643, many Presby- 
 terians who had been deprived for refusing the Engagement 
 in 1649, were by the Triers examined, approved, and appointed 
 to livings. None were excluded but the "scandalous, ignorant, 
 " or insufficient." The aim of Cromwell was to realize 
 liberty of conscience with purity of life, and the success of his 
 
 *Carlyle's Cromwell, vol. iii., page 6. 
 
 t Thomas Langley, Samuel Langley, Thomas Edge, Samuel Eaton, 
 Henry Newcome, and George Moxon, were among the assistant commis- 
 sioners for Cheshire. — Nexvcome's Autobiography, pages 47, 373.
 
 Introduction. xxxv 
 
 method is witnessed to by foes as well as friends. " Liberty of Cromwell's 
 
 " conscience," said the Protector in his first Parliament, "is a 5^"'^™^"ts. 
 
 " natural right ; and he that would have it ought to give it. 
 
 " Every sect saith, ' Oh, give me liberty ! ' But give it him, 
 
 " and to his power he will not yield it to anybody else. Where 
 
 " is oiir ingenuousness ? Liberty of conscience truly is a thing 
 
 " that ought to be reciprocal. . . All the money of this 
 
 " nation would not have tempted men to fight upon such an 
 
 " accotmt as they have here been engaged in, if they had not 
 
 " had hopes of liberty of conscience better than Episcopacy 
 
 " granted them, or than would have been afforded by a Scots 
 
 " Presbytery, — or an English either."* These were Cromwell's 
 
 views, to reahze them was his aim ; and his commissioners — 
 
 men of known integrity and piety, "the flower of spiritual 
 
 " England," did much to accompHsh it. He honestly declares : 
 
 " There hath not been such a service to England since the 
 
 " Christian religion was perfect in England." Baxter, one of Baxter's testi- 
 
 their boldest adversaries, says of the commissioners : "Toerive "^°°y,. 
 
 ° regarding the 
 
 " them their due they did abundance of good to the church. Triers ; 
 
 " They saved many a congregation from ignorant, ungodly, 
 
 " drunken teachers, . . . and admitted any that were able, 
 
 " serious preachers, and lived a godly life, of what tolerable 
 
 " opinion soever they were." Of the ministry he says, "I do not regarding the 
 
 " believe that ever England had so noble and faithful a ministry ^^'"i^'''^ ^" 
 
 " since it was a nation as it hath at this time. Sure I am the 
 
 " change is so great within these twelve years, that it is one of 
 
 " the greatest joys that I ever had in the world to behold it."t 
 
 This happy state of things was terminated by the death of Death of 
 
 Oliver Cromwell : for upon the accession of his son Richard, a Cromwell, 
 
 ' ^ Sept. 3, 1658. 
 
 good, harmless, but very weak man, the old feuds began to 
 
 re-appear, and the Presbyterian Royahsts, longing for ascen- 
 dancy, sought the restoration of monarchy. Cheshire became 
 notorious among the English counties through the agitation 
 
 *Carlyle's Cromwell, vol. iii., page 54. 
 + Ba.\tei's Life, page 72. Reformed Pastor, pages 104-8.
 
 xxxvi Introduction. 
 
 The Cheshire headed by Sir George Booth, which led to the Cheshire Rising. 
 
 Auguft 1659. •'■^ ^ letter to a friend, printed and widely distributed at the time. 
 Sir George Booth thus expresses his designs : — "Consider what 
 " it is we ask, and consider whether it be not the same thing we 
 " have asserted with our lives and fortunes — a free Parliatnent. 
 " And what a slavery is it to our understandings that these men 
 " that now call themselves a Parliament should declare it an 
 " act of illegality and violence in the late aspiring General 
 " Cromwell to dissolve their body in 1653, and not make it the 
 " like in the garbling the whole body of the Parliament from 
 " four hundred to forty in 1 648 1 What is this but to act what 
 " they condemn in others? A new free Parliament: This is our 
 " cry." Although no mention was made of the restoration of 
 royalty, the subsequent discovery of two commissions from the 
 King, dated July 22nd and August 9th, proved that this was 
 the real design. Through the influence of Mr. Cook, a Presby- 
 terian minister in Chester, Sir George Booth and his troops 
 gained admission to the city, but the Parliament's forces held 
 the castle. Marching therefore out of Chester, he was met by a 
 body of disciplined troops under General Lambert and totally 
 
 The Rout near routed at Winnington Bridge, near Northwich. Many Presby- 
 ort wic . terian ministers knew of the Rising, but abstained from avowing 
 
 Ministers who their sympathies before the Restoration. Philip Henry wrote 
 
 knew of the jj^ j^jg (jj^ry, " Lord OAvn them if they truly owai Thee." Martin- 
 dale says, " Had I been so affected I could easily have spoiled 
 " all the sport, for I knew of it a good while before, as my 
 " revered brother Mr. Henry Newcome of Manchester, very 
 '■' well knows, and could with a post letter easily have prevented 
 " all." Martindale gives a set of reasons why he did not actively 
 engage, two of which are very suflicient. '' So soon," he says, 
 " as they were on foot it was easie, without a spirit of prophesy, 
 " to see they were not like to stand." And again, " This army 
 " (if I may call it one) was like Mahomet's Angellical Cockes, 
 " made up of fire and snow ; for many, both of the commanders 
 " and soldiers, were not only different but contrarient in their 
 " principles ; so as they were no more like to soder firmly
 
 Iniroducttou. xxxvii 
 
 " together than the iron and clay feet of Nebuchadnezzar's 
 " image." This comparison was as appUcable to the lajonen 
 and clerg\' at the bottom of the movement as to the soldiers ; 
 some were for Parliament and Covenant, others for King and 
 Prelates. 
 
 Several of the officers and soldiers under Lord Lambert Cheshire 
 engaged in quelling the Cheshire Rising, prepared and published Q^^"^^. 
 a paper entitled Twenty-one Cheshire Queries, some of which 
 though coarse are witty. Take for example the follo\\ang : — 
 
 1. Whether a man can ever be sure of his meat till he have it in his 
 mouth ? 
 
 2. Whether the late insurrection in Cheshire was not like a hog shearing, 
 where there is a great cry and but little wool ? 
 
 3. Whether he that penned the first Declaration for "a free Parliament" 
 were a Cavalier, a Jesuit, or a Fifth-Monarchy man? and whoever 't^vas 
 whether he had not better never have barked than not have bitten ? 
 
 4. Whether the countrj'men had not more mind to get in their harvest 
 than to fight ? 
 
 5. Whether J-ee-ho be not a better word than have at all? 
 
 II. Whether it would not be prudently done of the Parliament for the 
 better undeceiving of posterity to make an Act to make void and of none 
 effect the old proverbial speech — Cheshire, chief of men ? 
 
 In reply to the third query it may be said that though Sir G. 
 
 Booth's Declaration was ambiguous and Jesuitical, his "barking 
 
 " without biting" won for him a title and a fortune at the 
 
 Restoration. The Cheshire Rising was wittily called the 
 
 Cheshire Race, but it was soon followed by the accomphshment 
 
 of the design it failed in. The secluded members of the Long 
 
 Parliament were restored, and the Convention Parliament r^^^ Restora- 
 
 recalled Charles II. tion, 
 
 May 29, 1660. 
 
 § IV. Charles II. and James IL, 1660 — 1688. 
 
 Presbyterian Royalism now again thought its triumph com- 
 plete. It had brought back a King who had sworn allegiance 
 to the Covenant, and who, in the Breda declaration, promised 
 a general pardon and liberty to tender consciences. But 
 the delusion was greater than before. An Act was passed
 
 XXXVlll 
 
 Introduction. 
 
 Act for the 
 
 Restoration of 
 Sequestered 
 Clergy, 
 Sept. 1660. 
 
 The Pension- 
 ary Parliament 
 May 8, 1661. 
 
 The Savoy 
 Conference, 
 May—August, 
 1661. 
 
 Revision of the 
 Prayer Book, 
 Nov. 20, 1 66 1. 
 
 for the Confirming and Restoring of Ministers; according to 
 which *' every ecclesiastical person, being ordained by eccle- 
 " siastical persons before December 25th last, and having not 
 " renounced his ordination, who hath been formally, since 
 " January ist, 1642, presented to any ecclesiastical benefice 
 " which hath become void to the patron, shall be and continue 
 " the real and lawful incumbent." By this Act hundreds of the 
 Royalist clergy were restored, and Presbyterian and other 
 ministers ejected to make way for them. Character was not 
 thought of; Royalism was the one qualification needful. 
 " Nothing was to be seen at court but feasting, hard drinking, 
 " revelling, and amorous intrigues, which engendered the most 
 " hardened vices. From court the contagion spread like wild- 
 " fire among the people, insomuch that men threw off the very 
 " profession of virtue and piety. The old clergy who had been 
 " sequestered for scandal, having taken possession of their 
 " livings, were intoxicated with their new felicity, and threw off 
 " all restraints of their order."* 
 
 The new Parliament of Church and King men consisted of 
 persons thoroughly corrupt. The court kept in pay one hundred 
 of them, who went by the name of the Club of Voters. 
 
 The Savoy Conference, between twenty-one Anglican and 
 as many Presbyterian divines, lasted for four months, and was 
 conducted with great bitterness; the bishops wrangling against 
 every plea of the Puritans, brow-beating them, and refusing 
 every proposed alteration and scheme for comprehension. Con- 
 vocation afterwards met by royal command to revise the Book 
 of Common Prayer. The prelatical party had the game now in 
 their own hands, and they were not slow to avail themselves of 
 their opportunity. " Care was taken," says Bishop Burnet, 
 " that nothing should be altered as it had been moved by the 
 " Puritans, for it was resolved to gratify them in nothing." 
 
 It is a striking fact that while the oaths imposed in the 
 Anglican Church have been made more stringent by each 
 
 'Neal's Puritans, vol. iv., page 247.
 
 Introduction. xxxix 
 
 successive Act of Uniformity, the language of the Prayer Book 
 and Rubric has retrograded from the principles of the Reforma- 
 tion at each successive revision. This particularly is manifest 
 in the Liturgical changes, and the terms of conformity introduced 
 in 1662. Among the alterations made in the Prayer Book 
 were the following : — 
 
 (i) The viOxA priest in the Liturgy was substituted for minister. (2) The Alterations 
 words sanctify this water to the inystical tvashiug away of sin — words which made therein. 
 Cranmer had excluded as sanctioning the Romish doctrine ex opere operate — 
 were now introduced into the introductory jDrayer in the pubHc office for 
 baptism. (3) The words We yield Thee hearty thanks that it hath pleased 
 Thee to regenerate this infant with Thy Holy Spirit were inserted in the 
 form for private baptism — words to be pronounced where nothing but the 
 bare act of baptism has been performed, the prayer for divine grace not 
 being a necessary part of the private service. (4) The Rubric was added to 
 the pubHc office "It is certain by God's word that children which are bap- 
 " //zi?^ dying before they commit actual sin are undoubtedly saved." The 
 unbaptized were classed Avith the excommunicated and suicides, as those 
 for whom the Burial service is not to be used. (5) In the Rubric appended 
 to the Communion service condemning adoration of "any real and essential 
 " presence" of Christ the word corporal was inserted in place of " real and 
 " essential," thus deliberately rejecting the denial of the real and essential 
 presence. (6) In the form of Ordering of Priests the Bishop is to say : 
 " Receive the Holy Ghost for the office and ivork of a priest in the 
 " Church of God, now committed tmto thee by the imposition of our hands. 
 " Whose sins thou dost forgive they are forgiven ; and whose sins thou 
 " dost retain they are retained." (7) A similar alteration in the form of 
 consecration of a bishop, with the addition "Stir up the grace of God, 
 " which is given thee by this imposition of our hands.'''' 
 
 Many other alterations were introduced, and some undoubted 
 improvements were made, but the tendency towards Romanism 
 and the design to exclude Puritanism were obvious. The work 
 was done speedily and stealthily. Convocation began the 
 Tension on the 21st November, and on the 20th December the 
 revised Prayer Book was adopted and subscribed by the clergy 
 of both houses. 
 
 Parliament had been discussing an Act of Uniformity during xh A t f 
 its first session, but the fatal step which has perpetuated Non- Uniformity,^ 
 conformity in England was not adopted till the second session. 
 The bill enforcing the revised Prayer Book, by means of a new 
 Act of Uniformity, passed the House of Commons by a majority 
 
 May 19, 1662.
 
 Introdtutio7i. 
 
 Terms of the 
 Act. 
 
 The Oath 
 imposed. 
 
 The penalty. 
 
 of six; the numbers being — yeas, i86; noes, i8o. The Lords 
 would have exempted schoohiiasters, and allowed yf/?//^ to such 
 as should not conform ; but the Commons, while agreeing to 
 many minor amendments, rejected this compromise. The 
 Lords then acquiesced, and passed the bill with no great majority. 
 It received the Royal Assent on the i pth of May, and has been 
 the law of England ever since. It runs as follows : — 
 
 2. And to the end that uniformity in the public worshiji of God (which 
 is so much desired) may be speedily effected, be it further enacted by the 
 authority aforesaid, that every parson, vicar, or other minister whatsoever 
 who now hath and enjoyeth any ecclesiastical benefice or promotion within 
 this realm of England or places aforesaid, shall in the church, chapel, or 
 place of public worship belonging thereto upon some Lord's Day before the 
 feast of S. Bartholomew 1662, openly, publicly, and solemnly read the 
 morning and evening prayer appointed to be read, and after such reading 
 thereof shall openly and publicly, before the congregation there assembled, 
 declare his unfeigned assent and consent to the use of all things in the said 
 book, contained and prescribed in these words and no other: — " I, A. B., 
 " do declare my unfeigned assent and consent to all and every 
 " thing contained and prescribed in and by the book entituled 
 " The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacra- 
 " ments and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church according 
 •' to the use of the Church of England, together with the 
 " Psalter or Psalms of David, pointed as they are to be sung or 
 " said in churches, and the Form or Manner of Making, Or- 
 " daining, and Consecrating of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons." 
 
 And that all and every such person who shall (without some lawful 
 impediment, to be allowed and approved of by the ordinary of the place) 
 neglect or refuse to do the same within the time aforesaid (or in case of such 
 impediment) within one month after such impediment removed, shall ipso 
 facto be deprived of all his spiritual promotions. And that from thenceforth 
 it shall be lawful to and for all patrons and donors of all and singular the 
 said spiritual promotions or of any of them according to their respective 
 titles to present or collate to the same as though the person or persons so 
 offending or neglecting were dead. 
 
 And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that every person 
 who shall hereafter be presented or collated or put into any ecclesiastical 
 benefice or promotion within this realm of England and places aforesaid, 
 shall in the church, chapel, or place of ])ublic worship belonging to his said 
 benefice or promotion, \\'ithin two months next after that he shall be in the 
 actual possession of the said ecclesiastical benefice or promotion, upon some 
 Lord's Day openly, publicly, and solemnly read the morning and evening 
 prayers appointed to be read by and according to the said Book of Common 
 Prayer, and after the reading thereof shall openly and publicly before the
 
 IntrodMction. xli 
 
 congregation there assembled declare his unfeigned assent and consent to 
 the use of all things therein contained and prescribed according to the form 
 before appointed. 
 
 Provided always and be it enacted that from and after the feast of Episcopal 
 S. Bartholomew 1662, no person who is now incumbent'and in possession Ordination 
 of any parsonage, \-icarage, or benefice, and who is not already in holy ° 
 orders by episcopal ordination, or shall not before the said feast day of 
 S. Bartholomew be ordained priest or deacon according to the form of epis- 
 copal ordination, shall have, hold, or enjoy the said parsonage, idcarage, 
 benefice, with cure or other ecclesiastical promotion within this kingdom of 
 England and Wales, but shall be utterly disabled and ipso facto deprived of 
 the same, and all his ecclesiastical promotions shall be void as if he was 
 naturally dead. 
 
 Such were the terms of the Act of Uniformity, an Act which increased 
 still disgraces our Statute book. It imposes the most stringent f/'^'tf^^^ f^" 
 oath required in the Anglican church. The subscription to the Conformity. 
 Articles enjoined in 157 1 required only that at ordination the 
 minister shall " declare his assent and subscribe to all the 
 " Articles of religion which only concern the confession of the 
 '' true faith and the doctrine of the sacraments;" and which 
 these Articles are has never been determined. The subscrip- 
 tion required to the three Articles of the Thirtj'-sixth Canon 
 (1603) involved the stricter declaration on the minister's part 
 " that the Book of Common Prayer containeth in it nothing 
 " contrary- to the word of God, and that he himself will use the 
 " form in the said book prescribed, in public prayer and ad- 
 " ministration of the sacraments, and no other." Some of the 
 early Puritans, as we have seen, refused to subscribe this article ; 
 but the terms of conformity then required were easy in com- 
 parison of the explicit, oppressive, and tyTannical terms imposed 
 by this last Act of 1662. 
 
 To the very last the Presbyterians cherished the delusion Delusion of the 
 that the King would at least grant them toleration. So late as Presbyterians, 
 the Saturday evening before the famous 24th of August, a 
 report reached Cheshire, and was credited, that the King was 
 about to grant an Indulgence for Nonconformers. It was a 
 forlorn hope, a vain delusion. The Act was a tvvo-edged sword 
 against them. Even had they taken the oath required regarding 
 the Prayer Book, they would have been deprived by the last
 
 xlii 
 
 Introduction. 
 
 Number of 
 Ministers 
 ejected in 
 Cheshire. 
 
 Occasional 
 Conformity. 
 
 Conventicle 
 
 Act, 
 
 July I, 1664. 
 
 The Oxford or 
 Five Mile Act, 
 Oct. 31, 1665. 
 
 clause above quoted, unless they submitted to re-ordination at 
 the hands of a bishop ; because most of them had never been 
 episcopally ordained. The same remark applies to the Indepen- 
 dents who held prefeoTients. But in addition to these, many who 
 had been episcopally ordained now refused to conform; though 
 stanch Episcopalians they disliked the altered Prayer Book, 
 and though willing to take the oaths formerly required, they 
 could not conscientiously submit to the fetters now imposed. 
 
 The number of ministers ejected from their cures in Cheshire 
 between 1660 and 1662 was at least sixty-two. There were 
 probably more, whose Nonconformity we could prove, had we 
 the necessary data for every parish. The number computed by 
 Calamy was fifty-two. Throughout England and Wales his 
 calculation was 2,188. He has probably underrated them in 
 other counties besides Cheshire. 
 
 Many of the Nonconforming ministers, recognizing the dis- 
 tinction between lay and clerical conformity, went as laymen to 
 the services at their parish churches, and in the evenings held 
 " Repeatings" in their own families — repetitions, that is, of the 
 discourses that had been preached by the Conformist. Some 
 ministers were courageous enough to hold separate services for 
 those in their former congregations who sympathized with 
 Nonconformity. The King wished to give them toleration, but 
 rumours of conspiracy and insurrection on political grounds were 
 sedulously propagated against them; and these were cited as the 
 pretext for an Act "for suppressing seditious Conventicles, which 
 " inflicted on all persons above the age of sixteen, present at any 
 " religious meeting in other manner than is allowed by the 
 " practice of the Church of England, where five or more persons 
 " besides the household should be present ; a penalty of three 
 " months' imprisonment for the first oftence, of six for the 
 " second, and of seven years' transportation for the third, on 
 " conviction before a single justice of peace."* 
 
 In the next session of Parliament, which was held at Oxford 
 on account of the plague that ravaged the capital, another Act 
 
 * Hallam's Constitutional History, vol. ii., page 47.
 
 Introduction. xliii 
 
 was passed " to restrain Nonconformists from inhabiting corpo- 
 " rations." It was' enacted that all persons in holy orders 
 who had not subscribed the Act of Uniformity should take the 
 following oath : — 
 
 I, A. B., do swear that it is not lawful upon any pretence whatsoever to 
 take arms against the King, and that I do abhor that traitorous position of 
 taking arms by his authority against his person or against those that are 
 commissioned by him ; and that I will not at any time endeavour any altera- 
 tion of government either in church or state.* 
 
 It was further enacted that " those who shall refuse this oath 
 " shall be incapable of teaching in any public or private schools, 
 " or of taking any boarders, under pain of 40/. ; and shall not 
 " come or be within five miles of any parish, city, town cor- 
 " porate, or borough, or within five miles of any parish, town, 
 " or place wherein they have been parson." 
 
 Revenge and fear were the unmixed passions which prompted Cruel Enforce 
 the church party to enact these persecuting statutes. Most of TT*" ^^^'^ 
 the Nonconformists refused the oath which the Five Mile Act 
 imposed, and their sufferings were severe. The gaols were 
 filled not only with ministers but with members of their 
 congregations. Yet in spite of this cold-blooded persecution 
 they stood their ground, and kept up as far as possible fraternal 
 intercourse. The following letter not only illustrates the system 
 of espionage to which they were subject, but witnesses to the 
 extent and number of their congregations. 
 
 The Presbyterian party hold their Conventicles dayly and have their Royalist ac- 
 fasts every weeke once or twice, and have their frequent conferences and count of Xon 
 collections of money whereby to hold their party together, and to be in a conformists, 
 readiness for an opportunity to reform the church and the court. ■'' 
 
 To these purposes there are frequent meetings of the principall men of 
 their party at the lodging of Colonel Hunt of Shropshire, an active and 
 subtle zealot who lodgeth at the house of Mr. Benbowe of the same character, 
 merchant, who lives in the open space between Lawrence Lane and Iron- 
 monger Lane. This house is the centre of their intelligence and correspon- 
 dence. The intelligencers to the party are Mr. Lye, late parson of Nonconfor- 
 
 in Lombard-street. He hath been lately in Scotland, and is returned and "^i^*^ 
 teacheth a school in his house at Clapham ; and Mr. Yorke, who hath been Intelligencers, 
 some months in Wales; and Mr. Woodcocke, of whom Dr. Bates said 
 
 *Nears Puritans, vol. iv,, page 367.
 
 :liv 
 
 Introduction. 
 
 Their private 
 gatherings. 
 
 Their 
 preachers. 
 
 merryly "Mr. Woodcocke doth not flye abroad for nothing;" Mr. Oliver 
 Calderwood, late of Shipton Mallet in Somersett, who was also sent into 
 Scotland. Mr. Yorke aforesaid had 50/. given him by an alderman who 
 lives in or neare Wood-street towaid the expense of his journey. Morgan, 
 a Welshman, is his correspondent here, as Mr. Inys, a Scot, is for Scotland. 
 Mr. Stubbs of Wells is intelligencer for those parts ; he is oft here in this 
 city and preaches every day at Conventicles. Mr. Hughes is for Plymouth 
 and those parts. 
 
 Mr. Cook for West Chester, who was lately imprisoned there. In Dublin 
 Doctor Winter ; Colonel Thomas Ceely, sometime governor of Lime Regis 
 in Dorsetshire ; and Mr. Maddens an Independent ; Doctor Moore a physi- 
 tian in Cheapside is their correspondent for Ireland. They boast that they 
 have intelligence of all matters that pass in the court, and having heard a 
 while since that the King would rayse three regiments more of horse, in 
 their meeting at Colonel Hunt's they laught at the inconsiderable number 
 and boasted that they have assurance of fifty thousand men in London. 
 
 The eldest son of Colonel Hunt keeps at his house in Shrewsbury 
 thirty geldings to be in readiness for sers'ice. At a Lord's house seventeen 
 miles distant from London towards Oxford do often meet — Hamden, Esq., 
 Mr. Baxter, and Dr. Manton, to conferre on ye plott. A dinner is pro- 
 vided for the party at Colonell Hunt's lodging, which is called y^ parson's 
 ordinary, every Tuesday. Before y^ discovery made of ye conspirators in 
 Yorke they boasted ye plot had been carried so closely, and ye party so 
 firmly united, that all ye wisdom of ye counsell should never be able to 
 disappoint it. 
 
 They said Oliver had a quicker scent for discovering a plott than any 
 now have. When they in Yorke were discovered 'tw-as bewayled here that 
 many godly men were likely to suffer there. Since then they have bin more 
 reser\'ed, and admitt none to their meetings without bringing a tickett ; and 
 sometimes they forbid any servants to come, and sometimes their daughters 
 are prohibited, and sometimes their wives also, as at a meeting in Lombard- 
 street last weeke. Great persons were desired to have their coaches come 
 privately. They have often collections for their brethren in distresse, and 
 if they hear of any who for poverty or other respect declines to conforme, 
 they stave him off with their gifts, as lately they did Dr. Bryan of Coventry. 
 500/. was lately delivered to Mr. Calamy to be distributed. 
 
 I. These often preach at their Conventicles. Mr. Baxter at ye house 
 of — Hamden, Esq., which he hath near S. Jones fitted for }'e purpose, and 
 at a gentleman's house in Black Fryars. Mr yacotn at ye Countess of 
 Exeter's ; there also Mr. Whittaker and Mr. Poole who advised that every 
 one of ye ejected presbyters should take his own pulpit again, and try if 
 ye people will not stand by them. 
 
 Mr. Calamy was wont to preach constantly at his own house every 
 Sunday, after evening service ended, before his sickness ; and also frequent 
 fasts have been kept at his house. At Mr. Hunt's house at Harrow-on- 
 the-Hill preached lately in one day, and prayed at a fast there kept. 
 Doctor Staunton, Jenkins, Stanley, Pateman, Griffith, and Vincent, who 
 ordinarily prayeth down popery and prelacy.
 
 Introductio7i. 
 
 xlv 
 
 Persecution in 
 Cheshire 1665. 
 
 The rest of the preachers at Conventicles are Mr. J-acksoii, at whose 
 house have been Conventicles weekely ; also Mr. Totenhill, Mr. A'eedley, 
 Young Jackson, Mr. Stocom, Mr. Porter, Mr. Rowe, Mr. Brooks, Mr. 
 Watson, Mr. Doelittle, Mr. Vaughan who is going to Bermudas, Mr. 
 Fisher of Nottingham, Mr. Groundman a German, Doctor Bates, Mr. 
 Havylan, Dr. Manton, Mr. Cloxton. 
 
 2. Divers of y^ coffee houses are made meeting places for the brethren, 
 one in Soper Lane on the west side, and some taverns, as ye Three Taverns, 
 in Paul's Church Yard. 
 
 3. Doctor Wild is their poett.* 
 
 4. Booksellers who are intrusted by the part}' are Samtiel GelUbrand in 
 Paul's Church Yard, and Francis Titon against S. Dunstan's in y^ West. 
 
 Alderman Webb and Alderman Justice are friends to ye party. At 
 ye Blue Anchor in Old Fish-street preaches Mr. Caryll and Griffith.-^ 
 
 The political aspect given to the movements of the Non- 
 conformists in this letter is manifestly unjust and absurd, but it 
 is a witness, all the more valuable as coming from an enemy, 
 to their numbers, energ}', and concord, and to the hatred and 
 cruelty of the dominant church party. The ministers named 
 were the most learned and pious men of their day, " the flower 
 " of spiritual England," as they have been justly called. As to 
 Cheshire in particular, the following letters from Sir Geoffrey 
 Shakerley, one of the deputy-lieutenants for the county and 
 governor of Chester Castle, shew the avidity and hearty hatred 
 of that ignoble Royalist against the Chester ministers. 
 
 " I shall be well satisfied with my Lord ArUngton's letter in 
 " His Majesty's name for my countenance and encouragement Shakerley 3 
 " of what I have or shall regularly do in pursuance of His 
 " Majesty's service against Nonconformists and disobedient 
 " persons ; for what I have already done in this city was as 
 
 Sir Geoffrey 
 
 * Robert Wild, D.D., of Oxford, was bom at S. Ives in Himtingdonshire. The Noncon- 
 He was appointed minister of Aynho in Northamptonshire, in 1646, and formist poet, 
 was ejected thence in 1660 to make way for Dr. Longman, the former 
 rector. He afterwards resided at Oundle, where he died in 1679. He was 
 a man of piety and wit, and of poetical genius. His published poems were 
 "The Tragedy of Mr. Love at Tower Hill. — Iter Boreale; or, Monk's 
 " March from Scotland to London. — The Imprisonment of ^Mr. Calamy. — 
 " To the Memory of Jer. Whittaker. — On the Death of many Rev. 
 " Ministers. — On the Death of Mr. Vines. — On the Death of Mr. Calamy. — 
 " The Grateful Nonconformist. — The Loyal Nonconformist." 
 
 + Account by Edmund Potter of Conventicles, about the year 1664. 
 MS. in Record Office, Domestic, Charles II. 109, 56.
 
 xlvi 
 
 Introdiiction, 
 
 Meeting 
 in Chester 
 dispersed. 
 
 Eminent Non- 
 conformists 
 there fined. 
 
 " deputy-lieutenant, for I am no justice of peace there, but I 
 " required the assistance of some of their justices, who have 
 " convicted the persons named in the enclosed ; and much 
 " favouring them in their fines being the first conviction (and 
 " all of this city, as I formerly hinted, being nearly linked in 
 " affinity) they submitted and readily paid their fines. And I 
 " have not heard of the least clandestine meeting either in city 
 " or country since, but shall be very vigilant to prevent them. 
 " 17th July 1665." — Sir Geoffrey Shakerley to Williamson. 
 
 " It appears that the pest of disobedience and Noncon- 
 " formity continues in the city, for yesterday, in the evening, in 
 " the very heart of the cit)^, in the house of Thomas Harrison, 
 " commonly called Dr. Harrison, sometime chaplain to Yizxry 
 " Cromwell, were assembled and met together in a conventicle 
 " at least one hundred persons, men and women, who being 
 " discovered and heard at their prayers (which were performed 
 " by the said Harrison, as some of them afterwards confessed) 
 " refused to open the doors, so that I was forced to break them 
 " down; whereupon they fled and got away, as many as could 
 " (they so much outnumbered those with me that took them). 
 " Some we took hid under beds, others locked up in closets 
 " and hid in corners and private places of the house; in all I 
 " met with the number of sixty men and women and brought 
 " them before the Mayor. Those of the most eminent of the 
 " men were last night examined, and to save imprisonment 
 " paid their monies, being the first conviction, viz., the afore- 
 " said Harrison, Edward Bradshaw, and Peter Lee, late alder- 
 " man, Mr. Gregg the examiner in the Exchequer, James 
 " Jolly formerly Mayor Jolly under the late usuq^ers, one 
 " Richard Kirby lately come out of Ireland, one Cross, and 
 " one Williams. More of them will be examined this morning, 
 " and dealt with accordingly. These are not of the Anabap- 
 " tistical crew I lately told you of, but are of the first and 
 " therefore worst stamp of Sectaries, the original from whence 
 " all others have lately sprung, and therefore require the more 
 " strictness and severity to be used to them. But, as I have
 
 Iritrodiiction. xlvii 
 
 " lately told you, they have such affinity and are so linked 
 " together of all parties throughout the city, that it will prove 
 " very difficult and hard to suppresse them, unless there may 
 " be an instrument directed to me and some of no relation or 
 " affinity empowering us to apprehend and punish all offenders 
 " in their kind according to law; which I could \vish might 
 " speedily be sent down. Geoffrey Shakerley. 
 
 " Chester, 3rd July 1665. 
 
 "Some of them more confidently hardy than the rest 
 " threaten to complain for my breaking down the doors and 
 " disturbing them."* 
 
 The persecuting spirit these letters breathe was allowed full 
 play by the Conventicle and Five Mile Acts, and the Noncon- 
 formists' sufferings were all that ecclesiastical bigotry desired. 
 Prelacy and proffigacy joined hand in hand while patronizing 
 each other to persecute Puritans ; but there were men who, 
 actuated by political motives only, began to see the impolicy 
 of this reckless course. Hear one of the voices raised 
 in the midst of this roaring time : — "The Nonconformists are Discourse on 
 " every^vhere spread through city and country ; they make no Eno-land 1667. 
 " small part of all ranks and sorts of men ; by relations and 
 " commerce they are so woven into the nation's interest that it 
 " is not easy to sever them without unravelling the whole. 
 " They are not excluded from among the nobility, among the 
 " gentry they are not a few, but none are of more importance 
 " than the trading part of the people and those that live by 
 " industry, upon whose hands the business of the nation lies 
 
 *MS. Record Office, Domestic, Charles II., 126, 13; 127, 7. The Tmprison- 
 foUowing order occurs in the same set of MSS., No. 132, 24: — "At ments. 
 " Northwich, September 4th, 1665, It is ordered that Thomas Harrison of 
 " the city of Chester, Mr. Trevis, Mr. Bullen of the same city, and Mr. 
 " Blackwell of Bidston, be forthwith secured and kept prisoners till further 
 " orders; and that security be taken for the peaceable demeanour of Mr. 
 " Jolly of the city of Chester, Robert Wilson of Bidstone, Thomas Pick, 
 " John Linaker and Peter Cade of Frankby, George Ball of Erby, William 
 " Lee of Moreton, Robert Xickock of Laughton, Thomas Kerkes of Mol- 
 " lington, and Mr. Wilson of Backford. Given under our hands and seals 
 " the day and year aforesaid. Signed P. Leicester, Rich. Brooke, Jo. 
 " Ardern, Pe. Brooke, Thomas Cholmondeley, Henry Legh. For Sir 
 " Geoffrey Shakerley, Knt., Governor of the Castle of Chester."
 
 xlviii 
 
 Introduction. 
 
 The workers " niuch. . . Ill them no small part of the nation's sobriety, 
 
 in England 
 
 Nonconform- " frugality, and industry, doth reside. They are not the great 
 
 " wasters, but mostly in the number of getters. To purge a 
 " nation of this people may be to purge out more of its vitals 
 " than the strength of this state can bear. To suppress those 
 " that are reckoned among the chief in trading, and whose 
 " commerce is so general, may beget a general diffidence and 
 " insecurity in traders, and may help to drive away trade itself, 
 " and send it to an emulous and encroaching nation. If no 
 " greater latitude can be allowed than is at present, a race of 
 " Nonconformists is likely to run parallel with the Conformists 
 " to the world's end." In the spirit of these warnings a move- 
 ment was made for a comprehension of the Nonconformists, in 
 which Bishop Wilkins of Chester took a leading part. He drew 
 up a paper of proposals, very liberal in its concessions, which 
 was submitted to the leading Nonconformists ; * but Arch- 
 bishop Sheldon hearing of it caused it to be suppressed, and 
 April II, 1670. succeeded in carrying through Parliament a bill adding two 
 clauses to the Conventicle Act, imposing penalties more cruel 
 and inliuman. 
 
 At length Charles II. himself, with the advice of the Cabal, 
 stayed this prelatical persecution by the exercise of his royal 
 prerogative. His motive, according to general opinion, was 
 purely the establishment of Popery, but the words of the 
 Declaration contradict this, and the tenour of his frequently 
 expressed wishes, since the Breda promises, had been in favour 
 of a general Toleration. Papist and libertine as he was, this 
 acknowledgment must be made regarding him. The Declara- 
 tion was to the following effect : — 
 
 " It being evident by the sad experience of twelve years 
 " that there is very littte fruit of all these forcible courses. . . 
 " We do declare our will and pleasure to be that the execution 
 " of all penal laws, in matters ecclesiastical, against whatsoever 
 " sort of Nonconformists or recusants be immediately suspended ; 
 
 Declaration of 
 Indulgence, 
 March 15, 
 1671-2. 
 
 • Given in full by Neal, vol. iv., pages 382 — 385.
 
 Introdtcction. xlix 
 
 "... and that we shall from time to time allow a 
 
 " sufficient number of places as they shall be desired, in all 
 
 " parts of this our kingdom for the use of such as do not con- 
 
 " form to the Church of England, to meet and assemble in 
 
 " order to public worship and devotion, which places shall be 
 
 " open to all persons. We do further declare that this our 
 
 " indulgence as to the allowance of the public places of worship 
 
 " and approbation of the preachers shall extend to all sorts of 
 
 " Nonconformists and recusants, except the recusants of the 
 
 " Roman Catholic religion." 
 
 Objections were raised against accepting this Indulgence, Licences in 
 , . , . • r ,1 J- • r Cheshire 1672. 
 
 because it was an arbitrary exercise of the dispensing power of 
 
 the King, but many of the Nonconformists availed themselves 
 
 of the liberty it gave. The Licence Book,* containing the 
 
 names of places and ministers registered, furnishes the following 
 
 hst of eight Presbyterian and four Congregational Ucences for 
 
 Cheshire : — 
 
 " Presbyterian. 
 
 "Sandbatch parish, Thomas Leadbeater, in his house, i6th 
 " April '72. 
 
 "Wibunbury parish, John Ravenshaw,t in his house, 30th 
 " April '72. 
 
 " Chester, William Cooke, the house called the "White Frj'-ars, 
 " 8th May '72; the house of John Glendole,| i oth June '72; the 
 " house of Hugh Harvey,§ loth June '72. 
 
 " Ashbury parish, Andrew Bamett, in his house, 13th May '7 2. 
 
 " Castle Hill, in the parish of Bowden, John Brereton, in 
 " his house, 22nd May '72. 
 
 " Bartomley, the house of Rob. Steele,|| loth June '72. 
 
 * Record Office, Domestic Interregnum, 186. 
 
 fThe fact that John Ravenshaw took a hcence in 1672 proves that the 
 " Catherine Ravenshaw, widow," in the Holmes Chapel register for 1664 
 was not his wife. See page 198. 
 
 % He must have returned to Chester from Budworth, whither he had 
 gone in 1665. See page 13. 
 
 g If not meant for John Harvey, this was probably a kinsman of his. 
 
 II Probably Richard Steel the ejected minister of Hanmer, Flintshire, 
 the friend of Philip Henry, Newcome, and Machin. He belonged to a 
 
 e
 
 1 
 
 Introduction. 
 
 Test Act, 
 March 25, 
 i67f. 
 
 James II., 
 February 6, 
 1684-5. 
 
 " Flintshire, Malpas parish, Philip Henry, in his house, 30th 
 " April '72. 
 
 " CONGREGATIONALL. 
 
 " Asbury parish, George Moxon, in his house, 30th April '72. 
 
 " Chester, John Wilson, in the house of Catharine Booth in 
 " Northgate-street, and Dame Hames, ist May '72; William 
 " Cooke, in the house of Anthony Henthorne, i6th May '72." 
 
 The Nonconformists did not long enjoy the tranquillity and 
 hberty secured by the King's Indulgence. In the course of the 
 next year he cancelled it, and the fear of Popish ascendancy 
 prompted Parliament to pass the Test Act, which rendered the 
 reception of the sacrament according to the Established Church, 
 and a renouncing of the dogma of transubstantiation, necessary 
 conditions for government appointments. In supporting this 
 Act the Nonconformists sacrificed their o^^^l rights for the sake 
 of averting the common danger then threatening. Though the 
 latitudinarian clergy, who then were called the Low Church 
 party, wished to exempt the Nonconformists from the penal 
 laws, the High Church or court party preached passive obedience, 
 and enforced these laws against them in their full rigour. Thus 
 persecution, with Judge Jeffries as its minister and the clergy as 
 its abettors, continued till the death of the King. He died a 
 Roman Catholic. Eight thousand Nonconforaiists perished in 
 prison during his reign, their only crime being their Dissent 
 from the dominant Establishment. 
 
 During the first year of James II.'s reign the Episcopal 
 clergy of England continued their obsequious betrayal of the 
 liberties of their countrymen. Love of power and hatred of 
 Nonconformists were their ruling motives. But the latitudina- 
 rian party in the Establishment, now growing in influence, 
 wrote and preached against Popery, and thus they awoke the 
 hostility of the King. The King, who was a Papist, relaxed 
 
 family residing in Barthomley parish, and Newcome often met him at Leek 
 and Newcastle. Though he removed to London, he was probably residing 
 at Barthomley in 1672, and contributed to the erection of a school there in 
 1675. — See Notitia Cestriensis, page 213.
 
 Introduction. li 
 
 the penal statutes against the Roman CathoHcs, and the Non- 
 conformists obtained, from motives of poHcy on the part of a 
 Romanist king, the freedom which, in opposition to the principles 
 of Protestantism, the Church party had refused them. A dis- 
 pensation or hcence office was set up, where all who appHed 
 might obtain an indulgence, on payment of a small fee. These 
 concessions were followed by the King's Declaration for Liberty Declaration 
 of Conscience, in which, after expressing his heart}' AA-ish that his Conscience " 
 subjects were Catholics, he declares, ist, that he will protect ■'^P"^ 4, 1687. 
 the prelates and clergy and lait>' of the Church of England, in 
 the full exercise of their religion by law established ; 2nd, that 
 all penal laws for Nonconformity shall be immediately sus- 
 pended; and 3rd, that all acts which impose any religious 
 test as a qualification for any office shall be abrogated. This 
 declaration was repeated the year folloAAdng in terms more 
 favourable to the Papists; and Bishop Cartwright, who had 
 been appointed to the see of Chester by the King, drew up an 
 address of thanks for it, which was signed by some of the 
 bishops and several of the Cheshire clerg}-.* Though not him- 
 self a Papist, CartwTight advanced the designs of the King, and 
 was in constant communication with the Jesuit Father Petre. 
 During his episcopate James II. visited Chester, and it was visit of 
 thought fit by some of the Nonconformists of the count}' that ^^^^\ ^^ 
 " something should be said to him" by way of a loyal address Aug. 27,1687. 
 from them. " It fell to me," says Henry Newcome, " as the 
 " senior, but I was utterly averse unto it. Mr. Jolly ac- 
 " cepted it. But it pleased God to order it that His Majesty 
 " came by us," they had been waiting six hours for him on 
 RoAAton Heath, " and stayed not ; but put off his hat and 
 " passed on. And so there was nothing said and all was well."t 
 The Nonconformists perceived the aims of the King, and 
 while they used their liberty for worship, they generously joined 
 hands with their fellow-Protestants within the Establishment 
 
 * Cartwright's Diary, page 47; Neal, vol. v., page 54. 
 t Newcome's Autobiography, page 265.
 
 Hi 
 
 Introduction. 
 
 Trial of tlie 
 seven bishops, 
 June 29, 1688. 
 
 who before had persecuted them against the common danger 
 now threatening the country. The Protestant bishoj)S and 
 clergy who hitherto had preached passive obedience, and in 
 alhance with a Popish court had shown only intolerance to the 
 Nonconformists, now saw their error. Seven bishops refused 
 to recognize the King's dispensing power, and were therefore 
 prosecuted and sent to the Tower. Conformists and Dissenters 
 joined in sympathy with them, and rejoiced in their acquittal. 
 
 § V. 1688— 1806. 
 
 The Tolera- 
 tion Act. 
 
 William and The news of the landing of the Prince of Orange was hailed 
 Mary crovviied ^^-^^^ j^y j^y ^.j^g Nonconformists, and upon the coronation of 
 William and Mary they presented addresses of congratulation. 
 In the first year of their reign the Toleration Act was passed, not 
 without murmurs from the High Churchmen who wished to 
 limit it to a term of seven years. The Toleration Act was 
 entitled An Act for exempting their Majesties' Protes- 
 tant SUBJECTS DISSENTING FROM THE ChURCH OF ENGLAND 
 FROM THE PENALTIES OF CERTAIN LAWS. " It exempts from 
 
 " the penalties of existing statutes against separate conventicles 
 " or absence from the established worship, such as should take 
 " the oath of allegiance, and subscribe the declaration against 
 " Popery, and such ministers of separate congregations as should 
 " subscribe the Thirty-nine Articles (excepting the 34th, 35th, 
 " 36th, and the beginning of the 20th). Those who object to 
 " oaths are to subscribe a declaration of fidelity to the King 
 " and Queen, together with a profession of their Christian 
 " belief, in the following words : — /, A.B., profess faith in God 
 " the Father^ and in Jesus Christ His eternal Son, the true God, 
 " and in the Holy Spirit, one God blessed for ever more; and do 
 " ackno7vledge the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testa- 
 " ment to be given by divine inspiration. Provided always that 
 " this Act shall not extend or be construed to extend to give 
 " any ease, benefit, or advantage, to any Papist or Popish
 
 Introduction. liii 
 
 " recusant whatsoever, or any person that shall deny in his 
 *' preaching or writing the doctrine of the blessed Trinity as it 
 " is declared in the aforesaid Articles of religion." 
 
 In the strength and under the protection of this Act the Chapels built 
 Nonconformists throughout England began to erect Meeting- fe Trinitarian 
 houses. In most of the trust deeds of these chapels the Non- 
 conformists describe themselves simply as Protestant Dissetiters, 
 and it has been argued from this circumstance that they intended 
 not to bind the ministers or worshippers who should occupy 
 the place to any particular doctrines, and that in some instances 
 they were themselves disbelievers in the Trinity. But the 
 terms of the Act under the protection of which they built their 
 chapels, distinctly demanded belief in the Trinity on the part 
 of all who shared its protection, and expressly excluded Soci- 
 nians and Arians. Accordingly the wording of the trust deeds, 
 " to be used for and as a place of meeting or assembling 
 " together of Protestant Dissenters for the public exercise of 
 " religious worship, pursuant and agreeable to the authority 
 " given by an Act of Parliament heretofore made in the first 
 " year of the reign of their Majesties William and INIary 
 *• entitled," &c., is sufficient proof that the founders of these 
 chapels were believers in the Trinity ; the terms of the Act 
 referred to requiring that belief. 
 
 Together with the Toleration Act, King William wished to Comprehen- 
 secure for the Dissenters a general comprehension. A com- ^'°'^ ^^^^ 
 
 ^ thrown out. 
 
 mission was issued to thirty divines, ten of whom were bishops, 
 " to prepare such alterations of the liturgy and canons as will 
 " conduce to the reconcihng of differences." The Commission 
 met in the Jerusalem Chamber, and the alterations deemed 
 expedient were agreed upon ; but the bill was thrown out by 
 the House of Commons, one party voting against it, because 
 they thought it degrading to the Establishment to yield 
 to the desires of the Nonconformists, and an opposite party, 
 the friends of the Dissenters, opposing it, because they looked 
 upon the Nonconformists as the guardians of the liberties of 
 Englishmen, and feared that if they entered the Establishment
 
 liv 
 
 httroduction. 
 
 Union of 
 Presbyterian 
 and Congrega- 
 tional Minis- 
 ters, 1690. 
 
 Heads of 
 Agreement. 
 
 they, or at any rate their successors, would acquire the esprit 
 de corps of the clerical order, who they said were never the 
 friends of liberty. 
 
 The Presbyterians who had been so hostile to the Indepen- 
 dents during the Interregnum, learnt much from the persecution 
 through which they had passed. They had been taught to 
 value that toleration which once they condemned, and their 
 views regarding church government had been modified. Under 
 the protection of the Toleration Act the London ministers, 
 Presbyterian and Independent, formed a Union, which they 
 designed should be general throughout the country. They 
 resolved that the ministers of the two denominations should 
 henceforth go by the name of the United Ministers, and they 
 drew up a writing comprising such common principles as both 
 parties could agree to subscribe, of which the following is an 
 abstract : — 
 
 " The following Heads of Agreement have been resolved 
 " upon by the united ministers in and about London, formerly 
 " called Presbyterian and Congregational. 
 
 I. Of Churches and Church Members, 
 
 1. We acknowledge our Lord Jesus Christ to have one catholic church 
 or kingdom, comprehending all that are united to him in heaven or earth. 
 
 2. We agree that particular societies of visible saints who, under Christ 
 their head, are statedly joined together for ordinary communion in all the 
 ordinances of Christ are particular churches. 
 
 3. That none shall be admitted as members but such as are knowing and 
 sound in the fundamental doctrines of the Christian religion, without scandal 
 in their lives. 
 
 4. A competent number of such visible saints do become subjects of 
 stated communion in all the special ordinances of Christ, upon their mutual 
 declared consent and agreement to walk according to gospel rule. 
 
 5. The members of a particular church ought to live near one another. 
 
 6. Each particular church hath right to chqose its own officers. 
 
 7. It belongs to the pastors and other elders to rule and govern. 
 
 8. That all professors are bound in duty to join, as fixed members of 
 some particular church, in professed subjection to the gospel of Christ. 
 
 g. That a member leaving is to seek a recommendation to another 
 
 church. 
 
 II. Of the Ministry. 
 
 I. The ministerial office is instituted by Jesus Christ for the gathering, 
 guiding, edifying, and governing of his church.
 
 l7itroduction. Iv 
 
 2. They who are called to this office ought to be endued with competent 
 learning and ministerial gifts ; as also with the grace of God. 
 
 3. That ordinarily none shall be ordained to the work of the ministry 
 but such as are called and chosen thereto by a particular church. 
 
 4. In calling and choosing a pastor we judge it ordinarily requisite that 
 every church consult and advise with the pastors of neighbouring congrega- 
 tions. 
 
 5. The person chosen by that particular church over which he is to be 
 set, and he accepting, be duly ordained. 
 
 III. Of Censicres. 
 
 IV. Of Communion of Churches. 
 
 V. Of Deacons and Ruling Elders. 
 
 We agree the office of deacon is of divine appointment, and as divers 
 
 hold that there is also the office of ruling elders, we agree that this difference 
 
 make no breach among us. 
 
 VI. Of Synods. 
 That in order to concord and in any other weighty and difficult cases a 
 synod be called, consisting of smaller or greater numbers, to whose judgment 
 particular churches ought to have a reverential regard. 
 
 VII. Of 07tr Demeanour towards the Civil Magistrates. 
 
 VIII. Of a Confession of Faith. 
 
 As to what appertains to soundness of judgment in matters of faith, we 
 
 esteem it sufficient that a church acknowledge the Scriptures to be the word 
 
 of God, the perfect ajtd only rule of faith and practice ; AND OWN EITHER 
 
 THE DOCTRINAL PART OF THOSE COMMONLY CALLED THE ARTICLES OF 
 
 THE Church of England, or the Confession or Catechism (shorter 
 OR larger) compiled by the Assembly at Westminster, or the 
 Confession agreed on at the Savoy to be agreeable to the said 
 
 RULE. 
 
 IX. Of our Duty and Deportment towards them that are not in 
 Communion with us. 
 
 To bear a Christian respect to fellow Christians, to explain to the 
 ignorant and vicious the doctrine of life and salvation, and to receive those 
 who appear to have the essential requisites to church communion, not 
 troubling them with disputes about lesser matters, 
 
 " As we assent to the forementioned Heads of Agreement, so 
 
 " we unanimously resolve, as the Lord shall enable us, to prac- 
 
 " tice accordmg to them." 
 
 The ministers of Cheshire — Presbyterian and Congrega- Cheshire 
 
 tional — were foremost in adopting these Heads of Agreement, Association, 
 
 .. I.- March 169?. 
 
 and m forming an association upon the basis of them. 
 
 Their first meeting was at Macclesfield, in March 1690-1, 
 
 and the minutes of their meetings continue down to September
 
 Ivi Introductioti. 
 
 3rd, 1745. The MS. Book* containing these minutes is 
 entitled Some short Account or brief Hifits of all Questions 
 proposed^ Cases discussed, Determinations made, and other Occur- 
 rences, at the severall Meetings of y^ Cheshire Ministers, held 
 in that County. Anjio Domini, 1691. At the first meeting was 
 considered the question regarding " the Gesture to be used by 
 " the Minister in the Administration of the Lord's Supper," and 
 at the second meeting the following month, April 14th, 1691, 
 a letter on that subject was read from the celebrated John 
 Howe, which is dated April 6th, 1691, and is inserted in full. 
 At this meeting "Gamaliel Jones was desired by all present to 
 " be y® Scribe, which he consented to," and, accordingly, the 
 minutes for several years are in his clear and beautiful, though 
 small, hand-writing. These preliminary meetings in March 
 and April were followed by another at Mr. Birch's, probably 
 Agreement of at Dean Row, near Wilmslow, when "y^ Agreement of 
 fers^ado^ted^" " ^^ London Ministers was deliberately read over, considered 
 " and subscribed by all Nem: Contrad: in y® following form: — 
 "We, whose names are subscribed, have perused and 
 " considered the Heads of Agreement assented to by y® United 
 " Ministers in and about London, and doe blesse God for that 
 " Mercy ; and give our unfeigned assent to the same unani- 
 ** mously resolving as the Lord sh^ll enable to practise 
 " according to them. 
 
 " William Bagshaw, Minister of y® Gospel in Glossop 
 Parish ; 
 
 * This volume is kept in the Protestant Dissenters' Chapel (now 
 Unitarian) at Knutsford. With other writers in this volume I gratefully 
 acknowledge the courtesy of the Rev. H. Green, M.A., of Knutsford, in 
 giving extracts and information from this MS. relating to our churches. 
 Some extracts from it regarding chapels now Unitarian had already appeared 
 in contributions to the Ch}-istian Reformer and elsewhere, liut among the 
 MSS. of the late Rev. Joseph Hunter, now in the British Museum Library, 
 there is a very full abstract — in the early part if not throughout a verbatim 
 copy — of this interesting document, entitled "An Abstract of a small 4to 
 " volume lent me by my valued friend the Rev. William Turner of Newcastle- 
 " upon-Tyne, in July 1827. It is an original record, and the volume is about 
 " one third written over. It was found in the vestry at Allostock in 1827." 
 By means of this M.S. we have been able to give other interesting extracts. 
 The MS. will be found in the British Museum, Collectanea Ilunteriana 
 Additional MSS. 24485.
 
 Introduction. Ivii 
 
 " Samuel Angier, Preacher of God's Word at Duckin- 
 
 field; 
 " Joseph Eaton, at Macclesfield ; 
 " Robert Moseley, at Ringhay; 
 " Robert Holland, at Lostock; 
 " — Stringer, at New-Chapel; 
 " Thomas Kinaston, at Knutsford; 
 " Eliezer Birch, at Deanrow; 
 " John Byrom, at Stockport; 
 " Thomas Irlam, at Congleton ; 
 " Gamaliel Jones, at Chadkirk." 
 At the next meeting of ministers, June 30th, 1691, referred 
 to by Tong as "the first that I meet with in Mr. Henry's 
 "papers,"* the Minute Book informs us that "the aforesaid 
 " Agreement was subscribed by 
 
 " Ralph Ainsworth, at Whitley Chapel; 
 " Matthew Henry, at Chester; 
 " Samuel Lawrence, at Nantwich; 
 " and afterwards 
 
 " Mr. Hervey, of Chester; 
 " Mr. Lea, of Worrel, subscribed it." 
 " A project was then drawn up for a Rule to be observed Rules for 
 " in the Admission of Members into Church Communion, v,grs^^p ^"^ 
 " particularly unto y^ Lord's Supper for God's Glory and Godly 
 " Edifying and approved of and consented to by all y® Ministers 
 " then present, viz. : — - 
 
 1. That such as do desire communion with us come to discourse the 
 minister wlio upon satisfaction received concerning them is to propound 
 them to ye church and ye church is to take competent time to consider of 
 their fitness. 
 
 2. Upon ye church's satisfaction with them ye persons to be received in 
 manner following — (We take their silence for satisfaction). 
 
 Let ye persons present themselves at a convenient church meeting and 
 there acknowledge and renew their baptismal covenant and consent to walk 
 in communion with that church according to gospel order. 
 
 3. Then ys minister is solemnly to pray for them and admit them 
 with ye church's consent, whereupon minister and people are mutually to 
 discharge their duty to one another. 
 
 * Life of Matthew Henry, page 253.
 
 Iviii 
 
 Introdticiion. 
 
 Rules of the At the next meeting, August nth, 1691, the ensuing Rules 
 
 Association. were consented to for the promoting of peace and unity among 
 
 themselves and their congregations, and for mutual edification. 
 
 1. That y6 united brethren of this county will meet as often as conve- 
 niently may be, at such time and place as by consent shall from time to time 
 be determined of among themselves in greater or lesser numbers, and that if 
 possible the general meetings shall be yearly the second Tuesday in May 
 and Augiist. 
 
 2. That y8 moderator be chosen ye meeting before for y^ next meeting, 
 who shall appoint one to preach, and shall begin and end wth prayer ; and 
 to him all discourses shall be regularly directed. 
 
 3. That occasional matters relating to ye congregations shall be first dis- 
 coursed of, and then such subject or subjects as shall be before agreed upon. 
 
 4. That matters of difference especially relating to discipline shall not be 
 debated without common consent, and then with all calmness and without 
 reflection. 
 
 5. That in all debates when ye Question is first put by ye moderator 
 ye junior shall speak first. 
 
 6. That none shall be absent without reasonable cause, an account 
 whereof shall be given to ye satisfaction of ye classis either at that meeting 
 by proxy or ye next meeting at furthest. 
 
 7. That the scribe keep minutes of what is done. 
 
 Manner of 
 conducting 
 meetings. 
 
 Sam. Angler, John Byrom, 
 Rob. Moseley, Joseph Eaton, 
 Matt. Henry, Samuel LawTcnce, 
 
 Ralph Ainsworth, Robert Holland, 
 Eliezer Birch, Thos. Kinnaston, 
 
 John Burnham, 
 G. Jones, 
 John Wilson, 
 Tho. Irlam, 
 John Sidebottom, 
 Richard Edge. 
 
 Mr. Tong gives the follo\ving account of the manner in 
 which these ministers' meetings Avere conducted : — 
 
 " After the work of praying and preaching was over, the 
 " Ministers consulted together about the Affairs of their several 
 " Congregations; whatever Difficulties they met with about the 
 " Admission of any to church membership or suspension from 
 " it, about the Removal of ministers from one place to another, 
 " they were here proposed and Advice was given how to pro- 
 *' ceed, but not as authoritatively binding the conscience of any 
 " particular person, minister, or other : affairs of the State or 
 " the Established Chiu-ch were never meddled with ; they kept 
 " themselves within their own line, counselling and comforting 
 " each other, and God was pleased to make their Consultations
 
 Introduction. lix 
 
 " a means of presening and promoting love, peace and order 
 " amongst them ; and this prudent method was kept up by 
 " them all the time Mr. Henry lived at Chester, and is con- 
 " tinued to this day at the same place," i.e. Knutsford. 
 
 Soon after the union of Presbyterian and Congregational The 
 
 • •, -TJi-jv r J i Neonomian 
 
 mmisters m London had been formed, a controversy arose Controversy 
 
 which caused serious division among them, though it did not 1692. 
 affect the Cheshire Association. The hyper-Cahinistic works 
 of Dr. Crisp had been republished, and were ably answered by 
 the celebrated Dr. Williams in his Gospel Truth Vindicated, a 
 book recommended by many London ministers. The Rev. 
 Isaac Chauncey, an Independent, published a large 4to volume 
 in reply, and other eminent writers appeared on both sides. 
 The debate became a party strife, the Presbyterians on one 
 side charging the Independents with anti-nomianism, and the 
 Independents on the other side charging the Presbyterians 
 with Arminianism. Each party repudiated the charge, and 
 Stillingfleet, bishop of Worcester, was appealed to — he being a 
 master in the controversy. He expressed full approbation of 
 Dr. Williams' statement, and confidence in his orthodoxy, and 
 condemned Dr. Crisp's error which "made the union between 
 " Christ and the believer to be of such a kind as actually to 
 " make a saviour of the sinner, and a sinner of the Sa\dour." 
 The controversy terminated with the publication by Dr. 
 WilUams of a treatise entitled Peace with Triith, or an End to 
 Discord, in 1699. Mr. De la Rose, minister of Stockport in 
 1720, was an advocate of Dr. Crisp's views.* 
 
 The reign of Queen Anne was a time of much anxiety and ^^ms 1702 
 trouble to the Dissenters. The High Church and Tory party 
 was in the ascendant, and made continual attempts to deprive 
 the Dissenters of the benefits of the Toleration Act. Dissen- 
 ters were wont to comply with the provisions of the Test Act 
 in order merely to qualify themselves for holding office, or 
 entering into corporations ; while at the same time they 
 
 * See page 293.
 
 Ix 
 
 Introductioii. 
 
 February 27, 
 1710-I1. 
 
 Bill against 
 Occasional 
 Conformity, 
 1711. 
 
 Schism^Bill, 
 June 25, 1 7 14. 
 
 maintained their Nonconformist principles. This was called 
 Occasional Conformity, and the High Church party introduced 
 a bill against it. At first they failed, but before the end of 
 Anne's reign they succeeded. The famous trial of the arrogant 
 Dr. Sacheverell (for his sermon entitled The Perils of False 
 Brethren, a tirade against Dissenters), which ended in his sus 
 pension only from preaching for three years, aroused the zeal 
 and bitterness of the High Church party. The houses of 
 Dissenters were plundered by the mob, and the pulpits and 
 pews of many chapels torn down and burnt. The old bill 
 against Occasional Conformity was again introduced and carried 
 through both houses. It enacted that " any person who filled 
 " an oflftce of trust under Government, and common Council 
 " man in corporations, who should be present at any meeting 
 " for Divine worship where there were more than ten persons 
 " besides the family, in which the liturgy was not used, should 
 " upon conviction forfeit the said office." The Schism bill was 
 afterwards introduced. It enacted that "no person should 
 " keep any public or private school unless he subscribed a 
 " declaration that he would conform to the Liturgy of the 
 " Church of England as by law established, and obtained a 
 " licence from a bishop or church ordinary. Anyone acting as 
 " schoolmaster without this, or attending a conventicle, to be 
 " liable to three months' imprisonment. If the person licensed 
 " shall teach any other catechism than that set forth in the 
 " Prayer Book, he shall be liable to the penalties of the Act" 
 This bill passed with some modifications, but the death of the 
 Queen prevented its execution, and in the year 17 19 it was 
 repealed together with the Occasional Conformity Act. 
 
 The following list of Dissenting chapels and ministers in 
 Cheshire shews the strength of the Nonconformist body in the 
 county about this time. The list was begun by the Rev. Dr. 
 John Evans about the year 17 15, and the MS. in Dr. Williams's 
 Library contains entries of names down to the year 1729.
 
 Introdtiction. 
 
 Ixi 
 
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 Ixii 
 
 Introdtiction. 
 
 Theology of 
 
 theEighteenth 
 
 Century. 
 
 Arian Contro- 
 versy, 1 718, 
 
 Subscribers 
 and Non-sub- 
 scribers. 
 
 The minutes of the meetings of Cheshire ministers termi- 
 nate in the year 1745, when the Deistical controversy was at 
 its height, and Arianism was embraced by many theologians 
 both within and without the Estabhshed Church. The first 
 half of the eighteenth century, at least from i7i4to 1750, has 
 been described as " an age destitute of depth or earnestness, an 
 " age whose poetry was Avithout romance, whose philosophy 
 " was without insight, whose public men were without character; 
 " an age of light without love." " During the eighteenth cen- 
 " tury," says the same author, " throughout all discussions, 
 " underneath all controversies, and common to all parties, lies 
 " the assumption of the supremacy of reason in matters of 
 " religion. The Churchman differed from the Socinian and 
 " the Socinian from the Deist as to the number of articles in 
 " his creed, but all alike consented to test their belief by the 
 " rational evidence for it. . . The great majority of writers 
 " were employed in constructing a via media between Atheism 
 " and Athanasianism."* 
 
 The Arian Controversy began among the Dissenters at 
 Exeter, where Hallet and Pierce, men of learning and high 
 character, advocated the views of the Episcopalians Whiston 
 and Clarke. The London ministers were gradually drawn into 
 the dispute, and a division took place among them upon the 
 question of their adopting and signing an explicit declaration 
 concerning the Doctrine of the Trinity and the Divinity of 
 Christ. Those who advocated the Declaration — about sixty 
 in number — resolved to adopt the first article of the Church of 
 England and the answers to the fifth and sixth questions of the 
 Assembly's Catechism, as a form of sound words expressing 
 the Scripture Doctrine of the Trinity. They were called the 
 Subscribers, and published their Declaration in a treatise en- 
 titled "The Doctrine of the Blessed Trinity stated and defended 
 "by some London Ministers, 17 19." Mr. Tong wrote the 
 
 * Tendencies of Religious Thought in E^igland, 1688 — 1750, by Mark 
 Pattison, B.D., Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford,
 
 Introduction. Ixili 
 
 Introduction. The number of subscribers was seventy-eight. 
 The Non-subscriber s'^v^oXviii^di a Defence, in which they explain Non-subscrib- 
 that their objection was not to the Doctrine or the statement ArianEm^^^^ 
 of it, but to the demand of subscription to a creed. They say, 
 " We were pressed to subscribe that we might clear ourselves 
 " from the suspicions of Arianism. But as we knew no just 
 " ground of suspicion, much less of any charge against us, we 
 " thought it would ill become us so far to yield to an unreason- 
 *' able jealousy, as to take a step of this nature to remove it. 
 . . . " We desire it may be more particularly remarked, that 
 " in our declining the subscription proposed to us, we appre- 
 " hend we have taken a more effectual coiu-se to prevent the 
 " growth of errors concerning the doctrine of the Trinity, 
 " whether those of Arius or any other, than even our Brethren 
 " who so earnestly insisted on it." These statements are 
 important as a conclusive reply to those who refer to this 
 division among the London Ministers as if the one party were 
 Arians and the other Trinitarians. The spread of Arianism 
 must be dated some years later. In Cheshire the abrupt termi- 
 nation of the Minutes of Ministers' Meetings indicates the 
 probable date of a division among the ministers upon doctrinal 
 grounds, ending in the breaking up of the Association. The 
 creeds of the Established Church, feebly as they checked the 
 spreading Arianism, re-asserted themselves when the Evangeli- 
 cal movement began ; but among the Dissenters, those who 
 fell into Arianism went on into Socinianism, retaining the 
 chapels and endowments of the Old Dissent — their possession 
 of which was legalized by the Dissenters' Chapels Bill in 
 1845. The Evangehcal movement among them became The Evano-eli- 
 
 manifest in secessions from their churches, and the erection of cal Movement, 
 
 1750- 
 new places of worship. Wesley and Whitefield were the 
 
 leaders in this movement, and while each left behind him a 
 sect — the Wesleyan and the Calvinistic Methodists — their in- 
 fluence was great within the Established Church as well as among 
 the Nonconformists. The Independents derived great benefit 
 from the ministrations of Whitefield, who more than once visited
 
 Ixiv 
 
 Introduction. 
 
 The Cheshire 
 Evangelist. 
 
 Application 
 for Enlarge- 
 ment of the 
 Toleration 
 Act, 1772. 
 
 Dissenting 
 Congregations 
 in 1772. 
 
 and preached in Cheshire. The famous Captain Scott, however, 
 may be justly called the Cheshire "VMiitefield. Having quitted 
 the army he was ordained to the office of Evangelist, and 
 devoted his energies, chiefly though not exclusively, to Cheshire. 
 Several of the more modern churches of Evangelical Noncon- 
 formists in the county (at Chester, Nantwich, Congleton, Mid- 
 dlewich, Macclesfield, Northwich) were gathered and sustained 
 by means of the energetic labours of this Christian soldier. 
 
 An attempt was made early in George III.'s reign, simul- 
 taneously with Archdeacon Blackburn's movement for relaxation 
 of clerical subscription, to obtain Parliamentary relief from the 
 subscription required by the Toleration Act. Petitions were 
 sent up to Parliament from several counties to this effect, and 
 the three denominations in London succeeded in introducing 
 a bill for the purpose into the House of Commons, where it 
 was carried. It was thrown out by the Lords, and the purpose 
 of it was not accomplished until 1828. The following is a list 
 of the ministers in Cheshire who "approved of and concurred 
 " in the application to Parliament for an enlargement of the 
 " Toleration Act with respect to Dissenting ministers and 
 " schoolmasters, 1772." 
 
 John Chidlaw, Chester; 
 
 William Broadhurst, Dean Row; 
 
 Joseph Booth, Stockport; 
 
 John Boult, Congleton; 
 
 Robert Lord, Knutsford; 
 
 George Checkley, Hyde; 
 
 Robert Harrop, Hale; 
 
 James Green, Northwich; 
 
 George Booth, Tintwissel; 
 
 John Palmer, Macclesfield; 
 
 Richard Hodgeson, Nantwich; 
 
 William Buckley, Duckingfield; 
 
 James Burgess, Hatherlow. 
 To this we may append a list of the Dissenting congrega- 
 tions in Cheshire, collected in 1772, 1773, and 1774, by the
 
 Introduction. 
 
 Ixv 
 
 Rev. Josiah Thompson of London ; distinguishing Paedobaptist 
 from Baptist ; " beirig the most correct account that could then 
 be obtained." 
 
 
 Paedo B. 
 
 Baptut. 
 
 Knutsford 
 
 Paedo B. 
 
 Baptist. 
 
 Allostock . 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 
 BolUngton 
 
 
 I 
 
 Lymm 
 
 
 
 Brassie Green 
 
 
 I 
 
 Macclesfield 
 
 
 
 Chester . 
 
 2 
 
 
 j Nantwich 
 
 
 I 
 
 Congleton 
 
 I 
 
 
 Northwich 
 
 
 
 Dean Row 
 
 I 
 
 
 Partington 
 
 
 
 Dukinfield 
 
 I 
 
 
 Cross Street 
 
 
 
 Hale 
 
 I 
 
 
 Stockport 
 
 
 
 Hatherlow 
 
 I 
 
 
 ! Tingtwissel 
 
 
 
 Hill Cliffe 
 
 
 I 
 
 ' Willock . 
 
 
 
 Hyde 
 Kingsley . 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 Total . . 
 
 21 
 
 4 
 
 In the year 1786 an Association was formed, consisting 
 of Congregational ministers and churches in the parts of Lan- 
 cashire, Derbyshire, and Cheshire bordering upon each 
 other. The object contemplated was friendly intercourse and 
 Christian union.* At a meeting of this Association held at Cheshire Con- 
 Manchester, 22nd October, 1806, it was resolved "that in con- Unfon. 1806. 
 " sequence of several ministers in the county of Chester having 
 " intimated that a separate Union in that county would tend 
 " more to the spread of the Gospel, it be recommended to 
 " them to form themselves into a distinct Union." Accordingly 
 a meeting consisting of Ministers and Delegates from most of 
 the congregations in the county was held at Macclesfield, on 
 the 5th November, 1806, at which the Cheshire Union was 
 formed. 
 
 The Cheshire Congregational Union may be called the 
 successor and representative of the first Cheshire Association 
 of 1653, and of the 5^^^;/^/ Cheshire Association formed in 1691. 
 
 'Cheshire Union Jubilee Report, 1856. 
 
 /
 
 Ixvi 
 
 Introduction. 
 
 Lists 
 
 of Cheshire 
 
 Ministers. 
 
 The old orthodox Presbyterianism is almost extinct in the 
 county. Unitarians still cling to the name; but they reject 
 doctrines which the old Presbyterians held as fundamental — the 
 Trinity, and the Divinity of Christ — and their present church 
 government is Congregational. The Cheshire Congregational 
 Union resembles the second Association in doctrine as well as 
 in dissent, and is, like the first (to use the words of Adam 
 Martindale), " a voluntary association for mutual advice and 
 " strengthening one another." 
 
 Having thus rapidly sketched the history of Enghsh Non- 
 conformity with special reference to Cheshire, giving a 
 detailed account of the combined movements of Cheshire 
 Nonconformists, we append the following lists of the early 
 Nonconforming ministers more or less directly connected with 
 the county. 
 
 
 List of Ejectee 
 
 Ministers — 1662. 
 
 Deanery of 
 
 Thomas Harrison, D.D. 
 
 Cathedral. 
 
 Chester. 
 
 Peter Leigh . 
 
 S- John Baptist 
 
 
 William Cook 
 
 S. Michael's. 
 
 
 John Glendole 
 
 S. Peter's. 
 
 
 Thomas Upton 
 
 Trinity. 
 
 
 John Boyer 
 
 Barrow. 
 
 
 * Richard Edwards 
 
 Christleton. 
 
 
 Mr. Baker . 
 
 Doddleston. 
 
 
 Joshua Gelborne . 
 
 Eccleston. 
 
 
 Samuel Slater 
 
 Hargrave. 
 
 
 Randal Guest 
 
 Pulford. 
 
 
 Sabbath Clark . 
 
 Tarvin. 
 
 
 Samuel Fisher, M.A. . 
 
 Thornton. 
 
 
 * Samuel Edgley 
 
 Thornton. 
 
 
 John Marigold 
 
 Waverton. 
 
 Deanery of 
 
 John Wilson 
 
 Backford. 
 
 Wirrall. 
 
 Mr. Wright . 
 
 Bidston. 
 
 
 Hugh Bethel, M.A. 
 
 Burton.
 
 Introdtictio7i. Ixvii 
 
 
 Mr. Keyes .... 
 
 Heswall. 
 
 
 Samuel Marsden . 
 
 Neston. 
 
 
 * Matthew Jenkins 
 
 Shotwick. 
 
 
 Mr. Watts .... 
 
 Thurstaston. 
 
 
 John Harvey, M.A. 
 
 Wallasey. 
 
 
 John Cartwright, M.A. 
 
 West Kirby. 
 
 
 Samuel Grastie 
 
 Woodchurch. 
 
 
 George Mainwaring 
 
 Malpas. 
 
 Deanery of 
 
 * Thomas Burroughs 
 
 Harthill. 
 
 Malpas. 
 
 John Griffith 
 
 Shocklach. 
 
 
 George Bonnyman, M.A, 
 
 Tilston. 
 
 
 Philip Henry 
 
 Worthenbury. 
 
 
 Edward Burghall . 
 Mr. Smith . 
 
 Acton. 
 Barthomley. 
 
 Deanery of 
 Nantwich. 
 
 Mr. Hassel 
 
 Hashngton. 
 
 
 Samuel Higginson 
 
 Church MinshuU. 
 
 
 Mr. Bruce . 
 
 Marbury. 
 
 
 George Moxon 
 Thomas Brook 
 
 Astbury. 
 Congleton. 
 
 Deanery of 
 Middlewich. 
 
 Richard Bowker . 
 
 Middlewich. 
 
 
 Joseph Cope 
 
 Sandbach. 
 
 
 John Buckley 
 
 Goosetrey. 
 
 
 John Ravenshaw . 
 
 Holms Chapel. 
 
 
 Samuel Langley . 
 
 Swettenham. 
 
 
 Thomas Edge 
 James Bradshaw . 
 
 Gawsworth. 
 Macclesfield. 
 
 Deanery of 
 Macclesfield 
 
 Hugh Henshaw . 
 
 Chelford. 
 
 
 * Nicholas Stephenson . 
 
 Alderley. 
 
 
 John Brereton 
 
 Wilmslow. 
 
 
 Robert Barlow 
 
 Mobberley. 
 
 
 Samuel Eaton 
 
 Stockport. 
 
 
 John JolUe . 
 
 Norbury. 

 
 
 Ixviii Introduction. 
 
 
 John Jones 
 
 Marple. 
 
 
 Francis Shelmerdine 
 
 Mottram. 
 
 
 Peter Harrison, D.D. [?] 
 
 Cheadle. 
 
 
 Mr. Cresswell [?] . 
 
 Disley. 
 
 Deanery of 
 
 Mr. Ford .... 
 
 Ashton-on-Mersey 
 
 Frodsham. 
 
 James Livesey 
 
 Great Budworth. 
 
 
 John Machin 
 
 Whitley. 
 
 
 James Cockayne . 
 
 Frodsham. 
 
 
 * Thomas Bradshaw 
 
 Grappenhall. 
 
 
 Adam Martindale 
 
 Rosthern. 
 
 
 * Robert Hunter 
 
 Knutsford. 
 
 
 Robert Norbury, M.A. 
 
 Over Peover. 
 
 
 John Garside 
 
 Nether Peover. 
 
 
 Robert Eaton 
 
 Daresbury. 
 
 
 Thomas Breck [?] 
 
 Runcorn. 
 
 
 Those marked with an asterisk afterwards conformed. 
 
 Cheshire Presbyterian Ministers who Died shortly 
 before the act of uniformity. 
 
 Dunster, Henry . 
 
 Northenden. 
 
 Lancaster, Nathanael 
 
 TarjDorley. 
 
 Langley, Thomas 
 
 Middle wich. 
 
 Ley, John 
 
 Great Budworth 
 
 Murcot, John 
 
 West Kirby. 
 
 Paget, Thomas 
 
 Stockport. 
 
 Poole, Ralph 
 
 Bebington. 
 
 Sillitoe, Randall . 
 
 Church Lawton. 
 
 SHIRE Ministers who a 
 
 VERE Ejected in Other ( 
 
 Bailey, John 
 
 [went to New E 
 
 Banne, Nathanael 
 
 Caldecot. 
 
 Case, Thomas, M.A. 
 
 London. 
 
 Clark, Samuel, B.A. 
 
 London. 
 
 Crofton, Zachary . 
 
 London. 
 
 Gilbert, Thomas . 
 
 Ealing.
 
 Introduction. 
 
 Ixix 
 
 Hall, Ralph . 
 Leadbeater, .Thomas 
 Marsden, Jeremiah 
 Newcome, Henry, M.A. 
 Shaw, John 
 Spurstowe, William, D.D. 
 
 Mear. 
 
 Hinckley. 
 
 near Wakefield. 
 
 Manchester. 
 
 Hull. 
 
 Hackney. 
 
 Ministers Ejected in Other Counties who afterwards 
 Laboured in Cheshire. 
 
 Barnet, Andrew . 
 Barnet, Joshua 
 Fogg, John . 
 Fogg, Robert 
 Leadbeater, Thomas 
 Steel, Richard 
 Thomas, Zachariah 
 Turton, WilHam . 
 
 Roddington. 
 
 Wrockerdine. 
 
 Liverpool. 
 
 Bangor. 
 
 Hinckley. 
 
 Hanmer. 
 
 Tilstock. 
 
 Rowley. 
 
 Sons of Nonconformist Ministers, themselves Noncon- 
 formist Ministers in Cheshire. 
 
 Mr. Aspinwall . Son of 
 Samuel Garside . „ 
 
 Jonathan Harvey „ 
 
 Matthew Henry . „ 
 GamaHel Jones . „ 
 John Jones . „ 
 
 Thomas Kynaston „ 
 James Newcome . „ 
 Nathanael Scholes „ 
 John Wilson . „ 
 Dr. Samuel Lawrence „ 
 To whom may be added 
 
 Samuel Lawrence. Nephew of 
 Samuel Angier . „ 
 
 Peter Aspinwall. 
 John Garside. 
 John Harvey. 
 Philip Henry. 
 John Jones. 
 Gamaliel Jones. 
 Mr. Kynaston. 
 Henry Newcome. 
 Jeremy Scholes. 
 John Wilson. 
 Samuel Lawrence. 
 
 Edward Lawrence. 
 John Angier.
 
 Sketches of No7iconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 DEANERY OF CHESTER 
 
 (By the Rev. W. Urwick, M.A.) 
 CITY OF CHESTER.— § I. The Bishops. 
 
 |HE ancient city of Chester bears evidence in its very 
 name of its occupation by the Romans; the word Chester 
 being plainly the Latin casiriwi or castra. Its chief streets 
 cutting each other at right angles, and the remains of 
 Roman masonry discovered, but particularly a votive altar to Jupiter 
 Tanarus, raised by an officer of the twentieth legion, dug up in 1653, 
 prove that the city was a Roman station, and the scene of heathen 
 rites, in the beginning of the Christian era. 
 
 The earliest important ecclesiastical event known in its annals is 
 the fact that, during the Danish invasion, in the year 875, the body 
 of S. Werburgh (a Saxon saint, and daughter of the King of Mercia), 
 which had been preserved as a sacred relic, was removed for security 
 to Chester. S. Werburgh thenceforward became the tutelar saint of 
 Chester ; a religious community was founded, among whom she was 
 held in especial honour, and in whose church her relics were sump- 
 tuously enshrined. The house continued to flourish through a period 
 of six centuries and a half, one of the wealthiest of the monastic 
 establishments in England. During the period from the Conquest to 
 the Reformation, the black, the white, and the grey friars had each
 
 2 Nonconformity in Cheshire, 
 
 an establishment in the city ; a rehgious community of women was 
 estabhshed within its walls, and numerous parish churches were 
 founded. Hugh Lupus, nephew of William the Conqueror, and Earl 
 of Chester, endowed the monastery with great possessions, and placed 
 monks in it of the Benedictine order. 
 
 Randall III., the seventh earl, who built Beeston Castle, stands 
 distinguished among the barons of the thirteenth century as the only 
 one who stoutly refused to comply with Henry IH.'s mandate for the 
 collection of the tax called Peter's Pence throughout England. He 
 not only forbade its collection in the county, but threatened the 
 collectors with punishment if they dared to attempt it. He was the 
 first to give a charter to the city. 
 
 Chester belonged originally to the diocese of Lichfield, and 
 although Peter, bishop of Lichfield (1075), removed his seat thither 
 and was commonly called bishop of Chester, Lichfield was the usual 
 residence of the episcopate. The dissolution of the monasteries in 
 the reign of Henry VIH. caused a radical change in the ecclesiastical 
 affairs of the city. In the thirty-third year of that reign the bishopric 
 of Chester was established. The house of S. Werburgh was dis- 
 solved, and its revenues furnished a provision for the prebendaries, 
 dean, and bishop. The clear value of the bishopric, after all deduc 
 tions made, was then 269/. 45. dd. according to Gastrell; 420/. \s. 8d. 
 according to the Lil^er Regis; it now amounts to upwards of 4,500/. 
 per annum. 
 
 John Bird, D.D., descended from an ancient family in Cheshire, 
 and educated as a Carmelite friar at Oxford, was appointed the first 
 bishop in 1541. He was a man of learning and zeal, but did not 
 advocate the king's supremacy till he saw the pope's power was 
 waning ; and on the accession of Queen Mary he tried to retain his 
 see by accommodating himself to the changes which were introduced. 
 He was, however, supplanted by the Romanist George Cotes, who, 
 during the few months he held the prelacy in the year 1554, evinced 
 the most inveterate zeal and cruelty in behalf of popery. By his 
 authority the pious George Marsh was burnt to death in Chester for 
 nonconformity to the then established church, and the affecting story 
 of his martyrdom deserves here to be told, 
 
 George Marsh was born at Dean, in Lancashire, and brought up 
 as a farmer. On the death of his youthful wife he entered the University 
 of Cambridge, and became curate to the holy martyr La^vrence
 
 Deanery of Chester. 3 
 
 Saunders of Langton, in Leicestershire. He afterwards laboured in 
 his native county as curate to WilHam Roth well, vicar of Dean. When 
 Queen Mary came to the throne and re-established the Roman 
 Catholic religion he refused to conform, and openly preached against 
 the doctrines of Romanism. He resolved to stand firm, even unto 
 death, for Christ and conscience sake. In one of his addresses to 
 his congregation, whom he calls "the faithful professors of Langhton," 
 he ^vrites : "^Vherefore, my beloved in Christ, let us, on whom the 
 *' ends of the world are come, take diligent heed unto oiu^elves that 
 " now, in these last and perilous times, we withhold not the truth 
 " in unrighteousness, believing doing or speaking anything against 
 " our knowledge and conscience, or without faith. For if we do, 
 " for whatsoever cause it be, it is a wilful and obstinate infidelity, and 
 " a sin unto death; and, as our Saviour Christ saith, 'If ye believe 
 " 'not ye shall die in your sins.'" Being urged by his friends to 
 flee the country, in order to escape threatened imprisonment and 
 persecution, he answered : " My life, mother, children, brethren, 
 " sisters, and friends, w-ith other delights of life, are as dear and sweet 
 " unto me as unto any other man, and I would be as loathe to lose 
 " them as another would, if I might hold them with a good conscience 
 " and without the ignominy of Christ ; and seeing I cannot do 
 " that, my trust is that God will strengthen me w^th his Holy Spirit 
 " to lose them all for his sake ; for I take myself for a sheep appointed 
 " to be slain, patiently to suffer what cross soever it shall please my 
 " merciful Father to lay on me." Being imprisoned first in Lancaster 
 Castle, Bishop Cotes sent for the gaoler, rebuked him because he 
 suflfered Marsh to fare so well, and ordered to have him more straitly 
 kept and dieted ; but, says Marsh : " If his lordship were tabled but 
 " one week with me, I do think he would judge our fare but slender 
 " enough." The poor prisoner was soon afterwards removed to 
 Chester Castle, and the bishop sent for him and conversed with him, 
 and also sent his chaplain and schoolmaster to him, in order to con- 
 vert him. Transubstantiation was the theme of their argument, but 
 Marsh was firm against it ; bribes and threats ahke failed to move 
 him ; and in a few weeks he was brought before the bishop and his 
 colleagues, in Our Lady's Chapel in Chester Cathedral, to take oath 
 upon the charges made against him, and to receive sentence of death. 
 The chancellor stopt the bishop twice while reading the sentence, and, 
 with the people, appealed to Marsh to recant. He answered : " I
 
 4 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " would as fain live as you, if in so doing I should not denie my 
 " master Christ, and again he should denie me before his Father in 
 *' heaven." Having read the sentence, the bishop said : " Now will 
 " I no more pray for thee than I will for a dog ;" and Marsh answered 
 that he would notwithstanding pray for his lordship. The officers 
 carried him to his dark prison in the North Gate, where he was very 
 closely kept till his death. Some of the citizens who loved him for 
 the gospel's sake would in the evening, at a hole in the wall of the 
 city opening into his dungeon, ask him how he did. He would 
 answer them cheerfully that he did well, and thanked God most highly 
 that he would vouchsafe of his mercy to appoint him to be a witness 
 of his truth, and to suffer for the same, wherein he did most rejoice. 
 Once or twice he had money cast in at the same hole, for which he 
 gave God thanks, and used for his necessity.* 
 
 The day for his martyrdom having arrived, the sheriffs Amry and 
 Cowper led him out to Spital Boughton, within the liberties of the 
 city. After the exhibition of a conditional pardon by the vice- 
 chamberlain Mr. Vawdrey, and the refusal of it by Marsh, he began 
 to speak to the people, showing the cause of his death and exhorting 
 them to stick to Christ. Whereupon one of the sheriffs said : " George 
 " Marsh, we must have no sermonizing now." To whom he said, I 
 cry you mercy ; and kneeling down, made his prayers, and then was 
 chained to the post, having a number of faggots under him, and a thing 
 like a firkin filled with pitch and tar over his head. The fire being 
 unskilfully made, and the wind driving it to and fro, he suffered great 
 torment, but yet endured it most patiently. The people, headed by 
 sheriflf Cowper, pressed fonvard to attempt a rescue, but were driven 
 back by the other sheriflf. When Marsh had been a long time tor- 
 mented in the fire without moving, they supposed he had been dead ; 
 but suddenly he spread out his arms saying — " Father of heaven, have 
 " mercy upon me !" and so yielded his spirit into the hands of the 
 Lord. Many of the people said openly he was a martyr, and died 
 marvellously patiently and godly ; whereupon the bishop preached a 
 sermon in the cathedral, affirming that Marsh was a heretic, burnt 
 like a heretic, and was now a firebrand in hell. The ashes of the 
 martyr were privately interred in the burial ground of the Chapel of 
 S. Giles, ill Spital Boughton. The sheriflf Cowper, in consequence 
 
 * Fox's Acts and Monuments, iii. 233.
 
 Deanery of Chester. 5 
 
 of the zeal he had shewn to save Marsh, was obhged at once to flee 
 over Holt Bridge into Wales. He was outlawed, and had his estates 
 seized by the government. He remained privately in Carnarvonshire 
 imtil the death of Queen Mary. 
 
 The next bishop of Chester was Cuthbert Scot, as active and 
 zealous a Romanist as Cotes had been. He was implicated in the 
 burning of Bucer's bones at Cambridge, and took part in most of the 
 political movements of his day. Being disaffected towards Queen 
 EUzabeth, and opposed to the reformed religion, he was imprisoned 
 in the Fleet in London, from which he escaped, and died at Louvain 
 about the year 1560. During his bishopric, in the year 1558, occurred 
 the well-kno\\Ti storj^, told by Archbishop Usher and Sir James Ware, 
 of the interruption of Cole's commission for the persecution of the 
 Irish Protestants. The messenger bearing the cruel commission stopped 
 at an inn in Foregate- street, kept by Mrs. Elizabeth Mottershed. 
 Learning the nature of his commission from the messenger, and being 
 alarmed for the safety of her brother John Edmonds a DubHn Pro- 
 testant, she had the courage and address to substitute a pack of cards 
 in place of the dangerous document. Cole proceeded on his journey, 
 and did not discover his loss till he was called on to produce his 
 commission. The Romanist Queen died before his return, and Mrs. 
 Mottershed was afterwards granted by Queen Elizabeth an annuity 
 of 40/. for hfe, as a reward for her timely acuteness. 
 
 William Downham, D.D., one of Queen Ehzabeth's chaplains, 
 supplanted Scot as bishop of Chester. He was very rigid in enforcing 
 conformit)", and many of the Puritan clergy in the county were sum- 
 moned before him, subjected to his censures, and in some instances 
 deprived for their deviations from the rubrics and usages of the 
 estabhshment. He died in 1577, and was buried in the Cathedral of 
 Chester. 
 
 In 1579, WiLLLUi Chadderton, D.D., of Queen's College Cam- 
 bridge, was nominated to the Sec of Chester, and in the same year he 
 accepted the wardenship of Manchester, which was his native town, 
 and where he chiefly resided. He was a successful preacher and a 
 zealous Puritan, and "showed more respect to a Cloak than a Cassock," 
 says Anthony a Wood. Witney, the Cheshire poet of Ehzabeth's 
 reign, dedicated one of his Emblems to him. It is entitled " Vigilantia 
 " et Cmtodia. Ad Reverend : Dn. D. Gulielmum Chatiertonum Epis- 
 " copum Cestriensem." The device is a church, with a cock on the
 
 6 No7iconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 tower and a lion at the door. The following are tiie explanatory 
 
 lines : — 
 
 The heraulte, that proclaims the dale at hande 
 
 The cocke I meane, that wakes us out of sleepe 
 On steeple highe, doth like a watchman stande : 
 The gate beneath, a Lion still doth keepe. 
 And why ? thease two did alder time decree 
 That at the churche, theire places still should bee. 
 
 That pastors, should like watchmen still be preste 
 To wake the worlde, that sleepeth in his finne 
 And rouse them vp, that longe are rock'd in reste 
 And shewe the dale of Christe, will straighte beginne : 
 And to foretell, and preache, that light deuine, 
 Even as the Cocke doth singe, ere dale doth shine. 
 
 The Lion shewes, they shoulde of courage bee, 
 And able to defende, their flocke from foes, 
 If rauening wolfes, to lie in waite they see ; 
 
 They shoulde be stronge, and boulde, with them to close. 
 And so be ami'de with learninge, and with life. 
 As they might keepe, their charge, from either strife. 
 
 The tenth bishop of Chester was John Bridgeman, D.D., fellow 
 of Magdalen College Cambridge, and chaplain to James I. He was 
 consecrated in 1619, He also held the living of Wigan — the best 
 living in Lancashire — and resided for a time at Great Lever, near 
 Bolton. The following notice of him occtirs in Oliver Heywood's 
 " Life of Angler :" — 
 
 " Mr. Angier (who became minister of Ringley, 1630) kept a 
 " Nonconformist to the ceremonies, and therefore had some adver- 
 " saries ; for Dr. Bridgeman, bishop of Chester, lived at Great Laever 
 " at that time, to whom were brought various and grievous complaints 
 " against Mr. Angier for not confomiing. The bishop sent for him, 
 " expostulated with him, being a kind of affront to preach so near 
 " him (it being but two miles distant), admonished him, exhorted him 
 " to conform : he sent for him many times, yet usually gave him very 
 " good words, and professed his great respect to him. God ordered 
 " it by his providence that the bishop's wife, being a gracious woman, 
 " was at that time much afflicted in conscience, and Mr. Angier, by 
 '' God's blessing, was an instrument of much good to her by his 
 " counsels and prayers ; which became a furtherance of his liberty, 
 " for the bishop would usually say : ' Mr. Angier, you must see my 
 " ' wife before you go,' and she interceded for him ; yet notmth- 
 " standing, the bishop could not be quiet, but some or other solicited 
 " vehemently against Mr. Angier, in so much that he was suspended
 
 Deanery of Chester. 7 
 
 " twice in one year, but was restored by the mediation of his friends. 
 " At last the bishop said : ' Mr. Angier, I have a good will to indulge 
 " ' you but cannot, for my Lord's grace of Canterbury {i.e., Arch- 
 " ' bishop Laud) hath rebuked me for permitting two Nonconformists, 
 " * the one within a mile on the one hand [that was good Mr. 
 " ' Horrocks, at Dean Church], another on the other, yourself; and 
 " ' I am likely to come into disfavour on this behalf. As for Mr. 
 " ' Horrocks,' saith he, ' my hands are bound, I cannot meddle 
 " ' with him ['tis thought he meant by reason of some promises made 
 " ' to his wife] ; but as for you, Mr. Angier, you are a young man, 
 " ' and doubtless may get another place, and if you were any where 
 " ' at a httle further distance I could better look off you, for I do 
 " * study to do you a kindness, but cannot as long as you are thus 
 " ' near me,' &c. Some judged that one reason was, the bishop's 
 " sons were at this time on the rising ground, and this his connivance 
 " might cross his design in their preferment. He did suspend Mr. 
 " Angier, who continued a season under that suspension [till his 
 '• removal to Denton]." 
 
 The same memoir intimates that old Mr. Langley, minister at 
 Middlewich, was suspended "for years together" by Bishop Bridgeman ; 
 and in Prynne's " New Discovery of the Prelate's Tyranny," the 
 bishop's character, as a fellow-worker with Laud in persecuting the 
 Puritans, appears without disguise. The story of Prynne's entertain- 
 ment in Chester, on his journey as prisoner to Carnarvon Castle, 
 indicates a strong Puritan spirit existing in the city at the time ; and 
 shows what stamp of man Bishop Bridgeman was. William Prynne, 
 a barrister and member of Lincoln's Inn, wrote and pubUshed in 
 1632 a book against plays, masks, dancing, &c., entitled ^'- Histriomas- 
 trix.'^ For this he was arraigned in the Star Chamber (together 
 with Bastwick and Burton), and sentenced to stand in the pillory, 
 to lose both his ears, to pay a fine of 5,000/., and to suffer per- 
 petual imprisonment In 1637, he was brought up again before the 
 same illegal and t}Tannical tribunal, for pamphlets written against 
 prelacy during his imprisonment ; and, having already lost his ears, 
 he was sentenced to have the remainder of the stumps cut of, 
 to be stigmatized on both cheeks with the letters S. L., and to 
 be imprisoned in Carnarvon Castle. Such were the tender mercies 
 of Laud and the High Commission Court. Chester citizens have 
 reason to be proud that there were some among their ancestors at
 
 8 Nonconformity in C/ieshire. 
 
 the time who sympathized ^vith Prynne and shewed him kindness on 
 his journey. The following is the account of the affair, based upon 
 evidence afterwards given before parliament : — 
 
 " Mr. Prynne going forwards in his journey towards Chester, 
 " within two miles thereof, one Calvin Brewen, of that city, casually 
 " overtaking his conductors, and entering into parley with them as 
 " they rode together, asked who Mr. Prynne was ; they informing 
 " him, enquired which was the best inn in Chester where they might 
 " be best accommodated with lodging ? He acquainting them, they 
 " resolved to lodge at the inn nominated ; whereupon he demanded 
 " of them whether he might visit Mr. Prynne at his inn without 
 " offence? They replied, Yea; they having no warrant to debar any 
 " of his friends from him. Whereupon, when Mr. Prynne came to 
 " his inn, Mr. Brewen and some other of Mr. Prynne's acquaintance 
 " of Chester came to see him, and the next day went with him into 
 " the city to help him buy some bedding and furniture for his 
 " chamber at Carnarvon, where no such commodities could be gotten ; 
 " and when he departed out of Chester, none of his conductors 
 " knowing the way, some three or four of his friends conducted them 
 " over the washes, which are dangerous, and bringing them onwards 
 " on their way about four or five miles, bestowed a cup of wine and 
 " some cold meat upon his conductors and returned." 
 
 The bishop of Chester hereupon informs against these Chester 
 men for visiting Mr. Prynne, and sends up their names to Canter- 
 bury; and, to ingratiate himself with the archbishop, to manifest his 
 zeal to his grace's service and his detestation against Mr. Prynne for 
 the archbishop's sake, he in the first place makes an order, which he 
 caused to be published in all the churches of Chester, wherein he 
 slanders Mr. Prynne, his friends that visited him, with his fellow- 
 sufferers, and enjoins all the ministers and lecturers in the city 
 publicly to preach against them, turning the pulpit into a pasquil.* 
 
 Not content with this, he wrote to his metropolitan at York, 
 requesting him to send warrants for the arrest of Prynne's enter- 
 tainers. In this letter he says, " 1 myself have no authority in Chester 
 " to punish them, but if your grace think fit to send a pursevant and 
 " fetch them unto the high commission, it may do good for example 
 
 * See A Copie of the Bishop of Chester's Order, read in Chester churches 
 August 28, 1637, in " Prynne's New Discovery," &c.
 
 Deanery of Chester. 9 
 
 " to others of that straine. This Calvin Bryan, as soon as Dr. Layton's 
 " book came forth' called ' Zion's Plea/ had got one of them into 
 " his shop, which, as soon as I heard, I sent and took it away from 
 " him, and then being threatened and affrighted he faithfully promised 
 " future conformity. As for Robert Ince, he was (though many years 
 " since) made to do public penance in the cathedral of Chester for 
 " schismatical speeches, by sentence of the High Commission; and 
 " for Peter Ince, we have no other stationer in the city, yet no 
 " puritanical books but our citizens get them as soon as any, which I 
 " suppose come through his meanes." The bishop obtained his desire; 
 the Chester Puritans who had entertained Prynne were cited before 
 the High Commission at York, were imprisoned and fined heavily, and 
 forced to make a public recantation in the cathedral. Three pictures 
 of Mr. Prynne, which had been taken by a Chester artist, were 
 ordered to be publicly burnt at the High Cross there. Peter Leigh, 
 then a grocer in Chester, was among the sufferers at the time. 
 
 Such then was the character and such the acts of Bishop Bridgman. 
 He and his servants called a crop-eared horse of his by the name of 
 Prynne. No wonder that he was among the sequestered clergy in 
 1643. He died at his son's house at Moreton in 1658. One of his 
 sons, Sir Orlando Bridgman, became Lord Chief Justice of the 
 Common Pleas and Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, and took a 
 generous part in the attempts to bring about a comprehension between 
 conformists and dissenters in 1667. 
 
 AVhen episcopacy was re-established upon the Restoration of 
 Charles II., the celebrated Brian Walton, author of the famous 
 Polyglott, was appointed to the see of Chester. His great work 
 had been published in 1657, under the auspices of Cromwell, when 
 learning through the Protector's influence was, as Biu:net tells us, 
 "high at Oxford, chiefly the study of the oriental tongues." The 
 government had allowed the paper for the work to be imported free 
 of duty. In the first issue of it Walton acknowledged the help and 
 patronage of Cromwell, but this part of the preface he afterwards 
 altered, and tendered his gratitude to King Charles 11. instead of the 
 Protector. The original or "republican" copies are rarely to be met 
 with ; there is one however in the Chetham Library. Brian Walton 
 enjoyed his bishopric for a short time only; he died the 25th Novem- 
 ber, 1 66 1. Dr. Henry Ferne was elected to succeed him, but he 
 also died five weeks after his consecration.
 
 lo Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 George Hall, D.D., son of the pious Bishop Hall of Norwich, 
 obtained the See in May 1662, and held it till his death in 1668. 
 He was a man of very different stamp from his father, and avenged his 
 father's sufferings with fourfold severity upon the Nonconformists. 
 He committed the pious William Cook to the common gaol of 
 Chester for preaching in his own house, and hurried Adam Martin- 
 dale out of his living at Rostherne, The latter speaks thus of him 
 in his Autobiography*: — " What favour could I expect, or rather 
 " what violent proceedings might I not expect, from a prelate that 
 " preached so violently against us, was so brisk with signijicavits, and 
 " was linked so fast in his interest to the patron (Peter Venables, baron 
 " of Kinderton), a gentleman of 5,000/. per annum, a huge benefactor, 
 " having given 500/. towards the repairing of the bishop's palace, 
 " and so great honourers of one another that the bishop offered his 
 " services to marry the patron's dear daughter and only beloved 
 " child to Mr. Fowler, alias Levison, and was accordingly sent for 
 " (and I question not nobly paid), for confirming them first and 
 " marrying them after." 
 
 The next bishop was John Wilkins, D.D., of Magdalen College 
 Oxford. He took the Covenant in 1643, afterwards subscribed 
 the Engagement, and complied with the various changes of the 
 times. About 1656, he married Robina, sister of Ohver Cromwell. 
 At the Restoration he took the required oaths, and after several 
 promotions, he was consecrated to the see of Chester in 1668. Dr. 
 Tillotson who had married his daughter-in-law preached his conse- 
 cration sermon. Pliant himself to the requirements of the Act of 
 Uniformity, he exerted his influence as bishop to induce the ejected 
 ministers in his diocese to conform. Calamy says that "many ministers 
 " were brought in by B. Wilkins's soft interpretation of the terms of 
 " conformity." The Rev. W. Turner tells of his tutor Phihp Henry, 
 that " Bishop Wilkins sent twice for him, with a design to draw him 
 " over to conformity, as he had done many of his brethren before in 
 " his own diocese."t These efforts of the bishop proceeded however 
 not so much from laxity of principle or policy as from a liberal and 
 charitable spirit ; and there are not wanting witnesses to this among 
 the Nonconformists themselves. Martindale for example, says : — 
 " About this very time, Bishop Wilkins, observing what a great 
 
 *Page 165. f History of Remarkable Providences, chap. 65.
 
 Deanery of Chester. 1 1 
 
 " company of drunken ministers there was in his diocese, and 
 " especially near Wigan, his then residence, was resolved to turn 
 " such out, or at the least to suspend them ab officio, and to fill the 
 " places with better men ; and, having a good opinion of some of 
 " us that he took to be moderate Nonconformists, he proposed 
 " terms to us, to which we returned a thankful answer — showing our 
 " willingness to comply in anything that would not cross our 
 " principles, and instancing in particulars what we could do. But 
 " the Archbishop of York, by his visitation, took all power out of 
 " his hands for a year, soon after which this honest Bishop Wilkins 
 " died."* 
 
 Henry Newcome again makes the following notes : — " January 
 " 27, 1668-9. — I visited the bishop of Chester, at his lodgings in 
 " Pall Mall, and he received me very courteously, and used me 
 " kindly, and we had a deal of free discourse. November 22, 1672, 
 " Friday, — I received the sad news of the death of the learned, 
 " worthy^ pious, and peaceable bishop of Chester, Dr. John Wilkins. 
 " He was my worthy friend."t 
 
 To quote one witness more ; John Angier of Denton remarks : — ■ 
 '" November 19, 1672, died good Bishop Wilkins, of the stone — a 
 " great loss ; he died comfortably, and rejoiced in his moderation 
 " whilst he was bishop. His death was much lamented in the city 
 " of Chester."+ 
 
 John Pearson, D.D., author of the well-known "Exposition of 
 the Creed," succeeded Wilkins as bishop of Chester. Burnet says he 
 was in all respects the greatest divine of the age — a man of great 
 learning, strong reason, and of a clear judgment. He was a judicious 
 and grave preacher, more instructive than affective, and a man of 
 spotless life, and of an excellent temper. He was not active in his 
 diocese, but too remiss and easy in his episcopal function ; and was 
 a much better divine than a bishop. He was a speaking instance of 
 what a great man may fall to, for his memory went from him so 
 entirely that he became a child some years before he died.|| He died 
 July 16, 1686, having filled the bishopric thirteen years. 
 
 To him succeeded Thomas Cartwright, D.D., son of Presbyterian 
 parents and a Presbyterian himself, who turned round at the Resto- 
 
 * Autobiography, p. 196. X Oliver Heywood's "Life of Angier," p. 86. 
 
 t Autobiography, pp. 179, 202. || History Own Times, iii. 109.
 
 12 Nonco7tformity iu Cheshire. 
 
 ration, and distinguished himself by his extravagant zeal for the royal 
 cause. James II. found him a ready and expert agent, and appointed 
 him one of the three commissioners to eject the president and fellows 
 of Magdalen College Oxford, for nobly resisting the king's arbitrary 
 attempts to restore Popery. His diary, during his residence as bishop 
 of Chester, 1686-7, is pubhshed by the Camden Society. He fled to 
 France on the arrival of William of Orange, and thence to Ireland, 
 where he died in 1689. 
 
 There remains but one of the succeeding bishops whom it is 
 needful for us to name as connected with the Nonconformist history 
 of the city and county, namely Francis Gastrell. He was born at 
 Slapton, in Northamptonshire, loth May 1662, and was educated 
 first at Westminster School, and afterwards at Christ Church Oxford. 
 He published Considerations on the Tritiity in 1696, in 1697 preached 
 the Boyle Lectures, and (in January 1702-3 he was installed canon of 
 Christ Church Oxford) in 1707 published his well kno\vn work The 
 Christian Institutes. He was consecrated to the See of Chester on 
 April 14, 17 14. He died 24th November 1725. 
 
 Immediately upon his elevation to the See of Chester he appears 
 to have commenced his Notitia Cestriensis, which he compiled from 
 a great variety of public and private documents, from his own Epis- 
 copal Registers, as well as from personal investigations and printed 
 circular queries. He continued to make from time to time new 
 additions to the work, even until the last year of his useful life, and 
 the information is, therefore (especially in the Cheshire part), various, 
 copious, and extensive. The Notitia is a large folio volume in the 
 handwriting of Bishop Gastrell, consisting of 363 pages closely written 
 in double columns and in a singularly illegible hand. Tlic Chetham 
 Society has published that portion of the work which refers to Lan- 
 cashire and Cheshire, under the able editorship of the Rev. F. R. 
 Raines, M.A. 
 
 § II. The Nonconforming Ministers of 1662. 
 
 Having thus briefly noticed the Bishops of the Diocese of Chester 
 more or less closely associated with the history of Nonconformity in 
 the county, we shall proceed to enumerate the Ministers, Presbyterian 
 and Congregational, who laboured in the city during the Common- 
 wealth, and who were ejected by the Act of Uniformity.
 
 Deanery of Chester. 13 
 
 Among the signatures to the Attestation of Cheshire ministers, 
 approving the decisions of the Westminster Assembly and the Solemn 
 League and Covenant, in 1648, occur the names of five Presbyterian 
 ministers in the city, viz. : — 
 
 Henry Masy, pastor of Oswald's, in Chester ; 
 
 John Glendole, pastor of Peters, in Chester ; 
 
 Thomas Upton, pastor of Trinity, in Chester ; 
 
 William Pearetree, pastor of Mary's, in Chester ; 
 
 Benjamin Ball, pastor of John's, in Chester. 
 Two of these ministers are named by Calamy as ejected from their 
 cures in 1662 — the Rev. John Glendole, of S. Peter's, and the Rev. 
 Thomas Upton, of Trinity Church. The fact of their signatures being 
 attached to the Attestation proves that they were staunch Presbyte- 
 rians, and that they laboured in Chester during the Commonwealth, 
 probably from 1648 to 1662. Of Thomas Upton, nothing further has 
 come down to us. John Glendole is named among the rectors of 
 S. Oswald's, by Ormerod — " 1642, November 14, John Glendole." 
 He afterwards removed to S. Peter's. Upon the passing of the 
 Oxford Act, he and Mr. John Fogg, his son-in-law ejected from Liver- 
 pool, lived together at Great Budworth in great amity and usefulness. 
 Benjamin Ball, pastor of S. John Baptist in 1648, was succeeded 
 in 1650 by John Pemberton, a Presbyterian, and formerly of Con- 
 gleton. He again was followed by Philip Wilson, upon whose death 
 in 1658, Peter Leigh obtained the preferment, and was ejected 
 thence in 1662. Such is the order of names as given by Ormerod. 
 Peter Leigh was minister at the cathedral before his appointment to 
 S. John's. Henry Newcome says in his Autobiography:* "This 
 " year, 1653, I preached at the great church at Chester for Mr. Peter 
 " Leigh, on Luke xv. 7. It was the first time I ever preached there. 
 " At that time Mr. Ash was at Chester, and I had then his acquaint- 
 " ance. He preached on the Monday, and I heard him on i Corin- 
 " thians vi. 9." This was the celebrated Simeon Ashe, ejected from 
 S. Austin's, London. Regarding the early history of Peter Leigh we 
 know but little. There was a grocer of that name in Chester in 1637, 
 a Puritan of considerable influence, who suffered severely for enter- 
 taining Mr. Prynne. Henry Newcome names this person incidentally, 
 as "Mr. Peter Leigh of Chester, one of those who were severely 
 
 * Page 44.
 
 14 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " prosecuted before the High Commission for visiting Mr. Prynne in 
 " those days." It is doubtful whether this was the same individual with 
 him who afterwards became minister of S. John's : more probably he 
 was a relative — possibly his father. His sufferings were very severe, 
 and are very simply narrated in his petition to the House of Commons 
 for redress. It is as follows : — 
 
 " The humble petition of Peter Leigh, of the city of Chester, grocer, and 
 " Richard Golborne, of Chester aforesaid, gentleman. 
 
 (To the House of Commons.) 
 
 [After an account of their unjust arrest, they say] : — " Your peti- 
 " tioners and the said William Trafford, deceased, were to their great 
 " charge forced to attend at Yorke, one of them above a month and 
 " the other three weeks, after they had answers to the said articles, 
 " before sentence; and at last they were constrained to pay great 
 " summes of money for fees and cost of suit on both sides. . . . 
 " And your petitioner, Peter Leigh, was fined 200/. to the King's 
 " Majestic, and your other petitioner 300/. . . . And they were 
 " forced to flee into other countries, and leave their wives and 
 " children, trades and professions; and in their absence the pursui- 
 " vants of the said court came to their houses with warrants or inti- 
 " mations which they caused to be published in your petitioners' 
 " parish churches in Chester aforesaid, and did so affright their wives 
 " that, they being with child, did soon after miscarry. . . . Your 
 " petitioners for their parts have been damnified above 1,000/., and 
 " their estates almost thereby wholly ruined ; they being enforced to 
 *' flee and wander into strange countries for about four months 
 " together. Your petitioner, Peter Leigh, then being a tradesman 
 " who dealt for about 4,000/. per annum, and then much indebted, 
 " had his shop shut up for above three months together, for feare of 
 " having his goods seized for his forfeited bond and fine aforesaid." 
 
 Probably the worthy tradesman thus unjustly dealt with was a 
 near kinsman to his namesake the minister of S. John's, if not the 
 same person. He was in 1637 a married man with an extensive 
 business, and Peter Leigh the minister is described by Tong* in 1686 
 as an aged dissenting minister residing at Knutsford, a gentleman by 
 birth, and an humble upright person, a good scholar, but, through 
 
 • Life of Matthew Henry, p. 254.
 
 Deanery of Chester. 15 
 
 bodily indisposition, not capable of constant work. Newcome again 
 names the latter in his Diary, September 27, 1662, as one who together 
 with himself and others was " cited to Chester for repeateinge in my 
 " family," — that is, for rehearsing in private to a company of friends 
 the sermon preached publicly by the Conformist, — a common practice 
 among the ejected ministers. He also mentions him as having spent 
 an afternoon with him in Manchester, in company with two other 
 eminent Nonconformist ministers, in the same year, doubtless in 
 friendly conference regarding the sad change in their lot and in the 
 religious position of the country. He says, "Oct. 25. This afternoon 
 " was wholly taken up in company with Mr. Bradshaw (of Maccles- 
 " field), Mr. Bagshaw (of the Peak), and Mr. Peter Leigh of 
 " Chester." 
 
 Peter Leigh, the ejected minister, probably belonged to the 
 Leghs of High Leigh, in the parish of Rostherne. Proverbially 
 common as the name Leigh is in Cheshire,* the christian and sur- 
 name together, Peter Leigh, is very common too. Martindale's 
 landlord was Peter Leigh, of High Leigh, Esq., a bachelor, whom he 
 describes as "a godly-wise man, a member of our society, and my 
 " special friend."t Whatever family he belonged to, Peter Leigh the 
 minister was one of the noble army of sufferers for conscience sake. 
 He resigned the rich living of S. John's, Chester, in 1662, rather than 
 compromise his convictions of truth, and having passed through the 
 persecutions that accompanied the enforcement of Uniformity, he 
 was still in his old age and in the midst of bodily infirmity a faithful 
 labourer for Christ. The date of his death is unknown, no brass nor 
 marble marks his grave, but his record is on high. 
 
 The next Nonconformist minister whom we find labouring during 
 the Commonwealth in Chester, though not ejected thence, is Samuel 
 Eaton, the Independent, of Dukinfield and Stockport. Previous 
 to his going to New England he was settled as a minister of the 
 Established Church, in Wirral. Speaking of Mr. Murcot, he says, 
 " I first knew him when he lived in Wirral, near Chester, and there 
 '' was reason that I should be familiarly acquainted with him at that 
 " time, both because he was preacher at a place and also to a people 
 
 In Cheshire there are Lees as plenty as fleas, 
 And as many Davenports as dogs' tails ! — Old Proverb. 
 t Martindale's Autobiography, p. ii8.
 
 1 6 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " there to many of whom myself, in former times, stood related, till 
 
 " the violence of the then prevailing prelates (Laud, Bridgman, &c.) 
 
 " expulsed me thence." On his return from New England, Eaton 
 
 settled as pastor of a church at Dukinfield, but also received the 
 
 appointment of chaplain to the garrison at Chester, and in that 
 
 capacity formed the first Independent church in the city, Adam 
 
 Martindale, in his Autobiography,* says, " Mr. Eaton was chaplain 
 
 " to the garrison of Chester, by occasion whereof, and many journeys 
 
 " to London, Scotland, &:c., he was frequently absent from the church 
 
 " (at Dukinfield), and his place supplied by gifted persons." That 
 
 Mr. Eaton established a Congregational church in Chester so early 
 
 as 1648 is evident from the following extracts from the preface 
 
 of one of his works, published in opposition to the doctrine of his 
 
 successor. It appears that, finding the pastorate of both churches so 
 
 far apart too much for him to attend to, he resigned his ofiice at 
 
 Chester, and was succeeded there by Mr. Knowles, who proved to 
 
 be a Socinian. To counteract the erroneous teachings of this new 
 
 pastor, and to fortify the church, of which he had been the founder, 
 
 in the truth, Eaton \vrote a treatise upon the Divinity of Christ and 
 
 the doctrine of the Trinity. The work is entitled, " The Mystery of 
 
 ' God Incarnate; or ^ the WordjnadeFleshcleeredup,or,a Vindication 
 
 ' of certain Scriptures (produced to prove the Divinity of Jesus Christ) 
 
 '■ frojn the Corrupt Glosses, False Interpretations, and Sophisticall 
 
 ' Argumentations of Mr. John Knozvles, 7oho denies the Divinity of 
 
 ' Christ. Also certain Annotations and Observations upon the pamphlet 
 
 ' entitled '■A Confession of Faith concerning the Holy Trinity, according 
 
 ' ' to the Scriptures ;' together luith the Coppie of a Letter sent by him to 
 
 ' the Committee of Gloucester, concerning his Faith touching the Doctrine 
 
 ' of the Trinity. By Samuel Eatoil, teacher of the Church of Christ 
 
 ' at Duckenfeld. Whereunto is antiexed the Attestation of Philip Nye, 
 
 ^ John Owen, Joseph Caryl, Sydr. Simpson, William Greenhill, Geo. 
 
 ' Griffiths, Tho. Harrison. London; 1650." 
 
 This book has a dedication To the Faithful in Christ in atid 
 about Chester, in which the following passage occurs : — 
 
 " For your sakes it was that I desired, and in some kind en- 
 " deavoured, his [Mr. Knowles] removal from among you, because I 
 " saw that your affection for his person and parts would certainly be 
 
 • Page 74.
 
 Deanery of Chestei'. 17 
 
 " a snare to many of you, and enslave you to his doctrine, which 
 "■ was not like to want a specious presentment to commend it to you ; 
 " not that I wished one hair of his head to fall to the ground for his 
 " hurt (the Lord he knoweth), but my earnest desire was that you 
 " might be kept from evil. Nor had I any design to reinvest myself 
 " into place or power or profit or honour amongst you, for then I 
 " might have continued in the place, and in the power and profit o'. 
 " it while I possessed it ; for no one took it from me, nor could do 
 " while I faithfully discharged it ; but I voluntarily quitted it because 
 " I could not fulfil my ministry to another people and yet live among 
 " you : and ye yourselves know that I travelled some miles in York- 
 " shire to procure the blessing of an able ministry among you, but the 
 " man whom I designed for you was designed of God to another 
 " people in Berwick. . . When I saw that he [Mr. Knowles] was 
 " like to abide at least for a time among you, I then attempted the 
 " separation of you from him ; . . and I had the concurrence of 
 " the elders of churches both of the south and of the north therein, 
 " that walked in the same way and order with yourselves ; but this 
 " was fruitless, though I have much peace and comfort in it, for I 
 " sought not myself but your good in it. — To the faithful and dearly 
 ■• beloved the Saints of Christ Jesus in and about Chester, especially 
 " to all such who have known the doctrine, read the papers of Mr. John 
 " Knowles, and who have been his familiar hearers and followers." 
 
 This extract fully shews that when Mr. Eaton was in Chester, 
 chaplain to the garrison, he gathered round him a church of the 
 Congregational order ; that the reason of his removal was his ina- 
 bility to fulfil his 77iinistry to the church at Dukinfield ; that he was 
 succeeded in his place by Mr. John Knowles, who taught Socinian 
 doctrines, on account of which the former pastor was seriously grieved 
 and sought the removal of the false teacher. We cannot certainly 
 say in which of the Chester churches this congregation was gathered, 
 but the probability is (considering that Eaton was chaplain of the 
 garrison), that they assembled in a chantry chapel, called '"the chapel 
 " of the castle," dedicated to S. Mary, since memorable as the place in 
 which James II. attended his Roman Catholic devotions, when on a 
 visit to Bishop Cartwright. 
 
 It seems that Mr. Knowles replied to Eaton's book, because in 
 the following year, 1651, Eaton pubhshed another work entitled "^ 
 " Vindication or further Cotifirmation of some other Scriptures produced
 
 iZ Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " to prove the divinity of Jesus Christ, distortea and miserably wrested 
 " and abused by Mr. John Knowles. Also the doctrine of Christ's 
 " Satisfaction and of Reconciliation on God's part to the creature^ clecred 
 " vpfrom Scripture, ivhich of late hath beefi much impugned. And a 
 " Discourse concerning the springing and spreading oj Error, and of 
 " the means oj cure, and of the Preservations against it. By Sa7nucl 
 '■'■Eaton, Teacher of the Church of Jesus Christ, coinmonly styled the 
 " Church at Dukinfield. London, 1651." 
 
 Samuel Eaton did not stand alone in his efforts to protect the 
 church at Chester from the Socinian teaching of Mr. Knowles. He 
 was assisted by John Murcot, then minister of West Kirby, and by 
 their combined influence Mr. Knowles was removed from Chester. 
 In the life of Murcot prefixed to his works, the following passage 
 occurs : — 
 
 " There appears to be a formidable and blazing comet at Chester, 
 ** one Mr. Knowles, who exercised as public preacher to the garrison 
 " there, and in public sermons, private conferences, and by a manu- 
 " script by him framed, denied Jesus Christ to be the Most High 
 " God. Several in the city professing godliness are dangerously 
 " ensnared, and swallow do^vn that poison which will turn to gall and 
 " wormwood in their bowels. Mr. Murcot with others, especially 
 " Mr. Eaton, labours to establish the people in the truth received, 
 " and to pluck up the stinking weed which has begun to spread and 
 " fasten its contagious roots. Upon complaint made the flaming 
 " firebrand is removed, yet left behind him those unquenched sparks 
 " that break forth into fresh flames. Some godly people in Chester 
 *' being embodied, and wanting a pastor to take the charge of them, 
 " expressed their desires of enjoying Mr. Murcot, who is sent unto 
 " and requested to preach among them by way of trial and in order 
 " to his future establishment, but withal entreated not to intermeddle 
 " with the present controversy or engage against Mr. Knowles." 
 
 The writer goes on to say that Mr. Murcot visited Chester, and 
 preached from John xxi. 17, vindicating the Divinity of Christ, but that 
 he declined the people's invitation to become their pastor, saying, 
 " I cannot live without the ordinances at West Kirby, nor like a 
 " Salamander in the fire at Chester." There is no record extant 
 which informs us who became pastor of the church ; the probability 
 is that the members attended the ministry of Dr. Harrison, a Congre- 
 gationalist, at the Cathedral.
 
 Deajtery of Chester. 19 
 
 Thomas Harrison, D.D., was born at Kingston-upon-HuU. 
 While still a child his parents removed to America, and there he was 
 brought up to be a clergyman. He became chaplain to the governor 
 of Virginia, who was an enemy to the Puritans, and young Harrison 
 shared his ill-will towards them. Application was made in 1641 by 
 some well-disposed persons in Virginia to the ministers in New 
 England for some assistance towards evangehzing the Indians. In 
 reply t\vo ministers undertook the mission, and sailed for Virginia in 
 October of the next year, taking with them letters from the governor 
 of Massachusetts to the governor and council of Virginia. No sooner 
 was it found that they would not use the forms of the Church of 
 England, than they were ordered to leave the country. Harrison 
 himself afterwards acknowledged that though he seemed openly to 
 plead against their expulsion, yet he secretly wished it. Previous to 
 their embarking however, the savage Indians suddenly rose upon the 
 English colonists and massacred three hundred of them. A pestilence 
 followed and bore away many more victims. Reflections upon his 
 own merciful escape in these disasters led Harrison to enquire into 
 his personal condition before God. The truths spoken by the New 
 England missionaries obtained a lodgment in his heart. He preached 
 more earnestly, and gathered a church under his care. The governor 
 disapproved of his behaviour and dismissed him. He then came 
 back again to England, and succeeded Dr. GoodAvin at St. Dunstan's- 
 in-the-East. After he left London (the reason of which does not 
 appear) he lived for some time at Bromborough Hall, in Wirrall, 
 where he preached constantly, and afterwards went to Dublin, with 
 Harry Cromwell, when he was sent to Ireland as Lord-Lieutenant. He 
 lived in his family with great respect, and was for several years a 
 preacher at Christ Church \\nth great applause. He preached a ser- 
 mon (afterwards published) upon the death of Oliver Cromwell, from 
 the text Lamentations v. 16, and entitled ^'■Threni Hyhernici; or, 
 " Ireland sympathising with England and Scotland in a sad lamenta- 
 " tion for the loss of their Josiah." The anonymous writer of the 
 dedication prefixed to this sermon says : — 
 
 " Divine Providence made it my lot to hear it pathetically 
 " deUvered by that pious divine. Dr. Harrison, in a full and fluent 
 " manner, extracting tears from the eyes and sighs from the hearts of 
 " the hearers. I moved the doctor for the printing thereof, being so 
 " precious a piece touching so unparalleled a person, that it was more
 
 20 Nonco7iformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " fit to be made publick than to perish in obHvion. He in a modest 
 " manner termed it a sudden, imperfect, unpolished collection of 
 " scattering thoughts and notes, which brevity of time and burthen of 
 " spirit would not permit him more completely to compile ; yet upon 
 " my importunity he was pleased to condescend to my motion, and 
 " delivered me this copy now printed, written with his own hand. 
 " The usefulness of the piece, replete with so many rare observations, 
 " together with the desire of erecting all lasting monuments that might 
 " tend to the eternizing of the blessed memory of that twice renowned 
 " patron and pattern of piety your royal father (whose pious life is his 
 " never perishing pyramid, eveiy man's heart being his tomb, and every 
 " good man's tongue an epitaph), hath emboldened me to present it 
 " to your highness as a lively effigies to mind you of his matchless 
 " virtues." 
 
 One brief extract will suffice to shew the tenour of the dis- 
 course : — 
 
 " I and all the world may say of him (Cromwell), that's now 
 " gone from us, as one said of Mucianus, the Roman consul, he did 
 " Vim prificipis complecti nonien remittere, he had all the power and 
 " performed all the part of a good king, though he refused the title; 
 " cause have we therefore to take up a woeful lamentation when such 
 " a prince, when such a great man is fallen in our Israel, who in all 
 " these respects had so benign an influence into the vitals of our state." 
 
 Soon after the preaching of this courageous sermon, almost the 
 only funeral sermon for Cromwell that has come down to us. Dr. 
 Harrison came back into England, and settled in Chester, as the 
 minister of the Cathedral church. Here he had a large and attentive 
 auditory till his ejection by the Act of Uniformity. In the year 1670 he 
 returned to Dublin, having been invited to become pastor of the same 
 Dissenting congregation there, which had previously sought to obtain 
 Henry Newcome of Manchester as their minister. Calamy in his 
 account of him goes on to say, " In Dublin he had a very flourishing 
 " congregation, and many persons of quality for his constant auditors. 
 " He was extremely popular, and this stirred up much envy. He was 
 " a most agreeable preacher, and had a peculiar way of insinuating 
 " himself into the affections of his hearers ; and yet he used to write 
 " all that he delivered : but he afterwards took a great deal of pains to 
 " impress upon his mind what he had written, that he might deliver it 
 " without using his notes. He had also an extraordinary gift in prayer;
 
 Deanery of Chester. 21 
 
 " such a fluency, and such flights of spiritual rhetoric, suited to all 
 " occasions and circumstances, as excited the admiration of all that 
 " knew him. He was a complete gentleman, much courted for his 
 " conversation : free with the meanest, and yet fit company for the 
 " greatest persons. Lord Thomond (who had no respect for ecclesias- 
 " tics of any sort) expressed a singular value for him, and a high 
 " opinion of his abilities. He often used to say, that ' he had rather 
 " ' hear Dr. Harrison say grace over an egg, than hear the bishops 
 " ' pray and preach.' He was Congregational in his judgment ; and 
 " though his people were universally of another stamp, yet he managed 
 " all matters Avith such discretion, temper, and moderation, that there 
 " never was the least clashing or danger of a faction. When he died 
 " the whole city of Dublin seemed to lament the loss of him, and there 
 " was a general mourning. His funeral was attended by persons of 
 " all ranks. The sermon was preached by Mr. (afterwards Dr.) 
 " Daniel AVilliams, then pastor of another congregation in that city." 
 In addition to the sermon already named, he published " Topica 
 Sacra; or, Spiritual Pleadings ;" " Old Jacob's Account Cast up ; 
 " a Funeral Sermon, for Lady Sus. Reynolds, on Genesis xlvii. 9." 
 He left behind him many MSS, and among the rest, " A System of 
 Divinity," in a large folio volume. 
 
 The next Nonconformist minister that Chester has to boast of was 
 William Cook, ejected from S. Michael's Church. An interesting 
 account of him is to be found in the last chapter of Philip Henry's 
 Life;* and in the preface to a work by the Rev. Samuel Bold, of 
 Steeple, Dorsetshire, entitled ''Man's Great Duty " 1693. Mr. Cook 
 was born in the year 161 2, and belonged to a family distinguished 
 for piety for several successive generations. He was educated by the 
 Rev. John Ball, of Brazennose College Oxford, an eminent Puritan 
 who kept a school at Whitmore, near Newcastle, in Staffordshire. 
 He had great natural powers, a quick apprehension, and a strong 
 memory. He was studious to a prodigy, and his proficiency in what- 
 ever he applied his mind to was astonishing. He enjoyed the friend- 
 ship and patronage of Sir John Burgoyne, who assisted him in 
 undertaking the work of the ministry. He was first minister at Wroxal, 
 in Warwickshire, where he published two treatises against the Ana- 
 baptists, viz. : — ''An Answer to a Book entitled ' The Vanity of 
 
 * See also Baxter^s Life, part iii., page 98.
 
 22 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " Childish Baptism^" and '■^The Font Uncovered for BapfmtH'' — an 
 answer to the challenge of the Baptists at Stafford. By the advice of 
 the London ministers he removed to Ashby-de-la-Zouche in Leices- 
 tershire, and while there he came into coUision with the notorious 
 Hugh Peters. " I have by me," says Matthew Henry,* " many of 
 " Mr. Cook's manuscripts, but only some of them legible ; and among 
 " them a very large account of a particular rencounter between Hugh 
 " Peters and him, when Mr. Peters, without his consent, thrust into 
 " his pulpit at Ashby, and of the grievous affronts and ill-language 
 " that Peters gave him. It is very prolix, being (as all that Mr. Cook 
 " did was) very prolix." Mr. Cook was turned out of his living at 
 Ashby for refusing the Engagement, and removed to Chester, where 
 he became minister of S. Michael's Church about the year 1650. 
 
 Newcomet says, "The next day, January 2, 1650-51, we parted 
 " at Newcastle, Staffordshire, where Mr. Cooke, now of Chester, 
 " preached," — when probably he was on a visit to the scenes of his 
 youth. He was an active man for Sir George Booth, in 1659; for which 
 he was brought up a prisoner to London, and continued long under 
 confinement in Lambeth House, and had not the times turned, he 
 would have been tried for his life. Newcome thus notices his im- 
 prisonment : — "1659, September 13, Tuesday. Mr. Harrison and 
 " Mr. Cooke were hurried away towards London, by order from above." 
 " During the Usurpation," says Philip Henry, " Mr. Cook's frequent 
 " prayer was, ' that God would pull down all usurjicd power, and 
 " ' restore the banished to their right.' " His sufferings in the Royalist 
 cause did not procure him liberty to preach the gospel without strict 
 conformity. His skill in the Oriental languages won for him respect 
 from the learned Walton, who was bishop of Chester during the year 
 1 66 1. He would speak civilly to Mr. Cook, but told him he must 
 conform or he could not help him. On the 24th of August 1662, 
 being Bartholomew Day, Mr. Cook resigned his preferment at S. 
 Michael's, but continued till his death in a pastoral relation to a 
 society of many worthy eminent Christians in Chester. Soon after he 
 was silenced he was committed to the common goal for preaching in 
 his own house, by the mayor, at the instigation of the then Bishop 
 Hall. But he strictly adhered to his principles in all the changes of 
 the times, and told the Bishop that though his ordination by Presbyters 
 
 * Life by Williams, page 230. t Autobiography, page 24.
 
 Deanery of Chester, 23 
 
 was not legal yet it was evangelical. Upon the passing of the Five 
 Mile Act he was forced to withdraw to Puddington, a village in 
 Wirrall, seven miles from Chester, and while there he attended the 
 public ministry and preached in the intervals. He would say some- 
 times to his friends when he was in that retirement, that he thought 
 " what little peace and quietness there was in this world, God's people 
 " enjoyed it in their comers." On the issueing of Charles II.'s 
 Indulgence in 1672, he returned to his church at Chester, and laboured 
 faithfully among them till his death. He finished his course with joy, 
 July 4, 1684, in the midst of the cloudy and dark day, in the seventy- 
 third year of his age. When he lay on his death bed an aged friend 
 of his, asking him if he had not comfort in reflection upon his labours 
 in the work of God, he presently replied, "I have nothing to boast of." 
 He was buried in S. Michael's Church ; and though for some time 
 before he died such was the heat of the persecution that he durst not 
 shew his face in the city, yet many considerable persons were very 
 fonvard to do him honour at his death. 
 
 The following is the character given of Mr. Cook in Calamy's 
 Memorial and by Philip Henry : — 
 
 " He was a Christian of the primitive stamp ; a man of a most 
 " godly, mortified life, and unwearied labour; who could go in mean 
 " clothing, Uve on little, and travel on foot, trampling on this world as 
 " dirt. He was very indefatigable in his ministerial labours, in which 
 " he never sought anyone's assistance, but would preach and pray 
 " almost all the week, as he had opportunity, in season and out of 
 " season. 'While he had liberty, he constantly kept a public fast in 
 " his congregation every month, as also a private one in his own 
 " closet and family every week. He usually set apart one afternoon 
 " every week to visit the families of his congregation, to catechise 
 " their children and servants, and discourse with them personally 
 " about their spiritual affairs. His visits were short but edifying. 
 " He managed them like one who was a good husband of his time, 
 " and seldom parted wthout prayer. He governed his family with 
 " great strictness and prudence. Every morning, in his family wor- 
 " ship, after he had briefly implored the divine assistance, a psalm 
 " was sung, then a chapter in the Old Testament in the morning — 
 " and one in the New in the evening — was read, which he expounded, 
 " pointing out the several parts of which it consisted, then giving an 
 " account of the substance of it in as few words as possible; then
 
 24 No7iconformity m Cheshire. 
 
 " explaining the chief difficulties that occurred, concluding with useful 
 '• instructions. He then spent a quarter of an hour in prayer and praise, 
 " usually improving much of the chapter that was read as matter for 
 " both. He was eminent in all the parts of prayer; but commonly 
 " abounded most in the confession of sin, in admiring all the divine 
 " excellences, and in praising God for all his benefits. On all occasions 
 " he was importunate for the church of God, and for the enlargement 
 " of the kingdom of Christ. His regard to justice was uncommonly 
 " exact; and his charity, considering his circumstances (which were 
 " not affluent), was stupendous. Having no child of his own, he freely 
 " took into his family three or four poor children, whom he boarded 
 " and clothed at his own expense, and instructed in human literature 
 " and rehgion. These and his servants he catechised twice a week, 
 " explaining everything to them in the most easy manner. When he 
 " could no longer exercise his ministry in the church, he performed 
 " most parts of it in his family, with the same care and diligence he 
 " was accustomed to use in public, though no other person was 
 " present. 
 
 " He was a strict conscientious observer of the Lord's Day. His 
 *' family constantly had their work done by four or five o'clock on 
 *' Saturday afternoon. He then spent an hour and a half in ex- 
 " plaining Scripture and in prayers. After this all retired to their 
 " apartments to learn their catechism and for devotion. At eight 
 " they supped, and then he dismissed his family as usual every other 
 " day. He was always up early on the Lord's Day. Every one in 
 " his house read a chapter in the morning, and he spent an hour and 
 " a half in expounding and prayer. Then he and his family went to 
 " public worship, and upon their return (after his being silenced) he 
 " prayed and repeated the sermon, and then preached and prayed as 
 " he was wont to do in public. After dinner he went to church, and 
 " on his return performed the same as before. After supper every 
 " one of the family gave an account of what they could remember of 
 " the sermon, and he concluded the day with singing a psalm and 
 " with solemn prayer and praise. He went through all this labour 
 " with surprising vigour, cheerfulness, and fervour of spirit. He was 
 " a great follower of peace, civil, courteous, and obliging, but a 
 " stranger to that ceremoniousness which has since become so fashion- 
 ** able. He was very free in reproving his relations and all his 
 " acquaintance as occasion required ; and was mightily concerned
 
 Deanery of Chester. 25 
 
 " when he heard of the prosperity of any of them, that they might be 
 " provided against the temptations of their condition; and he was an 
 " earnest intercessor for the afflicted. His abstinence and self-denial, 
 " his strict watch over himself, and regard to divine Providence in all 
 " instances were very vmcoramon; as was also his humility. He 
 " fortified himself to an uncommon degree against everything he could 
 " suspect of having a tendency to tempt him even to a moderate con- 
 " ceit of himself Though he was not free to join in the Common 
 " Prayer, and bore his testimony against prelacy and the ceremonies 
 " Avith zeal, he managed his dissent from the established church with 
 " great candour and christian moderation. He sometimes keenly 
 " reproved such as reflected on a Conformist, though in a matter 
 " which he himself could not approve. And his great piety, integrity, 
 " and charity recommended him to the respect of many that differed 
 -'• from him. He was a great scholar, and continued a hard student 
 " to the last. So far was he from entangling himself in the affairs of 
 " this life, that he knew not what he had save the bread which he 
 " eat; nor was he very conversible about worldly matters, but in dis- 
 " course on the things of God none were more free and affable. He 
 " lived and died a great example of close walking with God and a 
 " heavenly conversation. He suffered with great patience and meek- 
 " ness. The Rev. Samuel Bold, who was brought up under him from 
 " his childhood, says of him in a tract dedicated to his \\'idow, ' He 
 " ' was the greatest instance of an indefatigable faithful minister and 
 " ' practical believer that he was ever acquainted with.' " 
 
 Such is the history as far as it can now be gleaned of the Noncon- 
 forming ministers of Chester in 1662. Had we been in the venerable 
 city on that memorable Sunday the 17th of August, the Sunday before 
 the sadly famous Bartholomew Day, we might first have looked in at 
 the Cathedral (S. Oswald's), and heard the eloquent Dr. Harrison 
 preaching his farewell sermon ; we might have passed thence to 
 S. John Baptisfs to see the venerable Peter Leigh rising in his pulpit 
 for the last time, to speak forth the words of truth and soberness ; we 
 might have hurried thence to 6". Michaets where that " pious and 
 " painful minister" WiUiam Cook was declaring his conscientious 
 convictions regarding his Nonconformity to a congregation ready to 
 leave the church in which they had so long worshipped rather than 
 desert their pastor ; and (passing by the Castle Chapel, where the 
 honest Samuel Eaton, the CongregationaUst, had often preached), if
 
 26 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 time and arrangements of services pemiitted, we might have heard 
 the voice of Mr. Glendall for the last time in S. Peter's, and of Mr. 
 Thomas Upton in Trinity Church : — no fewer than five faithful 
 ministers might we have seen that day in Chester bidding farewell to 
 their several flocks, and declaring their brave resolve to suffer the loss 
 of all things — of spheres of usefulness, of livelihood, of house and 
 home — rather than violate their conscience by submitting to the require- 
 ments of the Act of Unifomiity. These five men were the chief 
 ministers of note in the city. The newly-appointed Bishop Hall had 
 probably taken up his abode in the palace; but in these five men he 
 lost the flower of the ministry in Chester, the preachers at the five 
 chief churches. Regarding 6*. Mary's Super Aloiitem, the Lambeth 
 ParUamentary Survey 1649 states: — "The church of this parish is 
 " supplied by Mr. Robert Hunt, a preaching minister, but insufficient 
 " for the place." This was probably the same Hunt whom Walker 
 erroneously names as sequestered hova S. Mary's in 1643. Soon after 
 the Restoration Mr. Nicholas Stephenson, who had been ejected from 
 Alderley to make way for the old incumbent, gained this living of 
 S. Mary's, and though a Presbyterian, conformed in 1662. Who was 
 at S. Bridget's in that year is uncertain. Ormerod names Christopher 
 Goodman, but whether he was ejected or confomied we cannot tell, 
 nor do we know anything of his character or talents. The rector of 
 S. Bridget's supplied S. Martin's, and S. Olave's was under the care of 
 the minister of S. Michael's. 
 
 The five ministers whose names have now been given did not 
 stand alone in their Nonconformity; they were followed and supported 
 by a large and respectable number of the citizens. We liave already 
 mentioned the Congregational Church established by Samuel Eaton, 
 which probably was broken up in consequence of the ministry of 
 " the firebrand" Mr. Knowles. Dr. Harrison did not leave Chester for 
 Ireland until the year 1670, and in 1665 we hear of his introducing a 
 young man into the ministry in Chester named John Bailey, who had 
 been partially educated by him, and who soon after^vards suffered a 
 hard imprisonment for conscience' sake. This young man subse- 
 quently went to Limerick in Ireland, and removed thence to New 
 England, where he became an eminent minister. Cotton Mather 
 gives an interesting account of him, which is inserted in Calamy's 
 Nonconformist Memorial. Mr. Peter Leigh removed to Knutsford, 
 and Mr. Glendall to Great Budworth ; but in their place other emi- 
 nent Nonconfonning ministers came to reside in Chester.
 
 Deanery of Chester. 27 
 
 Mr. Wilson, of Backford, some time after his ejectment, took a 
 house in the city and settled there, holding as large meetings as 
 prudence and the severity of the times would permit. When liberty 
 was granted he preached in a gentlewoman's house, and had a crowded 
 congregation. He died in Chester about 1672. 
 
 The Rev. John Garside also preached occasionally in Chester 
 during the stormy interval between 1662 and 1672. He was once 
 pulled out of the pulpit in Bosley chapel by Sir Geoffrey Shakerley, in 
 1669, and the next day was carried to Chester, where he suffered 
 imprisonment according to law. Tong in his life of Matthew Henry* 
 describes him as " that good aged humble minister that lived and died 
 " near Macclesfield, several years ago, greatly esteemed by all that 
 " knew him, and especially by the good people at Chester, to whom 
 " he used to preach very privately in the times of persecution ; a 
 " person of uncommon learning and judgment, and gifts in preaching 
 " and prayer, and of great simplicity and godly sincerity, affecting 
 " plainness in his garb and way of living, beneath what his friends 
 " thought was due to his station as a minister, but he was contented 
 " and best pleased with it." 
 
 A third Nonconforming minister who came to Chester, was the 
 Rev. Ralph Hall, ejected from Mear, in Staffordshire. He gathered 
 a congregation (distinct from the one of which Mr. Cook was pastor), 
 who met for worship regularly during the interval of quiet between 
 1672 and 1682; but when the persecution again arose in the last 
 named year, he was arrested and committed to the North gate prison 
 upon the strength of the Five Mile Act, The folloAving story is related 
 of the conversion of a soldier condemned for murder, whom Mr. Hall 
 met in the prison : — " The soldier's name was Spooner, one that had 
 " been a very loose and profligate man, and was concerned \vith others 
 " in a drunken riot in which a poor man lost his life. Mr. Hall (who 
 " was pastor to that people in Chester that invited Mr. Henry) was 
 " sent a prisoner to the castle for six months, for no other fault than 
 " preaching the Gospel : but God sent him thither for good to this 
 " poor criminal, who lay in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of 
 " iniquity. Mr. Hall found him very ignorant and stupid, but God 
 " was pleased to bless the serious discourse he had with him and the 
 " fervent prayers he put up to God ^vith him and for him ; conscience 
 
 * Page 265.
 
 28 Nonco7iformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " was awakened to purpose, and God sealed his instruction ; a wonder- 
 " ful change was ^vrought in him in a little time, and he made such a 
 " declaration of the manner of God's working upon his soul when he 
 " came to die, and of the benefit he had received by Mr. Hall's 
 " instruction and prayers, as very much affected all that heard him, 
 " and indeed filled the whole city with wonder ; every one looking 
 " upon him as such another monument of free grace as the thief on 
 " the cross, and glorifying God on his behalf. That good old minister 
 " thought his six months' imprisonment abundantly compensated by 
 " being an instrument of so much good to a precious soul, that was 
 " in so much danger of perishing for ever." Mr. Hall did not long 
 survive his trial. He died in the midst of the dark and stormy day, 
 soon after Mr. Cook, in the year 1684. 
 
 The latest surviving of the ejected ministers who came to live in 
 Chester was the Rev. John Harvey. He was ordained by Bishop 
 AVorth,in London, in 1660, and became minister of Wallasey, in Wirrall, 
 where he was suffe'red to remain barely a year, being turned out to 
 make room for Alexander Featherstone, a Conformist. He seems at 
 once to have settled in Chester as pastor of the Congregationalists 
 there ; and he continued to labour faithfully with many hindrances 
 during the ten years of persecution that followed the passing of the 
 Act of Uniformity, during the season of respite from 1672 to 1682, 
 and throughout the second time of trial that preceded the Revolution 
 of 1688. 
 
 § ni. The Nonconformist Churches since 1688. 
 
 We have now reached an important era in the history of Noncon- 
 formity in Chester. From what has already been stated it appears 
 that no fewer than seven Nonconformist ministers preached in the 
 city as opportunity allowed after their ejectment, namely — Dr. 
 Harrison till his removal to Dublin, John Bailey, Mr. Wilson, Mr. 
 Garside, Mr. Cook, Mr. Hall, and Mr. Harvey. Five of these, the 
 first and the last-named excepted, suffered imprisonment for the crime 
 of preaching the gospel in their homes and to their friends. Three of 
 them, Mr. Cook, Mr. Hall, and Mr. Harvey, had each a distinct con- 
 gregation during the liberty which Protestant Dissenters enjoyed by 
 connivance after 1672; but these churches were all broken and dis- 
 persed by the persecution which was renewed in 1682. Mr. Cook
 
 Deanery of Chester. 29 
 
 and Mr. Hall died in 1684. and those of their congregations who 
 continued Dissenters joined with Mr. Har\ey, who kept close and 
 preached very privately in his o\\'n house or elsewhere and rode out 
 the storm. But some few had Dr. Long (of Newcastle) and Mr. Burnet, 
 who came to them now and then and administered the Lord's Supper 
 to them. 
 
 The celebrated Matthew Henry now appears for the first time 
 in connection with Nonconformity in Chester. He was the son of 
 the holy and meek Philip Henry, ejected from Wybunbury, Flintshire, 
 and was bom on October 18, 1662 ; the same dark year in which so 
 many ministers — his father among the rest — were separated from their 
 flocks and driven from their cures. In 1680 he was placed under the 
 tuition of the Rev. Thomas Doolittle, of IsUngton, and aftenvards 
 became a student of the law at Gray's Inn. But the bent of his mind 
 and the desire of his heart were towards the ministr}^, and he began 
 to preach in private. In " A Short Account of the Beginning and 
 " Progress of our Congregation, wTitten in 17 10," he says : — " About 
 " the end of the year 1686 some business drew me to Chester, and I 
 " lodged at Mr. Henthom's. I preached at his house two or three 
 " times, also at Mr. Har\-ey's and Mr. Jolly's, and contracted an inti- 
 " mate acquaintance with Mr. Edward Greg. Mr. Henthom and 
 " Mr. Greg came to solicit that if indulgence were granted I would be 
 " their minister. I was then (January 1686-7) in the twenty-fifth year 
 " of my age. I consented with the proviso, which made them uneasy, 
 " that Mr. Harvey would consent to my coming. But at that time I 
 " was going to London, to reside at Gray's Inn for some months, and 
 " did so." These facts are related in greater detail by Mr. Tong.* 
 He informs us that all those who belonged to Mr. Cook and ^Mr. Hall 
 had not joined Avith Mr. Harvey's church in constant communion; 
 and so strongly were their hopes and desires fixed upon Matthew Henry 
 for their pastor, that they were \\dlling to receive him upon his owti 
 terms and in his oavti time. Omng to King James II. 's indulgence 
 (intended in favour only of Popery), the Dissenters were able to 
 resume their meetings in several places, Chester among the rest; they 
 had been not a little harrassed by several fines and imprisonments, 
 though there was nothing found against them except in the matter of 
 their God ; but the prospect of rest and liberty was very pleasant to 
 
 * Life of Matthew Henry, page 54.
 
 3© Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 them. They secured the services of Mr. Tong to minister among them 
 till their invited pastor was able to come, and he preached about three 
 months in Mr. Henthom's hall. " Mr. Henthom had always been 
 " fonvard to promote the gosi)el in that city where God had cast his 
 " lot and greatly blessed him for many years ; he now opened his doors 
 " and offered to his neighbours the use of his house for the worship of 
 " God, which was large and commodious; he received Mr. Tong into 
 " his house, gave him a most kind entertainment, in everything treating 
 " him as if he had been his nearest relation. To his house the people 
 " resorted beyond all expectation ; they only met at first between the 
 " hours of public worship ; most of them went to hear Dr. Fog and 
 " Dr. Hancock, whose ministry they blessed God for ; but at noon 
 " and again in the evening they flocked to Mr. Henthom's. Their 
 " numbers increased every day, and some time before Mr. Henry came 
 *' they found it necessary to provide a larger place ; here again Mr. 
 " Henthorn was ready to supply them a pretty large outbuilding, part 
 " of the Friary which belonged to him was pitched upon to be the place. 
 " They set to work one Monday morning, and before the week's end 
 " they had it in that forwardness that the next Lord's Day it was 
 " opened."* 
 
 Meantime Matthew Henry was ordained in London, May 9, 1687, 
 at Mr. Steel's house, by the imposition of hands of six ministers. A 
 full account of the service is given by Tong, together with Mr. Henry's 
 confession of faith, in which we find the following : — " I believe that 
 " the living and true God is but one. And that in the Unity of the 
 *' Godhead there is a Trinity of Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, 
 " and that these three are but one God, the same in substance, equal 
 " in power and glory. This is a revealed mystery, which I do believe 
 " but cannot comprehend." 
 
 After his ordination Matthew Henry returned home to his father's 
 house at Broad Oak, and on the ist of June, 1687, Mr. Greg, Mr. 
 Coker, and Mr. Hall, with some others, came to meet him and 
 attended him to Chester. The day following being Thursday, the 
 Lecture day, he preached his first semion publicly from i Corinthians 
 ii. 2. "I expounded also," adds M. Henry, "P.salm ist, and went 
 " on through the Psalms on lecture days. It is now (17 10) the fifth 
 " time I am going over them. The first Lord's Day I expounded 
 
 * Tong, page 59.
 
 Deanery of Chester. 31 
 
 " Nehemiah viii., concerning the exposition of the scriptures, signi- 
 " fying my purpose to keep up that exercise, and began with Joshua, 
 " and went back to Genesis after, and in twenty years I went through 
 " the Old Testament {only once when we were in some part not so 
 " edifying), and I am now going over it the second time and am in 
 " Numbers. Afterwards I expounded the 119th Psalm that winter, 
 " and then to the New Testament, which I went through in eleven 
 " years." 
 
 The dissenters in Chester received Matthew Henry with joy and 
 thankfulness, even as an angel of God. He found in the city very 
 agreeable society, which enabled him to prosecute his work with 
 greater cheerfulness and courage. His behaviour towards Mr. Harvey 
 indicated great prudence and modesty on his part as a young minister 
 towards his senior. He waited on him on his arrival, before his first 
 sermon, to ascertain his assent to his coming, and received from 
 Mr. Harvey the assurance that he approved of it, " believing there 
 " was work enough in Chester for them both." He attended Mr. 
 Harvey's week evening lecture on Tuesdays, and Dr. Hancock's at 
 S. Michael's on Fridays. He and his friends even applied to Mr. 
 Harvey to unite the two congregations, and for Mr. Henry to occupy 
 the inferior position of assistant minister, or that at least they should 
 join at the celebration of the Lord's Supper; but Mr. Harvey declining 
 both proposals, and wishing the two societies to continue distinct, 
 Matthew Henry administered the Lord's Supper to his own people 
 for the first time on the second Sunday in July, 1687, and the num- 
 ber of communicants was forty-five. In two or three years they 
 increased to 250. At first they met at church time in the morning, 
 and at four in the afternoon after church was over — to oblige 
 the church, but in vain. Dr. Fog, then the dean of Chester, said 
 " it made the matter no better, it was schismatical at any time;" and 
 afterwards the Dissenters discontinued their attendance at the parish 
 churches, and held their own services at the usual hours. Among 
 Matthew Henry's friends in Chester, Tong names Alderman Main- 
 waring and Mr. Vanbrugh, father to Sir John Vanbrugh, who heard 
 him on the week-day lectures ; George Booth, an eminent lawyer, 
 and near relation to the Earl of Warrington; Richard Kenrick, a 
 gentleman of very good sense, pleasant and instructive conversation, 
 and truly religious, a true lover of Mr. Henry's ministry; John Hunt, 
 brother to Mr, Hunt of Boreatton, always Mr. Henry's faithful and
 
 32 Nojicoiiforvtity in Cheshire. 
 
 prudent friend ; and above all Edward Greg, a most exemplary per- 
 son for meekness, humility, and serious godliness, one that had a good 
 report of all men; he had been very instrumental in Mr. Henry's 
 coming to Chester, and was his fidus Achates, as he called him; he 
 died on July 8, 1689, after two years spent in the most intimate and 
 endearing friendship, and Matthew Henry preached his funeral sermon 
 from Acts xiii. 36. Besides these he met with many kind and valuable 
 friends among the principal tradesmen in Chester, especially Anthony 
 Henthorne, Samuel Kirk, Thomas Robinson, and Mr. John Hulton. 
 Three of his sisters, soon after his settlement, married Chester gen- 
 tlemen, and came to reside there. He himself first married into the 
 Hardware family, of Bromborough, and next into the Warburton 
 family, of Grange. 
 
 The Dissenters of Chester were foremost in guarding their rights 
 and liberties as citizens. In September 1687, when James II. came 
 to Chester, Mr. Harvey and Mr. Henry, having received an intimation 
 that an address would be expected from the Dissenters, dre\v one up, 
 and with the heads of their congregations presented it at the bishop's 
 palace, where the king lodged. In this address they studiously 
 avoided committing themselves to an approbation of the illegal dis- 
 pensing power which had been claimed and exercised by the king, 
 and restricted their expressions of gratitude to the ease and liberty 
 they then enjoyed under Jiis proiectioti. Sir Richard Leivling, then 
 recorder of Chester, on the contrary, in his speech at the king's 
 entrance into the city, told him that the corporation was his majesty's 
 creature, a?id depended on the will of its creator, and that the sole 
 intimation of his majesty s pleasure should have with them the force of 
 a fundamental law. The Charter of the city had been surrendered to 
 the king in 1684, and a new one was granted, by which a power was 
 reserved to the Crown to displace and appoint magistrates at pleasure. 
 This precarious charter was joyfully accepted by those who sun-endered 
 the old one, and who now hoped that some aldennen of honest 
 principles would be turned out and their places supplied by persons 
 of a different temper. About August 1688 a messenger was sent to 
 exercise the power reserved in the new charter, and remodel the 
 corporation, who applying to Mr. Henry told him the king thought 
 that the government of the city needed refoitnation, and that if he 
 would specify what individuals should be removed it should be done. 
 Mr. Henry declined to interfere, stating that it was no business of his,
 
 Deanery of Chester. 33 
 
 nor would he intermeddle in any such affairs. However, the messenger 
 procured his information elsewhere. The new charter was cancelled, 
 and another sent of the same purport, but substituting the names of 
 all the Dissenters of note, the seniors as aldermen, and the juniors as 
 common councilmen. This charter was brought down, and the persons 
 nominated called together to have notice of it, and to have the time 
 fixed for being swom. But they, like true Englishmen, refused to accept 
 it and desired that the ancient charter might be restored, although 
 they knew that none of them would come into power, but that 
 many of their bitter enemies would be restored by it. Thus did they 
 bravely sacrifice self-advantage and influence for the sake of vindicating 
 the common rights of citizens, although by so doing that party would 
 be installed in office who had basely surrendered the independence 
 of their city. Nor was their laudable firmness without effect, for the 
 old Charter was restored in the same state as when the Tories had 
 surrendered it. 
 
 The number of Dissenters in Chester was much increased towards 
 the end of 1688 by many who were forced to flee for safety from 
 Ireland, taking up their abode there : but most of them returned after 
 the battle of the Boyne in 1690. Mr. Harvey and Mr. Henry, having 
 qualified themselves according to the temis prescribed in the Tolera- 
 tion Act, certified their places of worship, together with several private 
 houses in the city and neighbouring country, and prosecuted their 
 labours with diligence and mutual good will. 
 
 On the 28th of November 1699 Mr. Harvey died. "I went this 
 " morning," says Matthew Henry,* " between seven and eight o'clock 
 " to see Mr. Harvey, and found him newly departed out of this world; 
 " his passage was made easy and there were no bands in his death. 
 " When I had prayed with him last night, I said to him, ' I hope, 
 " ' Sir, you have now inward peace and comfort ;' he answered, ' I 
 " 'trust I have,' and said no more. He was taken ill last Friday. 
 " O that I might hear the voice of this rod ; I am called to prepare, 
 " 'tis a voice to me. I have been this day blessing God for the 
 " comfort we have had these twelve years past, and that I have 
 " endeavoured to carry it aright towards him, and bewailing it wherein 
 " I have been defective. As to the disposal of the congregation, I 
 " have solemnly and with the greatest indifference referred it to God, 
 
 * Tong, p. 276.
 
 34 Nonconformity m Cheshire. 
 
 " resolving to be purely passive, and earnestly begging that it may be 
 " so ordered as may redound most to the glory of God and the 
 " furtherance of the gospel in this place." Mr. Henry preached on 
 this occasion on the lecture day from Luke xiv. 21.* 
 
 Mr. Harvey was succeeded in the pastorate by his son, the Rev. 
 Jonathan Harvey, who entered Mr. Frankland's academy at Rath- 
 mel, February 26, 1695, and was ordained at Warrington, in June 
 1702, Mr. Henry taking part in the service. He was not successful 
 in keeping up his father's congregation. It gradually declined. 
 Matthew Henry in his diary writes : " I have had many searchings of 
 " heart about Mr. Harvey's congregation who come dropping in to 
 " us. As I have endeavoured in that matter to approve myself to 
 " God and my own conscience, and my heart doth not reproach me, 
 " so, blessed be God, I hear not of any person one or other that doth."t 
 
 The foundation of Matthew Henry's new chapel, situate in Crook 
 Lane, which he describes as "very commodious, capacious, and 
 " pleasant," was laid in September 1699. It cost 532/. 16s. id. At 
 the opening, August 8, 1700, Mr. Henry preached from Joshua xxii. 
 22, 23; a sermon which was published in 1726, under the title of 
 '■^Separation without Rebellion." In 1706, owing to decline of health, 
 Mr. Jonathan Harvey resigned his charge, and he died in April 1708, 
 aged 30 years. The bulk of his congregation united with that at 
 Crook Lane, and a gallery was erected for their accommodation. 
 The number of communicants rose to above 350, unanimity prevailed, 
 and pastor and people rejoiced in their prosperity. 
 
 It is beyond the scope of this sketch to give any detailed account 
 of Matthew Henry's life. For this the reader is referred to Mr. Tong's 
 memoir, a most interesting and useful book, one of the most valuable 
 works in connection with Nonconformity in Cheshire ; or to the 
 biography compiled by Sir J. B. Williams, which may fairly be 
 characterized as a republication of Tong, with some valuable additions 
 and with some important omissions. 
 
 Matthew Henry was an able, zealous, and affectionate labourer 
 among the Nonconformists both in Chester and throughout the county. 
 The long lists of his texts and subjects so methodically arranged prove 
 the thoroughness of his pulpit work. His well kno\\Ti Commentary 
 is the digest of his sermons. The first volume was finished October 
 
 • Tong, page 276. + Williams's Life of Matthew Henry, page 136.
 
 Deanery of Chester. 35 
 
 1706, the second August 1708, and the third July 1710. He was 
 always at his post. . In 17 10 he says, '' I never had been on the first 
 " sabbath in the month out of Chester for t^venty-four years." He was 
 indefatigable in his labours as pastor. In addition to his weekly lecture 
 he had frequent services on week days, in celebration of the monthly 
 fasts ordered by government, and in preaching " Reformation" sermons. 
 He regularly visited the prisoners and malefactors in the castle, 
 preaching to them and praying with them. He held weekly a 
 catechumen class. His efforts extended to several places in the 
 country about Chester. He preached monthly at Mouldsworth, Grange, 
 Bromborough, Elton, Saighton, and frequently at Beeston, Mickledale, 
 and Peckforton ; he was often employed at Wrexham, Shocklidge, 
 Burton, and Damal. There was scarcely a week but he was at one or 
 more of these places preaching the gospel. Besides all this he was 
 an active member of the Cheshire Association of Presbyterian and 
 Congregational ministers; there was scarcely a meeting of the ministers 
 he did not attend ; eight times in the Knutsford meeting he preached 
 before the ministers, several times he was moderator, and at the 
 ordinations he was frequently engaged. He was one of the principal 
 contributors to the fund "for the maintenance of the poorer sort of 
 " ministers, and education of young men designing the ministry," and 
 he took his tium in the moveable Lecture against profaneness preached 
 by various ministers in the different chapels throughout the county. 
 As to his theological views his works all of them bear testimony to 
 his adherence to the confession of his faith made in his ordination, and 
 to the Agreement adopted by the Cheshire ministers wliich he signed. 
 In accordance with these he was a firm believer in the doctrine of the 
 Trinity and in the Divinity of our Blessed Lord, and in His vicarious 
 sufferings and death as the propitiation for the sins of men. A recog- 
 nition of and a faith in these truths as the cardinal doctrines of 
 Christianity are clearly manifest in every seraion that he pubhshed 
 and in almost every page of his Commentary. Some of his discourses 
 bore directly on these truths. In one set of sermons we find one upon 
 the doctrine " that there are three Persons in the Godhead, i John v, 
 " 7." In another course upon Redemption by Jesus Christ, we find 
 two sermons upon the two natures of Christ : " I. He is God, John 
 " i. I. II. He is man, John i. 14," and others upon " His Incarnation, 
 " and His Priesthood, and His offering sacrifice for sin, Hebrews x. 1 2." 
 As a Nonconformist he was firm yet liberal. He says in his diary : —
 
 2,6 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " The High Church are very high both against the Low and Dissenters; 
 " now Lord, behold their threatenings ; we are alarmed to think of 
 " sufferings and we need such alarms. I have heartily wished that the 
 " bigotry of some violent Conformists on the one side and of some 
 " Dissenters on the other might drive the sober, moderate, and 
 " peaceable on both sides nearer together, and prepare things for a 
 " coalescence when God's time is come, which I earnestly pray for, 
 " and which perhaps might be effected if they could disentangle them- 
 " selves as much from the High Church, as I think we are from the 
 " High Dissenters, or I wish we were."* 
 
 On May ii, 17 12, he preached his farewell sermon to his congre- 
 gation at Chester, previous to his removal to the church at Hackney. 
 " A very sad day," he says ; "O that by the sadness of their counte- 
 " nances and mine our hearts may be made better. I expounded the 
 " last chapter of Joshua in the morning, and the last of Matthew in 
 "the afternoon, and preached from i Thessalonians, iv. 17, 18. I 
 " see I have been unkind to the congregation who love me too well. 
 " I look back with sorrow for leaving Chester; I look fonvard with 
 *' fear, but unto Thee O Lord do I look up." He promised to pay 
 his Chester friends a yearly visit, and to spend a few weeks among 
 them ; but on the second fulfilment of this promise when he was down 
 in Cheshire, he died suddenly at Nantwich, on June 22, 17 14, in the 
 fifty-third year of his age. Mr. Withington preached a discourse suit- 
 able to the occasion in the morning, and Mr. Gardner in the afternoon 
 of the Sunday following, in the chapel at Chester. His remains were 
 followed to the grave by many Dissenting ministers, eight Conformist 
 ministers, and by persons of note and distinction on all sides. He 
 was buried in Trinity Church, Chester. When we consider the great 
 amount of work he got through, we wonder at the stoutness of his 
 appearance as presented in his portrait ; but Mr. Tong aptly remarks: — 
 " Though his constitution was very healthful and strong, there is 
 " reason to believe he put too much upon it ; and that not only by 
 " his frequent and very fervent preaching, but chiefly by his sitting so 
 " long together in his study and ^vriting so much, this stopt the due 
 *' circulation of the blood and spirits, and caused an obesity of body 
 " and flushing in his face ; but his study was more to him than the 
 '' palaces of princes, and his work was his most pleasant recreation, "f 
 
 * Tong, page 311. + Tong, page 390.
 
 Deanery of Chester. 37 
 
 At the time of Matthew Henry's removal to London, it was 
 expected that the Rev. C. Blackmore, of Worcester, would have suc- 
 ceeded him as minister of Crook-street Chapel. Mr, Blackmore had 
 previously preached there, and the people gave him a cordial invitation 
 to settle among them, but after much hesitation he declined. The 
 Rev. Mr, Aldred, of Eccles, near Manchester, was next invited, but 
 he also declined. It is not surprising that these worthy ministers 
 shrank from the labour and responsibility involved in becoming suc- 
 cessor in the pastorate to such a man as Matthew Henry and over so 
 large a church. It was too much for any man of ordinary ability. 
 Finally therefore, in October 17 13, an arrangement was made 
 whereby the Rev. John Gardner, of Swanland, near Hull, became 
 minister of the place, with the Rev. Peter Withington as his assistant. 
 Among the supplies who preached occasionally in the chapel previous 
 to this settlement was the Rev. Joseph Murrey, a member of the 
 church, and afterwards minister of a congregation at Burton-upon- 
 Trent. Mr. Tong says — " The disappointments of his people gave 
 " Mr. Henry a great deal of trouble and cost him many prayers and 
 " tears; at length God provided wonderfully well for them j Mr. 
 " Gardner and Mr. Withington are labouring among them in the 
 " word and doctrine \\ath universal acceptance, and we hope may be 
 " continued in their usefulness for many years, building upon the good 
 " foundation that has been laid by those master builders that have 
 " gone before them."* 
 
 IVIr. Gardner continued to hold the office of senior minister of the 
 congregation for upwards of fifty years. His first assistant, Mr. Peter 
 Withington, a young man, was ordained in August 17 14, and remained 
 at Chester until 1720. The Rev. Mr. Street, afterwards of Maccles- 
 field, next acted as Assistant for some years, and he was succeeded in 
 1751 by the Rev. John Chidlaw. Upon Mr. Gardner's death, 
 November 2, 1765 — the congregation having gradually diminished 
 during his pastorate — Mr. Chidlaw became sole minister, and con- 
 tinued in the office till 1798, when the state of his health compelled 
 him to resign. He was respected and beloved by his congregation ; 
 but during his ministry at Chester he became a Socinian, and 
 several of his people seceded and formed the Independent Church 
 in Queen-street. He died November 15, 1800, in the seventy-fourth 
 
 Tong, page 362.
 
 38 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 year of his age. Upon his resignation in 1798, he was succeeded by 
 the Rev. W. Thojias, who resigned in consequence of ill health in 
 1808, and died in South Wales in March 1809. The next minister 
 was the Rev. James Lyons, who had been eleven years pastor of a 
 Particular Baptist church at Hull, but had relinquished his office there 
 in consequence of his embracing Unitarian views. He came to Chester 
 in 1808, and continued to minister at Crook-street Chapel till the end 
 of 1813. The public services there were afterwards conducted by 
 various ministers till August 18 15, when the Rev. W, J. Bakewell, 
 who had received a unanimous invitation the previous April, while a 
 student at York College, undertook the pastoral charge. He was 
 still at Chester in 1820, but since that date the succession of ministers 
 is unknown to us. Crook-street Chapel, built by orthodox Noncon- 
 formists, under the protection of the Toleration Act, for the orthodox 
 Matthew Henry, is now with its endowments (which are considerable) 
 in the hands of Unitarians. The true representatives, in Doctrine as 
 well as in Dissent, of the Nonconformists of 1662 and 1688 worship 
 Christ elsewhere. 
 
 § IV. — Queen-street Independent Chapel.* 
 
 The Independent Church assembling in Queen-street Chapel 
 Chester, and whose history and records are traced in these pages, 
 owes its existence to a separation that took place from the so-called 
 Presbyterian — now usually known as Unitarian — congregation assem- 
 bhng in Matthew Henry's old chapel in Crook-street. 
 
 Mr. John Gardner succeeded Matthew Henry as pastor of Crook- 
 street Chapel in 1713, and remained there till his death in 1765. 
 His views of divine truth are supposed to have been changed towards 
 Arianism about the year 1750. With him was a co-pastor, one Mr. 
 J. Chidlaw. Probably he was more decidedly Socinian than his 
 senior fellow-labourer. At all events, on the death of Mr. Gardner, 
 which occurred in 1765, Mr. Chidlaw became sole pastor, and the 
 Socinian doctrine began to be more openly proclaimed. 
 
 In the Crook-street congregation there were several persons who 
 held the Independent form of church government to be true and best. 
 
 •Furnished by the Rev. C. Chapman, M.A., minister of the place. A few 
 additions [inserted in brackets] have been made.
 
 Deanery of Chester, 39 
 
 A considerable section of them had joined the Presbyterians in 
 Matthew Henry's time — the present gallery being erected for them; 
 and, although in doctrine they agreed with the orthodox Presbyterians, 
 yet in matters of church government they retained their own views 
 unimpaired. About the time that Mr. Chidlaw became sole pastor, 
 these and the remaining orthodox Presbyterians formed a distinct 
 party in the church. When, therefore, the Independent section came 
 out from fellowship with the Crook-street Church, purely on the 
 ground of doctrine, the orthodox Presbyterians joined them and kept 
 their views of church polity in abeyance for the sake of orthodoxy, 
 just as the Independents had formerly ceased to insist on theirs for 
 the sake of worshipping with a people in whose general doctrines 
 they agreed. This took place in 1768. 
 
 In thus leaving the chapel and endowments in the hands of the 
 Unitarians, the Independents brought away nothing but a good con- 
 science, a zealous regard for the evangelical doctrines of religion, 
 and that copy of Matthew Henry's commentary which had been left 
 for their special use. 
 
 The number of those who seceded is not known. It would 
 appear that by far the greater part of them were persons in humble 
 circumstances. They commenced their separate existence as a wor- 
 shipping assembly by taking a room belonging to the Smiths' Com- 
 pany, and situated on the south side of Commonhall-street. This 
 room was in a part of S. Ursula's hospital, and was adjacent to the 
 Old Common Hall. The meetings held in this room were chiefly 
 for prayer, reading the Commentary, and Christian intercourse. Now 
 and then the aid of some Nonconforming ministers was obtained. 
 [There is a letter from the Rev. Dr. Jenkins, then of Wrexham, to 
 the well-known Josiah Thompson, copied in the MSS. of the latter 
 in Red Cross-street Library, which gives a minute account of Mr. 
 Jenkins's visits to Chester. A deputation from Chester waited upon 
 him inviting him to preach for the friends at Chester who had 
 separated from Crook-street congregation. He went accordingly and 
 preached in the room that had been chosen, to a congregation of 
 about 200, among whom were only two or three of Mr. Chidlaw's 
 congregation, and these only attended in the morning, and then by 
 some indecorous manifestation of their sentiments during public 
 worship showed that they disapproved of the proceeding. This 
 encouraging attendance induced Mr. Jenkins to abandon a design he
 
 40 Nonco7iformity in Cheshire. 
 
 then had of visiting London, and by the desire of the people he con- 
 tinued preaching to them all the winter. In the spring the congre- 
 gation was so much increased that many were unable to procure 
 admission, and a larger place became necessary. After Mr. Jenkins 
 left they obtained assistance from neighbouring ministers.] In the 
 year 1770 the congregation took an upper room on the opposite side 
 of the street. It is said that it would accommodate between three 
 and four hundred persons. The increase in the number of regular 
 attendants rendered this step necessary. The assistance of ministers 
 was now regularly sought and obtained. Among those who thus 
 rendered help was the Rev. Jonathan Scott, more generally known 
 as Captain Scott, a man of singular ability and piety. Up to this 
 time no church had been formed. But after the lapse of two years, 
 in consequence of the settled character of the congregation and the 
 signs of God's blessing, it was considered prudent and right to 
 constitute a bona fide Independent Church, distinguished from the 
 congregation of ordinary worshippers. 
 
 The solemn event took place on the 30th January, 1772, when 
 the Rev. Benjamin Evans, of Llanwichlyn, came to Chester for the 
 purpose of doing it. By this act of brotherly kindness Mr. Evans 
 performed a deed which will bear fruit for ever. The names of the 
 nine persons who constituted the infant church were William Dix, 
 Robert Bagley, Ellen Dimilla, Mary Fearnall, John Johnson, Martha 
 Hawkins, Esther Elizabeth Dix, Ann Taylor, Hannah Kitchens. 
 
 There are no details extant as to the manner in which the church 
 was constituted. But there were certain Articles of Faith drawn up, 
 as also a form of Covenant designed to set forth — so far as words 
 admit of it — the general doctrinal basis of fellowship and the obliga- 
 tions voluntarily assumed by the parties concerned. These are 
 clearly \\Titten in the MS. Church Book, then opened for the first 
 time, and still in the possession of the Queen-street Church. The 
 hand^vriting seems to be that of the Rev. Benjamin Evans, as it 
 corresponds with the signature of his own name at the end of it. 
 The contents of the document were read and agreed to in the presence 
 of the nine persons above mentioned, and whose names are appended 
 in Mr. Evans's handwriting as an evidence of the same. 
 
 During that year, and before a settled pastor was obtained, there 
 were five other persons added to the church. In the early autumn 
 an invitation was given to Mr. W. Armitage to become pastor. He
 
 Dea7iery of Chester. 41 
 
 accepted it, and entered on his duties on October 30, 1772. [The 
 Rev. W. Armitage was bom at Huddersfield in 1738, and received 
 his education for the ministr)- at the Rev. Mr. Scott's academy at 
 Heckmondwike. His first pastorate was at Haton, in his native 
 county, where he laboured successfully four years and a half; thence 
 he removed to Delph, near Saddleworth, and having spent three 
 years as minister to the congregation there he accepted the earnest 
 and unanimous invitation of the infant church at Chester.] 
 
 It would appear from what has already been stated that there 
 were fourteen members on the church book at the time that Mr. 
 Armitage was chosen pastor. It is stated in Mr. Armitage's memoirs 
 that he received the call from the church consisting of seven members. 
 This perhaps means that seven of the members joined in the call, or 
 that those admitted after the formation, up to August 24, did not 
 vote. Two of the original nine were soon separated — one by the 
 church; the other, his wife, by her owti consent. During the rest of 
 the year 1772 three other persons more were received into fellowship. 
 
 On the Thursday after the first Sabbath of his ministry Mr. 
 Armitage held a service, which has ever since been continued. Four 
 persons were led by that service to attend the Sabbath services, and 
 subsequently to join the church. 
 
 [Mr. Armitage gives the following account of a singular occurrence 
 that happened in connection with his preaching soon after his arrival 
 in Chester : — 
 
 " Immediately on my coming to this place I determined to begin 
 " a Thursday evening lecture, and accordingly published my design 
 " on the first Sabbath day after my arrival. This being rather an 
 " uncommon service among the Dissenters at Chester, struck the 
 " inhabitants as a novelty, and excited the curiosity of many people 
 " to attend. I was much perplexed in the interval for a subject, nor 
 " was it till just before the time of meeting that I could fix upon a 
 " text. The words that I could find liberty to speak from at last 
 " were those recorded in Judges xiii. 23, ' If the Lord were pleased 
 " ' to kill us he would not have received a bur?it offering and a meat 
 " ' offering at our hands, neither would he have shewed us all these 
 " ' things, nor would as at this time have told us such thi?igs as these.' 
 " I could not then account for being led out of my usual way of 
 " study, but the secret was soon unravelled. It happened that a 
 " company of strollers were the same evening to exhibit a puppet
 
 42 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " show^ in a room adjacent to that in which we were to meet for the 
 " worship of God, and at the same time that I was to preach. Many 
 " debated in their minds whether the show or the sermon would 
 " afford them the greatest entertainment. As I was just come to 
 " town, and was entirely new to them, several on this ground resolved 
 " to hear me, and reserve their visit to the puppet room for a future 
 " evening. It was happy for them that they came to this resolution ; 
 " for that very night the place and about two hundred persons were 
 " blown into the air by the explosion of gunpowder, which had taken 
 " fire in a room under that in which they were assembled. Forty 
 " were killed on the spot, and many others were most miserably 
 " scorched and mangled. Those who attended on me made an 
 " application of my text to themselves, and said, ' If the Lord had 
 " ' intended to kill us, he would have permitted us to go to the puppet 
 " * show, but as he has spared us we will never go again.' Some of 
 " these have attended my ministry ever since, and I trust not without 
 "profit."]* 
 
 Some time during the year 1773 Mr. Thomas Jones the cutler 
 was chosen Deacon. He was alone in the office till 1780, when Mr. 
 Charles Williamson was also elected. During Mr. Armitage's ministry 
 in Common Hall Lane, the congregation was greatly increased by 
 means of a course of lectures, which he delivered on Tuesday evenings, 
 upon Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. About this time there were 
 seventy-eight members in the church, and the congregation also 
 included persons of some position and means. 
 
 In the year 1776 it was considered desirable to seek a new and 
 more commodious sanctuary. This was promoted also by the effort 
 made by a certain party to obtain, by offering a higher rental, the 
 use of the upper room for another interest. A suitable site was found 
 in Queen-street, on the ground formerly used as the Tithing Croft. 
 Mr. Thomas Jones was deputed to make a purchase of the land, 
 subject to a ground rent, Avhich was afterwards reduced and made 
 into a freehold by Mr. T. Jones. On this land there was erected a 
 ' brick Chapel, a Vestry, and a minister's house. The ground not 
 occupied by these buildings was laid out as a Cemetery. The Chapel 
 was sixty feet in front, and forty feet in depth. The house was on 
 the south side of the chapel, and facing the street. The vestry was 
 
 * Evangelical Magazine, ii. 267.
 
 Deanery of Chester. 43 
 
 in the cemetery, on the north side. The chapel had no gallery. 
 The foundation stone was laid on August ist, 1776, and the building 
 opened for worship on May ist, 1777. The Trustees were not 
 appointed till 1783. Mr. Thomas Jones then passed over the 
 property to the chosen Trustees, namely, himself; Rev. W. Armitage; 
 George Hodson, soap boiler; John Jones and Samuel Jones, cutlers; 
 Da\dd Francis Jones, gentleman ; Charles Williamson, wine merchant; 
 John Johnson, shoemaker; all of Chester; and Robert CoUey, of 
 Churton Heath, gentleman. The blessing of God followed the effort 
 of the church to extend its usefulness. After twenty-two years ministry 
 among this church, five in the old and seventeen in the new place, Mr. 
 Armitage was called to his rest March 25th, 1794, aged fifty-six years. 
 He hes buried in the cemetery adjoining the chapel, and a marble 
 tablet near the pulpit records the fact of his services and his decease. 
 
 The pulpit was then for a time supplied by neighbouring ministers 
 and young men seeking a settlement. Mr. William Thorpe was 
 chosen and became pastor; but after one year's labour he resigned 
 the pastorate, and subsequently became eminent as a preacher at 
 Bristol. Mr. Thorpe left in 1796. After two years' waiting, the 
 church found a pastor in Mr. Moses T.a.ylor. Much beloved and 
 blessed he preached for tAvelve months, when to the regret of all he 
 was obliged to resign in consequence of ill health. Finding that 
 through weakness of constitution, and prostration through excess of 
 study, he was not able to do all that was required for the efficiency 
 of the church, he considered it better for himself and for the people 
 to give place to a stronger man. This occurred in 1799. 
 
 After another two years' waiting, the Rev. W. Roby of Manchester 
 recommended the Rev. Ebenezer White, who having supplied the 
 pulpit for three months was invited and became the pastor of the 
 church. He preached his first sermon as pastor on 17th October 
 1802, and was publicly recognised on 19th May 1803. On the 
 occasion of Mr. White's recognition the following ministers officiated. 
 In the morning Mr. Johnson of Warrington commenced by reading 
 Scripture and prayer; Mr. Ralph of Liverpool offered the general 
 prayer; Mr. Roby of Manchester delivered the charge from 2 Corin- 
 thians, iv. 5, 6 ; Mr. Lewis of Wrexham preached to the people from 
 Philippians ii. 29. In the evening a double lecture was delivered by 
 Mr. Davies of Liverpool, from Matthew v. 8, and Mr. Ralph from 
 Galatians iii. 21, 22. Mr. Wilson of Northwach concluded by prayer.
 
 44 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 [Ebenezer White was born in London March 9, 1771, and 
 entered Hoxton Academy as a student for the ministry in 1796. 
 Having spent three years there, he went into Northamptonshire, 
 and soon afterwards removed to Hertford. His biographer in 
 the EvangeHcal Magazine* gives the following account of his ministry 
 in Chester : — 
 
 " In this scene of pastoral duty he was uniformly assiduous, and 
 " as far as the measure of bodily vigour permitted (and too often 
 " beyond it) he was actively devoted to the studies and pursuits of 
 " the Christian ministry. Notwithstanding frequent depression which 
 " arose from constitutional infirmity and a melancholy temperament 
 " of mind, he generally preached thrice ever}^ Lord's Day, and once 
 " on an evening in the week. His semions were always distinguished 
 " by their neat arrangement and perspicuous method, and he was 
 " peculiarly happy in the selection of appropriate portions of Scripture 
 " for the proof and illustration of the topics he discussed. The habit 
 " of accurate classification Avas remarkably predominant in all his 
 " literary and theological enquiries, and great ingenuity appeared in 
 " what may be called the mechanism of his discourses. Hence a 
 " logical minuteness of detail appeared in his sermons, which at times 
 " interfered with the more important properties of amplitude and 
 " strength; but he was always the faithful, consistent, intelligent, and 
 " useful preacher."] 
 
 After a ministry of nine years Mr. White was called to his rest on 
 May 5th, 181 1. He was interred in the ground adjoining the chapel, 
 and the Rev. Mr. Spencer of Liverpool delivered an address over 
 the grave. A marble tablet in the chapel commemorates his labours, 
 as also those of Mr. Armitage. 
 
 During the ministry of Mr. White in 1803 the Queen-street Sab- 
 bath School was first established. There had been religious instruction 
 of a catechetical kind given by the two deacons, Messrs. Jones and 
 AVilliamson; but in order to extend the benefit of religious instruction 
 to the neglected youth of Chester, and to relieve the deacons, a regular 
 school was formed ; and also arrangements were made for secular 
 teaching on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings. 
 
 In the year 181 2 a large gallery was erected in the chapel, at the 
 cost of about 1,200/. 
 
 * Vol. xix., page 332.
 
 Deanery of Chester. 45 
 
 In the year 1813a call was given to the Rev. John Reynolds to 
 become the pastor,, and he was publicly recognised in October of 
 the same year. The ser\'ices of the day were conducted as follows. 
 In the morning the Rev. Job Wilson of Northwich read the Scriptures ; 
 the Rev. Joseph Fletcher of Blackburn introduced the business of the 
 day; the Rev. W. Evans of Stockport gave the charge from 2 Timothy 
 ii. 15. In the evening the Rev. W. Thorpe of Bristol preached on 
 the relation of pastor and people, from Hebrews xiii. 1 7 ; the devo- 
 tional services were conducted by the Revs. Thorpe, Wilson, Fletcher, 
 and Hitchin. 
 
 Mr. Reynolds continued to labour with great success for five 
 years, when in 18 18 he resigned his charge, and soon afterwards 
 settled at Romsey, Hants. It was during the time of Mr. Reynolds's 
 pastorate that Dr. Townley came to Chester to be ordained as an 
 evangelist to Ireland. His brother, Mr. H. Townley, who had pre- 
 viously been ordained at Paddington as a missionary to India, was 
 also present on this occasion. 
 
 For the space of five years, from 1818 to 1823, the church 
 depended on the assistance of neighbouring ministers and students; 
 at length Mr. John Thorpe, son of the Rev. Mr. Thorpe, and at 
 that time student at Blackburn, was invited to become pastor. The 
 invitation was unanimous with two exceptions. Mr. Thorpe was 
 ordained on April 30, 1823. The morning service was conducted by 
 the Revs. J. Wilson, T. Raffles, J. Turner of Knutsford, and T. 
 Bennett of Hatherlow ; and the Rev. W. Thorpe who delivered the 
 charge from i Timothy iv. 6. In the evening the Rev. Mr. Silvester 
 of Sandbach prayed, and the Rev. J. Parsons of Leeds preached to 
 the people. From the year 1823 to 1830 Mr. Thorpe drew large 
 congregations, and exerted considerable influence on the public. 
 But from 1830 to 1833 the congregation considerably declined. In 
 consequence of want of success Mr. Thorpe resigned and retired to 
 Huddersfield. 
 
 The pulpit was now vacant again for two years, when at last Mr. 
 S. Luke, then of Highbury College, accepted an unanimous invitation 
 to become the pastor, on condition that he be allowed to complete 
 his ministerial education by a six months' term at Glasgow. He 
 was ordained on July 23, 1835. The ordination services were con- 
 ducted as follows. In the morning Dr. Joseph Fletcher preached 
 the introductory sermon ; the Rev. Job Wilson asked the questions ;
 
 46 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 the Rev. J. Turner offered the ordination prayer; the Rev. J. Black- 
 burn (Mr. Luke's former pastor) gave the charge. In the evening 
 Dr. Raffles preached to the people ; the Revs. Caruthers of Liverpool, 
 E. Parey of London, J. Marshall of Over, Jones of Holywell, Williams 
 of the Octagon, took part in the services. 
 
 After Mr. Luke had been minister about three years it was con- 
 sidered necessary that considerable alterations should be made in the 
 chapel. After some time it was determined to rebuild a considerable 
 part and enlarge it to the full extent of the ground, by adding seven 
 feet in front and seven feet at back, thus making it inside sixty feet 
 square. It was also beautified and fronted with white stone. The 
 total cost was 2,888/. 10^. Soon after that, the minister's house being 
 inconvenient, it was resolved to build on its site a lecture and school 
 room, sixty by thirty feet, the upper for lectures and the lower for the 
 boys and girls, who were separated by a partition. Four years after- 
 wards the girls used the lecture room. - The building cost 1,200/., 
 making with the alterations of the chapel a total of 4,088/ 105. 
 
 Mr. Luke was pastor twelve years, when in 1847 he resigned and 
 went to London. An effort was soon after made to secure the ser- 
 vices of the Rev. — Gregory of Clifton, and an invitation was sent ; 
 but Mr. Gregory could not see his way clear- to accept it. About 
 that time the Rev. R. Knill was on a visit to Chester on behalf of 
 the London Missionary Society. The earnestness of his preaching, 
 and the general esteem in which he was held, resulted in a cordial 
 and unanimous invitation to become pastor of the church, which he 
 accepted, and entered upon his duties in January 1848. A pubhc 
 recognition of his entering on the charge of the church was soon 
 after held. Great blessings attended the labours of Mr. Knill. In 
 the year 1852 he commenced a series of afternoon sermons in the 
 theatre, which proved a means of salvation to many. Also during 
 his ministry a considerable effort was made to reduce the debt on the 
 Chapel and Lecture room, which with interest had increased to 2,384/. 
 Towards this about 1,200/ were raised. Mr. Knill also contemplated 
 preaching in the various towns and villages of the County, but before 
 he was able to carry out this plan his health failed and he was obliged 
 to retire from the office of pastor. This event took place in the 
 spring of the year 1856, and on January 2nd, 1857, this good and 
 faithful servant of Christ was called to his rest. [He still hves in the 
 affectionate remembrance of many not only in Chester but throughout
 
 Deanery of Chester. 47 
 
 England, who have profited by his counsels and admired his glowing 
 zeal. For an account of his life the reader is referred to the admirable 
 biography written by the Rev. C. M. Birrell of Liverpool. 
 
 The church was not long without a pastor. The Rev. Charles 
 Chapman of Western College Plymouth, and M.A. of the London 
 University, was invited, and began his ministry among them on the 
 first Sabbath of 1857.] 
 
 § V. — COMMONHALL STREET INDEPENDENT ChAPEL.* 
 
 The Congregational Church assembling in Commonh all-street 
 Chester, owes its origin under God to the labours and self-denying 
 ministrations of the Rev. Jonathan Wilcoxon, who was for many 
 years a faithful evangelical and powerful minister of the Gospel here. 
 The efforts of this man of God were largely blessed in the gathering 
 together of a considerable congregation, and the establishment of a 
 Christian church, to whom he constantly preached gratuitously for a 
 period of thirty years. 
 
 If we are asked the reason why Mr. Wilcoxon and his friends 
 formed a distinct congregation rather than associate with any existing 
 interest, we believe we should not err by attributing it chiefly if not 
 solely to a desire to do good by extending the influence of the Gospel, 
 not to create division or unnecessarily to multiply distinct congrega- 
 tions. They separated from their brethren meeting in the Octagon 
 Chapel in this city in order to hold forth the Word of life in a spot 
 that had been hallowed and consecrated by the solemn devotions of 
 God's worshipping people through a long course of years before. In 
 the Room which they now occupied the present influential Indepen- 
 dent Church meeting in Queen-street was first formed; when left by 
 them it was used by the Baptist brethren now meeting in Hamilton 
 Place, and that church was originated here also; and when the old 
 honoured room (situated near the present chapel) was again vacant, 
 Mr. Wilcoxon and his friends felt it to be their duty to resume divine 
 worship in it, and thus to meet the spiritual wants of the neighbour- 
 hood. 
 
 "WTien they took possession of the place they were generally 
 known by the name of Oliver's Co7iiiexion, and were so called on 
 
 * Furnished by the Rev. T. Peters, minister of the place.
 
 48 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 account of their connexion with, and their adherence to the doctrines 
 of the church formed by the Rev. Philip Oliver in Great Boughton, 
 in the suburbs of the city. Mr. Oliver was educated for, and for 
 some time officiated in the Estabhshment ; but being an earnest and 
 evangehcal minister he seceded, became a Nonconformist, and retired 
 to Boughton Lodge, the property and residence of his widowed 
 mother. He had not been here long, however, before the spiritual 
 ignorance and the impiety of the people around awoke his Christian 
 sympathy, and excited a deep solicitude for their salvation. His first 
 efforts for this end were confined simply to his inviting the neighbours 
 to meet in his mother's parlour, where he prayed with them and 
 expounded the Scriptures. But the parlour soon becoming too small, 
 he obtained leave to convert the coach-house — which appears to 
 have been very spacious — into a place of worship. Here we are 
 told many hundreds used to assemble to hear from his lips the words 
 of eternal life. 
 
 There can be no doubt that Mr. Oliver was called and qualified 
 by the great Head of the Church to do a great and good work ; he 
 was truly a burning and shining light, made more conspicuous by the 
 surrounding darkness, and for a time many rejoiced in the light. 
 Through his instrumentality evangelical truth was diffused even to 
 the surrounding districts, many souls were savingly converted, and a 
 church, consisting, we are told, of about five hundred communicants, 
 was gathered together. But in the midst of his spiritual activity and 
 ministerial success, in the year 1800, and when only thirty-seven 
 years of age, this eminently holy and honoured servant of Christ was 
 called to rest from his labours and to enter into the joy of his Lord. 
 
 After the death of Mr. Oliver the cause which he had originated 
 in Boughton was transferred to the Octagon Chapel, under the 
 direction and care of the celebrated Charles of Bala, who was left by 
 Mr. Oliver the executor of its affairs. 
 
 Among the many active members of the church and approved 
 teachers of the word Mr. Wilcoxon stood most prominent, and at 
 this time he and his friends took possession of the room already 
 referred to in Commonhall-street, as another branch of Oliver's con- 
 nexion, and continued to worship in it until Mr. Wilcoxon's death. 
 
 It was resolved at this time to erect the present chapel, which was 
 opened for divine worship in 1839. The ministry depended upon 
 suppUes drawn chiefly from the Calvinistic Methodist body, and the
 
 Deanery of Chester. 49 
 
 liturgy of the Church of England was still read, as it had been during 
 Mr. Wilcoxon's pastorate; but in the year 1842 the church resolved 
 to dispense with the reading of the liturgy, and also to adopt Con- 
 gregational principles. They formed themselves into an Independent 
 Church, believing that they would thus lay the foundation for more 
 usefulness and permanency. In the month of August 1843 the Rev. 
 H. Marchmont settled as a Congregational pastor, and during his 
 ministry the interest was well sustained. He continued to preach the 
 word with much acceptance, until he removed in 1847 to take the 
 pastoral charge of a church in London. 
 
 The church had again to resort to supplies, until in August 1^48 
 the Rev. F. Jones removed from Runcorn and settled here. He was 
 an affectionate and earnest minister, but his health failing he was 
 obliged to resign his charge about the close of the year 1850. He 
 was succeeded by the Rev. T. K. Smith, who became pastor in the 
 latter part of the year 1852, but must have resigned ofifice soon after- 
 wards, for in the summer of 1853 the church was again seeking 
 supplies. The ministry was carried on with efficiency and regularity 
 in this way until October 1857, when the Rev. Thomas Peters, the 
 present minister, removed from Marton in Shropshire and settled 
 here. It is pleasing to add that during the last five years the church 
 has gradually advanced, its membership having nearly doubled both 
 in numbers and influence; and the hope is cherished that ere long 
 the congregation may have a chapel to worship in more suitable to 
 Chester and to Independency than is the present; and that some 
 opening in Providence may evoke the cry, " Arise and let us build, 
 '■^for the God of Heaven He will prosper 7is.'" 
 
 BARROW. 
 
 This place lies about a mile from Tarvin, and was originally only 
 a chapelry belonging to that parish. Dr. Henry Bridgeman, son of 
 Bishop Bridgeman, is named by Walker as sequestered from Barrow, 
 in 1643. John Boyer, a Presbyterian, was appointed to the living 
 in his stead, and his name occurs among the signatiures to the Attesta- 
 tion of Cheshire ministers in 1648. Upon the Restoration, in 1660, 
 Dr. Henry Bridgeman was reinstated, and the Presbyterian minister 
 
 D
 
 50 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 ejected to make way for him. He was afterwards promoted to the 
 See of Sodor and Man, but held the Hving of Barrow though an 
 absentee till his death in 1682. 
 
 BRUERA. 
 
 Mr. Colley is named by Calamy as a Nonconformist minister in 
 Cheshire, who at length conformed at Bruera, or Church in Heath, a 
 village three miles from Chester. He was one of those probably who 
 were brought in, as Calamy says, by Bishop Wilkins in 1668. New- 
 come also speaks of him as " Mr. Colley, several years a preacher 
 " among the Nonconformists, and at length brought in at Churton- 
 " heath Chapel." He says again in 1675, after his son had been 
 appointed rector of Tattenhall : " We went that night to Churchen 
 " Heath, to my old friend Mr. Colley, who lives within two miles of 
 " Tattenhall ; a great addition to the mercy to have so good a man, 
 " an old friend, so near a neighbour."* 
 
 CHRISTLETON. 
 
 This village, which lies about two miles south east from Chester, was 
 during the Civil war fortified by the Parliament, and became the head 
 quarters of Sir William Brereton's army during the siege of Chester. 
 Walker in his Sufferings of the Clergy, names " one Morston " as 
 sequestered at Christleton, and adds that " one Samuel Stater got the 
 " living in 1655." The sequestered Morston (or more probably 
 Mostyn, because the church was then the property of the Mostjms), 
 was succeeded by Hugh Burroughs, who signed the Cheshire Attesta- 
 tion as Pastor of Christleton, in 1648. He was followed by the pious 
 and learned Samuel Slater, who continued minister of the place 
 probably till the Restoration, when he was " turned out " as Calamy 
 says, and removed to Hargrave. 
 
 The Rev. Richard Edwards was the next minister, but he did 
 
 * Autobiography, p. 215.
 
 Deanery of Chester. 51 
 
 not long retain the living. He could not submit to the requirements 
 of the Act of Uniformity, and therefore he resigned his preferment. 
 Afterwards, however, he was brought in by Bishop Wilkins's soft in- 
 terpretation of the terms of the Act, and became the Incumbent of 
 Oswestry. The excellent Philip Henry, of Broad Oak, knew him 
 and bore testimony to his Christian liberality. " He often said how well 
 " pleased he was when, after he had preached a lecture at Oswestry, 
 " he went to visit the minister of the place, Mr. Edwards, a worthy 
 " good man, and told him he had been sowing a handful of seed 
 " among his people, and had this answer : — ' That's well ; the Lord 
 " ' prosper your seed and mine too, there's need enough of us both.' " 
 Again, in his Diary, P. Henry says : — " July 2 and 3, 1680. These 
 " two days brought tidings of the death of Mr. Haines of Wem, and 
 " of Mr. Richard Edwards, minister at Oswestry, both worthy Con- 
 " formists, pious, peaceable, and good men, whom I hope through 
 " grace to meet in heaven. The Lord raise up others in their room 
 "to be and do better."* 
 
 Nonconformity seems never to have become extinct at Christie- 
 ton. Bishop Gastrell mentions two Dissenting families there in his 
 day, and there is now a small Independent chapel in the village. 
 
 DODDLESTON. 
 
 The name of James Hutchinson occurs among the signatures to 
 the Attestation of Cheshire Presbyterian ministers in 1648, as "Pastor 
 " of Dodlestone," and the Parliamentary Survey for i649t informs 
 us regarding that date " the present minister is Mr. James Huttcheson, 
 " appointed by the Committee for Plundered ministers." 
 
 Mr. Hutchinson either died or removed from Doddleston before 
 the Restoration, because we find a Mr. Baker minister of the place 
 at that time, whom Calamy names as a Nonconformist. He says, 
 " This was a sequestration, but he continued a Nonconformist after- 
 " wards." This is one among the honest and steadfast Two Thousand 
 of whom we know nothing save his name and the fact of his Non- 
 conformity. 
 
 * Williams's Life of P. Henry, pages 132 and 274. f Lambeth MSS. v. III.
 
 52 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 ECCLESTON. 
 
 Walker names the Rev. William Bispham, prebend of Chester and 
 rector of Eccleston, as one of the sec^estered clergy in 1643. He 
 says, " He was a great sufferer during tie Rebellion. He was either 
 " by fear or want driven beyond the s,«>s, and forced to leave his 
 " wife in extreme want to the charity of those who would relieve her; 
 " of such it seems she found not many, for she was one day compelled 
 " by necessity to apply herself to Mr. Gelbourn (who succeeded her 
 " husband to this living and was eating his bread) to beg money to 
 " buy her a pair of shoes, which he refused." 
 
 Joshua Gelborne, whom Walker here names, signed the Cheshire 
 Attestation of Presbyterian ministers in 1648 as " pastor of Eccleston." 
 The obvious injustice of the one statement in the extract from 
 Walker, that Mr. Gelborne tuas eating Bisphanis breads because he 
 held the living by a warrant equally legal as that by which Bispham 
 himself had held it, leads us to suspect the injustice if not the utter 
 groundlessness of the other statement regarding his want of charity. 
 Bispham however not only had his fifths during his sequestration, 
 but supplanted Gelborne in 1660, and enjoyed the living till his 
 death in 1685. 
 
 FARNDON. 
 
 William Bridges, Pastor de Far7idon, signed the Attestation of 
 Cheshire Presbyterian ministers in 1648. 
 
 HARGRAVE. 
 
 Calamy names the Rev. Samuel Slater as turned out from this 
 place in 1662, but he can have held this living a short time only, 
 because from 1655 to 1660 he was settled at Christleton. 
 
 His funeral sermon was preached and published by the Rev. 
 William Tong.
 
 Deanery of Chester. 
 
 ' PLEMONDSTALL. 
 
 George Cottingham, Pastor of Ple?nstall, signed the Attestation 
 of Cheshire Presbyterian ministers in 1648. 
 
 Dr. Lawrence Fogg (or Fog), Dean of Chester, held this hving 
 fifty years, from 1672 till his death. He was the son of Mr. Robert 
 Fogg, ejected from Bangor, in Flintshire, in 1662. He himself also 
 had been a sufferer by the Act of Uniformity, having resigned the 
 Rectory of Hawarden, in Fhntshire, in 1662. " He stood out some 
 *' time but at length came in," says Calamy, who also adds : — " It dis- 
 " pleased him that in the first edition of this work he was mentioned 
 " as conforming, and therefore this account of him is taken from his 
 " own letters to the author upon this occasion : — 'His case was in some 
 " ' respects different from that of others, for though he was conformable 
 " ' in worship ceremonies and matters ecclesiastical (being among the 
 " 'first who restored the public use of the liturgy in 1660, and con- 
 " 'tinued the use of it till August 1662), yet he could not satisfy his 
 " ' conscience to keep his living when not only assent and consent was 
 " ' required, but a subscription to a second declaration, in which some 
 " ' clauses relating to matters of State seemed to him to be ambiguous. 
 " ' Not being permitted to subscribe in any other acceptation than 
 " ' what was commonly accounted the sense of the imposers, he chose 
 " * rather to quit his livelihood than his inward peace, and resigned 
 " ' his benefice before the Act took place. And yet, in obedience to 
 " ' the law, he neither joined with any separate congregation nor 
 " ' officiated in the church till his sentiments of the Declaration were 
 " 'justified in Westminster Hall in 1665, by persons sufficiently 
 " ' authorized to interpret an ambiguity in a law, so long as the law 
 " ' makers forbore by an explanatory act to do it themselves. He 
 " ' then subscribed the said Declaration, as Dr. Bates and others did in 
 " * London. The bar being (as he said, by Divine Providence) thus 
 " ' removed, he returned to his ministerial employment, having for 
 " ' several years only a curacy, but he was at length made Dean of 
 " ' Chester.'" The casuistry of this good man's reasoning, in order to 
 justify to himself his conformity, is an amusing and curious counter- 
 part of much that is written now a-days with the same intention 
 by some broad Churchmen and Evangelicals in the Establishment. 
 Matthew Henry observes regarding a Reformation lecture preached
 
 54 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 by Dr. Fogg, — " I bless God for this sermon, and as I have from my 
 " heart forgiven, so will I endeavour to forget all that the Dean has 
 " at any time said against Dissenters, and against me in particular." 
 Tong also speaks of " Dr. Stratford and Dr. Fog, men of great 
 " learning and true piety, both excellent preachers."* 
 
 PULFORD. 
 
 Mr. Randal Guest was Presbyterian minister of this place, and was 
 ejected on account of his Nonconformity in 1662. An account of 
 his ordination is given in the Minute Book of the Manchester Classis. 
 " Mr. Randal Guest was formally examined (November 3, 1647) ^^^ 
 " brought a certificate of his taking the National Covenant, and of 
 " his call to Poolford, in Cheshire." He was ordained on February 
 9th, 1647-8, and then, being in the fortieth year of his age, received his 
 certificate " to exercise his ministry in the church at Poulford, in the 
 " county of Chester." 
 
 His name occurs among the signatures to the Cheshire Attesta- 
 tion in 1648, thus, — Randall Guest, pastor of Poulford. He continued 
 to labour faithfully at this place till 1662. Calamy says : " I know 
 " nothing more of him than that he lived and died a Nonconformist." 
 
 TARPORLEY. 
 
 The Rev. John Jones, afterwards of Marple, officiated for some time 
 in his younger years at Tarporley, after the manner of the Church of 
 England, but being afterwards dissatisfied with it, he was invited by 
 two pious gentlewomen — Mrs. Jane and Mrs. Mary Done — to reside 
 with them at Utkinton Hall as their chaplain. 
 
 He was succeeded at Tarporley by Nathanael Lancaster, B.D., 
 whose signature occurs to the Cheshire Attestation in 1648, Nathanael 
 Laficasier, minister of Tarporley. He was, previous to his appoint- 
 ment to Tarporley, chaplain to the forces of the Parliament, and 
 
 * Life of Matthew Henry, pages 243, 244.
 
 Deanery of Chester. 55 
 
 after the engagement of the troops at Denbigh, sent to the Speaker 
 of the House of Commons a well expressed letter with an account of 
 the battle. The folloAving is an extract : — 
 
 " To give every one his due in this service would savour too much 
 " of vain-glory j but this I may modestly report that every one 
 " endeavoured to exceed each other in gallantry, whose spirits God 
 " had raised to so high a pitch as might suit to a work of so high a 
 " nature. It's conjectured by those who are best able to give account 
 " herein that above one hundred of the enemy were slain, about four 
 " hundred taken prisoners Avith divers men of quahty. It's not known 
 " that any of ours are slain, and few wounded. It is the desire of 
 " our hearts that God alone may have the honour of his own work, 
 " the characters of whose power are so memorably stamped upon it, 
 " whose goodness our sins have not yet so wearied to make him weary 
 " of renewed mercies." 
 
 The following extract from the Commons' Journals* shows that 
 this service was not unrewarded. " 4th November, 1645. A letter 
 " from Denbigh, ist November, 1645, with a letter enclosed from 
 " thence of same date, from Nath. Lancaster, minister, relating the 
 " success of the Parliamentary forces under Colonel Mitton against 
 " the King's forces under Sir W. Vaughan : Resolved, that the 
 *' minister who brought these and the good news of the routing of 
 " the Kling's forces shall have 50/. bestowed on him for his pains." 
 
 This Mr. Lancaster married Ehzabeth, daughter of Peter Leigh of 
 West Hall, in High Leigh, Esq., to his second wife. He died a 
 short time before the Bartholomew Act, as an inscription in Tarporley 
 Church informs us: — " Nathanael Lancaster, son of Gabriel Lancaster 
 " of Rainhill, Lancashire, B.D., and rector of this church, died 9th 
 " January, 1660." The probability is that had he lived he would 
 have refused the conditions of the Act of Uniformity. 
 
 In the parish of Tarporley lies Utkinton, an old house standing 
 in a warm valley, sheltered with hills and old timber on every side 
 except the south-west, where there is a dehghtful prospect of the 
 Welsh hills and the vale of Chester. This old hall, together with the 
 village of Tarporley, was the scene of the grossest revelry and pillage 
 on the part of the RoyaHst troops in the beginning of the civil war.f 
 Utkinton Hall was the residence of Sir John Done, who "by his 
 
 *IV., 433. fSee Neutrality Condemned; a Cheshire Tract. 1642.
 
 56 Nonconformity in ChesJiire. 
 
 " well-pleasing sendee to his majesty James I., who took pleasure 
 " and repast in Delamere Forest, 1617, of which he was chief forester, 
 " ordered so \\'isely his Highnesse's sports that he freely honoured 
 " him with knighthood, and graced his house at Utkinton with his 
 " presence."* This Sir J. Done married the daughter of Thomas 
 Wilbraham of Woodhey, Esq., and with his youthful bride went to 
 reside for some time, according to the desire of his father-in-law, in 
 the house of the celebrated John Bruen of Stapleford, in order to be 
 schooled in the principles and habits of Puritanism. Mr. Hinde of 
 Bunbury, the biographer of John Bruen, gives the following quaint 
 account of Sir J. Done's sojourn there : — 
 
 " One of the first and best, and best worthy to be first of those 
 " gentlemen who dealt with him (Mr. Bruen) in this kind, was that 
 " thrice worthy, truly honoured, and accomplished gentleman Thomas 
 " Wilbraham of Woodhey, Esq., the very beauty and glory of that 
 " house, and peerless pillar of the country, who having married his 
 " eldest daughter to a young gentleman of great place for his birth and 
 " blood, and of good parts for his natural endowments and civil dis- 
 " position (yet much addicted to the pleasures of the world and the lusts 
 " of youth), was desirous to place them as sojourners in this gentleman's 
 " house. . . . ' This Master Done being young and youthly, yet 
 " * very tractable, could not well away with the strict observation of 
 " ' the Lord's Day, whereupon we did all conspire to do him good, ten 
 " ' of my family speaking one after another, and myself last, for the 
 " ' sanctifying of the Lord's Day. After which he did very cheerfully 
 " 'yield himself; blessed be God.' . . . ' I [John Bruen] coming 
 " ' once into his chamber and finding over the mantelpiece a pair of 
 " ' new cards, nobody being there I opened them, and took out the 
 " ' four knaves and burnt them, and so laid them together again ; and 
 " ' so for want of such knaves his gaming was marred, and never did 
 " ' he play in my house, for aught that I ever heard, any more.' 
 " Here I cannot but commend both the Physician and the Patient 
 " also ; the physician that gave him a gentle purge so wisely, and the 
 " patient that took it so well that it wrought so kindly with him for 
 " his good."t 
 
 This Sir John Done died in 1629, leaving three daughters, Jane 
 Done, Mary wife of John Crewe, Esq., and Eleanor wife of Ralph 
 
 * King's Vale Royal. t Hinde's Life of John Bruen.
 
 Deanery of Chester. 57 
 
 Arderne of Harden Hall, Esq. These pious gentlewomen, as Calamy 
 styles them, inherited the Pm-itan principles of their father. The two 
 first named had the Rev. John Jones as their chaplain, and removed 
 to Harden Hall, near Hatherlow, to reside -with their sister. They 
 were holy and charitable women, zealous of good works. Philip 
 Henry in his Diary thus speaks of the second sister : — " Mrs. Crew 
 " of Utkinton in Cheshire, an aged servant of the Lord, was buried 
 " July 8, 1690. She kept her integrity and abounded in w-orks of 
 " piety and charity to the last, and finished well ; to God be praise."* 
 Her husband, John Crewe, Esq., second son of Sir John Crewe of 
 Crewe, Knight, who died some years before her, was a friend of John 
 Angier of Denton, whom he frequently met at Harden Hall. Oliver 
 HeyAvood, in his life of Angier,t says, " Mr. Crew of Utkinton in 
 " Cheshire, was his (Mr. Angler's) dear and intimate friend, and had 
 " an entire love for him, as the waiter hereof can testify; for being at 
 " his house at Utkinton, and Mr. Crew shewing him and his wife 
 " some handsome pictures hanging in a chamber (in which he much 
 " delighted), among the rest showed them the picture of Dr. Wilkins, 
 " who (saith he) is to be our Bishop of Chester; but (said he) Mr. 
 " Angier is my Bishop : and I have heard that Mr. Crew oft solicited 
 " Mr. Angier to sit while his picture was drawn, and he would be at 
 " the charge of it, but he put it off saying, a minister's picture must 
 " be in the hearts and lives of his people." 
 
 There is a sumptuous altar monument of white marble in Tarporley 
 Church to the memory of the excellent sisters, on which is engraved 
 the following inscription : — 
 
 " Near this place lieth the body of Jane Done, eldest daughter of Sir John 
 " Done, late of Utkinton, in this county palatine of Chester, knight, and one of 
 " the co-heirs of John Done, his son, esquire. She was baptized Nov. 14, 1600, 
 " and in a virgin state of great reputation, Uved remarkably eminent for parts and 
 " prudence, affability and generosity, charity and piety. Besides her daily alms- 
 " giving and good deeds, she gave twenty pounds (charged upon certain lands in 
 " Torporley) to be yearly paid to the school adjacent for ever, and two hundred 
 " pounds now charged upon lands in Tattenhall, for the binding poor children in 
 " Torporley and Utkinton apprentice. She was a most tender lover of her no less 
 " affectionate sister, Mary Crewe, upon whom and her heirs, she settled her pro- 
 " portion of the estate, and from whom she never parted till the day of her'death, 
 " March 2nd, 1662. 
 
 " Here also by her sister Jane Done, lyeth the body of Mary Crewe, relict of 
 "John Crewe, Esq. She was born at Utkinton, July 12th, 1604, married at 
 
 * Williams's Life of Philip Henry, page 277. fPage 62,
 
 58 Nonconformity in Clieshire. 
 
 *' Stockport Church, December 1636, and had 4 children, viz., a daughter born 
 *' at Harden, Oct. 3rd, 1637," &c. 
 
 " The aforesaid Mary Crewe, a wife chaste and affectionate, a parent prudent 
 " and kind, a mistris tender and condescending, a friend wishing well and doing 
 " well to all, in constant and free housekeeping not inferior to any of her quality 
 " and time : a blessed peacemaker, even by authority amongst her tenants where 
 " counsel! could not prevail ; full of good works and almsdeeds which she did both 
 " to the bodies and souls of many, having lived a rare example of piety, justice and 
 " mercy, in a good old age, honoured and lamented by all, departed this life at 
 " Utkinton, July the 6th, and was interred the 8th, 1690. She also gave two hundred 
 " pounds charged by her upon lands in Torporley, for the binding apprentice the 
 '• eldest sons or daughters of cottagers, her tenants, in such places as were not pro- 
 " vided for by her sister's benefaction. 
 
 " To the memory of which two sisters, alike in their characters and affections, 
 " matchless in their endearments, inseparable in their lives, by death scarcely 
 " divided, and here at last resting together awaiting the dawning of the Resurrec- 
 *' tion, this monument was erected in duty and honour by Sir John Crewe, of 
 " Utkinton (nephew to the one, son to the other, and heir of both), in the year of 
 " our Lord 1698." 
 
 TARVIN. 
 
 This parish is celebrated as the residence of John Bruen, an eminent 
 Puritan, and as the scene of the labours of the pious Sabbath Clark, 
 who was minister of the place for upwards of half a century, and who 
 in his old age was ejected thence by the Act of Uniformity. Calamy 
 gives the following account of Mr. Clark : — 
 
 " He had been minister of this parish for near sixty years. He 
 " carried Puritanism in his very name, by which his good father in- 
 " tended he should bear the memorial of God's holy day. This was 
 " what some in those days affected. For this they have sufficiently 
 " suffered from profane wits, and this worthy person did so in par- 
 " ticular. Yet his name was not a greater offence to such men than 
 " his holy life. He was a very grave person, exceedingly beloved by 
 " that phoenix of his age Mr. John Bruen, of Stapleford, who brought 
 " him to this place, where he was the spiritual father of many, and 
 " the natural father of two eminent preachers. He died within a 
 " year or two after his being silenced, blessing God that he had lived 
 " to bear his testimony to Nonconformity. He preached and printed 
 " Mr. Bruen's funeral sermon at Tarvin, 1625." 
 
 Mr. Sabbath Clark gives the following testimony regarding his 
 friend and patron Mr. John Bruen : —
 
 Deaiiery of Chester 59 
 
 " He was the chief instrument to plant and establish the preaching 
 " of the gospel in ,this congregation ; first by providing divers of 
 " God's ministers to preach here oftentimes when the Incumbent was 
 " grown old and decrepid ; afterwards by maintaining a preacher at 
 " his o\vn proper cost and charges ; and lastly by being a means to 
 " obtain the place for me in reversion, and allowing me the greatest 
 " part of my maintenance. So that this parish has cause for ever to 
 " acknowledge him as a nursing father of religion amongst them, and 
 " a blessed instrument to bring in the light of the gospel unto them 
 " when they sate in darkness and in the shadow of death." 
 
 Mr. Bruen belonged to an ancient family. He was bom in the 
 year 1560 and died 1625. "Many of his brethren and sisters were 
 " holy men and women, especially that rare gentlewoman Mrs. 
 " Catharine Brettergh,* his OAvn dear sister whose praise is in print, 
 " and whose name and fame have been sounded out and proclaimed 
 " to the churches of Christ by two silver trumpets of the gospel Mr. 
 " Leigh and Mr. Haris in Death's Advantage." Mr. Bruen was an 
 educated man ; he was gentleman Commoner of St. Alban's Hall 
 Oxford, and though at first inclined towards the riotous amusements 
 of gentlemen of those days, he soon forsook these for a life of unaffec- 
 ted piety and extensive charity. He married for his first wife a sister 
 of Mr. Hardware, of the Peile or Peele, in Tar\an parish and of 
 Bromborough, into whose family Matthew Henry aftenvards married. 
 His second wfe was Anne Fox, of the Rhodes, near Manchester. 
 He was a stem Puritan, and his house was a thorough school of 
 religious discipline to all who visited him. He was wont very 
 hospitably to entertain whole families at a time at Stapleford, obliging 
 them, however, for their spiritual good to conform to the religious 
 arrangements of his household. x\n instance of this we have already 
 stated in the case of Sir John Done. Mr. Bruen's brother-in-law "\vith 
 his good hking and allowance," brought himself and his whole family, 
 wife, children, and servants to be tabled with him. He had a pulpit 
 and chapel fitted up in his own house, v/here he had frequent service 
 
 * Mrs. Catharine Bretterg was born at Stapleford, Cheshire. When about 
 twenty years old, by her parents' consent she was married to Mr. William Bretterg, 
 of Bretterghold, in Lancashire, near Liverpool, who was a young gentleman that 
 embraced religion sincerely, and suffered much for it at the hands of the Papists. 
 Two years after her marriage she was taken ill of fever and died. She was visited 
 by her brother John Bruen, and by a godly minister, Mr. William Harron, and 
 departed this life May 31, i6oi, aged 22 years. — Ste Clark's Lives.
 
 6o Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 to which the neighbours were invited. His biographer says : " His 
 " house was as the common Inne or constant harbour of the church 
 " and of God's children ; and himself a Gaius, a goodly and good 
 " host to give them liberal and cheerful entertainment as they came 
 " unto him." And again : — 
 
 " His house was herein methinks not much unlike unto a goodly 
 " tower upon a hill, fair built and richly beautified, which doth easily 
 " invite and allure the doves of the vallies to fly and flock unto it, 
 " and for their better refreshing and repose to build their nests in it." 
 
 Previous to Mr. Sabbath Clark's settlement at Tarvin, and while 
 the old and infirm incumbent was still living, Mr. Bruen procured 
 " that faithful minister of Christ Mr. Ar. St. (Arthur Storer, A.M., of 
 " Stockport) to be preacher at Tarvin; whose ministry, being very 
 " profitable and powerful, he so much delighted in that, as he did 
 " entertain him kindly, so did he maintain him and his family very 
 " bountifully for the comfort and benefit which himself and many 
 " others did reap and receive from him." Mr. Hind gives the following 
 letter of Mr. Storer's regarding John Bruen in confirmation of this 
 statement : — 
 
 " Good Mr. H., I received your letter but know not what to say 
 " of that worthy servant of God Mr. John Bruen, which yourself know 
 " not ab-eady. I think I may well say of him as it was said of Noah, 
 " that he was a just and perfect man in his time, and walked with 
 " God. Whiles I was preacher at Tarvin I had little maintenance 
 " but what I had from him." 
 
 The following account of one of Mr. Bruen's household servants is 
 worthy of insertion here as illustrative of the Puritanism of those days : — 
 
 " He had a servant named Robert Pasfield, better known as Old 
 " Robert, a man utterly unlearned, being unable to read a sentence 
 " or write a syllable, yet so well taught of God that by his own 
 " industry and God's blessing upon his mind and memory he grew 
 " in grace as he did in years, and became ripe in understanding and 
 " mighty in the Scriptures. To help his own and his friends' memories 
 " he invented a strange girdle of leather, long and large, so that for 
 " compasse it would go twice about him. This he divided into several 
 " portions and parts (as a carpenter doth his rule) and allotted every 
 " Booke of the Bible in their order to some of those divisions, as 
 " Genesis to the first. Exodus to the second, &c. Then for the dis- 
 " tinction of the chapters of every book he annexed a long point or
 
 Deanery of Chester. 6i 
 
 " thong unto the several divisions, and made knots by fives or tens 
 " thereupon to distinguish the chapters of that book; he had also 
 " other, either points or rushes, to divide the chapters into their par- 
 " ticular contents, or several parts or verses, as occasion did require. 
 
 " This instrument of his own invention he framed and used-(as 
 " others do their pen and \vriting) for the better help of his under- 
 " standing and reliefe of his memory in the hearing of the word 
 " preached ; which he did with so good effect and fruit, in observing 
 " all the points and Scriptures alleged in a sermon, and binding 
 " them upon the points and partitions of his girdle as he heard them, 
 " that in repeating the sermon afterwards he himself had great benefit, 
 " and many other professors much comfort and help by his handling 
 " of his girdle and fingering the points and divisions of it. 
 
 " This man and his girdle shall rise up in judgment against many 
 " of greater place than himself, who are mindlesse in observing and 
 " carelesse in retaining what they hear or have heard in the preaching 
 " of the Word. His master thought the girdle worthy to bee kept and 
 " preserved in his study as a monument of God's mercy and Old 
 " Robert's piety and industry."* 
 
 The following extract shews the sternness of John Bruen's Puri- 
 tanism : — 
 
 " Finding in the church of Tarum, in his owne chappell, which of 
 " ancient right did appertain unto him and his family, many super- 
 " stitious images and idolatrous pictures in the painted windows, and 
 " they so thick and dark that there was, as he himself saith, scarce 
 " the breadth of a groat of white glasse amongst them ; he knowing 
 " by the truth of God, that though the Papists Avill have images to 
 " beelay men's bookes, yet they teach no other lessons but of lyes, 
 " nor any doctrine but of vanities to them that professe to learn by 
 *' them ; and considering that these dumb and dark images, by their 
 " painted coates and colours, did both darken the light of the church 
 " and obscure the brightness of the gospel, he presently took order 
 " to pull down all these painted puppets and popish idols in a war- 
 " rantable and peaceable manner, and of his own cost and charge 
 " repaired the breaches and beautified the windows with white and 
 " bright glass again. 
 
 " Hereunto he was the rather induced and encouraged both by 
 " the liberty given and granted by the Queene's injunctions utterly 
 
 * Hinde's Life of Bruen, pages 57, 58.
 
 62 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " to extinguish and destroy all pictures, paintings, and other monuments 
 " of idolatry afid superstition, so that there might remain no memory of 
 " the same in the walls, glass tvindo^cs, or elsewhere within their 
 " churches and houses, and also by the authority of a Commission sent 
 " down into the country to the Earle of Darby, the Mayor of Chester, 
 " and others, to the same purpose at the same time. Neither was 
 " this all, for he had the word of God to warrant him and the examples 
 " of holy men, as of Ezekiah in breaking to pieces the brazen serpent, 
 " of Josiah in pulling down the altars to Baalim, of Epiphanius in 
 " rending in pieces the superstitious vaile hanging before a church at 
 " Anablatha wherein was set forth the picture of Christ or of some 
 " saint, and of Leo the Emperor who broke down all images and 
 " idols in churches as standing there against the decrees of the 
 " Council of Nice. As for this gentleman of whom we speak, his 
 " affection and action cometh near to that commendation which 
 " Ambrose gave unto Theodosius,* — Theodosius abscoTidit simulacra 
 " Gentium, onines efiifu cultus idolorum cultus ejus abscondit; omnes 
 " eorum ceremonias obliteravit." 
 
 Mr. Bruen was visited on his deathbed by Mr. Hinde of Bunbury, 
 Mr. Langley of Middlewich, and his owm pastor Mr. Sabbath Clark. 
 In the registers of Tarvin Church the following entry occurs: — 
 " Burials, 25th Jan. 1625, John Bruen of Stapleford, Esq. 
 " Niilli Pietate Secundtis. 
 " An Israelite in -w^hom no guyle 
 " Or Fraud was ever found; 
 " A Phcenix rare, 
 " Whose virtues fair 
 " Through all our coasts do sound." 
 
 It is not to be wondered at that through the influence of such a 
 devoted Puritan as John Bruen, and such a laborious and evangehcal 
 Nonconformist minister as Sabbath Clarke, a strong Dissenting element 
 prevailed in Tarvin parish afterwards. Tarvin was one of the towns 
 at which a Reformation lecture was preached every month. Henry 
 Newcome mentions his having preached himself at Stapleford in the 
 year 1678. He says, "September ist I preached at Stapleford. I 
 " did think before, that though what I did was just and lawful, yet I 
 " questioned the prudence of it. The Tuesday after I was at Tarvin 
 " lecture, where I saw many friends. But the content hereof had 
 " two alloys. Mr. Fisher spoke to me about my preaching at 
 
 * Orat. in mart. Theo.
 
 Deanery of Chester. 63 
 
 " Stapleford ; and though I hope I satisfied him, yet I fear the un- 
 " counsellableness of my friend will breed inconveniences which I 
 " shall be sorry for."* Oliver Heywood also preached at his cousin 
 Nathanael Greg's, in Tarvin parish, in the year 1688. 
 
 THORNTON IN THE MOORS. 
 
 Samuel Clark, B.A., of Emmanuel College Cambridge, spent a 
 short time in the early part of his ministerial life in this secluded 
 village. He was invited to assist Mr. Byrom of Thornton in Cheshire, 
 and in this new situation he was exposed to great temptations, " but 
 " it pleased the Lord in mercy to hedge up his way with thorns, and 
 " by striking him with extraordinary terror to bring him to reflection 
 " and deep humiliation, and by degrees to give him some comfort in 
 " believing and applying the promises of free grace in Christ Jesus. 
 " He here met with some trouble from a malicious person who 
 " prosecuted him for the omission of some ceremonies." After a 
 two years' residence and labour he removed from Thornton to Shot- 
 wick, and afterwards became a distinguished minister in London. t 
 
 In the year 1648 Richard Chapman signs himself "Pastor of 
 " Thornton in the Moores," in the Cheshire Attestation of Presbyte- 
 rian ministers. 
 
 On the 9th August 1653 Mr. Richard Bowker was ordained and 
 certificated by the Manchester Classis to be minister of Thornton in 
 Cheshire. He probably removed soon after to Middlewich, and was 
 followed by the Rev. Samuel Flsher, M.A., who continued minister 
 until 1662, when he was ejected by the Act of Uniformity. Mr. Fisher 
 was a friend of Richard Baxter, who in a letter to Newcome mentions 
 him as "judicious and honest Mr. Fisher,"| and who -thus speaks of 
 him in his life : — " Mr. Samuel Fisher, an ancient reverend divine, 
 " some time minister of Withington (near Chelford), then of Shrews- 
 " bury, turned out with Mr. Blake for not taking the Engagement 
 " against the King and the House of Lords in 1650; then lived in 
 " Cheshire, and thence cast out and silenced. A very able preacher, 
 " and of a godly life."§ Calamy, in quoting this reference, says that 
 
 * Autobiography, page 227. + Preface to Clark's Lives, page 3. 
 
 + Autobiography, page 346. § Baxter's Life, part iii., page 98.
 
 64 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 Mr. Fisher was rector of Thornton, and adds that he lived many 
 years after his ejectment at Birmingham, and died there. He pub- 
 hshed a small work entitled Spiritual Submission, in two funeral 
 sermons; one for Mrs. Holgate, the other for Mrs. Baker; and also 
 A Fast Sermon for January '^oth. Newcome, in his Diary, referring 
 to his efforts to obtain an appointment for his son, says, " I besought 
 " my lord of Dunham, in whose gift Thornton was, that I might not 
 " prejudice honest Mr. Fisher; but if he could not secure it, I might 
 " try if I could secure it by a friend."* It appears from references 
 that follow thisjt that Mr. Shaw, who had been chaplain to Sir G. 
 Booth, suddenly conformed and went to Thornton, where he remained 
 till his death in 1666. He was probably followed by Dr. Ardeme, 
 who had Mr. Ephraim Elcock as his curate for some time. This 
 Ephraim Elcock was a pupil of Adam Martindale's son, and master 
 of the Free School in Tarvin.| 
 
 Calamy also names Mr. Samuel Edgley of Thornton as one of 
 those ejected in 1662. He was a candidate for the ministry, and 
 probably assistant to Mr. Fisher when the Bartholomew Act took 
 place, and he continued several years a Nonconformist. At length, 
 according to Calamy, he conformed, having been won to the 
 Establishment by the influence probably of Bishop Wilkins. There 
 was a Samuel Edgley, A.M., vicar of Acton, in 1705, but whether he" 
 was the same we cannot say. 
 
 WAVERTON. 
 
 Calamy gives the name only of the Rev. John Marigold as the 
 minister ejected from this rectoiy in 1662. He must have been" 
 resident as minister of this place during the whole of the Common- 
 wealth, because we find his name "John Marigold, pastor of 
 " Waverton," among the signatures of Cheshire Presbyterian Ministers 
 to the Attestation in 1648. 
 
 *Newcome's Diary, page 118. f Fi'rf<? pages ir8, 16 r. 
 
 + Martindale's Autobiography, page 192.
 
 DEANERY OF WIRRALL 
 
 (By the Rev. W. Urwick, M.A.) 
 
 HE Deanery, nearly co-extensive with the Hundred, of 
 Wirrall, includes the peninsula between the estuaries of 
 the Mersey and the Dee, which, according to the outline 
 of the county, may be called the west horn of Cheshire. 
 It was in ancient times an extensive forest — traces of which are still 
 visible — but being deforested in the reign of Edward III. it afterwards 
 became one of the most fertile parts of the county, celebrated chiefly 
 for pasture land. The population of this district was for many cen- 
 turies very scanty; but during the present century there has been 
 first a gradual and then a rapid increase, owing to the springing up 
 of towns and watering places opposite to Liverpool — Birkenhead, 
 Seacombe, Discard, New Brighton, &c. In 1831 the number of 
 inhabitants in Wirrall was 19,000; in 1861 it amounted to nearly 
 80,000; having thus quadrupled in thirty years. 
 
 Regarding the religious state of this Deanery in the early part of 
 the seventeenth century, the well known ecclesiastical historian and 
 biographer Samuel Clark (who was then minister of Shotwick) informs 
 us* that there were divers godly and understanding Christians scat- 
 tered up and down in it, but scarce a constant preacher besides 
 himself; so that the people all of them within seven miles compass 
 repaired to his ministry, the best of them being men in russet coats 
 who followed husbandry. The highway for travellers between England 
 and Ireland then lay through Wirrall, and it became the scene of the 
 stated or occasional labours of several Puritan clergymen during the 
 Commonwealth. The Congregationalists Samuel Eaton and John 
 
 * Preface to his Lives, page 4.
 
 66 Nonconformity m Cheshire. 
 
 Murcot are to be noticed as having spent some years in Wirrall. 
 There were not fewer than ten Nonconformist ministers here in the 
 year 1662; viz., John Wilson of Backford, Mr. Wright of Bidston, 
 Hugh Bethel, M.A., of Burton, Mr. Keyes of Heswall, Samuel 
 Marsden of Neston, Matthew Jenkins of Shotwick, Mr. Watts of 
 Thurstaston, John Harvie, M.A., of Wallasey, John Cartvvright, M.A., 
 of West Kirby, and Samuel Grastie of Woodchurch. 
 
 Upon the passing of the Toleration Act two Nonconformist 
 chapels were opened in Wirrall, one at Brombro' and the other at 
 Upton. The population however gradually tided towards other centres 
 in the district. In the year 1809 an Independent chapel was opened 
 at Park Gate, and the Cheshire Congregational Union supported an 
 agent — Mr. Foster of Cheshunt College, who preached at Park Gate 
 and Heswall, and itinerated in Wirrall. The Scotch Presbyterians 
 now hold the Park Gate Chapel. The Nonconformist churches of 
 Wirrall are now located in the populous towns of Birkenhead and 
 Liscard. 
 
 BACKFORD. 
 
 The first minister at Backford during the Commonwealth was Robert 
 Freckleton, who was resident in Chester when the forces of the Par- 
 liament took the city, and had his goods sequestered by the Committee 
 of Sequestration there.* He is described as supplying this place pro 
 tempore^ probably as successor to Mr. Bagguley the fonner vicar, whose 
 signature in the Registers ceases about 1644. By virtue of an order 
 from the Committee for Plundered Ministers in 1646, he was granted 
 all the profits of the Rectory and £50 by way of augmentation. He 
 signed the Attestation of Cheshire Presbyterian ministers in 1648 as 
 Robert Frecleion, minister at Backford. 
 
 The Rev. John Wilson, of Brazennose College Oxford, succeeded 
 him, and laboured here for some years previous to his ejection in 
 1662. Calamy gives the following account of Mr. Wilson: — 
 
 " His living was made pretty considerable by an augmentation 
 " which was in those times allowed to various persons who, upon 
 " testimonials and trial were judged men of ability and piety" — 
 probably a continuance of the augmentation before granted to Mr. 
 
 * Lambeth MSS., Parliamentary Survey, vol. iii.
 
 Deanery of Wirrall. 67 
 
 Frecleton. — " He submitted to the test and was approved. Sometime 
 " after his ejectment he took a house in Chester and settled there; 
 " where he had as large meetings as prudence and the severity of the 
 " times would permit. When liberty was granted he preached in a 
 " gentlewoman's house, and had a crowded congregation. He was a 
 " judicious and useful preacher. The matter of his discourses was 
 " solid and searching; the dress neither negligent nor affected, neither 
 " slovenly nor gaudy but grave and decent, such as well became the 
 " subject. He was a zealous contender for the purit}' of God's wor- 
 " ship, as his printed works and his last Will sufficiently testify, 
 " Being confined to a wann room all day, and forced frequently for 
 " his security to go out at unseasonable hours of the night in cold 
 " weather, this brought a tenderness upon him, which issued in a 
 " settled cold and cough that carried him off in the midst of his days. 
 " He died at Chester about 1672. He was a man of great worth and 
 " a good scholar, as must be o\vned by such as peruse his -wTitings, 
 " though they may not relish the strictness of his principles. The 
 " author of the Friendly Debate between a Nonconformist and a Con- 
 " formist answered his piece entitled Nehushtan, by causing its author 
 " to be pursuivanted up to the Council, rather than by anything of 
 " moment which he printed against it."* His works were — ist, 
 Nehtishtan (2 Kings xviii. 4); or a sober and peaceable Discourse con- 
 cerning the AboUshing of Things abused to Superstition and Idolatry. 
 2nd, The Vanity of Hiwian Inventions, in an Exercitation on the 
 Ceremonies. 3rd, Cultus Evangelicus, a Discourse of the SpirituaHty 
 of New Testament Worship. 4th, A n Apology for the People' s Judgment 
 of Private Discretion. 5th, The Va7iity of Man's Present State, proved 
 and applyed in a Sermon on Psalm xxxix. 5; with divers Sermons on 
 the Saint's Communion with God and safety under His Protection in 
 order to their future glory, on Psalm Ixxiii. 23 — 26. This last named 
 work was published after his death in 1676, and contains a dedication 
 to "The Honourable the Lady Catharine Booth," the gentlewoman 
 whom Calamy refers to. The dedication is as follows : — 
 
 " Madam, — These sermons to which you gave so free entertain- 
 " ment when they were preached under your roof (which you made a 
 " sanctuary), do not doubt of your countenance. The first, being of 
 " man's state altogether vanity, was by the revered author's own hand 
 
 * Calamy, vol. i., pages 325-6.
 
 68 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " scarce finished before his distemper had disabled him from service 
 " of this nature. And albeit the latter part were by him destined to 
 " obscurity amongst his private papers ; yet by the assistance of special 
 " friends that compared his short notes with what was taken from his 
 " mouth, I have answered the importunity of others that often pressed 
 " me to make them publick." 
 
 We are told in the same preface that "his strong body and viva- 
 " cious spirits were weakened and rendered languid by an inveterate 
 " distemper," which it seems speedily hurried him away. Of his last 
 sickness as well as of his active spirit when in health the remark of 
 Mr. Fennes of Essex might hold good, " I am ashamed of myself to 
 " see how Mr. Wilson galloppeth towards heaven and I do but creep 
 " on at a snail's pace." The following lines are extracted from a short 
 poem upon the much lamented death of the Rev. John Wilson, minister 
 of God's word: — 
 
 His doctrine solid aimed to make men know 
 
 That which was good ; his use to make them so. 
 
 His sweet allurements pleasing were and gi-ave 
 
 With holy guile lost souls to catch and save. 
 
 With mushroom notions light he did not cheat 
 
 Attentive hearers, giving froth for meat ; 
 
 When they flocked to the windows to be fed 
 
 They were not sei-ved with air instead of bread. 
 
 Mr. Wilson had a son who was for some time a Nonconformist 
 minister at Bromborough, and who afterwards settled at Warwick, 
 where he died. Bishop Gastrell notes that there were five families of 
 Presbyterians in the parish of Backford about the year 1720. 
 
 BEBINGTON. 
 
 This parish, which includes Rock Ferry — a delightful and populous 
 district chiefly occupied by the merchants and tradesmen of Liverpool, 
 and which is still celebrated for its spacious and lofty old church — was 
 during the Commonwealth the scene of the labours of a worthy pastor 
 whose name occurs among the signatures of Cheshire ministers to 
 their Attestation of the solemn League and Covenant in 1648, Ralph 
 Poole, minister of Behington. He was probably saved the honour of 
 being ejected as a Nonconformist by his death in the beginning of 
 the year 1662. He had succeeded his father to this now rich living
 
 Deanery of Wirrall. 69 
 
 (the advovvson of which then belonged to the family), as the following 
 inscription to both father and son upon a brass in the chancel shews : — 
 " Radulphiis Poole, Hugoni patri, tarn suggesto quam sepulcro eodem, 
 " successor, collectus fuit ad patres, ApriHs 5, 1662." 
 
 BIDSTON. 
 
 This is the place meant in the Nonconformist Memorial by Boston, 
 there being no such place as Boston in the county. Mr. Wright was 
 ejected from this parish in 1662, but he afterwards conformed. 
 Bishop Gastrell notes that in 17 17 there were seventeen Presbyterian 
 families in this parish; who probably attended the neighbouring 
 chapel at Upton. 
 
 The editor of the Notitia Cestriensis is in error when he intimates 
 by a quotation from Calamy that Thomas Brook, ejected from Con- 
 gleton, preached at Moreton Chapel in Bidston parish. The Moreton 
 Chapel meant by Calamy is that in Moreton Hall, near CongletoiT. 
 
 BURTON. 
 
 Richard Hopwood signed the Attestation of Cheshire ministers in 
 1648, as "minister of Burton," and it is uncertain how long he remained 
 here. At the time of the Restoration the Rev. Hugh Bethel, M.A., 
 held the living, and he became a Nonconfonnist when the Act of 
 Uniformity came into force. He was an educated man ; he belonged 
 first to Magdalen College, and afterwards became fellow of Christ's 
 College Cambridge. He graduated his B.A. in 1640, and his M.A. 
 in 1646. Calamy describes him as "of good family and very much 
 " of a gentleman in his behaviour; a very pious man, and a profitable 
 " preacher." 
 
 It may here be noted that the celebrated Dr. Thomas Wilson, 
 bishop of Sodor and Man, was born at Burton, as he states in his 
 diary, " on the 20th December 1663, of honest parents, fearing God." 
 He was educated at Trinity College Dublin. He was a truly primi- 
 tive and conscientious man, and more than once refused an English 
 See. He was made bishop of Sodor and Man by King William III. 
 in 1697, and laboured there faithfully till his death on the 7th March
 
 70 Noruonfonnity in Cheshire. 
 
 i755> iri the ninety-third year of his age. The revenue of his diocese 
 did not exceed 300/. a year. He was invited to France by Cardinal 
 Fleury, who expressed great anxiety to see him, as he beUeved the 
 bishop and himself to be the two oldest and poorest prelates in 
 Europe. The reply of the bishop is said to have been so gratifying 
 to the cardinal that he procured an order that no French ships 
 of war should ravage the coasts of the Isle of Man out of respect 
 for the character of its prelate. There is a good free school on the 
 road to Nesse built of red stone, erected and endowed by Bishop 
 Wilson and his son. 
 
 EASTHAM. 
 
 Walker, in his Sufferings of the Clergy, gives a long account of the 
 Rev. William Seddon, A.M., who held the vicarage together with a 
 living in Chester and was sequestered in 1647. " Upon the rebeUion, 
 " and approach of the siege of Chester, he was compelled (says his 
 " son) to withdraw his family and effects into the city for succour, 
 " where his great and good friend. Bishop Bridgeman, accommodated 
 " him. The aged bishop, dreading the hardships of a siege, voided 
 " the place, leaving my father in the palace, who continued diligent 
 " in his ministry, and frequent preaching to the garrison there. AVhen 
 " the city was taken he was imprisoned, his preaching having reflected 
 " upon the prevailing party. An order was drawn up to export his 
 " wife and children out of the city to Eastham, where although they 
 " had only the bare walls of a vicarage house to resort to yet they 
 " found a hearty welcome from the loyal part of the parishioners 
 " there, among whom they dispersed themselves, and in a short time 
 " after my father's confinement was somewhat enlarged and his 
 " escape connived at, which gave him the liberty of going in quest of 
 " his wife and children, whom he found in pretty good circumstances 
 " among his loyal friends. But another minister, whose name and 
 " character I have utterly forgot, being despatched with orders from 
 " the ruling powers in Chester to supply the vicarage of Eastham, 
 " and a rumour dispersed that my father must be apprehended again 
 " and reduced as prisoner to Chester, he scampered about privately 
 " to the houses of the loyal gentry to whom his character and 
 " conditions were well known, and then dispatched a letter to his
 
 Deanery of Wirrall. 7 i 
 
 " elder brother, Mr. Peter Seddon at Outwood in Lancashire, the 
 " place of my father's nativity, who was then at the rate of the times 
 " turned a zealous Presbyterian too, and had a son a captain in the 
 " Parliament's army, acquainting him with the storm he was under, 
 " and requesting him to cover all or part of his family till he could 
 *' weather the storm. To which letter the main answer he had was 
 " that if he would conform himself to the godly party his OAvn 
 " merits would protect and prefer him ; which so incensed my 
 " father that he never more held any correspondence with him." 
 How he afterwards was appointed by the triers to Grappenhall, in 
 this county, and what became of him there, is related in connection 
 with that place. Besides the Puritan brother, who was a layman 
 and an officer in the army of the Parliament, there was a third, a 
 Robert Seddon, M.A., who lived some time Avith Mr. Angier, of 
 Denton, became pastor of the Independent church at Gorton, where 
 he succeeded Adam Martindale, and soon after removed to Langley 
 in Derbyshire,* where he was ejected in 1662. He died at the house 
 of his brother. Captain Peter Seddon of Outwood (in the house 
 where he was bom), March, 1695, age seventy-seven years. 
 
 The minister referred to in the above account, sent to Eastham 
 in 1647, whose name and character William Seddon's son "entirely 
 forgot," was none other than the celebrated John Murcot, a well- 
 known name in the literature of Nonconformity, of whom we shall 
 have more to say when we come to West Kirby. He was not at 
 Eastham more than twelve months, and yet, as we are told by his 
 biographer, " he gained mightily upon the affections of many, 
 " especially the godly, whose hearts began betimes to be knit unto 
 " him, and here likewise the Lord was pleased to water his labours 
 " with the dew of his blessing."t 
 
 Mr. Murcot was succeeded by the Rev. Richard Banner, a 
 Puritan, who it appears conformed in 1662, and enjoyed his living 
 only three years afterwards. Within the altar rails of the fine old 
 church at Eastham is a tablet with this inscription : — " Here lyeth 
 " the body of Richard Banner, clarke and vicker of Eastham, who 
 " died the vi. day of December, 1665.' 
 
 * Martindale's Autobiography, page 76. t Moses in the Mount, page 5.
 
 72 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 HESWALL. 
 
 William Glegge signed the Cheshire Attestation as Presbyterian 
 minister of Haswell in 1648. He doubtless belonged to the family 
 of the Gleggs of Gayton in this parish, several curious memorials of 
 whom are in the church. When William III. visited Gayton Hall in 
 1689 he conferred the honour of knighthood upon its then occupier 
 and owner William Glegge, Esq., son probably of the Puritan minister. 
 
 Calamy names Mr. Keyes as the minister ejected from Heswall, 
 or Haselwall, in 1662. He intimates also that he continued a Non- 
 conformist aftenvards. 
 
 The pious and devoted Ralph Robinson, minister of S. Mary 
 Woolnoth, London, during the Commonwealth, was a native of 
 Heswall. He was born here in June 16 14, studied at Katherine 
 Hall Cambridge, and was cut off in the midst of his ministerial 
 labours, June 15, 1655, in the one and fortieth year of his age.* 
 
 NESTON. 
 
 This parish was the scene of the labours of a very worthy and 
 devoted minister the Rev. Samuel Marsden during the Common- 
 wealth. He was the eldest son of the Rev. Ralph Marsden, an 
 eminent Puritan minister who was settled at West Kirby in his latter 
 days, and he had three brothers who like himself became Noncon- 
 formist ministers. The family of the Marsdens present an interesting 
 picture of honourable Nonconformity. The father, himself a 
 minister and a Puritan, had the happiness and honour to see his 
 four sons grow up — not (as is sometimes the case) ashamed of their 
 father's principles because unfashionable, but true to those principles — 
 all of them Puritan ministers and Nonconformists in 1662. Samuel 
 the eldest son was presented to the living of Neston by the Committee 
 for Plundered ministers. t He signed the Cheshire Attestation in 
 1648 as " minister of Neston ;" he was ejected by the Act of Unifor- 
 mity in 1662 ; and he then went over to Ireland where he died in 
 1677. Jeremiah the second son, having spent two years at the 
 
 * Clark's Lives, page 57. t Lambeth MSS., Pari. Survey, vol. iii.
 
 Deianery of Wirrall. 73 
 
 university, taught a school for a time at Neston, became an 
 occasional preacher .and assisted other ministers. Martindale tells us 
 that he was " of the Congregational way, and signed the Agreement 
 " at Manchester 13 July, 1659."* His life was a perfect peregrination. 
 He was at Ardersley chapel near Wakefield in 1662 and became a 
 Nonconformist there. He \vrote several treatises, suffered imprison- 
 ment for preaching, and died in 1684. Gavialiel the third son was 
 educated at the Dublin University where he continued ten years, part 
 of which time he was Fellow. He was turned out with Dr. Winter at 
 the Restoration and then came into England. He became minister 
 at Coley in Yorkshire, and refusing to conform to the requirements 
 of the Act was ejected thence in 1662. He afterwards went to 
 Holland. He was a man of much sound learning and skill in the 
 languages, a very hard student but no very pleasing preacher. He 
 was a moderate Congregationalist, a man of great piety and integrity. 
 He died in 1681, aged forty-seven years. t Josiah the youngest son 
 was also Fellow of Trinity College Dubhn, and the most eminent of 
 the brothers. He was turned out at the Restoration and died early. 
 The only daughter in the family, Esther, became the faithful wife of 
 the celebrated John Murcot who succeeded her father as minister of 
 West Kirby. 
 
 Bishop Gastrell notes that in his time there were six Presbyterian 
 famihes resident in this parish of Neston. 
 
 SHOTWICK. 
 
 This parish, which lies about five miles north-west from Chester, on 
 the estuary of the Dee, is a perpetual curacy, and though now very 
 small stands distinguished in the annals of Nonconformity as the 
 pastorate of more than one eminent Puritan. Samuel Clark the 
 martjTologist, who studied at Emmanuel College Cambridge, under 
 Thomas Hooker, one of the choicest tutors in the university, when 
 lea\ang Thornton, was importuned by some godly persons in Wirrall 
 to come among them at Shot^dck. He consented (probably about 
 the year 1624), and there being then scarcely a constant minister 
 besides himself in this part of the county, people came six or seven 
 miles round to hear him. 
 
 * Autobiography, page 129. t Calamy's Noncon, Memorial.
 
 74 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " At this place he found the first seals of his ministry, being an 
 " instrument in converting many souls to God. He set up meetings 
 " for prayer and conference, which were held at the houses of the 
 " richer people in rotation, where questions were discussed which he 
 " had previously proposed. The benefits arising from these friendly 
 " associations he found to be many and great. Hereby knowledge 
 " was increased so that (says he) I never was acquainted with more 
 " understanding Christians in all my life, though the best of them 
 " went in russet coats and followed husbandry. Hereby holy affections 
 " were kindled and kept alive. Mutual love was promoted ; so that 
 " all the professors of the gospel living ten or twelve miles asunder 
 " were as intimate as if they had been of one household. The neces- 
 " sities of the poor being known were provided for. The weak were 
 " strengthened, the mourning comforted, the erring reclaimed, the 
 " dejected raised, and all mutually edified in their holy faith. More- 
 " over they hereby enjoyed opportunities for private fasts and days 
 " of thanksgiving as there was occasion." Mr. Clark while minister 
 of Shotwick, in the year 1625, married Katherine, the daughter of Mr. 
 Valentine Overton, rector of Bedworth in Warwickshire, " a pious, 
 " humble, prudent, and sweet tempered person." After five years' 
 residence he was compelled to leave the place by a prosecution brought 
 against him in the Chancellor's Court for the omission of ceremonies, 
 and his enemies were so inveterate that they would not suffer him to 
 preach a farewell sermon. He removed to Coventrj^, and afterwards 
 to the church of Bennet Fink, London, where he became a Noncon- 
 formist in 1662, and ended a laborious life both as a preacher and a 
 writer on Christmas Day 1682, aged upwards of eighty-three years.* 
 He was probably succeeded at Shotwick by the Rev. William 
 Hewetson, who signed the Cheshire Attestation of Presbyterian 
 ministers in 1648, as minister of this place. How long Mr. Hewetson 
 remained is uncertain, but in the year 1660 the Rev. Matthew 
 Jenkyns, who had been turned out from Gressford in Denbighshire, 
 to make way for the old incumbent, became minister of Shotwick, and 
 refused to conform to the requirements of the Act of Uniformity in 
 1662. He was one of those however who were afterwards brought in 
 l^by the soft interpretatmi put upon the Act by Bishop Wilkins, and he 
 ended his life as a Conformist either here or at some other parish in 
 Wirrall. 
 
 * Preface lo Clark's Lives, and Nonconformist Memorial.
 
 Deanery of Wirrall. 75 
 
 ' THURSTASTON. 
 
 The Parliamentary survey of 1 649 states of this small parish, " One 
 Mr. Brian Lassells a blinde man is minister there, who was presented 
 by the Bishop of Lincoln and some other lords, and was instituted 
 and inducted about December 30th, 1641."* Mr. Raines the able 
 editor of Gastrell conjectures that the Parliamentary "Inquisitors" 
 meant that this rector was not naturally but spiritually blind, and that 
 in consequence he was turned out to make way for a Presbyterian. 
 The prejudice that prompts this conjecture is evident; not only is the 
 conjecture groundless, however, but we have evidence that this worthy 
 blind minister was himself a Presb)i;erian, for among the signatures 
 to the Cheshire Attestation of Presbyterian ministers in 1648 there 
 occurs that of Bryan Lascelh, minister of Thnrstasto?i. How long 
 after this he remained at the place we cannot tell. In the memorable 
 year 1662 one Mr. Waits was minister, and he becameaNonconformist, 
 and is reckoned by Calamy among the faithful Two Thousand. 
 
 WALLASEY. 
 
 Regarding this interesting and now large parish Bishop Gastrell says, 
 " There were formerly two churches here, one called Walley's Kirk, 
 " situated in ye present churchyard, ye foundations of which are yet 
 " visible; and Lees Kirk, near a narrow strip of land still called 
 " Kirkway; but when one became ruinous and the other wanted a 
 " priest they were both taken down, and ye present church was built 
 " in their stead." He also records that Major Henry Meold (or as 
 the name is generally Avritten Meoles) and his brother Captain W. 
 Meold, both of them officers in the Parliament's army, gave large 
 sums of money towards erecting and endowing a grammar school in 
 this parish, and also for charity to the poor. 
 
 In the early years of the Commonwealth the Rev. Randall 
 Adams was minister. His name occurs among the signatures to the 
 Cheshire Attestation as Presbyterian minister of the parish in 1648, 
 and the Parliamentary Survey records that " the present minister at 
 
 * Lambeth MSS., vol. lii.
 
 76 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " Wallasea is one Mr. Adams, placed there by the Committee for 
 " Plundered Ministers."* 
 
 In the year 1660 the Rev. John Harvey, M.A., was ordained by 
 Bishop Worth in London, and signs the registers of Wallasey Church 
 as minister for the first time in that year, but he was not suffered to 
 remain there long owing to his Nonconformist views. He was obliged 
 to resign his preferment before the Act came into force, and removed 
 to Chester where he became an eminent Congregational minister. 
 (See Chester City.) He was supplanted at Wallasey by the Rev. 
 Alexander Featherstone. 
 
 WEST KIRBY. 
 
 The eminent Cheshire Congregationalist Samuel Eaton, whose 
 family owned an estate in the township of Newton in the parish of 
 West Kirby, began his ministerial life as a clergyman in this parish. 
 Speaking of Mr. Murcot he says, " I first knew him when he lived in 
 " Wirrall, and there was reason that I should be familiarly acquainted 
 " with him at that time, both because he was preacher at a place 
 " and also to a people there, to many of whom myself in former 
 " times stood related, till the violence of the then prevailing prelates 
 " expulsed me thence ; and also because he took to wife from 
 " among us Mrs. Hester Marsden well reputed of by us." In 
 another of his worksf he writes : — " For ourselves when we first 
 " entered the ministry we were both of us conformable in judgment 
 " and sometimes though very rarely in practice. But we have 
 " bewailed and publicly testified our repentance both before and 
 " since the times of this present Parliament. The one of us 
 " renounced it and was therefore suspended by the Bishop of 
 " Chester fourteen years ago, and was afterwards about thirteen years 
 " since expulsed from his habitation ; and after that about eleven 
 " years since was forced to leave the kingdom and to seek for 
 " shelter in Holland, and there joined with others in a Congrega- 
 " tional way ; and after that, when the unsuitableness of the air 
 
 * Lambeth MSS. 
 f A Defence of sundry Positions and Scriptures alleged to justify the Con- 
 gregational Way ; by Samuel Eaton, teacher, and Timothy Taylor, pastor, of the 
 church in Dukinfield in Cheshire. 1645.
 
 Deanery of Wirrall. 77 
 
 " occasioned much sickness, he was constrained to return ; and 
 " finding no rest was the second time necessitated to transplant 
 " himself into New England, where if the High Commission of York 
 " could have let him alone he might probably have ended his days. 
 " But for non-appearance at their courts when yet he was out of the 
 " land, and knew nothing of their summons, he was fined in several 
 " sums of money which together amounted to 1,550/. And his 
 " estate in Wirrall in Cheshire was extended upon for payment, and 
 " the tenant to whom the land was leased before his departure to 
 " New England, forced to pay great sums of money for the redemp- 
 " tion of his cattle which were driven off the ground : where he was 
 " supported in those troublous times by the beneficence of two 
 " religious gentlemen, Wilham Stevinton of Dothit, and his son-in- 
 " law Creswal Taylor of Longdon aforesaid, his noble friends. And 
 " the tidings of these cruel proceedings and the grievous complaints 
 " of the tenant, coming over to him in several letters, he was advised 
 " to try if by his returning back he could use means to free his 
 " estate ; but before he arrived, this renowned reforming Parliament 
 " was assembled ; and what he hath suffered since for his opposition 
 " to Prelacy is known not to a few." 
 
 It is evident from these quotations that Samuel Eaton was 
 minister in the place where John Murcot afterwards laboured, 
 namely, West Kirby ; that while there he did not conform to the 
 church ceremonies ; that in consequence he was suspended by 
 Bishop Bridgeman in 1631, and in the year following driven from his 
 home ; and that his estate in Wirrall was charged with enormous 
 fines imposed by the dominant Prelates on account of his Non- 
 conformity. 
 
 Walker in his Sufferings of the Clergy names Thomas Glover as the 
 rector of this parish sequestered for delinquency about the year 1643. 
 In the parliamentary survey of 1649 the tithes are stated to be worth 
 125/. per annum, 25/. being allotted to Mrs. Glover for her fifths. 
 
 Mr. Ralph Marsden of Neston was appointed minister of West 
 Kirby in the place of Mr. Glover but he died June 30, 1648. He 
 was succeeded by his son-in-law, the excellent John Murcot of whom 
 we shall here give some account. 
 
 John Murcot was bom at Warwick in 1623 of parents both 
 respectable and pious. His father Job Murcot was a lawyer. He 
 was committed to the care and tuition of an able and godly school-
 
 78 No7iconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 master Mr. Dugard who instilled instruction both with his lips and 
 life, desirous to make him not only a scholar but a Christian. Being 
 competently furnished for the university his father sent him to 
 Oxford, where he continued his studies under the tuition of the faith- 
 ful and religious Mr. Button in Merton College. When he had been 
 there two years, in consequence of the occupation of Oxford by the 
 king's forces (1642-3) he was obliged to flee from the university dis- 
 guised, and repaired to the house of Mr. Leigh (or Ley) of Budworth, 
 " an ancient grave able learned man " and minister of that place, and 
 there he studied hard both day and night allowing himself but four 
 hours for sleep. The cloud being blown over, he repaired a second 
 time to Oxford, completed his college course, took his degree, and 
 returned to his old friend Mr. Leigh, to whom he was in various ways 
 useful. 
 
 He began \vith much fear and trembling to appear in public and 
 to preach. " Being pressed and egged on," says his biographer,* 
 •' by his friends and a call from the inhabitants of Ashbury he entered 
 " into the Lord's vineyard, put his hand unto the plough and was 
 " ordained a minister at Manchester. He professed, to use his own 
 " words, that he was drawn as a bear to the stake, complaining, and 
 " often bewailing his want of a sufficient stock of university learning." 
 The following notice of his ordination is extracted from the Minutes' 
 Book of the Manchester classis : — 
 
 " Whereas Mr. John Murcott, B. A., aged about twenty-four years, 
 " has addressed himself to us (authorised by both Houses of Parlia- 
 " ment of the 26 August 1646 for the ordination of ministers) desiring 
 " to be ordained a Presbyter ; for that he is chosen and appointed 
 " for the work of the ministry in the chiu-ch of Astbury, in the county 
 " of Chester, as by a certificate now remaining with us touching that 
 " his election and appointment appeareth ; and having likewise ex- 
 " hibited sufficient testimonials of his taking the National Covenant, 
 " of his diligence and proficiency in his studies, and unblameableness 
 " of hfe and conversation ; — He hath been examined, according to 
 " the rules for examination in the said ordinance expressed, and 
 " thereupon approved ; and there having been no just exception 
 " made against his ordinance and admission ; — These may testify to 
 " all whom it may concern, that upon Wednesday the 9th of the 
 
 • Moses in the Mount, page 4.
 
 Deanery of Wirrall. 79 
 
 " month of February, we have proceeded solemnly to set him apart 
 " to the office of a Presbyter and work of the ministry of the gospel 
 " by the laying on of our hands with fasting and prayer ; by virtue 
 " whereof we do declare him to be a lawful and sufficiently authorised 
 " minister of Jesus Christ : and having good evidence of his lawful 
 " and fair calling not only to the work of the ministry but to the 
 " exercise thereof in the church of Astbury in the county aforesaid, 
 " we do hereby send him thither and actually admit him to the said 
 " charge, to perform all the offices and duties of a faithful pastor 
 " there ; exhorting the people in the name of Jesus Christ willingly 
 " to receive and acknowledge him as their minister, and to maintain 
 " and encourage him in the execution of his office that he may be 
 " able to give up such an account to Christ of their solemn obedience 
 " to his ministry as may be to his joy and their everlasting comfort. 
 " We the Presbyters of the first classis in the county of Lancaster 
 " have hereto set our hands, this 9th day of February 1647. 
 
 " Signed, Richard Heyrick. Robert Constantine. 
 
 " John Jones. Edward Woolmer. 
 
 " John Angier. John Hanson. 
 
 " Job Finnes. Thomas Holland." 
 
 According to this certificate Mr. Murcot went to Astbury, and as his 
 biographer says, " the Lord was pleased to own him in his first 
 " attempts and endeavours, giving him a seal to his ministrj' by the 
 " conversion of two especially, who being awakened by his sound 
 " doctrine, smart expression, and powerful delivery, sadly bemoaned 
 " themselves and mourned over their lost condition even in public." 
 He did not however remain long at Astbury but removed to East/mm 
 where his labours were also blessed to the good of his hearers. While 
 here and in the 25th year of his age "being resolved to change his 
 " condition, and discoursing with a friend about it, there was pro- 
 " posed unto him Hester, the daughter of Mr. Ralph Marsden 
 " (minister of West Kirby, of note and useful in his generation) whom 
 " he aftenvards took to him to be the companion of his life." But 
 before the consummation of the marriage, the people of West Kirby 
 (Mr. Marsden departing this life) gave him a call, which he complied 
 with. He signed the Cheshire Attestation in 1648 as minister of 
 West Kirby. His anonymous biographer gives this quaint account 
 of his labours in this parish : — 
 
 " Two villages of the parish of West Kirby are sorely visited with
 
 8o Nonconformity m Cheshire. 
 
 " the pestilence and the Lord scatters abroad the black tokens of his 
 " displeasure, the products of which are many fasts, tears, prayers, 
 " importunate requests that the Lord would show unto his people 
 " why he thus contended with them. Mr. Murcot had his ears open 
 " to instruction. This thundering providence awakens him to a more 
 " exact scrutiny, and he is now persuaded that he had been too lax 
 " and general in the administration of the sealing ordinances, so that 
 " he resolves to forbear ; however he perseveres in preaching work, 
 " and waits on providence to see how the Lord will dispose and 
 " encline the people's hearts. An Irish lord quartering at West 
 " Kirby being bound for Ireland was observed to be a prodigious 
 " swearer, belching out most horrid oaths in great abundance. Mr. 
 " Murcot hearing of it is impatient of brooking these high dishonours 
 " that were done unto his Majesty. Wherefore taking with him a 
 " friend, he rides the same night six miles to a magistrate, procures a 
 " warrant ; the trembling constables at first are astonished to think 
 " of approaching in such a way to guilty greatness, but being 
 " animated by Mr. Murcot they ser\'ed their warrant, and the horses 
 " of the nobleman were seized and kept till he paid 20/., which was 
 " employed as a stock for the poor of the parish. This exemplary 
 " act of justice procured and prosecuted by Mr. Murcot's active zeal, 
 " so daunted and overawed his lordship that during his abode there 
 " he held his tongue and mouth as it were with bit and bridle. 
 
 " It was a common practice in those parts to have Ales as they 
 " called them, alias good-fellow-meetings, in which the night was 
 " consumed in rioting and drunkenness, the creatures abused, and 
 " God most shamefully dishonoured. One revelling night he and a 
 " good neighbour (Captain Johnson) went to the constables, engage 
 " their assistance, advance and enter the house or rather the den of 
 " dragons, at whose approach and presence the rabble rout scatters 
 " like a mist before the rising sun. Some run affrighted out of doors, 
 " and leave their ale behind them, others hide in secret places, 
 " the flight was so full of confusion you would have thought it 
 " occasioned by the incursion of an enemy, and that their lives were 
 " rather invaded than their purses and reputations. One only of 
 " the company assumes the confidence to stand it out, and, having a 
 " brow of brass, thinks to outface both sacred and civil ofiicers, and 
 " saith, ' Shall I fear Mtircot V calls for more beer, and in a bravado 
 " drinks to him, who pledged him witli stern silence and frowning
 
 Deanery of Wirrall. 8i 
 
 " aspect. The names of the ringleaders are returned to the justices, 
 " and they constrained to pay their imposed fines. But did this son 
 " of impudence (who dares thus afifront God's minister) thus escape ? 
 " Though that sickness at the time was comfortably abated, and the 
 " family to which he was related not in the least tainted, yet this man 
 " is very shortly after visited, and by that signal stroke from the hand 
 " of the Lord hurried out of the land of the li\ing. The follomng 
 " Sabbath Mr. Murcot chose a subject to treat on suitable to the 
 *' occasion, laid before them the blackness of guilt contracted, the 
 " dreadfulness of ■wTath deserved ; and so severe and cutting were 
 " his rebukes that they caused in the congregation strong pangs of 
 " affection and unwonted transportation," 
 
 These quaintly told stories illustrate for us not only the zeal and 
 courage of Mr. Murcot but also the habits of the ungodly and the 
 behefs of the godly in those times. They show how strong was the 
 faith of the people in special providences and Divine judgments, and 
 how unhesitatingly the power of the magistrate and of law was made 
 use of in order to enforce morality and religion. The drunken 
 and disorderly habits of the people were owing in part to the con- 
 tinual travelUng carried on from Chester through West Kirby to and 
 from Ireland. 
 
 Mr. Murcot being dissatisfied with the condition of his congrega- 
 tion and not deeming it right to celebrate the ordinances promis- 
 cuously among them, resolved at length to leave, and refusing an 
 invitation to settle at Chester he crossed over to Dublin, where he 
 became pastor of an Independent church, and died, greatly regretted 
 in that city, at the close of the year 1654. He was biuied in 
 S. Mary's Chapel, near Christ Church Dublin. His death is thus 
 mentioned by Henry Newcome : — " The next day (May 30, 1655) I 
 " called at Harding (Harden) of Mr. Eaton who had then lately 
 " returned from Ireland, and precious Mr. Murcot was then just dead, 
 " and he told me of the precious name and savoiu: he had left behind 
 " him there."* 
 
 Mr. Eaton says of John Murcot, " He was, while he lived in 
 " Wirrall, the glory of that country. A very quick and lively and 
 " powerful preacher he was, and mighty in prayer. Eminent for piety, 
 " gravity, and holy innocency. Dearly loved he was by some, and 
 
 * Autobiography, page 55.
 
 82 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " greatly reverenced by others. In a word he was a most industrious 
 " vigilant pastor, and a most austere and self-observing Christian. 
 " He may be reckoned among the Lord's worthies, of whom the 
 " world was not worthy," 
 
 The printed works of John Murcot are for the most part ex- 
 pository and practical sermons, namely, Circuinspect Walking, on 
 Ephesians v. 15, i6 ; The Parable of the Ten Virgins; The Sun of 
 Righteous?iess, Malachi iv. 2 ; Christ's Willing?iess to receive Humble 
 Shiners, on John vi. 37. 
 
 Mr. Murcot was, after an interval of tw^o or three years, succeeded 
 at West Kirby by the Rev. John Cartwright, who took his M.A. 
 at Jesus College in 1652, and was presented to this living in 1654. 
 He continued to labour faithfully here until the Act of Uniformity 
 came into force, and not being able conscientiously to take the 
 distinct and solemn oaths required he resigned his living on the 24th 
 of August 1662. He afterwards became chaplain to the pious lady 
 Wilbraham at Woodhey in this county. PhiHp Henry calls him 
 " my worthy friend and brother, a faithful minister of Jesus Christ," 
 and adds, "he was buried at Audlem in Cheshire, February 17, 
 " 1687-8." He was a man, says Calamy, of an excellent, sedate, 
 serious spirit, and a very solid judicious preacher. 
 
 WOODCHURCH. 
 
 Walker names the Rev. George Barges as sequestered from this 
 living, and he adds, " one Peter Burger was presented in 1654, and 
 " the same year I find one Samuel Grastie upon it." This Samuel 
 Grastie "appears in the parish registry as rector in 1655; he is 
 " again noticed as rector in 1659, but intruder m. all the intermediate 
 " years."* Calamy gives his name as one of the brave Noncon- 
 formists of 1662. The church was aftei^wards vacant till 1664, when 
 the Rev. William Anderson, Conformist, was appointed. 
 
 Richard Sherlock, D.D., of Trinity College Dublin, a zealous 
 churchman Popishly affected, and a very voluminous writer, was bom 
 in this parish. 
 
 A legacy of 500/. was left by Alderman W. Cleave, a Puritan of 
 London, for erecting a free school in this parish 1655. 
 
 * Ormerod's Cheshire.
 
 Deafiery of Wirrall. 83 
 
 BROMBROUGH. 
 
 Considering how many eminent and worthy ministers laboured in 
 Wirrall during the Commonwealth, and were ejected for their Non- 
 conformity in 1662, it is not surprising that we find a strong element 
 of Dissent from the dominant Establishment in this deanery afterwards. 
 Bishop Gastrell enumerates forty-nine families of Dissenters residing 
 in Wirrall in his time (1720), andlnentions two Nonconformist meeting 
 houses, the one at Brombrough and the other at Upton in the parish 
 of Overchurch.* 
 
 Dr. Thomas Harrison, ejected from the Cathedral Chester, preached 
 at Brombro' Hall for some time before the Restoration. This place 
 was the residence for many years of the Hardwares, a Puritan family 
 into which the celebrated John Bruen married at the end of the six- 
 teenth century, and Matthew Henry the end of the seventeenth. 
 Through their connexion with John Bruen and their frequent visits 
 to the Puritan training school of his house, this family embraced 
 Puritan principles, and their connexion with Matthew Henry confirmed 
 and matured their espousal of them. The daughter of the Hardwares 
 whom Matthew Henry married for his first ^vife very soon after died, 
 but he retained ever aftenvards a strong attachment to her relatives. 
 His biographer says : — 
 
 " As for the family of Bromborough, to which he was first related, 
 " he had a very hearty regard to them and concern for them and all 
 " theirs ; if any of them was sick he did not fail to visit them, he 
 " made their cares and comforts his o^vn; when matters were well he 
 " rejoiced with them, and when othen\ase he was a hearty mourner. 
 " He had a great value for his Mother Hardware, and always shewed 
 • " it in his behaviour towards her both when they lived together at 
 " Chester and afterwards at their house at Wirral, where she lived 
 " for some years, walking ^vith God and looking well to the ways of 
 " her household. On the 6th December 1693 she died, and was 
 " buried at Tarvin December 9th, and the day after Mr. Henry 
 " preached from Proverbs xiv. 22. Mr. Hardware was now arrived 
 " at a good old age, but he lingered on sixteen years, and finished 
 " his course April 2, 1709, in the eighty-fourth year of his age, having 
 
 * Notitia Cestriensis, i., 157, 167.
 
 84 Noncofiformity in Cheshire, 
 
 " this honourable testimony given him by his son Henry, that he was 
 " a ver)' conscientious gentleman, a serious good Christian, remarkable 
 " for his temperance and love to the duty of prayer, a true old Puritan. 
 " He was buried in Bromborough Church, Mr. Henry preaching in 
 " the hall on that occasion from Genesis xlvii. 9."* 
 
 Through the influence of this family, and as the result of the 
 teachings of the several Puritan ministers who had sown the seed of 
 Nonconformity in Wirrall, a Nonconformist church Avas formed and a 
 chapel erected at Brombrough soon after the passing of the Toleration 
 Act. 
 
 The first stated minister seems to have been the Rev. John 
 Wilson, son of Mr. Wilson ejected from Backford. Tong gives the 
 following account of him : — " This Mr. Wilson was that dear and 
 " intimate friend and brother of his, and I must say of mine too, that 
 " spent his four last years at War^vick, son to the learned and judicious 
 " author of the treatises called Nehushtan and Judicium Discretionis, 
 " &c. He was not inferior to his father either for gifts or graces, the 
 " most beautiful mind and temper in one of the most comely persons 
 " that I ever knew; he was born in Chester the same year with Mr. 
 " Henry, he was educated at London with Mr. Thomas Row, lived 
 " for some time afterwards in Mr. Philip Henr}''s house, was the first 
 " minister of the Presbyterian denomination at Warwick, died of a 
 " consumption in his thirty-second year, but did more service for God 
 " and the souls of men in that short term of life than many even good 
 " men have done in twice that number of years; and having laid such 
 " a foundation of serious religion in Wanvick as I hope will still 
 " abide, he went to heaven in full assurance and a holy triumph, never 
 " to be forgotten by those of us that were eye witnesses of the end of 
 " his conversation."t 
 
 At the fifth meeting of the united ministers — Presbyterian and 
 Congregational — of Cheshire, August nth, 1691, "Mr. Wilson's case 
 " about his removal from Wirral to Warwick was debated and referred 
 " to the Chester ministers, and circumstances being duly weighed his 
 " removal was consented to." He was present however at two sub- 
 sequent ministerial meetings in Cheshire. " There, at Knutsford, my 
 " dear brother Wilson of Warwick and I met the Cheshire ministers 
 " on May 24th, 1692, where Mr. Henry preached an excellent sermon 
 
 * Tong's Life of Matthew Henry, pages 141, 142. f Ibid, pages 49, 50.
 
 Deanery of Wirrall. 85 
 
 " from Philemon, 2. The year after, 1693, Mr. Wilson ^vith myself 
 *' contrived again to come from Warwickshire to meet our brethren 
 " at Knutsford, but by reason of Mr. Wilson's indisposition on the 
 " road we could not reach them till the evening May i6th, when the 
 " public work was over."* 
 
 The last notice we have of Mr. Wilson is from Matthew Henry's 
 diary; — "April 12th, 1695. This day I hear that my dear brother 
 " Wilson finished his course on Monday last, a great loss, and I should 
 " say irreparable did I not know that God has the residue of the spirit. 
 " This day I had a letter from Mr. Tong of the death of dear Mr. 
 " Wilson last Monday about noon, who lay for some time before he 
 " died in raptures of joy." "May 15th. I have been with Mrs. King, 
 " now returned from Warwick, who tells me many very affecting things 
 *' concerning her dear son Mr. J. Wilson; that a little before he died 
 " he said He cotild now through grace stand upon the brink of one 
 " world and look into another without any amazement; that he had 
 " indeed had some struggles in his soul, but he had endeavoured to deal 
 " roundly with himself in renewing his repefitance, and now he had 
 *' boldness to enter into the holiest through the blood of Jesus." 
 
 This faithful minister of Christ was succeeded at Brombro' by the 
 Rev. Richard Edge. An account of his ordination (which took 
 place at Knutsford, 27th September 1692), with five other candidates, 
 is given by Matthew Henry.f The folloAving letter from Mr. Harvey, 
 the Independent minister at Chester, and a certificate from the church 
 at Brombrough are recorded in the Cheshire Minute Book : — 
 
 " Mr. Harvie's letter on Mr. Edge's account to Mr. Aspinwall or 
 *' Angier was as followeth : — 
 
 Dear Brother,' — On the eighteenth day of this instant I preached and adminis- 
 tered ye Sacrament of ye Lord's Supper at Bromborrough, which I have done once 
 in two months ever since Mr. Wilson left the people that meet there. The con- 
 gregation is considerably increased both in common auditors and in communicants. 
 The chief of ye society when I was last mth them desired me to give my thoughts 
 of Mr. Edge, which I now do. He is one who is completely skilled in ye Latin 
 and Greek tongues, and hath some knowledge of the Hebrew. He is pious and 
 industrious, meek and lowly of heart, zealously disposed to do good in his genera- 
 tion, and by his affability, good doctrine, and blamelesse conversation hath obtained 
 much respect amongst his hearers, as will now fully appear by a certificate of his 
 behaviour subscribed by them : which is all at present from your affectionate 
 brother, JOHN HarVIE. 
 
 Chester, Sep. 23, 1692. 
 
 * Life of Matthew Henry, page 257. fTong's Lifcj, page 259.
 
 86 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 A CoppY OF YE Certificate. 
 We, whose names are subscribed, inhabitants of Bromborough, Widaston, and 
 the parts adjacent in Wirral, do certify that Mr. Richard Edge hath lived and 
 preached among us now almost a year last past, and hath approved himself well. 
 His conversation hath been sober, humble, and pious, and his preaching edifying 
 and profitable, and we unanimously desire he may be duely fixed among us to labour 
 among us in the Lord. 
 
 " This certificate was subscribed by thirty-four persons."* 
 Mr. Edge did not long continue pastor of the church at Brom- 
 brough according to this request, for at Christmas in 1693 we find 
 Mr. Robert Travers there, who had been ordained at the same 
 time with Mr. Edge. His stay was also very short, as the following 
 extract shews : — 
 
 " Upon information that Mr. Robert Travers was resolved to 
 " leave the people he had fixed with in Wirrall since Christmas last, 
 " it was agreed that the following letter should be despatched unto 
 " him to divert him from that intention : 
 
 Knutsford, Aug. X4th, 1694. 
 Dear Brother, — Your case was this day taken into consideration. The result 
 is we do unanimously desire you (with all tenderness) not to think of removing 
 without a clearer call. It is feared if you should the effects would be so sad upon 
 the congregation that hereafter it may be reflected on with much regret. Pray 
 suspend your thought till another meeting, where it may be better considered and 
 determined. God keep you in the way of duty, and make us all cordially willing 
 to serve our dear Master Chi-ist Jesus ^vith constancy and fidelity in the station he 
 hath assigned us. — We are yours in our dear Lord, 
 
 Sam ; Lawrence, Moderator. 
 Gam : Jones, Scribe. 
 This affectionate Christian letter shows with what brotherly 
 tenderness, apart altogether from any assumption of authority, the 
 the united ministers of Cheshire acted. They met for mutual 
 counsel not for command. Mr. Travers however slighted the well- 
 meant advice of his brethren and upon the receipt of it quickly 
 removed to Lichfield. He was succeeded at Brombro' by Mr. 
 Richard Hoult, who remained as pastor of the church there about 
 two years. 
 
 The Rev. Ralph Ainsworth was the next minister. In 1691 he 
 signed the Cheshire Agreement of Presbyterian and Congregational 
 ministers, as minister of Whitley chapel where he remained until that 
 place was appropriated by the Episcopalians about the year 1700. 
 
 * Cheshire Minute Book.
 
 Deanery of Wirrall. 87 
 
 He then came to Brombro', and after labouring here about three 
 years he removed in the beginning of the year 1704 into Lancashire. 
 
 He was followed by the Rev. Leoline Edwards, a student from 
 Mr. Owen's academy at Wrexliam. He had supplied the congrega- 
 tion at Haslington upon the death of Mr. Cope, and afterwards spent 
 some time at Tintwistle. He was ordained at Wheelock in August 
 1706 with Silas Sidebottom and his fellow student Thomas Perrott of 
 Newmarket, Flintshire. His thesis was An vere regeniti a gratia Dei 
 totaliter et finaliter excidere possint .? 
 
 He was minister at Brombro' from the year 1707 probably until 
 1 7 14, during which time he attended the meetings of Cheshire 
 ministers. In 17 15 he was living as minister of the church at 
 Oswestry. 
 
 His old fellow student Mr. Thomas Perrott succeeded him. He 
 is described as one of the ministers present from other counties at the 
 meeting held August 4, 17 13, so that at that time he must have been 
 still minister at Newmarket, Flintshire. He was at Brombrough 
 however in 17 15, and had one hundred and eighty hearers, twelve 
 of whom were gentlemen.* He attended the meetings of the 
 Cheshire ministers, and on one occasion May 7, 17 17, preached the 
 sermon before the assembled brethren from Luke ix. 62. In 17 19 
 he removed to Caermarthen. 
 
 The Rev. Thomas Woodcock followed. He was ordained by 
 the Cheshire ministers August 8, 1 7 2 1 . His question was An beati 
 in statu Glories se mutuo sint agnituri ? Aff. "In a numerous 
 " assembly of ministers and people met together in the New Chapel 
 " (Knutsford) he was solemnly set apart for the office and work of 
 " the ministry. Mr. LightbowTi (of AUostock) began with prayer and 
 " reading some portions of Scripture. Mr. Culcheth (of Macclesfield) 
 " prayed before sermon. Mr. Gardner (of Chester) preached from 
 " John i. 1 6 — And of His fulness have all we received and grace for 
 " grace. After sermon ended Mr. Owen (of Warrington) called for a 
 " confession of his faith which he made before the congregation, and 
 " then put the usual questions to him to which he answered verbis 
 " conceptis. Afterwards he was set apart by prayer and imposition of 
 " hands of Mr. Owen, Gardner, Culcheth, Waterhouse, Sydebottom, 
 " Jones, Lea, who prayed over him. Then followed the exhortation 
 
 * MS. Williams's Library.
 
 88 No7ico7iformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " by Mr. Sydebottom from Numbers xxvii. i8, 19, and so concluding 
 " with prayer, thanksgiving, singing, and pronouncing the blessing, 
 " the congregation was dismissed."* 
 
 How long Mr. Woodcock continued at Brombro' is uncertain. 
 He was occasionally present at the Cheshire ministerial meetings 
 down to the year 1727. Nothing is known regarding the Noncon- 
 formist church at Brombro' since his pastorate. It seems gradually 
 to have died out. 
 
 OVERCHURCH AND UPTON. 
 
 OvERCHURCH, which is the name of the parish embracing and co- 
 extensive with the township of Upton, was once adorned with an 
 ancient and beautiful church, at which during the Commonwealth the 
 Rev. Henry Hatton a Presbyterian preached. He signed the Attestatmi 
 of Cheshire ministers in 1648, as minister of the place, but it is 
 uncertain how long he held that office. The church was for many 
 years aftenvards in a state of decay. In 1709 the steeple having 
 been injured in a storm, and the body of the church much dilapidated, 
 two of the bells were sold to defray the expenses of repairs. In 1813 
 the venerable structure was taken down and a smaller building erected. 
 Upton, though now only a small village, was formerly considered 
 the metropolis of the lower mediety of Wirrall, and had two annual 
 fairs of considerable importance. It became, therefore, when the 
 Toleration Act was passed, one of the centres of Dissent in that part 
 of the county. Bishop Gastrell names a Presbyterian meeting house 
 as existing in his time in this parish, and in the year 1691 we find the 
 Rev. Thomas Lea, minister of Upton, among the small band of 
 Presbyterian and Congregational ministers who met together and 
 formed themselves into a union upon the basis of the terms of agree- 
 ment drawn up by the London ministers. Mr. Lea entered Mr. 
 Frankland's academy as a student, at Natland, on May nth, 1678, 
 and probably became pastor of the Nonconformist church at Upton 
 immediately upon his leaving college. Certain it is that he was 
 settled in that office in 1691, and that he continued to labour there 
 faithfully for eighteen years from that date. He attended the meetings 
 
 * Cheshire Mmute Book, page 58.
 
 Deanery of Wirrall. 89 
 
 of the Cheshire ministers, and was much respected and beloved by 
 his brethren. At their August meeting in 1700 he was the preacher, 
 and took for his text i Corinthians iv. 2, Moreover it is required in 
 stewards that a man be found faithful. Notwithstanding the faithful- 
 ness of their pastor however it seems that the church at Upton became 
 gradually weaker and declined. Mr. Lea was one of the ministers 
 who for tliree successive years received a share of the bequest of Mr. 
 Thomas Lee* of Damal, for the support of the Cheshire ministry. 
 Upon the death of Mr. Samuel Low, minister at Knutsford, April 19th, 
 1709, Mr. Lea of Upton was invited to succeed him. "Mr. Lea 
 " spent the fourth Lord's Day in May 1709 at Knutsford, and was 
 " unanimously chosen, but took time to consider of it, being very 
 " averse to think of leaving the place where he now is, though he 
 " labours under great discouragements there, the congregation being 
 " dAdndled to next nothing; but nine o^vn communicants and some 
 " of those that had been members being a great grief to him. In 
 " June some of the congregation at Knutsford went to Upton to 
 " enforce the invitation they had given him; he said he would know 
 " what the advice of his brethren the ministers was. He owned that 
 " five of the ministers that had advised him were so far convinced of 
 " the reasonableness of his removal that they would acquiesce, and 
 '■ only two were stiff against it. August 2nd. The case of Mr. Lea's 
 " invitation to Knutsford was proposed, stated, and duly considered. 
 " The opinion of all the brethren was asked one by one, and they all 
 *' agree that he had a clear call to Knutsford. "WTiereupon, after 
 " some consideration, \A\k\. great humility and tenderness he declared 
 " his acceptance of the call in compHance with the advice of his 
 " brethren, and promised to come after two Sabbaths."t These 
 extracts tell in favour of the worthy humble minister of Upton, but 
 rather against his congregation there. ^Vhen he left, the chiirch seems 
 to have been dissolved, and what became of the chapel is not knoAVTi. 
 Mr. Lea continued minister at Knutsford several years. His 
 name occurs as present at the meetings of ministers up to September 
 5th, 1732. He died May 17th, 1733, at the age of seventy-seven. 
 
 * This Mr. Thomas Lee seems to have been no relation to the Upton minister, 
 though their names are sometimes spelt alike. Regarding the former Matthew 
 Henry says, "My worthy friend Mr. Thomas Lee of Damal finished his course on 
 Friday night. May i8th, 1705." 
 
 t Cheshire Minute Book.
 
 90 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 BIRKENHEAD. 
 
 This place is described by Bishop Gastrell as "Extraparochiall, subject 
 " to no Jurisdiction Spirituall or Temporal!, payes no Tyths." It is 
 celebrated in the ancient ecclesiastical history of Cheshire for its 
 Friory, founded in or about the year 1153 by Hamon de Massie, the 
 third baron of Dunham Massey, and enriched with many endowments, 
 among which was the vicarage of Bowdon. At the dissolution of the 
 monasteries by Henry VIII. it became crown property, and afterwards 
 was given, together with the township of Claughton, to Ralph Worsley. 
 Gastrell states that in his time the owner of the property was Mr. 
 Cleveland of Liverpool, " who allows the curate of Bidston 8^. per 
 " annum, for which he reads prayers and preaches every Sunday except 
 " ye first Sunday in ye month."* S. Mary's Church now stands close 
 by the ancient chapel of the Priory. 
 
 What was three centuries ago " a Priory hard on the Wyral shore, 
 " without any village by it," and a place of refreshment for the travellers 
 by the ferry from Liverpool, has of late years become a large and 
 populous town, the residence of many Liverpool merchants. Several 
 places of worship have been built, two of which are Independent 
 Chapels, namely, Woodside Chapel and Oxton Road Chapel. 
 
 WooDsiDE Independent CHAPEL.f 
 
 This chapel, which is situated in Hamilton Square, was opened 
 for public worship on the i6th October 1838; the services being 
 conducted by the Revs. Dr. Raffles of Liverpool, Dr. Carruthers then 
 of Liverpool, and Samuel Luke then of Chester. On the 26th Feb- 
 ruary 1839, a church was formed, and in October of the same year the 
 Rev. R. Cope of Airedale College was ordained first pastor. Mr. 
 Cope resigned in 1841, and entered the Established Church. The 
 second pastorwasthe Rev. William O'Hanlon, who began his ministry 
 there in April 1842, and resigned towards the end of 1845. In 1846 
 the Rev. H. D. Knowles was ordained third pastor. He continued 
 his labours till the middle of 1849, when he resigned, and the church 
 
 * Notitia Cestriensis, i. 156. 
 + Furnished by the Rev. James Mann, nainister of the place.
 
 Deanery of Wirrall. 91 
 
 was dissolved. The Rev. James Mann was invited by the trustees to 
 take the superintendence of the congregation, and entered upon his 
 charge on the first Sabbath of December 1851. A church was again 
 formed on the 9th February 1852, when a unanimous call was given to 
 Mr. Mann to become pastor. The call was at once accepted, and a 
 public recognition service was held on the 2nd March in the same year. 
 He still continues pastor. 
 
 Congregational Church, Oxton Roau, Birkenhead.* 
 
 Until within the last seven years there was but one Congrega- 
 tional church in Birkenhead, situated so far from Oxton and Claugh- 
 ton as to be of little service to the Nonconformists living in these 
 neighbourhoods. 
 
 Many professing Congregational principles were therefore con- 
 strained to connect themselves ^vith those holding views on church 
 poUty different from their own ; and a few gentlemen determined to 
 do their utmost to remedy the aefect by forming another Inde- 
 pendent cause. 
 
 A small chapel in Grange Lane which had been formerly occupied 
 by the Association Methodists happening at this time to be vacant, 
 afforded an opportunity of commencing religious services without 
 delay. The originators of the enterprise guaranteed to defray the 
 expenses of the first year, and the Rev. Richard Thompson, B.A., of 
 New College London, accepted an invitation to conduct the Sabbath 
 services for a few weeks, beginning on the 17th of June 1855. His 
 ministrations were continued for three months, after which the Rev. 
 D. Simon supplied the pulpit for a short time. The services of the 
 Rev. F. S. Williams, formerly of New College London, were now 
 secured for a season, and a very cordial invitation was soon afterwards 
 accepted by him to become the pastor. On January ist, 1856, he 
 began his labours. In the February following a church was formed, 
 for which purpose a most impressive service was held, in which the 
 Revs. Dr. Raffles, Professor Griftiths, W. Harcus, James Mann, and 
 — "White took part. The Rev. F. S. Williams was ordained to the 
 pastorate in the following May. Very soon after his settlement the 
 project of erecting a new church was formed. The population about 
 
 * Furnished by the Rev. Charles Goward, minister of the place.
 
 92 N onco7iformity in Cheshire. 
 
 Oxton and Claughton was rapidly increasing, and it was hoped that 
 there would be very soon too large a congregation for the chapel in 
 Grange Lane. A site was selected, the situation of which has proved 
 to be very central, for during the last few years the green fields and 
 pleasant valleys which surrounded it have been turned into streets 
 and terraces. 
 
 The land was purchased, and 560/. were subscribed by the com- 
 mittee and their families ; one gentleman in addition to other services 
 giving his assistance in the necessary legal transactions. After con- 
 siderable negotiations with the English Congregational Chapel Building 
 Society, the council determined to give 150/., and to lend 150/. 
 repayable by yearly instalments. The Liverpool Congregational Aid 
 Chapel Building Society, then just formed, gave 200/., and lent 200/. 
 to be repaid by ten yearly instalments, four of the committee becoming 
 yearly subscribers of 5/. each to that society. 
 
 The plans were now adopted, and tenders invited for the execution 
 of the work. The lowest tenders presented doubled the estimate of 
 2,160/. that had first been given. The work of building, however, 
 was begun, and progress was made. Fresh contributors to the finances 
 came forward, and all concerned in it were hopeful. The contractor 
 failed ; but the committee resolved to complete the building, though 
 at an extra cost of 900/. The edifice was then soon finished, because 
 " all had a mind to work." On the 22nd June 1858 it was opened 
 for divine worship by a religious service, in which the ministers of the 
 neighbouring churches took part. 
 
 The cost of the building, which is a very handsome structure, 
 together with the site and the schoolhouse, amounted to 5,475/. 
 
 It is only fitting that this record should bear testimony to the 
 indomitable perseverance displayed by the originators of the now 
 advancing cause. They clung to the enterprise through good and 
 evil report, and voluntarily permitted the gravest responsibilities to 
 be laid upon them for the sake of Him in whose name they began 
 and continued their work. 
 
 Since they first commenced, other Nonconformist bodies have 
 been incited to church extension. The Baptist brethren have reared 
 a noble building ; the United Presbyterians have erected two new 
 edifices; and within the last year the Wesleyans have opened a 
 large chapel. 
 
 In July 1 86 1 Mr. Williams resigned the pastorate of the church,
 
 Deanery of Wirrall. 93 
 
 which remained without a settled ministry until the next spring. At 
 the expiration of six months, during which period the pulpit was sup- 
 pUed by various ministers, the Rev. Charles Goward, formerly of 
 Airedale College, was invdted to preach for two Sabbaths. After a 
 second visit a requisition to become their pastor was sent by the 
 church and congregation to jMr. Goward. The call was acceded to, 
 and the present minister commenced his duties the first Sabbath in 
 May 1862. 
 
 LISCARD. 
 
 This place, which was foraierly an uninteresting and thinly peopled 
 towTiship in the parish of Wallasey, now includes the populous 
 watering places of Egremont and New Brighton. An Independent 
 chapel has been erected, the history of which may here be fitly 
 inserted. 
 
 The LiscARD Independent Church* was founded by John 
 Astley Marsden, Esq., of Liscard Castle, in the year 1842. Mr. 
 Marsden, a staunch Dissenter and a great admirer of the older 
 EngHsh divines, was one day passing along some back street in 
 London when his attention was attracted to a marble tablet lying in 
 a builder's yard, the inscription upon which was to the memory of 
 Dr. Watts. Upon inquiry Mr. Marsden ascertained that it had been 
 set up in Dr. Watts's chapel, S. Mary Axe, and had been purchased 
 by the builder together with the original pulpit, the pews, &c., a few 
 months before when the chapel was pulled dowTi. Mr. Marsden 
 at once became the purchaser and with great triumph brought home 
 the reUcs of a man for whom he had the deepest reverence. He 
 immediately set to work, built a church upon his o^vti land to put 
 them in at a cost of about 1,200/. and handed it over when finished 
 to trustees for the use of the Congregational body. It was opened 
 on the I St of September 1842. It is a neat building Anglo-Gothic, 
 with lancet windows and a tower. The next year some extensive 
 alterations were made in the building, which cost 800/. 
 
 On the day of the re-opening July 19th, 1843, a church was 
 formed consisting of eleven persons. And on the follomng ist of 
 August the Rev. W1LLIA.M Lawson Brown, M.A., formerly of Lerwick, 
 
 * Furnished by the Rev. James Cranbrook, minister of the place.
 
 914 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 Shetland, was set apart to the pastoral office. He held his pastorate 
 however onlymitil the i6th of December 1844, when having received 
 an invitation to one of the churches in Bolton he resigned. During 
 the year about thirty-seven members had been added to the church, 
 and his ministry was otherwise very successful. 
 
 The church remained without a pastor until the ist of May 1846, 
 when the Rev. Jaimes Le Couteur of Upway, Dorset, was called to 
 and entered upon the office. He held it until the 27th of November 
 1849 when he resigned, and soon after accepted a call to the church 
 in Welhngton, Wilts, where he has remained ever since. 
 
 After Mr. Le Couteur's removal the church remained unsettled 
 until the spring of 1851. An invitation was then given to the Rev. 
 James Cranbrook of Stratford-on-Avon. Mr. Cranbrook entered 
 upon the pastorate on the 23rd of April, and is still the minister of 
 the church. 
 
 The following is the inscription on Dr. Watts's tablet, now placed 
 within the tower over the stairs leading to the gallery : — 
 
 nD-12'? pnii ID? 
 
 (Prov. X. 7.) 
 
 The following humble Inscription was composed by 
 
 Dr. Watts a short Time before his Death, 
 
 and according to his Desire is WTitten upon his Tombstone 
 
 in Bunliill Fields : 
 
 Isaac Watts, D.D. 
 
 Pastor of a church in Bury Street London, 
 
 Successor of the Rev. Joseph Caryl, 
 
 Dr. John Owen, Mr. Clarkson, and Dr. Isaac Chauncey, 
 
 After fifty years of feeble labours in the gospel 
 
 interrupted by four years of painful sickness. 
 
 Was at last dismissed to rest 
 
 Nov. 25, A.D. 1748, 
 
 ^t. 75. 
 
 c Cor, V. 5. — Absent from the body, present with the Lord. 
 
 Col. iii. 4. — When Christ who is our life shall appear, I shall 
 
 also appear with him in glory. 
 
 In uno Jem omnia.
 
 DEANERY OF M A L P A S 
 
 (By ike Rev. W. Urwick, M.A.) 
 
 ALPAS Deanery, which forms part of the hundred of 
 Broxton, is comparatively small, and contains only eight 
 parishes, from four of which however ministers were 
 ejected in 1662, viz., George Mainwaring from Malpas, 
 Thomas Burroughs from Harthill, John Griffith from Shocklach, 
 and George Bonnjonan from Tilston. That scrap of the county of 
 Flint which borders upon this part of Cheshire, interesting as it is in 
 the annals of ecclesiastical and particularly Nonconformist history, shall 
 be included in our sketch of this deanery. 
 
 MALPAS. 
 
 The town of Malpas, fifteen miles south from Chester, and five from 
 Whitchurch, in Shropshire, is pleasantly situated on a hill, from the 
 higher parts of which extensive views are obtained. There are two 
 rectories to the one church, called the Higher Mediety and the Lower 
 Mediety. The Rev. George Mainwaring was minister at this place, 
 probably at the Higher Mediety, during the Commonwealth. He 
 signed the Cheshire Attestation of Presbyterian ministers in that 
 capacity in 1648. He was bom in Wrenbury parish, and supported 
 at the university by Mr. Cotton of Combermere, where he had the 
 reputation of a good scholar. He was made acquainted with the ways 
 of religion by means of Mr. Buckley, his uncle, a strict Puritan. He 
 was first chaplain to Sir Henry Delves, afterwards rector of Baddaley 
 and chaplain to Sir Thomas Mainwaring. After the wars he removed 
 to Malpas, whence he was ejected at the Restoration. The pious
 
 g6 No}iconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 Philip Henry, who gives this account of him,* calls him " a worthy 
 " minister of Jesus Christ, and my worthy friend;" and adds, "His 
 " conversation was exemplary, especially for plainness and integrity; 
 " he was eminent for expounding Scripture. While he was at Malpas 
 " he constantly gave all the milk which his dairy yielded on the Lord's 
 " Day to the poor." Omierod, the historian of Cheshire, insinuates 
 that this account is incorrect. He says, "the question of its accuracy 
 " is only hinted at from its being strongly opposed to local tradition." 
 All, however, who know the character of Philip Henry will consider 
 his assertion of a matter of fact concerning one whom he knew inti- 
 mately, and close by whom he lived, as more trustworthy than any 
 local tradition. When Philip Henry was engaged in building a par- 
 sonage at Worthenbury, he notes in his diary that the very day the 
 workmen began building, Mr. Mainwaring of Malpas preached the 
 lecture at Bangor (Flintshire) from Psalm cxxvii. i. Except the Lord 
 build the house, they labour in vain that build it. There never was 
 truth, saith he, more seasonable to any than this was to me ; it was a 
 word upon the wheels. + Philip Henry's eldest son, who died in his 
 sixth year, was baptized by Mr. George Mainwaring, " late of Malpas," 
 May i2th, 1661. He preached in the morning from Zechariah xii. i, 
 and in the afternoon from Psalm li. 5, at Worthenbury. 
 
 Mr. Mainwaring died in a good old age, March 14th, 1669-70, 
 gathered as a shock of corn in his season. Philip Henry wrote an 
 elegy upon the death of his worthy friend, in which he thus bewails 
 the restraints put upon him by the Act of Uniformity : — 
 
 His later years he sadly spent. 
 
 Wrapt up in silence and restraint, 
 
 A burden such as none do know 
 
 But they that do it undergo. 
 
 To have a fire shut up and pent 
 
 Within the bowels and no vent ; 
 
 To have gorged breasts, and by a law 
 
 Those that fain would, forbidden to draw. 
 
 But his dumb Sabbaths here did prove 
 
 Loud crying Sabbaths in heav'n above ; 
 
 His tears, when he might sow no more 
 
 Watering what he had sown before. 
 
 Walker, in his Sufferings of the Clergy, names the Rev. Thomas 
 Bridge as vicar of Malpas sequestered and restored. He adds, 
 
 * Life, by Williams, page 270. t See Proverbs xxv. 11.
 
 Deanery of Malpas. 97 
 
 " I am not absolutely certain of this sequestration, and therefore 
 " quaere!" The probability is, however, that Walker is right, 
 because the Lower Mediety was held during the Commonwealth (as 
 we shall presently see) by Mr. Holland ; but Mr. Mainwaring calls 
 himself minister at Malpas in 1648, and though there were two other 
 chapels — S. Chad's and Whitewell — in the parish suppHed by the 
 rectors for the time being, at which Mr. Mainwaring might have 
 ministered while Mr. Bridge held the Upper Mediety, the fact of his 
 ejectment in 1660 can be accounted for only on the supposition that 
 he had to make way for the old incumbent. Mr. Bridge was appointed 
 rector to the Upper Mediety February 21st, 1624; he was supplanted 
 by Mr. Mainwaring; in 1660 he was reinstated in his li%ing and Mr. 
 M. turned out; and in 1682 he died. The follo\\'ing account of him 
 occiu-s in Philip Henry's Life : — 
 
 " Mr. Thomas Bridge, who had been rector of the higher parsonage 
 " of Malpas about fifty-seven years, being aged about eighty-two years, 
 " was buried at Malpas October 7th, 1682. In his last sickness, 
 " which was long, he had appointed Mr. Green, one of the curates 
 " there, to preach his funeral sermon on i Timothy i. 16, — Hoivbeit 
 '■'■for this cause I obtained merc}\ that in 7ne first Jesus Christ might 
 " shew forth all long-suffering,— ■zx^^ to say nothing in his commenda- 
 " tion, but to give a large account of his repentance." The diary runs 
 thus: — "Mr. Green preached. Text, i Timothy i. 16 ; told what he 
 " [Mr. Brooks] had declared to him in a late fit which he had con- 
 " ceming his repentance; towards his latter end very charitable; a 
 " taking popular good preacher; preached often, and to the last could 
 " read the smallest print without spectacles, having used glasses in 
 " private ever since forty."* 
 
 The Lower Mediety of Malpas rectory was held during the Com- 
 monwealth by the Rev. William Holland, who belonged to the 
 family of the Hollands of Denton. He signed the Cheshire Attesta- 
 tion to the Covenant as minister at Malpas in 1648. In the register 
 of his marriage at Malpas church, 27th February 1654-5, he is 
 described as "minister of God's Word in the Lower Mediety of 
 " Malpas." He conformed in 1662 to the requirements of the Act of 
 Uniformity, and resigned his living through ill health in 1680. In 
 1660 he signed a testimonial to Bishop Bridgman in behalf of Philip 
 
 •Williams's Life of Philip Henry, pages 274, 461.
 
 98 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 Henry, witnessing the orthodoxy, learning, piety, and loyalty of the 
 worthy Puritan. The celebrated Matthew Henry was baptized by 
 him the day after his birth, being Sunday October 19, 1662. "His 
 " father desired Mr. Holland to omit the sign of the cross, but he 
 " said He durst not do it; to which Mr. Henry replied Theti sir, let it 
 " lie at your door. However godfathers and godmothers there were 
 " none."* 
 
 In the history of Denton chapel a letter is given from Mr. Holland 
 to his parishioners at Malpas excusing his absence from his charge, 
 together with their address in reply. The latter is as follows : — 
 
 " We parishioners of Malpas are willing to certify that William 
 " Holland, clerk and M.A., hath been parson here t\venty-four years, 
 " and for more than twenty years did with unwearied labour care- 
 " fully perform all the offices appertaining to his place and calling, 
 " until of late years it hath pleased God to visit him with such bodily 
 " infirmities that have caused great obstructions in breathing and 
 " difficulties in speaking ; so that not without compassion and pity 
 " of his sufferings and infirmities we have of late years heard him 
 " deliver his meditations in the pulpit." 
 
 In his letter to his parishioners he says : — " My removal from 
 " Malpas was not, ist, out of any contempt or undervaluing disdain 
 " of my function and call to the ministry. God is my witness in this 
 " sense I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. It was not, 2ndly, 
 " out of weariness of my ministerial employment ; nor, 3rdly, upon 
 " consideration, or design of reaping any considerable advantage or 
 " profit by it ; but, ist, my own disability of voice, 2ndly, the death of 
 " my wife, and, srdly, the education of my children." 
 
 Mr. Holland succeeded to the Denton Hall estate on his brother's 
 death ; in 1680 he resigned his living, and in 1682 he died. 
 
 Bishop Gastrell notes that in his day there were twenty Dissenters, 
 most of them Presbyterian, at Malpas. 
 
 It is worthy of note that Reginald Heber, the eminent poet and 
 Bishop of Calcutta, was born at the Higher Rectory at Malpas, of 
 which place his father was rector, in 1783. 
 
 Independent Chapel, Malpas. 
 The Rev. James Pridie now resident at Halifax, Yorkshire, gives 
 
 *Tong's Life of M. Heniy, page 6.
 
 Deanery of Malpas. 99 
 
 the following account of the origin of the Independent church at 
 Malpas : — 
 
 " My connection with Malpas commenced in 18 14. Early in 
 " that year a few friends in Chester obtained a small farm, and having 
 " converted it into a chapel, it was opened in due fonn by the late 
 " Mr. Thorp of Bristol. 
 
 " Just before that time a gentleman resident in Chester, the late 
 " Mr. Williamson, had purchased an estate at Boughton in the 
 " suburbs of that city. The estate originally belonged to a clergy- 
 " man who had seceded from the Established church. Out of 
 " several buildings he constructed a place of worship in which he 
 " officiated on the Sabbath. Mr. Williamson was wishful this chapel 
 " should be re-opened. Circumstances, to which I need not advert, 
 *' induced me to comply with a request earnestly presented to preach 
 " both at Boughton and at Malpas. Having preached at Boughton 
 " in the morning I rode to Malpas and preached there in the evening, 
 " then rode three miles to obtain a bed. At the expiration of six 
 " months I was able to obtain a lodging in Malpas, and I continued 
 " to reside and labour there till the spring of 18 16, when I left for 
 " Manchester. 
 
 " I would desire to record with deep humility and gratitude that 
 " some of the fruits of my Malpas ministrations are to be found even 
 " at the present day."* 
 
 In January 1821 a church was formed by the Rev. James Pridie, 
 then minister of New Windsor Chapel Manchester, the Rev. John 
 Morris of Tattenhall, the Rev. George B. Kidd of Doddington, 
 Whitchurch, with several members of neighbouring churches. The 
 Lord's Supper was administered the same day. Ths Revs. J. 
 Morris and G. Kidd superintended the affairs of the church until the 
 year 1824, when the Rev. Mr. Williams accepted a call to the 
 pastoral office and continued at Malpas about two years. 
 
 In the year 1825 a small chapel in the Lion Yard (built and for 
 some time occupied by the New Connexion Methodists) was pur- 
 chased for a 10/., and opened as an Independent chapel in October 
 of the same year by the Revds. Dr. Raffles and J. Thorp. 
 
 In 1828 the Rev. H. Birch, formerly a student at Blackburn 
 and late of Oldham, accepted an invitation to the pastorate, and 
 
 * Letter to the Rev. W. Urwick, March 23, 1863.
 
 lOO Nonconformity iji Cheshire. 
 
 continued to fulfil its duties till April 1834. In 1836 Mr. C. BelkwdiS 
 recommended by the Cheshire Union to the church, and laboured 
 among them about three years, during which period the Lord's 
 Supper was administered by the Rev. J. Morris of Tattenhall — Mr. 
 Belk not being ordained. In October 1842, Mr. S. M. Coomes 
 being (it is noted in the church book) in the order of Divine 
 Providence brought among the people of Malpas, they retained him 
 to labour among them in word and doctrine. During his stay, a 
 Bible class and Sabbath school were both established. His stay 
 however must have been short, for on August 23, 1846, " after a 
 " continuance of supplies for about sixteen months " the Rev. W. 
 Williams was chosen pastor. He held the office for about six 
 years. After another interval, in the latter part of the year 1857 the 
 Rev. Henry Bake became minister of the place, and still continues 
 to fill the office of pastor. 
 
 During the years 1861 and 1862 a new chapel, school room, and 
 lecture rooms were erected on an eligible site, with burial ground 
 adjoining, at a cost of 1620/. 
 
 An Independent chapel was opened in Threapwood in the year 
 1850, calculated to seat one hundred and twenty persons, and the 
 minister of Malpas holds service in this place once every Sunday. 
 Threapwood is an extra-parochial district, partly in Cheshire and 
 partly in Flintshire. The Independents have had a preaching station 
 there for many years. 
 
 ALDFORD. 
 
 Walker names a Mr. Eaton rector of Aldford as sequestered in 1643. 
 He says, " He was dispossessed by a party of soldiers, who most 
 " barbarously carried out his wife (sister or daughter to Sir Philip 
 " Oldfield) and placed her on a dunghill, where they so much insulted 
 " and abused her that she grew distracted and died in that condition." 
 In 1648 among the signatures to the Cheshire Attestation of Presby- 
 terian ministers there occurs the following : — -Joh?i Roberts, pastor of 
 Aldford. He was probably a relative of Jonathan Roberts of Den- 
 bighshire, whom Philip Henry describes " a learned man and an 
 Israelite indeed^' and who was ejected from Llanvaier in 1662. 
 
 Aldford Hall (now used as a farm house) was in the time of
 
 Deanery of Malpas. i o i 
 
 James I. the residence of Bishop Vaughan, during the prevalence of 
 the plague in Chester. The foundations of Aldford Castle, moated 
 all round, are still visible a short distance from the church. 
 
 CODDINGTON. 
 
 The rectory of Coddington is thus described in the Parliamentary 
 Survey, 1649*: — "It has an old parsonage house, with garden, orchard, 
 " and one close or glebe, called the Springe, butting south upon the 
 " highway and north upon Sir Thomas Wilbraham's ground, and worth 
 " 10/. per annum. Tythe corn and hay of Coddington worth 30/. 
 " per annum. Half of the tythe corn and hay in Chowley (a township 
 " included in the parish) worth 6/. per annum. Third part of the 
 " tythes of Aldersey (another township) worth 4/. per annum. Mr. 
 " Richard Vaughan is minister there." 
 
 HAND LEY. 
 
 " Samuel Catherall, pastor of Handley," signed the Cheshire Attes- 
 tation of Presbyterian ministers in 1648. Philip Henry names t a 
 Samuel Catharall living as a schoolmaster at Whitewell Chapel in 
 1665, and at Wigland, also in Malpas parish, in 1667. He was (if 
 not the same person) probably a near relative, perhaps son of the 
 Presbyterian minister. 
 
 HARTHILL. 
 
 Walker names " Mr. Wright at Harthill in the Deanery of Malpas. 
 " He was turned out to make room for one Thomas Burroughs, who 
 " was a man of no learning, bred up to husbandry, and yet enjoyed 
 " the benefice until the Restoration." This Mr. Burroughs is named 
 by Calamy as one of those who afterwards conformed. He was 
 instituted to the living of Baddaley in the Deanery of Nantwich, 
 December 14, 1681. 
 
 * Lambeth MSS. f Life, by "Williams, page 109.
 
 I02 Nonconformity iii Cheshire. 
 
 Bishop Gastrell names a Dissenters' meeting house, Anabaptist, 
 as existing in this parish in his time. 
 
 SHOCKLACH. 
 
 Calamy names the Rev. John Griffith, minister of Shocklach, as one 
 of the noble army of Nonconformists in 1662. He was ejected from 
 this living and became a Nonconforming minister in Shropshire. 
 
 Bishop Gastrell notes that there were in his day four families of 
 Presbyterian Dissenters in Shocklach parish. 
 
 The celebrated John Dod the Decalogist was a native of 
 Shocklach, where his parents lived and had a considerable estate. 
 He was born in the year 1550. He was educated at Jesus College 
 Cambridge, where he became scholar and fellow, and where he 
 remained sixteen years. He aftenvards became the minister of 
 Hanwell in Oxfordshire, and laboured there as a faithful pastor for 
 twenty years. He was suspended from his ministr}'^ there by Dr. 
 Bridges Bishop of Oxford, for Nonconformity to the ritual of the 
 Establishment ; and he gave his flock a farewell sermon on the 
 occasion from the words, / will smite the shepherd and the sheep 
 shall he scattered. Being thus driven from Hanwell he preached at 
 Fenny Compton in Warwickshire, and afterwards at Canons-Ashby 
 in Northamptonshire where he lived quietly several years and 
 preached over the whole prophecy of Daniel. He was again silenced 
 there by Bishop Neal. He then ceased to preach privately, but 
 considering his heavenly gift in conference, he might have been 
 said daily to preach privately. He died at Fawsley, Northampton- 
 shire, in the year 1645, 3.t the advanced age of ninety-six years. He 
 was an excellent Hebraist and is best known by his able work upon 
 the Decalogue ; but was also celebrated for his maxims which were 
 printed in sheets and pasted on the walls of cottages with the title 
 Dod's Sayings. One of these which he realised in his own experience 
 was " Sanctified afflictions are spiritual promotions." He suffered 
 brutal cruelty from Charles the First's cavaliers who plundered his 
 house, and Avhen he was unable through weakness to leave his 
 chamber, cut away the curtains of his bed and pulled away the 
 pillows from under the head of the good old man.* 
 
 * Clark's Lives attached to his Martyrology, page 175.
 
 Deanery of Malpas. lo^ 
 
 TATTENHALL. 
 
 Among the signatures to the Cheshire Attestation in adoption of the 
 Solemn League and Covenant, 1648, occurs the name of Josias 
 Clark, pastor of Tatienhall. We have not been able to ascertain how 
 long he remained at Tattenhall, or whether he was a Conformist or 
 a Nonconformist. The minister at Tattenhall in 1662 was probably 
 a Conformist. Dr. Moreton, rector of Tattenhall, died March 1675-6, 
 and his son-in-law Mr. Tarbuck succeeded to the living. He being in 
 a very low state of health had to employ a curate, and in the course of 
 a few months died. Henry Newcome, son of the celebrated Non- 
 conformist minister ejected from the Collegiate Church Manchester, 
 succeeded. The following is the account in his father's Autobiography 
 of his obtaining the appointment to Tattenhall : — 
 
 " The warden told me that the presentation for Harry to Tatten- 
 " hall was come. I went away to Barthomley, found my rector (Z. 
 " Cawdrey) at home, and he very kindly went with me towards 
 " Tattenhall the next day. We had before us to smooth the way all 
 " we could, to get a fairness in the people to receive him; and then 
 " the curate in the place, the people had generally petitioned for him, 
 " and I confess I was concerned about that, as thinking a man of 
 " such interest should rather have been preferred than a stranger. 
 " When we came to Tarporley we found Mr. Sherard at home, who 
 " received us very heartily, and was glad of the news and offered us 
 " all assistance. . . . We found Sir John Crew lord of the parish, 
 " and had some tenants, and his interest Mr. Sherard secured for us. 
 " The only considerable house and estate in the parish we there also 
 " found to be Sir James Eradshaw's, and his favour I knew how to 
 " procure, viz., by my cousin Roger Manwareing, who had married 
 " his sister, and so he Avrote to him and he did his part. And for 
 " the care of the curate we were relieved from it in such a way as was 
 " not to be desired ; for we found him a man of a blamable life, and 
 "• so no otherwise to be regarded by us than as a poor man and an 
 " object of charity."* 
 
 Having obtained the sanction of Bishop Pearson, Henry Newcome, 
 
 * Newcome's Autobiography, pages 213, 214.
 
 I04 Nont07iformity in Cheshire. 
 
 junior, was collated to the rectory on July 30, 1675, and the chief 
 of the people very civilly met him and were very friendly towards 
 him. Regarding his early history we learn from his father's Auto- 
 biography that he was born in 1650, and matriculated at Oxford in 
 1667. His venerable father often visited him when at Tattenhall, 
 and more than once officiated with him at the Sacrament of the 
 Lord's Supper. 
 
 He continued many years at Tattenhall, till 1701, and was known 
 to Matthew Henry who heard him preach the Reformation lecture 
 in S. Peter's church in Chester, and in his diary speaks of his " good 
 "■ and proper discourses." It appears however that though the son 
 of one of the most eminent Nonconformists, Henry Newcome of 
 Tattenhall, was among the bitterest against Matthew Henry and those 
 other Dissenters who established a Refoniiation lecture among them- 
 selves. " Preaching in Chester from i Thessalonians v. 8., in many 
 " things very well, in the close of his sermon he departed from that 
 " good temper for which he had been much esteemed and in which 
 " his father's friends hoped he would have continued to the last ; he 
 " broke out into very severe invectives against the Dissenters because 
 " they did not conform to the church, suggesting that thereby they 
 " hardened the profane and disabled themselves to reform them ; on 
 " which Mr. Henry writes, ' The Lord be judge between us ; perhaps 
 " ' it will be found that the body of Dissenters have been the 
 " ' strongest bulwark against profaneness in England.' "* 
 
 Independent Chapel, TATXENHALL.t 
 
 Though no minister was in 1662 ejected from Tattenhall, several 
 places in the neighbourhood were thus distinguished, namely, 
 Hargrave from which Samuel Slater was turned out, Chiirtonheath 
 where Mr. Colley laboured, Waverton whence John Marygold 
 was ejected, and Harthill from which Thomas Burroughs was 
 expelled. 
 
 The darkness that succeeded the removal of these good men 
 from their spheres of usefulness in this neighbourhood continued for 
 more than a hundred and fifty years ; the clergy, gentry, the middle 
 
 • Tong's Life of Matthew Henrj', page 248. 
 + Furnished by the Rev. J. Morris, minister of the place.
 
 Deanery of M alp as. 105 
 
 and lower classes were alike demoralised. But the state of the 
 parishes in this district is only a counterpart of the whole kingdom 
 after the passing of the Act of Uniformity : here and there God had 
 a few witnesses, but they were Nonconformists and chiefly laymen, 
 for an evangelical clergyman or a Nonconformist minister was 
 almost unknown in these parts. By reason of the prejudices of the 
 clergy, and the persecuting spirit that pervaded the upper and lower 
 classes, no Dissenting brother would be allowed generally to preach 
 to his fellowmen the gospel of Christ. 
 
 But the people of this locality had much cause for thankfulness ; 
 God at length remembered them, and the Dayspring from on high 
 visited Tattenhall. 
 
 Simultaneously from three quarters light broke in upon our 
 benighted village : from Chester by the Rev. W. Thorpe of Chester; 
 from Coddington through the Rev. Isaac Nicholson, curate of that 
 place j and by means of the Cheshire Congregational Union. Mr. 
 Nicholson was a stranger to Christ and His gospel when he went to 
 Coddington, but the pious ladies who put into his hands sermons 
 by the Rev. R. De Courcey of Shrewsbury were the instruments of his 
 conversion. Then in that old edifice did ring the doctrine of 
 Justification by Faith alone in the righteousness of Christ. All was 
 novel to the people, the church became crowded, and many from 
 Chester, Wrexham, and the surrounding villages came to see the great 
 light. Satan was soon at work. An old squire — a lay rector — got 
 the earnest curate removed ; but his work was done there, and he 
 was removed, for he left the church, joined the Countess of Hunting- 
 don's connexion, and afterwards became tutor of Cheshunt College. 
 He was succeeded by an hireling, but his converts banded together, 
 became with their father in Christ Dissenters, chose Tattenhall for 
 their place of meeting, and fitted up a room belonging to Mr. G. 
 Walley of Newton Lane as a place of worship. 
 
 About the year 1795 itinerant duty was performed in this district 
 by the Rev. Job Wilson in conjunction with the Rev. W. Sylvester of 
 Sandbach. In 1796 a thatched cottage in the village of Tattenhall 
 was fitted up for public worship, registered, opened by the Rev. W. 
 Thorpe of Bristol, and supplied during several years by the ministers 
 of Chester, Nantwich, Northwich, and Sandbach alternately. 
 
 In 1808 a gentleman in the village (Mr. Orton) gave a piece of 
 land for the erection of a chapel (thirty-nine feet by twenty-four)
 
 io6 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 which was opened on the loth October in the same year.'"' A 
 gallery was afterwards added, and a small house adjoining the chapel 
 was built for the use of the minister. For two years however the 
 people were ministered to gratuitously by various supplies, till in 1 8 1 o 
 the Rev. Thomas Hitchin was requested to make Tattenhall the 
 centre of his itinerant labours. With this request he complied, and 
 settled there about April. He laboured abundantly both in Tatten- 
 hall and in the neighbouring villages of Barton, Tilston, Bickerton, 
 and others. The chapel was very well attended and several pleasing 
 additions were made to the church.t Having laboured there about 
 eight years, o\ving to an increasing family and small remuneration, 
 he removed to Towcester, and was succeeded at Tattenhall by the 
 Rev. John Morris, formerly a student at Rotherham, who was 
 ordained over the church and congregation on the loth of November 
 1819, and still retains the charge. 
 
 The Rev. Messrs. Turner of Knutsford, Bennett of Rotherham, 
 Raffles of Liverpool, Kidd of Whitchurch, Wilson, Sylvester, (&:c., 
 took part in Mr. Morris's ordination. :{: The following statement 
 occurs in an account of Mr. Morris's ordination given in the 
 " EvangeUcal Magazine" :§ "The congregation at Tattenhall has 
 " considerably increased under the ministry of Mr. Morris. The 
 " congregation was heretofore liberally aided by the Cheshire Union. 
 " Some pecuniar}' assistance is still afforded by some generous 
 
 • The Cheshire Union Report gives the date of the opening services October 
 19th, 1808, and states that the Rev. W. Evans of Stockport preached on the 
 occasion, in the morning from Phihppians i. 18 ; the Rev. Mr. James of Boughton 
 in the afternoon, from i Corinthians ii. 2 ; and the Rev. Mr. Macdonald of Market 
 Drayton in the evening, from Matthew xxiv. 14. "Though the weather was 
 " extremely unfavourable, there was an excellent congregation, and the marked 
 " attention with which the word was received evinced the deep interest those 
 " present took in the things delivered." 
 
 f Cheshire Union Report for 181 1: which also contains brief but interesting 
 obituaries of Mr. S. Meredith of Coddington, brother-in-law to the Rev. Isaac 
 Nicholson, and of Mr. James Bromfield of Gatesheath, communicated by Mr. 
 Hitchen. The Report for 1814 contains the following : — " Our brother Thomas 
 " Hitchen continues to labour with his wonted assiduity, and to be instant in 
 " season and out of season in preaching the word at Tattenhall, Barnhill, Obb-hill, 
 " Sandy Lane, Buckley, and Edge, in all which places he represents the attendance 
 "as increasing in numbers and in serious inquiry after spiritual and eternal things. 
 " The communications of our laborious brother are rendered peculiarly interesting 
 "by accounts of five persons who have been enabled to give dying testimonies to 
 " the power and preciousness of that grace of God which brings salvation." 
 
 ^Congregational Magazine for 182 1, page 50. § Vol. xxviii. page 333.
 
 Deane'yy of Malpas. 107 
 
 " individuals ; but the people finding themselves capable of raising 
 " a suitable salary for their minister with that assistance, have {much 
 " to their credit) informed the Union that they need no further aid 
 " from their fund." 
 
 Though no debt was on the chapel when Mr, Morris became the 
 pastor, necessaiy expenses were incurred in making the chapel com- 
 fortable, and in completing the parsonage, which were defrayed through 
 the combined efforts of pastor and people. The congregation in the 
 meantime increasing, it became requisite to provide room for the 
 children of the Sabbath school, and for this purpose an addition was 
 made to the chapel at a cost of 100/. Through the liberality of the 
 friends of religion at home, in Chester, and in London, 500/. have 
 been obtained at different times; which, added to the original cost of 
 the chapel, makes a sum of 1,000/. Yet this sum, though large, 
 obtained on the voluntary principle, is but a trifle when it is considered 
 that the people of Tattenhall and its vicinity, from the year 1824 to 
 1862, have contributed the amazing sum of 1,114/. 2s. 5d. to the 
 London Missionar}^ Society alone. This may serve as an example of 
 the liberality of the village. 
 
 For many years Mr. Morris was blessed with a number of pious, 
 experienced, and co-operating men and women, of whom it may be 
 truly said, "they being dead, yet speak." Mr. Morris has continued 
 his ministry under a variety of vicissitudes for fort)^-four years, and at 
 the age of seventy has resigned his ministry to the church that chose 
 him for her pastor; and he trusts that the same church will be directed 
 by her Divine Head far more efficiently, to promote the glory of God 
 and the extension of His hea\enly kingdom. 
 
 TILSTON. 
 
 George Bonnyman, M.A., was ejected from this living in the year 
 1662. Calamy gives his name only. He was preceded by Essirius 
 Clarke, who died in the year 1655; but he entered upon the duties 
 of the ministry in the year 1653, tAvo years previous to Mr. Clarke's 
 death. After his ejection the Rev. Robert King, M.A., was given 
 the preferment. INIr. Bonnyman died in the year 1680.
 
 io8 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 WORTHENBURY, FLINTSHIRE. 
 
 A SMALL part of Flintshire separate from the rest hes to the south of 
 the deanery of Malpas, and is interesting ecclesiastically on two 
 accounts. Here lie the ruins of the monastery of Bangor, the oldest 
 and largest in Britain, which at one time contained 2,400 monks, sup- 
 plied thousands of religious persons — evangelists and others — to all 
 parts of the country, among whom was the celebrated Pelagius, and 
 for some centuries maintained a purer system of doctrine and disci- 
 pline than existed in any other part of Europe. In the days of 
 Augustine the monks of this monastery were distinguished for their 
 zealous opposition to the usurpations of the church of Rome. They 
 deputed seven bishops to meet that distinguished missionary from the 
 Pope. " The Roman and the British clergy met, it is said, in solemn 
 " synod. The Romans demanded submission to their discipline; the 
 " British bishops demurred ; Augustine proposed to place the issue 
 " of the dispute on the decision of a miracle. The miracle was duly 
 " performed — a bUnd man brought forw^ard and restored to sight. 
 " But the miracle made not the slightest impression on the obdurate 
 " Britons. They demanded a second meeting, and resolved to put 
 " the Christianity of the strangers to a singular test — a moral proof 
 " with them more convincing than an apparent miracle. True 
 " Christianity," they said, " is meek and lowly of heart. Such will be 
 " this man (Augustine) if he be a man of God. If he be haughty and 
 " ungentle he is not of God, and we may disregard his words. Let 
 " the Romans arrive first at the synod. If on our approach he rises 
 " from his seat to receive us with meekness and humility he is the 
 " servant of Christ, and we will obey him. If he despises us and 
 " remains seated, let us despise him. Augustine sate, as they drew 
 " near, in unbending dignity. The Britons at once refused obedience 
 " to his commands, and disclaimed him as their metropolitan. 
 " Augustine was so enraged at the noble and resolute stand which 
 " they made against the encroachments on their rights as to instigate 
 " the Saxon king Ethelfrid to commit the massacre of the monks at 
 " the siege of Chester. The forces of the Britons were attended by a 
 " body of 1,250 monks from the monastery of Bangor, who stood 
 " aloof on an eminence praying for the success of their countrymen. 
 " Ethelfrid inquiring the purpose of this unusual appearance Avas told
 
 Deanery of Malpas. T09 
 
 " that these priests had come to pray against him. ' Then are they 
 " ' as much our enemies,' said he, ' as those who intend to fight 
 " ' against us ;' and he immediately sent a detachment who fell upon 
 " them and did such execution that only fifty escaped with their lives. 
 " The Britons were defeated, Chester surrendered, and Ethelfrid pur- 
 " suing his \actory made himself master of Bangor, and demolished 
 " the monastery."* 
 
 The other circumstance which distinguishes this part of Flintshire 
 closely concerns the annals of Cheshire Nonconformity. Here lies 
 the village of Worthenbury, the scene of the labours of the pious and 
 excellent Philip Henry, and here is situated Broad Oak, his residence 
 for many years, and the birthplace of his son Matthew Henry. For 
 a full history of Phihp Henry's life and labours, the reader is referred 
 to the beautiful memoir of him written by his son, and enlarged with 
 copious and valuable extracts from his diary by Sir J. B. Williams. 
 An history of Nonconformity in Cheshire would not be complete 
 without a brief notice of one who, though residing only on the borders 
 of the county, was intimately associated Avith its religious life and 
 movements. 
 
 Philip Henry was bom at Whitehall, W^estminster, on August 
 24th, 1 63 1, being Bartholomew Day; — "the day of the year on which 
 " I was bom," says he, " and also the day of the year on which I 
 " died, as did also near two thousand faithful ministers of Christ, 
 " 1662." He was a scholar at Westminster school, and made such 
 proficiency in the classics that the head master, Dr. Bushby, 
 employed him to collect some materials for the Greek Grammar 
 which he afterwards published. To this excellent tutor he attributed 
 his first religious convictions. At the age of sixteen, he was 
 admitted student of Christ Chufch Oxford. He distinguished him- 
 self as a classical scholar during his course, and some Latin verses of 
 his were printed among the poems which the university published 
 upon the peace with Holland, 1654. He took his B.A. degree in 
 1650, and his M.A. in 1653. But though he had a good prospect 
 of promotion at Oxford, he preferred to accept the offer of the poor 
 curacy of Worthenbury far away in the country, together with a 
 tutorship in the family of the Pulestons the principal family in the 
 parish ; because " the salvation of souls was that which his heart 
 
 *Milinan's Latin Christianity, book iv., c. 3. Hume, c. i.
 
 J lO Noncofiformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " was upon." He was ordained by the Presbytery of Bradford North 
 in Shropshire, of which Mr. Porter of Whitchurch was moderator, in 
 September 1657. His sphere of labour was narrow and obscure, 
 there were but forty-one communicants when he settled there, and 
 they were never doubled, but he had such low thoughts of himself 
 that he never sought a larger sphere and even refused an invitation 
 to the vicarage of Wrexham. His congregation was made up of 
 poor farm tenants and labourers, and his income guaranteed to him 
 by Judge Puleston 100^. a year, a tenth of which he regularly laid by 
 for charity of which he would say, " this is not our own but the 
 " poors'." He was hindered in his work by the Quakers, who 
 challenged him to dispute and maligned him. The leader of them, 
 a blacksmith in Malpas, being asked by a drinking and swearing 
 gentlemen, "Whether it is better for me to follow drinking and 
 " swearing or to go and hear Henry?" he answered, " Of the two 
 " rather follow thy drinking and swearing." Such were the Quakers 
 in those days. 
 
 On April 26th, 1660, Philip Henry mamed Katharine only 
 datughter of Mr. Daniel Matthews of Broad Oak, in the township of 
 Iscoyd, Flintshire, but in the parish of Malpas. By her he had six 
 children : two sons, John the eldest died in his sixth year, Matthew 
 was the second ; then four daughters, Sarah afterwards Mrs. Savage, 
 Katharine wife of Dr. Tylston, Eleanor wife of Mr. Radford, and 
 Ann, the youngest, wife of Mr. Hulton. As to family religion his 
 motto was. Let prayer be the key of the morning and the bolt of the 
 night. Family worship is family duty. Each of his children signed 
 the following as their baptismal covenant : — " I take God the Father 
 " to be my chiefest good and highest end ; I take God the Son to be 
 " my Prince and Saviour; I take God the Holy Ghost to be my 
 " Sanctifyer, Teacher, Guide, and Comforter; I take the Word of God 
 " to be my Rule in all my actions, and the people of God to be my 
 " people in all conditions ; and this I do deliberately, sincerely, 
 " freely, and for ever." 
 
 At the Restoration Mr. Robert Fogg, who had for many years held 
 the rectory of Bangor, was turned out to make way for Dr. Henry 
 Bridgman, son of the Bishop of Chester, and as Worthenbury was a 
 chapelry in that parish Philip Henry's position became somewhat 
 critical and uncertain. He tried to make Dr. Bridgman his friend, 
 but his salary was now withheld because he did not read the Common
 
 Deanery of Malpas. i j i 
 
 Prayer. On January 31st, 1661, he wTites in his diary, " Things are 
 " low with me in the world ; but threepence left. My hope is yet in 
 " the Lord that in due time he will supply me." " July 8th, I received 
 " a letter from Dr. B., wherein he informed me if I did not speedily 
 " conform his power would no longer protect me." In October 1661 
 Dr. Bridgman dismissed him from his chapel, and Philip Henry 
 preached his farewell sermon on Philippians i. 27. His pulpit was 
 often vacant afterwards and before August 1662, yet he never was 
 permitted to preach ; a Mr. Richard Hilton was put in, and Mr. Henry 
 was wont to hear him. In September 1662 he left Worthenbury, and 
 came with his family to Broad Oak, and for many years attended 
 public worship at Whitewell Chapel, which is close by in Malpas 
 parish. He was twice seized and taken prisoner (with Mr. Steel) to 
 Hanmer, first upon pretence of ha\-ing taken part in a plot against 
 the government, and again on the charge of holding private meetings. 
 Neither charge could be established against him, and he was liberated ; 
 but an affront was put upon him by making him collector of the 
 Royal Aid tzx, the object of the authorities being to show that they 
 looked upon him merely as a layman. When the Five Mile Act 
 came into force, though the measured distance of his house was 
 outside the limit prescribed, he was obliged to remove for a year to 
 Whitchurch; and because his coUectorship guaranteed his immunity 
 from the penalty, it was taken from him, out of the same malicious 
 design to injure him, which had prompted its imposition. 
 
 WTien the King's Declaration of Indulgence came out, March 
 1672, he obtained a licence to preach in his own house at Broad Oak, 
 and had service on the evenings of the Sundays on which there was 
 public worship at WTiitewell Chapel (where Mr. Green, Conformist, 
 preached once a fortnight), and both morning and evening on the 
 alternate Sundays. He preached abroad also in Shropshire and 
 Cheshire. This interval of Indulgence, as it was called, which the 
 Nonconformists enjoyed from 1672 to 1682, was not a time altogether 
 free from severity. They were still closely watched and suspected, 
 they were looked down upon and despised by the dissolute court and 
 its lax ecclesiastics; everj^thing that spite and contempt could devise 
 was attempted against them, and they met from time to time at their 
 religious services — which were rather family and social than public — 
 with fear and constraint. Nothing but firm con\-iction could have 
 enabled them to stem the tide of fashion, and, facing obloquy, to be
 
 112 Nonco7iformity in Cheshire. 
 
 true to their Nonconformity. But they were men who would scorn 
 to mould their religious creed by fashion. They needed not this prop 
 to secure their repute for learning or their respectability. They were 
 scholars and gentlemen as well as Christians, and knowing that vul- 
 garity and bigotry only will despise men for their Nonconformist 
 convictions, and sacrifice conscience to position and pelf, they 
 maintained their self-respect and independence, as w^ell as their 
 Christian principle, by daring to be Dissenters in the face alike of 
 contempt, ridicule, and persecution. To Philip Henry in particular 
 these remarks apply. A gentleman by birth, a scholar by education, 
 and an eminently pious Christian by the grace of God, he persevered 
 in his dissent, patiently doing well and suffering for it, labouring in 
 his master's service and bearing his master's cross. The Indulgence 
 was not the abolition of the persecuting statutes, but only the con- 
 nivance of authority regarding them, and therefore Philip Henry was 
 taken unawares, like many other Nonconformist ministers, while — 
 trusting to the Indulgence — he was holding services forbidden by the 
 Conventicle Act. In 1681, while preaching at a friend's house in a 
 Shropshire parish, in the middle of his sermon two Justices of the peace, 
 accompanied with an armed force, broke into the dwelling, suddenly 
 interrupted the preacher, cursing, swearing, and reviling bitterly. 
 They took the names of all who were present, and aftenvards, in virtue 
 of their power as magistrates, fined the master of the house 25/., 
 each of the congregation five shillings, and Mr. Henry .\ol., — to pay 
 which his goods were distrained and carried away. This made a 
 great noise in the country, and raised the indignation of many, but 
 Philip Henry bore it with his usual evenness and serenity of mind ; 
 as he used to say, Bene agere et male pati vere Christianum est. In 
 1685 he was three weeks prisoner in Chester Castle. 
 
 It is a curious circumstance that on the occasions when Philip 
 Henry had to do with the two most bigoted and tyrannical men of 
 the royalist party — Archbishop Laud and Judge Jeffries — he expe- 
 rienced only kindness from them. When he was a child Archbishop 
 Laud took a particular kindness to him, because he used to attend at 
 the water-gate to let the archbishop through as he went from White- 
 hall across the river to Lambeth. And when Laud was a prisoner 
 in the tower, the boy's father took him with him to see him, and he 
 would remember that the archbishop gave him some new money. 
 Judge Jeffries also was wont to speak with respect of him, saying that
 
 Deanery of Malpas. 113 
 
 he knew him and his character well, that he was a great friend of his 
 mother's (a very pious good woman), and that sometimes at his 
 mother's request Mr. Henry had examined him in his learning when 
 he was a schoolboy, and had commended his proficiency. " Of all the 
 " times that Judge Jeffries went that circuit he never sought any occa- 
 " sion against Philip Henry, nor took the occasions that were offered, 
 " nor countenanced any trouble intended him, though he was the only 
 " Nonconformist in FHntshire."* 
 
 When James II.'s Indulgence was issued on behalf of Popery, 
 giving Dissenters Uberty to hold their meetings, Philip Henry 
 resumed his more public labours, and on Tuesday June 14th, 1687, 
 preached in the very same place and from the same text (finishing 
 what he had delivered) as he had that day six years before, when he 
 had been interrupted and fined. He also had an outbuilding near 
 his own house at Broad Oak fitted up decently, where he had service 
 on Sundays — morning and afternoon. In November 1687 he took 
 part in a public ordination at Warrington, probably the first that the 
 Nonconformists had held since the Restoration, at which there were 
 six ministers engaged, and six young men set apart with solemn 
 fasting and prayer to the work of the ministry-. 
 
 Upon the passing of the Toleration Act, June 1689, he uTote as 
 follows : — " The words of the Act of Uniformity were that Noncon- 
 " forming ministers should be as if naturally dead, but, blessed be 
 " God, there hath been a resurrection in some measure ; a coming 
 " out of the grave again, of which, whoever was the instrument, the 
 " Lord Jesus himself hath been the principal Agent. He is the resur- 
 " rection to us." When a company of Nonconformists went to court 
 to congratulate the King and Queen, and to thank them for the 
 present liberty, being clothed alike in long black cloaks, such as 
 ministers usually wear in London, a scoifer said, "Whither are all 
 "these going — to a burial?" "No sir," said one of them, "to a 
 " resurrection." 
 
 After seven years' enjoyment of religious liberty and active 
 devotedness in the ministry, this holy and heavenly servant of Christ 
 was called to his rest on the 24th June 1696, in the sixty-fifth year of 
 his age. His mortal remains Avere laid in ^\^litchurch Church, where 
 there is a marble monument, wA'Ca. Latin inscription, erected to his 
 memory. 
 
 * Williams's Life of Philip Henry, page 150. 
 H
 
 1 1 4 Nonco7tformity in Cheshire. 
 
 Tlie Minute Book of the Cheshire ministers contains the following 
 reference to the death of Philip Henry: — 
 
 " The next meeting was appointed to be at the Whitefriars in 
 " Chester, August nth, 1696, and it was unanimously desired that 
 " the Rev. Mr. Philip Henry of Broad Oke would meet us there and 
 " give us a semion ; in hopes of which the meeting was appointed at 
 " Chester. But it pleased God in the meantime, viz., June 24th, 
 " 1696, to put out that burning and shining light by death, as to the 
 " unexpressible grief of multitudes, so to the particular disappoint- 
 " ment of this class." 
 
 The reader is referred for further information regarding Philip 
 Henry to the admirable memoir of him by Sir J. B. Williams, which 
 is based upon the life written by Matthew Henry.
 
 DEANERY OF NANTWICH 
 
 (By the Rev. W. Urwick, M.A.) 
 
 IjANTWICH Deanery includes the hundred of that name, 
 together with the extensive parish of Bunbury. It con- 
 tains twelve parishes, in eight of which there were Presby- 
 terian ministers who signed the Attestation to the solemn 
 League and Covenant in 1648. There were five Nonconformist 
 ministers ejected in this deanery in 1660 or 1662, viz., Edward Burg- 
 hall of Acton, Mr. Smith of Barthomley, Mr. Hassell of Haslington, 
 Mr. Higginson of Church Minshull, and Mr. Bruce of Marbury. 
 
 ACTON AND NANTWICH. 
 
 The town of Nantwich is situated in the south of Cheshire, and 
 though of little note in the present day, is one of the oldest and 
 most interesting towns in the county. The first part of the name is 
 said to be derived from 7iant, a British word signifying a brook or 
 valley; the second part is an Anglo-Saxon corruption of the Roman 
 z;2Vz/r(Greeko!Kos)3 3-^d though locally assumed to be the appropriate 
 designation of a salt work, is in reality a general designation of a 
 group of habitations whether in town or country. 
 
 In the year 1069 Nantwich was the scene of an unsuccessful 
 attempt by the Cheshire men to resist the advance of the Normans. 
 In 1438 and 1583 the town suffered considerably from fire. The 
 damage on the last occasion was estimated at 30,000/., showing that 
 the town at that time even must have been of considerable size. 
 Philip Henry used " to wrestle in prayer for Chester, Shrewsbury, 
 " and Nantwich, those nests of souls wherein there are so many that 
 " cannot discern between their right hand and their left in spiritual 
 " things."
 
 I r6 No7iconformity in ChesJiire. 
 
 During the civil wars the people of Nantwich were strong 
 Parliamentarians. Lord Grandison gained possession of the town 
 on the eve of the battle of Edgehill in 1642, but Sir William Brereton 
 the Parliamentary general regained and fortified it. It was besieged 
 (January 1643-4) by Lord B}Ton commanding the Royalist troops, 
 but was gallantly held by the toumsmen under Sir George Booth, 
 until the siege was raised and the enemy entirely defeated by Fairfax 
 and Brereton. 
 
 Nantwich has the honour of being the birthplace of several dis- 
 tinguished men. Geoffrey Whitney the earliest of our English 
 emblem \\Titers was a native of Nantwich. The title of his work is 
 as follows : — 
 
 A Choice of Emblemes, and other De^^ses, For the moste parte gathered out 
 of sundrie wTiters, Englished and Moralized. And divers others newly Devised, by 
 Geffrey Whitney. 
 
 A worke adorned with varietie of matter, both pleasant and profitable : 
 wherein those that please maye finde to fit their fancies : Bicause herein, by the 
 office of the eie and the eare, the minde may reape doable dehgte throughe 
 holsome preceptes, shadowed with pleasant devises : both fit for the virtuous to 
 their incouraging, and for the wicked for their admonishing and amendment. 
 
 To the Reader. 
 Peruse with heede, then friendUe judge, and blaming rashe refraine. 
 So must thou reade unto thy good, and shalt requite my paine. 
 Imprinted at Leyden, in the house of Christopher Plantyn, by Francis 
 Raphelengius. MDLXXXVI. 
 
 The contents of this work prove that Whitney was a first-rate 
 poet, and in his religious views a thorough Puritan. One of the 
 emblems, headed with the motto Veritas mvicta, and dedicated " to 
 " my uncle Geffrey Cartwright," is an open Bible with the out- 
 stretched wings of the Spirit above throwing light on its pages, on 
 which is printed the text Ei Usque ad Niihes Veritas Tua; and with 
 a chain attached to it, at which (at the bottom of the picture) the 
 Devil with his imps is pulling hard. The lines under this device 
 express the characteristic idea of Puritanism in that day. They are 
 as follows ; — 
 
 Thoughe Sathan strive, with all his maine and mighte. 
 To hide the truthe, and dimme the law divine ; 
 
 Yet to his worde, the Lorde doth give such lighte, 
 That to the East, and West, the same doth shine. 
 
 And those that are so happie for to looke. 
 
 Salvation finde, within that blessed booke.
 
 Deanery of Nantwich. 117 
 
 Whitney's work being a very rare one, another quotation may be 
 given relating to social life. The piece is entitled Vxorice virtides, 
 and is dedicated "To my sister M. D. Colley." The emblem 
 represents a fair woman standing on a tortoise, holding her tongue in 
 one hand, and a large bunch of keys in the other. The explanation 
 is as follows : — 
 
 This representes the vertues of a wife, 
 
 Her finger stales her tonge to runne at large ; 
 
 The modest lookes doe shewe her honest life ; 
 The keys declare shee hathe a care and chardge 
 
 Of husbandes goodes ; let him goe where he please 
 
 The tortoyse wames at home to spend her dales. 
 
 Another Cheshire AATiter of worth bom at Nant^vich was John 
 XjERard the celebrated botanist, who three hundred years ago took 
 his first lessons in the book of nature along the banks of the river 
 Weaver near this towTi. He was the author of "The Herball or 
 " Generall Historic of Plants, gathered by John Gerarde of London, 
 " master in Chirurgerie." Milton was also connected \vith Nant- 
 wich by the marriage with his third wife, EUzabeth Mynshul, a native 
 tof the neighbourhood. The proverbial stories of her harshness are 
 in great part if not altogether fabulous. She died at Nantwich, in 
 March 1726-7, aged eighty-seven years, having resided as a ^vidow 
 nearly forty years in the town. 
 
 She was of the Baptist persuasion, and appointed Mr. Samuel 
 Acton, the Baptist minister at Nantwich, one of the executors of her 
 will. Her remains, as tradition says, there being no record of her 
 death or burial, were interred in the graveyard of the Baptist chapel. 
 Active steps (we are informed) are about to be taken for ascertaining 
 the fact by search, if possible. The Rev. Mr. Kimber, Baptist 
 minister, is stated to have preached her funeral sermon, but this is 
 doubtful, because there were no fewer than three ladies bearing the 
 name of Milton residing at Nantwich about the time when the poet's 
 widow died there, to whose memory the sermon referred to is 
 represented as being inappropriate. It is worthy of remark that 
 Mrs. Milton, the poet's widow, was incorrectly assumed by several of 
 her illustrious husband's biographers to have been the daughter of 
 Sir Edward Minshull, Knight, of Stoke Hall in Acton parish, a 
 gentleman of a very ancient Cheshire family; ar. inaccuracy which 
 however has b^en satisfactorily corrected within the last few years.
 
 1 1 8 Nonconformity in CJieshire. 
 
 If the intended search for her remains should prove successful, it is 
 very probable that a suitable tablet will be raised to her memory by 
 public subscription.* 
 
 Nantwich is also celebrated as the birthplace of Major-General 
 Harrison, one of the generals in Cromwell's army and one of the 
 king's judges who was put to death on the Restoration of Charles II. 
 Like the rest of the regicides he has met with sweeping condem- 
 nation, and even Ormerod disposes of him in an off-hand way as " the 
 " son of a butcher, and of infamous notoriety in the annals of treason 
 " and fanaticism." Guizot and other historians of the Commonwealth 
 who describe the career of Harrison, represent him as one of the 
 most consistent and courageous of Cromwell's generals. He accom- 
 panied Charles I. on his memorable journey from Hurst Castle to 
 Windsor, and in an interesting account of this journey given by 
 Guizot, we are told, "Charles, struck with his countenance, passed 
 " slowly by him, and received a respectful military salute. Rejoining 
 " Herbert, ' Who,' asked the king, ' is that officer?' 'Major Hairison, 
 " ' sir.' The king immediately turned round and looked at him so 
 " long and so attentively that the major, confused, retired behind the 
 " troops to avoid his scrutiny. ' That man,' said Charles, ' looks like 
 " 'a true soldier; I have some judgment on faces, and I feel I have 
 " 'harboured wrong thoughts of him.' In the evening, at Farnham, 
 " where they stopped to sleep, Charles saw the major in a corner of 
 "the room; he beckoned him to approach; Harrison obeyed with 
 " deference and embarrassment, with an air at once fearless and timid. 
 " The king took him by the arm, led him into the embrasure of a 
 " window and conversed for nearly an hour with him, even telling 
 " him that he had been given to understand that Harrison had been 
 "engaged to assassinate him. 'Nothing,' said Harrison, 'can be 
 " ' more false. This is what I said, and I can repeat it, it is that the 
 " * law was equally obligatory to great and small, and that justice had 
 " 'no respect of persons;' and he dwelt upon the last words with 
 " marked emphasis. The king broke off the discourse, sat down to 
 " table, and did not again address Harrison, though he did not appear 
 " to attach to what he had said any meaning which alarmed him." 
 
 On October 9th, 1660, Harrison was brought to trial for the 
 " murder" of the king, and was among the ten who suffered the 
 
 * This information has been kindly supplied by T. W. Jones, Esq., of Nantwich.
 
 Deanery of Nantwich. 119 
 
 extreme sentence of the law, unjustly administered by partial judges 
 and packed juries. During his trial the common hangman stood 
 beside him, halter in hand, as a brutal device for testing the prisoner's 
 courage. But he did not flinch. He neither blinked the part he 
 had acted, nor attempted to palliate it. " My lord," said he, " the 
 " matter that hath been approved to you was not done in a comer; 
 " I believe the sound of it hath been in all nations. I have desired, 
 " as in the sight of him that searcheth all hearts, whilst this hath been, 
 " to wait and receive from him convictions upon my own conscience; 
 " and to this moment I have received rather assurance of it, that in 
 " the things that have been done ere long it will be made known 
 " there was more of God in them than men were aware of. I do 
 " profess I would not of myself offer the least injury to the poorest 
 " man or woman that goes upon the earth. I followed not my own 
 " judgment. I did what I did out of conscience to the Lord ; and 
 " when I found those that were as the apple of mine eye to turn 
 " aside, I did loathe them and suffered imprisonment many years." 
 In the last sentence of this honest utterance Harrison refers to his 
 imprisonment in 1657 on a charge, as stated to Parliament by Mr. 
 Secretary Thurloe, of attempting to establish by carnal weapons the 
 Millenium, or "reign of tl?e saints on earth;" the real accusation 
 being that he was a participator in conspiracies against the Protector. 
 Henry Newcome of Manchester quaintly says, "Another mercy I 
 " have oft thought at and acknowledged is that Major-General 
 " Harrison was once on his way from Newcastle on purpose to have 
 " seen me, and this might have puffed me up, he being then in his 
 "greatness; and he was a most insinuating man and a furious 
 " separatist (his authority and interest once drew a near brother of 
 " mine, when at London with him, to keep from the public congre- 
 " gation, and to keep the Sabbath with him in the way of separation); 
 " but the Lord would not suffer me to be tempted, for he was some 
 " way hindered, and I never was acquainted with him nor ever 
 " saw him."* 
 
 Ecclesiastically considered Nantwich was, down to the close of 
 the seventeenth century, only a chapelry; the parish church being at 
 Acton, a village about a mile from Nantwich along the road to 
 Chester. Acton Church is an extremely handsome and well-finished 
 
 * Newcome's Autobiography, page 2 7.
 
 1 20 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 building of red sandstone. In this place Edward Burghall, the 
 Puritanical vicar of Acton, laboured sixteen years during the 
 Commonwealth, and from this place he was ejected in 1662. 
 He signed the Cheshire Attestation as pastor of Acton in 1648. 
 Henry Newcome* mentions him thus: — "November ist, 1652, 
 " met Mr. Johnson of Stockport, and at Alderley met Mr. Burghall 
 " of Acton, and was greatly refreshed with this acquaintance with 
 " these eminent men." The Free School, at the dedication of which 
 Mr. Burghall preached, was founded in 1660 by private subscription 
 as a maintenance for him. The subscriptions amounted to 400/. 
 The school is managed by thirteen trustees, according to statutes 
 made for the purpose, and they nominate the master.f It is evident 
 from this liberal effort that Edward Burghall was held in high esteem 
 by rich and poor in his parish, though it would seem he did not enjoy 
 the provision they made for him. He must have been an affectionate 
 preacher as well as a beloved pastor. Lieutenant Illidge (who was 
 apprenticed at Nantwich, where he after\vards married and kept a 
 farm, and became an officer in the militia) relates in some of his 
 papers " that when he was about ten or eleven years of age there was 
 " a solemn fast kept in Nantwich Church, upon occasion of a great 
 " drought, where his father and the family attended. Divers ministers 
 " prayed and preached, but he was particularly affected with a semion 
 " of Mr. Burghal's of Acton (who was after^vards silenced by the Act 
 " of Uniformity) ; his opening the evil of sin, and man's misery 
 " because of it, brought many tears from his eyes." Lieutenant Illidge 
 also relates that he had a book written by Mr. Burghall, called The 
 Perfect Way to Die in Peace, which when he was old he delighted 
 much in. He adds, " I knew Mr. Burghal of Acton very well ; he 
 " was a serious godly divine, was cast out of his living at Acton on 
 " Black Bartholomew Day 1662, among a great number of his pious 
 " brethren all England over — the more the pity. I have heard him 
 " preach often; once in Nantwich Church, a soul-searching sermon 
 " that did much affect me.":j: 
 
 Edward Burghall's diary entitled Providefice Improved indicates 
 an active energetic mind, fully alive to the momentous events of the 
 time, yet with a keen and witty observation of the trifling occur- 
 
 * Autobiography, page 35. tGastrell's Notitia Cestriensis, i., 202. 
 
 X Matthew Henry's Life of Lieutenant Illidge.
 
 Dea7iery of Nantwich. 1 2 1 
 
 rences of daily life, and above all with firni faith in the special 
 providence of God. The diary is mainly valuable on account of its 
 detailed history of the siege of Nantwich, and it shows that the 
 people of NantAvich were liberal patriots on the side of freedom and 
 the Parliament. After the siege had continued a month, during 
 which the tOA\Ti was wholly without supply of provisions, the Royalist 
 Captain Sandford sent a threatening letter, given in full by Burghall, 
 in which he says, " You now see my battery is fixed, from which fire 
 " shall eternally visit you day and night to the terror of your old 
 " and females, and consumption of your thatched houses. Believe 
 " me, gentlemen, I am now resolved to batter, burn, and storm you. 
 " Accept of this as a summons that you forthA\ith surrender your 
 " town, and by that testimony of yoxu* fealty to his Majesty you may 
 " obtain favour." These threats failed to move the people. " The 
 " siege continued," says Burghall, " things began to be very scarce 
 " both for man and horse. A special providence now appeared, for 
 " it pleased God, upon the thawing of the snow the Weaver began 
 " to rise, and the enemy fearing the water would take down the platt 
 " which they had laid over it a little below Beam-bridge for their free 
 " passage to relieve one another, they therefore on the 24th of 
 
 " January conveyed all their ordnance over the river 
 
 " February 13 : A solemn day of thanksgiving in Nant^vich and 
 " Acton churches, and on Thursday after, a day of humiliation." 
 
 As illustrating the annoyance IMr. Burghall in common with other 
 ministers in those days was subject to from the Quakers, the following 
 extracts may be given : — 
 
 " 1660, March i6th : Two Quakers came to disturb me in the 
 " public congregation. I so ordered my studies that the sermon 
 " was pat against them ; they had liberty to speak and were 
 " answered ; at last one of them denied the Scriptures to be the 
 " word of God, on which they were with shame turned out by the 
 " congregation. June 9th : Two Quakers came into my church 
 " with a lanthom and candle while I was preaching; their design was 
 " (as they confessed) to have lighted a sheet of paper which they had, 
 " as a sign of God's anger burning against us." 
 
 The diary concludes with the following entry regarding Burghall's 
 ejectment: — "August 24th, 1662: The severe Act of Uniformity 
 " was put in execution, and many ministers were outed everywhere 
 " that would not conform, and among the rest myself. I preached
 
 122 N onconfonnity in Cheshire. 
 
 " that day two sermons, one at Wrenbury the other at Acton from 
 " 2 Corinthians xiii. 1 1, Finally, brethren, farewell. October 3rd : 
 " Came an order from the Archbishop of York to suspend me from 
 " the vicarage of Acton : and the 28th, Mr. Kirks, who had been 
 " chaplain at Woodhey, was presented and had institution and induc- 
 " tionfrom the Bishop of Chester, which would not serve, but he 
 " had it again from the Archbishop and took possession of the 
 " church November loth, the day before Martinmas, when all the 
 " tithe-calves in Wrenbury and Acton were due to me (the substance 
 " of my means) and were wont to be gathered ; yet I had but one 
 " half of the calves in Acton, he had all the rest, though I had taken 
 " the pains the whole year before. This year there were many 
 " strange prodigies. In January came forth a declaration from the 
 " King promising some liberty of conscience the next sessions of 
 " Parliament, but it came to nothing. 
 
 " 1663. Written by Ed. Burghall, minister of Acton." 
 This aged and eminent servant of Christ did not long survive his 
 ejectment. Having patiently endured the poverty to which he was 
 reduced, but which was alleviated by the assistance of sympathising 
 friends, he died in the year 1665. Calamy gives him the following 
 character : — 
 
 " He was a devout man, a laborious faithful preacher, and 
 *' generally well spoken of. He not only bore the mean condition 
 " to which he was reduced after his ejectment with great patience, 
 " but justified his Nonconformity in a very solemn manner on his 
 " deathbed, when many devout expressions dropped from his lips. 
 " He had the eighth chapter of Romans read to him, and when he 
 " heard those words. There is now no condefnnation to them that are 
 " in Christ Jesus, he cried out, 'Then there is none for me.' When 
 " his end drew near he made a large and comfortable confession of 
 " his faith in Christ, telling the standers by, ' that he had made his 
 " ' peace with God, had abundance of inward comfort, and was glad 
 " ' to think his time here was but short ;' adding, ' I doubt not but 
 " ' it will go well with me ; the Lord hath dealt very favourably with 
 " ' me, and suffered me to live to a great age ; and now I can cheer- 
 " ' fully leave the world and die.' When one present repeated those 
 " words, ' I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I 
 " ' have kept the faith ; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown 
 " ' of righteousness,' he said, ' I do verily believe it is laid up for
 
 Deanery oj JVantwich. 123 
 
 " ' me ; and I bless my gracious God, I verily believe I shall behold 
 " ' his face in his glorious kingdom quickly.' He expired praying 
 " for others, December 8, 1665." 
 
 Mr. Kirkes, vicar of Acton, who succeeded Mr. Burghall, is named 
 by Philip Henry in his account of Mr. Zachariah Thomas, ejected 
 from Tilstock, Salop, who died at Nantwich and was buried at Acton. 
 PhiUp Henry says, " Mr. Kirkes preached, and gave my friend a 
 " worthy character, such as he deserved for uprightness, humility, 
 " moderation, prayer, faithfulness in reproving, patience under afflic- 
 " tion; and in saying he was an Israelite indeed without guile, he 
 " said all." Mr. Upshan .succeeded Mr. Kirkes in 1670, and died 
 1675. Henry Newcome then sought the living for his son (the Con- 
 formist, afterwards settled at Tattenhall), but he did not succeed in 
 getting it. It was obtained by Samuel Edgeley, who died 1705.* 
 
 In Acton churchyard lie the remains of another Nonconformist 
 minister, Robert Fogg, ejected from Bangor in Flintshire, on the 
 borders of Cheshire. Calamy describes him as a strong man, of a 
 stern countenance, of warm passions, and of a bold and zealous spirit. 
 He was ejected from the rectory of Bangor in 1660, when Henry 
 Bridgeman, son to John bishop of Chester, returned to the possession 
 of it.t He afterwards lived in the vicinity of Nantwich, and went 
 constantly to church at Nantwich or Acton, and preached after sermon 
 on the Lord's Day, and also on week days. In the latter part of his 
 time he lived alone, and kept his coffin by him. The day before he 
 died, Philip Henry coming to see him, he begged him to pray witli 
 him, and afterwards Mr. Henry asked him about his Nonconformity. 
 He said, "I have conformed too far; — thank Mr. Henry for it." 
 Philip Henry says of him, " My dear old friend Mr. Robert Fogg was 
 " buried at Acton, near Nantwich, April 21st, 1676. He died in a 
 " good old age, about eighty. He was minister of Bangor in Flintshire 
 " till after the king came in, and thencefonvard to his death was a 
 " poor silent Nonconformist, but of a bold and zealous spirit, giving 
 " good counsel to those about him. A little before he died he had 
 " this weighty saying among others. Assure yourselves the spirit of God 
 " will be utiderling to no sin^ 
 
 We must now retrace our steps to the Parochial Chapelry of 
 Nantwch, from which, according to Walker, a Mr. John Saring, A.M., 
 
 *Newcoine's Autobiography, p. 212. f Williams's Life of P. Henry, p. 87.
 
 1 24 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 was sequestered in 1 643. " He was also forced," says Walker,* " to 
 " quit the country. He was a very worthy man insomuch that the 
 " inhabitants have to this day a great veneration for his name." We 
 can find no mention of this name in the parish registers. 
 
 The minister of Nantwch during the Commonwealth, at least 
 from 1648, was Richard Jackson. The following note in Piatt's 
 Nantwicht furnishes this information: — "When we came to the 
 " years you mention we found a quantity of leaves wanting which 
 " were torn or cut out, but after making inquiry we were informed 
 " the information we desired might probably be obtained from the 
 " inscription on the tomb within the communion. We copied as 
 " follows : ' Richard Jackson, minister of Nantwich twenty-nine 
 " 'years, was interred the 15th October, in the fifty-seventh year of 
 " 'his age, anno 1677.'" He must have been a young man when 
 he came to Nantwich, and he was moreover a Presbyterian, for he 
 signed the Cheshire Attestation in 1648, but it is evident from the 
 registers of the church which are now found, though the inscription 
 on his tomb is no longer visible, that he conformed in 1662, and 
 remained minister of the place till his death. He was succeeded by 
 Gabriel Stringer, in whose time Nantwich was made a parish in itself. 
 
 The twenty years of religious restraint and persecution which 
 followed the Act of Uniformity were not able to subdue the strong 
 liberal and Puritan element that existed during the Commonwealth 
 in Nantwich. Immediately upon the Indulgence of 1687, the Non- 
 conformists of the town united publicly for worship, as they had 
 done privately for several years, and were visited by various 
 ministers, among whom was Mr. WiUiam Turton, M.A., ejected in 
 1662 from Rowley in Staffordshire. Calamy says regarding this 
 good man : — " When he had almost brought himself to the grave 
 " by hard study and labour in his ministerial work, his ejectment 
 " gave him some ease, and was a means of recovering his health and 
 " strength. He afterwards preached frequently in churches and 
 " chapels as he had opportunity, but chiefly in private houses." Mrs. 
 Savage, Philip Henry's daughter, who resided at Wrenbury Wood 
 tells us in her diary : — " In the year 1688 we had old Mr. Turton 
 " for a while at Nantwich." He ended his days however as pastor 
 to one of the Dissenting congregations at Birmingham, where he died 
 in 17 16. He had a son in the ministry at Killingsworth. 
 
 * Sufferings of Clergy, in loco. + Page 62.
 
 Deanery of Nantwich. 1 2 5 
 
 Nantwich was also the scene about this time of Matthew Henry's 
 first essays in preaching. On his return from London, June 1686, 
 when he was twenty-three years of age, he was invited to visit Nant- 
 wich by his dear and intimate friend George lUidge, and he preached 
 there every night to a considerable audience, and with encouraging 
 success. " Some persons that had lived very loose and profligate 
 " lives attended through curiosity, and were very much startled at 
 " what they heard. One instance is very remarkable. Mr. Matthew 
 " Henry preached the last evening from Job xxxvii. 22, With God is 
 " terrible ?najesty. Mr. lUidge saw one man there that had been very 
 " notoriously wicked, and went the next morning to his house to see 
 " what impressions the word had made, and found the man and his 
 " wife all in tears ; the man was under great convictions of sin and 
 " sense of his miserable state, the woman wept to see her husband 
 " weep. As soon as he could speak he told Mr. lUidge what work 
 " the word of God had made in his conscience, and what dreadful 
 '' apprehensions of the majesty and of the wrath of God he had been 
 " under that morning. His kind neighbour gave him the best advice 
 " he could, and presently sent an account of it to Broad Oak (Mr. 
 " Henry's residence), and desired directions from thence how to deal 
 " with this poor convinced sinner. The man went on under a great 
 " concern about his eternal state, taught his wife to read, set up 
 " prayer in his family, went often with Mr. Illidge to Broad Oak, and 
 " after some time was admitted to the Lord's Supper. There appeared 
 " a great change in him, and thus it continued for some years. His 
 " wife in the meantime died, to all appearance a very good Christian, 
 " but he afterwards was guilty of very sad backslidings, from which it 
 " does not appear that he is recovered to this day."* 
 
 Having thus enjoyed the occasional ministrations of various 
 worthy and devoted men, the church at Nantwich at length invited 
 Mr. Samuel Lawrence to be their pastor. 
 
 Samuel Lawrence was one of Matthew Henry's fastest friends, 
 and nephew of Edward Lawrence ejected minister of Baschurch, 
 Shropshire. He was born at Wem in that county 1661, was 
 educated at Mr. Moreton's academy, Newington Green, London — 
 " a nursery of many that have since done worthily and been famous 
 "" in their generation" — and was first chaplain to Lady Irby relict of 
 
 *Tong's Life of Matthew Henry, pages 52, 53.
 
 I 26 Nonco7iformity in ChesJiire. 
 
 Sir Anthony Irby of Westminster. Matthew Henry gives the 
 
 following account of Mr. Lawrence's settlement : — 
 
 " In the year 1688 he came down into the country to see his 
 relations, and a society of Dissenters in and about Nantwich (that 
 had lain concealed, yet living in obscurity during the twenty-five 
 years of oppression) being then in quest of a minister, after several 
 motions made to them had miscarried, desired Mr. Lawrence to 
 come and spend a Lord's Day with them, which he did to their 
 great and universal satisfaction, so that they unanimously chose 
 him to be their minister ; and after some time taken to consider of 
 it and consult his friends he accepted it, but went first to London 
 to take leave of his friends there. The Lady Irby was extremely 
 loth to part with her chaplain, and was very angry with Mr. 
 Baxter and my father for persuading him to go to Nantwich, but 
 thither he came in September that year. In the beginning of 
 November following he was publicly ordained to the ministry by 
 a class of Lancashire ministers at Warrington ; six more were 
 ordained at the same time. Mr. Crompton preached and Mr. 
 Risely gave the exhortation. I remember the time by a good 
 token, for when we were there at Warrington we received the news 
 of the Prince of Orange's landing. He is now settled at Nantwich, 
 and some there will remember with what wisdom, industry, and 
 zeal he applied himself to his work. His greatest encouragement 
 there was at first, but he continued there till his death; though 
 if he had had bodily strength and a voice proportionable to his 
 other ministerial abilities, his friends would have removed him into 
 a larger sphere of usefulness. He preached constantly twice every 
 Lord's Day, winter and summer, and read and expounded the 
 Scriptures in order both parts of the day, the Old Testament in the 
 morning and the New in the afternoon ; and catechised the 
 children every Lord's Day, winter and summer, except Sacrament 
 days. He constantly administered the Lord's Supper once a 
 month with great solemnity and seriousness. He preached every 
 Saturday about noon; 'tis the market day, and so he gave an 
 opportunity to the country people of spending an hour for their 
 souls in the midst of their worldly business. He was a very solid, 
 serious, judicious preacher; his discourses were generally short, but 
 pithy and substantial and well studied. He was one that loved 
 his work and his heart was in it. It is not remembered that of all
 
 Deanery of Nantwich. 127 
 
 " the time of his being at Nantwich, which was near twenty-four 
 " years, he was ever taken off from his work till the last Sabbath of 
 " his life. The tendency of his preaching was to bring people to 
 " Christ and heaven, to heaven as their end and to Christ as their 
 " way. He said to one of the lambs of his flock, Well, I hope you 
 " learn Christ, I preach Christ as plainly and well as I can. He 
 " used this argument to persuade people to lay up their treasure in 
 " heaven ; — If our treasure be on earth we are going from it, if it be 
 " in heaven we are going to it. He had an excellent faculty of giving 
 " reproof ; he flattered none, but freely told people their faults, but 
 " in the spirit of that rule of Scripture upon which he preached an 
 " excellent sennon at a meeting of the Cheshire ministers, 2 Timothy 
 " ii. 24, The servant of the Lord must not strive. He was a very good 
 " scholar and very communicative of his knowledge. He constantly 
 " attended the meetings of the Cheshire ministers twice a year, and 
 " was much beloved and respected by them, was often chosen 
 " moderator, and his advice in any matter hearkened to as much as 
 " anyone's. In his Nonconformity he was considerate and conscien- 
 " tious ; he svas so far from being determined to it by custom and 
 " education that if he could have been satisfied with the lawfulness of 
 " Conformity he would gladly have conformed; and he was tempted 
 " to it by some good preferment offered to him in the church which 
 " would have been more than double or treble to his temporal advan- 
 " tage; he studied the point with the greatest impartiahty imaginable, 
 " but he could not conform without \vronging his conscience, and 
 " therefore chose rather to suffer than to sin." 
 
 This is an abridgment of the more lengthy account of Mr. Law- 
 rence, to be found appended to the funeral sermon preached on the 
 occasion of his death by Matthew Henr)\ In accordance with the 
 foregoing statements, the name of Samuel Lawrence of Nantwich 
 occurs among the signatures to the Cheshire Agreement of ministers, 
 1691, and the Cheshire Minute Book shews that he regularly attended 
 and took part in their meetings. His death is thus noticed by the 
 scribe of the association, Mr. Jones of Hatherlow. "April 24th or 
 " 25th, 17 1 2. It pleased God to remove by death Mr. Samuel Law- 
 " rence of Namptwich, a person of great worth. He was one of good 
 " natural parts, and a very considerable scholar, a judicious and 
 " excellent preacher, of moderate principles and exemplary conver- 
 " sation. He laboured faithfully in the work of the ministry at
 
 128 No7ico7iformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " Namptwich above twenty years. His death was very much lamented, 
 " Mr. Joseph Mottershead succeeded him, having a clear call to that 
 " congregation." Tong gives the following account of Mr. Lawrence's 
 death :* — " Mr. Henry had lived to see a great many of his brethren 
 " laid in the silent dust, and was a true mourner for them; but still 
 " he had the comfort of the neighbourhood and frequent conversation 
 " of his dear and intimate friend Mr. Samuel Lawrence of Nantwich, 
 " and this was a great support to him under the sorrow he felt for 
 "the death of others; but in the year 17x2 God took away that 
 " excellent servant of his, to the great loss and grief of his people 
 " and all his friends. The first news of his illness Mr. Henry met 
 " with at Knutsford, at the meeting of ministers on the 24th of April; 
 " the next day he returned to Chester, and there the sad tidings met 
 " him that Mr. Lawrence died the evening before, about ten of the 
 " clock. A sad providence (says he) ; Lord teach me the meaning of it. 
 " On the 28th he writes, ' I went early to Nantwich, attended the 
 " 'remains of dear Mr. La^vrence to the grave; he Avas my intimate 
 " ' bosom friend from my youth; he was of a serious spirit betimes, 
 " 'a good scholar and a serious judicious preacher; he hath been at 
 " ' Nantwich twenty-four years, an instrument of much good there, 
 " 'respected by all, and well spoken of; he died on the ninth day 
 " 'of the fever, was delirious by fits from the fifth day; he was buried 
 " 'in the chancel at Nantwich much lamented. I preached from 
 " ' Philippians ii. 7, Sorrow upon sorrow.' I shall take the liberty to 
 " add (continues Mr. Tong) that I happened at that time to be down 
 " in Cheshire, and having spent the day before — which was the 
 " Lord's Day — with those of my good old friends at Knutsford that 
 " were still alive, I there heard of Mr. LawTence's death, and that he 
 " was to be buried on Monday. My sincere esteem and affection 
 " for him constrained me to attend his funeral, and I must say I never 
 " saw a more mournful one in all my life, both at the house and in 
 " the assembly; Mr. Henry was almost dissolved in tears, had much 
 " ado to proceed, and so was the whole auditory. Mr. La\vrence had 
 " a good report of all and of the truth itself; he was a man of won- 
 " derful prudence, integrity, and good temper ; his way of preaching 
 " was not altogether so affectionate as that of some others, but it was 
 " very spiritual and serious, and very much fitted to move and melt the 
 
 • Life of Matthew Henry, pages 289, ■zqo.
 
 Deanery of Nantwich. T29 
 
 " hearts of the hearers ; there was much in him that resembled old 
 " Mr. Henry both in temper, conversation, and preaching. All his 
 " friends rejoice that he has left a son behind him engaged in the 
 " same sacred work, and walking in the same spirit and in the same 
 " steps." This was his second son, the amiable Dr. Samuel Lawrence, 
 for many years pastor of the congregation in Monkwell-street, London. 
 Thus uncle, nephew, and nephew's son were successively Noncon- 
 formist ministers. Of the first of these three, Edward Lawrence, of 
 Magdalen College Cambridge, ejected from Baschurch Vicarage in 
 Shropshire, we are told* that, having eleven good arguments against 
 suffering, namely a wife and ten children, he was asked how he meant 
 to maintain them all, and cheerfully replied, " They must all live on 
 " the sixth chapter of Matthew, Take no thought for your life" etc., 
 and he often sang wth his family Psalm xxxvii. 16. 
 
 Samuel La^vrence was succeeded in the ministry at Nantwich by 
 the Rev. Joseph Mottershed, who was ordained at Knutsford on 
 August 5th, 17 12. Mr. Jones of Hatherlow offered the ordination 
 prayer, " prapng with hands now laid on." He likewise gave the 
 exhortation from Hebrews xiii. 22. Mr. Mottershed must have 
 settled without delay at Nantwich, because the next year, 17 13, on 
 August loth, Matthew Henr}', then on his summer visit to his old 
 friends in Cheshire, tells us in his diary, " With much ado I set out 
 " for Nantwich, where Mr. Mottershed is well settled. I preached 
 " from Joshua i. 5, 6, As I was with Moses, I will be with thee; be 
 " strong and of a good courage" — an encouraging sermon doubtless to 
 the young minister. It is an interesting fact that Matthew Henry's 
 death took place at Nantwich in Mr. Joseph Mottershed's house. 
 He was paying lois second annual visit to his friends in Cheshire 
 (according to a promise given them when he settled at Hackney), 
 and having preached two Sundays at Chester, on Monday, June 
 2ist, he set out for Nantwich. Before he came to Tarporley his 
 horse stumbled and threw him, but he felt no hurt, and against 
 the urgent advice of his friends he went on to Nantwich and there 
 preached from Jeremiah xxxi. 18, his last sermon. After sermon he 
 dined at Mr. Mottershed's house. His biographer f continues, "His 
 " old and intimate friend Mr. lUidge, son of Lieutenant lUidge before 
 " mentioned, was then ^vath him, and had been desired by the 
 
 * Conformist's Plea. f Tong, page 386.
 
 130 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " honourable Sir Thomas Delves and his lady to invite him to Dod- 
 " dington, and he had fully intended to have waited on them, and 
 " their steward was there with Mr. Illidge to have conducted him to 
 " a house that has been famed for impartial and disinterested religion, 
 " and I hope will be ever so, but he was not able to proceed any 
 " further. He went to bed at Mr. Mottershed's house; he had but 
 " a restless night ; about five in the morning he was seized with an 
 " apoplectic fit, and at eight o'clock he breathed out his precious soul 
 " into the hands of Christ." 
 
 Nantwich was thus, to adopt the expression of worthy Mr. Tong, 
 the Mount Nebo of Matthew Henry. Mr. Mottershed was one of 
 the bearers at his funeral in Chester. In 17 15, as Wilson's MSS.* 
 inform us, Mr. Mottershed had three hundred hearers, of whom ten 
 were gentlemen. He removed to Manchester about the year 17 18, 
 where he lived many years in much reputation. He continued to 
 attend the meetings of the Cheshire ministers in May and August for 
 many years, frequently taking a leading part as preacher or as 
 moderator. 
 
 Mr. Mottershed was succeeded by the Rev. William Vawdrev 
 from AUostock, in whose ordination, 17 18, he had taken part. Mr. 
 Vawdrey came to Nantwich in 17 19, and was the esteemed pastor of 
 the congregation here nine years, during which time the interest so 
 increased that a new chapel was deemed requisite. The following 
 extracts from the diary of Mrs. Savage, the well-known daughter of 
 Philip Henry, relate to the ministry of Mr. Vawdrey and the erection 
 of the chapel : — 
 
 " 1725, March 28th. This week ground is bought for the building 
 " of a new chapel at Namptwich. Lord, be thou seen in that affair. 
 " Tuesday, May 4th. Our friend Mr. Braddock came hither from 
 " Namptwich, and brought us good tidings. Chapel work begun, and 
 " great encouragement from some of our friends, especially at Man- 
 " Chester, where they have collected 40Z. for us. June, Wednesday. 
 " This week our friend Mr. Illidge called on us, who had been at 
 " London, Bristol, and other places negotiating for us, and has expe- 
 " rienced much of the Divine goodness in answer to prayer. 50/. 
 " collected. Blessed be God who inclined the hearts of our friends 
 " thus liberally to contribute to this great work ; I trust it is a token 
 " for good. 
 
 * Williams's Library, Red Cross-street, London.
 
 Deanery of Nantwich. 1 3 1 
 
 " 1726, Wednesday, i8th May; a day much to be remembered. 
 " We went to Namptwach and most of our family to the dedication of 
 " our New Chapel there. I should have remarked how our good 
 " minister (Mr. Vawdry) took leave of the old chapel \\'ith that text, 
 " If thy preseiice go not with us, carry us not up hence. The presence 
 " of God is all in all to adorn our new place. Mr. Owen preached 
 " first, then Mr. Gardner [of Chester], Mr. Lawrence [son of Samuel 
 " Lawrence] prayed. A very full congregation. Mr. Vawdry's good 
 *' humble remark affected me, ' I must endeavour to preach better, 
 " ' you to hear better, and both to live better, and then our light will 
 " ' shine indeed.' I would own the goodness of God that we may 
 " set up our Ebenezer — hitherto kept, helped, taught ; very few alive 
 " now that were members of this society when we began in the old 
 " chapel. One generation passes away and another comes, but the 
 " word of the Lord endureth for ever."* 
 
 These extracts indicate the energy of the members of the chvurch 
 in the cause with which they were connected, the interest and 
 s)Tnpathy evinced by their brethren in different parts of the country, 
 and the high esteem in which their pastor Mr. Vawdrey was held. 
 He did not however long remain to minister in the new chapel. In 
 the, midsummer of 1728 he left Nantwich for Bristol : — " 1729, 
 " January 3 : The most considerable event of the past year has been 
 " the removal of our dear minister Mr. Vawdry from Namptwich to 
 " Bristol ; borne away from us by a violent importunity, as a mighty 
 " torrent which we were not able to make head against, wherein God 
 " is righteous, punishing us for our barrenness." t 
 
 Mr. Vawdrey's successor was the Rev. Thomas Haines, who was 
 minister fifteen years at Nantwich from 1729 to 1745, when he 
 removed to Sheffield. The diary of Mrs. Savage contains the 
 following notices of Mr. Haines : — 
 
 " Thursday, August 7, 1729 : This day Mr. Haines our new 
 " minister, and cousin Eddowes's daughter, came to see us. Returned 
 " at night. He prayed with our family and for each of us. I trust 
 " he leaves a blessing behind. 1731, Tuesday, March ist : This 
 " week our minister Mr. Haines and cousin Betsey Eddowes were 
 " married at Namptwich. Lord, furnish them with suitable graces for 
 " this new state, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our 
 
 * Congregational Magazine, 1831, page 69. t Diary of Mrs. Savage. 
 
 X
 
 132 Nonco7iformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " Saviour. Wednesday, 19th, 1732 : At Namptwich, a double lecture. 
 " Mr. Colthurst preached first, from Genesis iii. 15, The seed of the 
 "■ woman shall bruise the serpenfs head. Blessed be God for Jesus 
 " Christ, that blessed promised seed ; He came in the fulness of 
 " time, and has Avrought out eternal salvation for all his elect. 
 " Afterwards Mr. Dobson of Salop, whose subject I thought well 
 " followed, I Peter v. 12, The true grace of God wherein ye stand. 
 " Tuesday morning, in bed, I said over to myself the Assembly's 
 " Catechism — an excellent form of sound words which I was taught 
 " in my childhood, and trust I shall hold fast ; and am glad to find 
 " that notwithstanding sad decays those good old things I do not 
 " forget ; — one said of it, ' that it's a body of divinity.' Wednesday: 
 " Mr. Haines and his wife made us a visit. I rejoice in the society 
 " of such as love and fear God, and had some advantage by a good 
 " hint of his ; when I excused for some neglect in the garden, he 
 " replied, ' I hope you keep your own garden clean — your heart' 
 " Lord, help me to do it. Above all keepings, I should and would 
 " keep my heart, and now I have no excuse." 
 
 Mr. Haines's name occurs as regularly present at the meetings of 
 Cheshire ministers from 1729 to 1743, but he seems not usually to 
 have taken any prominent part in their services. In the year 1745 
 he removed to Sheffield and was succeeded by the Rev. Richard 
 Meanley. The last entry in the Cheshire Minute Book relates to 
 his ordination. " Sept. 3, 1745 : Ministers met at Knutsford. Mr. 
 " Meanley at the request of his people at Namptwich consented 
 " to ordination next meeting. In which occasion Mr. Rogerson 
 " was requested to preach and Mr. Worthington to support him; Mr. 
 " Hopkins ask questions and take his confession ; Mr. Mottershead 
 " pray over ye candidate, and Mr. Whitacre support ; Mr. Braddock 
 " give ye charge. Ye meeting to be first Tuesday in May next." 
 Thus ends the Cheshire record of the meetings of Presbyterian and 
 Congregational ministers. No further mention is made of this 
 proposed ordination, though probably it took place at the time 
 appointed. 
 
 The circumstance that the minutes of the meetings of the united 
 ministers come thus abruptly to an end calls for an explanation 
 which is not given to us, but which it is left to conjecture to suggest. 
 It is not improbable that the doctrinal views of Mr. Meanley may 
 have been so distinctly Socinian, that his ordination became the
 
 Deanery of Nantwich. 133 
 
 occasion for the manifestation of a contrariety in creed (which for 
 some years had been growing silently among the ministers) ending 
 in the total disruption of the union. 
 
 Mr. Richard Meanley having continued at Nantwich for about 
 eleven years removed to Piatt, near Manchester, where he died in 
 the year 1790. The succeeding ministers who were Arian or 
 Socinian in their views are enumerated in the Wilson MSS., Dr. 
 Williams's library, as follows : — 
 
 The celebrated Joseph Priestley succeeded Mr. Meanley, and 
 was minister at Nantwich from September 1758 till September 176 1, 
 when he removed to Warrington. 
 
 The Rev. John Hatjghton was the next minister. He entered 
 Dr. Doddridge's academy in 1747, and on the death of this eminent 
 tutor he removed with his fellow students, Messrs. Urwick, Capp, 
 and Clayton, to Glasgow. He was three years at Hyde, 1758 — 
 176 1, and remained ten years at Nantwich, 1761 — 1771. He 
 removed to EUand in Yorkshire, and in 1782 he settled at Wem. 
 About the year 1788 he followed his son to NorAvich, where he died.* 
 
 The Rev. Richard Hodgson came to Nantwich from Monton 
 in 1 77 1. He had been at Opell near Wakefield before. He kept a 
 school at Nantwich, and continued here thirty years, 1771 — 1799. 
 He removed to Doncaster. 
 
 The Rev. Roger Maddox was here a short time about iSoo.f 
 
 The Rev. — Partridge, 1800, 1801. 
 
 The Rev. William Johns, 1801 — 1803. He was a Welshman, 
 educated under Hervey of Northampton. He removed from Nant- 
 wich to Manchester, where he kept a large day school. 
 
 The Rev. David William Johns, 1804 — 1815. He kept a 
 school. In April 18 15 he gave notice of his intention to leave 
 Nantwich, and was about to return into South Wales, but accepted 
 an invitation to succeed Mr. Jenkins at Whitchurch. 
 
 The Rev. Francis Knowles, not educated for the ministry, 
 settled here as his first place early in 181 6. He was of Sheffield, of 
 Dr. PhiHp's congregation. He published " Observations," &c. 
 
 The following are the names of the ministers down to the present 
 time, according to a list which has been furnished us : — 
 
 The Rev. James Hawkes from Lincoln succeeded Mr. Knowles 
 in 1823, and was minister of the place till 1846. 
 
 * Monthly Repositoiy, vol. ix. page 526. \ Ibid, vol. v. page 426.
 
 134 Nonconfor7nity m Cheshire. 
 
 The Rev. Franxis Hornblower, 1849 — 1853. 
 The Rev. Thomas Bowring, 1853 — 1857. 
 The Rev. Robert Wilkinson, 1859 — 1861. 
 The Rev. Thomas Willicott, 1862. 
 
 Baptist Chapel, Nantwich. 
 
 There must have been a congregation of Baptists in Nantwich at. 
 the beginning of the eighteenth century, because we are informed 
 that when Matthew Henry died in the year 17 14, Mr. Acton 
 minister to the Baptist Congregation in Nantwich, took very 
 particular notice on the day before the funeral of the great loss 
 the church of God had sustained.* This Mr. Samuel Acton was a 
 leading man among the Baptists in Nantsvich. He had been a 
 wealthy salt proprietor, and became the first Baptist minister there. 
 Bishop Gastrell states the number of Dissenters in Nantwich thus : — 
 Presbyterians 157, Anabaptists 109, Quakers 13. He also names 
 an Anabaptist meeting house with about forty members as existing 
 in Wybunbury parish, where there were twenty-four families of 
 Dissenters, fourteen of whom were Anabaptists. This would be 
 about the year 1720. In 1725 the present Baptist chapel in Barker- 
 street, Nantwich, was erected under the superintendence of Mr. 
 Acton. " The earliest document connected with this chapel which 
 " has fallen under my notice," says Mr. Jones of Nantwich, " bears 
 " date in 1726, followed by subsequent Deeds renewing the chapel 
 " trusts from time to time as occasion required. Mr. Acton in his 
 " life time, after serving the chapel for a considerable time, invited 
 " the Rev. Isaac Kimber the historian to become its minister, and 
 " he officiated in this capacity for three years. Mr. Acton's sermons 
 " were collected and printed after his death, but the volume con- 
 " taining them is not easily to be met with." + 
 
 The next settled minister was the Rev. John Ashworth, the 
 
 * Tong's Life of Matthew Henry, page 387. 
 
 1 1 am indebted to the kindness of T, W. Jones, Esq., for this and other items 
 of information. As has already been stated, Mrs. Elizabeth Milton widow of the 
 illustrious poet was a Baptist, was probably buried in the graveyard of the Nantwich 
 chapel, and appointed the Rev. Samuel Acton its first minister one of the executors 
 of her will.
 
 Deanery of Nantwich. 1 3 5 
 
 date of whose coming is not known, but who removed to London in 
 1740. He was. succeeded by the Rev. John Green who was 
 minister here in 1743.* 
 
 About the year 1772 the followers of John Wesley obtained a 
 lease of the chapel, and it was supplied by preachers in that connexion 
 till 181 2. Mr. John Cooper then began to preach in it to a congre- 
 gation who professed General Baptist sentiments; and he was still 
 there in 1820. The congregation has for many years been falling off, 
 the chapel being Avithout a minister through want of funds to support 
 one; and the services are conducted by members of the church 
 without pecuniary remuneration. 
 
 Independent Chapel, Nantwich. 
 
 During the eighteenth century there were three Dissenting chapels 
 in Nantwich — Hospital-street Chapel, the Baptist Meeting House, 
 and the Quakers', which last is named by Bishop Gastrell as having 
 in his time about ten members only. The Quakers must have con- 
 siderably decreased in numbers during the sixty years since the days 
 of Burghall, who suffered so much annoyance from them. 
 
 In the year 1753 the celebrated George Whitfield visited 
 Nantwich, but was so persecuted that he could not preach \vithin the 
 town. He was assaulted by the mob, and was taken over the Flood 
 Gates to a place called Marsh Lane, where the rabble obtained a bull 
 intending to drive it among the congregation; but being thwarted in 
 their designs by the animal falling into a pit, they left Whitfield to 
 deliver his discourse. t In 1770 the Baptist Chapel was occupied by 
 the Wesleyans, but they had no stated minister, the town not being 
 the head of a circuit ; they were supplied with preachers from Whit- 
 church, Chester, and the Potteries. About this time the Rev. R. 
 De Courcey, a Conformist, from Shrewsbury, and a Calvinist in doc- 
 trine, preached occasionally at Wrenbury, and in the house of Samuel 
 Barrow, Esq., at Nantwich. A few Dissenters who had left the old 
 Nonconformist chapel on account of the Socinian doctrines preached 
 there, were wont to attend at the Baptist Chapel, but not being 
 Wesleyans in their religious sentiments they began in the year 1778 
 
 * MSS. in Dr. Williams's Library, Red Cross-street, London, 
 f Whitfield's Life, page 131, and Letter 997.
 
 3 
 
 6 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 to hold meetings for prayer. Henry Hitchen and Mr. John Smith 
 were the leaders in this movement. They obtained a room for 
 worship, a coachmaker's shop, at a low rent, and fitted it up at a cost 
 of 40/. This place was opened in 1780 by the Revs. Jonathan Scott 
 and William Armitage of Chester, and for several years continued to 
 be dependent upon the ser\-ices of neighbouring ministers for support. 
 During this period a small legacy was left to it in the following way. 
 An old female servant of Mr. Samuel Barrow, who had resided with 
 her master twenty-six years, entertained strong prejudices against itine- 
 rant ministers, but being led by curiosity to hear the Rev. Rowland 
 Hill and Captain Scott, she some time after^vards deposited with her 
 mistress the sum of 20/., which she bequeathed by will for the use of 
 this chapel or meetbig house if ever there should be one. In the spring 
 of the year 1796 an attempt was made to obtain a settled pastor by an 
 offer from the before-named Mr. Barrow to the Rev. Job Wilson of 50/. 
 per annum, in addition to whatever sum the people might be able to 
 raise, if he would take charge of the congregation. A regard to the 
 interests of the church at Northwich led to the refusal of the offer by 
 Mr. Wilson ; and in a few months afterwards Mr. Gardner was invited, 
 accepted the call, and remained at Nantwich (as first minister of the 
 Independent Church) two years. He was followed by the Rev. 
 William Jones, who was ordained in the Baptist Chapel on the 1 6th 
 October 1799, but who left in 1800. In the latter end of that year 
 the managers of the Countess of Huntingdon's Chapels sent the Rev. 
 John Tlsier to NantAvich, and in 1801 a new Chapel was erected. 
 Mr. Tisier officiated in it till 1804, when he quitted his charge, and 
 was succeeded by Mr. John James, formerly a student at Wrexham 
 Academy, who continued to superintend this congregation till Sep- 
 tember 1807.* He was considerably assisted in his ministerial duties 
 by the frequent visits of Captain Scott. As this eminent and zealous 
 servant of Christ was a frequent labourer in Cheshire, and spent the 
 latter part of his life at Nantwich chiefly, a brief notice of him may 
 here be appropriately given. 
 
 Jonathan Scott was born at Shrewsbury in 1735, the second son 
 of Captain Richard Scott. Having received a polite education, he 
 entered the army in his seventeenth year, and was in due time pro- 
 moted to the rank of captain in the Seventh Dragoons. He continued 
 
 ♦Christian Instructor, vol. iii., page 683.
 
 Deanery of Nantwich. 137 
 
 to serve his country as a soldier seventeen years, and was at the battle 
 of Minden, August ist, 1759. It was his daily practice to read the 
 Psalms and lessons of the day, but nevertheless he was not brought 
 to feel the power of the truth till by accident he heard the excellent 
 Mr. Romaine preach, and from that time he became a most earnest 
 and zealous believer in Christ. Beginning his efforts to do good 
 among the soldiers of his regiment, he held daily meetings in his 
 lodgings, which he invited them to attend. This was in the year 1766. 
 While still in the army he preached at Benvick, York, Leeds, Man- 
 chester, and various other places to which military duty called him. 
 Yielding to the advice of his superior officers, who deemed his minis- 
 terial work incongruous, he sold his commission in 1769, and fully 
 devoted himself to home missionary work. He took up his abode at 
 Wollerton, and from time to time visited Dra}'ton, where he organized 
 a church ; Ne^^^ort, where he built a chapel ; Stoke-upon-Trent, 
 where in 1773 he had a thousand hearers; Whitchurch, Newcastle, 
 Nantwich, and various other places. He contributed much by his 
 zealous labours to the establishment of the congregation in Chester 
 to whom Mr. Armitage aftenvards ministered, frequently supplying 
 for them two or three Sabbaths at a time. In 1774 he was ordained 
 at Lancaster to the office, not of settled pastor, but of "presbyter or 
 "• teacher at large," the Rev. Mr. Edwards of Leeds receiving his 
 confession of faith, offering the ordination prayer, and giving the 
 charge from Acts ix. 15. In the year 1802 he married for his second 
 wife the relict of Samuel Barrow, Esq., of Nant\\dch, and taking up his 
 abode there, he preached alternately to the Independent congregation 
 whose history is traced in this paper and to the Nonconformists at 
 Matlock. On tlae 12th April 1807 he administered the sacrament of 
 the Lord's Supper to the church at Nantwich, and this was the last 
 pubhc service he performed. He died May 28th, 1807, and his 
 remains were interred in a vault within Queen-street Chapel, Chester. 
 Mr. Scott was a most earnest, humble, and zealous minister. For 
 many years he was wont to travel much — frequently twenty miles on 
 the Lord's Day — and to preach five or six times a week. His sermons 
 were not studied discourses, but simple, pointed, and affectionate. 
 He was very liberal in his contributions to every worthy object, not 
 only labouring gratuitously himself but spending his o\vn proper income 
 in religious and charitable purposes. A short time before his death 
 he united with his brethren in the establishment of an association for
 
 138 Nonco7iformity in Cheshire. 
 
 promoting the spread of the gospel in Cheshire, and he liberally con- 
 tributed to the funds of that association.* 
 
 Upon the death of the Rev. Jonathan Scott, Mr. James the 
 minister of the Independent chapel resigned his pastorate. He was 
 succeeded by the Rev. Robert Smith from Leek, in Staffordshire, 
 who continued pastor of the church till the loth January 1818, when 
 he resigned in consequence of age and infirmity. 
 
 The church next made choice of the Rev. Peter Henshall as 
 their pastor, who was ordained July loth, 1819, and left in 1825, 
 having preached during the interval 1,344 sermons. The following 
 is a list of the successive ministers who followed Mr. Henshall : — 
 
 Rev. Mr. Senior, from July i6th, 1825, to November 12th, 1832, 
 
 Rev. Mr. Bury, from January 20th, 1834, to March 25th, 1835. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Mc. Clean, from September 8th, 1835, to June 1840. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Simson, from November 23rd, 1840, to June 1851. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Sadler, from 1852 to 1855. 
 
 Rev. E. L. Adams, 1856, the present minister. 
 
 In the year 1842 a New Chapel was erected at the cost of 
 2,200/. 
 
 WRENBURY. 
 
 This living is in the gift of the vicar of Acton, and the church 
 though called a parish church so early as 1622 was originally a 
 chapelry attached to Acton parish, the vicar of Acton being obliged 
 to maintain a curate to read prayers there, t 
 
 The Rev. Julines Herring, an eminent Nonconformist who 
 lived before the second Act of Uniformity in 1662, resided some 
 years in this parish. He was born at Flamber-mayre, Montgomery- 
 shire, 1582, graduated his M.A. at Cambridge, and being ordained 
 with Mr. John Ball of Whitmore, by an Irish bishop, began his 
 ministry at Cawk, in Derbyshire, where he spent eight years, and 
 removed thence to Shrewsbury. There he was silenced on account 
 of his Nonconformity, but resided in the town about seventeen years. 
 " When all hope of regaining the liberty of his ministry in Shrewsbury 
 
 * See Evangelical Magazine, 1807, page 489. 
 t Notitia Cestriensis, vol. i., page lo^.
 
 Deanery of Nantwich. 139 
 
 " was quite gone, he removed with his wife and such of his family 
 " who were not disposed of elsewhere, unto Wrenbury, in Cheshire, 
 " where he sojourned with his wife's dear sister Mistresse Nicholls, a 
 " godly woman, the widdow of worthy Master Robert Nicholls, who 
 " had been very famous in those parts both for his labours and great 
 " abilities, of whom this true character may be given — he was a tnan A 
 " who had a clear head and a tender heart, who led an holy life and 
 " abounded in the work of the Lord. Here Master Herring lived 
 " privately and comfortably under the ministiy of his good friend 
 " Master William Peartree, doing what service he could by com- 
 " forting afflicted consciences and confirming the hearts of God's 
 " people in the faith of the gospel as opportunities were offered."* 
 Having spent about seven years at Wrenbury, he removed in the year 
 1637 to Holland, to be pastor of a Presbyterian church, and died 
 there 28th March 1644. WilUam Peartree, who is named in the 
 above quotation as minister of Wrenbury, ended his days at S. Mary's, 
 Chester. 
 
 Henry Griffith signed the Cheshire Attestation of Presbyterian 
 ministers in 1648, as minister at Wrefibury. He was probably 
 succeeded by the Rev. Zachary Crofton, who was ejected in 1662 
 from S. Botolph's, Aldgate, London, and of whom Calamy says : — 
 " He was an upright man, but of a warm and hasty temper;' an acute, 
 " learned, and solid divine, and an excellent preacher. He was 
 " pastor of a church at Wrenbury in Cheshire, where he met with 
 " much trouble, of which there is an account in his preface to Bethshe- 
 " mesh Clouded. He was turned out from Wrenbury for refusing the 
 " Engagement, and appearing very zealous to dissuade others from 
 " taking it. Soon after the Restoration he was sent prisoner to the 
 " Tower, but regaining his liberty he came down again into Cheshire, 
 " where he was again imprisoned. When he once more regained his 
 *' liberty, he set up a grocer's shop to maintain his family." 
 
 The Rev. George Mainwaring, ejected from Malpas in 1660, was 
 bom at Wrenbury. At Wrenbury Wood, in this parish, Philip Henry's 
 eldest daughter, Mrs. Savage, lived for many years. Her valuable 
 diary is well known. The Rev. Silas Sidebottom of Wheelock married 
 one of her daughters. 
 
 In the year 1695 Matthew Henry notices in his diary the illness 
 
 * Clark's Lives, annexed to the Martyrologie, page 164.
 
 140 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 and death " of a young candidate for the ministry, Mr. Becket, chap- 
 " lain to that great patroness of religion and Nonconformity, the Lady 
 " Sarah, daughter to the Earl of Chesterfield and widow of Sir R. 
 " Hoghton." It seems that Mr. Becket had been ill of consumption, 
 and during his illness Matthew Henry often visited him. He died 
 March 15th, 1695-6, and was buried atWrenbury, the minister of the 
 place preaching his funeral sermon from 2 Corinthians, v. i.* 
 
 CoMBERMERE Abbey, in Wrenbury parish, was founded in 1133 
 by Hugh Malbank, for the monks of S. Benedict, " in honour of the 
 " most blessed and glorious Virgin Mary, and the Mother of God, 
 " and the Lord Jesus Christ and S. Michael the Archangel;" and 
 Roger, then bishop of the diocese, declared " If any shall in any ways 
 " violate, diminish, or wilfully hinder this alms gift and grant, let him 
 " have the curse of God, and the blessed Virgin and S. Michael the 
 " Archangel, to whom in special manner all these things are granted, 
 " together with my own, unless he be repentant of his misdeed. Be 
 " it so, be it so, Amen." After the dissolution of the monastery 
 Henry VIII. granted it to George Cotton, Esq., from whom the present 
 Viscount Combermere is descended. Burleydam Chapel was built 
 by the lords of the manor after the confiscation of the abbey. In the 
 year 1648 Edward Mercer signed the Presbyterian Attestation as 
 minister at Burldam Chapel. 
 
 At WooDHEY Chapel, in the opposite extremity of this parish, the 
 Rev. J. Cart\vright preached as chaplain to the pious Lady Wilbraham, 
 after his ejectment from West Kirby. He had been preceded by Mr. 
 Kirks, who conformed and obtained the vicarage of Acton. 
 
 AUDLEM. 
 
 Walker, in his Sufferi7igs of the Clergy., names Patrick Carr as 
 sequestered from this living during the Commonwealth. He says, 
 " He was a man of good learning and exemplary life, and as I am 
 " informed was forced to wander about for a livelihood till the 
 " Restoration, so that I presume he was repossessed of his living." 
 Da. Kerr, minister at Audlin, signed the Cheshire Attestation in 1648, 
 and the similarity of names (considering Walker's frequent inaccuracies) 
 
 *Tong's Life of Matthew Henry, page 270.
 
 Deanery of Nantwich. t 4 1 
 
 suggests that he may have been the same person whom Walker 
 refers to. 
 
 It seems that the holy and zealous JoJm Machin, ejected from 
 Whitley, was invited to become minister of Audlem previous to his 
 removal from ^Vhitchurch in 1649. Henry Newcome says,* "Colonel 
 " Massey of Audlem saluted me very kindly, and used me with much 
 " respect, and yet fell to mention a passage long since about a letter 
 " which I writ to Mr. Machin when he should have settled at Audlem." 
 
 A Grammar School, free only to the parish, was founded and 
 endowed in the year 1655 by Sir W. Bolton and Mr, GamuU, citizens 
 of London. 
 
 There is a Baptist chapel at Audlem, built in 1841, which will 
 accommodate about two hundred worshippers. The Dissenters in 
 this parish are numerous. 
 
 BADDILEY. 
 
 The Rev. George Mainwaring, ejected from Malpas, was in his early 
 days rector of Baddiley and chaplain to Sir Thomas Mainwaring. 
 Newcome says he was curate to Dr. Bret. He probably left about 
 the year 1646, when Mr. Swan became minister of Baddiley. Thomas 
 Swan, pastor of Baddiley, signs the Attestation in 1648, but it appears 
 that a Mr. John Swan was ordained as minister of the place in 1647. 
 There is probably a mistake in the christian name, and the same 
 individual is referred to in both extracts. In the Minute Book of the 
 Manchester Classist there is an account in full of the examination 
 and ordination of " Mr. John Swan, aged twenty-nine years, B.A., of 
 " Magdalen College, certificated from Weverham, Cheshire, desired 
 " and freely elected by the people of Baddaley in Cheshire." He was 
 set apart for the work of the ministry in the church of Baddiley, and 
 received a certificate according to the usual form to exercise his ministry 
 there on October 6th, 1647. He probably conformed in 1662, 
 because, "upon the death of John Swan," in 1 681, Thomas Bur- 
 roughs, who had been ejected from Harthill, was instituted to the Hving. 
 Bishop Gastrell notes in his time seven Dissenters in this parish — 
 five Presbyterians and two Quakers. 
 
 * Autobiography, page 133. fChethain Library.
 
 142 Nonconformity 171 Cheshire. 
 
 BARTHOMLEY. 
 
 The church of this parish, wliich hes about six miles east of Nantwich, 
 was in the year 1 643 the scene of a dreadful massacre, committed by 
 a division of the Royalist forces proceeding to the siege of Nantwich. 
 Burghall, the Nonconfonning minister of Acton, gives the particulars. 
 He says, " The enemy, now drawng nearer to the town, spread 
 " themselves into Stoke, Hurleston, Brindley, Wrenbury, and all the 
 " country about, robbing and plundering everywhere; till December 
 " 22nd they passed over the river to Audlem, Hankelow, Buerton, 
 " Hatherton, and on Saturday they came to Barthomley (giving an 
 " alarm to the garrison at Crewe Hall). As they marched they set 
 " upon the church, which had in it about twenty neighbours that had 
 " gone in for safety; but the Lord Byron's troop, and Connought — a 
 " major to Colonel Sneyd — set upon them and won the church. 
 " The men fled into the steeple; but the enemy burning the forms, 
 " rushes, mats, &c., made such a smoke that being almost stifled they 
 " called for quarter, which was granted by Connought; but when they 
 " had them in their power they stripped them all naked, and most 
 " cruelly murdered twelve of them, contrary to the laws of arms, 
 " nature, and nations. Connought cut the throat of Mr. John Fowler, 
 " a hopeful young man and a minor; and only three of them escaped 
 " miraculously, the rest being cruelly wounded. Christmas Day and 
 " the day after they plundered Barthomley, Crewe, Haslington, and 
 " Sandbach of goods and clothes, and stripped naked both men and 
 " women." 
 
 Such is the trustworthy and simple narrative of the worthy and 
 observing Burghall ; and well does it illustrate the "military honour" 
 of one branch at least of the Royalist army. 
 
 The Rev. Richard Fowler signed the Attestation of Cheshire 
 Presbyterian ministers zs pastor of Bartomley in 1648. He had held 
 this office since 161 7, and died at the latter end of 1648, having been 
 minister here upwards of thirty years. Sir C. Crewe, eldest son of 
 Chief- Justice Sir Randolph Crewe (who was removed from his office 
 for his opposition to the levying of ship money, and who died in 
 1646), gave the living of Barthomley in 1648-9 to the Rev. Zachary 
 Cawdrey. 
 
 Zachariah Cawdrey was the son of the Rev. Z. Cawdrey, vicar
 
 Deanery of Nantwich. 143 
 
 of Melton Mowbray, where he was born in the year 161 6. His 
 grandfather, the Rev. Robert Cawdrey, minister of South Luffingham, 
 Suffolk, had been suspended by the Bishop of London for refusing 
 the oath ex-officio, and was deprived by the High Commissioners in 
 1590 on account of his Nonconformity, and with his wife and eight 
 children was left to starve as a layman; though he was one of the 
 most learned clergymen and best preachers in the country. His uncle, 
 Daniel Cawdrey, was minister of Billing in Northamptonshire, whence 
 he was ejected, after thirty-six years' labour in the gospel, in 1662. 
 He was a noted member of the Assembly of Divines. Belonging to 
 such a family, Zachary Cawdrey, though a Royalist and Conformist, 
 was nevertheless a Puritan. He was educated seven years in the 
 Free School at Melton Mowbray, under Mr. Humphrey, then master. 
 At the age of sixteen he was sent to S. John's College Cambridge, 
 where he was admitted sub or proper sizar to the then master, Hum- 
 phrey Gower.* He had Mr. Masterton, one of the fellows there, for 
 his tutor. He graduated M.A. in 1642, and was fellow of his college 
 in 1644. Henry Newcome was his pupil. " I was admitted (he says) 
 " in the very heat of the wars, May loth, 1644, of S. John's College 
 " in Cambridge, pupil to that ingenuous, learned, and pious man Mr. 
 " Zachary Cawdrey, fellow of that college." t A friendship was here 
 formed between tutor and pupil, which lasted for life. In 1649 Mr. 
 Cawdrey obtained the living of Barthomley, but being a Royalist it 
 appears that he was greatly harassed during the Commonwealth. Philip 
 Henry says he was a great sufferer for the king, and Calamy names a 
 Mr. Smith as minister of Barthomley, ejected in 1660. The pro- 
 bability is that Mr. Cawdrey was not at Barthomley throughout the 
 Commonwealth, but was restored in 1660. Newcome speaks of 
 visiting him at Langor in Nottinghamshire in 1651, and Calamy says 
 that " Mr. Cope of Sandbach preached at Eccleshall and Barthomley 
 '■'■for the old iiicumbent that was to come in there, Mr. Z. Cawdrey, a 
 " worthy moderate Conformist." He was generally respected by his 
 Nonconformist brethren. Newcome visited him frequently after 
 1660 at Barthomley, and having heard him preach at Manchester, 
 says : — " A very sweet day it was, and we had sweet repetition and 
 " evening duty." On another occasion he speaks of " his dear 
 " tutor's sweet and pleasant company." Mr. Cawdrey assisted in 
 
 * History of Leicestershire, vol. ii., page 259. + Autobiography, page 7.
 
 144 Nonconfonnity in Cheshire. 
 
 getting the appointment to Tattenhall for Henry Newcome's son. 
 He preached the funeral sermon for Lord Delamere (Sir G. Booth) 
 in 1684, and in December of the same year he died. 
 
 Philip Henry thus speaks of this holy and liberal Conformist : — 
 " Mr. Zechariah Cawdrey minister of Barthomley in Cheshire, a 
 " learned and godly divine, was buried December 24, 1684 ; a Con- 
 " formist and formerly a great sufferer for the king, but in his latter 
 " times much maligned and reproached by some people for his 
 " moderation towards Dissenters, for his book Preparation for 
 " Martyrdo7n, and for his zeal in keeping up the monthly lectures 
 " at Nantwich and Tarvin. But he is gone to the world of peace 
 " and love, and everlasting praises." 
 
 He was the author of a pamphlet entitled A Discourse on 
 Patronage, 7vith a proposal of some expedients for regulating it most 
 agreeable to the primitive pattern, wherein at once the Just rights of 
 pastors are secured, afid the people's liberty of election of their own 
 ministers indulged. London 1675. 
 
 At Haslington in the parish of Barthomley Edward Burghall 
 was invited to preach May ist, 1644, and, says he, "I tarried there 
 " two years upon thirty-four pounds a year."* Mr. Hassel of 
 Haslington is named by Calamy as one of the ejected ministers in 
 1662, who afterwards conformed. His signature occurs in the 
 registers at Haslington chapel in the year 1675. Mr. Cope the 
 Nonconfomiist minister of Sandbach was allowed to preach at Has- 
 lington, by Mr. Z. Cawdrey, until his death in 1704. The Rev. 
 Richard Kelsal, Conformist, was appointed curate of Haslington in 
 1705-+ 
 
 BUNBURY. 
 
 The parish church of this place, dedicated to S. Boniface, is cele- 
 brated as the scene of the labours of an eminent Puritan divine, the 
 Rev. William Hinde, M.A. He was born at Kendal, 1569, and 
 educated in Queen's College Oxford, of which he became perpetual 
 
 * Burghall's Diary. 
 
 fFor a further account of Nonconformity at Haslington, see the paper on 
 Sandbach in this volume, by the Rev. W. Rhodes.
 
 Deajiery of Nantwich. 145 
 
 fellow. In 1603 he left the university and became minister of Bun- 
 bury, where he continued to the close of his life. Antony a Wood 
 describes him as a close and severe student, an eminent preacher, and 
 an excellent theological disputant. His Puritan opinions brought 
 him into collision with Bishop Newton. Among other works he 
 composed a life of John Bruen of Stapleford, but it was a posthumous 
 publication. Burghall, the Puritan vicar of Acton, and schoolmaster 
 at Bunbury for some years, speaks in high terms of Mr. Hinde. He 
 says, "That worthy man Mr. Hinde, who then preached at Bun- 
 " bury, had, not without cause, much inveighed against those 
 " disorders that were usual at Bunbury wakes, and had threatened 
 " God's judgments against the same, but could not prevail utterly to 
 " remove them, though he endeavoured it to the uttermost. . . . 
 " This year, 1628, June 19th, Mr. Hinde, the worthy minister of 
 *' Bunbury, departed this life after much weakness. A great loss of 
 " him ! having been a great inveigher against the wickedness of the 
 " times. He was buried June 21st. Mr. Langley preached from 
 " Proverbs xiv. 22." 
 
 Mr. Hinde was succeeded by Samuel For shall, A.M., who is 
 called vicar of Bunbury in the year 1629.* But in the year following, 
 iS'^o, John Swa?ifie appears as minister. The parish registers contain 
 accounts of some ludicrous contests between him and the lessees of 
 the rectory. One article signed " John Swanne, 1630," is full of abuse 
 directed partly against Lord Cholmondeley and partly against Mr. 
 Aldersey, " for dividing the herse of Lady Calveley -with the parish 
 " clerk," to which the minister asserts his right. In 1649 the "herse" 
 of Sir Hugh Calveley afforded a fresh temptation, and the minister 
 again enters a bitter complaint against this invader of his rights, whom 
 he states to be merely the farmer of the tithes. Mr. Aldersey subjoins 
 a concise note : " Mr. Swanne is mistaken. He is neither preceptor, 
 " vicar, or curate, but a stipendiary ; all he can claime is his twenty 
 " pounds. Thomas Aldersey." t 
 
 Mr. Swanne was probably succeeded by the Presbyterian minister 
 the Rev. Daniel Stmderland, whose name occurs among the signatures 
 to the .^/y<?j>/(2/w/z of Cheshire ministers in the year 1648 — "Daniel 
 " Sunderland, pastor of Bunbury." How long he remained here is 
 
 *Notitia Cestriensis, vol. i., page 217. tOnnerod, vol. ii., page 141. 
 
 K
 
 146 No7ico7iformity hi Cheshire. 
 
 uncertain, but in the year 1654, owing to his death or removal, Mr. 
 Francis Mosley was appointed minister of the place. 
 
 The records of the Manchester Classis infonii us that Mr. Francis 
 Mosley was examined in classics, divinity, and ecclesiastical history, 
 and approved as a candidate for ordination. He also brought a tes- 
 timonial subscribed by several of the inhabitants of the parish of 
 Bunbur)', of the truth of his affixing his instrument on the church 
 door; and on the loth January 1654-5, he was solemnly ordained in 
 the church of Manchester by the Presbyters there, and testimonial 
 letters were given him of his ordination, subscribed by Richard Hol- 
 lingworth, Richard Heyrick, John Angier, and other ministers.* 
 Newcome mentions Mr. Mosley's marriage in these words: — " Wed- 
 " nesday December 19th, 1655, Mr. Francis Mosley and Mrs. Katharine 
 " Davenport were married at Congleton, on the exercise day; and on 
 *' Saturday January 9th following, he carried her from Morten to 
 " Bunbury, where he was then minister." He was inclined to Epis- 
 copalianism, and received the appointment of fellow in the Collegiate 
 Church Manchester, at the Restoration. He read the two acts 
 against the Covenant, which the Presbyterians were so loathe to read, 
 in Manchester Church on December 15th, 1661, and preached there 
 December 29th following, on Psalm xxxiv. 7. Newcome makes the 
 comment. He had a vain fling at the end. He left Bunbury about 
 this time, and seems, from certain incidental allusions in Newcome's 
 Autobiography,t to have fallen into trouble a few years afterwards. 
 He was succeeded at Bunbury by Mr. Thomas Porter, son of a 
 Nonconformist minister ejected from Whitchurch, Shropshire. Mr. 
 Tallents says the Bishop of Chester would not admit this Mr. Porter 
 to orders till he solemnly renounced his former ordination from his 
 father and the Classis, which he submitted to do. 
 
 William Spurstow, D.D., was a native of Bunbury parish. He 
 was master of Katharine Hall Cambridge, from which place he was 
 turned out for refusing the Engagement. He became vicar of Hack- 
 ney, and was ejected thence in 1660. He was a friend of Richard 
 Baxter, who mentions him among " those famous and excellent divines 
 " who attended the Earl of Essex's army, being chaplain to Mr. 
 " Hampden's regiment." He was one of the Westminster Assembly, 
 and afterwards one of the commissioners at the Savoy. The famous 
 
 ♦Minute Book of Manchester Classis, page 157. f Pages 174, 288.
 
 Deanery of Nantwich. 1 47 
 
 Dr. Lightfoot, who succeeded him at Katharine Hall Cambridge, 
 offered at the Restoration to resign the mastership back into the 
 hands of Dr. Spurstow, but he declined it. The initial letters of his 
 name W. S. are the three last in Smectymnuus, the title of the cele- 
 brated work upon Episcopacy, written in reply to Bishop Hall by five 
 authors, of whom he was one. 
 
 The elements of Puritanism remained in this parish, though driven 
 to the outskirts of it by the Test and Conventicle Acts. An association 
 of Baptists formed a church at Brassy Green, about three miles 
 north-west from Bunbury, and erected a chapel. Bishop Gastrell 
 mentions* a " Dissenting Meeting House, Anabaptist, about fifteen 
 " meeters." The meeting house, about thirty-six feet by twenty, with 
 a small house adjoining for the minister, was erected about the year 
 17 15 by Mr. Thomas Walley of Rhode-street, and bequeathed by 
 him, with a good burying ground adjoining, for the use of the Par- 
 ticular Baptists. He willed the property to the first son of his who 
 should become a Baptist ; but the eldest not being a Baptist it went 
 to the second son. He again bequeathed the chapel, &c., to his four 
 sons and their heirs for ever, and thus it has been handed down to 
 the present generation. About sixty or seventy years ago, Independent 
 ministers were wont for a time to preach in the chapel, some of the 
 Walley family being then Independents. On the 14th September, 
 181 7, seven candidates for baptism were immersed by Mr. John 
 Cooper, then Baptist minister at Nantwich, who came over for the 
 occasion. About that time Mr. Cornelius Gregory of Beeston 
 preached as a Baptist minister at Brassy Green and Tarporley, and 
 was the means, under the Divine blessing, of raising a very promising 
 cause. He administered the ordinance of the Lord's Supper once a 
 month, and also preached at other places in the neighbourhood. 
 Shortly after his death, the Rev. D. Gaythorp became minister of 
 the church, which some time before had removed to Tarporley, 
 and remained there about ten years. After him the Revs. J. 
 HowARTH and Henry S.mith were successively pastors of the church, 
 and each of them died there. The last minister, the Rev. J. B. 
 LocKwooD, has been obliged to resign his pastorate on account of 
 ill health. 
 
 * Notitia Cestriensis, vol. i., page 216.
 
 148 Nonco7iformity in Cheshire. 
 
 COPPENHALL. 
 
 WiLLiAJsi Anderton signed the Attestation of Cheshire ministers in 
 1648, z.% pastor de Coppefihall. Isaac Simpson was here in 1662 and 
 conformed ; but he resigned the living in 1676, and was followed by 
 John Harrison, A.B. 
 
 The well known towTi of Crewe is principally in this parish. It has 
 grown to be a very important place on account of the North-Westem 
 Railway Company's extensive works. There is a neat Independent 
 Chapel here, erected in 1846. The Rev. T. Davison is the present 
 minister. 
 
 CHURCH MINSHULL. 
 
 Samuel Higgison was appointed pastor of this church in the year 
 1656, and was ejected in 1660 to make way for the old curate Law- 
 rence Newton, who was buried at Minshull October 24th, 1667. An 
 account of Nonconformity in this place will be found in connexion 
 with Over, in the Deanery of Middlewich. 
 
 WIBUNBURY. 
 
 WiBUNBURY parish is very extensive, and lies about four miles east 
 from Nantwich. The fine old church was taken down and rebuilt in 
 1790. In King's Vale Royal it is described as a parish church to a 
 great precinct, and on every side so garnished and adorned with the 
 seats of baronets, knights, and gentlemen as is scarce to be found the 
 like in any country parish. The Rev. Edward Maynwaring was vicar 
 here for twenty years, and conformed in 1662. He was succeeded by 
 the Rev. Thomas Jenks, a Conformist. In the life of Lieutenant lUidge, 
 who held a farm in the parish, on the road to Nantwich, called Cheer- 
 brook, and whose son was an intimate friend of Matthew Henry his 
 biographer, there are several references to Mr. Jenks. Mr. Illidge used 
 to attend Wibunbury church, and had a great regard for Mr. Jenks, 
 as the following statements in his diary show. " I got much benefit 
 " to my soul by his good preaching and exemplary living. He was a 
 " man of good natural temper, an ingenious preacher, sober, temperate,
 
 Deanery of Nantwich. 149 
 
 " and very charitable, of a public spirit. He was diligent in the 
 " duties of a minister; carefully catechised the children and servants 
 " in the summer time; visited the sick in all quarters of his parish, 
 " both poor and rich ; took great pains to get subscriptions for the 
 " maintaining of petty schools to teach children to read, and did his 
 " utmost towards the suppression of vice." Mr. Jenks died July 19th, 
 1700, and Mr. Lancaster preached his funeral sermon from Acts xx. 
 30, I have taught you publicly, atidfrom house to house. " In the time 
 " of our vacancy (continues Lieutenant Illidge) it was my frequent 
 " prayer to Almighty God that he would be pleased to send us a 
 " minister that truly feared God and loved religion." He even wrote 
 to the Bishop of Lichfield, beseeching him for Christ's sake to provide 
 for this great parish (being eighteen to^vnships) such a minister as 
 may answer the great charge and trust he undertakes; and when his 
 lordship had presented Mr. Bromfield, and he had some trial of him, 
 he writes, " What great cause have I to thank and praise the Lord 
 " who hath heard my prayers and sent us such a good minister." 
 Lieutenant Illidge, while thus commending his own pastors, gives a 
 lamentable picture of the morals of the Conformist clergy generally. 
 " Some of our high clergymen (he says) \x\S\. preach against 
 " profaneness in the pulpit, but allow it and laugh at it in the alehouse ; 
 " and will rather reproach and persecute an honest Dissenter for truly 
 " serving God than make complaint of or endeavour to punish a pro- 
 " fane swearer, a drunkard, or a debauched wretch that blasphemes 
 " the great God." 
 
 In Wibunbury parish was situated Doddington Old Hall, the 
 property of Sir John Delves, one of the izxaovi's, five fneti of Cheshire 
 who distinguished themselves for their bravery at the battle of 
 Poictiers in the reign of Edward III. During the Commonwealth 
 it was besieged by the Royalists, and the defenders, after three days' 
 gallant resistance, surrendered and fled to Nantwich. It was soon 
 afterwards won back again. Mr. George Mainwaring, ejected from 
 Malpas, was for some time chaplain to Sir Henry Delves. Sir Thomas 
 Delves, son of Sir Henry, was a warm friend and admirer of Matthew 
 Henry. Mr. Tong says, " that house, Doddington Hall, has been 
 " famed for impartial and disinterested religion, and I hope will ever 
 " be so." Bishop Gastrell names a Dissenting meeting house, Ana- 
 baptist, at Wibunbury, with forty members. " Dissenting families, 
 " twenty-four. Presbyterian six, Anabaptist fourteen, Quakers three."
 
 I 50 No7iconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 The township of Wistaston is partly in Wibunbury parish. 
 Humphrey Whittingham signed the Attestation in 1648 2i% pastor 
 at Wistastofi. Andrew Downs was inducted in 1653, conformed, and 
 died here in 1674. Bishop Gastrell names two Dissenting families 
 here in his time. 
 
 MARBURY. 
 
 The picturesque \illage of Marbur)^ lies about eight miles south of 
 Nantwich, on the borders of Cheshire but in ^Vhitchurch parish. In 
 the church, under the communion rails is an epitaph in capitals, 
 " Charles Jonas ractor of Marburie, who died the 18 of Dec. an° 
 " 1647." This Mr. Jones was succeeded by Mr. Bruce who was 
 minister here during the commonwealth, and was ejected for his 
 Nonconformity in 1662. Calamy gives the following account of 
 him : — 
 
 " He was a lively affectionate preacher and of an unblameable 
 " conversation. He took abundance of pains in catechising publicly, 
 " and in repeating sermons at his own house every Lord's Day in the 
 " evening. He was much lamented when he was ejected. His 
 " parishioners were kind to him upon his removal, and there was 
 " sufficient occasion for it, for he had a wife and several small 
 " children, with but little to subsist upon. On his leaving Marbury, 
 " he retired to London and preached to a pretty numerous auditory 
 " at his own house in George Yard near Smithfield ; and afterwards 
 " he preached frequently at Islington. He was for some time chap- 
 " lain to Sir Anthony Irby, but at length went into Scotland, which 
 " was his native country. What became of him afterwards is 
 " uncertain."
 
 DEANERY OF MIDDLEWICH 
 
 |Y excluding Great Budworth parish from what is now- 
 called the Northwich hundred, and adding the parish of 
 Over, we define with tolerable accuracy the Deanery of 
 Middlewich. Seven Nonconformist ministers were ejected 
 from their livings in this Deanery between 1660 and 1662, viz., 
 George Moxon from Astbury, Thomas Brook from Congleton, Richard 
 Bowker from Middlewich, Thomas Cope from Sandbach, John Buck- 
 ley from Goostree, John Ravenshaw from Holms Chapel, and Samuel 
 Langley from Swettenham. 
 
 ASTBURY AND CONGLETON. 
 
 (By Dr. Beales.^ 
 
 Congleton is picturesquely situated on the sides of the river Dane. 
 From the somewhat secluded position of this town it might have 
 been supposed it would have escaped the political and ecclesiastical 
 shocks of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries ; but not so, for 
 marks of both are traceable in the records of this ancient borough. 
 
 Retired as the situation of Congleton is, it possessed from the 
 time of Edward the First certain privileges which conduced to its 
 prosperity. Historically it is celebrated as the residence for a con- 
 siderable time of John Bradshaw, who was president of the council 
 which condemned Charles I. He was evidently a man of great 
 abiUty — active, energetic, and uncompromising. He practised for 
 many years as a barrister at Congleton, and was well thought of by 
 his townsmen, for in 1637 he was elected mayor. At the present
 
 152 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 day opinions differ about him ; but I have no doubt Milton's descrip- 
 tion of his character in the Second Defence of the People of 
 England, is a fair and just one. Ecclesiastically, Congleton is situated 
 in the parish of Astbury. The church, under which the one at 
 Congleton is a chapel of ease, stands a mile and a half from the town, 
 and in this short sketch of the history of Nonconformity in 
 the district any fact relating to the ministers of Astbury will 
 naturally be included. 
 
 Dr. Thotnas Dod, nephew of John Dod commonly called the 
 decalogist, was minister of Astbury for many years in the early part 
 of the seventeenth century. He was presented to the rectory in 
 1 61 7, and was still here in 1641. He died in 1647 and was buried 
 at Malpas. Henry Newcome whose eldest brother was master of 
 the Free School at Congleton, went to school there in 1641, "at 
 " which time," says he, " that eloquent and famous preacher Dr. 
 " Thomas Dodd was parson at Astbury, where I several times 
 " (though then but a child) heard him preach." Walker in his 
 Sufferings of the Clergy names Thomas Hutchenson as sequestered 
 from the living of Astbury and re-instated in 1660. After his 
 sequestration the celebrated John Ley of Great Budworth became 
 minister, and his name occurs as the first signature to the Attestation 
 of Cheshire ministers to the solemn league and covenant in June 1648. 
 He signs himself as " for the present preacher at Astbury." While 
 here he had two young men successively as assistants who afterwards 
 became distinguished Nonconformists — John Murcot and Henry 
 Newcome. 
 
 John Murcot was ordained to the church at Astbury March 8th, 
 1647, and though here but a short time "the Lord was pleased to 
 " own him in his first attempts and endeavours, giving him a seal 
 " unto his ministry by the conversion of two especially, who being 
 " awakened by his sound doctrine, smart expression, and powerful 
 " delivery, sadly bemoaned themselves and mourned over their lost 
 " condition even in public."* 
 
 Henry Newcome preached his first sermon at Congleton in 1647, 
 on I Corinthians, x. 31 ; and " not long after this," he adds, " I was 
 " entertained reader to Mr. Ley at Astbury (Mr. Murcot just then 
 " removing from him), and shortly fell to preaching, sometimes at 
 
 * Moses in the Mount, page 5.
 
 Deanery of Middlewich, 153 
 
 " Congleton and sometimes at Astbury." He did not remain here 
 many months but removed to Goostrey. 
 
 John Pemberton signed the Cheshire Attestation as pastor of 
 Congleton in 1648. He could not long have remained here, because 
 in 1649-50 Mr. Thomas Brook removed from Gavvsworth to 
 Congleton.* 
 
 In Calamy's Nonconformist Memorial Mr. Thomas Brook is 
 mentioned as the ejected minister of Congleton. He is described as 
 " a humble good man, a great adversary to pride, and no mean 
 " scholar, of which some manuscripts of his give full proof. It was 
 " true of him as of Knox, that he never feared the face of man. His 
 " reproofs, though blunt, were always levelled against sin, and often 
 " were ingenious, keen, and convictive. He took great pains to serve 
 " his master. He expounded in the pubHc chapel in Congleton on 
 " Lord's Day morning by six o'clock. He expounded, prayed, and 
 " preached both morning and afternoon ; and repeated in public in 
 '' the evening. He preached also on Tuesdays and Fridays. In 
 " 1660 he was turned out of Congleton, and preached for some time 
 " at Moreton Chapel. By the favour of the old incumbent, Mr. 
 " Hutchinson, he preached his last public sermon in Astbury Church, 
 " on August 24th, 1662. He was very infirm in his latter days, and 
 " preached in much pain. He was buried August 31st, 1664, aged 
 " seventy-two years." 
 
 By the kindness of the town-clerk I have been allowed to search 
 the corporation records of the period, and find this account substan- 
 tially correct. I cannot find the exact date of Mr. Brook's appointment 
 or dismission, but his name is mentioned several times in a period of 
 five or six years, and there are several entries of money paid to him. 
 The corporation does not appear to have been very liberal towards 
 him, nor very punctual in the payment of his salary; for there is a 
 memorandum that ten shillings had been offered to Mr. Thomas 
 Brook, which he declines to accept, and wishes it to be given to the 
 New England clergy. This refusal suggests two things — that Mr. 
 Brook was not entirely dependent on his salary, and that he wished 
 to rebuke the niggardliness of the authorities. 
 
 The last time his name appears in the corporation records is in a 
 resolution passed at the meeting of the council held May 17th, 1662, 
 
 * Newcome's Autobiography, page 20.
 
 154 No7iconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 in which it is ordered that all persons who are behind, not having paid 
 any money due unto the borough, shall be proceeded against by 
 letter of attorney, and that such sums as shall be received " bee paid 
 " over unto Mr. Thomas Brooke, late minister of this Burrough, 
 " towards his satisfaction, for his last year's payns amongst us in ye 
 " ministry." From this entry we find that in May 1662 Mr. Brook 
 is alluded to as "late minister." It is also evident that he still 
 remained in the neighbourhood, as a year's salary was due to him, 
 which was to be paid as obtained by legal means from the inhabitants; 
 a very singular mode of raising a clergyman's salary, and which seems 
 to show that the leaven of the Restoration was already at work. It 
 is probable that Mr. Brook, like Baxter and others, seeing the storm 
 coming, and finding it impossible to bow to it, resigned his living a 
 short time before the Act took effect. 
 
 Adam Martindale mentions him as still minister of Congleton in 
 1 66 1. Referring to a sermon preached to reprove the people of 
 Rosthern for their folly in erecting a Maypole, he says, " This sermon 
 " somewhat nettled some of them, and they resolved to procure Mr. 
 " Brook of Congleton (who had formerly preached at Rosthern and 
 " Leigh eight years, and Avas so well respected in the parish and 
 " by me that they knew I would not hinder him) to bestow his 
 " paines upon a Lord's Day with us. Well ; they prevailed, and he 
 " came ; but when he saw the Maypole in his way, and understood 
 " by whom and to what end it was set up, he did most smartly reprove 
 " their sin and foUie, calling them by most opprobrious names, as the 
 " scumme, rabble, rife-rafe (or such like) of the parish ; in so much 
 " that my words were smooth like oyle in comparison of his, so full 
 " of salt and vinegar."* 
 
 After his ejectment from Congleton Mr. Brook continued to preach 
 in the neighbourhood, especially at the chapel in old Moreton Hall, 
 the owner of which, William Moreton, was his patron and admirer. 
 This building is one of the most perfect and interesting specimens of 
 a timber house now in existence. That the owner of it was a Puritan 
 is evident from the inscriptions cut in wood outside the windows : — 
 " Richard Dale carpenter made these windows by the grace of God;" 
 " God is all in all things, These windows were made by William 
 " Moreton in the yeare of our Lorde 1559." The walls of the little 
 
 * Martindale 's Autobiography, page 157.
 
 Deanery of Middlewich. 155 
 
 chapel are covered with texts of Scripture, and a fine oak panelled 
 room runs the length of the building on the top story, in which it is 
 said Mr. Brook preached till his death in 1664. 
 
 There is an old memorandum regarding Congleton significant of 
 the change produced upon the manners of the people by the restora- 
 tion of prelacy and the ejectment of the Puritan ministers. It is 
 dated 1662, and says, "About this time arose the saying of Congleton 
 selling the word of God to buy a bear." It appears that a new Bible 
 being wanted for the use of the chapel, a collection had been made 
 and money laid by for the purpose. But bear-baiting, which had 
 been put a stop to during the Commonwealth, was now to be revived, 
 and the said money was given to the bear-ward to buy a bear, so that 
 the minister was obliged to use the old Bible a little longer. 
 
 During the time that the bold and zealous Thomas Brook was 
 minister of Congleton two eminent men were labouring at Astbury, 
 as pastors of that parish, John Machin and George Moxon. John 
 Machin (of whom a full account will be found in connexion with 
 Whitley Chapef, whence he was ejected in 1662) says in his diary, 
 " I was ordered and called to Astbury in Cheshire November 17th, 
 " 1652, but exprest not my full consent till the spring following, at 
 " which time I left Atherston." Not long after he removed to Astbury 
 he married Miss Jane Butler, the 29th September 1653; and in May 
 1654 he began to keep house at Astbury. In the end of that year, 
 March 1654-5, he set on foot the ordinance of the Lord's Supper, 
 and continued it without interruption monthly till 1660. "The Lord 
 " did mightily strengthen his hands and encourage his heart in this 
 " ordinance, and he took great care in preparation for it, spending 
 " the Friday before the sacrament in public prayers and preaching, 
 " and the day after in thanksgiving, in his own or in some neighbour's 
 " family, especially where there fell out in any communicant's family 
 " any occasion of special thanksgiving — as recovery from sickness or 
 " the hke. By the coming of another incumbent unto Astbury he 
 " had only opportunity of preaching there each other Lord's Day, 
 " and for the other he had liberty to preach abroad upon charity, 
 " which yet he heartily rejoiced in, and was ready freely to help any 
 " of his brethren, so that he was seldom a day at ease."* 
 
 The other incumbent referred to in this extract was the Rev. 
 
 * Clark's Lives, page 87.
 
 156 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 George Moxon, of whom Calamy gives the follo\ving account : — 
 " He was born near Wakefield in Yorkshire, and educated at the 
 " University of Cambridge. He was a good lyric poet and could 
 " imitate Horace so exactly as not easily to be distinguished. He 
 " was sometime chaplain to Sir William Brereton in this county, and 
 " aftenvards preached at S. Helen's chapel in Lancashire, where he 
 " met with much trouble from Dr. Bridgman, Bishop of Chester, for 
 " his Nonconformity to the ceremonies. He stayed there till about 
 " the year 1637, when a citation for him being hung upon the chapel 
 " door, he rode away in disguise to Bristol, where he took shipping 
 " for New England ; and upon his arrival there became pastor to the 
 " church at Springfield. He returned to old England in the year 
 " 1653, and became pastor to a Congregational church at Astbury. 
 " Both he and Mr. John Machin lived in the parsonage house with 
 " their families, and preached on the Lord's Day alternately. When 
 " it was Mr. Machin's turn to preach at home, Mr. Moxon preached 
 " at Rushton on the edge of the moorland parts of Staffordshire, till 
 " 1660, when the old incumbent Mr. Hutchinson returned to the 
 " possession of the living." 
 
 Mr. Machin removed to Whitley and was silenced the following 
 year. Mr. Moxon continued preaching at Rushton until the passing 
 of the Act of Uniformity, after which he preached up and down in 
 the neighbourhood in private houses and wherever he could until the 
 issuing of the Declaration of Indulgence enabled him to obtain a 
 licence to preach in his own house at Congleton, which was situated 
 on Dane Bridge. Not far from the Episcopal chapel of Rushton 
 where Mr. Moxon preached before his ejectment, is an old farm- 
 house adjoining which is an ancient burial ground. From tradition 
 as well as certain names in the district, as " gospel stone," there is 
 no doubt but that this was the haunt of the persecuted Puritans, who 
 though silenced by the Act of Uniformity were compelled in spite of 
 bonds, imprisonment, and death, to proclaim in this wild moorland 
 district the everlasting gospel of the blessed God. A spot more 
 suitable could not have been chosen, for from its seclusion the 
 assembly could scarcely be traced, and the minister could avoid the 
 penalty of the Five Mile Act it being equally distant from Congleton, 
 Macclesfield, and Leek. In this farmhouse no doubt Mr. Moxon 
 preached, and the owner of it must have been favourable to the 
 Congregationalists and probably a Baptist, for he left by deed the
 
 Deanery of Middlewich. 157 
 
 use of the house as a preaching station and a piece of land adjoining 
 
 as a burial place to the Baptist denomination for ever. This right 
 
 has not been lately claimed ; the last time it was so was by the 
 
 venerable and respected Baptist minister of Hanley, the Rev. L. J. 
 
 Abington, who has kindly communicated to me all the information 
 
 he obtained about this ancient and interesting place, which I will 
 
 give in his own words : — " Nearly forty years ago I visited the place 
 
 " and examined the burial ground, which is a triangular spot in the 
 
 " comer of a meadow, not fenced off from the other part. The grassy 
 
 " turf had accumulated upon and had totally concealed the stones of 
 
 " memorial laid upon the graves. With my stick I bored and found 
 
 " them ; with a knife I cut through the turf and rolled it off It was 
 
 " found to cover a gravestone having the initials only of the deceased, 
 
 " and the date 1672. I carefully collected all the traditions of the 
 
 " place from the oldest inhabitants, which I am sorry to say are too 
 
 " few, as they relate to those ' of whom the world was not worthy.' 
 
 " The last funeral took place somewhere about 1780. The corpse 
 
 *' was taken into the farmhouse for a religious service, but the crowd 
 
 " of followers was so great that the floor gave way and let them 
 
 " altogether with the corpse into the cellar. The Baptists have a 
 
 " perpetual right to the use of the large room in the house. I con- 
 
 " suited an old gentleman in the neighbourhood, a lawyer, who 
 
 " assured me he had seen the deeds of the estate, and was confident 
 
 " of the fact that Baptists had an equal right with the owner of the 
 
 " house for ever. That right I therefore claimed, and published a 
 
 " notice that Divine worship would be held on Whit-Monday at two 
 
 *' o'clock. The people assembled, but the owner would not open 
 
 " the door. He was a very old man and resisted my entrance by 
 
 " the back door, but I forced my way and opened the front. People 
 
 " seated themselves by fetching chairs or stools from the neighbours. 
 
 " The old man was very noisy, and obstructed us all he could until he 
 
 " heard something which melted him to the gentleness of a child. 
 
 " When all was over he took my hand and thanked me for coming. 
 
 " He would not part with me without a promise that I would soon 
 
 " come again. He died within a fortnight after ! " 
 
 These interesting facts are worthy of being recorded and preserved 
 from oblivion. 
 
 Returning again to Mr. Moxon, we find him preaching in his own 
 house until age and repeated attacks of palsy disabled him. He died
 
 158 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 September 15th, 1687. In the same year, 1687, a New Meeting 
 House was built, but before it was opened Mr. Moxon died, and the 
 first sermon preached in it was his funeral sermon, which was preached 
 by the Rev. Eliezer Birch, of Dean Row near Wilmslow. 
 
 The immediate successor of Mr. Moxon cannot be positively 
 ascertained, but the next minister of whom we have any account is 
 the Rev. Thoma.s Irlam. In April 1687 he entered Mr. Frankland's 
 academy in Yorkshire, and probably after completing his studies he 
 settled at Congleton, for he was present at the first meeting of the 
 Cheshire Presbyterian and Congregational ministers, and signed their 
 agreement in 1691 as minister of Congleton. In I7i3-i4hewas 
 moderator of this assembly. He preached twice before the minis- 
 ters at Knutsford, in 1698 and in 17 10. His name occurs as present 
 at their meetings down to 1722, when censure was passed upon 
 Mr. De la Ro.se of Stockport ; and the circumstance that he never 
 afterwards attended the ministers' meetings, though he was still living 
 and at Congleton, seems to indicate that he disapproved of that 
 censure. 
 
 Mr. Moxon having been himself a Congregationalist, and having 
 formed a church according to his principles, it is likely that Mr. Irlam, 
 his successor and their chosen pastor, was a Congregationalist like- 
 wise. His eminent piety and prudence procured for him universal 
 respect, and he was frequently permitted to preach in the Episcopal 
 Chapel at Bosley, but his amiable character did not prevent the 
 inroads of a lawless mob into his meeting. 
 
 On the acces.sion of George I. to the throne in 17 14, from the 
 state of parties in Congleton a riot took place, and the Tories pro- 
 ceeded to the meeting house and completely ransacked it, carrying 
 away the pulpit and forms to Dane Bridge, where they were destroyed 
 by fire. 
 
 In 1733-4 a new meeting house was built on the west side of 
 Mill-street, which still exists, and is now occupied by friends of the 
 Unitarian denomination. 
 
 Mr. Irlam laboured in Congleton for about half a century, but 
 the exact time of his death cannot be ascertained. 
 
 The next minister of whom we have an account is the Rev. 
 Joseph Bourn, son of the Rev. Samuel Bourn of Birmingham. After 
 preaching for some time, he removed in 1746 to Hindley in Lanca- 
 shire.
 
 Deanery of Middlezuich. 159 
 
 The Rev. Benjamin Dawson officiated here for a short time, and 
 in 1754 removed to Southwark, and was succeeded by the Rev. 
 William Turner from AUostock. He passed through a course of 
 academical studies under Dr. Latham of Findern near Derby, and 
 afterwards at Glasgow, and first settled at AUostock, thence removed 
 to Congleton, and thence in 1761 to Wakefield, where he died ui 
 1 79 1, aged eighty years. He was an acquaintance of Dr. Priestley's. 
 His son and grandson became Unitarian ministers. 
 
 The Rev. Thomas Astley succeeded Mr. Turner. He came 
 hither from Warrington, and was succeeded by the Rev. John Boult, 
 who removed about 1773 into Derbyshire. In 1775 the Rev. Mr. 
 Cooper settled here, and left in 1781, having previously buried his 
 wife in the chapel. He was succeeded by the Rev. John Row- 
 bottom from Cambridge, who continued minister until his death in 
 1 7 97, and in the same year the Rev. James Hawkes from Northampton 
 was chosen minister, and filled that office until March 1800, when he 
 removed to Manchester as Latin assistant to a school kept by the 
 Rev. Mr. Grindrod. Mr. Hawkes was succeeded by the Rev. Thomas 
 Jones in 1800, who continued till i8ii, and was followed by the 
 Rev. Theophilus Brown, who did not continue long before he 
 removed to Gloucester. He was succeeded by the Rev. William 
 Fillingham in 18 14, who died in 1853, having officiated for thirty- 
 nine years. 
 
 Since Mr. Irlam's time most of the ministers were of Arian or 
 Unitarian sentiments ; still they were recognised by the Congregational 
 board until the settlement of Mr. Turner, when that board refused to 
 continue the exhibition which had been granted to his predecessors. 
 Since then the Unitarians have been the recognised owners of the 
 chapel, of the minister's house and ground attached, and of an endow- 
 ment bequeathed by Mr. Rowbotham ; but there has been no settled 
 minister since the death of Mr. Fillingham in 1853. What became 
 of those persons holding orthodox or Trinitarian sentiments % They 
 must for a number of years either have continued to worship in the 
 old meeting house, or have met privately amongst themselves, for no 
 other place of worship was erected until 1790. 
 
 The Independents of Congleton are indebted for their present 
 chapel to the pious and generous Captain Scott, whose itinerant 
 labours as a minister of the gospel were very useful in this part of the 
 country. About the year 1780 two or three persons went over from
 
 i6o No7iconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 here to Hanley to hear the captain, and at the conclusion of the ser- 
 vice they requested him to preach at Congleton. Ever wilUng to 
 comply with invitations of this kind, although no room or even barn 
 could be offered him, he came over shortly after, and preached either 
 in the street or the yard of the inn at which he lodged. The Rev. 
 Rowland Hill, who happened to be with him in the neighbourhood, 
 also preached on the following week in the open air. In the following 
 year, seeing there was a work to be done at Congleton, Captain Scott 
 fitted up at his own expense a room wherein either he, a neighbouring 
 minister, or a student statedly preached to the people. But Mr. 
 Scott's generosity did not stop here, but in 1790 he erected, at his 
 own expense, in Mill-street, the present excellent and commodious 
 chapel, forty-two feet by thirty-six feet, with three galleries. It was 
 registered for public worship, and on the 17th November was opened. 
 
 The Rev. J. Reece was the first minister of the new chapel. He 
 had previously supplied the congregation worshipping in the room, 
 having his abode at Newcastle. He was ordained April 24th, 1793. 
 His labours were successful, both in Congleton and the surrounding 
 villages. In 1797 he removed to Sheffield, where he continued till 
 his death, which happened January 8th, 1801. There is a memoir of 
 Mr. Reece in the Evangelical Magazi7ie, vol. x., page 41. 
 
 A successor to Mr. Reece was not appointed until 1800, in which 
 year the Rev. John Handforth became pastor ; but he continued 
 only about a year, and was followed by the Rev. Mr. Parsons late 
 of Chorley. He removed in December 1802. From this time the 
 pulpit was supplied with occasional preachers, till the Rev. Thomas 
 Bennett settled here in 1805. He continued but little more than 
 two years, then removed to Dukinfield, and afterwards settled at 
 Hatherlow. Again, until 18 10, there was no settled minister; in 
 that year the Rev. James Howes became the pastor. The following 
 year he was succeeded by the Rev. John Williams, who in 1813 
 was followed by the Rev. James Bridgeman, who removed the next 
 year to Chester, and was succeeded by the Rev. George Marris. 
 He and the three preceding ministers belonged to the Countess of 
 Huntingdon's connexion, but by the trust deed, which bears date 
 January 181 2, the chapel is expressly declared to be for the use of 
 a congregation of Independents, agreeably to the intention of Cap- 
 tain Scott. It was therefore mutually arranged between Mr. Marris 
 and the church that he should resign, and for the future the pulpit
 
 Deanery of Middlewich. 1 6 1 
 
 should be occupied by ministers of the Independent denomination. 
 Mr. Marris preached his last sermon January 20th, 1822. This 
 determination on the part of the church caused the friends of Mr. 
 Marris and those who liked the form of worship adopted by the 
 Countess of Huntingdon to build a new chapel in Park-street. It 
 was opened in the same year, 1822, and Mr. Marris was the first 
 minister. He was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Newman. A few 
 years after, the congregation having gradually decreased, the chapel 
 became the property of the Baptists ; but they have not been strong 
 enough to maintain a resident pastor. 
 
 Returning again to the Independent Chapel, after Mr. Marris 
 left, the church records do not afford us much information about his 
 successors. There must have been an interval of a few years, during 
 which the pulpit was occupied by supplies. In April 1826 the Rev. 
 John Johnson commenced his ministry- He resigned in November 
 1830, and eventually took orders in the Episcopal Church, and is 
 now the travelling secretary of the Church Missionary Society. In 
 January 1843 the Rev. G. Edge became pastor, and continued in 
 his office twelve years. He was followed by the Rev. S. Gibbon, 
 who only remained about twelve months. 
 
 The present minister, the Rev. Joseph Moore, began his labours 
 May 2ist, 1848. During his ministry the church and congregation 
 have increased, and peace and harmony have prevailed. The friends 
 too have not been inactive, for a new school, with class rooms, has 
 been built, and the chapel has been re-pewed and in other points 
 improved. Our earnest wish is that this branch of Christ's church 
 may long exist not only to diffuse the common and saving doctrines 
 of Christianity, but also for maintaining the supremacy of Christ in 
 his church, and the duty of loyalty to conscience. And to our 
 opponents we say, in the words of Dr. Bates, one of the ejected, " It 
 " is neither fancy, faction, nor humour that makes us not comply ; 
 " but merely the fear of offending God." 
 
 CHURCH LAWTON. 
 
 Randall Sillitoe, pastor of Lawton, signed the Cheshire Attestation 
 of Presbyterian ministers in 1 648. He was a faithful labourer in this 
 parish during the Commonwealth, and would probably have been a
 
 1 62 Nonco7iformity iji Cheshire. 
 
 Nonconformist in 1662, but he was removed by death in the very 
 week the Act of Uniformity came into force. Newcome of Manchester 
 knew him, and notes in his Diar}^,* "August 30th, 1662. I heard of 
 " tlie death of my good friend ]\Ir. Sillitoe." The register of his 
 burial occurs at this date, Anno 1662. Randulphus Sillito, Rector, 
 August 30. A letter from him to Newcome is printed in the Auto- 
 biography,+ giving an interesting account of a dreadful thunderstorm 
 at Lawton, on Sunday June 20th, 1652, when eleven young men 
 were killed by lightning in the belfry of the church during service. 
 Mr. Sillitoe, writing on the Monday, says, "This day they were 
 " interred in eleven several graves. We had a mighty throng of 
 " people, to whom I preached out of Luke xiii. 4, 5. There was 
 " not among the dead any one vicious liver." 
 
 Mr. Sillitoe was succeeded by William Uxsham, Conformist. 
 
 DAVENHAM AND MOULTON. 
 
 Among the signatures to the Attestation of Cheshire Presbyterian 
 Ministers in the year 1648, there occurs that oi Jaf/ies Marbury, 
 pastor of Davenham. 
 
 Bishop Gastrell mentions a Dissenting meeting house of Anabap- 
 tists in this parish with " about fifteen meeters." This probably refers 
 to the chapel at Allostock, on Rudheath, an account of which will be 
 found in another part of this volume. J 
 
 An Independent Chapel was erected at Moulton in this parish, 
 in the year 1833. Mr. William Darlington (whose family had been 
 wont to attend the ministry of the Rev. Job Wilson of Northwich) 
 gave the ground, and was the main supporter of the place. The 
 chapel was supplied by lay brethren till the year 1839, when the Rev. 
 William Moore, now of Leigh, in Lancashire, became the settled 
 pastor, and remained there for about eight years. In the year 1847 
 the Rev. Edward Russ, from Seaton, in Devonshire, became the 
 minister, and laboured among the people for four years. In the year 
 1 85 1 the Rev. C H. Parrett succeeded, and he continues minister. 
 
 About the year 1835 two schoolrooms were erected, capable of 
 accommodating about 170 children. In 1851 Mr. Parrett began a 
 
 * Page 117. tPage 310. % See Allostock.
 
 Deanery of Middlewich. i6 
 
 o 
 
 service on Sundays at Davenham, and in the year following the 
 foundation stone of a New Chapel was laid by Mr. R. Dutton of 
 Stanthorne Hall; and the place was opened on Good Friday 1853, 
 by the Rev. R. Ford of Manchester. It is a neat building, capable 
 of seating about 140 people, and the cost of it was 270/., the ground 
 being given by Mr. J. Darhngton of Moulton. Mr. Parrett officiates 
 at both chapels on the Lord's Day. 
 
 MIDDLEWICH. 
 
 (By the Rev. W. B. Macwilliam.^ 
 
 Middlewich, a town in the parish of that name, contains a popula- 
 tion of upwards of 3,000. Although not a place of historic note, its 
 antiquity is undoubted. The site of a Roman station is in the imme- 
 diate neighbourhood, and Kinderton — a part of which is included in 
 the town — is identified by many as the Roman Condate. In the 
 time of the civil war, in 1642, Middlewich was the scene of a conflict 
 in which nearly all the fighting was left by the Royalists to their 
 Parliamentary opponents. Sir Thomas Aston, the leader of the 
 Royalist troops, himself evidently a man of bravery, in his letter 
 detailing the events of the day, gives a very graphic description of 
 the behaviour of his men. Their valour was not even up to the 
 standard of that which "fights and runs away;" for they did not fight 
 and they did run away. A few of their leader's words are worth 
 recording. He says of a company of "musketteers," "As soon as 
 " they were up neare to where the cannon was pointed, they laide 
 " themselves all downe in a sort of hollow way, and their arms by 
 " them, so that I was forced to ride amongst them and beate them 
 " up, and myselfe on horseback brought them up to the hedge where 
 " the other musketry were, but neither these nor those durst put up 
 " their heads, but shott their pieces up into the air, noe one foot 
 "officer being by them to save or order them." "All the whole 
 " stand of pikes in the rere of the horse clearly run awaye, and all 
 " the musketteers placed for the defence of the end of the street 
 " leading to Booth Lane, did quitt their trenches, having never dis- 
 " charged their shotts, nor even seene their enemie." " I found all the 
 " foote wedged up in the church, like billets in a wood pile, noe one
 
 164 Nonco7iformity in CJieshire. 
 
 " man at his arms." Sir Thomas himself made good his retreat by 
 way of Kinderton, leaving the Xovfxv in possession of the Parliamentary 
 troops. 
 
 The parish church of S. Michael has, during the last few years, 
 been beautifully restored, with the exception of the fine old tower. 
 This tower still bears the marks of the balls of the Parliamentary 
 cannon in the contest above noticed. Among the tablets contained 
 in the building there is one to the memory of the Rev. John Hulse, 
 founder of the Hulsean lecture. He was bom at Middlewich in the 
 year 1708, and died in 1790. 
 
 Middlewich does not stand out prominently in connection with 
 the events of 1662, but the evidence contained in the following pages 
 will, we think, establish the conclusion that long before Brave Bar- 
 tholomew 1662, seeds were there sowti which grew into Nonconformity, 
 and spread into the Dissent which claims, as its heavenly birthright, 
 religious equality. 
 
 The names of two contemporary ministers of Middlewich appear 
 during the half century preceding the passing of the Act of Uniformity. 
 The Rev. Thomas LANGLEYwas minister of the parish for forty-eight 
 years — from 1609 till his death on 7th June 1657; and the Rev. 
 Thomas Halliley from 25th October 161 6, till his death in 1641. 
 Of the latter the writer has not been able to learn anything, but it 
 may be presumed that he officiated as curate to Mr. Langley, and 
 during Mr. Langley's suspension. A few extracts wall show the moral 
 and spiritual worth of Thomas Langley, and the good report which 
 he had of his brethren. He seems to have been a man of such a 
 mould that if the angel of death had not taken him away from the 
 evil to come, his would have been found enrolled with the names of 
 his son and his friends — Newcome and Martindale — in the annals of 
 English Nonconformity. 
 
 Mr. Hinde of Bunburj-^, in his life of John Bruen of Stapleford, 
 near Tarvin, says, "January i6th, 1625. Mr. Langley and myself 
 
 " came unto him" (when he was lying on his deathbed) 
 
 " After this Mr. Langley spake a word unto him to comfort him in 
 " the midst of all his sorrows, that he knew that shortly he should be 
 " released and freed from all sin and sorrow." " Next morning, 
 " though he (Bruen) did wear away very much, yet he called upon 
 " Mr. Langley to pray with him, being up very early to go a long 
 " journey to preach his usual Tuesday lecture. Of whom he was so
 
 Deanery of Middlewich. 165 
 
 " very careful that he caused some proidsion to be made for him, 
 " especially a posset, that he himself at their parting might drink 
 " with him." 
 
 Among the signatures to the Attestation of Cheshire ministers in 
 favour of the solemn League and Covenant, and the resolutions of 
 the Westminster Assembly, there occurs under date June 6th, 1648, 
 the name Thomas Langley, minister at Middlewitch. 
 
 Adam Martindale thus refers to Mr. Langley : — 
 
 " They procured the baron to send over to us the Reverend Mr. 
 " Thomas Langley of Middlewich, to preach upon the 24th day of 
 " December 1648, being Lord's Day, the design being to gull the 
 " people \vith the hope of that worthy old gentleman, so as to prevail 
 " with them to cast off me, and then they hoped to introduce another; 
 " but he spoiled their game by declaring 'publicly that he could not 
 " leave Middlewich, leaving me the next day, being Christmas Day, 
 " and giving me a very good character."* 
 
 " I told him that if Mr, Langley would then declare himself 
 " wilHng to accept the place, I would freely depart" t 
 
 Henry Newcome says : — " On the 22nd of August this very year 
 " (1648) I was ordained at Sandbach. Old Mr. Langley preached.":J: 
 
 " I began to think about this time what a while I had lived near 
 " old Mr. Langley, and had never had any intimacy with him, and 
 " how it would trouble me if the Lord should take him away, and I 
 " a stranger to him, and so I resolved to make a journey (from 
 " Gawsworth) on purpose to see him ; and on January 29th (1652) I 
 " got up betimes and called of his son (the Rev. Samuel Langley) at 
 " Swettenham, and we went together to Middlewich to see the good 
 " old man, who made me very welcome, and I had a sweet entrance 
 " into a very intimate acquaintance -n-ith him, which lasted till I 
 " removed to Manchester, he dying the first year after my coming 
 " thither, in the year 1657. A precious friend and father he was 
 *' unto me upon all occasions after this while he lived." § 
 
 Newcome also mentions that at this time his great ambition was 
 " to see ISIr. Langley . . . and Mr. Baxter," and in speaking 
 with admiration of the Christian graces which adorned some of his 
 contemporaries, he mentions " Mr. Langley's discretion." 
 
 * Martindale's Autobiography, page 78. t Hid. 
 
 X Newcome's Autobiography, page 11. § Ibid, page 34.
 
 1 66 Nonconformity m Cheshire. 
 
 In a different strain is the following : — " Old Mr. Langley hath 
 " told me that Mr. Simeon Ash was hugely kept down when young, 
 " and drooped under it sadly. One day he was with Mr. Langley, 
 " and had hap to let fall such a word as this — that he might happen 
 " drop into heaven shortly. Mr. Langley presently retorted, ' Speak 
 " 'sense, man; do folks use to drop upwards?'"* 
 
 In 1664, Newcome gives this closing testimony to the worth of 
 his departed father and friend. " How hath the Lord weakened us 
 " of late ! What prophets hath he taken from mine head ! What 
 " admirable men of my acquaintance within this seven years. Holy 
 " and meek Langley," &c.t 
 
 The epithet here employed is referred to Samuel Langley, by the 
 editor of Martin dale;:}: clearly, however, it is a tribute to the memory 
 of his father. 
 
 As an instance of a minister remaining in the same place, though 
 courted to more public spheres of labour, Oliver Heywood remarks : — 
 " Old Mr. Langley of Middlewich, in Cheshire, may also be men- 
 " tioned, who was minister there before the wars; and though he was 
 *' seven years together silenced, yet when he was restored to his liberty 
 " he returned to them, where he had but a very pitiful maintenance, 
 " and continued there to the day of his death. "§ 
 
 Samuel Clark says that Mr. John Ball of Whitmore " took a 
 "journey unto London in 1640 with his neighbour and endeared 
 " brother Master Langley, in order to procure liberty, that men 
 " unconformable to the Ceremonies might not be thrust out." The 
 journey was in vain. Clark further says, " Master Thomas Langley 
 " of Middlewich, in Cheshire, besides his former intimateness with 
 " Mr. Ball, continued under his ministry above five years ; he being 
 " taken off from the exercise of his own ministry by episcopal power." || 
 
 These extracts will be regarded as a warrant for holding the 
 memory of Thomas Langley dear, and for enshrining his name as 
 that of a father of Nonconformity. 
 
 After the death of Thomas Langley, the name of Richard 
 BowKER appears as minister in the church register of the parish. 
 The Minute Book of the Manchester Classis contains the following 
 
 ♦Pages 49, 50. fPage 143. + Autobiography, page 78. 
 
 g Oliver Heywood'b Life of Angier, page 25. 
 
 II Clark's Lives, annexed to the Martyrologie, pages 153, 155.
 
 Deanery of Middlewich, i6'j 
 
 entry, which probably refers to him. *' 12th July 1653. Mr. Richard 
 " Bowker presented himself for ordination. He hath been examined 
 " in the languages, in Greek, logic, philosophy, ethics, physics, meta- 
 " physicks, and approved; had an instrument given him to be affixed." 
 Other references in the Minute Book show that he first settled at 
 Thornton, Cheshire, probably as assistant to old Mr. Fisher. In 1662 
 Mr. Edgley, a student, was Mr. Fisher's assistant, so that it would 
 appear that Richard Bowker removed to Middlewich and was suc- 
 cessor to Mr. Langley. In the parish church register there is no date 
 appended to the name of Richard Bowker, but only the significant 
 sentence " went away after some time." Taken in connection with 
 the follo\\ang entry, "Laurence Griffith, A.B., licensed 15th October 
 " 1662," the record regarding Richard Bowker affords a strong pre- 
 sumption that he "went away" because he could not conform. 
 
 The Nonconformists must have had a place of worship in the 
 township of Newton, Middlewich, before the year 1692; for the Cheshire 
 Minute Book has this entr>^ under date 24th May 1692, "Dr. Holland 
 " advised to go to Middlewich." Dr. Adam Holland was a pupil of 
 Mr. Frankland's at Natland, whose academy he entered March 2nd, 
 1679-80.* 
 
 Tong's Life of Matthew Henry, who was present at the services, 
 records the ordination of Adam Holland, M.D., on the 27th day 
 of September 1692. The ordination service took place at Knuts- 
 ford ; some of the most eminent Nonconformists of the time being 
 present. The solemnities of the day were conducted in the follo^\-ing 
 manner. " The candidates — who were six, including Dr. Holland — 
 " were examined in the languages the preceding evening at Mr. 
 " Kynaston's house, and read and defended their theses; the day 
 " following was kept as a fast on the solemn occasion. Mr. Bradshaw 
 " prayed; Mr. Aspinwall preached from Romans x. 15; Mr. Crompton, 
 " as moderator, took their confessions and ordination vows ; Mr. 
 " Angier concluded with an excellent exhortation, delivered with 
 "great affection." Mr. Henry has recorded it as a "good day;" 
 " the candidates (he says) gave good satisfaction ; blessed be God 
 " for the rising generation; the Lord double his Spirit upon them." 
 Each of the candidates ordained received a certificate of ordination 
 upon parchment. The following is a copy of that granted to Dr. 
 
 • Vide List of Mr. Frankland's Students in Toulmin's History, page 578.
 
 1 68 Nonconformily in Cheshire. 
 
 Holland : — " Knutsford — Whereas Adam Holland, Doctor of Physic, 
 " hath addressed himself to us ministers of the gospel in the counties 
 " of Cheshire and Lancashire, whose names are subscribed, desiring 
 " to be ordained a Presbyter; and having given sufficient testimonial 
 ** of his diligence and proficiency in his studies, and unblameableness 
 " of life and conversation, and all exercises duly performed ; These 
 " may certify to all whom it may concern that upon Tuesday ye 27th 
 " day of September 1692, we have proceeded solemnly to set him 
 " apart to the office of a Presbyter, and work of the ministry of the 
 " gospel, by the laying on of hands with fasting and prayer: By virtue 
 " whereof we do declare him to be a lawful and sufficiently authorized 
 " minister of Jesus Christ, to exercise his ministry at or near Middle- 
 " wich, in Cheshire, or any other place where Providence shall call 
 " him; Exhorting his people in the name of Jesus Christ, willingly 
 " to receive him and encourage him in the execution of the said 
 " office, that he may be able to give up such account to Christ of 
 " their obedience to his ministry in the Lord, as may be to his joy 
 " and their everlasting comfort. In witness whereof we have here- 
 " unto put our hands this 27th day of September, in the year of our 
 "Lord 1692. Thos. Risby, A.M., Oxon ; Thos. Crompton ; Peter 
 " Aspinall; Adam Bradshaw; Ralph Ainsworth." 
 
 Dr. Holland appears to have taken the oaths prescribed by the 
 Act of ist of William and Mary, at the sessions previous to his 
 ordination, of the registration of which he also obtained a certificate 
 dated i8th July 1692. 
 
 It is interesting to note that Dr. Holland's thesis at his ordination 
 was '■'•An avro^oncc sit licita V An ordination thesis on the lawfulness 
 otherwise of suicide sounds strangely in our day. 
 
 Middlewich was one of the places at which the Cheshire ministers 
 planned that the movable lecture against profaneness should be given. 
 Mr. Cope gave the lecture there on the first Wednesday in December 
 1699, and Mr. Henry of Chester on the first Wednesday in April 
 1701. 
 
 Some time after the death of Mr. N. Scholes, in 1702, "Dr. 
 " Holland had a call to Macclesfield, upon which he consulted some 
 " brethren in the ministry, and did by their advice remove from 
 " Middlewich to be the fixed pastor of the congregation at Maccles- 
 " field, in the room of Mr. Scholes." 
 
 " The people at Middlewich upon Dr. Holland's removal were
 
 Deanery of Middlewich. 169 
 
 " well provided for in Mr. Kirby, a hopeful young man, bred up in 
 " academic learning under Mr. Chorlton of Manchester."* 
 
 Matthew Henry's diary has the following entries referring to this 
 period : — " Middlewich, August 7th, 1705. The Middlewich people 
 " were willing to part with Mr. Kirby. We recommended Mr. Side- 
 " botham of Wheelock to them." " August 25th. Liberty to settle 
 " Mr. Sidebotham." " 1706, April 6th. Writ to Mr. Culcheth to 
 " invite him to Middlewich." From these extracts it would appear 
 that if Mr. Sidebotham " settled " at all, his ministry cannot have 
 lasted more than eight months. Mr. Culcheth did not accept the 
 invitation given to him. At this date the name of Mr. Kirby dis- 
 appears from the lists of the persons present at the meetings of 
 ministers, and that of Mr. Twemlow first occurs. 
 
 "May 13th, 1707. We met at Knutsford. Mr. Nath. Twemlow 
 " of Middlewich, and Mr. Samuel Garsyde of Lostock were this day 
 " solemnly set apart to ye work of ye ministry, having been first 
 " examined in the several parts of learning, having also the night 
 " before exhibited a thesis, each of them, and defended it, and pro- 
 " duced testimonials of the agreeableness of their conversation. Mr. 
 " Low, Dr. Holland, and Mr. Angier prayed. Mr. Lawrence preached 
 " from Psalm xvi. 11, and gave the exhortation in much meekness."t 
 
 The living in this town must have been as poor as in the days 
 when good Mr. Langley received " but a very pitiful maintenance." 
 Mr. Twemlow received in the years 1707-8-9, four pounds a year, a 
 share of the legacy of Thomas Lee of Darnhall for the Cheshire 
 ministers ; and the Cheshire Minute Book records, a few years later, 
 the following appeal to brethren in the metropolis for aid to the poor 
 saints : — " May 5th, 17 13. Some of the congregation at Middlewich 
 " were present here (ministers' meeting at Knutsford), and petitioned 
 " y' ministers of this class y* they would write to our dear and revd. 
 " brother Mr. Henry, and earnestly request him to use his endeavour 
 " at London (whither he had removed) to procure some assistance 
 " towards -f maintenance of their minister, he being not able to sub- 
 " sist w^out some further augmentation. And in compliance w"" the 
 " desire of y^ forementioned, a letter was written and sent to London." 
 
 Probably this appeal was not successful, for Mr. Twemlow's name 
 disappears in the following -year, and we are led to the conclusion 
 that he was starved out. 
 
 * Cheshire Minute Book, page 34. f ^^^^^ P^ge 37.
 
 1 70 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 The position of Dissent in Middle^vich about the year 1 7 20 is ascer- 
 tained by the statistics given in Notitia Cestriensis* where we find 
 that at that time there were in the town five hundred famihes, of 
 which two were Roman Cathohcs, and sixty Dissenting. Two meeting 
 houses are also mentioned, one Presbyterian, the other Quaker. 
 
 During the period of about forty years subsequent to Mr. Twem- 
 low's ministry, the names and dates which follow constitute the sum 
 of the information which has been obtained. They are taken from 
 Wilson's MSS. in Dr. Williams's library, Red Cross-street. George 
 Hammet, minister from 1724 to 1730; Edward Hopkins " preacht 
 " here" until the year 1742; and having undertaken the charge of the 
 congregation at Northwich, it is probable that he occasionally sup- 
 pUed Middlewich from 1742 till 1751. 
 
 Soon after the cessation of the labours of Mr. Hopkins, Mr. 
 Phillips of Kingsley succeeded to the charge, and seems to have 
 retained it for some time, though it was in a very declining state. A 
 legacy of four pounds per annum had been bequeathed to the 
 minister officiating to the congregation so long as there should be 
 preaching in the chapel and only two hearers. To secure this legacy 
 Mr. Phillips visited the town once a month on the Tuesday, and 
 thus fulfilled one of the stipulations. The other was not so directly 
 in his power, and so he was compelled to hire one James Hervey 
 to attend his lectures for eightpence each time. James being dis- 
 satisfied with his quota of the legacy struck for an advance of wages, 
 and the hearer's hire was advanced to tenpence each time, and the 
 labourer's hire lessened by t\vo shillings per annum. This mockery 
 of public worship was terminated by the death of Mr. Phillips : the 
 meeting house was converted into cottages, and at length the building 
 was altogether removed in 1859 to make way for a proposed cemetery 
 for the parish. 
 
 In the year 1789 the Rev. William Maurice of Stockport, and 
 subsequently of Fetter Lane London, went to Middlewich and 
 preached in a registered house ; and for three years occasional 
 services were kept up in the same place by the ministers of Congle- 
 ton, Hanley, Drayton, Delph, Stockport, and Northwich. Thereafter 
 a small chapel was fitted up, and opened for public worship in the 
 month of December 1792, when services were conducted by Rev. 
 
 * Vol. i., page 247.
 
 Deanery of Middlewich. 171 
 
 Messrs. Boden of Hanley, and Scott of Drayton. The opening of 
 this place of worship occasioned an assault from without on the part 
 of the enemies of evangelical religion. During the day of the 
 opening a mob assembled with evident disposition for clamour and 
 riot, and availed themselves of the shades of evening to assail the 
 unoffending worshippers with brickbats and other missiles. 
 
 The opposition ^\^th which Independency had to contend during 
 its infant years in Middlewich was stirred or at least augmented by 
 the influence of one noteworthy incumbent, " Parson Adams." " De 
 " mortuis nil nisi bonurn" must be set aside in reference to him ; 
 the " bonum " is not recorded, but tradition is not silent as to the 
 " malum." The wTiter adverts to the deplorable state of things in 
 those " good old times," chiefly to contrast it \\-ith things as they 
 are. Open-air services, house to house visitation, and cottage 
 meetings have now to contend only with indifference and sin. In 
 two of these departments the present incumbent is himself a zealous 
 workman, and few it is believed will give a heartier God speed to 
 such efforts when put forth by others than will Archdeacon Wood. 
 
 Notwithstanding the spirit of opposition with which they had to 
 contend, regular Sabbath evening services were conducted by Rev. 
 Mr. Jervis of Northwich, the congregations bearing with patience the 
 manifestations of hostility until the spirit had exhausted itself. In 
 June 1795 the Rev. Job Wilson settled at Northwich, and until 17th 
 July 1808 continued to supply Middlewich each Sabbath evening. 
 
 The Congregational church was first formed in 1797 by the Rev. 
 John Meldrum of Hatherlow, who visited the brethren for that pur- 
 pose, and united them together as a church of Christ under the 
 following declaration : — " We whose names are hereto subscribed, 
 " having given ourselves first to the Lord, and then to one another 
 " by the will of God, agree to walk together according to the laws of 
 " Jesus Christ, the only head and lawgiver of his church : and with 
 " an eye to his glory solemnly pledge ourselves to watch over each 
 " other, to pray for each other, and by all Scriptural means endeavour 
 " to promote our mutual edification. 
 
 " Apprehending that any number of real Christians united to- 
 " gether in such a manner constitute a true church, we as a church 
 " of Christ deem it to be our duty to walk in wisdom towards those 
 " that are without, and in love and tenderness towards each other. 
 " Yet should any professed member of the body of Christ be guilty
 
 1 7 2 No7iconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " of violating the Word of God, we will in anyAvise reprove him, and 
 " if he remain regardless of the Word of God, we must finally disown 
 " him. Moreover, as we are bound by divine authority to keep 
 " God's ordinances as they have been delivered unto us, we deem it 
 " our duty to obtain some acquaintance with the religion, experience, 
 " and practice of those who may be desirous to walk with us in the 
 " ways and according to the laws of God. 
 
 " Conscious of our own inability to do all or any of these things, 
 " as we ought, may God fill us with wisdom and fortitude, faith and 
 " patience, conscientiously and perseveringly to discharge our several 
 " duties to the Lord, to his church, and to the world." 
 
 Reports of the Cheshire Union for the years 1808-9-1 1, make 
 mention of efforts that were being made for the spiritual well-being 
 of this town. "At Middlewich, another itinerant (Mr. R. Niel, late 
 " of Idle Academy, Yorkshire) is for the present engaged, and the 
 " prospect is in several respects pleasing and encouraging." " Our 
 " brother Niel labours with acceptance and success at Middlewich, 
 " where we hope the cause begins a little to revive ; much precious 
 " seed has been sown here, which was accompanied and is followed 
 "by many prayers from many quarters." "Let us now cross the 
 " forest of Delamere and take a view of the transactions on the east 
 " side. A few miles brings us to the town of Middlewich, where our 
 " brethren Niel and William Hitchin labour in word and doctrine. 
 " In the town itself it is at present the day of small things ; yet we 
 " feel convinced that with persevering labour, in due time we shall 
 " reap even on this barren spot, if we faint not. Good seed has 
 " been sown here by many a faithful hand, and has been followed 
 " and watered by plenty of strong cries and tears, which are not 
 " forgotten above." 
 
 From the year 1808 till 1820 the church was supplied in 
 succession by Mr. Niel, Mr. Capps of Rotherham College, Mr. Hope 
 classical tutor of Blackburn Academy, Mr. Dransfield from the 
 Academy at Idle, and the Rev. Nathanael Scholefield father of the 
 late Professor Scholefield of Cambridge. 
 
 " In the district connected with Middlewich until lately we have 
 " had no stated labourer for a considerable time past, but the itineracy 
 " has been supplied by the occasional labours of various preachers as 
 " they could be obtained. We hope however a good providence has 
 " at length smiled upon our efforts to obtain a suitable minister for this
 
 Deanery of Middlewich. 1 73 
 
 " place. The Rev. J. Robinson from the Academy at Rotherham 
 " came thither in July last, having consented to labour there at least 
 " for a time. The appearances at present are encouraging. In a letter 
 " dated October 5th, Mr. Robinson says : — ' The state of the Sabbath 
 " ' school was the first object of my inquiries, and this I found to be 
 " ' encouraging. A considerable number of children attended, and 
 " ' through the praiseworthy perseverance of their teachers many of 
 " ' them were able to read the Scriptures, and correctly to repeat their 
 
 " 'catechisms I cannot close this statement without 
 
 " ' earnestly soliciting the prayers of the churches on behalf of this 
 " ' town. Long have sin and iniquity awfully prevailed, and many an 
 " ' endeavour to promote its everlasting welfare has been abandoned, 
 " ' through the discouragements arising from the indiflference, the 
 " '■ ignorance, and the depravity of the people. But for the honour of 
 " * those principles with which we profess to be actuated, and for the 
 " ' sake of those souls who are here perishing in ignorance and sin, 
 " ' let us have the co-operation, the sympathy, and the prayers of the 
 " 'county, lest we also faint under the pressure of these difficulties.' 
 " Mr. Robinson visits MinshuU and Peover, at which places it is 
 " hoped the Gospel has not been preached in vain. Several persons 
 " from Peover have lately joined the church at Knutsford. He has 
 " also paid a kind attention to the people at Over in their destitute 
 " condition."* 
 
 Mr. Robinson having supplied the pulpit for a period of fourteen 
 months was ordained to the pastorate of the church on the 25th 
 September 182 1, and retained his office till the month of December 
 1825, when he resigned. For the next eighteen months the church 
 was ministered to by the Rev. John Raines formerly of Bolsover. 
 He was succeeded by the Rev. Joseph Evans of Flockton in York- 
 shire, who entered on the pastoral charge of the people on 5th 
 October 1827, and laboured among them for about four years, when 
 ill health compelled him to resign. The next minister was the Rev. 
 William Chambers now of Newcastle-under-Lyne. His ministry 
 extended from June 1832 till March 1837, when he removed to a 
 larger sphere. From August 1837 till July 1843 the Rev. Jajsies 
 Cooper was the people's servant for Jesus' sake. Mr. Cooper is the 
 only minister of Middlewich who has ventured into the domains of 
 
 * Cheshire Union Report, October 1820.
 
 174 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 authorship. He compiled a memoir of Joseph Hitchin, and a recent 
 work called " Death Personification " is the product of his pen. Mr. 
 Cooper, after hving in retirement for a considerable time, died at 
 Nonvich on the 27th May 1863. In 1845 the Rev. John Robinson 
 from Airedale College entered upon the pastoral office in Middle- 
 wich, and continued to labour there till the end of December 1856, 
 when he resigned the pastorate. After a brief ministry at Burley he 
 became minister of the Congregational Church Saltaire, where he 
 laboured till the period of his sudden death in June 1861. An 
 inter\-al of a few months having passed, the present pastor, the Rev. 
 W. B. Macwilliam, accepted the church's invitation to minister in 
 Middlewich, and entered upon the duties of his office on the first 
 Sunday of October 1857. No ordination services were held until 
 the 2ist June i860. 
 
 The records of the church do not furnish more than the bare 
 outhne of names and dates which has now been given ; and the 
 Avriter has carefully abstained from attempting to clothe the skeleton 
 facts with any airy garb of fancy's weaving. 
 
 It is now fifty years since the chapel in Queen-street was opened 
 for public worship : the year 1863 being its Jubilee year. During 
 that time it has undergone many alterations, all of which have been 
 improvements, and despite the somewhat peculiar aspect presented by 
 its bay windows, it is now, if one of the least, not one of the least 
 amiable tabernacles of Nonconformity in the count}' palatine of 
 Chester. Commodious school rooms in Queen-street were purchased 
 about four years ago, and together with the old rooms connected 
 with the chapel afford good accommodation for between 200 and 300 
 Sunday scholars. The school which is under the superintendence of 
 the pastor is well and regularly attended. The church and congrega- 
 tion are not below the average of any past portion of their history. 
 At a time when many of the most zealous supporters of the " poor 
 " man's church," are making strenuous efforts to throw open parish 
 and other episcopal churches, which have been virtually closed to 
 the common people, it may not be without interest to readers to show 
 by an example the perfect adaptation of Voluntar}'ism to meet the 
 most extreme views in this direction. For four years pew rents have 
 been abolished in the Independent Chapel in Middlewich, and 
 whosoever will may enter wherever there is room, and worship and 
 learn without money and without price. The most simple and un-
 
 Deanery of Middlewich. 175 
 
 obtrusive arrangement is made whereby '• he that is taught in the 
 " word " may obey the apostolic injunction and " communicate to 
 " him that teacheth," " according to his abihty, and as God hath 
 " prospered him." These free-will offerings being given in secret, 
 only the constraints of principle and love are brought to bear upon 
 the givers. The pastor receives the amount of these offerings 
 instead of and in preference to any stipulated salar\'. 
 
 Reference has been made to a Quaker Meeting House in Middle- 
 wich. This edifice has not been regularly used by the Society of 
 Friends as a place of worship for many years. For a considerable time 
 the building was occupied as a British School, but in January 1863 
 it was opened as a place of worship by the local representatives of the 
 United Methodist Free Chiu-ches. The religious equality of Noncon- 
 formists has been freely recognised in the division of the land of the 
 proposed cemeterj^ ; although it is to be regretted that legal diffi- 
 culties have hitherto retarded the opening of the cemetery for burial 
 purposes. In Middlewich, Nonconformity has in addition to its 
 Independent representatives, adherents more or less zealous among 
 the Wesleyans and Primitive Methodists, and more recently among the 
 United Methodist Free Churches. The Roman Catholic population, 
 given in the Notitia Cestriensis as t\vo families in 1720, now numbers 
 about 300 persons constantly resident. Their religious wants are in 
 a degree suppHed by the Roman Catholic minister of Northwich, 
 who visits and ministers to his flock in an " upper room " in the 
 town. This population is not so inaccessible in Middlewich as it is 
 ia many places to the Christian effort of Protestants. The presence of 
 Roman Catholic hearers at a Protestant meeting for worship and 
 preaching, and the presence of a Protestant pastor by the sick bed 
 of his Roman Catholic neighbour, are perhaps faint rays of the 
 brightness of the coming perfect day when there shall be " One 
 " Lord, one faith, one baptism," and all shall unite in saying and 
 singing, " One is our master even Christ, and all we are brethren." 
 
 OVER .\XD MINSHULL. 
 
 (By Mr. Thomas Rigbv, Fenny Wood, Over.) 
 
 The neighboiurhood around these places has a history, from a very 
 early date, which may be regarded with some interest by the readers
 
 iy6 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 of this paper. When William of Normandy achieved the conquest 
 of England he gave the county of Chester and parts of adjacent 
 counties to Hugh Lupus, one of his followers, and with this the title 
 of Earl of Chester, both of which he was to hold for his own benefit, 
 but in subjection to the will and rule of the successful monarch. The 
 principal seat of this local sovereign was no doubt at Chester, 
 but he had other residences in the county, which he seems to have 
 used when visiting those parts of his extensive domain that were 
 situate at a distance from the city. Damhall, a manor and township 
 about a mile and a half from Over, was one of his favourite seats, 
 and he and his successors to the seventh generation frequently resided 
 here. Continued feuds between these earls and the Welsh prevailed 
 almost wthout intermission until the marriage of John — surnamed 
 the Scot, nephew of Randle Blundeville,the seventh earl — with Helene, 
 daughter of Llewell}Ti, prince of North Wales, which marriage was 
 one of the conditions of final peace between them. Expediency and 
 personal interest however can never make up for the want of 
 mutual esteem and affection in the married state, and there is a dark 
 suspicion resting upon the memory of the wife as accessory to the 
 murder of her husband by poison at their residence in Darnhall. Sir 
 Peter Leycester uses the following strong language in reference to her. 
 " This bosom enemy of his, instead of cherishing and comforting as a 
 " faithful helper, she devilishly, like a wicked serpent, plotted his 
 " destruction and brought his life to an end, languishing upon a 
 " grievous torment." With his death the title became extinct in that 
 succession, but was afterwards revived by Henry lU., whose son 
 Prince Edward assumed it, and it has ever since been held by suc- 
 cessive Princes of Wales. In 1273 Prince Edward founded an abbey 
 here in fulfilment of a vow made by him in a storm at sea, when 
 returning from the Holy Land. The vessel in which he sailed, it is 
 said, was in great danger, and the prince vowed to the Virgin that if 
 she would interpose her aid for the preservation of himself and crew 
 he would, on his reaching shore in safety, found a monastery for a 
 hundred monks of the Cistercian order. The moment the vow was 
 made the wind ceased, and the ship brought safely to port; but no 
 sooner were they landed — Prince Edward being the last that left the 
 vessel — than the storm arose again, and the ill-fated vessel was dashed 
 to pieces. Eight years after this the monks prevailed upon him to 
 remove the abbey to Vale Royal, a fertile district situate about
 
 Deanery of Middlewich. 177 
 
 three miles from Over, in an opposite direction. "Because, as 
 " some think," says Webb, " it is a more wholesome seat, and this 
 " place, as amongst woods and waters, was not pleasant enough 
 " forsooth to their fat worships, for some write it and think tJie name 
 " came from Dernhole." 
 
 The ancient Abbey of Vale Royal must have been a large and 
 imposing edifice, as it was fifty-three years in building, and no less a 
 sum than 32,000/. was paid for its erection from the royal treasury, 
 besides large sums that were subscribed among the wealthy families 
 of the neighbourhood. Upon its completion the monks took posses- 
 sion of their magnificent home with great pomp and ceremony. "A 
 " solemn feast and jubilee was proclaimed, numerous peers and pre- 
 " lates were present, and all the families of importance in the county; 
 " and so large was the number of the guests that the abbey, vast as 
 " it was, could not contain them all." The power with which the 
 abbots were endowed was very great, and their privileges numerous. 
 They lived in all the splendour of powerful barons for three centuries, 
 had an extensive right of the advowTy or protection of criminals, 
 (Over Church it is supposed ha\ang been one of their sanctuaries for 
 guilty fugitives), and had the power of life and death ^vithin their 
 three manors of Damhall, Over, and Weaverham, But the monks 
 of Vale Royal soon lost favour with their tenants and the public, 
 in consequence of their arbitrary manner of collecting tithes and 
 other irritating exactions ; and they were resisted \vith a spirit 
 that speaks highly for the independence and self-respect of our 
 forefathers. Many instances of their opposition to the State Established 
 Church of that day might be related, compared \vith which the most 
 active opposition of our own Liberation Society pales into mere pas- 
 siveness. On one occasion they shot the abbot's horse under him 
 while collecting his tithes. On another, headed by Sir William Clifton, 
 they obstructed his gatherers, overturned their waggons, flogged the 
 abbot's secretary, and hamstrung the rector of Kirkham's hunting pal- 
 frey. On several occasions they assaulted the monks separately, when 
 going or returning on business. Once Friar John Lewis, returning 
 from Chester, had rough usage at their hands, and would have 
 been killed had he not found friendly asylum in the house of one 
 Simon Blaley; and on another occasion two brothers named Olding- 
 ton, exasperated at the conduct of one of these brethren while exacting 
 tithes, actually cut off his head, and with their neighbours played at 
 
 M
 
 178 Nonco7iformity in Cheshire. 
 
 football \\ith it afterwards on the village green. The abbey was 
 dissolved by Henry VIII., and Vale Royal, with the manors of Over 
 and Weaverham, was granted to Sir Thomas Holcroft in 1545, and 
 sold in J 6 16 to Mary, widow of Sir Hugh Cholmondeley, in whose 
 descendant the estate is now vested. Darnhall and its appendages 
 were given to Sir Rowland Hill, Knight, and merchant of London. 
 In the reign of James I. Darnhall was sold by the Corbets (into 
 whose hands it had passed) to Sir Richard Lee of Lee Hall, in 
 Wybunbury parish. In King's Vale Royal it is described as " now, 
 " 1656, a fine seat, with a sweet house of brick lately erected, and 
 " now the possession of Henry Lee, Esq., heir to Sir Richard Lee 
 " before mentioned." Darnhall remained the property of the Lees, 
 who were a Puritan family, for about a century, when it was re- 
 purchased by the Corbets. 
 
 The Parish Church of Over is a fine old building, but the precise 
 date of its erection is involved in doubt. The eastern wall of the 
 chancel and the north aisle bear the date of 1350, and the other part 
 of the church was rebuilt in 1543. It is dedicated to Saint Chad, the 
 first Bishop of Lichfield, in which diocese Cheshire was then included. 
 How the good man got this saintly title is not very clearly knoA\Ti ; 
 the church must have been lavish of such honours, or S. Chad"s claim 
 better than one of his successors, for Godwin in his Latin work on 
 the English Bishops tells us of one Bishop of Lichfield who presided 
 over the diocese for upwards of thirty-eight years, and adds " that in 
 " all that space of time he never did anything worthy of mention, 
 " except perhaps we may say he did a good action in dying at last." 
 In Ormerod's History of Cheshire there is a list of the vicars of 
 Over from the year 1307, but Avho was vicar in 1662 is not very 
 clear. In Walker's Sufferings of the Clergy a Mr. Ford is stated to 
 have held the living in 1643, and is said to have been "harassed and 
 " threatened out of it." This Mr. Ford must have been vicar of 
 Over many years. The celebrated John Ball when a young man 
 about the year 16 10, was "placed in Lady Cholmley's house in 
 " Cheshire [Vale Royal], as tutor to her children, where many other 
 " children also were taught by him. Whereas there was a great 
 " scarcity of godly painful preachers in that comer of the countrey 
 " in those times, he did much frequent the ministry of the Reverend 
 " Master John Ford, whereby he was not a little edified."* The 
 
 * Clark's Lives annexed to the Martyrologie, page 147.
 
 Deanery of Middlewich. 179 
 
 signature oijohn Ford, pastor of Over is appended to the Attestation 
 of Cheshire Ministers to the Covenant in 1648. He was not there- 
 fore sequestered in 1643, as Walker intimates, though he may have 
 refused the Engagement to the ParUament in 1649. He must have 
 been minister of Over upwards of forty years, and he was a staunch 
 Puritan. He was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Hall. 
 
 The Pariiamentary Survey describing Over, 1649, says, "The 
 church is supplied by a very able minister, one " Mr. Hall ;" and in 
 Oliver Hepvood's Diary it is stated that he and Angier of Denton 
 " visited Mr. Lea of Damhall in 1666, where they were nobly treated 
 " and entertained. They remained there several days, and on the 
 " Sunday heard Mr. Hall a Conformist at the church of Over." The 
 probability is that Mr. Hall conformed in 1662, and we cannot there- 
 fore chronicle the name of the minister of Over among those noble 
 men who voluntarily resigned their livings for conscience toward God; 
 but that there were good men of Nonconformist principles in Over 
 at this time cannot be doubted. In a rare book published about this 
 time, and printed on alternate pages in Latin and Old EngHsh, entitled 
 Four Journeys to the North of England by '■'■Drunken Barnaby" there 
 occur these doggrel lines ridiculing the Puritanism of Over : — 
 
 I came to Over, — O profane one, — 
 And there I saw a Puritane one, 
 A hanging of his cat on Monday 
 For killing of a mouse on Sunday. 
 
 More lengthy mention however must be made of Thomas Lee 
 then proprietor of Damhall. In conjunction uith his mother who 
 seems to have outlived a second husband, and who is frequently 
 spoken of as the pious widow of Colonel Venables of Wincham, he 
 purchased an estate in Tattenhall, and conveyed it to trustees for the 
 purpose of providing free education for the youth of the parishes of 
 Whitegate and Over and the towTiship of Weaver. He also drew up 
 a code of rules to be observed in the school, which prove him to be 
 as liberal in sentiment as benevolent in spirit, and as some of them 
 illustrate the customs of the time, they may serve to amuse as well 
 as to inform : — 
 
 " The repairing to the school in the morning by the teacher and 
 " scholars from the last of March to the first of September, shall be 
 " at six of the clock ; and from the first of September to the last of 
 " March, at half-past seven o'clock ; their departure to dinner shall
 
 i8o Nonco7iformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " be at eleven of the clock ; their return again at half an hour before 
 " one ; their departure at night from the last of March to the first of 
 " September, at six of the clock — the rest of the year at four of the 
 *' clock. 
 
 " The master may permit the accustomed breaking up of school 
 " nine days before the nativity, provided it be not done by the scholars 
 " barring, bolting, or locking out of school the said master. 
 
 " Each morning at their repairing to school, some part of the 
 " Scriptures shall be read, and the master shall pray with his scholars ; 
 " their departure to dinner shall be with singing a stave or two of a 
 " psalm ; before departure at night a chapter shall be read, prayer 
 *' used, and a psalm sung ; the master shall see that each scholar be 
 " provided with a Bible according to his friends' capacity, to be 
 " daily used in Christian exercise. 
 
 " The master shall one day in the week catechise and instruct his 
 " scholars in the principles of the Christian religion, and shall pro- 
 " vide that all the scholars repair to church, or other la^vful tolerated 
 '■'■place of public worship, bring their Bibles with them, and take note 
 " of the things there taught." 
 
 The last paragraph speaks volumes in confirmation of his catho- 
 licity, and is worthy the imitation of all those who may contemplate 
 a similar work. One clause provides that " the women-children 
 " continue not in the school above nine years, or longer than to 
 " learn to read English." Another says that the boys shall proceed 
 " according to the sound knowledge of reading, writing, understand- 
 " ing, and perusing of the English, Latin, and Greek tongues, both 
 " in prose and verse." 
 
 Mr. Thomas Lee of Darnhall, who died in 1705, was a staunch 
 Nonconformist, and left the sum of 100/. as a legacy for the encourage- 
 ment and support of the Presbyterian ministry. Four ministers, 
 viz : — the Revs. Matthew Henry, John Angier, Samuel Lawrence, 
 and Dr. Holland, together with John Hunt, Esq., were appointed to 
 superintend the distribution of the money. It was paid in three 
 yearly instalments to the most needy ministers in the Cheshire 
 Association. 
 
 The history of the present Congregational Church of Over 
 dates from the year 1805, when the late Rev. Job Wilson of North- 
 wich first preached in a registered house in the village, but the house 
 being sold he was obhged to discontinue his services for a time. In
 
 Deanery of Middlewich. t8i 
 
 1808, however, a room that had been used by weavers, and designated 
 " the cotton room," was obtained, and Mr. Robert Niel, an itinerant 
 agent of the Cheshire Union, who resided at Middlewich, held regular 
 services there for several years ; and it was customary for a few friends 
 from the church at Middlewich to accompany their minister to Over 
 (a distance of five miles), with a view to (JJountenance and encourage 
 the attendance. In the year 1813 this building was required for other 
 purposes, and the people were compelled to erect a Chapel, which was 
 publicly opened for Divine worship on the 26th of October 1815. 
 Great exertions were made by the people (none of whom were rich) 
 to raise the necessary funds, but a debt of nearly 7 00/. remained after 
 their best efforts had been made. 
 
 A church was formed about this time by the Rev. Job Wilson, 
 and the little graveyard attached to the chapel was consecrated by 
 the same apostohc man, not (as he said) by the assumption of any 
 prelatic unction, but by depositing therein the remains of one of God's 
 chosen people who had died in early Hfe. The Sunday-school, which 
 had been held in "the cotton room," was continued at the chapel. 
 Mr. Niel having left Middlewich, the pulpit was supplied by neigh- 
 bouring ministers and zealous laymen from adjacent churches for 
 several years. In 1819, however, the Rev. Nathanael Scholefield, 
 who had been pastor of the church at Henley-on-Thames for upwards 
 of twenty-five years, became their stated minister and pastor. He had 
 been induced to come into Lancashire by Mr. Roby of Manchester, 
 principally because of the extensive field of labour offered him there, 
 and he was for a short time engaged with much acceptance and 
 success in Oldham, but his zeal and devotion becoming known to 
 the people of Over, they induced him to supply their pulpit for a 
 season, and a mutual respect arising out of this visit they invited him 
 to become their pastor. The settlement of Mr. Scholefield was the 
 beginning of good days for the church here. His zeal and earnestness 
 soon drew together a large congregation, and the most lively satisfac- 
 tion was experienced. But a year had barely run its round when it 
 pleased God to transfer this faithful servant to the ranks of the church 
 triumphant, after a short but severe illness. He had conducted three 
 deeply interesting services on the sabbath, and on the ensuing Wed- 
 nesday, after having followed his pastoral duties, although ailing, he 
 held a service in his own house, which was crowded to excess; but 
 in the night he was taken suddenly ill, and in a few days, on the loth 
 July 1820, he entered upon his reward.
 
 1 82 N 07iconfo7^nity in Cheshire. 
 
 The ensuing November, however, witnessed the commencement 
 of the ministry of the R ev. John Marshall, who still continues the 
 beloved and honoured pastor of an attached church and congregation, 
 nearly all of whose members have grown up from infancy and youth 
 under his supervision, and so closely has the history of pastor and 
 people been connected that to wTite the history of the Congregational 
 interest here since that time would be to wTite the chief part of his life. 
 To say that the heavy debt he found upon the chapel has been long 
 since paid, as well as the cost of further enlargement, of new Sunday- 
 schools, and of a commodious house for the minister — together repre- 
 senting upwards of 2,000/. — is to say that his mind planned the 
 mode, and his hand directed and principally executed the labour by 
 which all this has been done. To speak of the difficulties —much 
 greater then than now — of establishing a religious interest in a rural 
 district, and raising it to the self-sustaining point, would be but to 
 recount most of the difficulties he has had to surmount in life. To 
 tell of the increase of the church, of its peace and prosperity, and of 
 the chastened feeling of joy with which one after another of its members 
 have gone do\\'n to the grave in sure and certain hope of the resiu- 
 rection unto eternal life, would be but to tell of the chief sources of 
 happiness its pastor has known during a long ministry; and to narrate 
 the sorrow of the church when any of its members have walked dis- 
 orderly or inconsistently would be only to narrate the keenest trials 
 of his intensely sensitive spirit for its honour and the honour of his God. 
 But this would be distasteful to him, and is unnecessary to our object. 
 " His praise is in all the churches," and he has made himself a name 
 in the county that is second to none of the distinguished men it has 
 known for disinterested consecration of time, of superior talents, and 
 of a blameless life to the service of his Divine Master. It remains only 
 to add that the chapel at Over is invariably filled with an intelligent 
 and attentive audience; that the assistance the church had from the 
 County Union in its early days was soon dispensed with, while it 
 still retains and endeavours to manifest a grateful sense of its obliga- 
 tions for the same; that all its expenses have been cheerfully met by 
 purely voluntary weekly offerings for upwards of six years, with 
 increasing satisfaction to the deacons ; that the Sunday-school con- 
 nected with it numbers nearly 300 scholars ; and that there is scarcely 
 an inhabitant of Over of the labouring classes who has not had some 
 connection with this institution.
 
 Deanery- of Middlewich. 183 
 
 MiNSHULL, properly called Church Minshull, in distinction from 
 its neighbouring township of Minshull Vernon, is a pretty village 
 about four miles from Over, pleasantly situated on the banks of the 
 Weaver, and in one of the healthiest parts of the county. Many 
 instances of great longevity connected with this village are on record, 
 one of which is so extraordinar}^ that it may interest those who give 
 attention to such subjects. " Thomas Damme of Leighton," says the 
 parish register which commences in 1561, "was buried the 20th 
 " February 1649, being of the age of seven score and fourteen years !" 
 In the olden time many families of distinction resided in Minshull, 
 and several farmhouses still bear the names that more pretentious 
 residences once had. Minshull Hall was the seat of a branch of the 
 Cholmondeley family, which was continued in the male line by the 
 Minshulls until the death of John Minshull in 1654, when his estate 
 passed in marriage with Elizabeth, his sole heiress, to Thomas Chol- 
 mondeley of Vale Royal. There is a painted tablet in Minshull 
 Church which narrates the decease of six children of this family in 
 one day: — 
 
 " In the middle of this chancel lyeth interred y^ body of Jane, 
 " daughter of Sir Lionel Tolmache of Helmingham in the county of 
 " Suffolk, Bart., and late the wife of Thomas Cholmondeley of Vale 
 " Royal in y* county Palatyne of Chester, Esquire, who had yssue 
 " several sones and daughters, of whome Robert, Elizabeth, Jane, 
 " Mary, Anne, and Diana; died ye 14th April anno D'm. 1666." The 
 Hulgreve was a hamlet of great antiquity, and at a very early period 
 was vested in the Vemons, one of whose descendants assumed the 
 name of De Hulgreve. The Lea Green Hall, in distinction from 
 Lea Hall, was the seat of the Prescots, and Eardswick Hall the seat 
 of Thomas de Erdswick who in 1328 exchanged his hamlet for 
 Leighton \vith the Oultons, and it afterwards was divided between 
 the Starkies and Minshulls. From a branch of this latter family our 
 great poet, Milton, married his third wife, and there is a tradition 
 that connects Milton himself with this county that deserves a passing 
 consideration. His father and grandfather lived in London, but 
 their history deduces them from the Miltons or Milnetons of Milton 
 in the parish of Handley and hundred of Broxton. It is also certain 
 that there were several families of this name in and near to Nantwich 
 during the civil wars, and it is difficult to explain how this marriage 
 could have been effected except with the supposition that the poet 
 had some relative connection at least with Cheshire.
 
 184 Nonco7iformity in Cheshire. 
 
 Calamy tells us that the pastor of Minshull, Samuel Higginson, 
 was ejected at the restoration of Charles II. He was succeeded by 
 Lawrence Newton who retained the living until his death in 1667. 
 Newton himself had been supplanted in 1645 by Thomas Holford 
 a Presbyterian, and he also was succeeded by John Bradley a brother 
 of the same faith in 1651, and at his death Samuel Higginson an 
 Independent minister became " pastor of Minshull," and was ejected 
 as we have said in 1660. 
 
 The Congregational Church at Minshull owes its origin to 
 two brothers of the name of Jackson, who in the spring of 1 806 came 
 to reside in Minshull Vernon at an old farm house called Minshull 
 Hill. At Cuddington, not far from Crowley near the village of 
 Tattenhall, where they had resided, they had been blessed with the 
 ministry of a godly and devoted clergyman of the Established church 
 of the name of Nicholson, and the utter destitution of such teaching 
 in their new abode was felt by them as a great privation. They had 
 both joined the Independent church at Tattenhall before settling 
 here, and after consulting with the ministers at Nantwach, Northwich, 
 and Sandbach, they decided upon having their house duly licensed 
 and opened for public worship. Accordingly the Rev. Job Wilson 
 preached in their spacious kitchen for the first time in the month of 
 June, from these words, " I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ," 
 " for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that 
 " believeth ;" and he and his friend, the Rev. William Silvester of 
 Sandbach, \vith other ministers, continued these services on Wednes- 
 day evenings for two years. Many of the neighbours of Mr. Jackson 
 desiring to hear the gospel more frequently, they resolved upon 
 opening their house on the Sabbath also, themselves occasionally 
 conducting the services when unable to get other suitable assistance. 
 In a short time, the house becoming too small they were obliged to 
 adjourn to the barn, and while Avorshipping here a church was formed 
 in connection with that at Middlewich, consisting of eleven indi- 
 viduals. In two years more the barn became too small, and it was 
 decided to build a more suitable and convenient edifice. Accordingly 
 the site of the present chapel was purchased and the building com- 
 menced. Great liberality and good feeling were manifested by the 
 neighbouring farmers in carting all the materials free of cost, and on 
 the loth of April 18 10 the chapel was opened : Mr. Sheem of 
 Liverpool preaching in the afternoon from the text " Arise, shine ;
 
 Deanery of Middlewich. 185 
 
 " for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee ;" 
 and Mr. Evans of Stockport in the evening from these equally 
 appropriate words, " Come thou with us and we will do thee good, 
 " for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel." Almost all who 
 attended these services have passed into eternity, but there still lives 
 one who was present, who indeed was one of the eleven of which the 
 church was first composed, and who for fifty-five years has witnessed 
 a good confession both in adversity and prosperity, and who still 
 delights to tell of the remarkable unction and power which accom- 
 panied the word preached at these opening services. A Sunday- 
 school was commenced in the ensuing year, and as there was then no 
 other means of education for the children of the poor within many 
 miles of the place; it increased rapidly in numbers, and soon had 
 from eighty to a hundred scholars in regular attendance. After the 
 chapel was opened, Mr. Hitchin, a deacon of the church at Middle- 
 wich, undertook to supply the pulpit regularly on the Sabbath, and 
 this he did for upwards of twenty years gratuitously, with great 
 acceptance to the people. " He was a man whom God had endowed 
 " with a vigorous understanding (says one who knew him well), a 
 " clear knowledge of the truth, and an aptness to teach, and was 
 " greatly respected and beloved by the people at Minshull for his 
 " works sake." On the 3rd of May 1832 this good man died, and 
 his work was taken up by Mr. Evans, the minister of Middlewich ; 
 on his removal Mr. Chambers, now of Newcastle, his successor, 
 discharged the Ofeme duties for a time, but his health failing he resigned 
 the pastorate of the church here, upon which it was accepted by Mr. 
 Marshall of Over, who from the latter end of the year 1834 has 
 been its pastor, as well as pastor of the church at Over. 
 
 With the church at Minshull there have been connected many 
 devoted Christians, who in their humble and retired spheres have 
 been eminent for consistent devotion to the cause of true religion. 
 Of Mr. George Jackson, one of the founders of the cause, and who 
 to the day of his death had all the solicitude of a father for its welfare, 
 Mr. Chambers thus spoke in his funeral sermon : — " He was a man 
 " of God. Religion was seen in all he did and said. With him it 
 " was the business of hfe. His piety was simple and lovely in its 
 " simplicity. He was ever the same. It was impossible to find him 
 " unprepared to converse on religious subjects, and few Christians 
 " enjoy so much happiness as he reaUzed. So far from religion being
 
 1 86 Nonconformity _ in CJieshire. 
 
 " to him as it is to many, a source of constant disquietude, it was a 
 " fountain of living water, a perennial stream of consolation always 
 " pure and overflowing." His brother, Mr. William Jackson, who 
 was associated with him in the fomiation of the interest here, did not 
 remain long at Minshull Hill, but returned to Tattenhall, where for 
 many years he was a blessing to the village, an office-bearer in the 
 church there, and a true and thoroughly consistent Nonconformist. 
 He died full of years, honour, arid usefulness, and his name is held 
 in grateful remembrance by the pastor and people with whom he was 
 long connected. 
 
 Many other names might be given of humble, pious, godly men 
 who have long since passed away. Although not known mucli 
 beyond the boundaries of their native village, yet their record is on 
 high, and the remembrance of their communion is still fresh and 
 fragrant in the minds of the Christian brethren they have left behind. 
 
 SANDBACH. 
 (By the Rev. William Rhodes.^ 
 
 The small market town of Sandbach is of more modern growth than 
 some other towns in Cheshire, but is n6t wanting in memorials of a 
 past age. In the market place are two remarkable ancient crosses, 
 restored in 1816 through the exertions of Mr. Ormerod. They had 
 been broken down, and the fragments carried to different parts of the 
 county as objects of curiosity; but these have been collected as far 
 as possible and re-adjusted. They are stated to belong to a period 
 not long subsequent to the introduction of Christianity amongst the 
 Anglo-Saxons. Near to these crosses stands the Parish Church, a 
 noble structure, situated on a gentle eminence, on which spot past 
 generations have worshipped for several centuries. 
 
 The present church was built in 1847-9, ^^^ is a restoration of 
 the previous venerable fabric, which it is conjectured was erected 
 about the time of Henry VH. ; " although the remains of our earUer 
 " church, which have been met with during the recent restoration, 
 " place beyond a doubt the interesting fact that from the earliest 
 " period of the Christian era the ground upon Avhich it stands has 
 " been devoted to the pious purposes of religious worship."
 
 Deanery of Middlewich. 187 
 
 Our present inquiry does not lead us to a period so remote, but 
 we have to narrate the history of Nonconformity in this neighbourhood, 
 and to look, so far as the dim Hght of the past two hundred years will 
 allow, at the picture of a good man and a faithful minister of Jesus 
 Christ preaching the gospel in this parish church for nearly twenty 
 years, and then cast out of his hving. His name was Joseph Cope, 
 and he is worthy to rank with his companions in that evil day of 
 persecution — the noble Two Thousand, who for conscience sake 
 forsook all. We introduce him to the reader by the following extract 
 from Palmer's edition of Calamy's Nonconformists' Memorial: — " Mr. 
 " Joseph Cope was ejected from the vicarage of Sandbach upon the 
 " old sequestered minister's coming in, though he allowed him 70/. 
 " per annum before. He preached afterwards at Eccleshal and 
 " Barthomley, for the old incumbent that was to come in there, Mr. 
 " Zach. Cawdrey, a worthy moderate Conformist; and afterwards at 
 " Biddulph, in Staffordshire, through the favour of the old Sir John 
 " Bowyer, till the church doors were shut upon him. He did much 
 " good as an itinerant preacher in Cheshire, Shropshire, and Staf- 
 " fordshire for many years. Soon after the Revolution of 1688 he 
 " settled in the public chapel at Hashngton, in Barthomley parish, 
 " by the consent of the gentleman to whom it belonged, and kept up 
 " a very considerable congregation in it as long as he lived, which 
 " was to his eighty-third year, and through God's goodness he enjoyed 
 " a wonderful vigour of body and vivacity of spirit to the last, so 
 " that he could travel and preach with his usual ease. He preached 
 " twice, and it was thought with more than ordinary liveliness, the 
 " Lord's Day before he. died, which was in August 1704. The first 
 " Lord's Day after his death the minister of Barthomley, Dr. Egerton, 
 " who had kindly connived at Mr. Cope's having the chapel while he 
 " lived, took possession of it himself; but was so obliging as to 
 " permit Mr. Matthew Henry to preach his funeral sermon there the 
 " week after, according to the old gentleman's desire." 
 
 In the above extract we have not followed the date of Mr. Cope's 
 death as given by Calamy. The date given by Calamy is 1694, but 
 this is evidently incorrect, for the entry in the minutes of the Association 
 of Cheshire ministers made at the time states "Aug. 24th, 1704." 
 This date is confirmed by Mr. Henry's diary, and by the registers in 
 Haslington Chapel, where Mr. Cope's signature occurs in the year 
 1703. Mr. Cope then would be bom in the early part of 1622.
 
 1 88 Nonconformity m Cheshire. 
 
 It will be seen that Mr. Cope was " born for the day of adversity," 
 and on the eve of " troublous times." It would be interesting to know 
 the particulars of his early youth and training for the ministry, but these 
 the writer has no means of ascertaining, and we must pass on to inquire 
 when he became vicar of Sandbach. It appears from Calamy's account 
 that he was appointed in the place of one who had been cast out by 
 the Parliament. Mr. Ormerod, in his history of Cheshire, in the list 
 of vicars of Sandbach, names Thomas Tudtnanz.^ having been presented 
 to the vicarage in 1630, and Wm. Heyes in 1674. Now Mr. Cope 
 must have come between these, though Ormerod makes no mention 
 of him, and it is evident that Mr. Cope became vicar of Sandbach in 
 1644, because Tudman was sequestered in 1643 — Mr. Cope giving 
 him 70/. per annum as his fifths; and Mr. Cope was in the ministry 
 sixty years, i.e. from 1644 to his death in 1704. His signature 
 moreover occurs in the list of Cheshire ministers who signed the 
 AUestation in 1648 — ^Joseph Cope., pastor of Sandbach. Again, in the 
 registers of Sandbach Church the following occurs : — Margaret Cope, 
 filia Josephi Cope., Bapt. ult. die Martii, 1648. Newcome of Goostrey 
 and Gawsworth says, " My first child was baptized at Goosetree by 
 " Mr. Cope of Sandbach, on May 4th, 1649." Again, Newcome 
 " was ordained at Sandbach, August 22nd, 1648."* Doubtless Mr. 
 Cope took part in the service. 
 
 The next extract, from the autobiography of Newcome, shews the 
 character of the times as they affected this neighbourhood. " The 
 " battle having been at Worcester, September 3rd, i65i,by exchange 
 " I preached at Sandbach. The poor Scots were miserably used in 
 " the country, and so many of them put into the church at Sandbach 
 " that we could not preach in it ; but I preached in the churchyard 
 " both ends of the day to a great congregation." t 
 
 In reference to this we have an historical notice "that at the 
 " September fair or market day at Sandbach a remarkable occurrence 
 " happened in the year 1651. A party (Whitelock says a thousand) 
 " of the King's horse, on their retreat from the battle of Worcester, 
 " were attacked by countr}'^ people, and many of them taken prisoners." 
 This would account for the crowding of the church with prisoners. 
 The Scotch, however, though thus "miserably used," have left behind 
 them a memento in Sandbach. The large common on which the 
 
 * Autobiography, pages xi, 13. f 3id, page 33.
 
 Deanery of Middlewich. 189 
 
 cattle fairs are held now passes by the name of " Scotch Common," 
 doubtless from having been the scene of this rough encounter. 
 
 It is a pleasing contrast to this to fancy on the Sabbath the "great 
 " congregation," as they were gathered together in the churchyard, 
 " both ends of the day," to listen to the gospel of peace from the lips 
 of Newcome. And probably good Mr. Cope, man of peace as we 
 take him to have been, would not be sorry to be absent for a time 
 from the scene of strife. We should be glad if we could furnish some 
 details of his ministry at Sandbach, which in all probability was 
 useful, and drew on every Sabbath a good congregation ; but these 
 are buried in the grave of the past, and may not be known until the 
 resurrection of the just. 
 
 We must now notice his ejectment. It would seem that Mr. Cope's 
 predecessor (Tudman), the sequestered \icar, was living at the time 
 of the Restoration, and obtained his li\4ng again by Mr. Cope's 
 ejection. But Mr. Cope was not ejected probably till 1662, because 
 1662 is the date given in the Cheshire Minute Book — " he was turned 
 out from Sandbach in the year 1662."* Following these data, Mr. 
 Cope must have preached in the Parish Church of Sandbach for about 
 nineteen years. How far Nonconformity in this place may have been 
 originated and influenced by him we may perhaps infer from the state- 
 ment of Bishop Gastrell, who tells us that in his time, about 17 10 — 25, 
 there werenofewer than" twenty-four DissentingfamiliesatSandbach."t 
 
 It appears from the extract already given from the Nonconformists' 
 Manorial that Mr. Cope was employed for some years after his 
 ejectment as an itinerant preacher in Cheshire and Staffordshire, and 
 also preached at Barthomley for the incumbent, Mr. Z. Cawdrey, and 
 that his labours in these different places were productive of much good. 
 Eventually he settled at Haslington, a village four miles south south- 
 west from Sandbach. There he was allowed to preach in what was 
 afterwards the Episcopal Chapel, by the consent of the gentleman to 
 whom it belonged, and kept up a very considerable congregation in it 
 as long as he lived, which was up to his eighty-third year, preaching 
 twee with great fen- our on the very Sabbath before his death. It may 
 be necessary to explain that this chapel, Bishop Gastrell says, " was 
 " built by the Vemons, for the ease of themselves and their tenants, 
 " but not consecrated. An Act of Parliament was prepared to make 
 
 * Cheshire Minute Book, page 35. f Notitia Cestriensis, vol. i., page 253.
 
 190 Nonco7ifomiity in Cheshire. 
 
 " this a parochial church, at the desire of the Bishop and J. Crewe, 
 " Esq., and Z. Cawdrey, rector of Barthomley, and C. Vernon, Esq., 
 " lord of Haslington. The preamble stated the reason of this to be, to 
 " appease the several suits that had been between the Vemons, lords 
 " of Haslington, and the parsons of Barthomley. Anno 1689, the 
 " Hall of Haslington, with the Chapel, and all other buildings thereto 
 " belonging, were licensed for a Meeting.'''* The structure underwent 
 a complete reparation in the course of the present century. 
 
 On the death of Mr. Cope, Matthew Henry was allowed to preach 
 his funeral sermon. Mr. Henry's text was Zechariah i. 5, Your fathers, 
 where are they ? and the prophets, do they live for ever ? t How 
 appropriate the text, and how interesting must that sermon have been 
 from the lips of Matthew Henry. The preacher's regard for Mr. 
 Cope must have been great, for, though out of health at the time, 
 having fainted in his o\vn pulpit at Chester on the Sunday previous, 
 he went on the Monday to Nantwich to fulfil an appointment there, 
 and on the Tuesday to Haslington to preach the above sermon. Nor 
 was the great commentator alone in his esteem, for there was a large 
 congregation gathered to testify their respect for the departed. And 
 to this we may appropriately add the testimony which appears on the 
 minutes of the Cheshire ministers : — " He was a very cheerful, lively, 
 " good man, and preached twice the Lord's Day before he died," 
 though eighty-two years of age. He was not soured by old age or 
 persecution, and after a ministerial service of sixty years had not 
 grown weary in well doing. Tong, in his life of Henry, has left this 
 record of him : — '' An aged faithful minister, who by the favour of the 
 " honourable family of Crewe Offley, had for some years spent his 
 " time and pains there," i.e. at Haslington Chapel. 
 
 The funeral sermon for Mr. Cope was the last sermon preached 
 by a Nonconformist in the above chapel, for Dr. Egerton, the minister 
 of Barthomley, now took possession of it himself. But Nonconformity 
 in this neighbourhood was not to be buried in the grave of Joseph Cope. 
 The next historical notice of it we give from Ormerod's history of 
 Cheshire. " Ancient chapel at Winterley, Haslington. At a short dis- 
 " tance from the pool is an ancient meeting house for Dissenters, built 
 " of timber and plaster, and said to have been erected about the close 
 " of the sixteenth century." This would no doubt correspond with the 
 
 * Notitia Cestriensis, i., 215. f Tong's Life, page 389.
 
 Deanery of Middlewich. 191 
 
 chapel now known as Wheelock Heath Chapel, and which subse- 
 quently became a Baptist Chapel. The old edifice is now taken 
 down, and replaced by another structure. From the minutes of the 
 Cheshire ministers we gather the following notice : — " Mr. Edwards, 
 " a young man, came to supply the congregation at Haslington in the 
 " room of Mr. Cope deceased." This proves that Mr. Cope's prin- 
 ciples were as precious seed sown in the hearts of the people, and 
 that now there was a distinct Nonconformist congregation here, who 
 probably erected the chapel named by Ormerod, and now identified 
 with the Baptist interest at Wheelock Heath. 
 
 We have thus a connecting link established with Mr. Cope, the 
 ejected vicar of Sandbach, and the cause of Nonconformity at Has- 
 lington and "V\Tieelock Heath. 
 
 Wheelock Heath Chapel, about two miles south from Sandbach, 
 was erected in the year 1704 or 1705 by subscription for a congrega- 
 tion of Nonconformists. Bishop Gastrell describes it as a Dissenters' 
 Meeting House — Presbyterian — and intimates that there were eleven 
 families of Dissenters "of all sorts;" and on August 6th, 1706, Mr. 
 Silas Sidebotham, pupil of Mr. JoUie's academy, was ordained minister 
 over it. This ordination is thus alluded to in Matthew Henry's Life. 
 On the 6th of August 1706, Matthew Henry was present at an ordina- 
 tion fast at Knutsford. In his diary he says : — " We ordained Mr. 
 " Leoline Edwards of Tinsel, Mr Thomas Perrot of Newmarket in 
 " Flintshire, and Mr. Silas Sidebotham of Wheelock " (referring no 
 doubt to "Wheelock Heath Chapel, which is about midway between 
 Sandbach and Haslington and a mile from the village of \Vheelock). 
 " The thesis were taken the evening before. Mr. Angier of Dukin- 
 " field prayed ; Mr. La\vrence of Nantwich preached from 2 Timothy, 
 " ii. 2. I took their confessions of faith and ordination vows, and 
 " gave the exhortation. We were about eighteen ministers ; we had 
 " a comfortable day, and I hope many were edified."* 
 
 In the year 17 15 Mr. Silas Sidebotham "had a hundred hearers, 
 " four of whom were gentlemen." t 
 
 The next extract is from the Minutes of the Cheshire Ministers, 
 September 7th, 1731. "The people at Whillock applied to the 
 " Assembly for y* ordination of Mr. William Bond. The ordination 
 " to be at Wheelock on Wednesday y^ 27th Oct. next ;" on which 
 
 * Tong's Life, page 264. f MS. Williams's Library.
 
 192 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 day the ministers met at Wheelock and the service was performed ; 
 the Rev. T. Irlam of Congleton offered the ordination prayer, and 
 Mr. Sidebotham the retiring pastor gave the charge. 
 
 Mr. Bond was succeeded by the Rev. Edward Harwood, D.D., 
 who preached on alternate Sabbaths at Wheelock and at Leek. He 
 was followed by Mr. Benjamin Radcliffe who Avas minister in 1772, 
 and also preached alternately here and at Leek. There was preach- 
 ing in the chapel only once a fortnight during sixty or seventy years ; 
 and towards the end of that period the congregation was reduced to 
 ten or twelve persons. At length a difference arising between the 
 minister and this small congregation the place was shut up in 1773, 
 and so continued for several years till it had fallen greatly into decay. 
 The second trust deed bore date 1753, and in 1788 the only surviving 
 trustees under that deed transferred the property to fresh trustees. 
 They put the chapel into repair, and invited Mr. Cornelius 
 Gregory of Beeston to come and preach the gospel in it monthly. 
 Mr. Gregory occupied the pulpit for nearly twenty-eight years, except 
 in extremely bad weather. Residing at a distance of eighteen miles, 
 he could not come in later years more than three or four times each 
 summer. His services were gratuitous. His congregation was 
 numerous and respectable, and generally very serious in their deport- 
 ment, from which it is hoped that much good was done by him. 
 Mr. John Cooper a minister of the Baptist church at Nantwich 
 succeeded him. 
 
 The chapel is at present and has been for many years supplied by 
 Mr. Pedley, who recently held a farm in the neighbourhood, but 
 who now resides at Crewe. The congregation is respectable, and 
 now adheres to the Baptist body ; but the first two ministers after 
 Mr. Cope — Mr. Sidebotham and Mr. Bond — were not Baptists. 
 
 We now come to another and important era in the history of 
 Nonconformity in Sandbach and the neighbourhood. We have seen 
 how Mr. Cope's labours were transferred to Haslington, and at his 
 death the result of them to the chapel at Wheelock Heath. Now we 
 must return to Sandbach, where, as we have already seen, there were 
 no fewer than tAventy-four Dissenting families in Bishop Gastrell's 
 time. These families probably went to Wheelock Heath Chapel to 
 worship, as we have no trace of any Dissenting chapel in this town 
 previous to the present century. There are however traditions of
 
 Deanery of Middlewich. 1 93 
 
 ministers from Congleton having preached in private houses here to 
 " as many as were willing to hear them," and possibly the descendants 
 of some of these Dissenting families may have been found amongst 
 those hearers, and others have been merged in the Methodist body; 
 but certain it is that at the commencement of the present century 
 Nonconformity was at a low ebb in Sandbach. The Rev. William 
 Silvester, whose praise has long been in all the churches of this 
 locality, was to be the honoured instrument of infusing fresh life 
 into the good cause. We thankfully avail ourselves of his biography, 
 published in the Evangelical Magazine for 1848, to narrate the history 
 of modern Nonconformity here. In the year 1807 the Cheshire 
 Union applied to the venerable Roby of Manchester for a preacher 
 to itinerate in "these parts." Mr. Silvester, then under the care of 
 Roby, was selected as the very man fitted for this work of self-denial. 
 After a month's deliberation and prayer on his part, and that of his 
 fellow students, it was agreed that he should undertake this mission. ' 
 Accordingly in April 1807 Mr. Silvester reached Sandbach a perfect 
 stranger, and was a few days " abiding in the town to see what the 
 " Lord intended to do by him." " The country (says Mr. Silvester's 
 " biographer) in and round Sandbach was dark as midnight, and gross 
 " darkness covered the people. Ignorance, immorality, Sabbath 
 " profanation, and brutal sports prevailed among the inhabitants. 
 " Even the zealous Methodists had failed to make an impression." 
 Mr. Silvester commenced preaching in his hired room with fear and 
 trembling. His congregation consisted of nine persons. But God 
 was with him, and his room soon became so small that he had to 
 stand at the door and proclaim the message to the people in the 
 street. Four months after his arrival at Sandbach, a bam was taken 
 and converted into a chapel capable of accommodating 150 hearers. 
 This, after several enlargements, was at length abandoned for a new 
 chapel — the present Hope Chapel — capable of seating about four 
 hundred hearers, and with a small schoolroom attached. This 
 structure was erected at a cost of 1,200/., which was met by the church 
 and congregation, aided by the Christian public. 
 
 Mr. Silvester's labours were not confined to Sandbach, but he 
 preached in surrounding villages, particularly at Brereton, Haslington, 
 and Wheelock. Independent Chapels have been erected in these 
 places; those at Haslington and Wheelock by public liberality, and 
 the one at Brereton by a former owner of property there, the late 
 
 N
 
 194 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 Thomas Hulme, Esq. But this success was not obtained without 
 opposition and many trials. " Mr. Silvester had to endure a great fight 
 of affliction." He suffered from the propagation of malicious false- 
 hoods, private ridicule, and personal insult. He was " the song of 
 " the drunkard," the object of hatred to the profane, and evil spoken 
 of by nominal Christians. Public worship was sometimes interrupted 
 by ignorant mobs. In no place was this opposition more exhibited 
 than at the village of Haslington. He had preached in the open 
 air three times to large congregations without interruption, but on 
 the occasion of his fourth visit he found that a combination had been 
 formed to prevent his preaching. The valet from Crewe Hall, which 
 was in the neighbourhood, collected all the servants and workpeople 
 of the establishment, plied them with drink, and marched to Has- 
 lington with dogs and game cocks, with the determination to put 
 down " the preacher of sedition." The valet asked the preacher by 
 what authority he dared to come to that neighbourhood. Mr. Silvester 
 with dignity replied, " I stand here with the authority of the King of 
 " Heaven. Here, sir, is earthly authority" — holding up his licence 
 from the magistrate—" and here is spiritual authority" — presenting 
 him with the Bible. " This book says. Go and preach the gospel to 
 " every creature^ By this time a crowd had assembled, and for two 
 hours the contest was carried on. Dogs were set on the people to 
 disperse them. At length they drove Mr. Silvester out of the village 
 by pelting him with rotten eggs, mud, and stones. Next day he 
 returned, and found to his unutterable joy that the proceedings of the 
 previous evening had produced for him universal sympathy. A mul- 
 titude immediately assembled, to whom he preached tlie word of God 
 with power. A number of souls were turned to God. And now a 
 subscription was set on foot, a chapel built, a Christian church formed, 
 and a Sunday-school instituted. The families connected with this 
 congregation still hold the name of Silvester in veneration, recognising 
 him as their spiritual father and the founder of Congregationalism in 
 Haslington. They have erected a neat marble tablet to his memory. 
 Honoured members of this church have gone forth to other churches, 
 where we have reason to believe that they are useful, and some of 
 them doing a most important work. Haslington Congregational 
 Church is now connected with the church of the same order at 
 Crewe, both being under one pastorate, that of the Rev. T. 
 Davison.
 
 Deanery of Middlewich. 195 
 
 Wheelock now claims our attention. There an admirable Sunday- 
 school was raised, and a church formed, through Mr. Silvester's 
 instrumentality; in which he was ably seconded by his friends Mr. 
 and Mrs. Holbrook, and some good men in that village. Much good 
 has been done here, and although through the failure of trade and 
 other causes some of its valued members have had to leave the 
 village, yet their influence is not lost to the Church of Christ. Others 
 have gone to their heavenly home, and their works do follow them. 
 Mr. Holbrook departed to his rest in July 1853; and another name 
 would we mention, that of Joseph Gibson, who from being one of the 
 chief of sinners, a drunkard, a fighter, the terror of the neighbourhood, 
 became, through the grace of God, the meekest of saints. He attri- 
 buted his conversion to a sermon preached by the Rev. John Marshall 
 of Over, in Wheelock Chapel. He died, rejoicing in the hope of the 
 gospel, in July i860. Gladly would we linger over these fragrant 
 memorials of the dead, whose character and usefulness we, in the 
 years that we ^vitnessed them, truly prized. But we must proceed 
 with our narrative, and must now leave Wheelock, with the remark 
 that the church there is under the same pastorate as that at Sandbach. 
 
 The honoured Silvester died at Sandbach on the ist of September 
 1846, in the sixty-ninth year of his age, having completed a ministry 
 of thirty-nine years. Five days after, a number of ministerial 
 brethren and Christian friends " carried him to his burial and made 
 " great lamentation over him." The tradesmen of the town testified 
 their respect to his memory by closing their shops on the day of his 
 funeral. Within the gate leading to the Independent Chapel at 
 Sandbach may be seen a tomb memorial erected by his people to his 
 memory, with the inscription Christ is all in all. This was the 
 grand motto of his ministry, and the only memento which he ^vished 
 to be placed on his tomb. But " his record is on high," along with 
 that of Cope and the worthies of the Nonconformist age, men full of 
 faith and of the Holy Ghost, who A\ath the faithful of past generations 
 have now entered " into the joy of their Lord." 
 
 The Rev. John Moss succeeded Mr. Silvester at the invitation 
 of the church at Sandbach. But differences arising, Mr. Moss 
 resigned the pastorate on August 21st, 1848. 
 
 The wTiter of this sketch succeeded the Rev. J. Moss at the 
 unanimous invitation of the churches at Sandbach and Wheelock, 
 and commenced his pastoral labours on the first Sabbath in July
 
 196 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 1849. By the grace of God he continues here to this day, and prays 
 that he may at last finish his course with joy, and the ministry which 
 he has received to testify the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 GOOSTREY. 
 
 Henry Newcome was settled about Michaelmas 1648 at Goostrey, 
 " where it pleased God," says he, " I had the unanimous consent of 
 " the whole chapelry testified under their hands, and there I preached 
 " a year and a half" He signed the Cheshire Attestation as minister 
 at Goostree in 1648. "I came to Goosetree with my family November 
 " 23rd, 1648, and lived in some rooms of Francis Hobson's near the 
 " chapel half a year, and thence we removed to Kemiencham [near 
 " Swettenham, about four miles from Goostrey], whence I went every 
 " Lord's Day in the morning, and my good old father-in-law Mr. 
 " Peter Manwareing, on foot to Goosetree, and got thither in time, 
 " and preached twice a day, and was well able to do it, being then in 
 " my youth and strength."* After a journey to Cambridge in 1649 
 he says, " I attempted to set up the sacrament of the Lord's Supper 
 " [at Goostrey], and though I was raw and ignorant in those affairs, 
 " yet the Lord did wonderfully direct me and overrule that whole 
 " affair, that I administered the sacrament to none that were not 
 " competently knowing, or that Avas known to be scandalous. Nay, 
 " at very first we kept off Captain Baskerv}'le for his frequent drinking, 
 " and Mr. Kinsey we excepted against on the same account. . . . 
 " This sacrament was October i8th, 1649. "t 
 
 In the beginning of 1650 Newcome left Goostrey. He says, " I 
 " parted with the people at Goosetree lovingly on March 17th. 
 " They were loath to part with me, and yet would not detain me, 
 " since the place was not a competence, and no house for me, &c. 
 " We had a sacrament together the last day, and I preached (and 
 " took leave) on that text Acts, xx. 7." 
 
 In 1653-4 Mr. Edge was ordained minister of Goostrey, and con- 
 tinued there until his removal to Gawsworth in 1657. He was 
 succeeded by Edward Manwaring (son of Colonel Manwareing 
 
 * Autobiography, page 12. fPage 16. 
 
 Jl
 
 Deanery of Middlewich. 197 
 
 Nevvcome's cousin) who had entered S. John's College Cambridge, as 
 a fellow-commoner in 1649.* 
 
 The next minister at Goostrey was the Rev. John Buckley. He 
 graduated his B.A. at Pembroke Hall Cambridge in 1653. He was 
 at Goostrey certainly in 1660, as the following register of his marriage 
 in Swettenham church shows : — " Mr. J. Buckley minister of Goostrey, 
 " and Mary Boyer were married 3rd October 1660." Calamy names 
 him as ejected from Goostrey in 1662. He was known to Newcome, 
 Martindale, and Samuel Eaton, and met them for conference 
 (doubtless regarding their Nonconformity) at Stockport in April 
 1662. He mth Martindale was a hearer at the Collegiate Church 
 Manchester the Sunday after Bartholomew Day, August 31, 1662, 
 when Newcome preached his last sermon there. + 
 
 HOLMES CHAPEL. 
 
 Andrew Barnet, son of the Rev. Humphrey Bamet of Uppington, 
 Shropshire, and brother of the Rev. Joshua Barnet, a Nonconforming 
 minister in the same county, was minister of Holmes Chapel during 
 the Civil wars, and was ejected thence in 1649 for not taking the 
 Engagement. He afterwards was appointed minister of Roddington, 
 in Shropshire, and became a Nonconformist upon the enforcement of 
 the Act of Uniformity in 1662. J This is probably the Mr. Barnet 
 whom Newcome names § as the conveyer of a donation of 10/. from 
 Mr. Hildersham of Felton, in Shropshire, as a present to him. In the 
 year 1695 he was still living and " minister of the gospel at Daventry." 
 Mrs. Savage notes in her diary, "April 3rd, 1692. This day we had 
 " no preaching at Wrenbury; in the afternoon we went to Baddiley, 
 " where we heard Mr. Barnet on Mark i. 3."1| 
 
 Mr. Barnet was followed at Holmes Chapel by the Rev. John 
 Ravenshaw, of whom Calamy gives the following account : — " He 
 " was a hard student, a good scholar, a useful preacher, and an 
 " excellent Christian. He had a turn for poetry, but greater skill in 
 " preaching. Besides a good judgment, he was remarkable for his 
 " diligence and piety. He gave himself to reading, meditation, and 
 
 *Newcome's Autobiography, pages 15, 77 ; Martindale, page 114. 
 
 t Nevvcome's Diary, page 1x7. + Nonconformists' Memorial, iii., 151. 
 
 § Autobiography, page 61. || Life of Mrs. Savage, by Sir J. B. Williams, page 153.
 
 igS> Nonconformity in Clieshire. 
 
 '* prayer. He died in London of the Miserere, or Iliac passion, which 
 " he endured to the last with admirable patience." Mr. Ravenshaw 
 was turned out of Holmes Chapel in 1662, on account of his Non- 
 conformity, and the following entry which occurs in the chapel register 
 for 1664 would lead one to suppose that he did not long survive his 
 ejectment : — " John, the son of Catherine Ravenshaw, widow, was 
 " born December 14th, about ten or eleven o'clock at night." This 
 was probably a posthumous son of Mr. Ravenshaw. 
 
 Henry Newcome preached at Holmes Chapel on Tuesday Feb- 
 ruary i8th, and Sunday March i6th, 1650-1. 
 
 Close by Holmes Chapel is a place called the Hermitage, where 
 the Rev. Thomas Leadbeater, a Nonconformist, resided for several 
 years. He was baptized at Holmes Chapel in 1628, entered Christ's 
 College Cambridge as pupil of Mr. Samuel Langley in 1647, and 
 became chaplain to Lady Wimbleton, and minister of Hinckley in 
 Leicestershire; where his labours were very acceptable and useful. He 
 was a very dear friend of Henry Newcome, who calls him " my brother 
 " Leadbeater," and speaks of his kind comfort and advice. In 1656 
 Newcome visited him : " I came," says he, " the next day to Hinckley 
 " to the house of my friend Mr. Leadbeater. I was persuaded by 
 him to rest -with him the next day." In 1662 he was ejected from 
 Hinckley and came to reside at Nantwich, where he was kindly 
 treated by Mr. Jackson the Conformist, while some others w^ho came 
 thither for shelter were denied. He with other ministers was im- 
 prisoned in 1665 for violation of the Five-mile Act. He preached 
 privately in his own house — the Hermitage — and elsewhere as he had 
 opportunity till the Indulgence in 1672, when he took out a licence 
 for his own house, though (that he might give the less offence) he went 
 to church first and preached at home afterwards. The following is 
 the application for a licence which he sent to London : — 
 
 " To the King's Most Excellent Majesty. 
 
 " The humble petition of some of your Majesty's most loyal 
 " subjects within the county of Chester in behalf of themselves and 
 " others. Humbly acknowledging with a most grateful sense of heart 
 " your Majesty's singular grace and indulgence towards us in your 
 "gracious declaration of the 15th of March 167 1-2, wherein your 
 " Majesty declareth that you shall from time to time allow a sufficient 
 " number of places, as they shall be desired, in all parts of tliis your
 
 Deanery of Middlewich. 199 
 
 " kingdom, for the use of such as do not conform to the Church of 
 " England, to meet and assemble in order to public worship and 
 " devotion; which favour if we should in any-wise abuse to disloyal 
 " reflexions on your Majesty's person and authority, or disturbance 
 " of the public peace, we should account ourselves the most unworthy 
 "persons under the Sun; we do therefore declare our resolution 
 '' through the grace of God to improve the hberty granted us by the 
 " said gracious declaration, to the everlasting welfare of immortal 
 " soules, the furtherance of your Majesty's interest and government 
 " so far as in us lieth, and the peace of these nations; that your 
 " Majesty may never have cause to repent of this your signal kind- 
 " ness and indulgence towards us. And we do humbly pray that the 
 " house of Mr. T. L. (one of ourselves here subscribed) commonly 
 " called the Hermitage, alias Armitage, within the said count)^, may 
 " be the place allowed for ourselves and others to meet and assemble 
 ', in for the public worship of God. x\nd that your Majesty's licence 
 " may be granted forth (as to others in the like case) to the said 
 " Mr. L., who is of the Presbyterian persuasion (and the congregation' 
 " who are also of the same persuasion who shall be there assembled), 
 " and that we may from time to time enjoy your Majesty's protection 
 " against all disturbances of our several meetings and assembhes 
 " there." * 
 
 Having preached to this congregation in his owti house for some 
 years Mr. Leadbeater removed into Wirrall, where he had a congre- 
 gation, and where he died suddenly November 4th, 1679, aged 
 fifty-two years. He was buried at Holmes Chapel November 7 th. 
 Newcome thus refers to his death : — " My dear brother Leadbeater 
 " had been over here a little before, and had engaged me to come 
 " among some good people in Cheshire (whom Mr. Edge had kept 
 " together) once a quarter, to keep them from scattering or closing 
 '• with some unfit man that might mislead them, and I went to them 
 " this first time on November^ ist (Saturday) ; was with them 
 " November 2nd, where I met with some of the people that were 
 " of my charge at Goosetree, and was glad to have opportunity to 
 " see them and to do them service this way. I came back on the 
 " Monday to Dunham and stayed there all night, where Dr. Banne 
 " met me. On the Tuesday, as we were taking horse to return, a 
 
 * T. W. Barlow's Cheshire Collector, page 4.
 
 200 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " special messenger came for the doctor to go to Mr. Leadbeater, 
 " who was dangerously sick in Worrall. And, alas ! he died that 
 " night, before the doctor reached him ; the news whereof reached 
 " us two or three days after, to my great surprise and real grief, he 
 " being almost the only one that was left of my first friends."* 
 
 Dr. Nathanael Bj^nne, who is named in the above extract, was 
 a native of Cheshire, and minister of Caldecot in Rutlandshire. 
 Newcome mentions him as a sojourner with Mr. Machin, at Seabridge, 
 in 1650. He was ejected for his Nonconformity from Caldecot, in 
 1662, and settled in Manchester as a physician.f Martindale calls 
 him his dear friend, and Newcome frequently mentions him. On 
 April 4th, 1 68 1, Easter Monday, he was chosen a feofee of the hospital 
 at Manchester. He attended Newcome in his last illness, 1695. J 
 He had a large practice in Cheshire, and was the friend of several 
 Nonconfonnists. 
 
 The Protestant and Puritan element was strong among the people 
 of Holmes Chapel after the removal of their minister. They shut up 
 the chapel doors on Sunday February 6th, 1687, the anniversary of 
 the king's inauguration; an act which Bishop Cartwright severely 
 rebuked.§ 
 
 SWETTENHAM. 
 
 Upon the death of Randal Catharall, rector of this parish on February 
 4th, 1642, his son Samuel Catharall was appointed, but seems not to 
 have continued here more than four years, for on April 4th, 1647, 
 " Mr. Nehemiah Pott, aged twenty-four years, brought certificate of 
 " his ability and holy Hfe from divers ministers in Cheshire, took the 
 " National Covenant, brought in his recommendation from Mr. 
 " Langley, was desired and elected by the people of Swettenham, 
 " Cheshire," and was thereupon ordained. 1| He seems not to have 
 settled at Swettenham, because in 1648 the name occurs among the 
 signatures to the Cheshire Attestation — Nehemia Fotte, tninister at 
 Wincle; and at Candlemas 1647 Mr. Samuel Langley had "just 
 
 * Autobiography, page 229. f Nonconformists' Memorial, iii., 133. 
 
 + Autobiography, pages 286, 305. g Cartwright's Diary, page 23. 
 
 [| Manchester Classis Minute Book.
 
 Deanery of Middlewich. 201 
 
 " accepted the parsonage of Swettenham."* The probabiHty is that 
 Mr. Potte was recommended by Mr. Langley to the congregation at 
 Swettenham, and that he ministered there for some months ; but the 
 people w-ere not satisfied with any substitute for Mr. Langley, and 
 ultimately succeeded in obtaining him as their pastor. Samuel Langley 
 did not come to live at Swettenham till after his marriage, in the latter 
 end of the summer of 1649. He was son of the eminent Thomas 
 Langley of Middlewich, and Fellow of Christ's College Cambridge. 
 Martindale names him as triumphantly managing a dispute with the 
 Quakers in 1654. t A son of his, Thomas, was baptized at Swetten- 
 ham 19th September 1651, and on March 5th, 1653, Alicia filia Sam. 
 Langley ecclesice hujus de Swettenham Rectoris, et Sarae uxoris ejus 
 baptizata.X He continued here till 1660, \vhen he was turned out to 
 make room for Thomas Addenbrook, Conformist, who held the living till 
 his death in 1677. Mr. Langley, soon after his ejectment, seems to 
 have removed to Tamworth. Newcome says, June 13th, 1660, "I 
 " had the SAveet society of my old friend Mr. Langley, who met me 
 " here from Tamworth." Again; "We called at Tamworth, February 
 " 14th, 1676-7. I had there the company of my old friend Mr. 
 " Langley. . . . October i6th, 1695, I heard of the ill state of 
 " religion in Tamworth, upon the death of Mr. Langley." § 
 
 In the parish of Sw^ettenham is Kirmincham, a manor which 
 belonged to the Mainwarings — a branch of the Mainwarings of 
 Peover — for three centuries, since 1430. Into this family Henry 
 Newcome married, and in this place he resided during his ministry 
 at Goostrey, and afterwards he was a frequent visitor here. He 
 therefore used often to see Mr. S. Langley, the minister of the parish, 
 and formed a strong friendship with him. Yet he says, " I sometimes 
 " had his society, but when I was further from him my heart was 
 " more united to him, and I could then have seen what use I could 
 " have made of his society and neighbourhood. I thought he was of 
 " another spirit than I was, and his company was a check and reproof 
 " to me; yet his conversation was provoking, and did stir me up to 
 '"' study and emulation of him."|| Newcome often visited Mr. Lang- 
 ley of Swettenham afterwards. "May 15th, 165 1. I went out of a 
 
 *Newcome's Autobiography, page 9. f Martindale's Autobiography, page 116. 
 X Registers in Swettenham Church. § Autobiography, pages 121, 219, 283. 
 
 Wlbid, page 14.
 
 202 No7ico7iformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " desire of spiritual communion to Swettenham, to see Mr. Langley, 
 " and had some sweet converse with him." "December 13th, 1656. 
 " I had writ to Mr. Langley, . . . and entreated him if he could 
 " spare me an hour or two next morning, I would come to Swettenham 
 " to him. He freely granted it ; and I this Monday morning, Decem- 
 " ber TSth, went to him, and had his hearty counsel upon perusal of 
 " all my letters from both places" — Manchester and Shrewsbury — 
 whither Newcome was invited as minister. " And whereas I must of 
 " necessity go to Shrewsbury, he very lovingly offered to go with me 
 " the very next day; an extraordinary kindness it was, and a great 
 " comfort at that very troublesome juncture it was."* These extracts 
 may suffice to show how strong was the friendship that subsisted for 
 many years between Newcome and Samuel Langley, the ejected 
 minister of Swettenham. 
 
 Bishop Gastrell notes in his time three families of Dissenters in 
 Swettenham, and four families Presbyterian in Warmingham parish. 
 
 * Autobiography, page 65.
 
 DEANERY OF MACCLESFIELD, 
 
 IF the seven Deaneries into which Cheshire is divided, that 
 of Macclesfield is by far the most populous. It is nearly 
 co-extensive with the Hundred of the same name, and 
 includes the important manufacturing towns, Macclesfield 
 and Stockport. Ten ministers were ejected from their livings in 
 this Deanery in 1660 and 1662, viz. — Thomas Edge of Gawsworth, 
 James Bradshaw of Macclesfield, Hugh Henshaw of Chelford, 
 Nicholas .Stephenson of Alderley, John Brereton of Wilmslow, 
 Robert Barlow of Mobberley, Samuel Eaton of Dukinfield and 
 Stockport, John Jollie of Norbury, John Jones of Marple, and 
 Francis Shelmerdine of Mottram. 
 
 GAWSWORTH. 
 
 (By the Rev. S. W. Mc.All, M.A.) 
 
 Amongst the names of the Rectors of Gawsworth given by Ormerod, 
 occurs that of William Hutchins. This gentleman's predecessor 
 (Mr. Brownall) died in September 1630. Mr. Hutchins, therefore, 
 was most likely presented to the living not long afterwards. He died 
 in 1 647 ; but it would appear that some time previous to his death 
 his living was sequestered. Nor was this all; for we learn from 
 Walker* that in addition to the sequestration of his living, the tem- 
 poral estate of Mr. Hutchins was declared to be forfeited for treason. 
 Mr. Hutchins was a person of good family, and, as might be expected, 
 an adherent to the house of Stuart. 
 
 We have not the means of forming a correct opinion upon the 
 merits of this case ; but it may very well be — it most probably was 
 so — that Hutchins suffered wrongfully for conscience sake. The 
 
 * Sufferings of the Clergy, in loc.
 
 204 Nonconformity tn Cheshire. 
 
 measures under which he and others were expelled from their homes 
 for refusing to take the Covenant, when tendered in 1646, were sug- 
 gested, confessedly, by a care for the state rather than the church ; 
 and were the natural result of perverted and inadequate views of the 
 first principles of religious liberty. 
 
 The same authority that informs us of the death of Mr. Hutchins 
 in 1647,* infomis us that in 1649 one Mr. Brookes was the parson 
 of Gawsworth for the time being; and when steps were taken to 
 secure the living for Mr. Newcome " The great care was how to make 
 " a fair end with him" [Brookes]; for, "though it was apparent he 
 " had no title after the death of the incumbent," yet he was " a man 
 " impetuous and clamorous where he was unsatisfied; and (says 
 " Newcome) I looked upon it as impar congressus for me to grapple 
 " with him." We further read, under date May 19th, 1650, "Brookes 
 " had spent six years amongst them [the people at Gawsworth], and 
 " had no doubt preached precious things to them, and more ably 
 " than I could do; but by his great passions and contests with the 
 " people, he had lost the authority of his preaching, and he had 
 " little success with them."t Out of dislike to the place and people, 
 however, Mr. Brookes was resolved to leave, and so a way was the 
 more readily made for the man whose name, for several years to come, 
 was familiar as a "household word" in the homes of the Nonconformist 
 fanaihes of the north of Cheshire. 
 
 In tracing the history of Gawsworth during the next twelve years, 
 it happens that we have much interesting information preserved in 
 the Autobiography of the Rev. Henry Newcome, M.A., who was 
 Rector of the parish from 1650 to 1657. And as his diary throws much 
 light upon the state of religion — both in its political and also social 
 and personal aspects — in the times of the Puritans, and is almost the 
 only source of information open to us respecting Macclesfield as well 
 as Gawsworth, it will not be unnatural to follow rather closely the 
 narrative in question. Many opinions he held as to questions of church 
 polity, we cannot but repudiate. We believe that our forefathers 
 weakened their cause by their tenacious adherence to the principle of 
 an alliance (in some form or other) between the civil power and the 
 church, Here lay their greatest hindrance to spiritual prosperity; 
 and they would have been far stronger had they cast themselves 
 
 * Autobiography of Henry Newcome, page 16. f Autobiography, in loc.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 205 
 
 boldly upon the principle that the church is subject to none other 
 than the Lord Jesus Christ. On the other hand, in many things per- 
 taining to the public service of the sanctuary, and to the duties of 
 personal and social religion, they have left us an example we might 
 with advantage follow. 
 
 Henry Newcome was born at Calcot, in Huntingdonshire, in 
 November 1627, and entered the University of Cambridge in May 
 1644. He took the degree of Master of Arts; and in 1647 was 
 appointed to a mastership at Congleton School. While resident in 
 this town, " he fell to preaching, when only twenty years old." He 
 was appointed reader [curate] to Mr. Ley at Astbury; and preached 
 sometimes at Congleton, and sometimes at Astbury. At first he read 
 his sermons; and "put too much history" into them, whilst "the 
 " people came with Bibles, and expected quotations of Scripture." 
 At length he learnt to dispense with the aid of notes, and preached 
 memoriter. He went for many weeks to Frodsham, on the Saturday, 
 to preach there on the following day; but settled at Goosetree in 
 1648; having been ordained at Sandbach in August of that year. 
 
 Though in after days he suffered for his Nonconformity, yet he 
 was ever attached to the cause of monarchy; and when Charles I. was 
 beheaded he tells us how he was affected by the fate that had befallen 
 the king. Under date January 30th, 1649, he writes: — "This news 
 " came to us when I lived at Goosetree, and a general sadness it put 
 " upon us all. It dejected me much (I remember) the horridness of 
 " the fact; and much indisposed me for the service of the Sabbath 
 " next after the news came." 
 
 About this time (1649 or 1650) Mr. Newcome's name was mentioned 
 in connection with the now vacant rectory of Gawsworth ; and as he 
 consented to be put in nomination, an attempt was at once made to 
 secure his induction under the Broad Seal. After much trouble the 
 seal wasobtained; and theform of institution came downfrom London. 
 Its opening sentence runs thus : — " Whereas the rectory of the Parish 
 " Church of Gawsworth, in the county of Chester, is become void by 
 " the death of the last incumbent, and the Lords Commissioners of 
 " the Great Seal of England have presented Henry Newcome, a godly 
 " and orthodox divine, thereunto; It is therefore ordered," &c.* 
 
 This instrument bears date November 28th, 1650. Newcome 
 
 * Newcome's Autobiography, vol. ii. App.
 
 2o6 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 notes in his diary the day when the Broad Seal came. He found, 
 however, that he was not to enter peaceably into possession. First, 
 Brookes made some demur; and no sooner was he satisfied than a 
 new difficulty arose. The people had locked the doors of the church 
 against their new minister. Why this was done we do not hear; but 
 we read : — " Though they had none to preach unto them that day, 
 "we went to Maxefield; and that afternoon I preached there." 
 Having the Broad Seal, Newcome might have insisted on being ad- 
 mitted into the church ; yet, he says, " I was resolved to let all go 
 " rather than to come in by force." But " it pleased God to move 
 " upon the people when I thought not of it; and they came (some of 
 " the chief of them) over to Carincham on February 12th and sent 
 " for me, and told me they were desirous to have me before another; 
 " and so were unanimously consenting to me, and subscribed the 
 " petition, not knowing that the Seal had come." 
 
 All these hindrances having been removed, Newcome went to 
 Gawsworth with his family in April 1650; and on the 14th and 21st 
 of that month preached from these words — For thou art not sent to a 
 people of a strange speech and of a?i hard language, but to the house of 
 Israel. — Ezekiel iii. 5. 
 
 So far, however, the rector's induction to his living appears only 
 to have been provisional ; and he could not be considered in full 
 possession till he had taken the Engagement. The Covenant he 
 must probably have subscribed at the University in 1644. By this 
 he had pledged himself (inter alia) to the extirpation of Episcopacy. 
 Adhering still to his subscription to the Covenant, he was most 
 reluctant to take the Engagement. At length, he says, " I went to 
 " Chester, and on Christmas Day 1650 I did subscribe, before Mr. 
 " Duckenfield and Mr. Birkenhead, before it was generally tendered to 
 " the county. I subscribed on a paper, and they certified under it; 
 " and it was sent away to London, no record remaining of it in the 
 " country; which I after saw as a providence, in that no notice was 
 " hereby taken of my doing it."* He afterwards procured a duplicate, 
 and kept it. Himself a royalist, he had no sympathy with the republican 
 party, whose practices he always abhorred. Hence his subscription 
 became to him in after days a source of great uneasiness. " I found 
 " this sin met me after my great comforts at Seabridge (January 2nd), 
 
 • Autobiography, page 24.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 207 
 
 " being in great trouble about it as I came home ; and it was long on 
 *' my heart as one of my great transgressions." He says he never 
 owned it upon his own score ; and only once, with great reluctance, 
 showed the certificate, " to recover some moneys from the sequestra- 
 " tors upon another's interest." Newcorae was not now the man he 
 was when, in 1662, he "chose rather to suffer affliction" than "to 
 " enjoy (what would have become to him) the pleasures of sin;" and, 
 indeed, there is much in the memorials of his early days that shows 
 him to have been, at that period, greatly ignorant of the power of 
 true religion. jSIany years of severe trial and discipline wrought a 
 change in him; and he who, upon his own confession, signed the 
 Engagement in 1650 wdth an eye to his outward settlement, in 1662 
 refused to subscribe to the Book of Common Prayer under the Act 
 of Uniformity, though he knew that the only alternative was destitu- 
 tion and suffering of every kind. Yet, inasmuch as we find him as 
 heartily rejoicing in the restoration of Charles II. as once he had 
 commiserated the unhappy fate of Charles I., we are evidently to 
 ascribe the difference in his conduct upon the tft'o occasions referred 
 to, not to a change in his political sentiments, but to something higher 
 and nobler — a renewing of his spiritual life. And no man mourned 
 more bitterly than he over his want of fidelity and conscientiousness 
 in the transaction of 1650. 
 
 The month of April 1650, as we have just seen, found Newcome 
 and his family tenants of their new home. What the population of 
 the parish was at this time we have no means of knoAAing; but Bishop 
 Gastrell informs us that about the year 1720, there were one hundred 
 families residing at Gawsworth. Indeed we might infer that the 
 place was but scantily populated, from a fact recorded by Newcome :* 
 " In this whole year of 1652, there died never a one in the parish of 
 " Gawsworth ; which I obser\-ed to the people." And no wonder he 
 " observed it to the people," for of not many parishes of a like extent 
 could such a record be made conceming 1862 ! 
 
 Of the moral and spiritual condition of the neighbourhood we do 
 not know much ; but it would appear that drinking and swearing were 
 very prevalent vices. Against these Newcome set himself most deter- 
 minedly ; and he records how, one Sabbath evening, at the house of 
 Lady Fytton, a Mr. Constable, " a known famous epicure," " told the 
 
 * Autobiography, page 42.
 
 2o8 Nonconformity i7i Cheshire. 
 
 " lady there was excellent ale at Broadh : [heath — what this place 
 " was does not appear,] and moved he might send for a dozen ; 
 " some gentlemen of his gang being with him. I made bold to tell 
 " him that my lady had ale good enough in her house for any of 
 " them: especially I hoped on a Sabbath Day she would not let them 
 " send for ale to the alehouse. The lady took with it, and in her 
 " courteous way told him that her ale might serve him. But notwith- 
 " standing, after duties, he did send ; but durst not let it come in 
 
 " whilst I staid At last I took leave ; and then he said, 
 
 " ' Now he is gone ! fetch in the ale.' ""'■ 
 
 There are many intimations that the living was worth but little, in a 
 pecuniary point of view at this time, and often the rector and his 
 family were reduced to extreme destitution. In 1656 the necessities 
 of his family led him to entertain the question of a removal; for the 
 place was not likely to support him. Upon this the people offered to 
 try and secure him 100/. a year from all sources; but it is clear that 
 nothing like this sum was raised. When he suggested a removal, some 
 of the people were angry, and judged his poverty to be his own fault, 
 through want of prudence. Speaking of his destitute condition, he says, 
 May 1651 : "When I had got up in a morning, the cares about it would 
 " have unfitted me for any business ; and usually I sought the Lord 
 " to help and direct me." " And I do remember that when my heart 
 " had been bitterest about any wants and troubles (as sometimes it 
 " was very sad indeed with me), the thoughts of being an instrument 
 " of winning a soul did so rejoice me, that I forgot my poverty, and 
 " could remember my sorrow no more. It would have hugely lightened 
 " me at any time. This contributes to Dr. Harris's observation that 
 " ' oft preachers humbled by afflictions convert most souls ; not the 
 " ' choicest scholars, while unbroken.' " 
 
 The first sacrament the new rector administered was celebrated 
 on May 19th, 1650. He spent several days in examining the com- 
 municants before the service; taking account of their state so as to 
 help him to preach to them. He seems sometimes to have made 
 good use of the information thus obtained; for on February i6th, 
 1 65 1, he says of another communion service, "We, very indiscreetly 
 " enlarging ourselves to particular states, kept the sacrament mighty 
 " long. It was the height of our zeal, though afterwards I was 
 
 * Autobiography, page 21.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 209 
 
 " troubled for, and sensible of the imprudence of so doing." On this 
 occasion he was assisted by a neighbouring minister. 
 
 Nothing of very great importance seems to have characterised the 
 year 1651; but at the commencement of 1652 Mr. Newcome met 
 with some trouble from the Independents, who were in considerable 
 numbers at Macclesfield, Dukinfield, and Stockport. Under date 
 Februarj' i6th, 1652, we learn that great success was, about this time, 
 granted to his preaching; and there were many affected with the 
 word who began to make a hopeful profession, both in his o\vn parish 
 and in the neighbourhood around. But, he says, " Satan envied and 
 " assaulted." The first assault came from the Independents. These 
 people had formed, at Stockport, a " gathered church." To explain 
 this term, it may be stated that when the five " Dissenting brethren" 
 (Nye, Good^^^n, Bridge, Simpson, and Borroughs) found they could 
 make but very Uttle impression upon the Presbyterians in the West- 
 minster Assembly, they turned to the country at large ; and many 
 people adopting their views as "Independents" in church polity, 
 seceded from their parish churches, and met to form separate 
 churches — each with its own pastor and deacons. These societies 
 were called "gathered churches."* Such a community existed at 
 Stockport in 1652. Of this church one Wilham Barrett was an elder. 
 He was, we learn, " a busy, pragmatical man." Coming over in the 
 month of February to a "private day" at Gawsworth, he wanted to 
 introduce his peculiar \-iews, and to start a discussion about church 
 membership. Newcome was not versed in the controversy; but 
 getting wind of Barrett's design he anticipated him, and began a con- 
 versation upon "hohness," which "they could not for shame decline; 
 " so the thing was hindered." This same William Barrett, as we 
 shall see presently, occasioned some trouble at Macclesfield, as well 
 as Gawsworth, about this time. He does not, however, appear to 
 have thrown himself in Newcome's way again. 
 
 The year 1653 was signalised by one of the first missionary efforts — 
 distinctly so called — that was ever made in England. John Efiott 
 " the apostle of the Indians" was at this time labouring Anth much 
 success amongst the North American Indians. A sufferer for con- 
 science sake, he emigrated (along Avith many others) to New England, 
 and arrived at Boston in 1631. Shortly afterwards he devoted his 
 
 • See Hunter's Life of Oliver Heyw'ood, pages 59, 60.
 
 210 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 life to missionary labours ; seeking to make himself useful to the Red 
 Indians. In 1674 he records the fact that there were seven Indian 
 praying to\\'ns settled in Massachusetts under his care. These towns 
 contained nearly 500 persons. John Eliott translated into the Indian 
 language the whole Bible, besides other religious works. In 1650 a 
 colleague was appointed to assist him. In 1690 Eliott died ; having 
 attained to the age of eighty-six years. 
 
 This enterprise excited much interest at home, and under the 
 Commonwealth a collection was made by order of government, in 
 every parish in England, to assist Eliott and his colleagues. We 
 learn that the contributions were laid out, partly in stock and partly 
 in land, to the amount of 700/. or 800/. a year; and were vested in 
 a corporate body, to be employed in behalf of the Indians.* 
 
 Gawsworth bore its share in this effort. " 1653. There came an 
 " order for a collection for the Indians. A large narrative came with 
 " it ; and letters, well penned, from both the Universities. I was 
 " taken with the design : and receiving but the papers on Saturday 
 " morning, turned off my ordinary subject, and preached two sermons 
 " purposely, about February 27th, on i Chronicles, xxix. 3. And the 
 " Lord did humble me mightily after evening sermon, when I called 
 " up the people to subscribe, and they did it so slenderly, and acted 
 " in it as if I had not said one word about it. But afterwards the 
 " Lord moved upon some of them to help me : and I went up and 
 " down from house to house, and making every seivant and child 
 " that had anything, to give, I raised it to a pretty sum for that little 
 " place — seven pounds, odd money." Such is the record left us of 
 this interesting transaction. 
 
 Mr. Newcome by no means confined his labours to Gawsworth. 
 On the contrary, he spent much of his time in attending meetings of 
 ministers in the neighbourhood. We often find him recording his 
 observance of "private days." Thus: "1651, May 20th. Agreed 
 " with Mr. Machin (of Seabridge), what private days we were to keep, 
 " whether together or asunder. We did by promise faithfully en- 
 *' deavour to remember each other." 1651, August 26th. Private 
 day at Clough House. Next day at Audley. " I thought it a great 
 " mercy at this time when on a Lord's Day after sermon, we all betook 
 
 * See Orme's Life of Baxter, i. 206. That corporation gave rise to the Society 
 for the Propogation of the Gospel.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 2 1 1 
 
 " ourselves in ordinary into secret ; and I could think that we four, 
 " my wife, sister, Mr. Smethwicke, and I, were all praying for one 
 "another." 1651, September 27th. "Private day at Newcastle; 
 " next day, public, at Newcastle ; next day, Seabridge, in public." 
 Mr. Newcome and others preached. They kept the day till noon; 
 " some having sat up in prayer all night." " And I remember Mr. 
 " Taylor prayed that our people might feel our hearts so raised the 
 " next Sabbath, that they might say : ' Where hath our minister 
 " 'been this week?'" "And truly we found it, for our parts, at 
 " Gawsworth; the Lord beginning the Sabbath with the greatest 
 " enlargement in our family that we had ever till then met with ; 
 " and the whole day was near heaven with us. Oh what days were 
 " these ! what glorious days of the Son of Man ! Are we wiser 
 " or worse ? or what is it, that we desire not after the same comforts 
 " now? And what a sadness is it that the door of such opportunities 
 " is so sadly shut against us as at this [time] it is." (He wrote these 
 words after the passing of the Conventicle Act.) 
 
 At these " private days," it seems to have been the custom for 
 every person who was present to name the subjects he wished to have 
 mentioned in prayer; after which each person "prayed over the 
 " particulars thus cast in." Here we may just mention what the par- 
 ticulars " cast in" were, upon one occasion of which we have a fuller 
 record than usual. Under date Thursday February 27th, 1662, we 
 find as "matters at a private day" (we give the spelhng as in the 
 original) : — 
 
 I. Mr. Hanson's iourney. 
 
 II. Mr. Tilsley's affliction. 
 
 III. Abigail's lingringe sicknes. 
 
 IV. Mrs. Hough. 
 
 V. Old Aunt Pot. 
 
 VI. Frances Corker y* hath his eys failinge. 
 
 Earnest prayers were put to God for our settlem* here at Manchester ; for 
 mercy to y« nation, and prevention of y« feared evill. 
 
 Departing still further from our narrative for a moment, and in order 
 to throw light upon the state of social religion in Newcome's time, we 
 may transcribe from his autobiography the follo^ving curious recital : — 
 " 1659, June 13th : I received a letter from Mr. Hough, which gave 
 " an account of a poor maid's sad condition at Cambridge, that had 
 " by promise given her soul to the Devil ; and, such a day, was to 
 " meet him. Desired prayers. The next day was Classical Day \i.e.
 
 212 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " the day for the meeting of the Manchester Classis of Presbyterian 
 " and Independent ministers]; and I got a few together in the mom- 
 " ing by six ; and we kept to prayer till after nine on her behalf We 
 " kept a private day on purpose for her, and still remembered her 
 " upon occasion. I understood that July 25th was the day. We kept 
 " July 25th chiefly on her account at Mr. Wollen's. In the evening 
 " Mrs. Haworth sent me Mr. Kenion's letter, who wished her to tell 
 " me that he feared they should want prayers this night. The sad 
 " time is between 9 and 10 ; he knows what I mean. I asked the 
 " man what o'clock it was. He told me it had just struck nine ; 
 " whereupon I called my cousin Davenport, and with our wives, we 
 " spent that part of an hour in prayer. We had much help in prayer 
 " this little while, and had hopes of a gracious return. Mr. Kenion 
 " writ word they were resolved to sit up with her, and to keep in 
 " prayer all this night; which they did. She would have gone, very fain, 
 " from them, but they would not suffer her ; and they were not dis- 
 " turbed by anything but her. She after was free from this fear ; but 
 " yet it proved in the end a kind of drawn battle. Satan did not 
 " prevail in this gross contrivance upon her ; but she proved melan- 
 " choly, idle ; would follow no business ; and whether she inclined 
 " to the Quakers or not, I know not ; but the servants of God that 
 " strove for her had not that joy in her which they desired ; though 
 " she seemed delivered in this thing according to their prayers. It 
 " was a 'University then when so many Masters of Arts, Fellows of 
 " Colleges, could be found to keep a night to such a purpose." * 
 
 How strange a blending of credulity and faith ! Evidently New- 
 come thought it possible the Devil might succeed in his " gross 
 " contrivance" upon her, or he would not have kept a " private day" at 
 Manchester for a young woman at Cambridge, of whom he knewnothing 
 more than he read in the accounts he received. And yet, though we 
 may smile at the man's weakness in entertaining for a moment so 
 absurd an apprehension, the account throws light upon that concord of 
 social prayer which prevailed in the Puritan families of England. 
 Touch a single string of the harp and all the other strings vibrate in 
 harmony with it ; and so here, one man at Cambridge gives the key 
 note to his friends all through the country (for doubtless letters were 
 sent, in such an emergency, elsewhere than to Manchester) ; and by 
 
 * Autobiography, page 107.
 
 Dea7iery of Macclesfield. 2 1 3 
 
 common consent these all meet and join their supplications at the 
 throne of grace. 
 
 Doubtless these " private days" were very commonly observed. 
 " Soule fatning days" they were called ; and the description of one 
 such season serves equally for others. 
 
 To return from this digression. In 1653 the Cheshire Classis of 
 Presbyterian and Independent ministers was formed at Knutsford. 
 For a fuller account of this the reader is referred to the Introduction 
 to this volume. We may, however, note Newcome's remark on the 
 occasion of his joining the association: — 
 
 " 1653, October 20th. Preached at Knutsford. Met about a clas- 
 " sical association. It pleased God, out of conscience of duty and 
 " sense of need, we set it on foot in the darkest time ; for even now 
 " were they about to vote down the national ministry; and many 
 " derided our design as unfeasible and unseasonable : but it pleased 
 *' God to own it to our great advantage; and it was not long but 
 " Oliver was set up Protector; and it was his interest to give us fair 
 " quarter amongst the rest." He further says that since they began 
 at such a time when there was least encouragement for them, people 
 saw that their resolve was not a mere pohtical expedient, but the 
 result of conscientious conviction. Of course Newcome joined the 
 association as a Presbyterian, and not an Independent. We find, 
 accordingly, that soon after the Classis was formed they kept a fast at 
 Gawsworth, and elected elders for the congregation. 
 
 In 1654 the "Act for Ejecting Scandalous Ministers and School- 
 " masters" came out. Newcome was named as one of the commis- 
 sioners, but he never appears to have taken part in any proceedings 
 under the Act. So far as this commission is concerned, it certainly 
 did relieve the church of the presence of many who were no credit to 
 the ministry ; whilst at the same time it no doubt occasioned a great 
 deal of unmerited suffering and hardship. Like all other enactments 
 of the kind, it was of questionable expediency. 
 
 In following the course of Mr. Newcome's life there are grooving 
 evidences that, in abstaining from political affairs and in devoting 
 himself more entirely to the work of the ministry, this good man was 
 acting according to the impulses of a heart increasingly under the 
 power of divine grace. He lived much in the duties of rehgion, and 
 in the cultivation of the spiritual life. One meets such entries as 
 these: — " Was afifected with the consideration of the excellencies of
 
 2 14 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 "■ some men I know; and how they were examples for me. How I 
 " desired to attain to their graces — Mr. Angier's solemness; Mr. Hol- 
 " lingworth's humility; Mr. Gee's mortifiedness; Mr. Machin's heaven- 
 " liness; Mr. Langley's discretion; Mr. Hough's spiritual diligence; 
 " Mr. Steele's kindness." 
 
 We may further notice here that Newcome was not only the 
 pastor but the student. He kept diligently to his books; of which, 
 however, he had very few. The word of God was his chief study. 
 Thus he records how, one day, he read over the whole of the Epistle 
 to the Hebrews in the course of a day, and "noted it;" but adds that 
 he was so tired he had better have made two days of it. Now and 
 then he would send to London for some books, as he could afford it. 
 His sister there acted as his agent in purchasing them; but she seems 
 not to have been very particular how she sent the volumes to him 
 sometimes. On one occasion she entrusted the parcel to the tender 
 mercies of the carter; but the good woman "having unwarily put a 
 " deal of sugar in the other end of the bag with the books, the carter 
 " let wet come to them, and the sugar melted and spoiled the books 
 " sadly." Such mishaps were of frequent occurrence; so that the 
 poor man is forced to remark that his books came " either almost 
 " lost, or spoiled, or by halves home to me. These books I longed 
 " for hugely, and oft had bickerings with my foolish heart about it" 
 
 Passing on to the year 1656, we find the question of a removal 
 from Gawsworth re-opened at the rectory. Still the people could not 
 meet the wants of the minister's family, who were subject to many 
 privations. Some time previously, Mr. Newcome was invited to 
 Shrewsbury ; but his present congregation was veiy unwilling to lose 
 him. They, therefore, made an effort to maintain him where he was. 
 Some were angry at the thought of his removal, and some were 
 grieved " upon a pious account," as he quaintly says. Now, however, 
 circumstances compelled him seriously to entertain the question again. 
 On November 3rd, 1656, Mr. Hollinworth, chaplain of the Collegiate 
 Church in Manchester, died. At a meeting of the Manchester Classis 
 on the seventh of the same month, three persons were nominated for 
 the vacancy — Mr. Meeke of Salford, Mr. Bradshaw of Macclesfield, 
 and Mr. Newcome of Gawsworth. The people at Manchester sent 
 to know if Newcome could go if elected. He replied that he was 
 free on March 25th, 1657, if released from Gawsworth by the Classis. 
 For several reasons Mr. Meeke and Mr. Bradshaw did not find many
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 2 1 5 
 
 supporters; and the choice of the congregation fell on Mr. Newcome. 
 Many weeks of negociations followed ; but at length, on December 
 34th, 1656, Newcome accepted the invitation to Manchester. No 
 sooner was this known at Gawsworth than " new work" began about 
 it. The Cheshire Association appointed delegates to go over to 
 learn the mind of the people. It was feared that serious disturbances 
 would arise, but " the Lord made the matter smooth. No harsh or 
 " grieving words passed." 
 
 The following Thursday the people met about a new minister. 
 Mr. Newcome was very anxious that Mr. Thomas Edge of Goostree 
 should be invited. But Mr. Jeynson (vicar of Prestbury) " put in 
 " furiously for his son," and caused some excitement. However, this 
 name and some others suggested were withdrawn, and Mr. Edge was 
 chosen. On April 12th Newcome administered the sacrament, and 
 preached his farewell sermon. When the time came for his leaving 
 the rectory, he says, " I was sadly affected, and broken all to pieces 
 " at leaving the house. I never was so broken in duty as I was in 
 " that which I went unto just when we were ready to go out of the 
 " house." " I prayed the Lord the sin of the seven years might be 
 " forgiven us, and that we might take a pardon with us." On April 
 '■23rd, he and his family entered their new home at Manchester. 
 There, strictly speaking, he passes beyond the province of this narra- 
 tive; but, as it may be of interest to know more of his career, an 
 outline of his subsequent history is appended to this paper. 
 
 Very soon their former pastor was recalled to Gawsworth to arbi- 
 trate between conflicting parties. In September 1657, Newcome 
 says he had many weary thoughts about the place. He had previously 
 been to London to lodge a caveat against any person's being instituted 
 into this living without his knowledge. Several persons were in vicAV 
 before the people chose Mr. Edge. Mr. Hugh Henshaw of Chelford, 
 Mr. Hayhurst (then resident at Macclesfield), Mr. Oraie, and others 
 were in competition. Newcome always favoured Mr. Edge; so, setting 
 his claims strongly before " the honest party," they at length became 
 satisfied that he was the fittest person for them. Soon the Broad Seal 
 was obtained, and Mr. Edge came in six months after Mr. Newcome 
 left. For a little time the people were very unruly; but, ere long, 
 things became quieter, and the responsibilities of the charge passed 
 away from Mr. Newcome, and devolved fully upon his successor. 
 
 Mr. Edge found that hard work awaited him. In December 1657
 
 2i6 Nonconformity m Cheshire. 
 
 he writes to his friend at Manchester to say that things went "a Uttle 
 " cross" at Gawsworth, "through the implacable baseness of some." 
 But, we learn, "the Lord carried him on; and soon changed matters 
 " there. Things became very prosperous." 
 
 After this date there are hardly any allusions to Gawsworth in 
 Newcome's autobiography. On May 5th, 1658, he was there and 
 found all comfortable. On March 13th, 1659, he says, " I preached 
 " at Gawsworth, and was greatly refreshed and rejoiced to see that 
 " people so well provided for and satisfied in Mr. Edge; and I felt 
 " myself much refreshed with them. I longed to see them all." And 
 again, October 4th, 1662, "Mr. Edge, who stayed with me two or 
 " three hours, told me of the sad condition of poor Gawsworth." 
 
 On the passing of the Act of Uniformity, Mr. Edge withdrew from 
 Gawsworth. Calamy's account of him is as follows : — " After his ejec- 
 " tionhe lived at Chelford. In 1672 he preached at a meeting house, 
 " which was fitted up for him at Withington. He had a very numerous 
 " auditory. No meeting in the country was more crowded. Even such 
 " as showed little love to seriousness esteemed him an excellent 
 " preacher. He afterwards preached more privately in the neighbour- 
 " hood of Chelford, and other parts of Cheshire and Staffordshire. The 
 " times and places of his meeting were ordered with great prudence ; 
 " for which, indeed, he was eminent. He commonly gathered his 
 " people together before their neighbours were out of their beds, and 
 " broke up a little before the public worship began. In the afternoon 
 " he usually heard the parish minister at Chelford. This course he 
 " continued till 1678, in which year he died. He preached to the very 
 " last Lord's Day of his hfe, and rose on the day of his decease as 
 " usual; but, finding himself ill, he lay down on his bed and called 
 " for his will, which was ready drawn. He sealed it, and died soon 
 " after. He had for a good while been preaching his own funeral 
 " sermon from 2 Corinthians v. i — 3. He was an excellent preacher, 
 " a kind and faithful friend, well quaUfied to give advice either for 
 " soul or body, and very affable to younger ministers. His sermons 
 " were close and methodical ; full of sound argument and apt simili- 
 " tudes, and delivered with much zeal. He was a good textuary and 
 " a good expositor. His prayers were fervent, and his expressions 
 " pleasing, copious, and fluent. He was useful to many, and his loss 
 " was much lamented."* 
 
 * Nonconformist Memorials, in loc.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 2 t 7 
 
 On June 23rd, 1678, Mr. Newcome says, "I heard of the sudden 
 " death of Mr. Thomas Edge, minister. [He died June 22nd, 1678.] 
 " He had been with me in my sickness, and \A-as much concerned 
 " about it ; and is now gone." 
 
 Here our notices of Gawsworth and its Puritan rectors end. On 
 the restoration of Charles II. things reverted to their previous order; 
 and the Nonconformists who had followed Mr. Edge after his dis- 
 possession seem to have been gradually dispersed, or to have become 
 incorporated with neighbouring churches. We have not so much as 
 the record of their names. These have perished with themselves, 
 save only as they are treasured up with Him who will not permit the 
 humblest of all His suffering people to fail of entering into the 
 promised reward. 
 
 NOTE. 
 The Rev. Henry Newcome. 
 
 In the pre\'ious pages we have given an outline of Mr. Newcome's life up to the 
 time of his removal to Manchester. 
 
 He was in.stituted into the chaplaincy of the Collegiate Church on April 23rd, 
 1657. Almost the only remark he makes when entering upon his new duties is 
 this, — that it was strange to him to visit so many sick people as he did when he 
 came to Manchester. A burial a month was as much as happened in the country ; 
 and here he visited three or four sick persons a day, and had several burials in a 
 week. 
 
 When, in i66o, the Restoration was contemplated, Newcome was one of the 
 very first to hail the probability of the king's return. On May 6th, he tells us he 
 " prayed for the king by periphrasis" in the public service of the church. On 
 May 1 2th it was resolved to proclaim the king at Manchester; and Mr. Newcome 
 gives us some accoimt of the ceremonial. They went first into the church and 
 sung a psalm. After this, Newcome prayed for about half an hour, " wherein the 
 " Lord did affect all the people; and the change was great." The good man tells 
 us he was "put upon " to ask that there might not be one case of open intemperance 
 as a blemish upon the day. He adds, "I could not hear but the people carried 
 " very carefully; and mentioned the word often to one another when they were 
 " together that day."* 
 
 On the 1 8th of August, 1660, he first began to be in trouble about his settle- 
 ment at Manchester. Upon the Restoration, all the Fellowships at the Collegiate 
 Church were filled up ; but, in the disposition of them, Mr. Newcome was passed 
 over. On September 2nd, he celebrated the communion in the church for the last 
 
 • Antobiography, page 130.
 
 2i8 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 time; and soon records the fact that he found himself as a minister \vitliout a 
 people ; having nothing to do in the congregation. His people were most unwilling 
 to lose his services ; and on September 21st "the town" desired him to preach. 
 He took it kindly from them ; but says, "I thought I had now preached my last 
 " sermon to them; and hugely they were affected. [They] had like to have spoiled 
 " me, when I went into the pulpit, by the passion they showed at the sight of it. 
 ' ' The Lord helped me besides my passion, and enabled me to preach on that sub- 
 " ject (Psalm c.xliv. 15 — Happy is that people, that is in such a case ; yea, happy is 
 " that people, whose God is the Lord)." 
 
 Two days afterwards he was a hearer in the church, "and out of employment." 
 An arrangement, however, was proposed, by which he was to preach for a time in 
 the afternoon ; and it appears as though he had availed himself of it, as far as the 
 jealousy and ill-will of the Fellows would allow. He seems to have been preaching 
 in this manner at intervals up to the 24th August 1662. But he tells us, "The 
 " Fellows oft in this time expressed their disgust to me behind my back; and pro- 
 " fessedly said I should not preach unless I would conform. Yet the Lord kept 
 " me on m his work for this year and a quarter. As long as I could have preached 
 " anywhere, he protected me to preach to my own people." 
 
 In March, 166 1, however, new troubles began; and this in respect to provision 
 for his family. He was much distressed for his wife and children, lest he should 
 fall into reproach after his death, for not providing for them ; and people should 
 say, " this is his strictness; and this is Puritanism; see what it gets them; what 
 " it leaves to wife and children." The remuneration he received for the services 
 he still performed was very scanty, and irregularly paid ; but friends often came to 
 his assistance — and this very unexpectedly. We always find in the " Diary" special 
 notice of such seasonable aid ; Mr. Newcome himself loving to recognise herein the 
 good hand of the Lord, who has never suffered the righteous to be forsaken, nor 
 his seed to beg bread. 
 
 Friday May 23rd, 1662, brought important tidings. The Act of Uniformity 
 was passed ; having been signed by the king on the previous IMonday. All were 
 eager to learn the provisions of this enactment ; yet intimation was given long 
 beforehand of what it was designed to accomplish. In the month of December 
 previously, Newcome had seen a draft of the Act. He remarks on this occasion : 
 " That it is brought down to be seen, it shows (i), How eagerly these men are set 
 " upon it ; the great thing they boast of in their session is this product : (2) It may 
 " be to terrify these that are bated, if they can do no more: (3) It may be to see 
 " what they can gather further; if a man shall think himself free by it, his parti- 
 " cular case may be further considered, and he may be fetched in. But God hath 
 " not yet put his hand to it, nor set his fiat on it; and it may yet be prevented."* 
 On May 31st, 1662, he saw the Act, as finally settled in its terms; and he says, 
 " It answers expectation to the full. The Lord show his poor servants what He 
 " would have them to do." On the Sabbath after, the news came that the Act was 
 passed. Mr. Newcome attended church, and "Mr. Johnson read the Common 
 " Prayer at large, and preached on i Corinthians vi. 19, 20; and in the afternoon 
 " expounded the second lesson very notably. He baptized ; and of eight or nine 
 
 * Diary, page 39.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 219 
 
 " children, crossed all but three, which he spared with much ado. One child he 
 " baptized with the cross, without the words of institution, 'I baptize'in the name 
 " ' of the Father,' &c." Previously to this, " choir service" had been recommenced 
 at the church ; and candles were lighted upon the table. But even yet Mr. New- 
 come seems to have been allowed to preach ; for we read that on July 20th, he 
 " preached both ends of the day on Romans ii. 7, to a great congregation," and 
 he adds, "The Lord did abundantly help me in the service." 
 
 We have now brought our narrative up to August 17th, 1662 — the Sabbath 
 when so many good and faithfid ministers of Jesus Christ proclaimed to their flocks, 
 for the last time, the glad tidings of salvation. Many sad and heavy hearts were 
 there that day, both amongst preachers and hearers. ' ' 'Tis not against the law 
 ^^ yet (said one ol these good men as he bid farewell to his people) to call them our 
 " congregations. But this, I confess, I can rather weep than speak to ; my heart 
 "^is too big for my head here. . . . Oh, beloved, I have a few blessings for 
 " you ; I have a few words of exhortation for you, and for God's sake take them as if 
 " they dropped from my lips when dying. 'Tis ver)' probable we shall never meet 
 " more while the day of judgment. Whatever others think, I am utterly against 
 " all irregular ways. I have (I bless the Lord) never had a hand in any change of 
 " government in all my life. I am for prayers, tears, quietness, submission, and 
 " meekness; and let God do his work, and that \viU be best done when he doth it. 
 " Therefore, be exhorted to stand fast in the Lord; my own people hear me now, 
 " though you should never hear me more, — be exhorted to standfast in the Lord." 
 Or if any further illustration of the spirit which actuated these Nonconformist 
 ministers in their secession from the church in which they had been brought up be 
 required, take these sentences from the prayer that preceded the sermon from 
 •which we have just quoted : -"Though we have lost the duty of children, Thou 
 " hast not lost the goodness of a Father. Let us be held forth as patterns of 
 " mercy ; so shall we sound forth Thy praise to all eternity. Whatever afflictions 
 " Thou layest upon our bodies, let not our sins be unpardoned. Let not sin and 
 " affliction be together upon us. Let there be peace in heaven, and peace in the 
 " court of conscience. O, let peace and holiness go together. Make us new 
 " creatures, that we may be glorious creatures. Let us have a spirit of courage 
 " and resolution. Keep us from the fallacies of our own hearts. Keep us from 
 " the defilements of the times. Make us pure in heart that we may see God ; that 
 " we may have gospel spirits, humble spirits, meek spirits; and as Christ did take 
 " our flesh, let us partake of his spirit." Thus did these men of God commend 
 themselves and their people to the care of the Great Head of the Church, now that 
 they themselves could no longer watch for souls. Nor is it beside the mark to 
 quote these sentences — though they fell from the lips of another [Mr. Lye of London] 
 than the man whose history we are tracing, for they serve to show "what manner of 
 " spirit" those men were of amongst whom Mr. Newcome rejoiced to cast in his lot. 
 His account of the 17th of August is as follows. Ha\'ing attended church in 
 the morning as a hearer, " In the afternoon I preached on Ephesians v. 16 
 " ( Redeeming the time, because the days are evil) ; and the Lord did wonderfully 
 " help me in the duty, and it was sweet to me. I was long at it. I was affected 
 ** with the people that are dear to me, to whom I know not when I shall preach
 
 2 20 Nonconfonnity in Cheshire. 
 
 " again; but I thought as I came out of the pulpit on i Samuel xv. 25. — Well, this 
 " day three years was a sadder day, and looked more desperately on us [he refers 
 " to the day when news of the battle and rout at Northwich reached Manchester 
 " (August i9lh, 1659); a day when the people went about 'crying in the streets']; 
 " and all that fire singed us not, nor left so much as the smell of fire upon us. All 
 " is past away like waters that are gone — and soon, too." * 
 
 Saturday, August 23rd, was an anxious day to him. He set himself to study, 
 in case he might have liberty to speak on the following day. For himself he was 
 willing to run the risk ; but the Warden of the college, who was ever his true friend, 
 was unsatisfied about his venturing to preach. In the evening, however, he received 
 a letter from Mr. Ashurst, "which gave an account that, past all expectation, there 
 " was some indulgence to be hoped for in some cases;" and after having passed 
 the day in anxious deliberation, "just this night to receive some notice, any glim- 
 " mering at all of any the least indulgence ! Blessed be God." Availing himself 
 joyfully of this opportunity, the following morning — the morning of the memorable 
 twenty-fourth — " I got up about seven (he writes), and got ready for the public 
 '• [service] ; and to the great joy of my heart, and the poor people's, had liberty to 
 " preach this forenoon. I preached on Exodus xx. 24." 
 
 P'or some years now he was prohibited from taking part in any religious services, 
 excepting only as he could associate with friends in observing " private days." In 
 such exercises, however, we often find him engaged, both on the Sabbath and on 
 other days of the week. On May aist, 1644, news came of the passing of the Act 
 against conventicles; and in October 1665 the royal assent was given to the 
 Five Mile Act ; but it was some time before the provisions of this Act could be 
 distinctly ascertained in the country. The parliament that enacted it met at Oxford, 
 being driven from London by the plague that there raged so fearfully. On August 
 17th, when Mr. Newcome went to hear the news from London, he found no news 
 had come, so terrible was the panic occasioned by the plague. People in the 
 metropolis had no time to think of anything, save only their o\vn distress. And 
 even if news had come that night, the people assembled would not — we are told — 
 have dared to read it, for fear that infection should be conveyed by the very paper 
 on which the intelligence was printed. On the 15th of November he got a copy of 
 the Act, and considered its provisions in these particulars: — (i) In the extent of 
 the trial; (2) the sins that had occasioned this evil; (3) the right course to pursue 
 in regard to it ; (4) what there was "to stay the heart in it." Many ministers 
 were by the provisions of this Act driven out from their homes, literally to starve ; 
 but Newcome does not appear to have suffered much molestation. Though for 
 some time he did not dare to be seen in the town, yet he appears to have continued 
 to reside in the neighbourhood of Manchester, choosing a house whose garden 
 adjoined the open fields, so that he might go in and out without interruption. 
 
 On March 15th, 1672, the celebrated "Declaration of Indulgence" was pub- 
 lished by Charles II., just on the eve of his war with Holland. By an arbitrary 
 exercise of the royal prerogative, all penal laws against Nonconformists of every 
 class were suspended. In reality this was, as Neal says, "an advance towards 
 " Popery and absolute power;" and as such it caused great excitement within the 
 
 * Diary, page 112.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 22 1 
 
 Establishment; whilst it was looked upon with much jealousy by many of the 
 Nonconformists in whose behalf it was professedly published. These saw in it the 
 first approach to the re-establishment of Popery ; and against their own manifest 
 interest, sided with the Church of England in opposition to the King. Others thank- 
 fully accepted this indulgence, and availed themselves of the permission it gave. 
 Newcome was one of those who took out a licence to preach, not only for his own 
 house but (on May 13th) for a barn as well. The justices getting to hear of it, sup- 
 posed he was preaching in the barn upon the strength of the licence for the house ; 
 and so they sent for him, hoping to have got him within their power. But showing 
 both licences he made good his defence. This liberty, however, was not long enjoyed. 
 In putting forth the declaration, the King had arrayed against him both Houses of 
 Parliament — and especially the House of Commons. This House refused to vote 
 money for the public service until the Declaration was withdrawn. After some 
 resistance, the King called for the Declaration and broke its seal with his own 
 hand ; thus revoking every Nonconfonnist's licence to preach. The news of the 
 cancelling of the Declaration was received in Manchester with great joy ; and the 
 meetings in the barn and at Newcome's house were stopped. But it seems, after 
 all, that liberty was obtained soon again ; or at least there was a reluctance to put 
 the penal laws in force; for from April 30th, 1673, Mr. Newcome had liberty to 
 preach for above half a year without molestation. 
 
 In the beginning of 1674 we find these reflections in the autobiography upon 
 the state of the country: — "The condition of the nation and church very sad. The 
 " pitiful uncertain foot that things stand upon. Religion on tiptoes. Division and 
 " enmity at a prodigious height. God's hand remarkably out against us, so as it 
 " hath rarely been, in such continuance of so many things: — (i) a destruction of 
 " corn and hay in the time of it; (2) great loss of cattle; (3) great dearth; (4) 
 " great want of money; (5) inveterate deadness of trade; (6) the late storm, with 
 " the dreadful effects of it; (7) a threat in the present great rain to prevent the 
 " fruiting of the earth; (8) a miserable security and senselessness amongst people 
 " notwithstanding all this."* 
 
 During the next few years, Mr. Newcome seems to have kept up the private 
 meetings at his own house, and at the houses of his friends ; nor does it appear that 
 he was entirely silenced from preaching. Whenever he could run the risk he did ; 
 and we several times find him preaching at private houses in different parts of 
 Cheshire. In the year 1683, however, the "Rye House Plot" (as it was called) 
 was discovered ; and all the odium of it was thrown upon the Nonconformists. 
 Neal, writing in 1737, expresses the firm conviction that there was, really, no con- 
 spiracy at all; but that the Court "set on foot three plots; one to assassinate the 
 " King and Duke [of York] as they came from Newmarket; another to seize the 
 " Guards," &c. This Newmarket scheme was called the " Rye House Plot;" and 
 upon pretence of it, the most rigorous measures were enforced against the Noncon- 
 formists. Accordingly about this time we find Newcome writing — " The manage- 
 
 " ment of public justice is a great trouble They have singled us to 
 
 " persecute us ; and it is made an offence to the government to reheve us." On 
 August nth, 1684, he further writes, in reference to a private meeting held in his 
 
 * Autobiography, page 207.
 
 22 2 Noiuonformity in Cheshire. 
 
 own house, "The officers came to my house and broke us up. Had the names of 
 " eleven, besides our own family. I kept silence, and said only, ' It is well it is 
 " 'no worse, and that it is for no worse.' If we had been better prepared, it is 
 " possible we liad not been disturbed. I was advised to go out of the way, lest I 
 " should be ensnared." On this occasion the fine imposed was 40/., of which 15/. 
 fell to Mr. Newcome; the rest being paid by his friends. Shortly after this he 
 removed from the house he had lived in, " for prudential reasons." "The privacy 
 " of the house we went to, and the ready passage into the fields out of the garden 
 ' ' was, within the year, a great advantage to me (he writes) when I could not well 
 " be seen within the town; and could not from the other house have gone to my 
 " garden." 
 
 But liberty dawned at length. In April, 1686, King James published his 
 " Declaration of Indulgence" — though by a stretch of the powers of the crown. 
 Nevertheless, however unconstitutional the procedure might be, it was overruled 
 for good ; and all this cruel and heartless persecution ceased. Directly Newcome 
 and his Manchester friends took an empty house; and on April 20th, 1686, the 
 good man preached there with open doors, to his " great satisfaction and rejoicing." 
 He continued to preach on the Wednesday, and "after evening sermon on the 
 " Lord's Day, for a great while." On Jime 12th in the same year a barn was 
 hired ; and a congregation assembled there in large numbers. Soon they began to 
 hold service at the hours of service in the churches. 
 
 The year 1688 saw the Toleration Act passed; and, though subject to many 
 annoyances, the congregation at Manchester continued to meet from time to time, 
 without any serious interruption. About 1690, the people built Mr. Newcome a 
 chapel in Cross-street, Manchester; and there he continued to preach until his 
 death in 1695. He was buried, according to his own wish, in his chapel, "in the 
 " west aisle, not far from the pulpit." Mr. Chorlton preached at the funeral. In 
 reference to his death, Mr. Tong* says, "Before that year (1695) was finished, 
 " Lancashire lost one of the greatest blessings that ever the providence of God 
 " favoured it with in the last age; when I say this, every one will conclude I mean 
 " that reverend, holy, and most evangelical minister, Mr. Henry Newcome, who 
 " died September 17th. He did not live quite half a year after the death of his 
 " beloved grandson. Mr. Henry expresses himself on this occasion with an 
 " uncommon concern, as a very great loss to the church of God; and puts up an 
 " earnest prayer for his dear friend and brother Mr. Chorlton, who was fellow- 
 " labourer with Mr. Newcome, that the mantle of Elijah might rest upon Elisha." 
 Mr. Newcome 's eldest son took Orders in the Church of England ; and showed 
 himself to be of a very different spirit from his father, for he cherished much ani- 
 mosity towards all who dissented from the church. But one of Newcome's grand- 
 sons—referred to in the extract just given— cast in his lot with the Nonconformists ; 
 and was being educated for the ministry by Mr. Timothy Jollie of Sheffield, when 
 God was pleased to call him to a nobler service on high. 
 
 * Life of Matthew Heniy, page 273.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 223 
 
 MACCLESFIELD. 
 
 (By the Rev. S. W. Mc.All, M.A.) 
 
 Although Macclesfield receives a lengthened notice in Domesday, 
 and was made " a free burgh" as far back as the year 1200, yet it 
 would seem that very few traces of the ancient town remain. Once 
 the place was fortified; but our only connecting link \vith these early 
 days is, apparently, to be found in the remains of an old castle, standing 
 almost in the centre of the to^^•n. Probably S. Michael's Chapel — 
 " the old church" — is not the original church of Macclesfield, but 
 stands as the successor to some more ancient edifice which perished 
 beneath the rude hand of the invader, perhaps before the Conquest. 
 The present structure dates from the reign of Edward I., a.d. 1278, 
 and is, strictly speaking, a chapel of ease to Prestbury — the Parish 
 Church. We learn that in 1585 the tower was surmounted by a 
 " large steeple spire," which "was demohshed (says Mr. Osborne, in 
 " his Parish of Prestbury) by the pious hands of the Puritans about 
 " 1640." Ill fared a "steeple house" that was within reach of these 
 " pious hands." And no wonder that a building so conspicuous as 
 the old church must then have been — commanding, from the crest of 
 the hill upon which it stands, the neighbourhood for many miles 
 around — should have attracted the unfriendly notice of men whose 
 rigorous affectation of superiority to the mere externals of religious 
 worship, steeled them as well against all principles of refinement and 
 good taste, as against the hoary memories of days gone bye; and led 
 them to court, in their own houses of prayer, a simplicity that was 
 little else than unsightliness itself. 
 
 What the population of Macclesfield may have been in the days 
 of the Puritans does not appear ; but we may obtain an approximate 
 notion from the fact recorded by Bishop Gastrell, that in 1705 there 
 were in the town itself 925 families; and "at least 2,000 in the town 
 " and precinct." Very likely the population had not much increased 
 during the previous half century; and therefore the estimate for 1700 
 will serve almost as well for i66o. 
 
 In the year 1648 the Rev. Edmtind Hardie was the incumbent of 
 S. Michael's Church. This we learn upon the authority of Ormerod, 
 quoting from the parish records. But it would appear that Mr.
 
 224 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 Hardie's tenure of office was not of long continuance. Nor was his 
 case in this respect a soHtary one, in a day when all was confusion — 
 as well in the church as in the state. It must be acknowledged, 
 however, that some discrepancy occurs here as between the various 
 sources of information open to us; and possibly the precise facts of 
 the case may never be known. Ormerod gives the name of Mr. 
 Hardie as incumbent of S. Michael's in 1648. But in the registers 
 belonging to the church, occurs the name of Ralph Stringer, 
 " curate" (and sometimes "minister") of Macclesfield. Mr. Stringer's 
 name first occurs in 1627 or 1628; and it continues till about 1654 
 or 1655. Further, in the diary of Newcome, we have several 
 references to Mr. Stringer of Macclesfield, extending over the years 
 1650 to about 1652. Still more to the point is the occurrence amongst 
 the signatures of the Cheshire ministers to the " Attestation to the 
 " Solemn League and Covenant," of the name of " Robert Stringer, 
 " minister at Macclesfield." The discrepancy in the christian name 
 (Ralph and Robert) is most probably an error in the printing of the 
 document just referred to; for in the same list of signatures several 
 other well ascertained errors occur. Now this attestation was signed 
 in 1648 — the year which Ormerod assigns to the incumbency of Mr. 
 Hardie. How the case stands, must be left to conjecture. Perhaps 
 Ormerod may be in error. 
 
 Passing on to the year 1657, we find the living in the hands of 
 Mr. James Bradshaw, a Presbyterian, and a member of an old Pres- 
 byterian family of Darcy Lever, near Bolton. He was the second of 
 three sons, who were educated by their father — Mr. John Bradshaw — 
 at Oxford, and were designed for the professions of divinity, law, and 
 physic. Mr. Bradshaw, senior, is named as a member of the Bolton 
 Classis, and his family is honourably mentioned as of standing in the 
 county. Of the early life of James, we know nothing further than 
 that he was born at Darcy Lever in 16 10, and was educated at Oxford. 
 Entering the ministry, he was (as we learn from Calamy) " for some 
 " time minister at Wigan in Lancashire, and lived in the parsonage ; 
 " but Mr. Hotham obtaining it, he was called to Macclesfield, where 
 " the Act of Unifomiity silenced him." 
 
 Referring again to Mr. Stringer's ministry here, Mr. Newcome 
 of Gawsworth seems to have exercised a kind of supervision over the 
 congregation at Macclesfield for some time previously to 1657; and 
 his references to the state of things imply that there had been for
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 225 
 
 long much irregularity and confusion. On February 3rd, 1650 — the 
 
 day when this good man went to Gawsworth, and found the doors of 
 
 the church locked against him — he tells us he went over to Maxefield, 
 
 and that afternoon preached there. And again, on December i6th, 
 
 1650, he records in his diarj^: — "I had this summer a heart, in some 
 
 " measure, to the Lord's work; and it carried me out to endeavour 
 
 " to do work at Maxefield, where I preached not only at the exercise, 
 
 " upon vacancies of supply, but also frequently on those days to a great 
 
 " and attentive congregation — to my great satisfaction and to the 
 
 " advantage of some souls." From this it would seem as though 
 
 there were but an uncertain provision for the ministr}' of the word. 
 
 At this moment, too, we first find the Independents making their 
 
 appearance at Macclesfield. Already there were many here who 
 
 were "Congregational" in their sentiments. Mr. Newcome mentions 
 
 this party first in connection with the army. In May 1651, some 
 
 soldiers were quartered at Sutton; and the minister of Gawsworth 
 
 came to see them; but at some risk to himself "The truth is (he 
 
 " says), they are so spiritual and inward, and such taking company to 
 
 " me, that it was a mercy I was not ensnared by them; for they were 
 
 " high Independents, and were, I remember, talking of embodying the 
 
 " saints." The Thursday after, the next exercise at Maxefield, " Mr. 
 
 " Holhnworth (who had preached) did notably balance my conceit of 
 
 " the anny, .speaking freely of their desperate designs. . . . This 
 
 " was exceeding seasonable, and stopped me betimes that I never 
 
 " came nearer to them. But by their zeal I might easily have been 
 
 " drawn aside."* This is a very interesting testimony to the character 
 
 of the Independents in the army of Cromwell; the more valuable as it 
 
 comes from a man who was, at the time he gave it, a strong Presbyterian. 
 
 However, it appears that some who belonged to this party were not 
 
 so " spiritual and inward " as the soldiers quartered at Sutton. For a 
 
 time, their conduct occasioned much uneasiness. Some of those who 
 
 inclined to Independency, persuaded Mr. Stringer to invite jNIr. Eaton 
 
 of Stockport to come over and preach at an " exercise;" and to bring 
 
 some one wath him, to supply both parts of the day. Mr. Eaton was 
 
 privately asked to bring William Barrett — that "busy pragmatical 
 
 " man" who had already tried to stir up ill feeling at Gawsworth; 
 
 and "great boasting there was of it by the unsettled hankering party," 
 
 * Autobiography, page 26.
 
 2 26 Nonconforviity in Cheshire. 
 
 and " great expectation of some acquest by it." Newcome, having 
 only the previous month (this was in March 165^) had experience of 
 Barrett, wrote to Mr. Stringer to protest against the ruling elder being 
 suffered to come. But Mr. Stringer, not daring to disoblige his own 
 people, " weakly consents," and William Barrett is invited to preach. 
 But, says Newcome,* " the Lord was pleased to defeat their design, 
 " for his preaching was nothing taking. Some bluntly told him his 
 " sermon would have done well if there had been a curtain before him; 
 " and some others of the aldermen of the town took it so ill that a 
 " sequestrator should preach in their pulpit, that none would own his 
 *' invitation ; and some of the forwardest for his coming did after say 
 " they hoped it would appear they had no hand in bringing him 
 " thither." Whatever Barrett may have been, Mr. Eaton was a man 
 of very different spiiit-^gentle, earnest, faithful. But neither the 
 pastor nor his "ruling elder" ever troubled the congregation at Mac- 
 clesfield again. 
 
 Our next reference to the town occurs on June 3rd, 1652, when 
 an exercise was held at the Old Church. The preachers were Mr. 
 HoUinworth of Manchester, and Mr. Angier of Denton. Newcome, 
 as his custom was on such occasions, was present. He gives us this 
 account of the service : — " It was mighty taking to me, and I found this 
 " the wish of my heart — that I could be content to have none but old 
 " men to preach. At my first conversion, I thought very few to be of 
 " my spirit, few right ; and was wont sinfully and simply to tax ancient 
 " ministers with formality. But now, I bless God, I do exceedingly 
 " honour them and prefer them; and count myself least of all." It 
 appears that these " exercises" were generally held upon market day; 
 indeed we read that " it was a thing pretty ordinary to have a sermon 
 " on market day." To such occasions we have constantly recurring 
 references in the autobiography already often quoted ; but none are 
 of sufficient importance to require notice here. 
 
 We are now brought to the year 1657, when Mr. Bradshaw entered 
 upon his pastoral labours at Macclesfield. It may be mentioned, 
 however, that previously to his coming here, he was a candidate, along 
 with Mr. Newcome and another, for the chaplaincy of the Collegiate 
 Church at Manchester. To this, allusion has already been made in 
 the paper upon Gawsworth. It appears to have been through no lack 
 
 * Autobiography, page 36.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 227 
 
 of qualifications for the appointment that Mr. Bradshaw lost it; for 
 Calamy tells us that " he was a man of incomparable abilities, ready 
 " elocution, solid learning, a very good preacher, a ready disputant, 
 " and every way well accomplished for the ministry." Yet he had 
 not many supporters; for the people were, generally, prejudiced against 
 him — on what account does not appear. 
 
 To Mr. Bradshaw's personal or family history during the five years 
 of his pastorate here we have hardly any allusion; excepting only 
 that he buried two children within a few months of his coming into 
 residence. Nor have we any references to his success in the ministry. 
 We are carried forward, therefore, at once to the memorable year 
 1662. On Sunday July 20th, 1662, Newcome (then settled in Man- 
 chester) tells us that he heard that Mr. Bradshaw was not permitted 
 to preach in the church at Maxefield on that day; and so he and 
 many of his friends went over to Manchester, and spent the day there. 
 The living of S. Michael's, now void, was filled, as we learn from 
 Ormerod, by the Rev. R. Barlow; and here our concern with this 
 church ends. 
 
 At a time when there was but one place of worship in the whole 
 town, one can well imagine the interest which would centre itself 
 in and around such a person as Mr. Bradshaw is reported to have 
 been. To many, doubtless, then, as now, his abstract right to the 
 living he enjoyed would appear a very questionable thing. But in 
 the day of which we speak, it was held beyond all challenge that 
 the care of religion, as of other things, pertained to the State; and 
 surely it must be confessed that if the State is to have any juris- 
 diction at all in the appointment of ministers, that jurisdiction is vested 
 in the government of the day — monarchy or republicanism, whichever 
 it may be. Therefore, upon the principle of an alliance between 
 church and state, the Commonwealth had just as much right to appoint 
 ministers, and to govern the church, whilst it was in power, as Charles 
 had to regulate ecclesiastical matters according to his own opinions, 
 when he was restored to his rightful throne. If the one stepped out 
 of its province so did the other. We say — both interfered with things 
 they had nothing at all to do with; but we also say that the Protector 
 and his council had far nearer at heart the true spiritual prosperity of 
 the church of Clirist than had Charles and his irreligious court. 
 Granted, however, that there is to be any alliance at all between the 
 civil powers and the church, Cromwell only did what he might
 
 2 28 Nonco7iformity in Cheshire. 
 
 reasonably be expected to do, when he made provision for the 
 induction of suitable persons into vacant benefices. Here the chal- 
 lenge Hes — not against the Committee of Triers, for upon the principle 
 in question that follows almost as matter of course — but against the 
 very Commonwealth itself. Upon that subject it would be foreign 
 to our purpose to enter. 
 
 Reverting to the case of Mr. Bradshaw, one cannot but believe 
 that he would be followed by the sincere regret, and would carry with 
 him the loving confidence, of many of his former flock, to whom he 
 had preached the words of everlasting life. Whether he ever returned 
 to visit the scene of his labours we are not informed. He may have 
 done so; but the operation of the " Five Mile Act," which was in 
 force for many years onwards from 1664, would prevent his coming 
 within the prescribed limits. In that day, however, it was a very 
 trifling matter to walk eight or ten miles — or more — to some secluded 
 spot, where it was known that the pastor would be in readiness to 
 meet such of his fomier flock as could find their way to him; and we 
 are not without some hints that the early friends of Nonconformity in 
 Macclesfield, like their brethren in other parts of the country, observed 
 these " private days" at a distance from their homes; and often under 
 the cover of night held their solemn assemblies, protected by those 
 dreary solitudes amongst hill and vale, upon which even "the infonner" 
 did not dare to intrude. 
 
 'Wlien Bradshaw left Macclesfield, he seems to have been permitted 
 to preach, for some time, at Houghton Chapel, in Dean parish, and 
 afterwards (as we learn from the Life of Martindale) at Bradshaw 
 Chapel, " by the connivance of Mr. Bradshaw of Bradshaw Hall." 
 To this statement Calamy adds that he read some of the prayers at 
 Bradshaw Chapel, though he did not subscribe. Martindale says,* 
 " When the former act against conventicles was out, and no new one 
 " made, Adam Fearnside, a good friend of mine, desired me to join 
 " with a worthy neighbour of his, Mr. James Bradshaw, late of 
 " Macclesfield, to keep a day of preaching and prayer at his son- 
 " in-law's house, in a dark corner of Bury parish." The same writer, 
 sjjcaking of three ministers, of whom Bradshaw was one, calls them 
 " learned men, and very profitable preachers." That he merited 
 this commendation we learn from Calamy, whose testimony to the 
 
 * Life, page 194.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 229 
 
 excellence of his character, and to his power and acceptance as 
 a preacher, we have cited already. He died in 1683, aged seventy- 
 three years. 
 
 Of the friends whom Mr. Bradshaw left at Macclesfield we have 
 now hardly any mention for many years. As to their number, and 
 the places and times of their worship, we are quite in the dark; save 
 only as Newcome gives us now and then occasional intimations that 
 there were some Christian people here whom he used to \'isit. During 
 the many years that the Conventicle Act and the Five Mile Act were 
 in force, the Nonconformists, doubtless, met by stealth and under 
 cover of night, in dark and unfrequented parts of the town; never 
 more than four or five persons above the age of sixteen being present, 
 in addition to the members of the family. Many a time at early 
 morning these sufferers for conscience sake left their homes, and 
 threaded their way quickly through the silent streets; trembHng at the 
 echo of their own footfall, lest the sound should catch the ear of the 
 informer, ever keenly on the watch for his opportunity to surprise the 
 " conventicle," and claim the reward of his odious employ. Nor was 
 it in cheerful and well lighted rooms that these good people found 
 themselves, even when they had assembled together. They met often 
 in cellars hewn out of the solid rock ; where by the dim light of the 
 solitary candle, held so as to throw its feeble rays upon the Bible in 
 the hand of the reader, yet so as to hide its faint glimmerings from 
 the eye of any chance passer by who might suspect what was going 
 on within, they spent the best part of the night in reading, and 
 prayer, and mutual exhortation. They did not dare to sing; and the 
 preacher's voice was toned down to the veriest whisper, lest its slow 
 and solemn cadence should attract the attention of the hstener outside, 
 and reveal the secret otherwise so admirably kept. As these little 
 meetings commenced, so they closed before anyone was stirring 
 abroad in the morning — or even before people were awaked from 
 their sleep ; and when men came out to their daily employ they found 
 the streets as solitary and as silent as they had left them the night 
 before. In such assemblies as these, most probably, the first Non- 
 conformists of our town strengthened their mutual faith, and comforted 
 one another \\'ith the hope of a better and a brighter day. 
 
 The earhest mention we have of any such congregation in this 
 neighbourhood occurs in Newcome's autobiography, under date 
 June 15th, 1681. "I set out towards Maxefield. I came to the
 
 230 Noncojifowiity in Clieshire. 
 
 " house of Lawrence Downes, who was one that received good from 
 " my ministry many years since ; and the next day I preached to a 
 '• great many of my first acquaintance in this way. . . . After 
 " dinner I went to Maxefield on foot to see Mr. Heyhurst, and some 
 " few others I was acquainted with." This Mr. Heyhurst, it may be 
 observed, was a candidate for Gawsworth at the time that Mr. Edge 
 obtained the Hving. On the authority of Oliver Hey^vood we learn 
 that he was vicar of Leigh ; but was turned out upon the Act of 
 Uniformity, and came to reside in Macclesfield. On December ist, 
 1683, Newcome again set out towards Cheshire, and stopped at the 
 house of Lawrence Downes, preaching there, and being much refreshed 
 to see many he had comfort in when at Gawsworth. He passed by 
 Gawsworth on his journey; and we may therefore infer that he passed 
 through Macclesfield too. No further reference to the town occurs 
 until 1693; but before that time the Toleration Act had ^iven their 
 rightful liberty to the Nonconformists; and here, as elsewhere, a 
 chapel had been erected and opened for the worship of God. 
 
 Of this event, however, no records remain. \\'e find the chapel 
 built — how, or at what cost, and by whom originated, we do not know. 
 Yet we are not without some information as to the state of the Non- 
 conformist interest rather earlier than 1693. The chapel dates from 
 1692; but in March 169^ the first meeting of Presbyterian and Inde- 
 pendent ministers of Cheshire was held at Macclesfield : the association 
 being organised in June following. Amongst the ministers who sub- 
 scribed the terms of agreement there appears this signature, "J. 
 " Eaton, at Macclesfield." This Mr. Eaton was, in all probability, 
 the first Dissenting minister in this town. He had studied medicine, 
 and graduated his M.D. In principle, he was a Congregationalist ; 
 and had entered Mr. Frankland's academy in 1678. 
 
 From the fact of the meeting above referred to having been held 
 in Macclesfield, it may be inferred that the interest must have been 
 comparatively strong, or there was no reason why the ministers should 
 have assembled here, rather than in a more central part of the county. 
 And we doubt not the proposal to build a place of worship received 
 a welcome impulse, from the association of the town with the interests 
 of Nonconformity in the county at large. In point of actual numbers, 
 Bishop Gastrell tells us that in his time (17 15) there were in Mac- 
 clesfield 126 Dissenting families; which families furnished to the 
 Presb)^erian Meeting House one hundred members, and to the
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 23 i 
 
 Quakers" Meeting House about eighty members. So here is a con- 
 gregation of about one hundred persons in 17 15. Very probably 
 there would be the same in 1692 — or thereabouts. 
 
 Referring for a moment to Dr. Eaton, we have several notices of 
 him. He was, as appears from his diploma, a physician ; and towards 
 the close of his life attained to a high eminence in his profession. 
 From a MS. in Dr. Williams' library in London, we learn that Dr. 
 Grosvenor's Essay o?i Health, London, 1748, is dedicated with senti- 
 ments of great respect and gratitude to " Dr. Joseph Eaton, of the 
 " College of Physicians." That this is the same person who minis- 
 tered to the church in Macclesfield appears from the MS. in question. 
 He appears to have moved in good society in London. From one 
 who knew him well we have this testimony to his character :* — At an 
 ordination " about Midsummer 1696, Dr. Eaton of Macclesfield was 
 " present, and prayed at the imposition of hands upon Mr. W. Bagshaw. 
 " Dr. Eaton left Macclesfield some time after this, and removed to 
 " Nottingham, and then into the South — I think to, or near, Colchester; 
 " and thence to London, applying himself wholly to the practice of 
 " physic, in which he did good ser\-ice. There I met, and had a good 
 " deal of agreeable conversation with him, in October 1724. He 
 '• delighted much to hear of, and talk of his brethren, and the good 
 " old Christians of his acquaintance in Cheshire and Derbyshire. 
 " He was Congregational in his judgment; but moderate and candid 
 " to those of dififerent sentiments. He had a genteel spirit, and a 
 " cheerful temper, and arrived at a good old age." 
 
 During Dr. Eaton's pastorate, a '" Reformation Sermon" was 
 preached in this town before the ministers of Cheshire, by Matthew 
 Henry. His subject was — the Sanctification of the Sabbath — from 
 Nehemiah xiii. 21. These sermons were delivered from time to time 
 by various ministers, in different parts of the county. Mr. Henry 
 preached here on May 9th, 1699. The first of the "movable lec- 
 " tures " then set on foot was to be delivered at Stockport, and the 
 second at Congleton. 
 
 Dr. Eaton's connection with the newly formed church is rendered 
 still more interesting, however, from the fact that a question arose 
 amongst the members as to the proper mode of receiving the Lord's 
 Supper. It would appear that the matter was very earnestly in debate ; 
 
 * Dr. Cleggs Life of Rev. John Ashe, page 60.
 
 232 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 and as the best means of settling it, the whole question was referred 
 to several ministers in London, of whom John Howe was one. Upon 
 this occasion, Mr. Howe A\Tote a letter to Dr. Eaton, expressing his 
 opinion of the points in dispute. The Cheshire Minute Book con- 
 tains a copy of this letter, which we give in full : — " Mr. Howe's letter 
 " in y^ name of y* London ministers relating to that affair [the gesture 
 " to be used by the minister in the administration of the Lord's Supper] 
 " read and approved of, and recommended to y^ congregation at 
 " Macclesfield, as an expedient to settle that matter: a coppy of 
 " which letter here followeth : — 
 
 " Sir, — A case was propounded this day among divers ministers 
 " which I was (privately) told was yours, viz., that some of your Society 
 " scrupled to receive y* Lord's Supper othenvise than as having y* 
 " elements delivered immediately to them by your o\vn hand. Two 
 " things were in reference hereto agreed unanimously; i. That they 
 " might very la\\'fully and fittly passe from hand to hand, which y* 
 " rule forbids not and (if we may judge by parity of reason) seems 
 " rather to favour. And herein, y^ constant practise of y^ Church of 
 " Scotland hath long concurred, and still doth. ii. However, that it 
 " being a matter of indifferency, you ought to offend none herein, 
 " nor impose a thing not determined expressly by rule as a Condition 
 " of Church Communion. And therefore to let such as desire it from 
 " your own hand be placed near you (successively if not altogether, 
 " as 'tis the manner in Holland to fill y* tables successively : this may 
 " [be] done with you, if one table will not receive at once all that are 
 " unsatisfy'd to receive otherwise) that so none may be deprived of 
 " so needful! a priviledge needlessly, either through your own weak- 
 " ness, or y* want of your indulgence thereto, which their case may 
 " require. And in this advice y^ brethren that were consulted for- 
 " merly of both persuasions, Presbyterial and Congregational (though 
 " now there is no such distinction with us), were most unanimous. 
 " And it was left to be communicated to you by your affectionate 
 " brother and fellow servant, John Howe. 
 
 " Lond., Ap. 6th, '91." 
 
 How far this very reasonable suggestion met the views of those who 
 had propounded this " case of conscience" we are not informed. The 
 question, however, was evidently regarded as of great moment at the 
 time. Nor, as matter of history, is it less instructive to us than it was of 
 consequence to our forefathers, as affecting, the peace and harmony of 
 the church.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 233 
 
 Upon the occasion of Dr. Eaton's leaving Macclesfield, he seems 
 to have had much to do to justify himself to his brethren in Cheshire. 
 A good deal of correspondence passed between him and the associa- 
 tion; and in one of his letters he says, "I find the work and labour 
 " of the ministry in that constancy this place requires, above my 
 " strength; being under a necessity to continue and keep up a prac- 
 " tice in medicine." However, he at length resigned his pastorate; 
 and his place here was, ere long, filled by the Rev. Nathanael 
 ScHOLES, who, like Dr. Eaton, was a pupil of Mr. Frankland. Mr. 
 Scholes was not long spared to preach the gospel, for he died when 
 only thirty-seven years of age. He was entered at Mr. Frankland's 
 academy in April 1682. He was much beloved by his ministerial 
 brethren; and though so young, seems to have occupied a prominent 
 position amongst them, as we infer from the frequency with which he 
 took part in the numerous ordinations held in Macclesfield, Knutsford, 
 and the immediate neighbourhood. He was the son of a " learned 
 " and godly minister in Manchester," who was ejected from Norton 
 in Derbyshire, in 1662. Concerning him — Mr. Jeremy Scholes — 
 Newcome has this entry in his diary: — April 27th, 1685, "Precious, 
 " learned, modest, pious Mr. Scholes died." His learning and 
 modesty, however, do not appear to have made him very acceptable 
 in his public duties; for in another place, Mr. Newcome, speaking of 
 a " private day," says he was " distracted at last by good Mr. Scholes ; 
 " who was tedious, and oft unintelligible." " I grieve for him," he 
 adds. The son does not seem to have shared his father's unfortunate 
 peculiarities; for Matthew Henry, lamenting his death on October 
 loth, 1702, says, " I hear that my worthy friend and dear brother Mr, 
 " Scoles [the name is spelt indifferently Scoles and Scholes] died last 
 '" Friday. He was almost three years younger than I ; a very inge- 
 " nious man, a florid preacher, and very serious and affectionate in 
 " all his performances. He met with affliction in his marriage, which 
 '• occasioned some unevenness in his temiper; but he was a man of 
 " true piety and integrity. He died of a palsy, in complication with 
 " other distempers. His afflictions had broken his spirits very much. 
 " The Lord prepare me to go after."* We may append to this notice 
 the following extract from the Minute Book of the Cheshire Associa- 
 tion of Presbyterian and Independent ministers : — " October 2nd, 
 
 * Tong's Life of Henry, page 2 79.
 
 234 No7iconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " 1702, it pleased God to remove by death Mr. Nat. Scholes of 
 " Macclesfield ; a very acute and judicious man; of good learning, 
 " moderate principles, and excellent ministerial abilities ; of great 
 " readmess and fervency in prayer and preaching; who had laboured 
 " in the work of the ministry several years at Newton Heath near 
 " Manchester, and at Macclesfield, with good acceptance and success." 
 
 During the time of this good man's ministry, an ordination was 
 held at his chapel, of which we have the following account in Matthew 
 Henry's diary: — "June 17th, 1700. This day I went to Macclesfield 
 " to join with my brethren the ministers of Cheshire and Lancashire 
 " in an ordination. I have formerly dechned that work; but now I 
 " see it is a service that must be done. I am satisfied in the validity 
 " of ordinations by the laying on of the hands of the presbytery; and 
 " though we want a national establishment, yet that cannot be essential. 
 '• I went with a true desire to honour God, and promote the interests 
 " of Christ's kingdom. The next day was the day appointed for that 
 " work. I engaged with fear and trembling. Mr. Scholes prayed, 
 " and read a psalm and chapter. Mr. Lawrence prayed. Mr. Chorlton 
 " preached from Ephesians iii. 21, Unto Him be glory in the church 
 " by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end. Mr. Jones 
 " prayed. Then Mr. Angier, who was moderator, demanded of the 
 " candidates, in order, a confession of their faith, and a distinct 
 " answer to the questions; which was done fully. The candidates 
 " were [here follow seven names] ; the ordainers were Mr. Angier, 
 " Mr. Chorlton, Mr. Lawrence, Mr. Jones, Mr. Scholes, Mr. Aldred, 
 " and myself. After the ordination 1 gave the exhortation. I desire 
 " to give glory to God for any assistance therein. We had a very 
 " great assembly; and I trust God was in the midst of us of a truth. 
 " We gave them certificates. Mr. Billingsley of Hull was providen- 
 " tially with us. It was a very comfortable day, blessed be God." 
 
 The pulpit at Macclesfield being now vacant, Mr. Adam Holland, 
 M.D., who was first settled at Middlewich, had an invitation to become 
 pastor of the congregation in this town. By the advice of various 
 brethren in the ministry, he accepted the invitation shortly afterwards ; 
 and entered upon his stated ministry probably about 1703. He had 
 been ordained at Knutsford, as we learn from the Life of Matthew 
 Henry, on September 27th, 1692. The day previous to the ordina- 
 tion was spent in examining the candidates (six in number) in the 
 languages ; on which occasion they read and defended their theses.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 235 
 
 The following day — that of the public service — was kept as a solemn 
 fast; and Henry has recorded a good day. " The candidates (he says) 
 " gave good satisfaction. Blessed be God for the rising generation. 
 " The Lord double his spirit upon them." 
 
 Dr. Holland seems to have had good success in his new sphere; 
 for, from the MS. in Dr. Williams' library (to which we are also 
 indebted for some part of our information about Dr. Eaton), we learn 
 that Dr. Holland had, in 17 15, "five hundred hearers at Macclesfield; 
 of whom twenty were gentlemen."* In August of the same year, he 
 preached the sermon before the associated ministers, from Acts xx. 
 28. He died in 17 16. 
 
 The Rev. Thomas Culcheth succeeded him in May 17 17, and 
 continued pastor of the church till 1751. His successor was the Rev. 
 B. Street, a native of Wilmslow, who was educated at Dr. Rother- 
 ham's academy at Kendal. He died in 1764, aged forty-seven years. 
 After him occurs the name of the Rev. John Bolt, who removed to 
 Bradwell in 1772. His place, again, was occupied by the Rev. John 
 Palmer, who came to Macclesfield in 1772, and resigned his pastorate 
 in 1779. Of these ministers we have no further record than their 
 names ; nor have we any information as to the state of the congrega- 
 tion under their care. 
 
 Whilst Mr. Palmer was here, however, that secession occurred 
 which led to the erection of Townley-street Chapel. Mr. Palmer 
 was in sentiment an Arian ; having imbibed his opinions at the academy 
 at Warrington, where he was educated. That institution became, ere 
 long, avowedly Unitarian; and Mr. Palmer had not long been here 
 before he gave evidence that his tendencies were all in the same 
 direction. Hence arose contention and strife, which ultimately led 
 to a secession on the part of the Evangelical section of the congrega- 
 tion ; leaving the chapel in the hands of the Unitarians, who have 
 continued to occupy it to this day. 
 
 Here, therefore, our immediate notice of this place of worship 
 ends. We follow the seceders; who, when they had retired from 
 King Edward-street Chapel, joined the Wesleyans, and worshipped 
 with them for some years ; but this arrangement was not of long 
 continuance, for Ave soon find meetings held by these friends in private 
 houses, for the pm^ose of religious worship. 
 
 * MS. in Red Cross-street Library.
 
 236 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 Town LEY-STREET Independent Chapel. 
 
 In the original church-book belonging to Townley-street Chapel, 
 we have the following account of the circumstances that led to the erec- 
 tion of this place of worship — the " New Meeting," as it seems to have 
 been called. The writer does not give his name ; but he was evidently 
 identified with the movement from the very first. The entry bears 
 date January ist, 1790. 
 
 " About the year 1777 it pleased the Lord to open the under- 
 " standing of a few in this place to see more clearly into the doctrines 
 " of grace, agreeable to the Assembly's catechism as collected from 
 " God's holy word ; who also were desirous to follow the discipline 
 " and order of a church of Christ according to what is called 
 " ' Independent' or 'Congregational,' as being most agreeable to the 
 " apostolic worship and discipline. It pleased the Lord to incline 
 " our hearts to meet together for prayer for His direction, assistance, 
 " and blessing. We agreed to invite neighbouring ministers of the 
 " Independent denomination to come and preach to us as frequent as 
 " opportunities would permit of their coming, and we could raise 
 " money to bear their expenses. Some time after this took place, 
 " the Lord was pleased to remove one of the principal supporters to 
 " our small congregation, and preaching was not carried on till the 
 " year 1783. In the long interval, from ministers not coming, and 
 " from want of money to bear the necessary expenses, we continued 
 " our private meetings for prayer, singing and reading God's word. 
 " The number which attended these meetings still increased. We 
 " made another attempt to get ministers to come, as we could bear 
 " their expenses — once in a month, once in three weeks, at last, once 
 " in a fortnight. In this second attempt the sum of sevenpence was 
 " raised the first evening it was mentioned to a few then in company 
 " together; and increased from that time forwards. The ministers 
 " were from Newcastle, Leek, Congleton, and Gatley. This continued 
 " till the year 1785, when Mr. Gates, from London, was invited to 
 " preach amongst us, as he was recommended to us by one of the 
 " neighbouring ministers. We then could raise about twelve shillings 
 " or fourteen shillings per week. Mr. Gates came amongst us, and 
 " the word was profitable to many. The preaching then was in one 
 " of our friends' houses. The house being too small to contain the
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 237 
 
 " hearers, we hired a room; prejudice in the town rose high against 
 " us, and we were removed to several different places, one of which 
 " was a bam in Mill-street. After being at some expense to put it in 
 " repair, and make it a little convenient, we were only permitted to 
 " worship in the said bam for three Sabbaths, and tumed into the 
 " streets. After that we got an old silk shop [at the bottom of 
 ' Cuckstoolpit Hill], and were soon tumed out of that place, and 
 " three or four others aftenvards. 
 
 " Mr. Gates removed from us after stajnng near eighteen months, 
 " and not without some uneasiness from unhappy tempers which got 
 " amongst us. Near the same time was recommended to us a minister 
 " from Wolverhampton. In his first coming, a proposal was made 
 ■" to build a place for public worship ; and he was instrumental in 
 " collecting money for the same. The ground was purchased, the 
 " foundation laid, and carried up some feet in height, when some 
 " things were obsened in the minister from Wolverhampton that were 
 " not pleasing, but much to his prejudice; and he removed from us, 
 " not without much trouble and uneasiness. 
 
 " Having no minister, and we unable to carry on the building 
 " ourselves, we petitioned some of the gentlemen belonging to the 
 " new chapel in Mosley-street, Manchester, to help us; [promising] 
 " that if they would carry on the building, we would resign our right 
 " to them, and they should be tmstees for the same. The said gen- 
 " tlemen accepted the proposal, carried on the building, and it was 
 " opened March i6th, 1788, by the Rev. Mr. Morris [Maurice] of 
 " Stockport Here it may be necessary to observe that Mr. Whit- 
 " tenbury of Manchester advanced the money for the building, from 
 " the time the gentlemen took it into their hands as trustees. We 
 " were afterwards supplied with ministers from different places, till 
 " the Lord sent, to our great assistance, the Rev. Mr. Scott of Dray- 
 " ton, in Shropshire [better kno^^^l as Captain Scott]. In May, the 
 " same year above mentioned, Mr. Scott ordered, at his o^vn expense, 
 " the communion pew to be made, and twelve pews next to the same ; 
 *' the chapel being only finished vAxh. forms or benches by the Man- 
 " Chester friends. In July the same year a Mr. Kingston, who had 
 " not finished his studies at Homerton, was invited to supply for a 
 " few weeks. He staid till the Lord removed him by death in January 
 " 1789; and is buried in the chapel. Mr. Scott preached his funeral 
 " sermon to a crowded congregation. Mr. Kingston was esteemed a
 
 238 Nonconformity m Cheshire. 
 
 " worthy young man, and was likely (if spared) to have been useful. 
 " The congregation was supplied with neighbouring ministers till May 
 " following; when Mr. Scott recommended Mr. Wild bore, who then 
 " was on his return from Dublin, going into Cornwall. Agreeable to 
 " Mr. Scott's request, Mr. W. preached three Sabbaths, and was invited 
 " by Mr. Scott and the members to return to Macclesfield from 
 " Cornwall; which invitation he accepted. In the summer (1789) 
 " the trustees at Manchester added four yards in length to the chapel 
 " for a vestry; and made galleries quite round the chapel. Mr. Scott 
 " then gave 100/. towards the expenses; and afterwards made the 
 " congregation a present of all the branches for lighting the chapel, 
 " and also made a purchase of some ground, intended if wanted in 
 " future for the benefit of the chapel, as Mr. Scott shall think most 
 " proper. The Lord's kindness in raising this congregation such a 
 " kind friend in the Rev. Mr. Scott, we hope will be gratefully remem- 
 " bered by us and by our posterity." 
 
 This unvarnished and unpretending story we have extracted at 
 length from the minute book of the church. For some it will have 
 more interest than for others ; though possibly the real value of such 
 details is yet to be proved. In years to come they may be invested 
 with an interest far surpassing that which they now possess. These 
 things were \vritten in troublous times; and are read in times of 
 peacefulness and prosperity of which our forefathers did not dream. 
 That day may be called — perhaps scornfully — "the day of small things." 
 So it was ; but it was a day that God did not despise, and one that 
 we Avill not despise ; — a day that He was not ashamed to bless, and 
 one that we will not be slow to record as the first beginning of His 
 work in our midst. 
 
 But little can be added, from other sources, to the account just 
 given. However, from one who was himself a sharer in the transac- 
 tions in question, we learn that the first meeting numbered but about 
 five or six persons ; — people in humble circumstances, and not able 
 to support a stated ministry; even though the preachers came only 
 for their horse-hire. It does not appear that their earliest services 
 were held on the Sabbath Day; for we read in a letter from Mr. 
 David Whitmore to the church and congregation at Mosley-street, 
 Manchester, that when the preaching was re-commenced (after some 
 cessation) in July 1784, they met "in a dwelling-house, which was 
 " set apart once a month on a Thursday evening for about six months."
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 239 
 
 An arrangement soon being made for the fortnightly visits of ministers 
 for about t^venty weeks, the Rev. David Simpson, minister of Christ 
 ChiTTch (the author of the well-known Plea for Religion) " was so kind 
 " (says Mr. Whitmore) as to offer us his schoolroom for the cause at 
 " that time ; which we accepted of; — the dwelling-house not being 
 " sufficient to contain all the people. At the end of this time we 
 " were obliged to return to the dwelling-house, winter then coming 
 '' on ; and but very few of those ministers could \A\\\ any convenience 
 " come." 
 
 It appears that the chapel was projected in 1784 at an expense of 
 200/. ; but 60/. only was received. The resources of the people were 
 then but about four shillings and sixpence per week, for all purposes 
 of worship ; and to this sum t\venty-four people subscribed. When 
 Mr. Gates came, there were about sixty subscribers; and (as above 
 stated) the weekly subscriptions averaged twelve shillings for the 
 minister, besides other expenses. But in Mr. Gates' day, no fixed 
 place could be had for the ser\aces ; and the congregation was driven 
 from place to place. The barn, to which reference has been made 
 above, belonged to a clerg)Tnan who lived some distance away. As 
 soon as he knew the purpose for which the building had been taken, 
 he gave instant notice to quit, or he would enter a suit at law. The 
 congregation were therefore turned adrift again, after incurring con- 
 siderable expenses in repairing the place, and fitting it up for worship. 
 " We cannot (says Mr. AVhitmore in the letter referred to above) as 
 " yet hear of any other place; therefore, at this time [April ist, 1786], 
 " we expect to be under the necessity of returning to the dwelling- 
 " house again." The appeal made to the Manchester friends for 
 assistance was kindly and cheerfully responded to; and three gentle- 
 men — Messrs. Clegg, Dun\\dddie, and Whittenbury — came over and 
 helped to build the chapel. The building was resumed — for it had 
 been commenced — and was completed in the following year. It must 
 at that time have measured about forty-five feet by thirty-seven, in its 
 interior dimensions. It had no gallery; nor was there any vestry 
 attached to it. The cost was about 400/. The ordinance of the 
 Lord's Supper was administered for the first time on June 29th, 1788; 
 Captain Scott presiding on the occasion. 
 
 Mr. Kingston — named in the extract given above — appears to 
 have commenced his ministerial career at the early age of sixteen 
 years ; and he died when only twenty-one. He came from Congleton ;
 
 240 Nonconformity m Cheshire. 
 
 and on liis interment, which took place at the foot of the pulpit stairs, 
 the Rev. John Ralph of Congleton officiated — as appears from the 
 Register of Burials. He was the first person interred within the walls 
 (there being at that time no burial ground) ; and only three years ago 
 his grave was discovered, in making alterations in the chapel. 
 During his short ministry his name occurs but three times, as adminis- 
 tering the ordinance of baptism. He died beloved and lamented 
 by the people amongst whom he was called to labour; and was com- 
 mitted to his last resting jilace " amidst much weeping on the part of 
 " the church and congregation." 
 
 The circumstances under which Mr. Wildbore was chosen as 
 Mr. Kingston's successor have been abundantly detailed in the extract 
 from the church book, given above. We learn that Mr. Wildbore's 
 labours were not by any means confined to Macclesfield — though even 
 here he so increased the congregation, that the chapel had to be 
 enlarged, and to have a gallery built, in addition to other improve- 
 ments — but embraced the villages round about; and in Gawsworth, 
 especially, his services were blest. For the purpose of defraying the 
 cost of the alterations in the chapel, Mr. Wildbore undertook to go 
 and solicit subscriptions from neighbouring churches; but, before he 
 set out, there arose a misunderstanding on his part as to the feeling 
 of his people towards him; and, imagining that his ser\'ices were no 
 longer acceptable, he accepted an invitation to a distant part of the 
 country. Returning home, he made known his decision to the people. 
 Their grief at finding that they were to lose him knew no bounds. 
 His farewell sermon was preached from the \\'ords. Finally, my bret/irefi, 
 farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; 
 and the God of love and peace shall be with you. Amidst the emotions 
 of minister and people, the service could with difticulty be concluded; 
 and Mr. Wildbore declared that had he known of such a strong feeling 
 of attachment towards himself he would not have entertained the 
 invitation he had received. 
 
 The notices we have of Mr. Wildbore's immediate successors are 
 very scanty. For the twelve years that followed (1792 — 1804), the 
 people passed through many and heavy trials; in part arising from 
 themselves, and in part from the extreme odium that attached to 
 them at a time when " Church and King" was the rallying cry of the 
 Tories, who then carried everything before them. The members of 
 the church and congregation at Townley-street were often in peril of
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 241 
 
 life and property; for, as Dissenters, it was taken for granted that 
 they Avere revolutionists too ; and to no purpose did they openly avow 
 their attachment to the throne and person of the king. They were 
 outrageously insulted as they passed through the streets on their lawful 
 business; they w^ere a byeword of derision as " Calvinists" and 
 " Jacobins;" and their meetings for religious worship were liable to 
 perpetual interruption ; as when (for example) on one occasion, having 
 assembled for a prayer meeting, they were compelled to extinguish 
 the lights, and to return home, lest damage should be done to the 
 chapel, and violence be offered to themselves. 
 
 During the interval of this lengthened persecution — for such, in 
 fact, it was^four ministers accepted and relinquished the pastorate 
 of the church. The first of these was a Mr. Whitefoot; who appears 
 (from the entries in the Baptismal Register) to have remained here 
 from June 1793 to May 1794. His successor was the Rev. Mr. 
 Williams of Ashbum, w^hose connection with the church was as 
 unfortunate for the church as for himself It appears, however, that 
 many very frivolous and vexatious charges were laid against him, 
 which were nothing but the invention of a malicious spirit. 
 
 Three years after Mr. Williams left Macclesfield, the vacant 
 pulpit at Townley-street was filled by the Rev. Daniel Dunkerley, 
 who was ordained to the work of the ministry on August 15th, 1798. 
 Mr. Dunkerley was the first person thus publicly ordained in Town- 
 ley-street Chapel. On this occasion Mr. Roby, Mr. Blackburn, Mr. 
 Anlezark of Stockport, Mr. Job Wilson and others took part in the 
 ser\^ce. During the interval 1794 — 97, however, the pulpit had been 
 occupied much by the Rev. Job Wilson; and also by Captain Scott, 
 whose interest in the church was most unremitting. It was very 
 largely through his exertions that the pulpit was supplied with 
 ministers; and Mr. Scott's care of the church was that of a true- 
 hearted and faithful "overseer" of the fold of Christ. In financial 
 matters he was the chief supporter of the chapel, and in all circum- 
 stances of difficulty his advice was the first to be obtained. At the 
 same time he did not scruple to reprove — and that very sharply — 
 wherever he deemed it needful; and it must be confessed that now 
 and then he ruled with a rod of iron. So much was this the case that 
 we are told by an aged friend, at whose house at Matlock Mr. Scott 
 used to be a constant visitor, that on one occasion when the captain 
 was expected to visit the church at Drayton, one of the brethren 
 Q
 
 242 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 prayed that it might please God to bring their brother safely to them, 
 but that he might leave the rod behind him. Still, Mr. Scott could be 
 gentle if he could be severe, and it may be interesting to quote a 
 passage from one of his letters to the church at Townley-street, not 
 only as showing the kind of oversight the captain exercised over the 
 churches he was instrumental in forming, but as being otherwise to 
 the purpose of this narrative. 
 
 Referring to the anticipated settlement of Mr. Dunkerley, he 
 writes : — " I am glad Mr. Dunkerley is so well liked. I have not the 
 pleasure of knowing [him]; having never, that I recollect, seen him. 
 " I hear nothing but good of him ; therefore 'twill be well to engage 
 " him to supply you for some time. Perhaps it may be better for him 
 " to go and return as he does at present, than to quite leave his 
 " business. I think preachers should take such an important step 
 " deliberately ; and a people not be hasty in persuading to such a 
 " measure ; for if we draw any one out of certain bread, we are bound 
 " to maintain those who leave it for our sakes — that is if they behave 
 " well. ... I should have been glad to have heard whether the 
 " congregation is increased under him, or whether good appears to 
 " have been done ; and likewise how the outward people seem to 
 " like him. This will appear from their attendance or absenting 
 " themselves, and their increase or decrease. God bless you all ! 
 " In haste — much haste, 
 
 " Your servant in the Lord, 
 
 " Jonathan Scott, 
 " Matlock; very late. Saturday night, y" loth Dec, 1796." 
 
 Mr. Dunkerley removed from Macclesfield to Loxley. His name 
 occurs last in the Register of Baptisms, on November 7th, 1801. The 
 next entry is dated April 19th, 1802, and the name of the officiating 
 minister is that of the Rev. James Raban, who remained in the 
 to\\Ti for about two years. In the Congregatiojial Magazine for 182 1 
 (Supplement), we read as follows concerning the circumstances under 
 which Mr. Raban entered on his duties :^ — "From the influence of 
 " Methodism on the one hand, and hyper-Calvinism on the other 
 " hand, Mr. Raban found the cause at Townley-street Chapel at a 
 " very low ebb. But, having been recommended to make a trial of 
 " it by his friend the Rev. Melville Home, he commenced, and con- 
 " tinued a series of difficult and persevering labours; and a considerable 
 " revival was the happy result. His general intercourse with the
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 243 
 
 " respectable inhabitants of various persuasions, and his ready atten- 
 " tion to the poor and afflicted contributed greatly to this. He 
 " projected and commenced the Sunday-school; but, as it was deemed 
 " a work of supererogation, he was actually obliged at first to procure 
 " books, and teach the children himself, in addition to his public 
 " labours on the Sabbath. Yet he persevered, and succeeded in 
 " establishing a large school, which his successor had the pleasure to 
 " see increase to the extent of between four hundred and five hundred 
 " children; and this led the way to the subsequent revival of the 
 " cause. Mr. Raban also preached in some of the adjacent \-illages, 
 " till the spirit of the dominant party contrived to frustrate his further 
 " efforts. He went to Macclesfield at the beginning of 1802, and 
 " left it towards the close of 1803." 
 
 On Sunday August 26th, 1804, the second "Charity Sermon," in 
 behalf of the Sunday-schools connected with Townley-street, was 
 preached by the " Rev. J. H. Browning, minister of Hope Chapel, 
 " Bristol-Hotwells" (as he is described in the circular announcing the 
 services). This Mr. Browning almost immediately afterwards became 
 the minister of the chapel ; for on November 25th, 1804, we find his 
 name in the Registers, and from thence onwards to the year 1816, he 
 continued to exercise his ministry at this place of worship. The 
 circular announcing his sermon in 1804, contains the following report 
 of the state of the school from 1803-4: — "The managers of the 
 " above schools beg leave to solicit the assistance of a generous 
 " public in behalf of more than 07ie hundred and sixty poor children, 
 " who are by means of this institution taught to read the Holy Scrip- 
 " tures and observe the Sabbath ; and to the more deserving part of 
 " them are given Religious Tracts and other books calculated to 
 " improve their morals. The advantages arising from Sunday-schools 
 " have long been evident in this coffimercial town, and every succeed- 
 " ing year manifests their increasing utility ; it is therefore hoped the 
 " liberal will consider them worthy of their patronage and support." 
 On this occasion the collection amounted to nearly 40/. 
 
 Soon after Mr. Browning commenced his ministry the congregations 
 increased so much that alterations were required in the chapel, which 
 was, in fact, enlarged considerably ; and the school-room — a building 
 of one story in height — was erected, but at what cost does not 
 appear. Previously to the year 1805, or thereabouts, the children of 
 the Sunday-school had been taught in the chapel. The third annual
 
 244 No7i€onformity in Cheshire. 
 
 sermon was preached by the Rev. J. Boden of Sheffield ; and the 
 circular announcing the semion contains these intimations : — " During 
 "■ the service (which will begin at half an hour past two o'clock) the 
 " following selection of music will be performed." [Here follow 
 two hymns and a long selection from " The Messiah," " Samson," 
 " Joshua," &c.] Also at the foot of the circular we read : — " For the 
 " better accommodation of those who wish to contribute to the 
 " charity, the managers request that all persons •will give silver as 
 " they come in. This is not meant as a substitute for the collection, 
 " which will be made as usual after the children's hymn." A few 
 years afterwards, when two sermons were preached, a ticket of free 
 admission was given in the morning to those who might desire to 
 attend in the evening. This practice was maintained for many years. 
 
 The enlargement of the chapel referred to above, took place in 
 the year 1810, and the building was re-opened for service on Sunday, 
 25th November, 18 10; when a sennon was preached by the Rev. 
 Joseph Smith of Manchester. The handbill announcing his service 
 intimates that, "as is usual, it is expected that silver will be given 
 " at the door," and then proceeds to give a programme of the selec- 
 tion of music to be performed on the occasion. In the following 
 year the school sermon was preached by the Rev. Thomas Spencer 
 of Liverpool, and to this day many retain the most lively recollection 
 of his services ; his youthful appearance, his holy fervour, and the 
 charm of his eloquence having produced an impression on many 
 hearts that will never be effaced. 
 
 The school premises were, in 181 8, settled on trust, at an expense 
 of nearly 30/. In consequence of this heavy charge upon the funds, 
 the committee appeal for additional contributions, in order that the 
 school may be furnished with the necessary means of education. In 
 the year following, there were on the class boards 142 boys and 159 
 girls; in all 301 scholars. As yet there was but one room available 
 for instruction; and some of the classes met in the chapel. Ere this 
 time, however, the ministry of Mr. Browning had ceased. It seems 
 that misunderstandings and disputes of a personal kind arose; and 
 Mr. Browning detemiined to withdraw. He was much respected as 
 a man, and many of the fruits of his ministry remain to this day. He 
 tendered his resignation in July 1816. 
 
 After his departure the pulpit was occupied by several ministers, 
 as supplies; but in June 181 9 the Rev. John Harris accepted the
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 245 
 
 pastoral oversight of the church. He remained at To^vTiley-street till 
 December 1824. The Sabbath-school was still increasing; for in 
 1820 the committee report 408 scholars — an increase of 107 during 
 the year. In 182 1, 470 scholars are returned as receiving instruction 
 in the school. The sermon was preached by the Rev. James Pridie 
 of Manchester. During the ensuing tAvelve months, the number of 
 scholars became so great as to necessitate the building of an additional 
 room, over the room already in use. To meet the cost of this enlarge- 
 ment, the scholars and teachers contributed, weekly, for some months; 
 and on the occasion of the opening of the room, a service was held 
 on June 9th, 1822, when Dr. Clunie of Manchester preached. About 
 83/. seems to have been contributed to clear off the debt upon 
 the building. In 1823, the number of scholars receiving instruction 
 amounted to 527 — a number far greater than can be expected in our 
 day; for at that time there were probably not one-fourth the number 
 of schools in the tovvn that there are now, though with a population 
 (in 1 821) of nearly 21,000, including Macclesfield and Sutton. 
 
 We find in the minutes of the school a resolution, under date 
 1823, adopted by the trustees, the effect of which was to throw open 
 the ground in front of the schoolroom as a burying ground. Hitherto 
 burials had taken place wdthin the precincts of the chapel, or in the 
 small plot of ground conveyed in the deed of the chapel, along Avith 
 the ground on which the building itself stands. In consequence of 
 this resolution, the available space for interments was increased about 
 fourfold. Now (1863) the ground is closed against burials, except 
 only in existing vaults or graves, and under certain conditions imposed 
 by the Pri\y Council in 1855. The average number of interments, 
 however, for the fifty years last past, has been only a little over three 
 per annum. 
 
 Reverting to the progress of the Sunday-school, it appears that in 
 1825 the number of scholars was 566; but the following year a 
 decrease occurred, to which reference is thus made in the report : — 
 " When the present state of trade, with the convulsions that have 
 " occurred, is considered, through which many families have been 
 " obliged to flee from our once flourishing and inviting town, we 
 " cannot but rejoice that there are now 325 girls and 222 boys, 
 " making a total of 547 scholars, receiving instruction in this school." 
 
 Previously to this date, however, the pulpit at Townley-street was 
 occupied by the Rev, David Dunkerley; who, like his predecessor
 
 246 Nmuoiiformity in CJieshire. 
 
 of the same name, came from the church at Loxley near Sheffield. 
 Mr. Dunkerley commenced his stated duties on November 20th, 
 1825; and relinquished his charge on April 5th, 1829. Shortly after 
 he left Macclesfield, he emigrated to Canada; and is now settled in 
 the ministry at Durham, in Canada East. During his pastorate 
 thirty-six persons were added to the fellowship of the church. The 
 numbers attending the Sunday-school, also, were well sustained, for, 
 in the annual report for 1828, we find it recorded that up to that time 
 4,262 young people had been trained in this institution; and respecting 
 these it is added that 1,865 had been advanced to the Bible classes, 
 and had, therefore, received instruction in Avriting as well as reading. 
 From the same source we learn that six hundred children were in 
 attendance in 1828; the highest number ever attained. 
 
 It may here be mentioned that in the same year, upon the occa- 
 sion of the decease of the then superintendent, ]\Ir. Thomas Batt, 
 the teachers unanimously elected to the vacant office Mr. James 
 Rathbone, who had been connected with the Macclesfield Sunday- 
 school for twenty-seven years. Mr. Rathbone accepted the office; 
 and continued to hold it, without any intermission, to the day of his 
 death ; winning for himself year by year the renewed confidence, and 
 enjoying the affectionate regard both of the teachers and of the 
 scholars too. He died August 31st, 1863. He had been a member 
 of the church for fifty-seven years ; and was chosen to the deacon's 
 office in 1826. His course was that of a consistent and faithful ser- 
 vant of the Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 In 1829, when the pulpit at To\\Tiley-street was still vacant, the 
 annual sermons in behalf of the school were preached by the Rev. 
 Samuel Bowen, then classical tutor at Newtown College, North 
 Wales. This service rendered by Mr. Bowen led ultimately to his 
 receiving and accepting an invitation to the pastorate of the church ; 
 commencing his stated ministry on October loth, 1830. There were 
 at that time but sixty-one members in full communion with the church. 
 Referring for a moment to the increase of the church in years past, 
 it may be mentioned that there were in 1785 but six persons in mem- 
 bership; of whom the last died as recently as 1842. There were 
 then no further accessions till 1789, when one person was admitted 
 to membership. Forty-one were added to the church up to the 
 year i!5oo. In 1828 there were, nominally, eighty members in 
 fellowship; but in 1830, this number was reduced, through deaths
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 247 
 
 and removals, to sixty-one. During the thirty years of Mr. Bowen's 
 ministry he admitted 373 persons to communion witli the church, — 
 the fruit, yet not the full reward, of his much-honoured labours in this 
 part of " the church of the Living God." During this period, too, 
 many improvements were made in the chapel and school premises; 
 not the least of which was the introduction of an organ into the 
 chapel, about the year 1838. This instrument was removed in 1846 
 or 1847, to make room for a new one, erected at a cost of 150/. 
 
 In April, i860, Mr. Bowen retired from the ministry, carrying 
 with him the sympathy and regard of all with whom he had been 
 associated in the work of the Lord. He was almost immediately 
 succeeded at TowTiley-street by the present minister of the chapel 
 (the Rev. S. W. Mc. All, M.A.), who had just completed his course of 
 study at Cheshunt College. His ordination took place in October 
 i860. 
 
 Here our review of the history of this place of worship naturally 
 comes to a close. This only we will add ; the very existence of this 
 church is, like that of many other churches which have originated 
 under similar circumstances, a protest — first of all for religious liberty 
 and equality, as the great principles involved in the struggle of 1662 — 
 and then for soundness of faith and doctrine, as involved in the dis- 
 sensions that led to the separation from the older church in King 
 Edward-street in 1777. Looking only to the chapel itself as an 
 edifice consecrated to the service of the King of Kings, the building 
 may be deemed unworthy of the present day ; unworthy, too, of the 
 great and holy cause to which it is dedicated. But a reproach 
 sadder yet -v^all fall upon those who look up to this as their house of 
 prayer, if they shall ever be found unfaithful to the great principle 
 that the Church of Christ is to be held sacred from the intrusion of 
 any authority there save only that of the Church's Redeemer and 
 Lord ; or unfaithful to the still more cherished principles of that 
 " Gospel of the grace of God," which derives its virtue alone from 
 the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ ; and which seeks, and finds, the 
 assurance of its triumph at length over sin and death, not in the will 
 of man, but in the power of the Holy Ghost dwelling in the hearts 
 of "all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity."
 
 248 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 Roe-street Chapel, Macclesfield.* 
 
 The beginning of this place of worship will be best understood 
 from the following extracts, from the Evangelical Magazvie for the years 
 1828 and 1829. In the magazine for 1828, page 445, it is thus written: — 
 
 " New Independe7it Literest and Chapel at Macclesfield, Cheshire. 
 " The peculiar circumstances in which this new and hopeful interest 
 " has originated, have excited a powerful feeling on its behalf in the 
 " neighbouring churches. In 18 14 a large and handsome building 
 " for a Sunday-school, on a general and liberal basis, was erected at 
 " Macclesfield, including a spacious room for occasional lectures and 
 " sermons. The lectures meeting with much encouragement, the 
 " stated labours of the Rev. R. S. Mc. All were obtained, Avho minls- 
 " tered at the school for nearly nine years. 
 
 "An elegant place of worship, called S. George's Chapel, was 
 " then built, with the view of forming a church on the Congregational 
 " plan, under the pastoral care of Mr. Mc.AU. The expense of the 
 " erection was mostly sustained by sums advanced by shareholders, 
 " in whom the appointment of the minister was vested, and who gave 
 " the pulpit to Mr. Mc.All for life. 
 
 '■■ Since his removal, in January 1827, to Manchester, after labouring 
 " at S. George's for three years, the place has been supplied by ministers 
 " and students connected with the Congregational Dissenters. 
 
 " In the spring of this year the church unanimously and most of 
 " the seatholders united in an invitation to the Rev. G. B. Kidd, 
 " student in the Independent College, Rotherham, to the pastoral 
 " office over them; but a majority of the shareholders refused to admit 
 " Mr. Kidd to the pulpit, and adopted measures for connecting the 
 " chapel with the Establishment. 
 
 "The shareholders favourable to Mr. K.'s appointment, having 
 " consulted with ministers in the county, and the adjacent neighbour- 
 " hood, offered to purchase the shares of the other proprietors. This 
 " being declined, they then proposed to sell their o\m shares, which 
 " has been accepted. 
 
 " In consequence of this arrangement, the church and people of 
 " whom Mr. Kidd has affectionately accepted the pastoral care, 
 
 * Furnished by the Rev. George Barrow Kidd, minister of the place.
 
 Deaiury of Macclesfield. 249 
 
 -' have seceded from S. George's, and are, at present, kindly per- 
 " mitted by the Independent Church in TowTiley-street to worship 
 " in their chapel twice on the Lord's Day; but the erection of a New 
 " Chapel, to seat eight hundred hearers, in a more central situation 
 " than S. George's, has been commenced. This is expected to be 
 " ready for use early in the ensuing year; and it will be placed in 
 " trust in the way usual among Dissenters. 
 
 " It is gratifying to state that unity and good feehng eminently 
 " prevail among the people. The shareholders who adhere to them 
 " have devoted the moneys returned to them to the new erection; 
 " and donations and weekly subscriptions, according to their ability, 
 " have been commenced by the church and congregation. 
 
 " This case, so peculiar and interesting in its origin and history, 
 " and so important to the town of ISIacclesfield and to the cause of 
 " religious liberty in general, cannot, it is hoped, fail to obtain the 
 " liberal support and fervent prayers of friends throughout the king- 
 " dom." 
 
 The following is the account of the opening of the chapel, given 
 in the Evangelical Magazine for 1829, page 414 : — 
 
 " Roe-street Independent Chapel, Macclesfield. This new and 
 " elegant chapel was opened for the worship of Almighty God on 
 " Thursday the 14th, and Sunday the 17th of May. The dimen- 
 " sions are sixty-seven feet by forty-seven, and it will comfortably 
 " accommodate nine hundred persons. The front is of polished stone 
 " (and is the gift of the architect, Mr. Stringer), with a handsome 
 " portico of the same material ; and the whole effect is extremely 
 " chaste and elegant. The expense of the whole (excepting the land 
 " which is leasehold), including the surrounding walls, gates, and 
 " palisades, it is hoped, will not exceed 2,400/. 
 
 " The morning service on Thursday was introduced by the Rev. 
 " G. B. Kidd, the minister of the place; after which the Rev. Thomas 
 " Raffles, LL.D., prefaced with a most solemn and appropriate 
 " address, a truly excellent sermon on the 4th verse of the xliii. Psalm, 
 " Then will I go iinto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy. 
 " In the evening, the Rev. James Turner of Knutsford commenced 
 " the service by reading and prayer; after which Dr. Raffles preached 
 " a most eloquent sermon from i Peter ii. 7, Uido you, therefore, 
 " which believe. He is precious. On Sunday morning, the Rev. R. S. 
 " Mc. AU of Manchester (their former pastor) delivered a sermon from
 
 250 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " those beautiful words of the cxxii. Psalm, Peace be 7vithin thy walls^ 
 " and prosperity tcithin thy palaces. For my brethren and cofnpanions' 
 " sake I will now say^ Peace be within thee. And a more impressive 
 " discourse could not, we think, be conceived. In the evening, the 
 " parable of the sower, from the 13th chapter of the gospel by Matthew, 
 " was the subject of a very powerful sermon, which excited in a 
 " crowded audience the deepest attention." 
 
 Perhaps the following account of the ordination of the minister 
 may be regarded as completing the history of the establishment of the 
 church and congregation in Roe-street Chapel : — 
 
 " On Thursday evening, 20th August, 1829, the ordination of the 
 " Rev. G. B. Kidd took place in the Independent Chapel, Roe-street, 
 " Macclesfield, in the presence of many ministers from the neighbour- 
 " hood, and a crowded audience. The Rev. Job Wilson of Northwich, 
 " having commenced the service with reading and prayer, an excellent 
 " discourse on the scriptural form of church government was delivered 
 " by the Rev. J. Gilbert of Nottingham; and, at his request, the 
 " church signified their acquiescence in the settlement then about to 
 " be confirmed. 
 
 " Mr. Kidd answered the usual questions in a manner which, while 
 " indicating no common piety, gave high promise of his future devoted- 
 " ness to the service of the Redeemer. The ordination prayer was 
 " then offered up by the Rev. R. S. Mc.All of Manchester, and was 
 " characterized by the most affectionate desires for the prosperity of 
 " his former people and valued successor. 
 
 " The remaining parts of the service were conducted by Mr. Kidd's 
 " tutors. The Rev. Dr. Bennett delivered to the new minister a most 
 " impressive and appropriate charge. The people were addressed by 
 " the Rev. T. Smith, classical tutor of Rotherham College; and in a 
 " strain so faithful and animated that the unusually lengthened service 
 " seemed not to have wearied the attentive and deeply interested 
 " congregation."* 
 
 It remains now only to say what is the state of this place, and of 
 the church and congregation meeting within it, after the passing away 
 of thirty-four years. 
 
 As to the material interests of Roe-street Chapel, at no other 
 period of its history have they been so flourishing as now they are. 
 
 * Evangelical Magazine for 1829, page 504.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 251 
 
 For some years the debt incurred by the building has been entirely 
 removed. Soon after the opening, the lower and upper schoolrooms 
 were enlarged, so as to accommodate nearly twice the number of 
 scholars; with whom, and their teachers, those rooms are, from Sab- 
 bath to Sabbath, filled. Several years ago a number of members 
 belonging to the church withdrew, for the purpose of forming a Con- 
 gregational church at Bollington (distant four miles), who have 
 become more than thirty; and to whom, and the congregation 
 worshipping with them in an upper room, the Lancashire Bicentenary 
 Committee in Manchester have kindly and generously granted a sum 
 of 500/. towards the erection of a Congregational chapel at Bollington. 
 An equal sum has also been promised by the friends in Macclesfield; 
 and a suitable site will be obtained, and the building of the chapel 
 proceeded with, as soon as there is some improvement in the circum- 
 stances of the times. 
 
 But, as regards the main interest — the spiritual — Roe-street Chapel 
 has already accomplished largely the purpose for which it and all such 
 places are ordained. The Truth of the Gospel has been preached in 
 it, without intermission, from the day that it was opened and publicly 
 dedicated to God. During many years, in which, in many parts of 
 our country, errors of all kinds have been prevailing, the truths held 
 forth here have been, especially, the depravity of human nature ; the 
 personality of the Holy Ghost; the atonement and Deity of the Lord 
 Jesus Christ, and His death for all men, especially for them that 
 believe in Him; with the necessity of exhibiting the effects of this 
 believing in holiness of life. 
 
 The results of this proclamation of the truth as it is in Jesus, have 
 been such as the Scriptures awaken the expectation of In the course 
 of thirty-four years hundreds of persons have been honourably dis- 
 missed from the church ; some to larger places on earth, such as 
 Manchester, Liverpool, and London; where, besides such temporal 
 advantages as might be the occasion of their removal, they have found 
 also at least equal opportunities of rehgious improvement and useful- 
 ness ; while numbers more have gone away from the church on earth 
 to join the church in heaven; and, although their departure has been 
 encompassed with every variety of circumstance, and every phase 
 of religious experience, yet all, to the great joy and comfort of 
 their survivors here, have died in the exercise of one faith upon the 
 one Lord that redeemed them; and have bequeathed, in dying, a
 
 252 No7iconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 great hope to them that remain until now, that they will again meet 
 them in a world of indissoluble joy. 
 
 The language, then, which it becomes us to use in this sketch of 
 the history of Roe-street Chapel, is largely the language of gratitude 
 and high expectation. Having obtained help of God, we have con- 
 tinued until this day. The things which occurred, apparently so 
 adverse, at the beginning, have turned out to the furtherance of the 
 Gospel. Instead of this having been lessened, it has been largely 
 increased in the town during the last thirty years. 
 
 Besides many religious interests which are quite new, such as the 
 Primitive Methodist Chapel, and, a large new chapel for the denomi- 
 nation known by the name of the Associated Churches,^ and a 
 flourishing General Baptist interest, together with a chapel erected by 
 the Methodists of the New Connexion very much larger than they 
 possessed before, there are now many places of worship belonging 
 to the Established Church — including the S. George's Chapel, now 
 joined to the Establishment — in every one of which, it is believed, the 
 gospel of our Lord and Saviour is faithfully preached. 
 
 Now, therein, we do rejoice; yea and we will rejoice; and we 
 would pray earnestly for that day soon to come when the only strife 
 between one denomination of Christians and another shall be — not 
 who can lay claim to the largest amount of the patronage of this world, 
 nor who can make the fairest show in the flesh; but, on the other 
 hand, who can best succeed in bringing the apostate family of man 
 back to God ; in leavening human nature with the grace of the 
 Gospel ; in awakening the moral death of the world into spiritual and 
 everlasting life ; in rescuing mankind from the deathless and yet deadly 
 grasp of their spiritual enemies; in accomplishing, in the persons of 
 all men, the great purj^ose for which Christ tasted death for all men — 
 the salvation of all men from sin here, and from the bitter pains of 
 eternal death hereafter. 
 
 The means of grace which are regularly employed in connexion 
 with Roe-street Chapel are these: — In the morning and evening of 
 every Lord's Day is the preaching of the gospel ; the Sabbath-school 
 being taught before service in the morning, and in the afternoon, when 
 there is also a public service held at BoUington. On the first Sabbath 
 in every month, after the morning's service, is the Lord's Supper, 
 which is administered at BoUington on the last Sabbath in every 
 month. After the evening service in Roe-street Chapel, is held in the
 
 Demiery of Macclesfield. 253 
 
 vestry a monthly prayer meeting. On Monday evening is the weekly 
 prayer meeting, with an address. On Wednesday evening, weekly, 
 the male and female Congregational Bible-class meeting. Preaching 
 on Thursday evening. Special weekly meeting on Saturday evening, 
 for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. At this meeting, hkewise, a 
 short address is given. 
 
 Concerning the attendance at all these means of grace, it may be 
 enough to say that it is such as to encourage all who have to do with 
 them, and as to evince the wisdom of God in the simple institutions 
 of Christianity, which are evidently so well adapted to meet and to 
 supply all the spiritual and most pressing necessities of man. At no 
 point of our religious affairs do we feel the need of anything from 
 the government or from the state, to supplement that which God has, 
 in the New Testament, provided for us, and which we, through His 
 goodness and His grace, enjoy — means of grace sufficient to fit us for 
 the duties and circumstances of time and earth, as well as for the 
 higher duties, rewards, enjoyments of the everlasting world to come. 
 
 The General Baptist Chapel, Macclesfield.* 
 
 The Baptists in this town are not able to refer to any very illus- 
 trious founder, nor can they point to any ancient date as the period 
 of their formation into a Christian church. 
 
 The chapel now held by them was formerly occupied by the 
 congregation gathered together and presided over by the Rev. W. 
 Marshall, late of Wigan. Mr. Marshall being anxious to leave the 
 town, desired to make a satisfactory disposal of the chapel property, 
 and with a view to this, he entered into correspondence with the 
 Rev. J. G. Pike of Derby, stating as his firm conviction that there 
 was a very providential opening for the establishing of a Baptist 
 church in this prosperous and populous town. Mr. Pike visited the 
 town, and was favourably impressed with the people and the place, 
 and after conferring mth his brethren upon the subject, the chapel 
 was purchased for the sum of 750/., of which 300/. was paid imme- 
 diately, and the place was opened for the use of the General Baptists 
 in September, 1822. Macclesfield was then adopted by the Home 
 Missionary Society as one of its stations, and was happily blest with 
 
 * Furnished by the Rev. James Maden, minister of the place.
 
 2 54 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 the services of many able and successful ministers of the Word. The 
 divine blessing attended "the preaching of the gospel, and on January 
 9th, 1823, a church was formed after the baptism of eleven believers. 
 
 In October of the same year the Rev. John Preston of Mel- 
 bourne, near Derby, accepted the pastorate of the infant church. He 
 laboured with considerable success, and many made a profession of 
 faith ; but the internal prosperity of the church was not equal to its 
 numerical increase. The peace of the church Avas disturbed; and the 
 pastor resigned his office, and removed to London in May, 1826. 
 The state of things becoming very unsatisfactory, the circumstances 
 were laid before the Association, at its meeting in London, and it was 
 resolved — " That Brother Binns, of Bourn, be recommended to visit 
 " Macclesfield ; to spend six Sundays with the people, and set in order 
 " the things that are wanting." After much prayer and careful inquiry, 
 it was thought that the peace and prosperity of the church would be 
 best promoted by dissolving the existing church and forming a new one. 
 This step was taken, and a church was formed of six individuals 
 in July, 1826. The Home Mission continued to send supplies, and 
 many members were added to fellowship. 
 
 In 1828 the Rev. R. Kenney received an invitation to become 
 the pastor. He accepted the call, and was ordained June 27th, 1830. 
 During many years Mr. Kenney laboured with acceptance and grati- 
 fying success. The number of members increased, and land was 
 bought in front of the chapel for a burial ground ; the chapel and 
 school premises being also much improved. The pastor, however, 
 after fourteen years faithful service here, accepted a call from the 
 Baptist church at Wirksworth in Derbyshire, in the spring of 1842. 
 
 In the autumn of the same year the Rev. John Lindley of 
 Loughborough, came to supply the pulpit, and after six weeks' 
 labour he received and accepted an invitation, and was set apart to 
 his work on Lord's Day February 26th, 1843; but his ministerial 
 eiforts did not meet with success ; the seeds of discord sprang up, and 
 the cause of Christ was much injured. The pastor, who was very 
 uncomfortable, resigned his office on October 27th, 1844. 
 
 The attention of the church was next directed to the Rev. G. 
 Maddeys as a suitable preacher. He first visited the church on 
 March 22nd, 1846, and accepted a call to the pastorate in September 
 of the same year. He laboured faithfully and with considerable 
 success till September, 1850, when he resigned his office and settled
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 255 
 
 over a Baptist church in Norfolk. The brethren at Macclesfield 
 continued steadfast however, in word and doctrine, praying that the 
 Chief Shepherd would direct them to one who should rightly guide 
 and feed his people. 
 
 The church shortly afterwards entered into correspondence with 
 the Rev. R. Stocks, who received an in\itation to become minister 
 of the chapel, and began his labours in January, 185 1. Mr. Stocks 
 retired from the ministry in April, 1857. 
 
 About this time the friends made a special effort to purchase the 
 school-rooms attached to the chapel. This was accomplished for 
 about 150/., and at the same time the chapel itself was considerably 
 improved. In June, 1857, the church gave an invitation to the 
 present pastor, who was then a student in the Baptist College near 
 Nottingham. The invitation was accepted, but it was not till the 
 first Sabbath in July, 1858, that Mr. Mad en entered upon the duties 
 of his office. 
 
 Little more need now be added, save only that the church has 
 been blest with peace and prosperity, and that there are now about 
 150 persons in membership and 300 scholars receiving instruction in 
 the Sabbath-school. There is still reason to hope and beUeve that 
 the Giver of all good will still cause His face to shine upon us, and 
 reveal unto us yet greater and more glorious things. 
 
 PRESTBURY.* 
 
 The name Prestbury — Priest-burg — points to the early associations of 
 this village: and we find, accordingly, that in 1160 the manor and 
 church of Prestbury were granted to the abbey of S. Werburgh in 
 Chester; remaining in the enjo>Tnent of that monastic house till the 
 Dissolution. Prestbur}'- is one of the oldest and the most extensive 
 parishes in Cheshire; being about forty miles in circumference, and 
 including thirty-two towTiships. Amongst these may be mentioned 
 Macclesfield, Bollington, Bosley, and Chelford. 
 
 We have not much information as to this place in the days of the 
 Puritans ; save only that there was a Puritan vicar of Prestbury. Nor 
 
 * The notices of Prestbiirv, Bosley, Chelford and Wincle have been furnished 
 by the Rev. S. W. Mc.All, IVI.A.
 
 256 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 does Gastrell say much that is to our purpose. He merely mentions 
 that in 1717 there were eighty-three Papists at Prestbury. 
 
 We have already alluded to Mr. Jeinson [or Jeynson] who 
 " put in furiously for his son" at the time that Gawsworth was desti- 
 tute of a minister, on the removal of Mr. Newcome to Manchester. 
 This Mr. Jeinson was vicar of Prestbury. His name occurs (though 
 with a mis-print, corrected, however, in some copies) in the list of 
 vicars of Prestbury given by Onnerod. There he is stated to have 
 received the living in 1627, and he held it till 1667 ; for on May 25th 
 Mr. Newcome records that he happened (on a journey) to be passing 
 through the village as his "old neighbour Mr. Jeynson, vicar of 
 " Prestbury, was going to his grave." Newcome uses the expression 
 "going to his grave" literally, because the Register of Burials at 
 Prestbury church contains the following entry: Thomas Jcyiison, 
 Viccar, 25//Z May, 1667; the day named by Newcome. He also 
 refers to him on other occasions in terms of affectionate regard. That 
 this good man was a Puritan, and in some respects a Presbyterian in 
 his sympathies, we know from the fact that in 1648 he signed the 
 " Attestation," along with the other Presbyterian ministers of Cheshire. 
 His signature appears thus: T/io: Jeinson, Pastor of Prestbury. He 
 must have been a Conformist, as he obtained the living under 
 Charles I., and was undisturbed in 1662 ; but, like Mr. K. Turner of 
 Knutsford, he seems to have been closely allied in sentiment with his 
 Puritan brethren. 
 
 BOSLEY. 
 
 Amongst those places to which we have occasional reference in our 
 local Puritan literature, occiu-s Bosley. This village seems to have 
 had in Bishop Gastrell's day (1715) ninety families, as composing its 
 population. The Notitia records also a Dissenting meeting-house 
 belonging to the Quakers. 
 
 In 1650 Mr. Newcome mentions Mr. Cartwright, "then minister 
 "at Bosley;" and again, June 20th, 1652, "Mr. Cartwright being 
 " gone to Cambridge to take his degree of Master of Arts, in the 
 " afternoon I supplied for him at Bosley, and it was the saddest time 
 " of thunder and lightning that ever almost I had observed. And it 
 " was this day and this time that the Lord struck so many at Lawton 
 " that eleven or thirteen were buried together the next day."
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 257 
 
 From the pulpit in Bosley church it was that Mr. John Garside 
 was forcibly removed by Sir G. Shakerley, in 1669; to which circum- 
 stance allusion is made in the notice of Nether Peover, in this volume. 
 Mr. Garside was for some time resident at Peover. 
 
 CHELFORD. 
 
 " Families, seventy; made parochial 1674; chapelry contains three 
 " hamlets, making a numerous congregation." Such are Bishop 
 Gastrell's notes upon Chelford, so far as they are to our purpose ; we 
 may, however, go further back than the year 1674; for in the Minute 
 Book of the Manchester Classis of Presbyterian ministers we have 
 notices of Chelford as far back as 1651. And, previously to this, in 
 1648, when the Cheshire ministers subscribed their "Attestation," 
 Nehemia Worthington, minister at Chelford, was one of those who 
 appended his signature to this document. Beyond the name of Mr. 
 Worthington, we know nothing of him. Nor does he appear to have 
 remained long at Chelford ; for, from the Minute Book just named, 
 we learn that on December 9th, 1651, Mr. Joseph Ottiwell presents 
 himself to the Classis for ordination over the congregation at Chelford. 
 He was accordingly examined in logic, physics, ethics, and metaphysics, 
 and was approved. He was directed to preach before the Association 
 at their next meeting. This he did on January 13th, 165I. He then 
 receives a thesis to defend, and also an " Instrument" to be affixed to 
 the church door at Chelford, and then to be returned, signed (as we 
 suppose) by the "elders" of the congregation. On February loth he 
 brings back the " Instrument," affixed and signed; maintains his thesis 
 to the satisfaction of the Classe, and receives intimation that he ^vill be 
 ordained at Manchester on the 25th inst. Accordingly, on Wednesday 
 February 25th, 165I, Mr. Ottiwell was set apart to the ministry. Mr. 
 HoUinworth opened the service with prayer, Mr. Walker preached ; 
 Mr. Walton prayed ; Mr. He)Ticke proposed the questions, prayed at 
 the laying-on of hands, and gave the exhortation. The newly-ordained 
 pastor received a certificate in due form, signed by ten ministers, tes- 
 tifying to his ordination over the church at Chelford. 
 
 Passing on to the year 1653, it would seem that Mr. Ottiwell had 
 resigned his pastorate, and the people at Chelford were without a 
 minister. On April 28th, however, Mr. Ralph Worsley, B.A., of 
 R
 
 258 Nonconformity in CJieshire. 
 
 Cambridge, sought ordination from the Classis over the church Mr. 
 Ottiwell had left. Mr. Worsley brought in a testimonial of his fair 
 call to Chelford, and had an instrument given him to be affixed as 
 before ; also a question was given him to argue at the next meeting 
 of the Association. He was examined in classics, history, meta- 
 physics, logic, and divinity, and approved. On June 14th, 1653, we 
 learn from the minute book named above, Mr. Worsley appeared and 
 maintained a dispute on the question given, bringing back with him 
 his instrument duly subscribed. He was ordained on the following 
 day, at the parish church of Manchester, along with two other candi- 
 dates. In the certificate subsequently given to him, he is said to 
 have been about twenty-two years old. 
 
 Our contemporary notices of these ministers are very scanty. Mr. 
 Newcome merely says that he was present at the ordination of Mr. 
 Ottiwell, then minister at Chelford ; but does not give any informa- 
 tion as to the service itself. Respecting Mr. Worsley, however, we 
 have a somewhat unfavourable notice. Under date January 17th, 
 165-4-, we read — "Mr. Edge his ordination was concluded at Knuts- 
 " ford to be at Goosetree, such a day. Mr. Ra. Worsley was then at 
 " Chelford, and was of very light carriage, and to keep him from 
 " imposing hands at the ordination, they proposed to have some three 
 " or four of such as were nominated to impose hands. I was left out, 
 " and the baseness of my heart was such that I had great tugging 
 " with myself" 
 
 Mr. Worsley did not remain long at Chelford. He was succeeded 
 by Mr. Hugh Henshaw, whom Calamy merely names as ejected 
 from this place in 1662. We learn from the autobiography just 
 quoted, that when Gawsworth was vacant in 1657, Mr. Henshaw was 
 amongst the candidates for the appointment in question. It appears 
 that the people at Gawsworth would have chosen him, had he not 
 been "motioned" to Chelford; though there were some who thought 
 that he trifled with the invitation to Gawsworth. We have no further 
 notices of Mr. Henshaw. 
 
 Chelford now only appears in connection with the labours of Mr. 
 Edge, who resided in the vicinity of this place on his ejection from 
 Gawsworth in 1662. Though prevented from carrying on his public 
 ministrations, Mr. Edge appears to have done what he could in private 
 to serve his Master's cause. Thus, in the diary of Newcome [1678], 
 we read, " My dear brother Leadbeater had been over here a little
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 259 
 
 " before [on October 2Sth, 1678], and had engaged me to come 
 " amongst some good people in Cheshire (whom Mr. Edge had kept 
 " together) once a quarter, to keep them from scattering, or closing 
 " with some unfit man that might mislead them. And I went to them 
 " this first time on November ist; and was with them on November 
 " 2nd (Tuesday); where I met with some of the people that were of 
 " my charge at Goosetree ; and was glad to have opportunity to see 
 " them, and do them service this way." Most probably it was at 
 Holmes Chapel that these people met together. 
 
 We have already quoted Calamy's account of Mr. Edge's labours 
 at Chelford;* it only remains to reproduce Mr. Tong's testimony to 
 the character of those of whom Newcome was requested to take the 
 oversight on Mr. Edge's death. Speaking of some persons then 
 living near Knutsford, Tong says,t " Most of them had been hearers 
 " of the Rev. Mr. Edge at Withington, and were some of the most 
 " eminent persons for religious knowledge and wisdom, for a .spirit of 
 " prayer, for a true Christian temper and regular conversation, that 
 " ever I had the happiness to be acquainted with. Mr. Edge was a 
 " minister of extraordinary gravity, wisdom, and seriousness; a judi- 
 " cious, spiritual preacher." 
 
 WINCLE. 
 
 Amongst the names of those who subscribed the Cheshire Attestation 
 in 1648, occurs this signature — Nehemia Folte, minister at Winde. 
 When to this statement we have added another as brief, viz., that 
 Mr. Potte died on January 24th, 1649, and was buried at the Old 
 Church, Macclesfield, we have recorded perhaps all that is now known 
 of the Puritan minister of Wincle. In the entry of his death in the 
 Register at Macclesfield, he is simply described as "minister of the 
 " gospel." 
 
 The chapel at Wincle seems to have been erected in 1642; though 
 the building also bears the date 1647. From this circumstance it may 
 be inferred that Mr. Potte was the first minister at Wincle; and on 
 his decease it is possible that no successor may have been appointed 
 
 * See the Paper on Gavvsworth, in this Volume, page 216. 
 t Life of Henry, page 255.
 
 26o Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 for some time; for Bishop Gastrell records, May i6th, 17 17, "No 
 " settled maintenance for a minister; but the inhabitants pay what 
 " they please for preaching once a fortnight, when there is any; but 
 " there has been none for half a year past." The same authority tells 
 us that the Registers at Wincle date from 1630; and that the chapel, 
 in his day, had no pulpit nor communion table, but a desk at the 
 east end of the building. There was no font ; but the curate had 
 baptized, though he had not administered the Lord's Supper. 
 
 We have no contemporaneous references to Wincle or to Mr. 
 Potte in our Puritan literature. 
 
 WILMSLOW. 
 
 (By the Rev. S. Ellis.j 
 
 There is sufficient evidence that the religious life which prevailed in 
 England during the stormy reign of Charles the First, and the Pro- 
 tectorate, obtained extensively in Cheshire. There was obviously a 
 strong infusion of the Puritanic element in its population. The fact 
 of what is called the "Cheshire Rising" is no proof to the contrary; 
 for that abortive movement in favour of the second Charles, headed by 
 Sir George Booth, himself a Presbyterian, had the sympathies of most 
 of the Presbyterian party. The leaders of that party, disappointed in 
 their expectations from the existing government, and tempted by the 
 flattering promises of the exiled monarch, were eager for a change. 
 Besides, the liberty of prophesying, as it was then sometimes 
 exercised, had produced disorders which they greatly deplored, 
 and they were desirous of a government which would repress these 
 irregularities. They wished for a settlement in church affairs, but it 
 was a settlement on a Presbyterian basis ; or, if that were too much 
 to expect, they were willing to accej:)t a comprehension which, while 
 it secured to them a place in the national church, would allow them 
 to act on their conscientious scruples with respect to its rites and 
 ceremonies. If any trust were to be put in the word of a prince, this, 
 at least, they might confidently expect ; hence, they longed for the 
 return of the king. If they had known him as well then as they knew 
 him afterwards, it may be doubted whether they would have been 
 solicitous for his restoration ; for no sooner was he securely seated on
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 261 
 
 his throne than he forgot his engagements to them, and abandoned 
 them to the tender mercies of the Episcopal party; and the members 
 of that party, with some honourable exceptions, proved that instead 
 of learning, during the period of their humiliation, the lesson of 
 toleration, they had learned only the lessons of intolerance and 
 revenge. 
 
 But the Presbyterians were not the only sufferers from the resto- 
 ration ; there were also the Independents. The prevalence of their 
 principles had been fatal to the unity of the Puritanical body. Those 
 principles were in active existence in England long before the time 
 of the Commonwealth ; as early as the reign of Elizabeth there were 
 computed to be twenty thousand persons who entertained them. In 
 a lecture deUvered October 17th, 1609, at Ashby-de-la-Zouch, 
 Leicestershire, by Arthur Hildersham, he says that the Brownists had 
 separated from them and made "a fearful schism and rent in the 
 church."* It is true that in the Westminster Assembly of Divines, 
 the Presbyterians were largely in the majority, and the Independents, 
 called then for the first time "the dissenting brethren," numbered only 
 five ; but their principles possessed imperishable vitality and spread 
 rapidly under the fostering protection of Cromwell. In Cheshire 
 the views of the Congregationalists had considerable influence, as 
 the autobiography of Adam Martindale shews, t 
 
 In these stirring times Wilmslow did not remain unvisited by the 
 general religious excitement. At the restoration of Charles the 
 Second the Rev. John Brereton was the incumbent of the church 
 in that village. Very little is known about him ; nothing beyond his 
 name appears to have been reported to Calamy. Palmer, in the 
 Nonconformists' Memorial, makes no addition to what Dr. Calamy 
 had said. He dismisses Wilmslow and its ejected minister in these 
 few words: — "Wilmslow (probably near Knutsford), Mr. John 
 Brereton." His name suggests the idea of relationship to the Brereton 
 family, then residing in the neighbourhood. In the churchwardens' 
 accounts for that period, which are still preserved, there occurs the 
 payment by him of eight shillings received from Sir William Brereton 
 for the use of five pounds, left for the poor of Wilmslow, in the will of 
 
 •Lectures on the Fourth of John, page 129. 
 
 + See Martindale's Autobiography, page 61, quoted in the Introduction to this 
 volume.
 
 262 No7iconformity m Cheshire. 
 
 Mr. Reddish.* Sir William Brereton was an active Parliamentary 
 general, and on the supposition that the minister of Wilmslow was 
 related to him, we might not unreasonably conjecture that it was 
 through his influence that he had obtained the living. + But his 
 name does not appear in the pedigree of that family; indeed the 
 Breretons seem to have been numerous and widely spread. They may 
 be traced to Brereton in Cheshire, where a little before the close of 
 the twelfth century a family of that name had fixed their residence.^ 
 The second Avife of the Rev. Oliver Heywood, was a Margaret 
 Brereton, but as that excellent man observes when referring to his 
 own ancestry, — " Kinship grows out in process of time, and 'tis not 
 much material what family we are of, so that we be of the household 
 of faith, and have God for our father, Christ for our elder brother, 
 and the Spirit of Grace running in our best veins, and acting us for 
 God."§ 
 
 We have not been able to discover when Mr. Brereton commenced 
 his ministry at Wilmslow. In the list of incumbents, in Ormerod's 
 History of Cheshire, it is simply stated that he was the minister pre- 
 viously to December 12th, 1654. 
 
 " 1654, December 12th, ante, Mr. Brereton." To this Ormerod 
 appends the note, " Most probably the Puritan who ejected Wright." 
 
 * This money was distributed to twenty-four of the poor of the parish, at the 
 rate of fom-pence each. Their names are mentioned on this as on other similar 
 occasions, and it is observable how the family names which existed in the neigh- 
 bourhood then, are still found, belonging to persons in the same condition of life. 
 They are the wealthier families which remove or become extinct ; the poor remain 
 as long as they can, transmitting their names from generation to generation, and 
 clinging with fond tenacity to the locality to which their forefathers belonged. 
 
 f Sir William Brereton was born at Handforth Hall. He was created baronet 
 in 1626, and represented the county in the parliaments of the 3rd, 15th, and i6th 
 years of the reign of Charles I. At an early period of his life his aversion to the 
 Established Church was notorious, which was no doubt increased from the circum- 
 stance of his being the friend and neighbour of Judge Bradshaw and Colonel 
 Duckenfield, and the son-in-law of Sir George Booth, who was the chief corner 
 stone of the Presbyterian cause in Cheshire. He was particularly honoured by the 
 Parliament on the temiination of the war, being appointed Chief Forester of 
 Macclesfield and Seneschal of the Hundred. He had also a large share of the 
 property confiscated from the Papists, and on the death of Laud, Archbishop of 
 Canterbury, he obtained a grant of the palace of Croydon. He died April 7th, 
 1 66 1. He was described by no friendly pen as a notable man at a thanksgiving 
 dinner, having long teeth and a prodigious stomach, to turn the archbishop's 
 chapel into a kitchen, and to swallow up the palace and lands at a morsel. — 
 Bagshavj's History oj Cheshire, page i^i. 
 
 t Lyson's Magna Britannia, vol. ii., 821. 
 
 g Hunter's Life of O. Heywood, page 4.
 
 Dea7iery of Macclesfield. 263 
 
 It would have been nearer the truth if he had said, that he was 
 appointed to occupy his place after his ejection. 
 
 By the help of the churchwardens' accounts we are enabled to 
 trace his settlement in the rectory to an earlier date. In a memo- 
 randum, signed by himself, under the date September 21st, 1653, he 
 is styled " John Brereton, dark, rector of Wilmslow." Under the 
 date April 27th, in the same year, the following entries occur: — 
 
 "Paid, when we did meet Mr. Brereton, at Wm. Warbuiton's, 
 " concerning Margaret Redish, \s. od." 
 
 "Paid to Mr. Lowndes for examining Mr. Brereton and the 
 " four churchwardens concerning Margaret Redish, and writing out 
 " examination, i^. od." 
 
 " Spent when we went to Mr. Brereton's at Alderley, xs. od." 
 
 " Spent when we went to desire Colonel Bradshaw to give Mr. 
 " Brereton meeting at Wilmslow concerning Margaret Redish, &c." 
 
 " Paid to Mr. Brereton, dark, of Alderley, for all the writing, when 
 " we did meet at Wilmslow concerning Margaret Redish, &c." 
 
 If these entries refer to the same Mr. Brereton, he appears, when 
 they were written, to have had his residence, in all likelihood, tempo- 
 rarily, at Alderley, while he officiated at Wilmslow. For, long before, 
 Newcome mentions him in connexion with the latter place. He says, 
 in his Autobiography, a.d. 1650,* "I was by Mr. Brereton engaged 
 " to preach at the running exercise, and to analyse and preach the 
 " sermon. It was a work that usually they had put upon the gravest 
 " minister, and I would have declined it, but it was returned again 
 " upon me. I had oft experience of some things that I could have 
 " preached of, but durst not because unsuitable to the people, being 
 " insensible that any of my people were adequate to such discourses, 
 " and oft I turned off from such discourses upon this account, as 
 " Hebrews v. 11, 12, but afterwards reflecting on these passages, I 
 " had occasion to insert this; Blessed be God that hath since given 
 " way, that I have had auditors to preach the utmost that I could 
 " preach about holiness." This is the earhest date at which we have 
 seen Mr. Brereton's name connected with Wilmslow. We may, 
 however, safely conclude that his ministry here continued at least 
 ten years. 
 
 In September 1653, there was a meeting of ministers in the 
 village, which led to the formation of what has been called, the 
 
 * Page 54.
 
 264 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " i^/r^/ Associated Classis of Cheshire," to distinguish it from another 
 association which originated in 1 690-1. Martindale, in his life, 
 thus speaks of it : — 
 
 " In September 1653, at a meeting of ministers at Wilmslow, the 
 " 14th day of that month, a motion was made, and a letter drawne to 
 " invite many other ministers to give them the meeting at Knutsford 
 " on the 20th of October, being the exercise day, as accordingly many 
 " did ; and there they agreed upon a voluntary association of them- 
 " selves and their churches, if it could be done, for mutuall advice 
 " and strengthening one another. Into this society I quickly after 
 " fell, and met with much comfort and assistance ; but by this means 
 " our work was increased by meeting frequently about classicall 
 " business and preaching in our turns a lecture when we so met." 
 
 The association which originated in the meeting of ministers at 
 Wilmslow, resembled those formed in other places, and at that meeting 
 Mr. Brereton was no doubt present. He was then fulfilUng his course 
 as the minister of the place, and it was most likely on account of his 
 appointment to the rectory that the meeting was held there. Very 
 few recorded notices of the yeacs of his ministry are to be found; but, 
 from the few that do exist, it may be inferred that he was a Presbyte- 
 rian of the liberal or moderate school, not unwilUng to hold communion 
 with those who differed from him in their views of church government. 
 At the same time he was thoroughly puritanical in his idea of the 
 mode in which divine worship ought to be conducted in public. On 
 this subject the majority of his congregation must have been in accord 
 with him; for everything that savoured of Popery was abolished. The 
 rites and ceremonies which Laud had encouraged were laid aside, and 
 the service was performed with a high degree of primitive simplicity. 
 " In the time of Charles I.," observes a writer in The Cheshire o?id 
 Laftcashire Historical Collector, "there was an organ over the baptismal 
 " font, both wliich were afterwards pulled down and sold by the 
 " Puritans, who provided a simple pewter basin for the use of the 
 " pastor, Mr. Brereton, in baptizing. The Puritans degraded the 
 " altar, by making it a common table, around which the congregation 
 " sate down in the middle of the chancel to eat and drink in comme- 
 " moration of the Lord's Supper." This proves nothing more than 
 that in baptism and the Lord's Supper they endeavoured to conform 
 as closely as possible to the practice of the church in the times of its 
 greatest purity.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 265 
 
 Of the spiritual condition of the congregation under his ministry 
 nothing positive is said ; although, as it will appear in the sequel, 
 there were certain permanent results which proved that the gospel 
 from his lips had not been preached in vain. God, who has promised 
 that the labours of his faithful servants shall not be in vain, did not 
 withhold the fulfilment of that promise from him. But the church 
 documents to which we have had access refer only to the temporalities 
 of the parish, without shedding any light on the inner spiritual life of 
 the people. They record the payment in 1655 of 15. 4^., when the 
 churchwardens met Mr. Brereton on some business not named ; and 
 also another payment in the following words : — " Spent when Mr. 
 " Brereton and we did go to Macclesfield to enquire after a legacie 
 " left to the poor of Wilmslow by the will of Wilham Davie." There 
 is also an acknowledgment that there had been received from (the 
 family at the) Hawthorn, the sum of twenty-four shillings, which was 
 distributed by Mr. Brereton. 
 
 Before leaving these accounts, there is one paper inserted among 
 them which is too interesting to be overlooked. 
 
 "June 19th, 1655, By virtue of His Highness's declaration and 
 " instructions thereunto annexed, appointing the next justices of the 
 '* peace to receive the several contributions of all parishes in the 
 " several counties of this nation, made for the persecuted Protestants 
 " in the dominions of the Duke of Savoy; received of John Brereton, 
 " minister of Wilmslow, the sum of 2/. 35. 6d. Signed, 
 
 " Thomas Stanley." 
 
 This was Mr. Stanley of Alderley, who, at the restoration of 
 Charles II., was made a baronet. The collection on this occasion at 
 Wilmslow was probably as large as that obtained in most country 
 churches, and was not to be despised at a time when money was so 
 valuable that, as Ave have already seen. Sir William Brereton was 
 content to hold five pounds of trust money on interest at the rate of 
 eight per cent per annum. The object for which the contributions 
 were received was one in which Cromwell's heart was deeply interested. 
 The cruel persecution to which the Vaudois had been subjected 
 awoke the muse of Milton in the celebrated sonnet. 
 Avenge, O Lord, thy slaughtered saints, &c. 
 
 It also awoke the indignation of the Protector. He instructed his am- 
 bassador to protest against it in strong language. He also sanctioned
 
 266 Nonconformity in CJieshire. 
 
 a collection for them by brief in this country, and contributed from 
 his own purse 2,000/. The whole amounted to 38,241/. 105. dd* 
 
 Mr. Brereton evidently performed an active part in the business 
 of the Cheshire Association. IMr. Newcome, on his determination to 
 remove from Gawsworth to Manchester, experienced some trouble 
 from the people. Mr. Brereton, therefore, with others, was appointed 
 to go to Gawsworth to examine into the state of afifairs.+ 
 
 Mr. Newcome speaks of him again, after he had himself been 
 appointed a minister of the Collegiate Church, Manchester, and had 
 taken an interest in the Cheshire rising, which he had not been able 
 effectually to conceal. 
 
 "September 29th, 1659. Mr. Brereton of Wilmslow called of me, 
 " and in discourse he said that he believed that those should have no 
 " means allowed them by way of augmentation that had any hand in 
 " the late rise, which put me into fear about my maintenance. But, 
 " on the breaking up of the Parliament, they had made an order that 
 " all augmentations should be paid as they had been, and so I lost 
 " not one penny by this businesse, no not for the very i^resent.":}: 
 
 Mr. Brereton ceased to be the minister of Wilmslow Parish Church 
 in 1660. After that year he is only mentioned thrice, so far as our 
 search has extended. Bishop Gastrell, in his Notitia Cestriensis, states 
 that he was the minister of Ringway Chapel in 1662. On November 
 7th, in the same year, Newcome wTites in his Diary, " I rose after 
 " eight Read 2 Corinthians vii. Before well ready, Mr. Brereton 
 " came to me, and I had some talk with him. After, Mr. Hough 
 " came. Then Mr. Edge. Then Mr. lUingworth. We were together 
 " a while, and then went to church, where we heard the Chancellor's 
 " charge (Dr. Burwell of York) at a visitation. He inveighed against 
 " the old Puritans, and spoke against conceived prayer and singing of 
 " Psalms. "§ He says again, " February 2nd, 1663. I was with Dorothy 
 " Williamson a while, and after went to Mr. Chorlton's, where I sate 
 " till after eight. Mr. Brereton came in to us."|| 
 
 We have no account of the circumstances connected with his 
 removal. He probably submitted without protest to the law which 
 
 • See the compendious History of the Vaudois, by Hugh Dyke Acknd, pre- 
 fixed to "The Glorious Recovery by the Vaudois of tlieir Valleys." By Henri 
 Arnaud. 1827. 
 
 t See Newcome's Autobiography, page 68. t Autobiography, page 115. 
 % Diary, page 138. || Page 157. 
 
 J
 
 Deajiery of Macclesfield. 267 
 
 demanded his resignation. An Act was passed by the Convention 
 Parliament in 1660, "for the confirming and restoring of ministers;" 
 which enacted that every sequestered minister who had not justified 
 the late king's murder, or declared against infant baptism, should be 
 restored to his living before the 2,5th of December next ensuing, and 
 that the present incumbent should peaceably quit it, and be account- 
 able for delapidations and all arrears of fifths not paid. By this act 
 Mr. Brereton was ejected, and Mr. Thomas Wright returned to the 
 place where he had spent so many years of his life. 
 
 Mr. Wright had succeeded to the rectory in 16 10, on the pre- 
 sentation of William Massey. He was a younger son of a Nant\vich 
 family. His living and estate were both sequestered, and from this 
 fact it may be assumed that he had taken an active part against the 
 government. Walker says that he sustained a formal siege in the 
 Rectory House from Colonel Duckenfield, a ParUamentary officer. 
 One of his maid servants, or, as some accounts say two, were killed. 
 He states further, on the authority of the writer of J/^rf?/r/«.j i?«5//Vz^5, 
 that he was eighty years old at that time, and "continued after- 
 " wards in exile until the return of his majesty."* He must, therefore, 
 have been at a very advanced age at the Restoration. That he did 
 actually retimi is certain, although it seems to have been regarded by 
 some who have referred to it as a somewhat doubtful tradition. But, 
 according to Ormerod, tradition which asserts him to have survived 
 the Restoration, and to have been reinstated in his living at a great 
 age, is confirmed by the Parish Register as follows : — 
 
 " October 1661. The twentieth day, about nyne of the clock in 
 " the night, Mr. Thomas Wright, gentleman and parsonerof Wilmeslow, 
 " ended his l>fe, and was buried in the tombe on the northe syde of 
 " the chancell, the 23rd day of the same month of October i66i."t 
 
 In the same year Peter Ledsham was instituted in the rectory, 
 then void by the decease of the last incumbent. And, on the 24th 
 of August in the following year, the Act of Uniformity completed the 
 work which had been begun immediately after the Restoration, and 
 banished some two thousand faithful ministers of Christ from their 
 pulpits and their flocks. 
 
 It would be interesting, if it were possible, to hft the veil which 
 
 • Sufferings of the Clergy, page 391. 
 t See Ormerod's History of Cheshire, vol. iii., page 312.
 
 268 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 shrouds the past, and thoroughly to examine the moral and religious 
 state of the parish during the period which we have had under our 
 review. 
 
 The enemies of the Puritans have been accustomed to say that, 
 when their principles and doctrines -had predominant power, the con- 
 dition of the country with respect to morals and religion was ver)^ bad. 
 In proof of this they have adduced the testimony of the Puritans 
 themselves, who often speak strongly against the iniquity of the times. 
 But it must be borne in mind that those eminently holy men were 
 intolerant of evil. Its very appearance excited their alarm, and 
 caused them to lift up their voices against it. Hence their testimony, 
 instead of proving that there was more wickedness then among them 
 than there was before, only proves that it was more closely watched 
 and more promptly and publicly denounced. 
 
 That there were some pious people who S}anpathized with Mr. 
 Brereton in his religious sentiments, and who had derived benefit 
 from his labours, is evident from the fact that within a i&\\ years, after 
 the Restoration of Charles II., a numerous congregation of Noncon- 
 formists was formed in the parish. And there can be no doubt that 
 that congregation had its origin in his zealous exertions. 
 
 The Nonconforming ministers, when they were ejected from their 
 livings, did not cease to cherish a deep interest in the welfare of their 
 flocks. They continued among them, preaching to them in private, 
 and in various ways ministering to their spiritual edification, until the 
 infamous Conventicle and Five Mile Acts rendered it illegal. And, 
 even then, many of them risked ever}thing in the ser\'ice of those 
 whom they sincerely loved, and from whom they had been cruelly 
 separated. When, by the former of these unrighteous enactments, it 
 became unlawful for five persons above the age of sixteen, besides 
 the family, to assemble in any house for religious worship according 
 to their own views of what was right, they preached to congregations 
 of four ; and preached frequently during the day. And when, by the 
 latter, it was made a crime for them to be found within five miles of 
 the places where they had been the appointed ministers, they either 
 removed to the required distance, and fixed their residence close to 
 its boundary, so that they might be still within reach of their attached 
 friends,or they braved fine and imprisonment byremainingamong them. 
 
 At Ringway Chapel, which remained in the hands of the Noncon- 
 formists, Mr. Brereton was not far from the scene of his former labours.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 269 
 
 He would therefore often be among the people whom he had served 
 so long in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We do not know how long he 
 continued at Ringway, but, on the reasonable assumption that he was 
 of the same spirit as the rest of his brethren, we may presume that, 
 while he remained in the neighbourhood, he occasionally met the 
 people of his former charge in private houses, and preached to them the 
 word of hfe. When the assembling of large numbers in the houses 
 of the parishioners was forbidden, he met them in smaller congrega- 
 tions. And when there was danger in dayhght assemblies, he met 
 them under the shadows of midnight. 
 
 It is evident from all the diaries of the Nonconformist ministers 
 which have come to light, that, though they were silenced, they were 
 not forsaken. They were held in high esteem by many of the best 
 families in the land, who welcomed them to their houses, listened to 
 their instructions, and ministered to their temporal necessities. The 
 Stanley family at Alderley, among others, showed them great kindness. 
 When Oliver Hepvood was driven from home by the Five Mile Act, 
 in March 1666, he remarks in his diarj-, "On Wednesday, my father 
 " Angier and I travelled to Sir John Stanley's of Auderley, where I, 
 " being called on to go to prayer in that large family, the first night 
 " we came, was tempted to study and speak handsome words, from 
 " respect to the company; but reflecting to whom I prayed, and that 
 " it was no trifling matter, I set myself to the exercise in serious 
 " earnestness, and God helped me to speak to Him devoutly, with 
 " respect to the state of their souls and the good of their family. 
 " Mr. Heywood on that occasion spent several days in various 
 " respectable families in different parts of Cheshire and Lancashire, 
 " and was entertained by them with the greatest hospitaht)^"* Thus 
 did the Great Head of the Church raise up friends for His faithful 
 servants when they became suff"erers for His sake. In many instances 
 the loss of their livings was not permitted to fall heavily upon them. 
 The Christian liberality of those who esteemed them highly in love for 
 their work's sake cheerfully met the necessities of the case. Volun- 
 tary contributions were supplied. AVherever they went hospitable 
 doors were thro\vn open to receive them, and those who entertained 
 them seldom sent them empty away. And some of them found, to 
 their surprise, that their small worldly substance had actually increased 
 
 * Slate's Memoirs of the Rev, O. Heywood, page 122.
 
 270 Noficonformity in Cheshire. 
 
 during the season of ])ersecution. In such circumstances Noncon- 
 formity continued to hve in the face of the most cruel opposition, 
 and the more it was persecuted the more it multiplied and grew. 
 
 Dean Row Chapel. 
 
 It was at this place that the fruits of the Nonconformist ministry 
 in Wilmslow during so many years of self-denying effort were garnered. 
 The chapel was erected in 1693, at the distance of about a mile and 
 a half from the church in the parish of Wilmslow. It is a plain, sub- 
 stantial building, very much like many which have been demolished 
 within the last fifty years to give place to more modern structures. 
 It has an air of the Dissenting past. For the time and the place it 
 was a large and commodious chapel, and it proved that the precious 
 seed, which had been sown with tears by the Nonconformist minister 
 of Wilmslow and his successors, had been productive of a gratifying 
 harvest. From the assessment papers kept in the Parish Church, it 
 appears that in 1666 there were 231 householders in the parish, and 
 the estimated number of inhabitants were 1,287. In the interval 
 between that date and 1693 the population could not have greatly 
 increased. Yet the new meeting-house, with its ample galleries, was 
 computed to hold several hundred persons. Nonconformity, therefore, 
 must have made great progress in the neighbourhood, to warrant the 
 erection of a chapel of such dimensions in the midst of so scanty a 
 population. It is, however, to be remembered that this was the 
 religious home of persons residing in other parishes, as, to them, the 
 nearest place in which they could worship God, as their consciences 
 told them they ought to worship Him, and as their fathers had wor- 
 shipped Him before them. 
 
 The first minister at Dean Row of whom we have any account 
 was the Rev. Eliezer Birch. He was the pastor of the congrega- 
 tion in 1687. From this circumstance we may safely infer that the 
 congregation had been gathered long before the chapel was erected ; 
 and though a link in the chain of evidence is wanting, we may with 
 small danger of mistake refer its origination, as we have done already, 
 to the ministrations of the ejected pastor of Wilmslow Parish Church, 
 the Rev. John Brereton. Mr. Birch studied for the ministry under 
 Mr. Richard Frankland. He entered the academy for educating 
 Dissenting ministers kept by that excellent man, February 9th, 1676.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 271 
 
 Of his parentage we have no certain information. There were two 
 ejected ministers of the name of Birch — Mr. Robert Birch, who was 
 ejected from Birch Chapel, near Manchester, and Mr. Samuel Birch, 
 who was ejected from Bampton, in Oxfordshire. The latter was a 
 native of Lancashire, and in the absence of all evidence we may not 
 unreasonably conjecture that Mr. Eliezer Birch was a relation, probably 
 the son, of one of these ministers. From the account given of Mr. 
 George Moxon in the Nonconformists' Memorial, we learn that Mr. 
 Birch preached the funeral sermon of that aged minister of Christ in 
 the new chapel at Congleton. This took place in September 1687, 
 and he had probably at that time removed to Dean Row. It was in 
 all likelihood there, for it was at " Mr. Birch's" that the Cheshire 
 Association of the United Ministers met in 1691, after two preliminary 
 meetings held elsewhere, and it was there that the heads of agreement, 
 to which the ministers in and about London had given their adhesion, 
 were adopted as the basis of their union. The name of Mr. Birch 
 appears among the signatures. He seems to have been an active and 
 devoted minister of the gospel, and to have taken a prominent part 
 in the religious movements of the day. There is little room to doubt 
 that even at that early period, the people over whom he had the over- 
 sight were numerous and respectable, and that his connexion with 
 them gave him considerable influence among the rising Nonconformist 
 congregations of the county. During his pastorate at Dean Row he 
 filled, at different times, most of the offices of the Cheshire Association. 
 He continued at that place about twenty years, and in 1707 he removed 
 to Yarmouth, where he became co-pastor to Mr. Adam Smith. Mr. 
 Birch did not long retain his connexion with Yarmouth ; the congre- 
 gation there was large, but a quarrel arose which threatened to divide 
 it. The two ministers appear lo have been in some sort the cause or 
 occasion of the quarrel ; it has been conjectured that they differed in 
 their religious opinions, one of them departing from the ancient creed, 
 the other adhering to it.* If this were really the case, it was an early 
 instance of that divergence from the orthodox faith, which a few years 
 after became so common among the Nonconformists. However, to 
 maintain the unity of the congregation, the pastors were both dis- 
 missed. The event was fatal to Mr. Smith. He died of a broken 
 heart, on his journey homeward. Mr. Birch went into Lancashire, 
 
 * See Christian Reformer, Vol. I. New Series, page 37S.
 
 2/2 
 
 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 and, in 17 12, on the removal of Mr. Coningham from Cross-street, 
 Manchester, he succeeded him. But his work then was nearly done. 
 After a brief ministry in that place, he died there. May 12th, 17 17. 
 
 At the time when Mr. Birch received the invitation to Yarmouth, 
 he had not been regularly ordained to the ministr)^ From this circum- 
 stance we infer that some in the congregation at Dean Row disapproved 
 of ministerial ordination by the imposition of hands. Many of the 
 Nonconfomiists of that day thought that it was unnecessary', and that 
 the ordination of a minister by his own congregation was sufficient. 
 Some of their ministers were of this opinion. Others, who were not 
 so thoroughly imbued with " the dissidence of Dissent" as their 
 people, did not consider it a matter of so much importance as to lead 
 them to refuse compliance with their wishes. To the latter of these 
 classes the pastor of Dean Row probably belonged. In Tong's life 
 of Matthew Henry there is the following reference to Mr. Birch : — 
 
 " Mr. Henry found that some ministers, who, in compliance with 
 " the sentiments of the people, had dispensed with that solemnity 
 " (ministerial ordination) were not very easy in their own minds about 
 " it afterwards; and he does very particularly observe that, after Mr. 
 " E. Birch had been pastor near twenty years without ministerial 
 " ordination, yet, when invited to a new congregation of the same 
 " persuasion, he procured three or four ministers privately to ordain 
 " him with imposition of hands."* 
 
 Mr. Henry remarks in his diary, " the moderate of that congrega- 
 " tion are contriving to gain that point, ordination, from the other 
 " party." t The moderate party obtained the ascendancy, for the 
 successor of Mr. Birch was regularly ordained by the laying on of the 
 hands of his fellow ministers. Mr. Hugh Worthington was chosen to 
 be the pastor of the congregation at Dean Row in the room of Mr. 
 Birch. Mr. Henry was desired by that congregation to join with the 
 reverend and worthy Mr. Timothy Jollie, to ordain Mr. Hugh 
 Worthington, which was done on the 2nd of September 1707, at 
 Dean Row, on which he thus expresses himself: — " I am going by 
 " appointment to Wilmslow, willing to become all things to all men. 
 " I preached from 2 Corinthians v. 18, Hath given to us the mifiistry 
 " of reconciliation. Mr. Angier prayed over him. Mr. Jolly gave the 
 
 * Tong's Life of Matthew Henry, page 265. 
 + Williams' Life of Matthew Henry, page 148.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 273 
 
 " exhortation from Matthew xxviii. 20. He spoke many things very 
 " affecting. We lay at Wilmslow, and were much refreshed with mutual 
 " love, which is as the holy anointing oil. The Honourable Mr. Cecil 
 " Booth was with us in the evening. Mr. Jolly is of a very loving 
 " and heahng spirit."* 
 
 From what Mr. Henry says about his " willingness to become all 
 " things to all men," in assisting at this ordination, and from the place 
 where the ser\'ice was held, from the fact that Mr. Jollie was pastor 
 of an Independent church, as well as from what had taken place 
 during the ministry of Mr. Birch, it would appear that the people at 
 Dean Row were at that time Independents in their views of church 
 government, or at the least strongly inclined to Independency. 
 
 Mr. Hugh Worthington had been a pupil of Mr. Timothy Jolhe 
 of Attercliffe, near Sheffield. He continued at Dean Row until his 
 death, which took place in October 1735. During his ministry the 
 congregation was in a very flourishing condition. In 17 15 it is said 
 to have consisted of 809 persons, forty of whom were gentlemen, and 
 one hundred and forty-two of them had votes for the county. These 
 numbers probably referred to those who were recognized members of 
 the congregation, and who regarded Dean Row as their religious 
 home. The persons in actual attendance at the Sabbath services 
 were often very numerous. There can be no doubt that the influence 
 of Dean Row Chapel, like that of Ringvvay Chapel, operated within 
 a widely extended sphere. The two meeting-houses divided between 
 them a considerable tract of countr}-. There had been, during the 
 Protectorate, a decidedly Pvuitanical ministry at Alderley and Mob- 
 berley, and at both places the incumbents had been ejected at the 
 Restoration or at Bartholomew's Day. The fruits of their ministry 
 remained after they were removed ; and, to the congregation at Dean 
 Row, we may reasonably suppose that some of them were gathered. 
 Distance from the sanctuary then was not thought so much of as it is 
 now. Sabbath worshippers were content to travel a few miles that 
 they might enjoy the ordinances of God's house. ''The word of the 
 *' Lord was precious in those days." This circumstance will account 
 for the largeness of the congregation when viewed in relation to the 
 smallness of the neighbouring population. From a letter which is 
 still extant, wTitten by Mr. Worthington a short time before his death^ 
 
 • Tong's Life of Matthew Henry, page 266
 
 2 74 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 the number of county voters connected with his congregation appears 
 to have shghtly diminished, but it was still large.* 
 
 For some time during his residence at Dean Row, Mr. Worthing- 
 ton kept an academy, in which were educated Samuel Eaton, afterwards 
 of AUostock, the Rev. Hugh Worthington of Leicester, the Rev. Mr. 
 Hankinson of Wirksworth, and his own son Hugh Worthington. 
 There is a brief memoir of the Rev. Hugh Worthington of Leicester, 
 in the Monthly Magazme for November 1797, which was written by 
 his son Mr. Hugh Worthington, then of Salter's Hall, London. In 
 that short narrative the writer makes honourable mention of his 
 great-uncle of Dean Row, " as distinguished, both as a scholar and a 
 " preacher, and who in succession trained many persons for the duties 
 " of the pulpit." t A note appended to it contains the following 
 interesting testimony to the character of Mr. Worthington of Dean 
 Row: — "As this gentleman was not only (the Leicester) Mr. 
 " Worthington's relation, but his tutor, and seems to have been a 
 " principal instrument in forming him for all his future usefulness, 
 " a few particulars respecting him may not be unacceptable. He 
 " was trained to the ministry partly under Mr. JoUie of Sheffield, 
 " and partly under the still more celebrated Mr. Matthew Henry 
 " of Chester. His first settlement was at Ormskirk, in Lancashire, 
 " from whence he removed to Dean Row, and continued there 
 
 * This lettei", for the copy of an extract from which I am indebted to the kind- 
 ness of the Rev. John Colston, minister of Dean Row Chapel, appeared in the 
 Industrious Bee, a paper published at Chester in 1734. It was written in reply 
 " to the author of a malicious reflection on the minister of Dean Row," published 
 in Adams'' Courant, March 27th, 1734. It is as follows: — "In the late King 
 " George's reign, of blessed memory, I took the number of the voters in my con- 
 " gi-egation, and then had above one hundred and forty. Since that time several 
 " are dead, but few estates are sold for want of heirs; and amongst the very many 
 " that, through mercy are left, I have not (according as I now best remember) 
 " heard of any but one that is inclined to vote for Mr. C — -y, and Mr. C — w. And 
 " till the next election be over, I cannot tell but he may be misrepresented ; but 
 " still he is not, nor ever was, a commimicant with us. We are all (as far as I 
 " know) very zealous the other way — I mean for the good old cause — are all cheer- 
 " ful volunteers in that service, and need not be pressed into it by death and 
 " damnation. May God give you repentance and pardon. But let us pray again 
 " before we part. God bless King George, and all his royal family; upon him let 
 " the crown flourish ; but clothe Thou his enemies with shame, O Lord. Let me 
 " conclude with part of my litany. From High Church zeal, a lying tongue, a 
 " Tory Parliament, and a Popish Pretender, Libera nos, Domine, — Good Lord, 
 " deliver all honest men, and amongst them, Hugh WORTHINGTON." 
 
 "April loth, 1734." 
 
 f Christian Reformer, Vol. I. New Series, page 379.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 275 
 
 " to the end of his Hfe, preaching with great acceptance, and with 
 " more popularity than any minister in that part of England. The 
 " chapel, though large, was so crowded that numbers stood in the 
 " aisles. He was fluent, tender, and pathetic in his address ; 
 " often in tears, and numbers in his auditory were equally moved. 
 " He had notes containing the heads of his discourses, and references 
 *' to various Scriptures', but delivered the major part of his discourses 
 " extempore. In every sense he was an excellent preacher, moderate 
 " in sentiment, fond of Mr. Baxter's writings, of an amiable temper, 
 " and highly respected by his people. Though he was very studious, 
 " and assisted not a few in their preparations for the ministry, yet he 
 " visited his charge much, and made his visits (especially among the 
 *' sick) devotional and edifying. Mr. Worthington of Leicester never 
 " spoke of his uncle but with the deepest veneration, and has acknow- 
 " ledged that, under his preaching, the impressions of religion received 
 " by a pious education were strengthened in his heart." 
 
 Mr, Worthington was present and assisted at the ordination of 
 his son; an interesting service, of which Mrs. Savage has left an 
 affecting description in her diary. "Tuesday, ist September 1730. 
 " A solemn ordination at Knutsford of two young scholars to the 
 " work of the ministry, Mr. Nichols and Mr. Worthington ; a great 
 " appearance, supposed to be a thousand people. Lord, qualify them 
 " for this great work. Mr. Gardner of Chester preached from i Corin- 
 " thians xi. 2. Mr. Worthington's father prayed over his son; gave 
 " him a solemn charge ; said, * Methinks it somewhat resembles the 
 " ' taking the holy garments off Aaron and putting them on Eleazer. 
 " ' Perhaps,' said he, ' the time of my departure may be near.' He 
 " exhorted them earnestly to visit their flock and pray with them, 
 " yea, though they were not desired to do it ; said much against 
 " covetousness and earthly mindedness in ministers, how directly 
 " opposite to a gospel minister."* It is evident that Mr. Worthington 
 was a noted man in his day, and that he occupied a prominent posi- 
 tion among the Dissenters. He was not only.a distinguished preacher, 
 but a great worker. With a congregation so numerous and so scat- 
 tered, he must have been a man of laborious habits to undertake the 
 additional duties of keeping an academy. 
 
 At his death, in 1735, he was succeeded by his son, who bore his 
 
 * Congregational Magazine, 1831, page 71.
 
 276 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 name, and who was trained for the ministry under his instructions.* 
 As we have just seen, Mr. Hugh Worthington, Junior, was 
 ordained in 1730. He first undertook the charge of a congregation 
 at Leek, and continued there until the decease of his father, when he 
 was called to take his place. Mr. Hugh Worthington was the 
 minister of Dean Row Chapel about thirteen years. He preached 
 his last sermon there September nth, 1748, and some time after, he 
 became the minister of Hale Chapel. In the history of the last- 
 mentioned place, where he closed his ministry, some further particu- 
 lars respecting him will be found. 
 
 On November 22nd, 1748, the Rev. William Brocklehurst 
 preached at Dean Row, and was chosen to be the minister. During 
 his ministry the chapel is said to have been well attended. He was 
 earnest and animated in the pulpit, and out of it he was affable and 
 kind in his intercourse with the people. To the poorer members of 
 his flock he was especially condescending and attentive. He was a 
 man of good property, and of a benevolent disposition, and was con- 
 sequently both able and willing to help them in their necessities. In 
 these circumstances he had great influence over his congregation, and 
 was held in high and general esteem. Mr. Brocklehurst was an 
 Arian, and probably he was the first Arian minister at Dean Row. 
 The elder Mr. Worthington was certainly orthodox in his religious 
 opinions. We have seen, from the testimony of one who knew him 
 well, that he was "moderate in sentiment, and partial to the 
 " writings of Mr. Richard Baxter." It may, therefore, be inferred 
 that he was a divine of the Baxterian school. The doctrinal views 
 of his son were probably orthodox likewise. But Mr. Brocklehurst 
 was undoubtedly a preacher of Arianism, and from the commence- 
 ment of his ministry the doctrine of the Trinity ceased to be taught 
 in the pulpit at Dean Row. 
 
 The Rev. George Chadwick took the charge of the congregation 
 on his decease, and after a ministry of nearly seventeen years, died 
 suddenly in 1803, aged forty-one years. He was educated at Daven- 
 try, and is said to have been an upright and conscientious man ; but 
 
 * It has been conjectured that he was educated under Dr. Latham, at Finderne, 
 Derbyshire, where many of the ministers in these parts, at that time, received their 
 education; some of whom were Arians. As tliis is only conjecture, we prefer 
 following other authorities, which state positively that he was educated in his 
 father's academy.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 277 
 
 his preaching was unsuccessful, and the congregation visibly declined. 
 He was followed by the Rev. W. Tulledelph Procter, who was 
 educated at Northampton, and who left a congregation at Burton in 
 Staffordshire to become the minister at Dean Row. He laboured 
 there eleven years without witnessing any gratifying increase in the 
 number of his hearers, and then removed to Prescot, where he died 
 in 1826. The Rev. N. Shattock succeeded him in 18 14, and left in 
 18 1 7. The next minister was the Rev. J. Williams Morris. His 
 appointment was fatal to the already declining congregation. It 
 gradually dwindled away after he became the minister until there was 
 nothing of it left; the chapel, too, became almost a ruin. The 
 windows were broken, the walls were cracked, the interior of the 
 building presented an appearance of dilapidation and dishonour 
 which it was painful to contemplate. Mr. Morris died in 1843, 
 having previously refused overtures which had been made to him to 
 induce him to relinquish his hold on the place. After his death a 
 successful attempt was made by the trustees and friends in the neigh- 
 bourhood to restore the chapel. Contributions were collected for this 
 object, and the restoration was effected at a cost of about 300/. The 
 interior of the chapel was adapted to the necessities of a smaller 
 congregation ; one end of the building was devoted to two convenient 
 schoolrooms, of which the upper is now used as an organ gallery and 
 the lower as a vestry, the use of them as schoolrooms having been 
 rendered unnecessary by the recent erection of a handsome and 
 commodious school m the immediate neighbourhood of the chapel. 
 The Rev. John Colston, the Unitarian minister of Styal, near 
 Wilmslow, undertook the charge in addition to that which he already 
 held. He is still the pastor. The congregation is now Unitarian in 
 sentiment; like many other congregations which arose out of the 
 labours of the ejected ministers, it gradually departed from the 
 religious principles of its founders. 
 
 Wilmslow Independent Chapel. 
 
 The preceding history of Nonconformity in Wilmslow would not 
 be complete without some notice of the Independent Chapel which 
 was erected in 1846. It is situated in the township of Fulshaw. The 
 site of the chapel was given by John Jenkins, Esq., of Fulshaw Hall, 
 who was also the principal contributor to the expense of the building.
 
 278 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 It is capable of holding about three hundred persons. The first 
 minister was the Rev. William Crease. He preached for about 
 two years in a room in the village, and when the chapel was erected 
 the congregation removed to it, and a church was formed under his 
 pastoral care. Mr. Crease left Wilmslow at the close of 1849, and 
 settled at Hazel Grove, where he finished his course. 
 
 In December 1850, the Rev. Samuel Ellis, formerly minister of 
 Duke's Alley Chapel, Bolton, accepted an invitation from the people 
 to become their pastor. At present there are more than seventy com- 
 municants, and a congregation for which more room is required, as 
 well for its own accommodation as for its growth. The people have, 
 therefore, determined to enlarge the chapel, and have sub'scribed 
 liberally for the accomplishment of that object. There is a Sabbath- 
 school of three hundred scholars, and there is also a Day-school in 
 connexion with the chapel, ■\\ath an average attendance of about one 
 hundred. In 1859, new schoolrooms were erected on the ground 
 belonging to the chapel trust, at a cost of upwards of five hundred 
 pounds. These schoolrooms, together ^^^th the one under the chapel, 
 afford ample accommodation both for the Sabbath and Day-schools. 
 We may, therefore, on a review of what has been already done, indulge 
 the hope that the distinctive doctrines which the early Nonconformists 
 loved so well will long continue to be exhibited in this neighbourhood. 
 
 ALDER LEY. 
 
 (By the Rev. S. Ellis, j 
 
 There was a minister of the Puritan school of divines at Alderley 
 Parish Church during the Commonwealth, but he has left few footprints 
 behind him by which he can be traced. Walker, in his Sufferings of 
 the Clergy., refers to him with his usual want of candour and catholicity 
 of spirit. Speaking of the Rev. Samuel Shipton, B.D., who was for- 
 merly Sir Peter Leycester's tutor, and who had been sequestered from 
 the hving at Alderley, and afterwards restored, he says, " He had a 
 " temporal estate also, which was put under sequestration, but he was 
 *' at last allowed to redeem it with 250/. He Avas not i)ermitted by 
 " the intruder to have any lodging for himself or family in the Par- 
 " sonage House, notwithstanding the then indulgence of a fifth of
 
 Deanery of Macciesfield. 279 
 
 " their benefices, and house room to sequestered ministers. He 
 " lived to be restored, and repaid the intruder's barbarity, by indus- 
 " triously applying himself to procure him another preferment, which 
 " by his interest he did, full as good as his own; I think it was S. 
 *' Mary's in Chester. He was much celebrated for his great learning, 
 " piety, and many excellent qualities."* 
 
 The character of Walker's statements, whether they are favourable 
 to the Episcopal clergy or unfavourable to the Nonconformists, is, at 
 the present day, well understood. In the former case he woites as a 
 friend and partizan; in the latter as an uncompromising enemy. His 
 prejudices were too strong for his judgment, and too often guided his 
 pen. This, indeed, is not a recent discovery. His testimony was 
 early weighed in the balances and found wanting. Perhaps all that 
 we can safely gather from what he says about Alderley is, what we 
 may learn from other sources, that the Rev, Samuel Shipton was 
 sequestered from his living under the Long Parliament, that he was 
 succeeded by a minister who was approved and appointed by the then 
 existing authorities, and that he regained the benefice at the Resto- 
 ration. The Christian temper which he is said to have displayed in 
 assisting the preacher whom he had displaced to obtain the cure of a 
 church in Chester, was worthy of all honour. But it was evidently a 
 stretch of charity, in which the historian of his sufferings had little 
 sympathy with him. 
 
 The Rev. Nicholas Stephenson is named by Ormerod as minister 
 of S. Mary's, Chester, and he was "the intruder" to whom Walker 
 refers. Mr. Stephenson was minister at Alderley in 1648, for in that 
 year he signed the " Attestation of Cheshire Ministers to the Solemn 
 " League and Covenant." In 1650 he is mentioned by the Rev. 
 Henry Newcome, in his Autobiography. t " Mr. Stephenson of 
 " Alderley, being gone to London upon the occasion of the marriage 
 " of Mr. Peter Stanley, had engaged me to preach at Alderley, April 
 " 28th, for that day, I had wTOte to Mr. Machin. to come over to 
 " supply my place at Gawsworth. On the Saturday he came, and 
 " Nathaniel Banne with him (who then was a sojourner with Mr. 
 '■'• Machin). I preached at Alderley on Genesis vi. 9 ; a more inward 
 " sermon than any I had almost preached before, about walking with 
 '"'■ God. I remember some of my neighbours of Gawsworth would 
 
 * Page 353. t Page 19.
 
 28o Nonconformity m Cheshire. 
 
 " needs keep me company to Alderley, and one of them sware an oath 
 " (I think I could go to the place where it was this day; and methought 
 " it sounded strangelier to me than ever before it had done. At night 
 " Mr. Machin repeated his sermon, and desired me to repeat mine, 
 " and I did." Mr. Newcome says again, August 26th, 1651, "Mr. 
 " Machin and I preached at Auderley, and the next day we went to 
 " a private day at Clough House." Mr. Stephenson is also men- 
 tioned in Adam Martindale's life, as " Mr. Stephenson, the minister" 
 at Alderley. It is evident, therefore, that he freely associated with 
 the Presbyterian ministers, and probably at that time agreed with 
 them in their views of church polity and Christian doctrine. 
 
 No Nonconformist congregation appears to have arisen out of Mr. 
 Stephenson's labours at Alderley, unless there exists an indirect con- 
 nexion between his ministry there and the Baptist Church, which, at 
 the beginning of the following century, found a home in a small chapel 
 in Warford. The existence of this connexion is possible, and, for 
 the sake of Mr. Stephenson, we should be glad to know that it is a 
 fact. It would be pleasant to see before us any clearly defined results 
 of his many years of ministerial effort in that place. But oral tradition 
 traces the church at Warford to another origin. Mr. Stephenson's 
 speedy conformity prevented him from rallying around him those 
 whose sentiments he had previously moulded according to a different 
 form. If his attachment to the principles of the Nonconformists had 
 been sufficiently strong to retain him in their ranks, it would no doubt 
 have been otherwise. It is not likely, however, that in this view. of 
 his labours he had spent his strength for nought. Probably there 
 were individuals in his old congregation who found modes of worship 
 more congenial to their taste among the Dissenters who held fast 
 their principles in the neighbourhood of Wilmslow. 
 
 Baptist Chapel, Warford, 
 
 In this village, which lies between Alderley and Mobberley, there 
 is a Particular Baptist Church of great antiquity. If local tradition 
 may be credited, it was originated by the Parliamentary troops who 
 were stationed there during the Civil War. This is not improbable. 
 We know, from Newcome's Autobiography, that there were soldiers 
 of the Parliament abiding in this part of the country for some time, 
 and that there were intelligent and earnest Christians among them.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 281 
 
 Besides, the plain, intelligible traditions Avhich cling to a locality, are 
 seldom without some foundation in fact. It is said that divine worship 
 was conducted for years in a farmhouse, and that the members of the 
 congregation buried their dead in the orchard. The family who fur- 
 nished meeting-room for this church in their house removed to Pownall 
 Brow farm, at no great distance from the spot on which the present 
 chapel stands. In 1689, some of the members of the church purchased 
 a small piece of land for a burying place, in Mottram S. Andrew's. 
 There are several tombstones in it bearing dates between 1691 and 
 X756. The graveyard is still kept in good order, although there has 
 been no interment in it for the last forty years. 
 
 In 1 7 1 2, the congregation obtained the lease of a piece of ground 
 in Warford, on which there were a cottage and a barn. It is conjec- 
 tured that the barn, altered and beautified, formed part if not the 
 whole of the original chapel. There is a dwelling-house adjoining to 
 it, at which the minister resides ; but both are so small that the ground 
 on which they stand does not exceed forty-two feet by twenty-four. 
 There is also a small burial ground in front. The members of the 
 Baptist Church at Hill Cliffe, about two miles from Warrington, took 
 a lively interest in the little church at Warford, which, like their own, 
 had arisen in troublous times; and it was one of their number, Mr. 
 John Rilance, who granted them a lease of the land for their chapel 
 on a mere nominal ground rent. 
 
 The first preacher whose name is mentioned in connexion with 
 Warford was Mr. Francis Turner of Knutsford. He is said to have 
 been educated at one of the universities; but he refused conformity 
 to the Estabhshed Church, and laboured in Cheshire as a Baptist 
 minister. He was afterwards minister of the church at Hill Cliffe. 
 His son, Mr. John Turner, was the first pastor of the church at 
 Warford of whom we have been able to find any record. His father 
 appears only to have preached to them occasionally. Mr. John 
 Turner was the minister at Warford in 1730, for in that year the 
 Baptist Church at Liverpool invited him to leave that place, and to 
 settle among them. With the consent of his own people he accepted 
 the invitation, and the church at Warford was left to the care of Mr. 
 John Haves, who was dismissed from the church at Liverpool that 
 he might be its pastor. How long Mr. Hayes continued to labour 
 among the people at Warford is not recorded in the church book; 
 but, as for some time before 1757, there are frequent entries of the
 
 282 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 payment of four shillings for expenses to a preacher from Liverpool, 
 it is probable, on the supposition that he was not that preacher, that 
 he had ceased to be their appointed teacher before 1750. In 1757, 
 three members of the church at Hill Cliffe were transferred to Warford, 
 one of whom, Mr. John Taylor, was shortly after ordained pastor to the 
 church. The commencement of his ministry was a period of revival. 
 The church increased, and the chapel was crowded. But, in 1762, 
 unpleasant circumstances led to the dissolution of the connexion 
 between him and the people. In the following year the union was 
 restored, but there was no return of prosperity. The minister was 
 charged with conduct unbecoming his profession; in consequence 
 several of the members withdrew and joined the church at Millington. 
 He ceased to hold the pulpit in 1788. During the time of his 
 ministry, from 1762 to 1788, there is not a single entry in the church 
 book. 
 
 Mr. Thomas Holt was the next minister. He was a man of 
 small education, but of good natural abilities. The Rev. Abraham 
 Booth, whose ministry he attended when he was in London, wished 
 to send him to the Baptist Academy, but he refused. He was 
 somewhat eccentric, and exceedingly zealous in enforcing the necessity 
 of baptism by immersion as a condition of communion ; he was, more- 
 over, an admirer of America and its institutions, and by his persuasion 
 some of the members of his small church emigrated to that country. 
 From this circumstance the interest was reduced to a state of great 
 feebleness. Only one Lord's Day intervened between his last 
 appearance in the pulpit and his death in 1831. He preached his 
 last sermon from Romans viii. i; and one who heard him on that 
 occasion says that the discourse showed that his views were clear, his 
 faculties vigorous, and his confidence and hope firmly resting on the 
 promises of God. He was succeeded by his youngest son Mr, 
 Thomas Holt, who died in 1836. For two years after his decease 
 the church, reduced to four members, met every Lord's Day with the 
 few hearers who remained, for reading the Scriptures and prayer. 
 
 In 1838, Mr. Joseph Barber, one of their number, was appointed 
 pastor. After a long season of barrenness, symptoms of improve- 
 ment began to appear; the congregation gradually increased and 
 the number in church-fellowship rose to nearly forty. Several of the 
 members lived in the neighbourhood of Bramhall, and they were in 
 the habit of walking every Sabbath seven miles to worship God, and
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 283 
 
 the distance they travelled, together with the return journey, proved 
 the strength of their attachment to their religious home. But, in 
 1853, two Baptist ministers, from a distant part of the country, visited 
 the people, and finding that some of the members resided so far from 
 the chapel, they resolved to do something to meet the necessities of the 
 case; the result was that a New Meeting-house was built at Bramhall, 
 with sittings for one hundred and fifty hearers. Mr. Barber, who is in 
 advanced age, and burdened with infirmities, performs the duties of 
 both places, assisted by one of the members of the church. On 
 each alternate Lord's Day he preaches twice at Bramhall. There is 
 an endowment upon the chapel at Warford of fourteen pounds yearly, 
 which was left in 1789 by Mr. Thomas Lee, a member of the family 
 residing at Pownall Brow Farm. In 1813 a new front was built to 
 the chapel, which greatly improved its external appearance. The 
 attendance at it has been diminished by the erection of the meeting- 
 house at Bramhall ; but it is to be hoped that an interest which has 
 lived through two centuries will not be suffered to become utterly 
 extinct. 
 
 MOBBERLEY. 
 
 (By the Rev. S. Ellis, j 
 
 Our knowledge of Mobberley in Puritan times is veiy limited. In 
 Palmer's Nonconformists' Memorial it is mentioned as one of the 
 places in which a minister was ejected from his living, but it is only 
 mentioned in the fewest words possible. " Mobberley, Mr. Robert 
 " Barlow." We learn from Ormerod's History of Cheshire that, in 
 162 1, the Rev. Thomas Mallory, dean of Chester, enjoyed this living. 
 He was a younger son of Sir W. Mallory of Studeley, in Yorkshire, 
 and became dean of Chester in 1606. In 16 10, he was admitted to 
 the rectory of Davenham. Walker says that, nine years after, he 
 purchased the advOAvson of Mobberley. He retained the living until 
 1642, when he was sequestered and compelled to live in great retire- 
 ment. We are not acquainted with the reason alleged for his seques- 
 tration. Walker refers it in general terms to the Civil War. " He 
 " was forced, by reason of the rebelHon that raged then in England, 
 " to fly from Mobberley, where he was rector, to Chester."* The 
 
 * Sufferings of the Clergy, page 391.
 
 284 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 probability is that Mr. Mallory was a zealous royalist, and resisted the 
 authority of the Parhament, and that he had on this account been 
 deprived of his church preferment. But it was a matter of compara- 
 tively small importance to him. He was then an old man, and his 
 life was fast drawing to a close. He died at the dean's house in 
 Chester, April 3rd, 1644, aged about seventy-eight years. 
 
 Mr. Mallor)''s son-in-law, the Rev. George Wyrley, brother of Sir 
 John Wyrley of Hamstead Hill, Staffordshire, succeeded him in the 
 living. Notwithstanding the confusion of the times, Mr. Wyrley 
 obtained his institution to it from Dr. John Bridgman, then bishop of 
 the diocess. But he also was sequestered, and continued under 
 sequestration until the Restoration of Charles II. He then regained 
 the full possession of the benefice, and aftenvards obtained also the 
 rectory of Loughton, in Essex. The testimony borne by the Non- 
 conforviists' Memorial to the ejectment of the minister at Mobberley 
 in 1660 is confirmed by Walker, who says, "The intruder at Mobberley 
 " during the usurpation was one Robert Barlow." 
 
 Mr. Barlow, like other ministers of his class, is unceremoniously 
 called an intruder. We pass over the contempt embodied in that 
 term. But it is right to remember that he held the living according 
 to the then existing laws of the land, which, if the Presbyterians had 
 not suffered themselves to be cajoled and cheated by royal promises, 
 would have continued to be the laws of the land. However, Mr. 
 Barlow was compelled to give place to Mr. Wyrley at the Restoration. 
 There is no trace of a Nonconformist congregation existing in the 
 neighbourhood after he was removed from the church, and testifying 
 to the results of the labours in which he was interrupted by his ejection. 
 His name is not in the list of Cheshire ministers who, having submitted 
 to deprivation for conscience sake, subsequently conformed to the 
 Established Church. That list is exceedingly small, and several of the 
 ministers whose names are found in it were brought in by Bishop 
 Wilkins's soft interpretation of the terms of conformity. But, whether 
 Mr. Barlow retired into private life, or, Hke other ejected ministers, 
 continued to preach as he had opportunity, we have not been able to 
 learn. If, in the congregation which he was compelled to relinquish, 
 there were persons of decided Puritanic tendencies, they most likely 
 joined in religious worship with their brethren of similar sentiments 
 in the neighbouring parishes.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 285 
 
 Independent Chapel, Kxowles Green. 
 
 There is at Kiiowles Green, in the parish of IMobberley, an Inde- 
 pendent Chapel, which was erected in 1 7 83. It was originally intended 
 for the Wesleyan Methodists, who occupied it for several years. It 
 did not succeed according to their expectations; they therefore left 
 it to the disposal of the person who had advanced the money expended 
 on the building. For several years aftenvards very little use was made 
 of it. The Methodists of the New Connexion occasionally conducted 
 their religious services in it, but it was not the recognized home of 
 any religious body. In 1803, the students belonging to the Theo- 
 logical Academy at Manchester, under the care of the Rev. W. 
 Roby, who regularly visited Knutsford that they might diffuse the 
 savour of the knowledge of Christ, were in\'ited to preach in the 
 chapel at Knowles Green. They continued to do so every Lord's 
 Day. Considerable interest was excited, and gratifying success 
 attended their labours. In the course of a few years the people, who 
 had become attached to their ministry-, purchased the meeting-house 
 from the party who had a claim upon it, and vested it in trust for the 
 use of the Independents. It is a small building, with a gallery at one 
 end, and is capable of holding a congregation of one hundred and fifty 
 or two hundred persons. A Sabbath-school is conducted in the chapel, 
 which has been of important use in the neighbourhood. The Rev. 
 James Turner of Knutsford, regularly preached there once on the 
 Sabbath, or provided a supply for the pulpit. This faithful servant of 
 Christ having ministered to the congregation here, as well as to the 
 church at Knutsford, for upwards of fifty years, was called to his rest 
 on May 22nd, 1863. An account of his life will be found in another 
 part of this volume.* The chapel is still held in connexion with the 
 church at Knutsford, and shares in the benefits of the ministry at 
 that place. Mr. Lo\\Tides, formerly a missionary to the Greek 
 Islands, and afterwards an agent pf the British and Foreign Bible 
 Society, was among the earhest fruits of the gospel at Knowles Green 
 Independent Chapel. 
 
 * See the paper on Knutsford.
 
 286 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 STOCKPORT. 
 
 (By the Rev. Absalom Clark.j 
 
 The Christianity of Stockport is of ancient date. When and by whom 
 it was first introduced are facts now unknown. The town itself was 
 a miUtary station of importance from the time of the Romans to the 
 Norman conquest. The rectory was instituted in or about the year 
 1 190.* 
 
 The names of at least two eminent Nonconformist ministers are 
 associated with Stockport — Rev. Henry Newcome, M.A., and Rev. 
 Samuel Eaton ; and there are traces of the existence of a healthful 
 spiritual life in the borough before the upas tree of the Act of Uniformity 
 was planted in the land. There is a gravestone in the chancel of the 
 Parish Church which bears the inscription, " Here lyeth y® body of 
 " Arthur Storer, M. A., who spent himself in this place thirty-seven 
 " years to give hght to others, and died an. 1630." Subsequently 
 there was a Mr. Johnson, styled in the life of Adam Martindalet 
 " a rigid Presbyterian," and to whom Mr. Newcome thus refers in 
 his Autobiography: — "Sunday September 3rd, 1654, 1 was at Stockport, 
 " and preached twice that day, and helped old Mr. Johnson to 
 " administer the sacrament. I lodged that night with Mr. Johnson, 
 " a reverend, learned, and aged divine. I remember he asked old 
 " Mr. Syddal that he would put some question to talk of to employ 
 " the holy time of the Sabbath in. In the evening, late, he went to 
 " duties, and took his Bible, of a small volume and print, and read a 
 " chapter. It was late, and so dark that I could not have read it I 
 " am sure ; and he admitted no candle, and so I perceived he read it 
 " without book; and I believe he was so versed in the Scripture he 
 " could have done so with most parts of the Bible. He preached at 
 " the Exercise on 2 Peter iii., about the millenaries, and in his sermon 
 " took occasion to expound the 20th chapter of Revelation, verse by 
 " verse, and word by word, without book. He prayed all in Scripture 
 " expression. He was a man mighty in the Scriptures. Old William 
 " Syddal had been long acquainted with him, and they were discoursing 
 " of the days that were passed. Among the rest he was telling how 
 " Mr. Johnson and some others met at a day of thanksgiving when 
 
 *Notitia Cestriensis, vol. i., page 300, f Page 63.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 287 
 
 " the king (Charles I.) and the Scots were agreed, about 1639, looking 
 " upon it as a certain omen of liberty unto the Piuritans in England. 
 " Old Mr. Rathband, an eminent divine in those parts at that time, 
 " came to the place, but would not join with them in the duty, declaring 
 " that they were mistaken in the occasion. Mr. Johnson said upon 
 " it that Mr. Rathband did foresee that the prelates would not thus 
 " yield anything, which indeed came to pass. He (Mr. Johnson) 
 " before this taught the school at Merchant Tailors, in London, when 
 " Mr. Gataker preached at the Inns of Court, and used constantly to 
 " hear him, for (said he) ' he had matter enough in every sermon 
 " ' which I loved well.' When at Ellenbrook, he constantly went to 
 " Eccles to the sacrament, and Mr. Jones (the vicar) gave him this 
 " liberty. When some others desired the same privilege, and urged 
 " the case of Mr. Johnson, the old vicar used to say he would indulge 
 " Mr. Johnson, for he had something to say for himself."* 
 
 There was another minister at Stockport in 1659, who also seems 
 to have belonged to the Puritanic party. Mr. Newcome relates, 
 " Mr. Heyricke and I went to Stockport to give old Mr. Pagit a 
 " visit, who was come thither as parson. As he sat in his parlour he 
 " told us that Bishop Moreton, in that very room (for he was, when 
 " bishop of Chester, parson of Stockport) did say to him and some 
 " others that they despised the Common Prayer, but it had converted 
 " more than all their preaching could do, or ever would do, or to 
 " that purpose ; which expression we much wondered at, from so 
 " learned a man and so great a divine as he was."t 
 
 Mr. Newcome was minister of the Collegiate Church at Man- 
 chester, but he also had duties to perform at Stockport. He preached 
 here every Friday for three years, from 1659 to August 22nd, 1663, 
 after which the Act of Uniformity came into operation, and he was 
 ejected. His last sermon at Stockport prior to his ejection was on 
 Ecclesiastes xii. i. Remember thy Creator, etc. He says, " I was 
 " troubled a little to leave them, but it is the Lord's good hand who 
 " will provide for them and me yet.":j: Another entry in his diary 
 soon follows, in relation to his successor at Stockport. " August 30th, 
 " 1662, I heard Mr. Clayton had taken up the lecture at Stockport. 
 
 * Newcome's Autobiography, pages 50, 51. fPage 103. 
 
 + Newcome's Diary, page 113.
 
 288 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " An old base prejudice in my heart made me on the sudden troubled 
 " at it. But I hope it will be for good, and that I shall hereafter 
 " rejoice in it." 
 
 Mr. Samuel Eaton, the other ejected minister in Stockport, was 
 the son of Mr. Richard Eaton, vicar of Great Budworth in Cheshire, 
 and brother of Theophilus Eaton, the first governor of Newhaven in 
 New England, who has the reputationofhavingbeen very tender towards 
 the Indians. * The father, in his day, suffered much persecution for 
 disobeying the royal order to read the Book of Sports^ a crime for which 
 many hundred clergymen were either fined, imprisoned, or expelled 
 their Uvings. Mr. Samuel Eaton was educated at Oxford. Wood, 
 whose animus towards the Nonconfoniiists is very manifest whenever 
 he has occasion to speak of them, gives the following account of him. 
 *' He took orders in the Church of England, but, being Puritanically 
 " inclined, did dissent in some particulars relating to ceremonies. 
 " Whereupon, finding his place too warm for him, he went to New 
 " England, where he studied in the university and preached to the 
 " brethren there. Afterwards, when there was a gap in the church, 
 " he returned to England, took the Covenant, was an assistant to the 
 " commissioners of Cheshire for the ejection of such whom the godly 
 " party called scandalous, ignorant, and insufficient ministers and 
 " schoolmasters, and became a most pestilent leading person in the 
 " trade of faction in the said county and in Lancashire. In the time 
 " of the rebellion he was a teacher of the church at Dukinfield, in the 
 " parish of Stockport, where he feathered his nest and was held in 
 " Avonderful esteem by the faction. At length, after His Majesty's 
 " restoration, being silenced and forced thence, yet he carried on the 
 " trade of conventicling in private, and was therefore brought several 
 " times into trouble and imprisoned." t 
 
 Persons more competent to judge give a different opinion of the 
 character of this eminent man. He and Newcome were intimate 
 friends, though on the question of church polity they held difterent 
 views — the latter being a rigid Presbyterian, while Eaton was a 
 staunch Congregationalist ; indeed he is said to have originated the 
 controversy bet^veen the Presbyterians and Independents.^ Wood 
 
 * Palfrey's History of New England, vol. i., pages 602, 605. 
 
 f Wood's Athenae Oxon., vol. iii., pages 67'2, 673. 
 
 + Hunter's Life of Oliver Heywood, page 64.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 289 
 
 is substantially correct as to historic facts. Samuel Eaton, like his 
 brother Theophilus, was among the earliest settlers in New England, 
 and on his return he gathered a church at Dukinfield, where he was 
 joined by such in the neighbourhood " as were stiffest for the Con- 
 gregational government."* While there he was appointed chaplain 
 of the forces at Chester, in which city he also formed a church, t 
 
 During his frequent absence from Dukinfield, caused by this 
 appointment at Chester, divisions arose in the church, fostered, it is 
 said, by certain members who, in the language of their day, were 
 called "gifted persons," | whom we now denominate lay preachers, 
 and of whom we should be glad to see a greater number than at 
 present exists. This so weakened the church that Mr. Eaton with- 
 drew to Stockport, along with such as still adhered to him, and 
 preached in the Grammar School, which was founded in the year 
 1487 by Sir Edward Shaw. What we have said about gifted brethren 
 is recorded with some hesitation, inasmuch as Adam Martindale was 
 a Presbyterian, and was at one time troubled by gifted brethren 
 from the church at Stockport, who were, perhaps, a little too zealous 
 in propagating their peculiar views of church government. One of 
 them, named Barrett, was especially offensive to Newcome, who calls 
 him a busy pragmatical man.§ He must have been a person of con- 
 siderable influence, for his signature occurs in 1650 as one of the 
 sequestrators for Cheshire appointed by the Council of State to 
 enforce the Engagement. 
 
 Mr. Eaton was, as stated by Wood, one of the Triers appointed 
 by the commissioners for the approbation of public preachers. In 
 that capacity he, along with the Revs. Richard Heyrick and John 
 Angier examined Mr. Nevt^come. Their commission was dated 
 Whitehall, December 26th, 1656, and was "to receive a certificate 
 " concerning him, signed by three persons, and to make such further 
 " trial of the said person concerning the grace of God in him, as also 
 " his knowledge and utterance for preaching the gospel as you shall 
 " think fit." The. approbation of Mr. Newcome took place at Stock- 
 port on January 9th, 1657.II 
 
 * Martindale, page 74. f See pages 15, 76. 
 
 X Martindale's Autobiography, page 74. § See page 225. 
 
 II Newcome's Autobiography, page 272.
 
 290 Nonconformity in Cheshire, 
 
 Mr. Eaton continued to officiate in the Grammar School Stock- 
 port, until he was ejected by the Act of Uniformity, in 1662. He and 
 many of his hearers afterwards attended the ministry of Mr. Angierat 
 Denton, who, though he did not conform, was allowed to continue 
 the occupation of his pulpit there until death. Eaton did not long sur- 
 vive his ejection. No doubt his time was much occupied, as Wood 
 remarks, in conventicling or preaching in houses, as he had opportunity. 
 Ardeme of Harden Hall had a town's house in Stockport, now used 
 as a bank. Here Eaton no doubt often enjoyed the hospitality 
 which the proprietor was accustomed to afford. He died on 9th 
 January 1664, being sixty-eight years of age. "He was buried at 
 " Denton Chapel, which was a favourite resort of Nonconforming and 
 " ejected ministers, who finding it (as they designated it) a little 
 " Goshen in hfe, desired a continuance of its peaceful associations in 
 " the slumbers of the tomb.'""^ Calamy says, " He left no child, but 
 " left a good name amongst persons of all persuasions." He further 
 speaks of him as "a good scholar and a judicious divine." 
 
 Mr. Eaton published several works. The Mystery of God Incarnate, 
 directed against Mr. J. Knowles, a Socinian, published in 1650; and 
 in the following year, a vindication of the same, both 8vo. Also, 
 The Doctrine of Chrisfs Satisfaction and Reconciliation on Gods 
 part to the Creature; A Discourse on the Springing and Spreading of 
 Error, and the Means of Cure ; A Treatise on the Cath of Allegiance 
 and Covenant, showing that they oblige not ; The Quakers Confuted. 
 This is animadverted on by George Fox, in his book entitled The 
 Great Mystery of the Great Whore Unfolded. He and Timothy Taylort 
 were joint authors of a book entitled Defence of Sujidry Positions 
 and Scriptures alleged to fustify the Congregaiio7ial Way, published in 
 London in 1645, quarto; also, on the same subject, Part second, pub- 
 lished in 1646. This work was replied to by Rev. Richard Hollingworth 
 of Manchester, in a book entitled Queries to Mr. Samuel Eaton and 
 Mr. Timothy Taylor, London 1646, quarto. The latter work is in 
 the Chetham Library, Manchester. Among other subjects, the 
 questions are discussed as to what number is required to constitute 
 a church, and whether or not Christ died a member of the Jewish 
 church, and on the subject of tithes there occurs this question, 
 
 * Chetham's Miscellany, vol. ii., Old Chapel Denton, page 115. 
 f For an account of Taylor see paper on Dukinfield.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 291 
 
 " Was there not liberty within this ver^^ kingdom formerly for persons 
 " to pay their tythes to what minister they pleased ? And consequently 
 " they were not tied to the parish they lived in, but might choose their 
 " own society and pastor. Hence there are pieces of a parish in 
 " some places six or eight miles distant from it."* 
 
 We know of no written records of the history of Nonconformity 
 in Stockport from the passing of the Act of Uniformity until after 
 the passing of the Act of Toleration in 1688. There is ample 
 evidence, however, that the leaven of Nonconformity was operating 
 during that dark period. Its life was of necessity to a large extent 
 a hidden life. We find that Eaton, and many of those who had 
 been accustomed to attend his ministry when he was allowed publicly 
 to preach, attended the ministry of Mr. Angier at Denton, but there 
 can be no doubt but that they secretly held meetings at Stockport. 
 Soon after the passing of the act referred to in 1688, Nonconformity 
 raises its head and leaves traces of its history. There have long 
 existed in the town two distinct branches of Nonconformity, the one 
 represented by the Tabernacle, the other by Orchard-street Chapel. 
 Whether the two were ever united in the same stock cannot now be 
 ascertained. The most ancient and complete records relate to the 
 Tabernacle, but there is no account of any separation from the 
 church at the Tabernacle having taken place to form the church 
 which ultimately found a habitation in Orchard-street Chapel. Under 
 these circumstances, the history of the two places must be treated of 
 separately. 
 
 Tabernacle Chapel, Stockport. 
 
 The first Nonconformist minister in the town after Mr. Eaton, of 
 whom we have any particular account, was Mr. John Byrom. He 
 entered Frankland's academy at Natland, March 17th, idjd.f His 
 first settlement was at Stockport. We do not know the date, but, 
 judging from the time he entered the academy, it could not be long 
 after 1680; and no doubt prior to his settlement the Nonconformists 
 of the town had united to form a church or congregation distinct 
 from the Establishment, though many might during the period of 
 restraint, from 1662 to 1688, continue to attend the Established 
 
 * Eaton and Taylor's reply to Holling-vvorth, page 5. 
 
 t See List of Frankland's Students. The Byroms were a respectable Xoncon- 
 formist family in Manchester. Newcome often mentions them in his Autobiography.
 
 292 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 Church whose sympathies were with the Nonconformists. Byrom's 
 name occurs as one of the signatures to the Agreement of Cheshire 
 Ministers, at their meeting at Dean Row in 1691. He took part at 
 the ordination of the Rev. John Ashe of Asheford in the Peak, and 
 other candidates for the ministry. Dr. Clegg says, "The ordainers 
 " were the Rev. Mr. Bagshaw of Ford, Mr. Samuel Angier of Dukin- 
 " field, Dr. Eaton of Macclesfield, Mr. Gamaliel Jones of Chadkyrk, 
 " and Mr. Byrom of Stockport. Some other ministers were present. 
 " Mr. Byrom began with prayer and reading the Scriptures. . . . 
 " Mr. Byrom prayed at the imposition of hands on Mr. Foolowe."* 
 This ordination took place at Midsummer 1696. Dr. Clegg says, 
 " Mr. Byrom finished his course a few years after, I think in a place 
 " near Saddleworth." He remained at Stockport until about the year 
 1697. t The congregation of which he was the minister no doubt 
 erected the chapel which occupied the site where the Tabernacle now 
 stands, although dates will prove that he must have left Stockport 
 before that chapel was built. 
 
 Mr. Byrom's successor was the Rev. Richard Milne. He 
 entered Frankland's academy at Rathmell May i6th, 1693.:}: In 
 relation to his ordination, Matthew Henry makes the following entry 
 in his diary: — "17th June 17 00. This day I went to Macclesfield to join 
 " my brethren the ministers of Cheshire and Lancashire in an ordina- 
 " tion. The candidates were . . Mr. Richard MilnesofStopford."§ 
 The chapel referred to must have been built during the early part of 
 Mr. Milne's ministry, for the indenture by which the land on which 
 it stands was leased is dated 24th June 1700, a few days after the 
 date of his ordination. Where the congregation worshipped during 
 the ministry of Mr. Byrom, and prior to the passing of the Act of 
 Toleration, is not known — probably it was in some secluded court 
 near to, if not on the same spot where the chapel was built. The 
 indenture of lease is made between Edward Davenport of the one 
 part, and Richard Clough, Samuel Hey, Enoch Henshall, and Thomas 
 Taylor of the other part. Perhaps the lessor was as much in sympathy 
 with Nonconformity as were the lessees, for, considering the site, the 
 annual ground rent charged is a mere acknowledgment. It was 
 
 * Dr. Clegg's Life of Ashe, page 58. 
 
 f See Monthly Repository, vol. vi., page 204. + List of Frankland's Students. 
 
 gTong's Life of Henry, pages 261, 262.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 293 
 
 situated in Middle Hillgate, and, after standing for more than a 
 hundred years, it was taken down and the present Tabernacle was 
 erected on the same site in 1806-7. 
 
 Mr. Milne married Mrs. Lydia Stanfield of the Breck, near Halifax, 
 on October 19th, 1703, by whom he had several children.* He was 
 a member of the Association of Cheshire Ministers, but seems not to 
 have attended regularly; for in 1709 it is noted in the minute book, 
 " Mr. Richard Milnes of Stopford has for several meetings absented 
 " himself from us." In 17 15 he had 629 hearers, of whom twenty 
 were gentlemen. He was at Stockport from 1700 to 17 18, when he 
 gave up the ministry. 
 
 Samuel De la Rose succeeded Mr. Milne. In the early part of 
 his ministry a serious division took place in the church, which resulted 
 in a separation. The seceding party erected a chapel in High-street, 
 which, within the last few years, has been taken down. The church 
 at this place ultimately embraced Unitarian doctrines, and their suc- 
 cessors now occupy a very handsome chapel erected in S. Peter's Gate. 
 The immediate cause of this division was a sermon by Mr. De la Rose. 
 It was preached first on July 27th, 17 18, and again, on account of 
 the dissatisfaction which it had created, on February 12th, 1721, in 
 which year it was also committed to the press, under the title of A 
 Brief Accoujit of the Tiuo Covenants. Along with it is a preface by 
 the brother of the author, John De la Rose, who appears to have 
 resided at Sheffield, explaining the circumstances under which the 
 sermon was composed, and endorsing the views Avhich it contains. 
 
 The sermon is now before the ^^Titer of this paper, which he has 
 carefully read, together with remarks on the same, in a pamphlet 
 of seventy-one pages, written by James Clegg, M.D., minister at 
 Chinley, and addressed to a friend at Stockport who had sent him 
 the sermon; and considering the liberal views which are now held 
 in relation to the topic on which it treats, it seems strange that it 
 should ever have been the- cause of so serious a division. It is a 
 mistake to suppose that the questions at issue were those which 
 divide Trinitarians from Unitarians; these are not so much as 
 mooted. The cause of offence was what is now technically called 
 '• high doctrine." Mr. De la Rose was what would be called a 
 High Calvinist, though there are passages in the appendix to his 
 
 * Wilson's MS., Red Cross-street Library.
 
 294 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 sermon which shew that he did not belong to the extreme portion of 
 that school — those opposed to him, as represented by Mr. Clegg, 
 were what we should term moderate Calvinists, or simply Calvinists. 
 
 The text on which the sermon was preached is i Corinthians xv. 22, 
 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive. He 
 first gives " Some account of the covenant of works, or that covenant 
 " which God entered into with Adam in his state of innocence," in 
 which he asserts the federal headship of Adam, and in relation to 
 his sin says, " It is our duty to be deeply sensible of the sin of our 
 " natures, and greatly humbled for it. That guilt which is upon us 
 " considered as in our first head, Adam, would sink every soul of us 
 " out of the reach of mercy, though we had never committed any 
 " other sin all the days of our lives. Christ's blood is as absolutely 
 " necessary for the pardon of our original sin as for the pardon of the 
 " most daring and flagitious actual sins that we can commit." He 
 next gives " some account of that everlasting covenant which God 
 " and Christ had entered into for the sake of the elect." It is to the 
 representation given of this covenant that objection is taken by Mr. 
 Clegg. There are four positions to which he objects, as being dis- 
 agreeable to the doctrine delivered in the Scriptures : — 
 
 I. " That the "covenant of grace was made betwixt God the Father 
 " as one party, and His only Son the Redeemer of men, considered 
 " as a publick person, as the other party." Mr. Clegg objects that 
 what is in Scripture called the "new" and '"better" covenant, and 
 which divines have generally agreed to call the " covenant of grace," 
 is throughout the Old and New Testament represented "as made 
 " betwixt God and man as the covenanting parties, and Jesus Christ 
 " as mediator of it." He says, "The difference is not whether God 
 " the Father and God the Son did enter into a covenant concerning 
 " the recovery of fallen man, in which the method and the terms of 
 " our salvation were adjusted and secured, and the foundation of the 
 " covenant of grace was laid. This I do not deny, though many of 
 " our divines are of opinion it cannot so properly be called a covenant 
 " as a mediatorial law, which was given by the Father to the Redeemer, 
 " to be by Him fulfilled and obeyed in order to our salvation. And 
 " I find one of no mean esteem amongst the learned observing that 
 " God the Father and the Son, having one and the same essence, 
 " must have one and the same will ; and there cannot be a covenant 
 " properly so called but where there are two wills mutually consenting
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 295 
 
 " to it. Others call it a simple decree concerning man's redemption, 
 " in which the will of the Father, Son, and HolySpirit is included. . . 
 " Let this transaction betwixt the Father and the Redeemer be called 
 " a mediatorial law, or a covenant of redemption (I shall not contend 
 " about words so long as we are agreed in the thing), call it how you 
 " will, such a transaction I freely grant. . . . The covenant of 
 " redemption made between God the Father and God the Son is not 
 " the same covenant with that which the Scripture calls the new and 
 " better covenant, and which divines have generally agreed to call 
 " the covenant of grace, in opposition to the first covenant made with 
 " Adam in his innocent state, commonly called the covenant of 
 " works. Therefore the Brief Account of the Two Covenants does 
 " not give a true account of them, for it either puts one covenant for 
 " another, or confounds one covenant with another which is in many 
 " respects quite different from it. And this confounding of these two 
 " covenants, or putting one of them in the place of the other, appears 
 " to me a matter of very ill consequence, as tending to defeat the 
 " whole design of the Christian religion; for if God hath made no 
 " other covenant relating to the salvation of sinners but that which 
 " He made with the Lord our Redeemer, it will fpUow that man is 
 " not personally bound to keep any covenant, nor can justly be 
 " charged with the breach of any whatever he does." 
 
 I have quoted this lengthy passage from Mr. Clegg's pamphlet 
 because it contains the root principle of difference between him and 
 Mr. De la Rose out of which the other objections advanced to the 
 Brief Account m.\.wxz}\Y 's^^xmg, and also because it shews how fully 
 the persons opposed to Mr. De la Rose, as represented by Mr. Clegg, 
 subscribed to the doctrines of the Deity of Christ and the Trinity. 
 These are points never disputed on either side, and most clearly 
 avowed by both. 
 
 II. The second position to which Mr. Clegg objects is " That 
 " Jesus Christ, as the head of the elect, was to perform, and accor- 
 " dingly hath performed, the condition of the covenant of grace ; and 
 " left nothing for us to do but to reap the benefits of it." His objec- 
 tions to this position are, ist, " That if Christ were the federal head 
 '' or representative of the elect in this transaction, then the elect 
 " would be in the covenant as soon as they are born, and even earlier, 
 " instead of which he finds the apostles inviting men to come into the 
 " covenant, and reminding the elect Ephesians of their former
 
 296 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " condition, that in times past they were without Christy being aliens 
 ^^ from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of 
 ^'■promise, having no hope, and without God in the world." — Ephesians 
 ii. 12. 2nd, "Whenever the covenant was renewed, man was a party 
 " to it — Abraham and David." 3rd, " If Christ be mediator between 
 " God and man, then was the covenant made between God and man, 
 " for Christ is the mediator of the covenant, and consequently 
 " mediator between the covenanting parties." 4th, "All the terms 
 " required by the covenant of grace are required of fallen man; 
 " therefore man was a party with whom the covenant was made. 
 " Man is required to yield himself to God, to repent, to believe, and 
 " to obey the gospel ; and Jesus Christ never undertook to repent, 
 " to believe, or to obey the gospel in his stead. These conditions 
 " tYtry man is bound to perform in his own person {though no man 
 " can by his own power), as he hopes for salvation," &:c., &c. Mr. 
 Clegg here quotes Owen, Baxter, Tillotson, Pearson, and others, in 
 support of his view of the subject. 
 
 III. " That whatever Jesus Christ hath done or suffered, as head 
 " of the covenant, is imputed to us; and God esteems of us as though 
 " we had done it." On this Mr. Clegg remarks, " I firmly believe 
 " that whatever our Blessed Saviour did and suffered for us is so far 
 " imputed to every believer in him as to be every whit as effectual for 
 " his salvation as if the believer had done and suffered it in his own 
 " person; and he who relies upon anything besides this as coming in 
 " competition or concurring with it, to be in any degree the meritorious 
 " cause of any saving benefit will be found to trust to a broken reed." 
 Again, " It is certain that Christ suffered for the sins of mankind, and 
 " that not only to vindicate the honour of the divine attributes, law, 
 " and government, and to deter offenders from transgressing in hopes 
 " of impunity; but He suffered for our good, and that not only in the 
 " Socinian sense, to give us an example of constancy and patience in 
 " asserting the truth and bearing injuries; nor only to confirm the 
 " doctrine he delivered ; but He suffered loco nostro, in our stead. 
 " His death was, strictly speaking, a propitiatory sacrifice offered to 
 " God instead of the death of the sinner, which was his due by law. 
 " But that we suffered or satisfied in Christ, or that God accounts us 
 " to have done so, is what I cannot understand ; 'tis language the 
 " Scripture is a stranger to." He then shews the immoral consequences 
 which he conceives naturally follow from this view. " If God esteems
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 297 
 
 " us as if we had done it ourselves, then there can remain no obliga- 
 " tion upon us by the law either to obey it or to suffer for disobedience ; 
 " we have neither anything to do nor anything to fear ; there can be 
 " no such thing in the elect as sin or desert of suffering. How wel- 
 " come must this doctrine be to the lazy and licentious! but how 
 " dangerous to the souls of men !" 
 
 IV. " That neither faith nor repentance, nor any other gift or 
 " grace of the Spirit of God hath anything to do in the business of 
 " our justification before God." Here Mr. Clegg quotes passages of 
 Scripture which will readily occur to the mind, where we are said to 
 be justified by faith, and where repentance and obedience are required 
 in order to our acceptance with God. 
 
 The difference between Mr. De la Rose and Mr. Clegg manifestly 
 results from the former confounding two things which ought to be 
 kept distinct, namely — the arrangement entered into between the 
 Father and the Son for the redemption of men, and the arrangement 
 according to which the blessings of Christ's work are conferred upon 
 men. That an arrangement was entered into between the Father and 
 the Son for the redemption of men Mr. Clegg admits, but prefers to 
 call it a mediatorial law, or covenant of redemption. If this be called 
 a covenant, then Mr. De la Rose is right in representing the Father 
 as one party to it and Christ as the other. He is further right in 
 saying that Christ performed all the conditions of this covenant, and 
 left nothing for us to do but to reap the benefits of it, though it does 
 not follow either that Christ was a party to this covenant, considered 
 as a public person, namely, federal head of the elect, or that Mr. De 
 la Rose's views of imputation are correct "that whatever Jesus Christ 
 " has done or suffered as head of the covenant is imputed to us; and 
 " God esteems of us as though we had done it." Blessings are con- 
 ferred upon us on account of what Christ has done, but God does 
 not esteem of us as though we had been rich and became poor, and 
 suffered the death of the cross as a sacrifice for sins. We may receive 
 the benefits of Christ's work without being esteemed to have done 
 the work. 
 
 And then ]\Ir. De la Rose ignores, in name at least, the arrange- 
 ment by which God confers the blessings of Christ's redemptive work 
 on men, and which is called a covenant to which men are parties, 
 and of which Jesus Christ is the mediator. We say he ignores it in 
 name, because he does not wholly ignore it in fact. In the appendix
 
 298 Nonconfortniiy in Cheshire. 
 
 to his sermon, when answering an objection to the words "That 
 " neither faith nor repentance, nor faith and repentance, nor any other 
 " gift and grace, nor all the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit, have 
 " anything to do with the business of our justification before God ; 
 " 'tis the righteousness of Christ we must be justified by before God," 
 he says, " All that I meant and mean is, that faith and repentance are 
 " not the matter or meritorious cause of our justifying righteousness. 
 " And I cannot but think still that faith and repentance, though 
 " necessary to salvation in their place, yet are not the procuring cause, 
 " in whole or part, of our justifying righteousness, much less that 
 " righteousness itself" 
 
 It is clear from Mr. Clegg's strictures that the thing of which he 
 and his friends were afraid was the prevalence of Antinomianism, 
 which had just wrought such evils in New England. Whatever may 
 be deemed the logical tendency of some of Mr. De la Rose's doc- 
 trinal positions, it would be unjust to his memory to suppose that he 
 did not enforce the duties of a holy life. He does this earnestly at 
 the conclusion of the sermon in question, when dwelling on the 
 evidences of being in the covenant of works or the covenant of grace. 
 One of the evidences of being in the covenant of works which he 
 adduces is, " You are either not careful to maintain good works, or 
 " are for making another use of them than what God has appointed. 
 " Either you are careless of the commands of God, or else think that 
 " your obedience to them has something meritorious in it." 
 
 The ministers in the neighbourhood generally seem to have sym- 
 pathised with Mr. Clegg and the party opposed to Mr. De la Rose. 
 This was apparently not only on account of his theological views, but 
 also because he did not apply to the Association of Cheshire for his 
 ordination. The action which the association took in the case is 
 shewn by the following extracts from their Minute Book : — 
 
 " May 2nd, 172 1. Mr. De la Rose accused some of the ministers 
 " then present that, in concurrence with other persons, they ordered 
 " a paper to be read in his congregation, when he was absent, to his 
 " prejudice. Upon a full examination of that matter, the question 
 " was put whether Mr. De la Rose had made good his accusation, 
 " and it was carried in the negative, nemine contradicente." 
 
 "August 8th, 1 72 1. With respect to the affair of Stockport, 
 " agreed that we think it advisable to consider their case, and to 
 " invite both sides to give their declarations, and if one refuse,
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 299 
 
 " however, to advise the complying party. Resolved, — The advice 
 " of this assembly is that Mr. De la Rose leave Stockport; that the 
 " contending parties unite in the choice of another pastor; that, in case 
 " of refusal, the dissatisfied party is at liberty to choose for themselves. 
 " Lastly, resolved that a letter of advice be drawn up agreeably to 
 " these minutes, and that a committee be appointed to draw it up ; and 
 " a letter was sent, a copy of which here followeth : — 
 
 "Knutsford, August 8th, 1721. 
 
 " Sirs, — After mature consideration of the state of the congregation of Protes- 
 " tant Dissenters in Stockport, upon the best information we were able to procure, 
 " we are clearly of opinion that the following advices are the most seasonable : — 
 
 " 1st. That Mr. De la Rose should peaceably withdraw from the said congre- 
 " gation. 
 
 " 2nd. That thereupon the two parties then should unite in the choice of a 
 " suitable person to be their pastor. But, in case either Mr. De la Rose shall 
 " refuse to withdraw, or those that adhere to him shall not consent to his with- 
 " drawing, that then 
 
 " 3rdly, It may be expedient for those who are dissatisfied with him to provide 
 " themselves, as God direct, of a pastor. 
 
 " Signed in the name of the ministers met at the time and place above by their 
 "appointment, John Gardner,* Moderator." 
 
 "September 4th, 1722. A question being put whether Mr. De la 
 " Rose's management, in not applying to the class for his ordination, 
 " was an irregularity, it was carried unanimously in the affirmative. 
 " Then another question being put, consequent upon the former, 
 " whether Mr. De la Rose be admitted or not admitted a member of 
 " this class, it was unanimously carried in the negative." 
 
 Mr. De la Rose and that part of the church which adhered to 
 him retained possession of the chapel. The part of the church and 
 congregation that were opposed to him retired, and erected a chapel 
 in High-street. The first minister of the new place was a Mr. 
 James Hardy. His name occurs in the minutes of the Cheshire 
 Classis, where it is said that the ministers met at Stockport on Sep- 
 tember 3rd, 1723, and Mr. Hardy was ordained. He had then been 
 at Stockport above a year, namely, from July nth, 1722. Mr. Clegg 
 was one of the ministers who officiated at his ordination. The names 
 of the other ministers were Worthington, Waterhouse, and Irlam. 
 As late as 1785 to 1792 there was a minister here, the Rev. L. Wilson, 
 afterwards D.D., whose doctrinal views did not prevent him from 
 
 * Mr. Gardner was Matthew Henry's successor at Chester.
 
 300 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 undertaking^ charge in the Scotch Church at Falkirk. He was the 
 author of a reply to Wakefield on the Sabbath. 
 
 At the old chapel, Mr. De la Rose was succeeded by Mr. Edmund 
 Fletcher, probably about 1730, who afterwards removed to the Peak 
 Chapel. The next minister was the Rev. James Smith, M. A., who was 
 ordained on August 26th, i74i,and remained at Stockport till his death. 
 He was succeeded by the Rev. Peter Walkden, A.M., of Holcombe, 
 Avho gave the charge at Mr. Smith's ordination. He was educated at 
 Manchester under Coningham and Chorlton, and died at Stockport 
 on 5th November 1749. His successor was the Rev. Thomas Brook. 
 He was educated at the Heckmondwike Academy, of which the Rev. 
 James Scott, D.D., was tutor. He also continued here until his death, 
 which took place on the 19th August 1789. Several of his descend- 
 ants still attend the Tabernacle. There was a vacancy in the pastorate 
 for four years after Mr. Brook's death, when he was succeeded by the 
 Rev. Thomas Crowther of Northowram Academy, who was ordained 
 on the 6th November 1793. His ministry was short, for he died in 
 about five months after his ordination, namely, on 30th March 1794. 
 The next was the Rev. T. Auchincloss, D.D. He also continued 
 minister of this place until his death, which occurred on the 29th of 
 May 1800. In 1796, when infidelity prevailed in England as well as 
 in France, he published three sermons, still extant, on The Sophistry 
 of the First Part of Payne's '■'■Age of Reason;'''' or, a Rational Vindica- 
 tion of the Holy Scriptures as a Positive Revelation from God; with 
 the Causes of Deism. On the death of Dr. Auchincloss, the chapel 
 was closed for a short time in consequence of its delapidated condi- 
 tion. After some repairs it was re-opened, and the Rev. Daniel 
 Dunkerley was appointed pastor, and removed to Loxley, near 
 Sheffield, in 1803. "On the 15th October 1804, the Rev. Solomon 
 " Ashton supplied the pulpit for the first time. The congregation 
 " then numbered only about forty persons. After hearing him for 
 " three successive Sabbaths, they gave him a call, which he accepted." 
 From that time until his ordination, which took place on 19th June 
 1806, he was a student in an academy at Manchester, established and 
 principally supported by the munificence of Robert Spear, Esq., and 
 presided over by the Rev. William Roby. This institution was after- 
 wards removed to Blackburn, and is now represented by the Lanca- 
 shire Independent College. The congregation rapidly increased 
 under Mr. Ashton's ministry, so that it became too large for the
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 301 
 
 chapel to accommodate. The old chapel was therefore taken down, 
 and a new one erected on the same site and called the "Tabernacle." 
 It was opened on the 23rd of August 1807, and will accommodate 
 about six hundred people. Mr. Ashton continued here until his 
 death, which took place on the 14th September 1836, in the sixty- 
 second year of his age and the thirty-second of his ministry. His 
 people evinced their respect for him by erecting, near the pulpit, a 
 handsome marble tablet to his memor)^ His funeral sermon was 
 preached by the Rev. Samuel Bradley of Manchester, in the large 
 room of the Stockport Sunday-school, which was crowded to excess, 
 numbers being unable to obtain admission. Two of his sons now 
 attend the chapel. The jubilee of the Tabernacle was held on nth 
 August 1857, when Mr. W. H. Ashton read a historical sketch of the 
 place, from which this account of his father is chiefly taken. It does 
 honour to the memory both of the ministers and the people who have 
 been connected with this place, that their union was in so many cases 
 perpetuated until terminated by death. It is said of some place that 
 its ministers are immortal — none ever see death while minister of the 
 place. The life-long union of minister and people was generally 
 more common in former times than it is now. The vacancy caused 
 by Mr. Ashton's death was supplied by Mr. Ebexezer Davies, a 
 student of Rotherham College. He entered on the pastorate in July 
 1838, and resigned it in October 1839. He was succeeded by the 
 Rev. John Thornton of Darlington, on the 22nd December 1840. 
 In 1848 Mr. Thornton and a large portion of the church withdrew 
 from the Tabernacle, and erected Wycliffe Chapel, a neat Gothic 
 edifice, situated in Heaton Norris, and of which he continues to be 
 the minister. The next minister at the Tabernacle was the Rev. 
 Mark Howard, who was educated at Airedale College. He was 
 ordained on the 30th January 1850, and resigned his office in April 
 1853, He is now minister of Lower Chapel, Heckmondwike. Mr. 
 Howard was succeeded by the Rev. James Buckley, from Horbury, 
 near Wakefield, who was also educated at Airedale College. He 
 entered on his ministry at the Tabernacle in July 1854, and in 
 186 1 his health was such that he felt it to be his duty to relinquish 
 the responsibilities of a stated pastor. He therefore resigned his office 
 in December of that year, after having spent thirty-six years in his 
 master's service, as minister in succession of Independent churches at 
 Thirsk, Peniston, Horbury, and Stockport. Mr. Buckley continues
 
 302 Nonconformity m Cheshire. 
 
 to reside in the town, and preaches occasionally. Mr. Woodhouse, 
 of Cavendish College Manchester, accepted an invitation to succeed 
 him, and entered on his ministry at the Tabernacle on the Qlh of 
 August 1863. 
 
 There is another branch of Congregational Nonconformity at 
 present represented by Orchard-street Chapel and Hanover 
 Chapel, the precise origin of which the writer of the present paper 
 has not been able to discover. Neal mentions only one congre- 
 gation in Stockport, but MattheAV Henry, in his Diary, October 
 20th, 1711, mentions a Mr. Hyde of Stockport being recommended 
 to the people at Ware.* At that date Mr. Milne was minister of 
 the Tabernacle, then called Hillgate Chapel, so that Mr. Hyde 
 must either have been residing in Stockport without a charge, or 
 else there must at the time have been two congregations, for 
 there is no evidence of his having been associated in the pastorate 
 with Mr. Milne. We are disposed to think, however, that the branch 
 of Nonconfonnity of which we now treat had its origin at a later date. 
 Prior to the erection of Orchard-street Chapel, the parent congrega- 
 tion worshipped in what was called Water-street Chapel, so designated 
 from its nearness to the river, situa*^ed in a district of the town known 
 as the Park, which seems in former days to have been a pleasant 
 slope from the castle down to the river. This building still stands, 
 but has been converted into warerooms. Orchard-street Chapel was 
 built in the year 1788. It would then be deemed a very respectable 
 edifice, so that the congregation must at that time have possessed 
 considerable strength. The first minister of the new chapel, and for 
 whom it was erected, was the Rev. William Maurice, who had pre- 
 viously been minister at Haslington and at Bolton. He remained 
 about five years at Stockport, and then removed to Fetter Lane 
 Chapel London. Mr. Maurice must have been an eff"ective preacher, 
 and much respected. He delivered a discourse before the Missionary 
 Society, at the solemn designation of the missionaries appointed for 
 the second mission to the South Seas, on November 13th, 1798, at 
 Spa Fields Chapel London, which was also published under the title 
 of Ihe Meridian Glory of the Redeemer's Kifigdom. The writer of 
 this paper has in his possession another sermon published by Mr. 
 
 * Wilson's MS. Red Cross-street Library.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 303 
 
 Maurice, entitled Mercy Triumphant; a Discourse delivered at Fetter 
 Lane Meeting London, June i^t/i, 1800, occasio/ied by the Death of 
 John Osborne Dawson, who was Executed for Forgery at Newgate, 
 June $th, 1800. This sermon reached several editions, although its 
 price was i^. 6d. in a pamphlet form of sixty pages. There is 
 appended to the sermon a brief account of the young man who was 
 the occasion of its being preached. He was a person of education. 
 He ascribes his misfortune to an over generous spirit. He says, in 
 an account written by himself, on the evening before he suffered, 
 " The fatal money was destined to a project which, had it been 
 " accomplished successfully, might not only have concealed the means 
 " of effecting it, but have worked the happiness and prosperity of 
 " many. I sought to relieve those I knew in need of help. I missed 
 " my aim, and lost my life!" Mr. Maurice was induced by a friend 
 to visit him in Newgate. He had many interviews with him, which 
 he was persuaded led to the most satisfactory result. On the morning 
 of his execution he said to Mr. Maurice, '•! am happy; I verily 
 " believe this will be one of my best days, and that as my day is so 
 "• my strength will be." They then spent much time in prayer, in 
 which the young man himself engaged. He observed, " I think if I 
 " shrink at all it will be at the tolling of the bell." When he heard 
 it, however, he said without dismay, " There is the bell, but it has no 
 " unhappy effect on me ; the Lord, I firmly beheve, will not leave 
 " me till the last." At the latch he bade farewell to Mr. Maurice, and 
 said, " We shall soon meet in a world where we shall never be 
 " separated." He had then a smile upon his countenance, and with 
 that smile he appeared to the people, which led the Times newspaper 
 to say that he died " with unconcern." The sermon preached by Mr. 
 Maurice is on i Timothy i. 16, Ho wbeit for this cause L obtained 
 mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth al/ long suffering, 
 for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life 
 everlasting. He sets forth, ist — The apparent obstacles in his 
 character to his obtaining mercy; 2nd — The nature of that mercy 
 which he found ; and 3rd — The design of God in this example of 
 mercy. 
 
 The next minister at Orchard -street Chapel Avas the Rev. Robert 
 Anlezark. He continued there from February 1793 to May 1801, 
 and afterwards conformed. He was succeeded by the Rev. William 
 Evans. There is an interesting memoir of Mr. Evans published in
 
 304 Nonco7iformity in Cheshire. 
 
 the Evangelical Magazine for 18 16, from which the following account 
 is chiefly taken. He was born at Bala, in Merionethshire, in 1773. 
 He early displayed a thirst for knowledge, and took great delight in 
 the ^\Titings of the old Welsh bards. The following is related as a 
 well-authenticated anecdote. "A public meeting of the Welsh bards 
 " being held at Bala, when he was about fourteen years of age, at 
 " which a silver plate was to be awarded to the best composer in 
 " verse, an aged poet, Mr. Robert Hughes, was appointed judge on 
 " the occasion; who, being aware of his young friend's knowledge of 
 " the Welsh language, and of his accurate acquaintance with all the 
 " rules of Welsh poetry, informed the bards that he would not under- 
 " take the office unless Billy Evans were allowed to be his assistant. 
 " This being wannly recommended by a respectable clergyman, it 
 " was approved of; and the venerable old man and the young boy 
 " sat as critics and passed their united verdict on the performances of 
 " the day." In early life he was led to the knowledge of Christ. In 
 January 179 1, he was admitted by the Congregational Fund Board 
 into their academy at Oswestry, then under the care of the Rev. Dr. 
 Edward Williams, afterwards of the Rev. Jenkin Lewis. He was 
 highly esteemed both by his tutors and fellow students. His first 
 settlement as a minister was at Lane Delph, in the Potteries, in the 
 year 1795, where he continued three years and a half, and then 
 removed to Bridgnorth, in the county of Salop. Here he was ordained 
 to the pastoral office on April 8th, 1801. In December of the same 
 year the church at Orchard-street Chapel, Stockport, invited him to 
 become its pastor, which invitation he respectfully declined. In June 
 1803, the invitation was renewed, and after due deliberation he 
 accepted it, and on the 29th September he entered on his new sphere. 
 The congregation was then small, but it rapidly increased. Mr. Evans 
 soon turned his earnest attention to the dark and destitute parts of the 
 county. This eventually gave rise to the Cheshire Union for the Sup- 
 port of Itinerant Preachers ; the first report of which was drawn up by 
 Mr. Evans, and published in 1806. He became secretary of the society, 
 and was accustomed, half-yearly, to visit the itinerants to cheer them 
 on in their work. The congregation at Orchard-street Chapel sub- 
 scribed largely to the funds of the society, their contributions amounting 
 to nearly 150/. per annum. The testimony borne to his preaching, 
 both as to matter and style, is of the highest character. He fre- 
 quently officiated on pubhc occasions, such as ordinations. He
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 305 
 
 preached at the ordination of Mr. Silvester of Sandbach. His health 
 seriously declined about two years prior to his death. He, however, 
 continued to discharge his ministerial duties as long as his strength 
 would permit. When asked by a friend, about the commencement 
 of his illness, "Are you afraid of death?" he replied, "Yes, very; when 
 " I think of the act of dying, and of the separation of body and spirit 
 " from each other, it makes me shudder, though I feel no anxiety or 
 " apprehension at all as to my future state." This fear of death was 
 ultimately destroyed. A fortnight before he died, being asked if his 
 covenant God was with him, he answered with a smile, " Yes, yes, I 
 " have heaven in my eye and glory in my heart; I see what I never 
 " saw before, I feel what I never felt before, and what I cannot express 
 " to you. How unutterable are the glories of that kingdom to which 
 " I am going ! It is well to begin well; but it is glorious to end well. 
 " I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course; and there 
 " is laid up for me a crown of life — but not to me, to Him who hath 
 " saved me and taught me these things be all the glory." After 
 speaking suitable words to his wife and other friends who had come 
 to visit him, he said, " There is one thing more I have to mention, 
 " which lies near and is very dear to my heart — the Cheshire Union. 
 " Let it still continue and remain long a union ; give up everything 
 " but truth and a good conscience for the sake of union and brotherly 
 " love; give it your support and let it have your prayers, for I know 
 " it is the Lord's work." He fell asleep in Jesus September 29th, 
 1814, in the forty-second year of his age. His people testified their 
 respect for his memory by subscribing a fund, the interest of which, 
 amounting to upwards of 40/. per annum, was paid to his widow, and 
 at her decease, which took place recently, the principal was distributed 
 among his children. 
 
 The next minister of Orchard-street Chapel was the Rev. N. K. 
 PuGSLEY, who was educated at Hoxton Academy. He settled in 
 Stockport in 18 15. Owing to the long illness of Mr. Evans, and his 
 consequent incapacity for ministerial duties, the congregation was at 
 the time much reduced. Under the new appointment it soon revived, 
 and a steady and respectable congregation was maintained until Mr. 
 Pugsley resigned the pastorate in December 18 19. A portion of 
 the congregation then withdrew from Orchard-street Chapel, and 
 resolved to erect for Mr. Pugsley a new place of worship, Hanover 
 Chapel, in the township of Heaton Norris, where there was a large
 
 366 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 population, and where, with the exception of a small Episcopal chapel 
 at a distance, there was neither church, chapel, preaching station, 
 nor Sunday-school. The first subscriptions towards the erection 
 amounted to nearly 3,000/., and this sum was soon increased by 
 persons who had till then never been connected with the Noncon- 
 formist body. The chapel was commenced in the summer of 1820, 
 and after some trials of faith and patience was opened for Divine 
 service on the first Sunday of October 1821. The morning service was 
 conducted by the Rev. Dr. Mc.All of Manchester, and the evening 
 service by the Rev. William Thorpe of Bristol, and on the Wednesday 
 evening following a service was conducted by the Rev. Dr. Collyer of 
 London. Mr. Pugsley continued minister of the chapel until June 
 1858, when he resigned his office in consequence of age. At that 
 time, among other expressions of esteem, the congregation placed a 
 life-sized portrait of their minister in the schoolroom connected with 
 the chapel. Mr. Pugsley was succeeded by the Rev. Ernest Coulson 
 Jay, who entered on the pastorate of Hanover Chapel in June 1858, 
 and resigned in January 1862. A successor to Mr. Jay has not yet 
 been appointed. 
 
 The successor to Mr. Pugsley at Orchard-street Chapel was the 
 Rev. George Frederick Ryan, since Dr. Ryan, recently of Beverley, 
 now residing at Bridlington, having resigned the pastorate in conse- 
 quence of age. He settled at Stockport in 1820, and resigned his 
 charge in 1831. Mr. Ryan was succeeded by the Rev. John Wad- 
 DiNGTON, formerly a student at Airedale College, now Dr. Waddington 
 of London, who commenced his ministry at Stockport in 1832. 
 Hitherto the Independents of Stockport had almost wholly dis- 
 pensed with Sabbath-schools in immediate connection with their 
 places of worship, in consequence of the existence of what is called 
 the Large School — an institution which was founded in the year 
 1805, and is conducted on the principle of ignoring all denominational 
 distinctions. Mr. Waddington secured the erection of a school in 
 connection with Orchard-street Chapel in the year 1833. Another 
 school of larger dimensions was erected in 1852, and the principle of 
 having a school under the immediate supervision of the church has 
 now become general among the Independents. It has never been 
 otherwise with the Episcopalians and Methodists. Mr. Waddington 
 resigned his charge at Stockport, and removed to Union Chapel 
 Surrey, in June 1846.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 307 
 
 Mr. Waddington was succeeded at Orchard-street Chapel by the 
 present minister, the Rev. Absalom Clark, who was educated at the 
 Lancashire Independent College. He settled at Stockport in July 
 1847, 3.nd was ordained on the Good Friday following; on which 
 occasion the Rev. John Angell James made his last visit to Stockport, 
 and preached the sermon to the people. Dr. Vaughan delivered the 
 charge to the minister, and the Rev. Richard Fletcher preached the 
 introductory discourse, on the nature and constitution of a Christian 
 church. 
 
 Particular Baptist Church, Stockport.* 
 
 For some years it was a cause of surprise and regret to many 
 persons of the denomination, that no Particular Baptist Church was 
 formed in the populous borough of Stockport. That the town was 
 one of great importance was ob\-ious from the fact that in 183 1 its 
 population amounted to 70,000 souls. Several attempts had been 
 made to supply this deficiency, but they were so unsuitably con- 
 ducted, and were so inadequate to the necessities of the case, that 
 they at once proved abortive. With the hope that some efficient 
 effort might ultimately be made, a small chape! which had been 
 built by a zealous sceptic for the purpose of disseminating the infidel 
 principles of the French Revolution, and situated on Brinksway 
 Bank, was purchased by Joseph Leese, Esq., one of the deacons of 
 the Baptist Church, York-street, Manchester, and a magistrate of the 
 county of Lancaster. The situation of the chapel, however, was at 
 too great a distance from the towoi to render it available for the pur- 
 pose contemplated by the purchaser. The General Baptists were 
 kindly allowed to occupy it free of charge, but they could not suc- 
 ceed in obtaining a congregation, and so gave up the place. In the 
 year 1836, the Lancashire Itinerant Society resolved to renew the 
 efforts which had been hitherto unsuccessful, and in this they 
 were assisted by a grant of 30/. per annum from the parent Itinerant 
 Society in London. A small committee was appointed to make the 
 necessary arrangements, consisting of the Rev. John Aldis, pastor of 
 the Baptist Church, George-street, Manchester; Mr. J. Marsh of 
 Ashton; and Mr. T. Harbottle of Heywood. The only place 
 
 * Furnished by the Rev. Joseph Pywell, minister of the place.
 
 308 Nonconformity in ChesJiire. 
 
 which could be procured was the old assembly room in Chestergate, 
 which was taken at a rental of 15/. per annum, though it was felt to 
 be anything but desirable for a place of public worship. This room 
 was opened on Sunday, January ist, 1837; Mr. J. Marsh and the 
 Rev. J. Aldis preaching on the occasion. For twelve months this 
 infant cause had many difficulties to contend with, arising chiefly 
 from the want of a resident minister. Mr. Taylor of Bingley, Mr. 
 Harbottle of Heyvvood, and Mr. Jones of Liverpool, respectively, 
 visited Stockport witli a view to a settlement, but each declined to 
 undertake the duties of the station, and the hope which their 
 presence, and the degree of success realised by them, had raised, was 
 disappointed. 
 
 The pulpit Avas unoccupied for thirteen Sundays during the year, 
 as there was some difficulty in obtaining ministers. The prospect 
 of success was gloomy. The attention of the committee was at 
 length directed to the Rev. Charles Baker, the minister of a 
 small church at Boston, near Nottingham, who, on application having 
 been made to him by the Rev. J. Aldis, consented to visit the station 
 and make trial of it for a few weeks. Mr. Baker reached Stockport 
 on December 29th, 1837, and entered upon his preparatory labours on 
 Sunday the 31st. The congregation on that day was very small, 
 and during the five following Sundays there were scarcely any 
 indications of improvement. However, after having sought Divine 
 direction, and consulted with some of his friends at Nottingham, Mr. 
 Baker consented to accept the charge at Stockport, and commenced 
 his labours on Sunday February 25th, 1838. For some months his 
 success was so inconsiderable that the Itinerant Society, at its 
 annual meeting at Preston in the same year, proposed to remove 
 him to Blackburn, but he prevailed upon them to allow him to remain 
 in Stockport six months longer. During this time it pleased the Lord 
 to grant a blessing upon the seed sown, and this Mr. Baker regarded as 
 a pledge of future success. The preaching of the gospel was blessed 
 to the conversion of an individual who, on a profession of his repen- 
 tance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, was immersed 
 by Mr. Baker in the river, in the presence of a thousand spectators. 
 From this time the congregation gradually increased. Many persons 
 connected with the Stockport Sunday School attended Mr. Baker's 
 ministiy, either regularly or occasionally, and success now began to 
 follow his efforts. On September 2nd, 1838, a church was formed
 
 Deamry of Macclesfield. 309 
 
 consisting of nine persons, including the minister and his wife. Mr. 
 Baker was ordained pastor of the church August 28th, 1839. Various 
 providential occurrences led to the rapid extension of the congrega- 
 tion, and, consequently, to the desire of obtaining a permanent place 
 of worship. A building, which had been occupied by the Socialists, 
 was just at that juncture opportunely ofiferedfor sale. It was purchased, 
 converted into a chapel capable of accommodating 750 persons, and 
 opened for public worship in May 1840. The congregation continued 
 to increase, and most promising prospects of usefulness, amid a deeply 
 benighted population, opened before the church, when it pleased 
 Divine Providence in the most unexpected manner materially to 
 change the scene. 
 
 On a Sunday evening, in the month of December 1840, when 
 the chapel was crowded previous to the administration of baptism, 
 the stone on which one of the pillars of the gallery rested, gave way 
 with two loud reports, endangering the lives of the assembly by the 
 alarm immediately occasioned. By the Divine goodness no serious 
 injury was sustained by any individual, but the repairs of the building 
 incurred considerable expense, and occasioned the dispersion of the 
 congregation whose confidence was very slow in returning. The 
 church however by no means relaxed its diligence. Many important 
 operations for the salvation of souls were carried forward, and there 
 was the strongest reason to expect that prosperity would ultimately 
 crown the efforts which were so diligently prosecuted. Subsequent 
 events have justified this expectation. 
 
 Mr. Baker removed from Stockport in the year 1845, and was 
 succeeded in the pastorate of the church by the Rev. John Russell, 
 who after four years earnest labour removed to Chatham, and was 
 followed in Stockport by the Rev. John Davies, whose pastorate 
 terminated in two years, when he became the pastor of the church at 
 Margate. On the 23rd of June 1853, the Rev. James Martin, B.A., 
 of Lymington, accepted the cordial invitation of the church to take 
 the oversight of them, and having continued in that relation for two 
 years, was succeeded, in January 1856, by the present pastor, the 
 Rev. Joseph Pywell, formerly student at the Baptist College Brad- 
 ford, and subsequently nine years pastor of the Second Baptist 
 Church, Northampton. The Baptist Church at Stockport is now in 
 a more flourishing condition than it has ever been, numbering 139 
 members. Eighteen persons were baptized this year on a profession
 
 3IO Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 of faith, and received into fellowship with the church; and the con- 
 gregation sometimes nearly fills the spacious chapel. The Sunday- 
 school contains 120 scholars, with twenty teachers. 
 
 It may be stated, in conclusion, that there is reason to believe 
 there were some persons residing in Stockport at the beginning of the 
 present century who held the distinctive principles of the Baptists. 
 It is well known that, fifty years ago, a few Baptists were accustomed 
 to meet for worship in a room in New Bridge Lane, near the Park, 
 but the place was lost to them, and they were dispersed. It is 
 not unlikely that Stockport was occasionally visited, in the early days 
 of Nonconformity, and subsequently, as many other places in the 
 county were, by ministers holding Baptist sentiments, who through 
 their evangelistic labours were the means of successfully calling many 
 to Christ's service. 
 
 NORBURY. 
 
 (By the Rev. Absalom Clark.J 
 
 In the parish of Stockport, about three and a half miles S.E.S. of 
 that town, we come to the chapelry and tONvnship of Norbury, 
 from which place the Rev. John Jollie was ejected. He was 
 the brother of Thomas Jollie of Altham, in Lancashire, and son of 
 Major James Jollie, a member of the Manchester Presbyterian Classis, 
 and provost mareschal in the Parliamentary army in the county of 
 Lancaster. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and was for 
 a while an associate or assistant of the Rev. John Angier, at Denton.* 
 Mr. Angier frequently had such associates, for it was his opinion that 
 " young men intended for the ministry should be placed for some 
 " time with an able minister, and preach under his eye and ear." 
 Mr. Jollie afterwards held the chapel of Norbury, from which he was 
 ejected. Of this, Calamy's abridgement of Baxter's History of his 
 Own Times\ contains the following account : — " Going to preach one 
 " Lord's Day at Norbury, after the Act for Uniformity, he (Mr. Jolly) 
 " found the doors locked. The people by some means opened the 
 " doors. Certain gentlemen informed the King and council of this. 
 ** A pursuivant was sent down who brought Jolly up to London. 
 
 * Chetham Miscellanies — Ancient Chapel of Denton, f Vol. ii., pages 124, 125.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 3 1 1 
 
 '' Being before the King's Council, the question in dispute was whether 
 " or not Norbury Chapel was a consecrated place. Mr. Jolly denied 
 " that it was. Sir Peter Leicester's Historical Antiquities were brought 
 " to decide the question. The Earl of Shaftesbury ha\ang received 
 " a letter from Lord Delamere in favour of Jolly, became his friend, 
 " and procured his discharge." At a subsequent date, Newcome, in 
 referring to this event, says, " Friday December ist, 1683. As I rode 
 " by Norbury Chapel I thought of Mr. John Jolly, who for preaching 
 " there was fetched up to the Council; and of that passage, that the 
 " Chancellor set out his supposed crimes with such rhetoric that he 
 " almost persuaded him he was guilty."* On another occasion he 
 had to appear before this same council to answer for a similar offence. 
 The circumstances were these. Mr. JoUie, who now resided at Gorton, 
 was wont occasionally to preach in the chapel there. " On the Lord's 
 " Day January 2nd, 1669-70 (says Newcome), Mr. Ogden, a stranger, 
 " came to Gorton, and said he was sent there by the warden to preach." 
 For some cause the people were unwilling to receive him. On the 
 following Sunday his visit was repeated, being accompanied on this 
 occasion by Anson, an attorney, and other persons from Manchester. 
 Finding the pulpit already occupied by Mr. JoUie, who refused to 
 give way, he retired to an alehouse hard by, where he stayed until the 
 service was over. This occurrence was much discussed, and led to 
 Mr. JolHe being summoned to London.t The result of this trial is not 
 stated. Mr. Jollie died on the i6th of June 1682. His death seems 
 to have been very sudden. Newcome makes this entry respecting it. 
 " June 17th, 1682. I was affected with the news of the sudden death 
 " of Mr. John Jolly. This quick passage is a mercy to such as are 
 " prepared for it.":}: Again, he says, " June 28th. I preached a sermon 
 " on the account of the death of that honest, laborious, and useful 
 " man, Mr. John Jolly, at his house in Gorton, on Philippians ii. 20, 
 " For I have no mafi iike7ninded, who will naturally care for your 
 " state." ^ A similar estimate of his character is given in a work 
 already quoted. 1| " He was not a man for Common Prayer, but much 
 
 * Newcome's Autobiography, page 247. 
 
 + Chetham Miscellanies — Old Chapel Denton, page 85. Mr. Ogden, above 
 mentioned, succeeded Mr. Angier at Denton. 
 
 i Autobiography, page 241. § /did, page 242. 
 
 II Calamy's Abridgement, vol. ii., page 125.
 
 3 1 2 Nonconformity in ChesJm'e. 
 
 " approved the Scotch Presbytery. He was a man much in praising 
 " God and frequent in ejaculations, of pregnant parts, and of a reso- 
 " lute spirit." He was only forty years of age when he died. He 
 left several children, and among them a son who succeeded him in 
 the ministry. 
 
 Bishop Gastrell notes that in his time, 17 15, there were "145 
 " families in Poynton and Norbury; half of them Presbyterian and 
 " Independent." These families probably attended the ministry of the 
 Rev. G. Jones at Hatherlow, and that of the Rev. Mr. Worthington 
 at Dean Row. 
 
 Hazel Grove Independent Chapel. 
 
 At the recommendation of Mr. Ryan, the Cheshire Congregational 
 Union voted 50/. towards the support of an agent at Hazel Grove, 
 and the Rev. Theophilus Davies became minister there in 1823. 
 When he went there a Mr. Hoyle was the Conformist at Norbuiy 
 Chapel, and so few attended the place that the path to the chapel, 
 which lay across a field, was overgrown with grass. Mr. Davies 
 laboured with success for two years, and after he left the fruit of his 
 labours appeared in the erection of an Independent Chapel. The 
 next minister was the Rev. Samuel Simon. Upon his removal to 
 New Mills the place was supplied by an agent of the Cheshire Union, 
 the Rev. Mr. Williams, and he again was succeeded by Mr. Healey. 
 The Rev. J. Yeates was the next minister, and he left in 1861. The 
 Rev. A. H. Lowe is the present minister. 
 
 HATHERLOW. 
 
 (By the Rev. W. Urwick, M.A.) 
 
 In its geographical outline, Cheshire, like a bull's head, has its two 
 horns. That in the west runs up between the estuaries of the Mersey 
 and the Dee, and contains Runcorn, Birkenhead, Liscard, and other 
 watering places. The east horn of the county runs up between Lan- 
 cashire on the one side, and Derbyshire and Yorkshire on the other, 
 and contains the manufacturing centres of Dukinfield, Hyde, and 
 Stockport. The population of this horn was, according to the census 
 of 1 85 1, one-fourth that of the entire county, though its area is only
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 3 1 3 
 
 one-thirteenth. As far as can be gathered from the returns pub- 
 hshed, the census of 1861, while it exhibits a decrease in some 
 townships, shows a preponderating increase in others ; the population 
 of this district (including only the two old parishes of Stockport and 
 Mottram, now sub-divided) is estimated at 120,000; that of the whole 
 county being 500,000. Important numerically as this narrow district 
 is now, it was equally interesting two hundred years ago as the scene 
 of the labours of several Nonconformist clergymen. 
 
 The village of Hatherlow lies in the most picturesque part of 
 the east horn of Cheshire, at the foot of the hills which branch like 
 ribs from the backbone of England, and about eight miles from '^ the 
 Derbyshire Peak. The highest of these Cheshire hills, Werneth 
 Lowe, commands a noble prospect. Looking towards the north. we 
 see the Manchester manufacturing district, with its tall chimneys, from 
 Stalybridge on the extreme right to Stockport on the left ; and looking 
 towards the south, the beautiful scenery of Cheshire and Derbyshire 
 presents to us a striking contrast with dark woods and green pastures 
 and sequestered farmsteads — hill rising behind hill, with here and 
 there a village church, and here and there a factory (shewing that the 
 people are cared for week-day as well as Sunday, that there is work 
 as well as worship among them), and the lofty table-land of Kinder- 
 scout stretching far away against the horizon. In the valley below, 
 close by Hatherlow, winds the Goit, at this place taking the more 
 famous name of "the Mersey," spanned a mile above by a majestic 
 aqueduct over which the Peak Forest Canal passes, and by the new 
 railway viaduct, which in height and length outvies the fonner work. 
 The village of Hatherlow is on the borders of three townships — 
 Bredbury, population 3,000; Romiley, population 1,500; and Marple, 
 population 3,600. One mile from the place is Marple Hall, an 
 interesting Elizabethan mansion, perched on the edge of a steep cliff 
 overlooking a rich vale, and celebrated in the time of the Common- 
 wealth as the residence of the Bradshaws, an old and distinguished 
 Puritan family. Cromwell himself is said to have visited the place, 
 and the bed in which he slept is still kept as a relic. Henry Brad- 
 shaw was born here, and succeeded his father as heir to the estate. 
 His name occurs as the first signature to the Lancashire and Cheshire 
 petition addressed to the Houses of Parliament, praying for the estab- 
 lishment of Presbyterianism. 
 
 The famous Judge Bradshaw, brother to Henry, was bom in
 
 314 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 the neighbourhood, probably at Wybersley Hall, in 1602. In the 
 registry of his baptism, in Stockport Church, some royalist has 
 inserted the word traitor opposite his name. He received his educa- 
 tion partly at Bunbury, under Edward Burghall, and partly at Middleton 
 in Lancashire. He practised as a barrister many years at Congleton, 
 where he was chosen mayor in 1637. He was president of the com- 
 missioners who sat in Westminster Hall to try Charles L, and his 
 name is first among the signatures to the Eang's death warrant. He 
 held the high office of lord president of the council of state, nomi- 
 nated by Parhament to be the executive in 1649, and to him in this 
 capacity, Cromwell, as general of the anny, addressed his letters during 
 the years 1649 — 51. He was elected to represent Cheshire in Crom- 
 well's first Parhament, 1654, but being too much of a republican to 
 recognize the new frame of government " in a single person and a 
 " Parliament," he was among the recusants excluded. He was again 
 a candidate for the representation of the county in 1656, but lost the 
 election. He died in 1659. His body, together with Cromwell's 
 and Ireton's, was dug up* in 1661, hanged on the gallows at Tyburn, 
 and the head cut off and fixed in Westminster Hall. It is worthy of 
 remark that this celebrated man was the friend and kinsman of the 
 illustrious poet and secretary to Cromwell, John Milton. In his will 
 Bradshaw bequeaths to his " kinsman" John Milton, a legacy of ten 
 pounds. 
 
 In the township of Bredbury, two miles north from Hatherlow, is 
 Harden Hall, another interesting house in the annals of Puritanism. 
 It is a fine specimen of the domestic architecture of the sixteenth 
 century, and resembles Poole Hall in Wirrall. It is fast falling into 
 ruin. The frescoes on the walls are quite obliterated; the wind blows 
 through the large casements, and the floors are giving way. Ralph 
 Ardeme, Esq., who lived here during the civil wars, married Eleanor, 
 daughter of Sir John Done of Utkinton, and her sisters came to reside 
 at Harden, with the Rev. John Jones, a Puritan minister, as their 
 chaplain. The Congregationalist Samuel Eaton of Dukinfield and 
 Stockport, was a frequent guest at Harden Hall,t and so likewise was 
 
 * Among others whose remains were dug up on the principle of " retributive 
 " justice" at the same time were Elizabeth Cromwell, mother of the Protector, and 
 Robert Blake, the famous English admiral. 
 
 t See page 81 of this volume.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 3 1 5 
 
 the holy and peaceable John Angier of Denton, a brief notice of 
 whom may not be inappropriate here. 
 
 John Angier was bom at Dedham, in Essex, in the year 1605. 
 He was a student at Emmanuel College Cambridge, but received his 
 theological training from two Puritan divines, Mr. Rogers of Dedham, 
 in Essex, and Mr. J. Cotton of Boston, in Lincolnshire. He received 
 Episcopal ordination, without subscription, at the hands of Dr. Lewis 
 Bayley, bishop of Bangor, June 28th, 1629. For the first three years 
 of his ministry he was settled at Ringley Chapel, Lancashire, and from 
 that place he came to Denton, where he remained till his death, Sep- 
 tember ist, 1677. He was a man of great earnestness and piet}', and 
 received several invitations to more public spheresof usefulness, which 
 he uniformly declined, saying, "It is ill transplanting a tree that thrives 
 " in the soil." He vindicated his plan of preaching short sermons with 
 the remark, "I would rather leave my hearers longing than loathing." 
 He occasionally met his fellow-ministers Mr. Jones of Marple, Oliver 
 Hey\vood of Coley, and Adam Martindale of Rostheme, at Harden 
 Hall, about two miles from Hatherlow, where prayer meetings and 
 conferences were held. In 1647 he published A Help to Better Hearts 
 for Better Times, in the dedication of which he states that for nine or ten 
 years he had not been two single years without interruption. In that 
 time he was twice excommunicated. He was suspected of wTiting a 
 book which was found in Stockport, and which reflected on a speech 
 made by Laud in the Star Chamber, and a pursuivant was sent to 
 apprehend him, but he retired to his friends in Essex until the storm 
 was over.* He signed the Attestation of Lancashire Ministers to the 
 Covenant in 1647, and refused the Engagement in 1649, though to 
 his great prejudice, having lost 200/. thereby.t He was one of 
 " those who thought they might not engage to be true and faithful to 
 " the usurped powers, yet believed that justices of the peace or other 
 " officers might take commissions from and act under such usurped 
 " powers."! At an exercise at Eccles, a short time before the passing 
 of the Act of Uniformity, he gave remarkable hints of what was 
 coming on from Exodus xiv. 12. He was one of those ministers who, 
 on S. Bartholomew's Day 1662, did not conform, yet were permitted 
 
 * Davids' Nonconformity in Essex, page 583. 
 
 t Oliver Hey\vood's Life of Angier. 
 
 X Martindale's Autobiography, page 90.
 
 3 
 
 1 6 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 to continue their ministry undisturbed. On that Sunday he preached 
 " very plainly" from Esther iv. i, When Mordccai perceived all that 
 was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and went out into the midst of the 
 city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry. He was a moderate 
 Presbyterian, and a member of the Manchester Classis, but he enter- 
 tained very kindly feelings towards the Congregationalists. He had 
 several assistants in the work of the ministry at Denton ; first, Mr. 
 John Worthington, B.A., of Catharine Hall Cambridge, a probationer 
 and unordained, acted as assistant from April 1646 to April 1647. 
 He afterwards took the Covenant, was ordained, and became minister 
 at Oldham. Second, Mr. Ralph Seddon, B. A., of Christ College Cam- 
 bridge, took up his abode with Mr. Angier. In 1654 he was ordained 
 minister of Gorton, whence he removed to Langley, in Derbyshire, at 
 which place he was silenced in 1662. Third, Mr. James Holm, resided 
 with Mr. Angier in the Parsonage House, until ejected from his 
 curacy in 1662. He received a call to Kendal, in Westmoreland, 
 where he died in 1688. Fourth, Mr. John Jollie, ejected from Nor- 
 bury, and fifth, Mr. Samuel Angier, Mr. Angler's nephew, Avho after- 
 wards settled at Dukinfield.* 
 
 About ten minutes walk from the present Hatherlow Chapel is a 
 place called Chadkirk, with which the early history of Nonconfor- 
 mity in this place is closely connected; in fact, as Ave shall presently 
 see, the Nonconformists of Hatherlow originally worshipped there. 
 In the Doomsday survey it is stated that Gamel held this manor 
 under Earl Cedda, a Saxon, who was suffered to retain possession, 
 and from whom (according to the able editor of Gastrell's work) the 
 place derived its name. The earliest ecclesiastical notice of the place 
 occurs in the King's Book, or Valor Ecclesiasticus of Henry VIH., 
 where a "Cantaria in Chadkyrke" is named, endowed with lands and 
 tenements worth four pounds and sixteen pence ; tithes, eight shillings 
 and one penny. The name of the chaplain, Radulphus Greefie, 
 
 * Of Mr. Angler's three children, John, the eldest, was born 1629, at Boston, 
 and educated for the ministry at Emmanuel College Cambridge. By his careless 
 and profligate life he gave his father much anxiety; but he reformed, and was 
 ordained by the Lancashire Classis as minister of Ringley, in Prestwich parish, on 
 August 13th, 1657. He was resident in Lincolnshire at the time of his father's 
 death. Elizabeth, Mr. Angler's eldest daughter, became, in 1655, the wife of the 
 celebrated Oliver Heywood, and died at her father's house in 1661. The younger 
 daughter appears never to have married, and was residing with her father at the 
 time of his death. — Booker'' s History oj Denton Chapel, Chetham Miscellanies, page'j'i^.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 3 1 7 
 
 appears also as the vicar of the extensive parish of Prestbvuy, and the 
 probabihty is that Chadkirk was then, 1535, an appendage to the 
 church of that parish. The place was at that date a Roman Catholic 
 chapel. In King's Vale Royal of Englatid \.\\q following reference to 
 it occurs : — " And now as we go over the new bridge beyond Stock- 
 " port we see Harden Hall, from which, leaving on the right hand 
 " that great mountain called Wemeth Lowe, at the foot of which, 
 " towards the Mersey, lies an old dearn and deavly chappel (so people 
 " call desert places out of company and resort) called Chad Chappel, 
 " which seems to have been some monkish cell, we come by Ducken- 
 " field." Not far from the chapel, by the river side, there is a long 
 avenue still called " the Priests' Walk," where probably the monks of 
 the place were accustomed to study in peripatetic fashion. The situ- 
 ation is veiy romantic and sequestered, surrounded by woods and rich 
 pasture delightfully varied by the river Mersey; thus confirming the 
 proverbial remark, 
 
 The cunning rooks 
 Pitched as by instinct on the fattest fallows. 
 
 At the Reformation in Henry VIII. 's reign, these worthy monks had 
 to fly, and the scene of their labours at Chadkirk passed into Protes- 
 tant hands. The next allusion to the place is in Adam Martindale's 
 life. When a young man he preached there, and received an invita- 
 tion to become the minister of the chapel about the year 1640, which, 
 however, he did not accept. His words are, " A little before my 
 " departure from Gorton, I was invited to no less than five places in 
 " Cheshire — Ashton-upon-Mersie, Rotherston, Northwych, Lower 
 '' Peovir, and Chadkirke." * From this notice it is evident that reli- 
 gious worship was at that time maintained under Protestantand Puritan 
 influence at Chadkirk. Through the influence of the Bradshaws of 
 Marple Hall, Puritanism flourished in the neighbourhood, and the 
 next name we come to in connection both Avith Marple and Chadkirk 
 is that of the Rev. John Jones, who is mentioned in Calamy's 
 Memorials as one of the brave two thousand of 1662. The following 
 is the account given of him : — 
 
 " He was bom in Wales ; he officiated for some time in his younger 
 " years at Tarporley Church, in the way of the Church of England; 
 " but, being afterwards dissatisfied with it. he was invited by two 
 
 * Life, page 76.
 
 3 1 8 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " pious gentlewomen, Mrs. Jane and Mrs. Mary Done, to reside with 
 " them at Utkington Hall in the capacity of a chaplain. Upon their 
 " removal from thence to Harden, on the other side of the count)', 
 " he went with them, and being earnestly importuned by the inhabi- 
 " tants of the to^vTiship of Marple to labour fixedly among them in 
 " their chapel, he accepted the invitation, lived in the neighbourhood, 
 " preached every Lord's Day, catechised the younger sort in public, 
 " administered the two sacraments, and brought several that had 
 " been guilty of scandalous enormities publicly to acknowledge their 
 " faults and profess their repentance. He had a vast auditory, and 
 " his ministerial endeavours were attended with great success. After 
 " some years thus spent, he was forced to desist from preaching there, 
 " even before the Restoration of 1660, and yet I know not what 
 " place to put his name to better than Marple." (The probability is 
 that Chadkirk became the central place of his labours.) " He after- 
 " wards made several removes to chapels in that neighbourhood, and 
 *' though he was always content with a mean allowance from his 
 " people, and given to hospitality and bountiful to the needy, yet his 
 " estate did manifestly increase. The last chapel he laboured at was 
 " Mellor, on the borders of Derbyshire, out of which he, in the year 
 " 1660, was unkindly excluded by some leading gentlemen, upon a 
 " groundless pretence of his not being well affected to kingly govem- 
 " ment. In the following years he preached privately in his own 
 " house, which he enlarged for the better convenience of those who 
 " were incHned to attend his ministry there, and he met with much 
 " opposition, and received no little damage from his enemies on 
 " account of his Nonconformity. He was seized and imprisoned 
 " some time in Chester, and his house was rifled under pretence of 
 " seeking for arms, and some goods were actually taken away, though 
 " he had not acted against the king or been guilty of any disloyalty. 
 " Being called to preach at Manchester, on the Lord's Day, he was 
 " taken ill, and not without difficulty brought to his house. He gave 
 " serious advice to his friends and visitors as his acute pains would 
 " allow him, and finished his course in August 1672, in the seventy- 
 " second year of his age. He had a considerable share of learning 
 " and ministerial abilities. In his will he devised eight pounds per 
 " annum out of the profits of his lands in Marple, for the maintenance 
 " of two poor boys in Tarporley town three years in school, to be 
 " chosen by the overseers of the poor for the time being, ordering
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 3 t 9 
 
 " that the same sum should in the fourth year be employed towards 
 " procuring them some suitable trades^ and that if his son died without 
 " lawful issue, this sum should be appropriated to these uses for ever. 
 " He was an affectionate preacher and a zealous promoter of family 
 " worship; he would pray admirably on special occasions. He was 
 " a great opponent to Quakerism, and undertook, with some other 
 " worthy ministers in those parts, to dispute with them publicly, and 
 " did so before vast multitudes of people; the dispute was managed 
 " closely and calmly, and had good effects. He was a bold reprover 
 " of sin, though in cases of some offenders he could easily see, what 
 " he experienced afterwards, that it would turn to his outward preju- 
 " dice. He was of the Congregational persuasion, but of a catholic 
 " spirit, and for holding communion with all that agreed in the main 
 " points of Christianity, though they had different sentiments about 
 " lesser matters. He told some of his friends that were for separating 
 " from their brethren, who were not altogether of their principles and 
 " way, that for his part he would be o?ie with every one that was one 
 " with Christ. He left a son that was bred up to the ministry, and 
 " is fixed at Chadkirk, near Marple, where he exercises his ministry 
 " with good encouragement." 
 
 From the registers in the University of Cambridge we learn that 
 Mr. John Jones graduated M.A. at Christ College, Cambridge, in 
 1630. He did not long submit to the tyranny of the dominant 
 bishops, but resigned his living at Tarporley and became a Congre- 
 gationalist. There is no trace of his settlement at Mellor Chapel, 
 whence he was ejected in i66o; but that his labours there were 
 fruitful is evident from the fact that we find a Nonconformist minister 
 at Mellor after the passing of the Toleration Act. The Rev. Robert 
 MoSELEY, who had signed the Cheshire Agreement as minister of 
 Ringway, removed in 1692 to Mellor Chapel, and in the registers of 
 that place the following entry occurs: — ^'- Roberttcs Moseley ^tT\ioxxxy- 
 " croft, clericus, sepultus fuit vicissimo quinto die Novembris 1701." 
 It is uncertain whether this good man, of whom we have only these 
 slight notices, ministered in the Episcopal or in some Nonconformist 
 chapel at Mellor. 
 
 After his ejectment, Mr. Jones laboured in the neighbouring 
 chapels, Chadkirk among others, and had service in his OAvn house. 
 Speaking of the weekly lecture at Stockport, Newcome thus refers to 
 Mr. Jones. "March 2Tst, 1661-2. It pleased God to provide for
 
 320 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " Stockport by Mr. Jones this day, which was a great ease to me, 
 " especially in the afternoon, when I understood he did preach for 
 " me." The registers of Stockport Church contain the entries of 
 the death of his wife, and of " Theophilus, son of Mr. John Joanes, 
 " minister of Marple." The register of his own burial occurs a few 
 pages after in the same book — " Mr. John Joanes of Marple was 
 " buried the 31st day of July 167 1." This entry shews that Calamy 
 was misinformed regarding the date of his death. 
 
 The Rev. John Jones was succeeded in the ministry by his son 
 Gamaliel Jones, who entered the celebrated Dissenting academy 
 kept by the learned and reverend Mr. Richard Frankland, at Natland, 
 near Kendal, in Westmorland, on the i6th April 1678. As soon as 
 his college course was finished, he returned to his native place, and 
 became pastor of the chiu^ch at Chadkirk. 
 
 The Romish chantry of 1535, the " dearn and deavly Puritan 
 " chappel" of 1640, had become a well-attended Independent chapel. 
 How it happened that it remained in the hands of the Dissenters 
 after the Act of Uniformity cannot be explained. It was the same 
 with Denton Chapel, where Mr. Angier remained, with Ringway 
 Chapel, where Mr. Brereton continued, and with Whitley Chapel, 
 where Mr. Ainsworth was minister. Probably Mr. Jones, senior, 
 preached there without interference on account of the obscurity of the 
 place, and his son Gamaliel succeeding him, continued to labour as 
 the minister of the church without Episcopal ordination or subscription 
 to the Book of Common Prayer. Like his father, he was a Congre- 
 gationalist, and an eminently pious and useful man. Upon the passing 
 of the Toleration Act, and the accession of William of Orange, we 
 find him foremost among the Cheshire Presbyterian and Congrega- 
 tional ministers in the formation of their Association. At their second 
 meeting, 1691, he was appointed Scribe, and the minutes of their 
 meetings in May and August every year — still preserved at the Pres- 
 byterian (now Unitarian) Chapel at Knutsford, where the ministers 
 usually met — are in his handwriting. Mr. Gamaliel Jones frequently 
 preached before the Association, and occasionally acted as moderator, 
 as the following extracts shew: — 
 
 " April 14th, 1691. Gamaliel Jones was desired by all present to be y" scribe, 
 " which he consented to." 
 
 " August 13th, 1695. The following subscriptions were made for a stated 
 " contribution for pious or charitable uses, to be disposed of by y^ united ministers
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 321 
 
 ' assembling at Knutsford, especially for y^ maintenance of y^ poorer sort of 
 ' ministers, education of young men designing y© ministrey, &c. : — G^^- yones, 
 ' o/. obs. od." This subscription he continued annually. 
 
 " May 9th, 1699. A movable lecture against profaneness was then agreed 
 ' on. . . The second to be at Congleton first Wedn. in July, Gel- Jones 
 ' to preach." "Mr. Dearniley to preach at Chadkirk the first Wednesday in 
 ' March." 
 
 "June 1 8th, 1700. At Macclesfield, Mr. Gam. Jones took part in an ordina- 
 ' nation — praying over Mr. John Brooks." * 
 
 " August 6th, 1700. The fund money was then paid in, and that which was 
 ' in G. Jones's hand was all disposed of at that meeting to Mr. Irlam, Holland, 
 ' &c., and it was then agreed also that the Reformation lecture should be carried 
 ' on. Accordingly G. Jones was appointed to preach at Northwich on Wednesday 
 ' the 9th of October; Mr. Scholes at Duckenfield first Wednesday in February; 
 ' Mr. Samuel Lowe at Chadkirk first Wednesday in March; Mr, Henry at Mid- 
 ' dlewich first Wednesday in April." 
 
 " August 6th, 1 701. Reformation lecture appointed to be at Chadkirk on the 
 ' first Wednesday in March, by Mr. Scholes." 
 
 " Ordination at Warrington i6th June 1702. Mr. Jones preached from 
 ' 2 Corinthians xii. 15." 
 
 " August 3rd, 1704. Mr. Jones was moderator, and in discoursing about an 
 ' ordination this rule was agreed to : That candidates for the ministry that are 
 ' constantly employed among a people should be called upon to be ordained, 
 ' especially if their people express their desires of it." 
 
 " August 6th, 1706. Mr. Jones took part in an ordination; praying with 
 ' hands laid on for Mr. Sidebottom." 
 
 "August 3rd, 1708. The stated meeting at Knutsford; present, ministers and 
 ' candidates, in all 20. Divers from Lancashire. Mr. Jones preached, Zechariah 
 ' i. 5, The prophets, do they live for ever] I moderator." This was probably 
 Matthew Henry, who had become the scribe in place of Mr. Jones. 
 
 "July 24th, 1708. Paid, of Mr. Lee's legacy, to Mr. Gamaliel Jones of 
 ' Chadkirk, 2/." 
 
 "March 29th, 1710. Mr. Gilbert Taylor was privately ordained in Mr. 
 ' Angler's house by Mr. Angier, Mr. Jones, and Mr. Irlam, to the congregation at 
 ' Tinsel." 
 
 " August 8th, 1 7 10. Meeting of ministers. Mr. Jones was moderator." 
 
 " April 24th, 1 712. Mr. Gam. Jones was moderator." 
 
 " August 5 th, 1712. At the ordination of Mr. Joseph Mottershed, Mr. Jones 
 "prayed, when hands were laid on, who likewise gave y^ exhortation from 
 " Hebrews xiii. 22." 
 
 "August 4th, 1713. Mr. Gamaliel Jones was moderator." 
 
 "June 15th, 1 7 14. Mr. Jones preached at the ordination of Mr. Buckley, 
 " from Matthew v. 14." 
 
 "May 1st, 1 716. Mr. Jones was moderator, and it was then declared to be 
 
 * See Tong's Life of Matthew Henry, page 261.
 
 322 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " ye opinion of this assembly that all candidates shall receive y« Lord's Supper 
 " before they be allowed to preach." 
 
 Mr. Gamaliel Jones continued to prosecute his labours undisturbed 
 at Chadkirk until the year 1705. His name occurs in the registers of 
 Marple Churchas having sometimes officiated at baptisms and burials 
 there between May 15th, 1689, and 1701. Through Episcopal inter- 
 ference he and his Puritan congregation were at length obliged to 
 leave the old Chadkirk Chapel, and they removed in 1706 to "a 
 " handsome new chapel," at Hatherlow, erected chiefly if not solely 
 at Mr. Jones's expense. The present Chadkirk Chapel was erected 
 by the Episcopalians in 1747, the old building having fallen into ruin, 
 and been used in the interval as a stable for cattle. Sergeant Bretland, 
 who lived at Thorncliffe Hall, in Longdendale, and possessed an 
 estate at Chadkirk,* had left 5/. per annum to afiy orthodox or 
 preaching 7ninister at Chadkirk, payable out of the rents of his manors 
 of Wemeth and Romily, desiring in his will " that the parson of 
 " Stockport may add so much thereto." This endowment was left 
 during Mr. G. Jones's ministry. The sergeant died in 1703, and in 
 17 18 it was certified that the rent charge had never been paid, and 
 that no ser\ace had been performed there for several years. On 
 rebuilding the chapel the Episcopahans gained this endowment. A 
 clergyman named Wilde officiated in it for many years, and obtained 
 Queen Anne's bounty.t 
 
 Considering the population, the congregation at Hatherlow when 
 the chapel was opened there must have been large. The trust deed 
 contains certain pro\nsions as to the course to be taken "in case the 
 " toleration granted be taken away, and such Protestant Dissenters 
 " be restrained from the public exercise of religious worship." Bishop 
 Gastrell, in his ecclesiastical survey of the count}', refers to " a meeting- 
 " house at Hatherlow," and to the existence of "many dissenters" at 
 Marple.;): As Mr. Jones himself still resided at Marple, it is most 
 likely that a large portion of his congregation also resided there, and 
 constituted the many Dissenters of whom the bishop speaks. The 
 
 * Gastrell, vol. i., page 279. 
 
 t The following are the names of the ministers of Chadkirk after Mr. Wilde : — 
 The Revs. Dr. Bowness, Mr. Bland, Mr. Daker, Mr. Dodson, Andrew Ayre, A.M., 
 J. Whittaker, A.M., C. Haswell, John Lingard, A.M., Kelsal Prescott, A.M., 
 W. Newstead, C. H. Bevan, — Sheppard, and J. P. Winder, M.A., the present 
 CTirate. 
 
 tNotitia Cestriensis, vol. i., pages 299, 305.
 
 Deaftery of Macclesfield. 323 
 
 chapel was substantially fitted up inside with solid oak stalls and 
 pulpit, and the communion table still has the chain attached to it to 
 which the New Testament used to be fastened * In 17 15 Mr. Jones 
 had three hundred hearers.t After an active and useful life, ministering 
 at Hatherlow eleven years, and nearly twice that period to the same 
 congregation at Chadkirk, Mr. GamaUel Jones died in 17 17. He was 
 buried in Marple Churchyard, on "June 6th, 17 17, by R. Berks." 
 The Rev. James Clegg, M.D., who followed the united calling of a 
 minister of the gospel and a physician at Chinley, on the borders of 
 Cheshire and Derbyshire, and who was the successor of the venerable 
 Bagshawe, "the apostle of the Peak," mentions Mr. Jones among the 
 ministers who took part in the ordination of Mr. John Ashe of Ashford 
 in the Peak, Mr. WiUiam Bagshawe, Mr. Joseph Foolowe, Mr. Har- 
 greves, and Mr. George Lowe, in the Midsummer of the year i6g6.X 
 He says, "Mr. Jones then preached from 2 Corinthians xii. 15, And 
 
 * It was a folio edition of the New Testament, containing the Rev. W. Burkitt's 
 expository notes. It contains the following inscription : — "June 24th, 1726. This 
 " book is the proper and entire gift of one to this congregation, who would not 
 " sound a trumpet before him, and so desires to be concealed, not seeking this way 
 " any honour to himself, but hereby endencing a concern for the glorj' of God, in 
 " furthering all he can the good of souls. I hope such of you as here attend will 
 '• redeem your spare time on Lord's Days from your worldly chat in consulting this 
 " good and useful book, that you may grow in the knowledge of the Scripture. 
 " Use it carefully." 
 
 + Rev. Josiah Thompson's MS. Red Cross-street Librarj'. 
 
 + Dr. Clegg gives the foUowmg account of these ministers : — " Afr. William 
 " Bagshaw was placed at a country village called Stannington, north from Sheffield ; 
 " where by his serious and constant labours, and an holy and exemplarj- conversa- 
 " tion, he did a great deal of good : but he was taken off in the midst of his days 
 " and his usefulness, to the great loss of those parts. He published a funeral sermon 
 " for Mrs. Elizabeth JoUy, of Attercliffe, 1709. Mr. Joseph Fooloive's time and 
 " labours were divided between the congregations of Chesterfield and Stony-Middle- 
 " ton ; and in both places he was highly^valued and greatly beloved, on account of 
 " his great piety, his exemplary conversation, and his zealous desires and endeavours 
 " to do good. He had but a weak and tender constitution, but was willing to spend 
 *' what strength he had in the Lord's service ; and it was soon spent. He died of 
 " a consumption, December 8th, 1707, in the thirty-first year of his age. Mr. 
 " Hargreves was many years at Leek, in Staffordshire, but removed thence about 
 " nine or ten years since \i.e. about 1725] to S. Ives, in Huntingtonshire. Mr. 
 " George Lowe was for many years chaplain to the family of Stephen Offley, Esq., 
 " at Norton. Ha\'ing left that place, and being returned to his father's house in 
 " Chappel-le-Frith, he became assistant to Mr. John Ashe, preaching once in the 
 " month at Hucklow, and often at other places. In the year 1 71 7, in April, he 
 " departed this Ufe at his father's house, in Chappel-le-Frith. He preached his 
 " last sermon at Hucklow, about three weeks before his death. A sermon was 
 " preached on occasion of his death at Chinley Chapel, on the Lord's day following, 
 " from 2 Corinthians iv. 7." — Clegg's Life of the Rev. fohn A she ^ pages di^ 62, 71, 74.
 
 lIso gives 'fl 
 my years j^| 
 is people ^M 
 
 ■ r r\ fit- Zi*» *\ 4- ^^^^ 
 
 324 A'^onconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 *' / re/// z^ifry gladly spend and he spent for you" Dr. Clegg also gives 
 the following account of him : — "Mr. Gamaliel Jones lived many years 
 " after, but was turned out of the chappel at Chadkyrk, and his people 
 " erected a handsome and spacious place of worship shortly after at 
 " Hatherlow, where he laboured with good acceptance and success 
 " till his death, and where he is succeeded by his son. He was a 
 " good man, a serious minister, and very desirous to do good ; he 
 " delighted much to converse with and encourage younger ministers; 
 " would be innocently cheerful with them, and very free and com- 
 " municative to them; he died of an asthma and dropsy. I visited 
 " him in his sickness, and among other things desired to know his 
 " sentiments of his Nonconfomiity, when he expected so soon to 
 " appear before the Judge of all. To which he answered in these, or 
 " terms to this effect, 'Dear brother, I am very glad you mention that ; 
 " ' I assure you, and you may assure any others you think fit, that I 
 " ' am fully satisfied in the way I have chosen. I look upon the cause 
 " ' of the Protestant Dissenters as the cause of God, and a cause that 
 " ' God will own ; and if I were to begin again I would make the same 
 " 'choice, and take up my lot with them.'"* 
 
 Some years previous to his death, this devoted minister had been 
 assisted by his son, who entered Mr. Frankland's academy at Rath- 
 mel, in Craven, May 22nd, 1695, and whose name frequently appears 
 in the minutes of the Cheshire Classis as present at its meetings 
 among the candidates for the ministry. The following are the most 
 important notices of him: — "August 7th, 17 11. Information was 
 " given that Mr. John Jones, son of Mr. Gamaliel Jones of Chadkirk, 
 " was, on November 8th, 17 10, examined, approved, and allowed to 
 " preach as a candidate by Mr. Cunningham of Manchester, Mr. 
 " Worthington, and Mr. Perkins." Six years afterwards, two months 
 after his father's death, the following entry occurs : — " August 6th, 
 " 17 1 7. The case of the congregation at Hatherlow was brought 
 " before this Classis. The unanimous opinion of the ministers here 
 " assembled was, that to preserve the peace of the congregation the 
 " people proceed to elect a minister with all convenient speed, and 
 " that those who are communicants, with those who ordinarily have 
 " been contributors, shall have a free vote. It is likewse thought 
 " advisable that Mr. John Jones, having for a considerable time 
 
 * Life of Mr. Ashe, page 6i.
 
 m 
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 325 
 
 •• preached among them, and out of respect for his revered father, 
 • should be proposed as the first candidate, and that they should 
 '• determine the matter concerning him before they set up another 
 " candidate." Happily the peace of the congregation was preserved; 
 Mr. John Jones was chosen their minister, and the following account 
 is given of his ordination, twelve months afterwards : — 
 
 " August 19, 17 1 8. Mr. Jones of Hatherlow, and Mr. Pilkington 
 " of Walton, in Lancashire, were ordained at this meeting. They read 
 " their theses that morning. Mr. Jones his question was, A71 Sacra 
 " Scriptura sit perfecta ita ut contineat ilia omiiia qua ad saliitem 
 " necessaria stmt; — affirmative. Mr. Pilkington's was A?i. Christus sit 
 " vere Deus, Patri co-essentialis et co-eternalis ; — affirmative. After- 
 " wards, in a numerous assemblage of ministers and people met 
 " together in the new chapel (Knutsford), they were both solemnly 
 " set apart for the office and work of the ministry. The minister of 
 " the place began with prayer and reading some portions of Scripture. 
 " Then Mr. Cotton [of London] prayed, before the sermon, which was 
 " preached by Mr. Worthington [of Dean Row], from i Corinthians 
 " ix. 27, But I keep wider ?jiy body ajid bring it into subjection: lest that 
 " by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a 
 " castaway. After the sermon ended, Mr. JolHe [of AttercUfFe] called 
 " for a confession of their faith, which they made before the congrega- 
 " tion, and then he put the usual questions to them, which they 
 " answered verbis conceptis, and afterwards they were set apart by 
 " prayer and imposition of hands of Mr. Worthington, who prayed 
 '■ over Mr. Jones ; Mr. Jollie, who prayed over Mr. Partington ; Mr. 
 " Cotton, Mr. Waterhouse, Mr. Fletcher, Mr. Holland, and others. 
 " Then followed the exhortation, which Mr. Culcheth gave from 
 " Colossians iv. 17, And say to A^rchippus, Take heed to the ministry 
 ' ' which thou hast received in the Lord that thou fulfil it. So concluding 
 " with prayer, thanksgiving, singing, and pronouncing the benediction, 
 " the congregation were dismissed." 
 
 Other notices afterwards occur in the minutes of the Cheshire 
 Classis. On May 7, 1723, I\Ir. J. Jones preached before the ministers, 
 from 2 Timothy i. 12. On "May 7, 1728, Mr. Jones preached from 
 " ^Matthew ix. 38, Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he 
 " will send forth labourers into his harvest; and he was desired to 
 '' accept of thanks for his good sermon. A letter from Mr. Thornton 
 ■' was read, pleading his necessity, and it was agreed that Mr. Jones,
 
 326 Nonconformity in CJieshire. 
 
 " who was moderator, pro tern., should recommend his case to the 
 " London ministers." "May 6, 1729. Mr. Jones of Marple, appointed 
 " among others to Mr. Fletcher's Ordination, at Stockport." On 
 another occasion, September i, 1730, Mr. Jones took part in the 
 ordination of Mr. Nichols and Mr. Worthington of Leek, offering the 
 ordination prayer. His name occurs as a regular attendant at the 
 Meetings of Ministers up to May 3, 1743. He continued to preach at 
 Hatherlow, residing at Marple upwards of half a century dating from 
 the time he began to assist his father, forty-four years from the date 
 of his ordination. A calendar drawn out in the Baptismal Register 
 kept by him, indicates considerable knowledge of the science of 
 astronomy. In the same book the following entry occurs: — "October 
 " 5th, 1742 : I, John Jones, have baptised five hundred children, 
 " which are all registered in this book." Three hundred and seventy- 
 three more baptisms are recorded in his handwriting, as performed by 
 him up to 1762, the year of his death. The Registers of Marple 
 Church contain the following entry: — "1762, October 3rd. The 
 " Rev. John Jones of Bradbury, was buried by T. Jennings." 
 
 In the three excellent men whose history has now been given, we 
 have an extraordinary case of father, son, and grandson succeeding 
 each other as ministers of the same place; — a natural as well as 
 apostolical succession, at least for three generations. Each of 
 them sustained his ministry for several years; Mr. Jones, senior, for 
 thirty years; his son, Mr. Gamaliel Jones, for thirty-three years; and 
 his son again, Mr. John Jones, for forty-four years. 
 
 The Rev. James Shepley, a native of the neighbourhood, suc- 
 ceeded Mr. Jones as pastor of the church at Hatherlow, in the middle 
 of the year 1763. In the beginning of his pastorate a Parsonage was 
 erected by the congregation "for the benefit and enjoyment of the 
 " minister that should statedly preach or officiate at Hatherlow for 
 " the time being, during the said term and continuance of the liberty 
 " granted to Protestant Dissenters." Mr. Shepley was much esteemed 
 by his people, but his labours among them, though useful, were of 
 short duration. In a sermon preached, June 1769, the following 
 passage occurs : — 
 
 *' O my Lord, how amazing Thy condescension not only to come 
 " to us, but to be made even as any of us, and clothed in our flesh, 
 " that Thou mightest offer Thyself a sacrifice for us ! O Emmanuel !
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 327 
 
 " unspeakable is Thy grace and love expressed concerning us. Be 
 
 " pleased, dear Lord, to come yet nearer unto us, even into our very 
 
 " hearts, and unite Thyself with us, that we may not only live by Thee 
 
 " but in Thee, and of Thy fulness receive life abundantly and grace 
 
 " sufficient for us ; so that Thou mayest not be ashamed to own us, 
 
 " and transform us more and more into Thy Hkeness, till Thou shalt 
 
 " translate us into Thy heavenly kingdom." 
 
 From that kingdom he was not far distant when he delivered these 
 
 words. His last entries in the Baptismal Register were on the 2nd 
 
 and 3rd December, 1769, and on .the 27th his earthly ministrations 
 
 were over. His remains lie in the burial ground at Chadkirk, and a 
 
 tombstone with the following inscription marks the spot : — 
 
 '• Here resteth the body of the Rev. Charles Shepley, minister of Hatherlow, 
 He died Dec. 27, 1769, aged 33. 
 
 Farewell, vain world ! as thou hast been to me 
 Dust and a shadow — those I leave with thee : 
 The unseen -vital substance I commit 
 To Him that's substance, light, and life to it." 
 
 One of the most noteworthy of the Hatherlow ministers was Mr. 
 
 Shepley's successor, the Rev. John Burgess, who had been settled 
 
 at Hall Fold Chapel, Rochdale, and commenced his labours at 
 
 Hatherlow in the spring of 1770. Under his ministry the congregation 
 
 continued to increase, but in about six years he returned to his former 
 
 pastorate, where he soon after died. He is best known as the author 
 
 of a sermon QniitXedBeelzebiib Driving a7id Drowning his Hogs, founded 
 
 on the miracle of the Gadarene Demoniacs, Mark v. 12, 13 j in which 
 
 he introduces and illustrates " three old English proverbs : first, the 
 
 " devil Avill play at small game rather than none at all ; second, they 
 
 " run fast whom the devil drives ; and thirdly, the devil brings his 
 
 " hogs to a fine market." In the advertisement preceding the sermon 
 
 (which was published in 1770) we are informed that "the three 
 
 " proverbs which make the g'eneral topics of the following discourse 
 
 " were raised from the subject (Mark v. 12, 13) by Hugh Peters, of the 
 
 " last age. Let him that reads consider what some people said con- 
 
 " ceming the prophet Ezekiel (xx. 49), Doth he not speak parables ? 
 
 " And let those gentlemen who ridiculed the preacher attend to what 
 
 " Horace says in one of his Epistles (vi. lib. i): — 
 
 Siquid novisti rectius istis, 
 Candidus imperti: si non, his utere mecimi." 
 
 The sermon is vigorous and original in its thought and language.
 
 328 No7ico7iformity in Chesliire. 
 
 and well repays perusal. Mr. Burgess was the author of several 
 works of some celebrity in their day, indicating great breadth of 
 thought and liberality of opinion. Among these were, A Proverbial 
 Catechism for Youth ; The Pilgrim's Travels from Mount Sinai to 
 Mount Zion; and The Reconciler. The last of these contains a clever 
 reply to two queries — Doth the gospel of Christ open any door of 
 hope and salvation, first, to all dying infants ; second, to the devout 
 and virtuous part of the Pagan world % Mr. Burgess was " Baxterian" 
 in his theological views, and he argues for an affirmative answer to both 
 these questions, as the following brief extracts show : — 
 
 " All tender-hearted parents, those especially who have laid their 
 " lovely offspring in the dust, yea, every humane person whose breast 
 " has not been petrified into hard stone, no doubt wisheth that this 
 " query could be answered in the affirmative concerning these young 
 "innocents. Young innocents! says the fiery zealot, rather call 
 " them young vipers, and the devil's spawn, seeing they are declared 
 " in Scripture to be shapen in iniquity and conceived in sin (Psalm 
 " li. 5) ; are they not also said to be by nature children of wrath? 
 " (Ephesians ii. 3.) 'Tis answered ; if all became children of wrath 
 " by nature, through the demerit of Adam, a mere man, why may 
 " not all of them become children of divine mercy, through the super- 
 " abounding merit of Emmanuel God-man? . . . But lest some 
 " doubts and fears should still hang on the minds of some timid 
 " parents, I shall, to the foresaid Scripture proofs, subjoin two very 
 " encouraging Scripture specimens. The former is King David, in 
 " 2 Samuel xii. If ever any had cause to be afraid for the eternal 
 " states of their dying infants, it must certainly have been this tender- 
 " hearted royal parent at the death of his base-begotten child. But 
 " is it supposable that he who was so deeply distressed for its less 
 " than seven days' sickness of body as to fast and lie all night in 
 " sackcloth on the bare ground (verses 16, t8), would he, upon the 
 " death of that child, have changed his sable mourning apparel into 
 " garments of praise, and solaced himself with hopes of going to him 
 " (verse 23), if he had the least suspicion that his child was gone to 
 " hell 1 The latter case is that of a parent infinitely superior to David, 
 " even the great Parent of the universe, whose pity to the infant 
 " offspring of Nineveh was such that he produced them as a plea for 
 " sparing all the Pagan inhabitants of that populous city (Jonah iv. 
 " 11): — Shall not I spare Nineveh, saith the Lord, in which there are
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 329 
 
 " more than one hundred and twe?ity thousand persons that cannot 
 " distinguish between their right and left hands ! Surely I shall." 
 
 The reply to the second question begins thus : — 
 
 " This being tickle ground, I must tread it with such caution and 
 " wariness, as neither to supersede the necessity of a divine revelation 
 " on one hand, nor pass a cruel sentence on the major part of the 
 " human race on the other. However, as 'tis safer to lean more to 
 " the charitable than uncharitable side, I am inchned to judge favour- 
 " ably of the present characters and future states of some heathens, 
 " especially as God's own unerring word speaks favourably of them 
 " too j yea, more so at times than of some of its own first-rate pro- 
 " fessors. . . . Heathens are favoured Avith the light of nature 
 " or reason, which beanieth forth from the same Father of lights 
 " that the light of revelation doth. This is a light which in some 
 " sort lighteneth every man that cometh into the world (John i. 9) ; and 
 " indeed the light of nature improved will do more than the light of 
 " revelation misimproved. Hence, conscientious heathens are far 
 " better than unconscionable Christians." 
 
 In a discourse on Moderation (Phillipians iv. 5), the following 
 pithy remark occurs : — " S. Jude tells us that when Michael the 
 " archangel had the roughest adversary in the world to dispute against, 
 " even the Devil, he durst not bring one raiHng accusation against 
 " him ; for loving angels cannot, like peevish mortals, either rail or 
 " scold. Now I considered that if even a devil must not be treated 
 " indecently in a dispute, much less a Christian brother of the same 
 " nature, of the same religion — yea, perhaps, of the same communion 
 " with myself." 
 
 These quotations, which might be extended ad libitimi from 
 the writings of Mr. Burgess, may suffice to give an idea of the 
 liberality of his views and the vigour of his style. He was succeeded 
 by the Rev. George Booth of Tintwistle, who was minister of 
 Hatherlow from 1777 to 17B5, when he resigned his office, but con- 
 tinued to reside in the neighbourhood till his death. 
 
 About this time a very eccentric character, the Rev. R. Robinson, 
 D.D., came to reside at Hatherlow, and though he was not minister 
 of the place, in a history of the locality he must not be passed by. 
 He was first settled at Congleton, where he preached a sermon against 
 " Popish Projectors," and drew up a small " Scripture Catechism," 
 both of which he published. He was minister of the Old Chapel,
 
 330 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 Dukinfield, for about two years after the Rev. William Buckley's 
 death, from 1752 to 1755, when he received a " causeless dismission," 
 as he calls it, from the church there, having forfeited their good 
 opinion by the following circumstance: — A beggar coming to his 
 door one day was so importunate as almost to refuse to depart 
 without relief, in consequence of which Mr. Robinson sent for a 
 constable, and had him whipped at his own gate. He removed 
 from Dukinfield to Dob Lane, near Manchester, and there printed 
 " two sermons, occasioned by the then high price of corn." This 
 put him to some inconvenience, as it drew upon him the animosity of 
 the interested and rich speculators in that commodity. He continued 
 minister of this place for nearly twenty years, labouring under a con- 
 stant dejection of spirit and melancholy, when a "causeless dismission" 
 was given to him at the close of the year 1774, by the Dob Lane 
 congregation. Upon this he published a tract entitled, The Doctrine 
 of Absolute Submission Discussed, or the natural right claimed by some 
 Dissenters to dismiss their Ministers at pleasure. Exposed, as a practice 
 produced by principles of unrestrained liberty, though contrary to the 
 dictates of reason and revelatio?i. His next removal was to Hather- 
 low, where he purchased land and a farm-house. Here he entered 
 into an agreement with a Manchester printer to edit for him a copy 
 of the Bible. It was to appear in numbers, and he procured a 
 diploma of D.D., that his name might come before the public with 
 more advantage in the title-page of the work. At his death he left 
 directions that his body should be kept one month before its inter- 
 ment, and that his coffin should be constructed with a movable pane 
 of glass over the face, which was to be carefully watched to see 
 whether it was breathed upon. These injunctions were literally com- 
 plied with. According to his express desire, he was buried in his 
 orchard, a short distance from his residence, and a square brick 
 building was raised over his tomb, which is yet to be seen. 
 
 In the year 1786, the Rev. John Meld rum of Brighouse, York- 
 shire, accepted the invitation of the church at Hatherlow to become 
 their pastor, and he continued in that office for twenty-eight years, 
 till his death in 1814. He was the author of a work on The Incar- 
 nation of the Son of God, in two volumes Svo, 1807 ; and of a smaller 
 treatise entitled The State of Religion, a Call for Humiliation, Svo, 
 1796. In this latter book he designates Paine's Age of Reason as 
 " a performance which demonstrates itself to be the rage of treason
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 3 3 1 
 
 " against the Majesty of Heaven and the common sense of mankind." 
 He also refers to the Nonconformists of 1662 in the following words : — 
 " Human authority in matters of religion is absurd ; so far as this 
 " goes, it takes from the unalienable authority of Jesus Christ, the 
 " sole Head of the Church. It implies that His institutions are 
 " defective, and that politicians can improve them, which is both a 
 "weak and wicked implication; but it has been practised, and of 
 " consequence separations and divisions have followed. The year 
 " 1662 can never be forgotten whilst religion remains in Britain, when 
 " upwards of two thousand of the most eminent, learned, and labo- 
 " rious ministers this or any other nation ever produced were driven 
 " from their flocks by the Act of Uniformity. Rather than veil 
 " religion with useless insignificant ceremonies, they chose to take up 
 " their cross and retire with it as their chief comforter, as it were, into 
 " the wilderness, trusting in that Providence which would support 
 " them and their cause. They were not disappointed; they formed 
 " a religious connection, and that connection never has been dissolved. 
 " This noble stand against human authority in matters of religion is 
 " the glory of our party." 
 
 During Mr. Meldrum's pastorate, in 1792, the chapel was repaired, 
 a gallery added to it, and a portion of common ground enclosed by 
 the freeholders as a burial ground to be connected with Hatherlow 
 Chapel. Here lie the remains of the Rev. J. Meldrum, who departed 
 this life in 18 14. For some time after his decease the pulpit was 
 occupied by preachers from the neighbouring churches. The house, 
 in a cluster of cottages, at which these ministers were entertained was 
 called the Holy House, which gave rise to the name by which that 
 locality is designated now " The Holehouse Fold." Tradition says 
 that at this house the congregation met after their ejection from 
 Chadkirk in 1705, while the chapel at Hatherlow was building. The 
 Rev. John Potter, of Rotherham Academy, was next invited to the 
 pastorate; but though his ministry was prosperous he remained at 
 Hatherlow barely two years, from the spring of 1 8 1 7 to the end of 
 1818. 
 
 On January ist, 1819, the Rev. Thomas Bennett of Dukinfield, 
 and previously of Congleton, came to Hatherlow, and he continued 
 pastor for twenty-three years. In his time, in 1830, a schoolroom was 
 erected, for Day and Sunday-schools, at the top of the village. Mr. 
 Bennett died suddenly on Sunday evening i6th October 1842, after
 
 332 Nonco7iformity in Cheshire. 
 
 preaching in the morning at Hatherlow, and in the evening at Woodley. 
 He was succeeded by the Rev. Thomas Coward, in 1843, during 
 whose pastorate the church and congregation increased rapidly in 
 numbers. During his ministry the New Chapel was erected, in 1845, 
 by means of the voluntary subscriptions of the people — the late 
 Ormerod Hey^vorth, Esq., of Oakwood Hall, being the chief con- 
 tributor. In consequence of failing health Mr. Coward resigned his 
 pastorate in the month of May 1850. 
 
 On the 19th June 185 1, the present pastor was ordained at 
 Hatherlow. In 1853 a bell was hung in the tower of the new chapel, 
 bearing this inscription: — Gloria in excelsis Deo., Patri, Filio, et 
 Spiritui sancto. In 1854, by the voluntary contributions of the church 
 and congregation, several repairs and alterations were made in the 
 old chapel, in order to render it a comfortable schoolroom ; and by 
 the same means a new organ was erected in the chapel in 1856. 
 The Bicentenary year, 1862, has been celebrated by the erection of 
 a new schoolroom, with class rooms, for the better accommodation 
 of the Sunday and Day-schools, at a cost of 700/. 
 
 Independent Chapel, Marple Bridge.* 
 
 There is some uncertainty as to the origin of the Dissenting interest 
 at Marple Bridge, which was commenced at Mill Brow, about a 
 mile from the present chapel, where the original " meeting-house" 
 and "chapel" stand, the former being now used as a barn, the latter 
 as a dwelling-house, bearing on its gable the date 17 16. The position 
 and structure of the bam show that it was erected in troublous times, 
 when Nonconformity could not show its face without meeting with 
 injury. We have no historical documents to prove the antiquity of 
 this congregation, nothing being handed down by our forefathers, 
 except the Registers of Baptisms and Burials, which go as far back as 
 the middle of last century, and a Church Register, Declaration of 
 Faith and Church Covenant subscribed by the members, and written 
 no doubt before their removal to the present chapel in 1787. 
 
 In all probability the congregation was first gathered by the 
 "Apostle of the Peak," the Rev. W. Bagshaw, Vicar of Glossop, 
 
 • Furnished by the Rev. J. W. Benson, minister of the place. Marple Bridge 
 is in Derbyshire, but so close upon the Cheshire border, that it deserves a notice in 
 this volume.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 333 
 
 ejected for his Nonconformity in 1662. Ejected but not silenced, 
 he went about visiting the various villages and hamlets of the High 
 Peak Hundred, preaching as opportunity offered to the assembled 
 families. When deprived of his benefice he retired to his estate at 
 Ford Hall, near Chapel-en-le-Frith, and went forth on his apostolic 
 mission through his old parish, and the Peak generally. He founded 
 an Independent Church on his own estate, afterwards meeting in the 
 chapel at Chinley, which was built in 17 11. It is a remarkable fact 
 that the successive pastors rest in the burial ground adjoining the 
 chapel at Chinley. There is scarcely any doubt that the congregation 
 at Mill Brow was gathered in consequence of Mr. Bagshaw's labours. 
 A number of reapers, it is said, in a com field near Smithy Lane, 
 began to converse on religious matters, and at length determined to 
 have a place of worship at Mill Brow. Smithy Lane Hes almost 
 midway between Mill Brow and Charlesworth Chapel, where Mr. 
 Bagshaw often preached during his monthly visit to his old parish ; 
 and no doubt his occasional ministrations had so directed the attention 
 of these men to religion, as to induce them to secure regular service. 
 
 It cannot be ascertained with any certainty who were the pastors 
 of the church when it assembled within the walls of the unpretending 
 meeting-house, but it is pretty certain that the Rev. Samuel Hardman, 
 a native of HoUinwood, in Lancashire, was the first who ministered 
 in the chapel. My infomiant dates the commencement of Mr. 
 Hardman's pastorate about the year 17 10 — that is, six years before the 
 erection of the chapel. It is recorded that his views of the plan of 
 salvation were not very clear, as he had a leaning towards Arianism. 
 He remained in connection with this congregation during his life, and 
 some of his descendants still reside in the neighbourhood, and belong 
 to the congregation at Marple Bridge. About this period a small 
 Baptist church was formed, to which Mr. Glover frequently minis- 
 tered, who is described as a "rank Antinomian," but after some years 
 it became extinct. 
 
 In a brief history of the church here, drawn up by the senior 
 deacon, it is stated that Mr. Hardman's successor at Mill Brow was the 
 Rev. Robert Harrop, who held the double pastorate of Greenacres, 
 Oldham, and of Mill Brow, Derbyshire, until his removal to Hale, in 
 Cheshire. Threlgeld has the following information concerning him : — 
 " R. Harrop left Daventry Academy in 1765, went to Mill Brow, 
 " married Miss Worthington; left for Hale in 1769, where he was until
 
 334 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " 1816, when he resigned." His doctrinal leanings were Arian. 
 On account of this, some of the more intelligent and respectable of 
 his hearers attended the neighbouring chapels of Charlesworth and 
 Hatherlow, where the gospel was still preached. Threlgeld gives 
 the following, as the succession of the ministers : — " Hardman, Glad- 
 " stone; Nehemiah Bostock, who died June 15th, 1764, aged t\venty- 
 " one; John Clegg; Robert Harrop." However true the former part 
 of this order may be, it is certain that the Rev. John Clegg was not 
 the predecessor, but the successor of Mr. Harrop ; and that through 
 his clear exposition of gospel facts and principles the church was led 
 back again to the purity of evangelical truth, and became eminent for 
 its deep-toned piety.* Mr. Clegg was the grandson of Dr. Clegg of 
 Chinley, who succeeded Mr. Bagshaw in 1702 at the original meeting- 
 house at Chapel-en-le-Frith, and afterwards continued his ministry in 
 Chinley Chapel. During the ministry of Mr. Clegg, one of the 
 preachers in connection with the Rev. George Whitefield, Captain 
 Scott, created no small stir by preaching in full regimentals, in the 
 open space near the Mill Brow Chapel. 
 
 The Rev. Thomas Holgate was the next in succession to Mr. 
 Clegg, and was highly esteemed for the fervour of his preaching, the 
 purity of his doctrine, the blamelessness of his life, and the zeal with 
 which he discharged his ministerial duties. After remaining a con- 
 siderable time at Mill Brow, he removed to Bradford, in Yorkshire, 
 about 1779, where he took charge of a congregation, and died in 1807, 
 aged fifty-eight years. 
 
 The Rev. James Bartle succeeded him. He was a good preacher, 
 and by a good conversation commanded the veneration and respect 
 
 *The following is a copy of the Church Covenant, taken from the "Confession 
 " of Faith, \vith a form of Church Government deduced from the Holy Scriptures, 
 " at Mill Brow, Derbyshire" : — 
 
 "We Sinners, and (by Nature) Children of wTath, even as others, being brought 
 " through Grace and everlasting Love, to a sence of our exceeding Sinfullness ; to 
 " mourn and repent before the Lord, and to look to him, on whom our help is laid, 
 " Do here openly, and without reserve, give up our Selves Wholly to Christ, the 
 " Compleat Saviour of Sinners, in Church-Fellowship and Communion promising 
 " to make the written word our Rule, or to adhere to the Faith therein contained ; 
 " and Serve Him, and each other according to the Statutes, Ordinances, and Rules 
 " of his House : Aiming in all at the Glory of God, the advancement of Christ's 
 " Kingdom : each others Edification ; and the Good of all Mankind. That this is 
 " our Steady purpose, and Resolution under tha Special A.ssistance of the Holy 
 " Spirit we Solemnly Attest by Subscribing our Names." This was probably by, 
 and at the beginning of the Ministry of, the Rev. John Clegg.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 335 
 
 of all the neighbourhood. During his pastorate the chapel at Mill 
 Brow was found inadequate to the demands of the population, and, in 
 consequence, the '• New Chapel"' at Marple Bridge was erected in 
 1787, and the congregation removed thither, having sold their premises 
 at Mill Brow. Mr. Bartle died, full of years and honour, in 1795, and 
 was buried in the chapel, near the place where the pulpit then stood. 
 
 In 1796 the Rev. Joseph Batlev, a student of the late Dr. Wil- 
 liams, at Rotherham, entered upon the pastorate. Several years after 
 the minister's house was built, and in the latter part of 18 19 the first 
 schoolrooms were erected. In the early part of 1820 a Sabbath- 
 school was established. In the year 1832 the chapel was first enlarged, 
 by the addition of a gallery behind the pulpit. Such was a part of the 
 success attendant upon Mr. Batley's ministry. He was considered to 
 be a profound preacher, and was pastor of the church for forty-one 
 years. 
 
 In 1838 the Rev. Robert Kirkus was called to the pastorate. 
 During his ministr}', which was fervent, energetic, and effectual, a 
 further enlargement of the chapel was made, through the liberality of 
 the late Moses Hadfield, Esq., then of Shiloh, in Derbyshire, whereby 
 accommodation was secured for about four hundred persons. This 
 took place in 1839; in the year following the new Sabbath-schools 
 were bmlt, at the sole charge of Mr. Hadfield, who in addition 
 to this, left at his death the sum of three hundred pounds, the interest 
 of which should go towards the support of the ministry there for ever. 
 Having accepted an appointment as chaplain to a cemetery, Mr. 
 Kirkus resigned his pastorate in 1846, and was followed by the Rev. 
 T. G. Potter (now of Buxton), who was pastor of the church for 
 eight years. 
 
 In September 1854, the Rev. J. W. Benson of Lancashire College, 
 accepted an invitation to the pastorate ; was ordained in the presence 
 of his brethren and a large congregation on the first of January next 
 ensuing, and has continued, with much imperfection, but with a hearty 
 love for the truth, to open up and unfold the revelation of Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 CHEADLE. 
 
 The Rev. William Nicholls, D.D., was rector of this parish for several 
 years previous to the Civil wars. He was also dean of Chester, and 
 from 1636 to 1641 the name Francis Shelmerdine occurs in the
 
 336 Noficonformity in Cheshire. 
 
 registers as his curate. Walker, in his Sufferings of the Clergy^ names 
 Dr. Nicholls as sequestered from this Uving, and adds that he died at 
 Etchells in 1658. A monument to his memory in Northenden Church 
 bears date 1657, and intimates that he was buried there. He is 
 described by the editor of Gastrell's Notitia as " the son of a rich 
 " tanner in Chester. In 1645 he compounded with the ParUament 
 " for his estates, by paying 143/. He died i6th December 1657, at. 
 " sixty-six." 
 
 The Rev. Thomas Gilbert, " a Scottish divine of useful abihties 
 " for the ministry, and of great zeal against error and prophaneness," 
 was minister of this parish for some years previous to 1654, when he 
 was presented to the living of Ealing, Middlesex, from which place 
 he was ejected for his Nonconformity in 1662. He emigrated to New 
 England, where he died. The following is the epitaph on his tomb- 
 stone at Charlestown : — " Here is interred the body of that reverend, 
 " sincere, zealous, devout, and faithful minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. 
 " Thomas Gilbert; some time pastor of the Church of Christ at 
 " Cheadle in Cheshire : also some time pastor of the Church of 
 " Christ at Ealing in Old England : who was the proto-martyr, the 
 " first of the ministers that suffered deprivation in the cause of Non- 
 " conformity in England ; and after betaking himself to New England 
 " became pastor of the Church of Christ in Topsfield, and at sixty- 
 " three years of age departed this Ufe. Interred October 28th, 1673." 
 
 The next minister of Cheadle during the Commonwealth was the 
 Rev. Peter Harrison, D.D. Walker numbers him among the 
 sequestered clergy, and says, " He was like\vise plundered of all that 
 '' he had, to the utter ruin of his children. His widow was aftenvards 
 " relieved by the corporation for ministers' widows." There is abun- 
 dant evidence that this statement is incorrect. Peter Harrison did 
 not hold the living of Cheadle before the ejectments by the Long 
 Parliament — Dr. Nicholls, a Royalist, was the sufferer then. It is 
 possible that Harrison was given the living of Cheadle as a Presby- 
 terian after Dr. Nicholls' sequestration, and before Mr. Gilbert ; and 
 that, like many Presbyterians, he was ejected for refusing the Engage- 
 ments 1649. But, however that may have been, it is certain that he was 
 appointed to the living of Cheadle after Mr. Gilbert's removal in 1653, 
 because his name occurs in the registers there as "minister" and 
 " rector," from 1653 to 1661. This proves that Walker is here (as 
 he is in so many places) in error. The probability is that Dr. Harrison
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 337 
 
 was one of the Nonconforming ministers, because his name 
 occurs frequently in the registers down to 1661, and then disappears 
 altogether. 
 
 Henry Newcome has the following entry in his Diary : — " Saturday 
 " July 13th, 1662. Got to Cheadle in pretty good time. I preached 
 " tAvice on Romans viii. 6, and the Lord did very much help me to a 
 " very great congregation there." 
 
 George Newton seems to have been the name of the Conformist 
 who got the living. There is a chapel in Cheadle Church called 
 Handford Chapel, which belonged to the Breretons of Handforth, 
 the Puritan family of which the well known ParUamentary general was 
 a member. In this chapel there are memorials to the Breretons. A 
 large altar tomb has two knights in plate armour. On another altar 
 tomb is also the figure of a knight in armour, for Sir Thomas Brereton 
 of Handforth, dated 1673. 
 
 Bishop Gastrell notes " tAvo families of Dissenters" at Cheadle in 
 his day. 
 
 Independent Chapel, Gatlev. 
 
 The Rev. Jeremiah Pendlebury of Bolton, Lancashire, was 
 invited by some Nonconformists in this parish to be their pastor in 
 the year 1777. He first preached to a small congregation in a room; 
 but, upon the increase of the number of his hearers, and the formation 
 of an Independent church, the present chapel was erected and opened 
 in 1779. During the former part of Mr. Pendlebury's ministry his 
 labours were greatly prospered, but he was laid aside through bodily 
 affliction, and died in August 1788. The Rev. Samuel Turner, who 
 had been his assistant, succeeded him in the pastorate, which he held 
 till his death, August 28th, 1792. He had a son who was missionary 
 surgeon in the ship Duff. The Rev. James Smith, student of 
 Rotherham Academy, was ordained as the next minister in April 
 1794. He declined the ministry in 1799, and is since deceased. 
 His successor was the Rev. J. Macpherson, in whose ordination the 
 Revs. Messrs. Wilson of Noithwich, Smith of Manchester, Meldrum 
 of Hatherlow, and Anlezark of Stockport took part. He continued 
 at Gatley a short time only, and removed to Liverpool. The Rev. 
 J. Handforth from Congleton, was ordained here on July 15th, 
 180 1, and continued his pastorate till 18 13, when the Rev. Thomas 
 
 X
 
 338 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 C HESTERS became the minister. After a pastorate of upwards of ten 
 years he was succeeded by the Rev. Charles Lowndes, a pious man, 
 though eccentric, who laboured here faithfully till his death in i860. 
 
 New Congregational Chapel, Cheadle. 
 
 This chapel was erected in i860, and in May 186 1 the Rev. 
 Robert Panks was chosen minister. He was a student in Homerton 
 College in 1842, and was afterwards minister at Bridgewater and Truro. 
 He died suddenly at Cheadle on February 6th, 1862, 
 
 DISLEY. 
 
 This was originally a parochial chapel in Stockport parish, and was 
 the scene of the labours of a faithful Puritan minister before the 
 Commonwealth, as the following extract from the scarce but interesting 
 little work of the celebrated Bagshaw, De Spiritualibus Feed, shews. 
 He says : — " I have not only heard of, but in my childhood have often 
 " heard worthy Mr. Cresswell, one who drew as his first so his last 
 " breath in our parts. He was some time chaplain at Lime Jiall, 
 " and preacher at Disley, not far from it ; and as his ministry was 
 *' headed by others, it is credibly reported that having preached on 
 " these words, The fool hath said in his heart there is no God (Psalm 
 " xiv. i), one counted a Natural did, after sermon, follow the coach 
 " wherein he was, and charged him (at least) with a mistake, saying, 
 " ' I do beUeve there is a God.' 
 
 " I well remember at Tideswell his text was, There is no peace 
 " saith my God to the wicked (Isaiah Ivii. ult.) Of that and other 
 " sermons which he preached there I, when young, have heard elder 
 " persons speak much : similitudes and histories, of which he made 
 " use and application, were very affecting. The Lord was pleased to 
 " house him when the great storm of war fell on England. He called 
 " this servant from his work when that black night was come or 
 " coming. 
 
 " Surely Edale was a dale or valley of vision in those days. May 
 " their posterity shew their profiting by others, as many did that were 
 " profited by him. 
 
 " One who succeeded him was Mr. Robert Wright, who though
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 339 
 
 " less furnished than many with a desirable library, and falling short 
 " of not a few as to outward estate, was diligent in service and patient 
 " in suffering for God. Far is it from me to say what was said, that 
 " he was (vox, etc.) a voice and nothing more. May not the plain- 
 " ness of some preachers be in some places and to some persons of 
 " as great use as the elegancy of others would have been? 
 
 " A reverend divine (Mr. Finnin)* relateth this as the saying of a 
 " famous prelate (Bishop Brownrigg) concerning that rowzing preacher 
 " Mr. John Rogers, ' he doth more good with his wild notes than we 
 " ' with our set musick.' Though matter in a sermon is most material, 
 " yet the manner of delivering it is of no small consideration and 
 " conducibleness to people's profit. 
 
 " He was one of a thousand (Mr. Finner) who hath left it under 
 " his hand that an affectionate preacher (and such an one Mr. Wright 
 " was) doth represent as the mind so the heart of God to his hearers. 
 " Some that I know, and, I doubt not, some that I know not, found 
 " that the Lord was with and in his ministry. Surely in one thing he 
 " pleased some, who are more than enough displeased with his 
 " fellow-sufiferers : tho' whilst he Uved, there was an indulgence that 
 " outlived him, he took no hcense for preaching, nor was (that I 
 " know of) an hearer of those that did so. The Messenger of Death 
 " that was sent for him was very swift in carrying him off, giving him 
 " no more time than to cry for mercy. Is not its language to us. Be 
 " ye also ready ? 
 
 " His studious rational successor, who preached at his funeral, 
 " hath succeeded him in dying, though not in the manner of it. I 
 " do on divers accounts honour his memory; may I not %vithout 
 " offence wish that he and some others had more esteemed one of 
 " the greatest lights the Church of God had since the Apostles' times 
 " (Calvin), as to some points of doctrine. I see that one whom they 
 " admire, being a great pattern of Conformity (Mr. Richard Hooker), 
 " had that great man of God in great honour." 
 
 From the above extract it is evident that Mr. Cresswell was 
 minister at Disley for some years, and died about the year 1642, when 
 the Civil war began. It is not clear, however, whether he continued 
 
 * Giles Firmin was bom at Ipswich 1614, matriculated at Cambridge 1629, 
 attended the ministry of John Rogers of Dedham, was ordained minister of Shalford, 
 in Essex, in 1648, whence he was ejected in 1662. See Davids' Nonconformity in 
 Essex, page 457.
 
 340 Nonco7iformity in Cheshire. 
 
 at Disley to his death, or removed to Edale, which is seven miles 
 distant. Nor does it distinctly appear whether Mr. Robert Wright 
 succeeded Mr. Cresswell at Disley or at Edale. From the registers 
 at Disley it appears that a Mr. Creswell was minister there during 
 the Commonwealth, and until the Restoration, when (1660) there 
 is a change in the hand\\Titing. He may have been son of the 
 excellent man referred to by Bagshaw. There is another change in 
 the hand\vriting in the year 1662, indicating a change in the ministry 
 in that memorable year; but no signature of the officiating minister 
 appears. 
 
 DUKINFIELD. 
 
 This place is celebrated as the seat of the oldest Congregational 
 church in Cheshire; the oldest, perhaps, in the north of England. 
 Adjoining Dukinfield Old Hall is a small Gothic chapel, originally 
 the private oratory and domestic chapel of the Dukinfield family, 
 which was appropriated by the celebrated Colonel Robert Dukinfield 
 for the use of the CongregationaHsts. Colonel Dukinfield was him- 
 self a Congregationalist and a zealous republican. He was bom 
 August 28th, 1 6 19. In 1643 he was appointed by Parliament one of 
 their commissioners for Cheshire; in the ordinance for sequestrating 
 estates of delinquents, and in another for raising money for the service 
 of the Commonwealth. In the next year (May 24th), in concert with 
 Colonel Mainwaring of Kermincham, he commanded a few forces 
 sent to guard Stockport Bridge against Prince Rupert. In 1650 he 
 was governor of Chester. In 1653 he was summoned, with Henry 
 Birkhead, to represent Cheshire in the Little Parliament, July 4th, 
 1653. He was too strong a Republican to approve of Cromwell's 
 Protectorate, and was a main hand in quelling the Cheshire Risi7ig in 
 1659. He escaped the vengeance of the Restoration, and died 
 September i8th, 1689, aged about eighty years, and was buried at 
 Denton Chapel. That he was a Congregationalist is evident from 
 the fact that he gave Samuel Eaton and his congregation the use of 
 the chapel attached to his hall, and was the instrument of obtaining 
 for Eaton the appointment of chaplain to the garrison at Chester. 
 
 The following quaint story in Edwards's Gangrana bears upon 
 the antiquity of Congregationalism at Dukinfield. " There is a godly 
 " minister who was lately in London that related, with a great deal of
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 341 
 
 " confidence, the following story, as a most certain truth known to 
 " many of that county (Cheshire), that last summer the church of 
 " Duckingfield (of which Master Eaton and Master Taylor are pastor 
 " and teacher) being met in their chapel to the performing of their 
 " worship and service, as Master Eaton was preaching, there was 
 " heard the perfect sound as of a man beating a march on a drum \ 
 " and it was heard as coming into the chappel, and then going up all 
 " along the lie through the people, and so about the chappel, but 
 " nothing seen; which Master Eaton preaching and the people that 
 " sate in the severall parts of the chappel heard, insomuch that it 
 " terrified Master Eaton and the people, caused him to give over 
 " preaching and fall to praying; but the march still beathig they broke 
 " up their exercise for that time and were glad to be gone. 
 
 " Now I conceive this passage of Providence towards these Inde- 
 " pendents speaks thus much to them and to the kingdom, especially 
 " considering this church of Duckingfield is the first Independent 
 " church visible and framed that was set up in England, being before 
 " the Apologists came from Holland, and so before their setting up 
 " churches here in London; First, that the Independents are for 
 " warres, desirous of wanes, to maintain and uphold their Indepen- 
 " dent churches by them; and thirst for a new warre with Scotland 
 " as much as ever an unhappy boy did to be at fisty-cuffs with another 
 " boy: Secondly, the warres which they would have and occasion 
 " shall prove their ruine, the means to overthrow all their conventicles ; 
 " they are greedy of a warre to establish them, but as now the beating 
 " of this drum drove them out of the chappel, broke up their meeting, 
 " so shall the warre which they have sought overthrow all their 
 " opinions, meetings, and cast them out of England for ever."* 
 
 This extract, from a quarter hostile to Independency, bears witness 
 to the antiquity of the church at Dukinfield, and proves that if not, 
 as is stated, the oldest Independent church in England, it was already 
 of note and influence during the Civil wars. 
 
 Particulars regarding the Rev. Samuel Eaton have already been 
 given in this work.t He was born in Cheshire, educated at Oxford, 
 and settled first as rector of West Kirby in Wirrall. Renouncing 
 Conformity to the ritual of the Estabhshed Church, he was suspended 
 
 * Edwards's Gangrsena, part iii., pages 164, 165. 
 t See pages 15—18, 76, 77, 288.
 
 342 Nonconformity in CJieshire. 
 
 by Bishop Bridgeman in 1631, and three years afterwards sought 
 shelter in Holland. The climate not suiting him, he returned, but had 
 again to transplant himself to New England. When he returned the 
 Long ParHament — "this renowned reforming parliament" — had 
 assembled, November 1640. His settlement at Dukinfield probably 
 took place soon after his arrival in England. Certainly he was here 
 in 1645, because in that year the book was published w^hich contains 
 the particulars here given, and which is entitled A Defence of Sundry 
 Positions and Scriptures alleged to justify the Congregational way, by 
 Samuel Eaton, teacher, . ^ ^j^^ ^^^^^^ -^ p^^^^^_ 
 
 ^^^ { field in Cheshire, 1645. 
 
 Timothy Taylor, pastor, J 
 
 The distinction of pastor and teacher (Ephesians iv. 11) was main- 
 tained by the early Independents. Each church had two ministers, 
 the one a man of preaching ability, the other possessing the requisite 
 talent and taste for pastoral work. The two offices were not however 
 wholly separate; the teacher would help the pastor, and the pastor 
 would sometimes preach. The teacher was generally the more public 
 and popular character, and frequently visited other churches. Eaton 
 was a man of this stamp ; he resided at Chester for a time as chaplain, 
 while he still retained his office in connexion with the church at 
 Dukinfield. He quitted the chaplaincy, however, because he could 
 not fulfil his ministry at Dukinfield and yet live at Chester; and he 
 was faithful to his church when they lost their pastor, accompanying 
 them to Stockport, and after his ejectment, to Denton, till his death 
 in 1 664. He was denominated the great apostle for promoting Inde- 
 pendency in Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire. * 
 Timothy Taylor, the pastor of the church, was the son of 
 Thomas Taylor of Hempstead, in Hertfordshire, entered Queen's 
 College Oxford in 1626, and took holy orders in 1634. He then 
 became vicar of Almesley in Herefordshire, where he preached twice 
 every Sunday. The following is the account given, probably by himself, 
 in the book above named, regarding his conversion to Independency. 
 " Some years before the bishops fell, and while their power seemed 
 " to be bound as with a band of iron and brass, being enforced by 
 " the then Chancellor of Hereford to turn his afternoon lecture into 
 " a Catechism lecture; upon that occasion studying more elaborately 
 " and industriously the second commandment, through the rich grace 
 " and mercy of God, he not only saw the evil of Episcopacy and
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 343 
 
 " ceremonies imposed, but also repented of the use of them, and pubhcly 
 " in the parish of Almele preached against them, andy^r all the sub- 
 " stantials of that way of Congregational government which ever since 
 " and at this day he hath and doth judge to bear most conformity 
 " with the Word of truth. Afterward being troubled in the Bishops' 
 " Court for Nonconformity, and having no hope of liberty, he did by 
 " consent leave Almele; and lived about three years in a small pecu- 
 " liar exempt from Episcopal jurisdiction, viz., Longton-upon-Trene, 
 " in Shropshire." 
 
 We learn from Wood's Athenae Oxonienses that Mr. Taylor then 
 became pastor of the Congregational church in Dukinfield. He held 
 this office about eight years. " Thence he removed to Ireland, in 
 " 1650, became minister of Carrickfergus, then resorted to by Presby- 
 " terians and Independents. After the Restoration he was silenced, 
 " and removed to a hired house at Grange, near Carrickfergus, and 
 " carried on the trade of preaching in private. In 1688 he lived at 
 " Dublin, and took charge of a church of Dissenters there, as colleague 
 " with Samuel Mather, and continued there till his death." 
 
 Adam Martindale says that " the churches of Duckenfield and 
 " Birch ceased to be so amiable in the eyes of prudent Christians 
 " that dwelt nigh them as once they were, for Mr. Wigan* quite left 
 " Birch, and became a captaine and then a major. Mr. Taylour was 
 " dismissed and went to Dublin. Mr. Eaton was chaplain to the 
 " garrison of Chester, by occasion whereof, and many journeys to 
 " London, Scotland, &c., he was frequently absent from the church, 
 " and his place was then suppHed by gifted persons, whereof the 
 " best was many degrees below him, and many other neighbouring 
 " ministers, and some of them bitter presumptuous fellowes, to say 
 " nothing of the scandalous breaches that shortly afterwards fell out 
 " amongst them, even to printing one against another." t 
 
 Martindale also gives us Mr. Angler's opinion regarding the Con- 
 gregationalists of Dukinfield and their ministers. " He was very 
 " moderate towards all that he judged godly of the Congregationall 
 ** way, and spoke with very great reverence of Mr. Eaton and Mr. 
 " Taylour, his neighbours at Duckenfield, praysing them for pious 
 
 * Mr. Wigan was Martindale's predecessor at Gorton, and then the Indepen- 
 dent minister of Birch, near Manchester ; afterwards he became a Baptist minister 
 in Manchester, preaching in a barn which he turned into a chapel. 
 
 t Autobiography, page 74.
 
 344 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " men, good scholars, and excellent preachers." For himself, Mar- 
 tindale adds, " I was just come out of a part of Cheshire where Mr. 
 " Eaton and Mr. Taylour (but especially the former) were had in 
 " greate esteem, and I inclined to the same opinion concerning their 
 " worth, and was very much pleased with Mr. Taylor's moderate 
 " spirit."* 
 
 The Independents of Dukinfield and Stockport attended the 
 ministry of Mr. Angier, at Denton, till his death in 1677. For ten 
 years Mr. Angier had been assisted by a nephew, the Rev. Samuel 
 Angier, son of his brother Bezaleel of Dedham, in Essex, where he 
 was born August 28th, 1639. He settled at Denton as assistant to 
 his uncle in February 1666-7, and was ordained October 29th, 1672, 
 at the house of Mr. Robert Eaton, Deansgate, Manchester — the first 
 ordination among the Nonconformists in the north of England after 
 the enforcement of the Bartholomew Act. Mr. Newcome offered the 
 ordination prayer, and preached on the occasion. 
 
 It was the wish of Mr. Angier, senior, and of the congregation 
 that his nephew should succeed him at Denton. A petition was 
 addressed to the patrons of the chapel by the inhabitants of Denton, 
 Haughton, and Hyde, praying that "Whereas Mr. Samuel Angier 
 " hath for many years approved himself very faithful, painful, careful, 
 " and laborious, in the work of his ministry . . . it is our earnest 
 " desire and humble request that he may still continue among us." 
 In spite of this petition the wardens and fellows of Manchester 
 appointed a Conformist, the Rev. John Ogden; and Mr. Holland 
 recognizing the appointment obliged Mr. Samuel Angier to vacate the 
 parsonage. In a letter of Mr. Holland's to Mr. Angier, it appears 
 that the right of appointment on the part of the Manchester College 
 was disputed, and that Mr. Angier, supported by his congregation, 
 for some time stood his ground at Denton. Mr. Angier says that 
 " the more they (the wardens) trouble him, the better would his people 
 " love him \ that it was not the house he so much regarded as to be 
 " amongst his people; that malgre all they (the wardens) could do 
 " he would continue his conventiculing; that as Nonconformity had 
 " been there so many years so it would continue."t The sentiments 
 of the inhabitants towards their chosen minister, Mr. S. Angier, are 
 
 • Autobiography, page 64. 
 t Chetham Miscellanies — History of Denton Chapel, page 82.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 345 
 
 evident from the fact that the Conformist Mr. Ogden was obhged to 
 leave in a year owing to the hostility of the people towards him. On 
 the appointment of the next minister, moreover, the Rev. Roger Dale, 
 they presented a petition against him on the ground " that he is put 
 " into the place without the consent and good liking of all or the 
 " greater part of the chapelry, and contrary to the usual way of 
 " bringing in a minister for very near a hundred years past." Mr. 
 Dale, in one of his letters, writes, " Confidence is not wanting already 
 " openly to express the design of getting a Nonconformist in, if 
 " devices can get me out." And again, " I can prove that some have 
 " had the impudence, since Mr. Sam. Angler's suppressing, to bring 
 " him in the absence of Mr. Ogden and me, both to preach funeral 
 " sermons in the chapel, and to make long speeches at the grave of 
 " his own composure instead of the church prayers. And John 
 " Johnson was a man that frequently had him at his house, encouraged 
 " him to preach in a barn belonging to his wife, till he was informed 
 " against \ after that went pubHcly and constantly to hear him each 
 " Lord's Day, while the said Mr. Angier preached in his own house 
 " or barn in Dukinfield, which was too shameful a time to mention." 
 Again Mr. Dale -writes, " I have presented (for punishment) such as 
 " neither brought their children to me nor to Manchester, but to Mr. 
 " Sam. Angier, to be unlawfully baptized; . . or such as have 
 " buried at Denton and then had their funeral sermons preached by 
 " Mr. Sam. Angier the Nonconformist at Dukinfield." In another 
 letter he says that " Mr. Angier was and is great with them [his 
 " parishioners] as Diana of old was with the Ephesians;" and that 
 " Peter is notoriously robbed to clothe Paul — I mean the ancient 
 " and usual wages of the chapel of Denton to supply the barn of 
 " Dukinfield."* In 1691, Mr. Dale finding the place too hot for him 
 accepted the curacy of Northenden. The registers of the Noncon- 
 formist church which Mr. Angier formed at Dukinfield begin in 1677. 
 The first meeting of the church took place May 29th, 1681, at Mr. 
 Angler's house. According to a memorandum in his hand^vriting, he 
 began to preach in his bam October loth, 1686, and this continued 
 the place of meeting for his congregation for upwards of twenty years. 
 Mr. Samuel Angier was present at the early meetings of the 
 Cheshire Association of Presbyterian and Congregational ministers, 
 
 * History of Denton Chapel, pages 89 — 102.
 
 34^ No7iconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 and signed the Heads of Agreement assented to by the united 
 ministers in 1691, as "preacher of God's word at Duckenfield." A 
 chapel was built and opened for him at Dukinfield in 1709. He 
 died November 8th, 17 13. The Cheshire Minute Book contains the 
 following notice of him: — "He was bom October 28th, 1639. He 
 " was a scholar of Westminster School, and student of Christ Church, 
 " from which place he was turned out by the Act of Uniformity. He 
 " entered upon the ministry in very troublous times. He was assistant 
 " to his uncle at Denton Chapel while he lived, and afterwards (the 
 " chapel being taken away) he continued pastor to the congregation 
 " thereabouts unto his dying day, and was a burning and shining 
 " light there. He first preached at his own house, aftenvards in an 
 " out-building fitted up for that purpose; and some years before his 
 " death in a new erected chapel, near which he lies interred. He 
 " was an excellent scholar, and retained much of his school learning, 
 " and had it very ready. He was both a judicious and a lively 
 " preacher, and a zealous asserter of free grace and justification by 
 " faith only. He well understood the reasons of the Dissenters' 
 " separation, and often expressed his satisfaction in them. He was 
 " an eminent Christian, and zealous of good works. His sight 
 " decayed many years before he died, yet as long as he was able he 
 " diligently wrote sermons, as if he had been a young man. ^Vhen 
 " he could no longer read or write, he had those around him that 
 " read to him and \\Tote for him, and then he entertained himself 
 " with frequent repeating of the greater part of David's Psalms and 
 " Paul's Epistles, which he had committed to memory."* 
 
 The following is the inscription on his tomb in Dukinfield Old 
 
 Chapel- yard : — 
 
 Hie requiescit in Domino 
 Samuel Angier 
 Jesu Christi Minister 
 Vir primaevae Pietatis et omni Virtute praeelarus Dedhamiae in Comitatu Essexiae 
 piis et honestis Parentibus natus Oetobris 28, 1639; Westmonasteriensis Scholae 
 deinde Aedis Christi Oxon., Alumnus regius, Concionator egregius et assiduus, 
 continuis Evangelii Laboribus et Morbis lere obrutus, Lumine etiam, ingravescente 
 aetate, orbatus, tandem animam placide Deo reddidit 8vo Novembris Anno Salutis 
 MDCCXIII, Aetatis LXXV. 
 
 In perpetuam Pietatis Memoriam Bezaleel et Johannes Filii sui 
 H.M.P.C. 
 
 * Aspland's History of the old Nonconformity in Dukinfield, page 18.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 347 
 
 Mr. S. Angier was succeeded in the pastorate at Dukinfield by 
 the Rev. W. Buckley, who was ordained at Knutsford in 17 14. 
 Matthew Henry of Chester, Gamahel Jones of Hatherlow, and other 
 ministers taking part in the sendee. Mr. Buckley's thesis was An 
 Jesus Christus sit verus Deus, Deo Patri co-esse7itialis I Affirmative. 
 He continued minister here till his death in 1752. After some dis- 
 sension his son, Mr. William Buckley, who had been a student at 
 the Dissenting College, Daventry, was elected minister. He com- 
 menced his ser\dces in 1762, and continued them till infirmities 
 induced his resignation in 1791. His opinions were Arian.* 
 
 After Mr. Buckley's death, the Rev. D. L. Davies was minister 
 1791 — 1794. " He is believed to have been the first minister who, 
 " in the pulpit of the Old Chapel, avowed what is sometimes called 
 " modern Unitarianismr The Revs. Thomas Smith and William 
 Tait, both of whom had been brought up among the Methodists, 
 followed. The Rev. James Hawkes was the next minister, and after 
 the lapse of some years he was succeeded by the Rev. Joseph Ashton. 
 The Rev. John Gaskell became minister of the place in 181 9, and 
 continued seventeen years, till his death in 1836. The Rev. R. 
 Brook Aspland, M.A., followed, and to his Sketch of the Old Non- 
 conformit}' at Dukinfield we are indebted for this hst of ministers. 
 
 Independent Chapel, Dukinfield. 
 
 The declension of a large part of the congregation in the Old 
 Chapel from evangelical truth, occasioned the secession of those who 
 held Trinitarian views. In the year 1795 these persons opened 
 a room at Ashton-under-Lyne, where for some time they enjoyed 
 the ministrations of several Independent ministers. Owing to a 
 failure in the supply of preachers, the congregation was dispersed, 
 and the members of it were compelled to travel five or seven miles 
 every Sabbath to attend the preaching of the gospel. Towards the 
 close of the year 1 805, Mr. William Marsh, from London, came to 
 reside at Dukinfield, and consented to preach every Sabbath evening 
 in a dwelling house. An out-building was aftenvards obtained, and 
 fitted up, sufficient to accommodate one hundred persons. Here a 
 Congregational church was formed, and the number of hearers still 
 
 *Aspland's History, page 19.
 
 34^ Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 increasing beyond the capacity of the building, a Chapel was erected, 
 and opened on January ist, 1807, by the Revs. W. Evans of Stock- 
 port, who preached from Haggai ii. 9, W. Roby of Manchester, who 
 preached from Psalm xcv. 6, and Mr. Blackburn of Delph, who 
 preached in the evening from Psalm cxviii. 25. On May 21st, 1807, 
 the Rev. William Marsh was ordained pastor of the church.* 
 
 Mr. Marsh's continuance as pastor of the church he had established 
 was but brief In Midsummer 1808 he removed to a congregation 
 in Cannon-street, Manchester, and subsequently to Charlesworth 
 Chapel, in Derbyshire. He was succeeded at Dukinfield by the Rev. 
 T. Bennett, from Congleton, who continued his labours for ten 
 years, when he removed to Hatherlow. During his ministry the 
 congregation increased, but previous to his leaving a disturbance 
 arose, resulting in the formation of the present church at Albion-street 
 Chapel, Ashton-under-Lyne. 
 
 Mr. Bennett was followed in 1819 by Mr. Dunkerlev, an occa- 
 sional preacher from Manchester, and he again by Mr. Ramsey. In 
 the year 1827 the Rev. Mr. Ivy became pastor, and was so successful 
 in his ministry that the chapel was enlarged, and a schoolroom and 
 parsonage were built. His ministry lasted till 1841. After an interval 
 of three years, the Rev. Mr. Farnsworth was chosen pastor, and 
 held that office from 1844 till 1861. There is no settled minister at 
 this chapel at present; some of the members have joined the church 
 at FuRNESS Hill, under the pastorate of the Rev. J. T. Barker, B.A. 
 
 HYDE. 
 
 Hyde Chapel, Gee Cross, was built in the year 1708. The con- 
 jecture that it originated among some members of Mr. Gamaliel 
 Jones's congregation, when they were ejected from Chadkirk, is 
 without foundation, since Gee Cross is three miles distant from 
 Chadkirk, and Werneth Lowe intervenes, while Mr. Jones's congre- 
 gation belonged for the most part to Marple. Mr. Jones, moreover, 
 was, like his father, a CongregationaUst, and his people were doubtless 
 of the same persuasion. 
 
 Y' * Evangelical Magazine, vol. xv., page 532. Christian Instructor, vol. iii., 
 page 455.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 349 
 
 The first minister at Gee Cross was the Rev. John Cooper, a pupil 
 of Mr. Chorlton of Manchester, who married the daughter of Mr. S. 
 Angier of Dukinfield, and had previously preached for some years at 
 Tintwistle. He was ordained at Knutsford in 17 10. The thesis given 
 him was, An i?ifantes fideliwti sint baptizmidi'l Affirmative. He con- 
 tinued minister till his death in 1731, and was buried at Dukinfield. 
 The Rev. Thomas Hartley, the next minister, was ordained at 
 Knutsford, September 5th, 1732, and had for his thesis the question, 
 An S. Scripturae sint Divinae Auctoritatis ? During his ministry the 
 number of communicants was reduced. He died in 1755, and was 
 succeeded by the Rev. John HoIjghton, who had been a student at 
 Dr. Doddridge's academy. The Rev. Samuel Mercer, another of 
 Dr. Doddridge's students, who had been minister of Charlesworth, 
 followed Mr. Houghton, and continued to labour successfully at 
 Hyde four years. He was followed by the Rev. George Checkley, 
 who previous to his coming to Hyde was assistant to the Rev. Job 
 Orton of Shrewsbury. The congregation at Hyde during his pastorate 
 was large. The chapel was rebuilt. He was considered a good scholar 
 and a practical preacher, and continued at Hyde about fifteen years. 
 On his removal to Ormskirk, after some difference of opinion, the 
 church chose the Rev. Bristowe Cooper, who was the esteemed 
 minister of the place from 1781 till his death in 1805. He was followed 
 by the Rev. James Brooks, who continued to fulfil the pastorate 
 with faithfulness and success for forty-five years, and who died in 
 the year 1852. This list of ministers is taken from a history of Hyde 
 Chapel, compiled by him, in the Christian Reformer for 1848. The 
 Rev. C. Beard, B.A., succeeded Mr. Brooks, and is the present 
 minister. 
 
 Independent Chapel, Union Street, Hyde. 
 
 A chapel was built and opened for Divine service here in Sep- 
 tember 1 8 14. Galleries were erected in it, and a church was formed 
 in the year 1822, when the Rev. W. Orom of North Frodingham 
 became the pastor. He resigned his charge on October 5th, 1823. 
 The chapel was then taken down and a larger one erected on the 
 same site, which was opened on the 15th May, 1825. The Rev. 
 Joseph Massey of Airedale College was the next minister. He 
 entered upon his pastorate in July 1826, and continued in that office
 
 350 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 till April 1836. He was followed by the Rev. E. Edwards of Garstang, 
 Lancashire, who began his work in 1836, and resigned in April 1841. 
 The Rev. Reuben Calvert of Upper Mill, Saddleworth, became 
 pastor of the church on July i8th, 1841. His labours were eminently 
 useful and successful. A new and much larger chapel was erected 
 and opened in the year 1843. Mr. Calvert continued to fulfil the 
 work of the ministry with zeal and earnestness for fifteen years, until 
 his death on the 29th December 1856. He was buried in Hatherlow 
 Chapel-yard, where a tomb has been erected to his memory. The 
 next minister was the Rev. J. H. Gavin from the Lancashire Inde- 
 pendent College, who entered on his labours here in the beginning 
 of 1858, and resigned his pastorate in March 1863, when he removed 
 to Harrogate. 
 
 ZioN Chapel, Hyde. 
 
 This chapel was erected and an Independent church formed in 
 the year 1847. On April 6th, 1849, the Rev. Edwin Day of the 
 Lancashire Independent College, was ordained pastor. He resigned 
 his pastorate and went out as a minister to Castlemaine, Australia, in 
 October 1853. In February 1854 the Rev. A. Stroyan, the present 
 minister, succeeded to the pastorate. The chapel and school were 
 enlarged, and re-opened with the addition of a new organ, in December 
 1859. 
 
 MOTTRAM. 
 
 The name '■'■Henry Hihbert, now minister at Mottram, 7th February 
 " 1650," occurs in the Parliamentary Survey;* but it appears that 
 he did not long remain here. When Henry Newcome was about 
 to leave Gawsworth, and was visiting Manchester previous to his 
 settlement there, he informs us, '• they hugely solicited me to preach 
 " at Mottram upon the Tuesday [May 29th, 1655]. The next day I 
 " went to Mr. Angier, and lodged with him the Monday and Tuesday 
 " nights. He went with me on the Tuesday to Mottram ; and I was 
 " much out of order in body. The Lord ordered it for good to me, 
 " for I never preached in more pain, nor less pride, than that day."t 
 
 * Lambeth MSS., vol. iii. t Autobiography, page 54.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 351 
 
 The church at Mottram was soon after this suppHed with a pastor. 
 The Rev. Francis Shelmadine was appointed to that office, probably 
 by the Triers. The following notice of him proves that he was the 
 minister of Mottram in 1659, and that he belonged to the Indepen- 
 dent rather than to the Presbyterian party; the former being friends 
 of Cromwell, the latter being favourable to the " Cheshire Rising." 
 Martindale says, " I engaged Mr. Shelmadine of Mottram to goe with 
 " me to Mr. Samuel Eaton, to see if we could engage him to make 
 " use of his interest in Lambert to prevent, if possible, the effusion of 
 *' Christian bloud." Calamy names Mr. Shelmadine as ejected from 
 " Mottsham" [Mottram], Cheshire. This was probably between 
 1660-62; and in further confirmation of his Nonconformity we have 
 a third witness in Oliver Heywood, who notes in his Diary, 1674, 
 " God hath sadly broken us by death of several Nonconforming 
 " ministers — Mr. Bath of Rochdale, Mr. Shelmerdine of Mottram, 
 " and Mr. Jones of Eccles."* The manner in which the name is 
 spelt here suggests the idea that this good Nonconformist minister of 
 Mottram belonged to the same family as Daniel Shelmerdine, the 
 ejected minister of Barrow-upon-Trent, and son of Mr. Thomas Shel- 
 merdine, the Nonconformist minister of Matlock. 
 
 The following reference to the Conformist who was appointed to 
 Mottram in place of Mr. Shelmadine shews that he was a liberal man : — 
 " On the fifth of June 1664 he (Mr. Heywood) went, by invitation 
 " from the churchwarden, to preach at the church of Mottram-in- 
 " Longdendale, and this with the consent of the vicar, though a 
 " Conformist. The vicar himself was present at both the services, 
 " and was very desirous to have Mr. Heywood come again." t 
 
 Independent Chapel, Mottram. 
 
 This place, together with a school at Hollingworth (established in 
 the year 1839), has been for some years one of the stations of the 
 Cheshire Congregational Union. In the year 1848 the Rev. T. 
 Davies was the agent of the Union at both places, and laboured 
 with considerable success, preaching regularly at Hollingworth every 
 Sabbath morning and evening, and at Mottram Chapel every Sunday 
 afternoon. In 1850 the Rev. A. Bell of Mount Mellick, Ireland, 
 
 * Hunter's Life of Oliver Heywood, page i6o. t Ibid, page 262.
 
 352 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 settled at Mottram, and laboured here faithfully for about five years. 
 He was followed by the Rev. Mr. Harwood, who was employed as 
 the agent of the Cheshire Union from 1858 — 1862 at Mottram and 
 Newton near Hyde. 
 
 Independent Chapel, Stalevbridge. 
 
 This chapel was erected and opened for Divine worship in the 
 year 1835. The opening services were held on May 24th and 25th 
 in that year, and the Revs. R. Fletcher of Manchester, J. Sutcliffe of 
 Ashton-under-Lyne, and W. M'Kerrow, M.A., and R. S. Mc.All, 
 LL.D., of Manchester preached. The Rev. J. H. Gwvther, B.A., 
 is the present minister. 
 
 TINTWISTLE. 
 
 (By the Rev. R. G. MiLNE, M.A.j 
 
 Among the ejected worthies of the north, William Bagshaw, vicar 
 of Glossop, occupies a foremost place. On taking leave of his flock 
 that holy man declared, " My principles have led me to suffer as a 
 " Nonconformist;" and he lamented that "in consequence he had 
 " been driven from his beloved Glossop." 
 
 But painful as was that persecuting act of the dissolute Charles to 
 Bagshaw and his fellow -confessors, it is one of the many events in 
 which God visibly steps forth from His holy habitation to teach men 
 My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways. 
 It was His will that the precious seed of the kingdom should be scat- 
 tered where as yet it had not been hidden, and, by this permissive 
 providence, many a Seed-sower, hitherto detained within the bounds 
 of one parish or diocese, found his way to nooks and corners of the 
 land where the story of the gospel had been unpreached. 
 
 One such isolated spot in those days was the township of Tin- 
 twistle in Longdendale; and, if the tradition may be relied on, the 
 first evangelist who visited these parts was William Bagshaw, more 
 generally known throughout the vicinity as " the Apostle of the Peak." 
 In referring to him as the Vicar of Glossop, Dr. Calamy bears the 
 testimony " that people enjoyed him about eleven years. Amongst 
 " them he went about doing good, and God was with him. He kept
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 353 
 
 " back nothing that was profitable for them, but taught them pubHcly 
 " from house to house." Nor did his works of faith and labours of 
 love cease on his retirement to his o^^^l estate at Ford, Chapel-le- 
 Frith. Dr. Clegg, one of his successors at Chinley, attested, " Mr. 
 " Bagshaw had a considerable congregation at Malcoffe, near his own 
 " house, to which he generally preached tnace every Lord's Day, 
 " catechising the children, and frequently visiting the families of their 
 " parents; besides which he preached several lectures on the other 
 " days of the week in the vicinity. In most of these places the 
 " people who had profited under his ministry formed themselves into 
 *' worshipping societies, and he went amongst them as often as his 
 " strength would allow, to help fonvard their edification." 
 
 What Longdendale was when the Apostle of the Peak itinerated 
 its vales, " preaching repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord 
 " Jesus Christ," it is easier to imagine than to picture. The whole 
 district was then thickly studded with farmsteads of unlimited 
 size; the pastures were clothed with flocks. There were few 
 bridges save bridle bridges ; few roads save sheepwalks or footpaths 
 trodden by the pack-horse. Trees, if credit be given to an old 
 tradition, were then so contiguous and dense in the vale and along 
 the base of the surrounding hills, that a squirrel could find a pathway 
 across the tree-tops from Mottram to Woodhead (a distance of ten 
 miles). But these hardy sons of the forest have, with very few excep- 
 tions, long since succumbed before the axe of the woodman and "the 
 invasion of the people." And whatever of clothing was required for 
 the necessities of the family, was entirely home-gro^vn, home- spun, 
 home-woven — and whatever of food, was chiefly the produce of their 
 o\vn dairies and fields. Of factories, their unromantic chimnies and 
 rattling wheels — of railways — the strife betsveen the' broad gauge and 
 the narrow — of water reservoirs, spreading themselves with lake-like 
 serenity over miles of the level — of electric -n-ires, whispering the last 
 news with lightning rapidity along the Queen's highway — the primitive 
 dwellers on those hill sides never dreamt. 
 
 As to means of rehgious instruction, they had none except those 
 provided at the parish church of Mottram on the one side, and, on 
 the other, at Woodhead Chapel, which was founded by Sir Edmund 
 Shaa, Lord Mayor of London, whose will, bearing date 1487, provided, 
 " I u-ill have two honest preestes, oon of them to sjTig his mass and 
 " say his other Divine service... and pray especially for my soule, and 
 
 Y
 
 354 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " for the soules, &:c...and I woU that he have for his salarie yearely 
 " for ever-more the sum of 4/. 6s. 8d." In 1655 this chapel was re- 
 turned to the Parhamentary Commissioners as being six miles from 
 the mother church, and no means belonging to it.* 
 
 For the inhabitants of Tintwistle and Micklehurst there was no 
 separate religious ministry. To join in worship with others, they had 
 to travel to one or the other of these extreme points. 
 
 Of their destitution Bagshaw kindly thought, and, in addition to 
 his labours at Glossop or Chinley, he was wont to visit Tintwistle on 
 the mission of teaching its inhabitants the words of eternal life ; and, 
 methinks, I can see the venerable evangelist going from house to 
 house, farmstead to farmstead, collecting together under this roof and 
 under that, as many as the suspicions of a lynx-eyed bigotry would 
 tolerate. For a long time — probably twenty years (1668 to 1688) — 
 these assemblies never met but with closed doors, or unless a scout 
 were stationed on an adjoining stand-point to signal the approach of 
 an informer. But the hand of God was seen in the clearing av/ay of 
 those dark skies, and in the lessening of such obstacles as had stood 
 in the way of a free worship according to conscience. 
 
 Upon the accession of William III., the Protestant Prince of 
 Orange, in 1688, and the passing of the Toleration Act, none were 
 more prompt in availing themselves of the liberty granted than the 
 Dissenting inhabitants of Tintwistle and Micklehurst. Too poor to 
 rear an edifice for Divine worship, in 1689 they purchased an old bam 
 on the site of the present building. Within this homely sanctuary, 
 with its whitewashed interior, its bare rafters and rush-bottomed 
 floor, the forefathers of this church enjoyed many a long and blissful 
 Sabbath. 
 
 That they were not without fears of the return of persecuting 
 times may be inferred from the ancient trust deed, which provided 
 that the building should be employed as a place of worship for the 
 Protestant Dissenters, inhabitants of Tintwistle and places adjacent, 
 " unless the Dissenters should be restrained as to their religious 
 " liberties. Then, during that time and no longer, it might be em- 
 " ployed as a place for the said inhabitants to meet in and consult 
 " about their lawful affairs, and for that time a school might be taught 
 " there; but immediately on taking off the restraint the said edifice 
 
 * Lambeth MSS., volume iii.
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 355 
 
 " is to be employed as before." A similar clause existed in the case 
 of some small endowments, which were left for " the maintenance of 
 " a minister so long as there is preaching. But if liberty" — according 
 to one of these legacies—" should be called in, and there should be 
 " a minister still ready to serve in that place, and be not suffered to 
 " preach in public, I will that he receive the interest of the same ; 
 " but for want of a minister, the interest of the money shall be paid 
 " to the poor of Mottram parish on every New Year's Day, until 
 " there shall be again liberty of conscience." 
 
 Not long after their occupation of this barn conventicle, the mem- 
 bers of the first congregation of Nonconformists in this neighbourhood 
 invited the Rev. Andrew Gray, a Scotchman, to be their pastor. 
 He appears to have been a man well-read, thoroughly evangelical 
 in his spirit and doctrines, — and for clearness, force, and terseness of 
 style, he was an author far beyond his contemporaries. 
 
 For several years Mr. Gray had the oversight of this small flock, 
 and was an earnest champion of Nonconformist principles, occasionally 
 attacking others holding opposite views with needless severity. But, 
 for reasons no doubt satisfactory to his own mind, he suddenly aban- 
 doned the ranks of Dissent, and was promoted to the curacy of 
 Mottram, the mother-church of the parish. On his first appearance 
 in the pulpit of S. Michael, his former people went in great numbers 
 to hear him, being rather curious, as it is recorded, "to know with 
 " what face Mr. Gray would demean himself in the very robes which 
 " he had so often denounced as 'the foppery of Babylon !'" Nor 
 were they disappointed, being not a little amused by his " confused 
 " countenance and awkward deportment upon the occasion ! " 
 
 While holding that curacy, Mr. Gray published two volumes, the 
 one entitled. The Mystery of Grace; the other, A Door Opening 
 into Everlasting Life. And if the same doctrines which pervade these 
 two volumes are still as fully preached in that parish pulpit, " therein 
 " I do rejoice ; yea, and will rejoice." There was no stickling for 
 "regeneration in baptism;" there was no belief in "the grace of 
 " sacraments ;" there was no placing of the book of Common Prayer 
 or of Rubrics and Canons on an equality with the Word of God ; there 
 were no mental reservations in preaching Christ and Him crucified as 
 the only hope of a perishing world. "Look in all the boxes," said 
 the writer, " where a Christian's comfort is, they are all empty without 
 " Christ. Therefore hasten to Christ, and get possessed of Him by
 
 35^ Nonconformity in CJieshire. 
 
 " faith. It will be the best market you ever made. Christ does not 
 " come to destroy your bodies, but to save your souls ; not to slay 
 " your first-bom, but to bring salvation to you and your posterity; not 
 " to molest your houses, but to dislodge your lusts ; not to make you 
 " beggars, but to bestow upon you the riches of his grace. Admit him, 
 " therefore, not only to your houses, but also into yoiu: hearts. Let 
 " proud Diotrephes say, ' It is good for me to have the pre-eminence.' 
 " Let covetous Judas say, ' It is good for me to bear the bag.' Let 
 " Demas say, ' It is good for me to embrace the present world ;' but 
 " let thy soul say, ' It is good for me to embrace this glorious person, 
 " ' Christ Jesus.'" 
 
 Such were the doctrines preached 170 years ago, before the fathers 
 of the Congregational Church at Tintwistle, and though subscription 
 to a creed has never been imposed upon its pastors, it is a fact to be 
 recorded with devout gratitude to the great Head of the Church, that 
 neither the tongue of calumny, nor the jealousy of the most orthodox 
 has insinuated a doubt respecting the evangelism of any one of them. 
 
 On the retirement of Mr. Gray from the pastorate, a successor was 
 found in the Rev. Reynald Tetlaw. His name first appears among 
 the delegates to the Cheshire Union of Dissenting Ministers present 
 at the Knutsford meeting, August 6th, 1701. The year following 
 he was ordained, with eight others, at Warrington. Matthew Henry, 
 in noting the events of that day — June i6th, 1702 — wrote, "That was 
 " a day of fasting and prayer and imposition of hands in a very great 
 " congregation ; where I trust God was with us. I took the confession 
 " and vows. The work of the day was done to general satisfaction. 
 " There were many other ministers present." Mr. Tetlaw's ministry 
 at Tintwistle was of short duration. He removed before the ministers 
 meeting of May nth, 1703, to Rainford in Lancashire, and was suc- 
 ceeded by Mr. Cowper, who had been trained for the ministry under 
 Mr. Chorlton. Mr. Cowper held the pastorate till the beginning of 
 1705. At the May meeting of the Union the congregation applied 
 to the ministers for help. On the recommendation of Mr. Henry the 
 congregation chose Mr. Gilbert Taylor to be Mr. Cowper's suc- 
 cessor. Mr. Taylor was privately ordained March 29th, 1710, at the 
 house of the Rev. S. Angier, Dukinfield, by Mr. Angier, Mr. G. Jones 
 of Hatherlow, and Mr. Irlam of Congleton. From memoranda in the 
 records of the Cheshire Union meetings, it appears that Mr. Taylor, 
 for three successive years, received a grant of 2/. out of the 100/. left
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 357 
 
 by Mr. Thomas Lee of Darnal, for the support of the Presbyterian 
 ministry. Bishop Gastrell notes that in his time there was a " Dis- 
 " senters' meeting-house at Tintvvistle, about two hundred meeters." 
 From another source we learn that "in 17 15 Mr. Taylor had 574 
 " hearers, seven of whom were gentlemen"* After May 3rd, 17 15, 
 Mr. Taylor's name disappears from the list of attendants at the minis- 
 terial meetings. The probability is that he finished his earthly course 
 in 17 16. 
 
 In May 17 18, Mr. Edward Thornton of Tintwistle was pro- 
 posed, along with others, for ordination at the next meeting of 
 ministers at Knutsford. It was likewise agreed that " Mr. Thornton 
 " should be examined by the Classis, and that he should prepare a 
 " discourse from Matthew xi. 12." He also brought a testimonial 
 under the hand of his tutor Mr. Rothwell, which is as followeth : — 
 " This may certify all whom it concerns that Edward Thornton 
 " has spent some time in my family, and under my direction 
 " and tuition; in which time he has gone through a course of 
 " philosophy, made a very considerable progress in theology, followed 
 " his studies with a commendable assiduity and diligence, redeemed 
 " his time and behaved himself soberly, regularly, piously, and as 
 " becomes the gospel. Holcom, February 23rd, 17 15." In May of 
 the following year Mr. Thornton was set apart to the ministry, when 
 Mr. Irlam of Congleton prayed with imposition of hands, and gave 
 the charge from Colossians iv. 1 7. Like his predecessor, Mr. Thornton 
 had to battle with poverty. From the Minute Book of the Cheshire 
 Union, it appears that a letter was read from him, May 1728, "in 
 " which he pleaded his necessity, and it was agreed that Mr. Jones, 
 " who was moderator pro iet?i., should recommend his case to the 
 " London ministers." 
 
 In the eleventh year of his pastorate, Mr. Thornton formed a 
 Religious Fellowship Society, of which Mr. John Buckley of Tunstead 
 was appointed the scribe. Lest any should misconstrue the design 
 of their monthly meetings, which were usually held at Mr. Buckley's, 
 it was announced in the prospectus of that society : — " We solemnly 
 " protest against all immoral, mischievous cabals; as also against all 
 " rebellious, schismatical societies, declaring ours only to be religious, 
 " viz., to read the word of God together, confer about spiritual things, 
 " pray with and for one another." 
 
 *MS. Dr. Williams' Library.
 
 358 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 It was afterwards resolved, — " On the days of meeting we will not 
 " meddle with matters too high for us, nor that relate to the govem- 
 " ment, unless to express our loyal subjection, and to confirm us more 
 " in those just principles. We agree that nothing shall be told out 
 " of the society, or of anything else managed there, especially if it 
 " will tend to the prejudice of the whole or any one of its members. 
 " We make not this rule to screen rebellion or immorality, for our most 
 " fervent and serious prayers are for the King, the Queen, the Prince, 
 " Duke and Princess, and for every branch of that most illustrous 
 " Protestant princely family. . . We make this rule, because the 
 " debauchees of this age will but make a mock at religion, and a jest 
 " at religious duties." 
 
 How suggestive these cautionary resolves are of the risks incurred 
 by the forefathers of this cause by their Nonconformity to the state 
 church; of the sharp-sighted jealousy which constantly dogged their 
 steps ; of the circumspection required from the individual members of 
 their society, — in debate and in prayer, — lest by the imprudence of 
 one, all the rest should be confounded with anti-royalists or debauchees ! 
 
 By the notes of its journalist, John Buckley, a worthy ancestor of 
 the family bearing that name in Ashton, — the history of this Christian 
 brotherhood can be traced from 1730 to 1749. Between them and 
 their pastor, the Rev. E. Thornton, there existed an affectionate in- 
 timacy of a most pleasurable kind. Through constitutional delicacy 
 and repeated attacks of ague he was frequently absent from the monthly 
 meetings, but the loss of his presence was somewhat compensated by 
 his love-breathing epistles. Having heard of the serious illness of his 
 friend Buckley, he WTote June 17th, 1744 : — "Not your family, not 
 " the society, not the church, can spare you. A brother so loving, so 
 " affectionately concerned for us, how shall we give you up ? 
 " Let my mistakes give advice. Eat something in the morning. 
 " Confine not yourself in serving others, as to bring tenderness and 
 " disorder upon your body, and let ten be thy bedtime; but stop, only 
 " long fasting, long standing, much starving, long waking, are not for 
 " thy health." 
 
 When this godly preacher was gathered to his fathers, or where 
 he was interred, neither marble pillar nor inscription cut in the rock 
 commemorates. But, in the absence of definite information, the 
 conjecture may be ventured on that the tomb immediately beneath 
 the chancel window of Mottram Church, where " resteth the body of
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 359 
 
 "William, late son of Edward Thornton, V.D.M., of jiTintwistle," 
 contains also all that was mortal of the father. Somewhere about 
 1747 he fell asleep in Jesus. 
 
 The three pastorates immediately following that of Mr. Thornton 
 were not happy ones, owing to the inadvertency, eccentricities, and, 
 in one case, the immorality of the ministers. During the pastorate 
 of the first of them (1748), the members of the church residing at 
 Micklehurst requested permission from their Tintvvistle brethren to 
 connect themselves with the church at Delph, urging that some of 
 them were so far advanced in years that they could not travel the 
 distance, and that others felt it an obligation to worship nearer their 
 home for the sake of their famihes. These reasons, however, were 
 not so weighty in the estimation of their fellow-disciples as to secure 
 their compliance; and as the answer to the petition of John Buckley 
 and others shows in what a solemn light the obhgation of church 
 membership was regarded, it may not be amiss to cite one paragraph. 
 " Thus far we agree that you may join in the reception of the supper 
 " ordinance with the Protestant Dissenting church at Delph as occa- 
 " sional members. But hereby you do not disannul or revoke that 
 " covenant which you made at your entrance into church-membership 
 " with us and with the Lord Jesus Christ, the head of the church." 
 Early in the ministry of the second (1763), a successful effort was 
 initiated for the building of a new chapel, more capacious and more 
 suitable to the times. The means were promptly supphed by the 
 congregation, and with a generosity which obviated the necessity of 
 appeals for help from ^vdthout. 
 
 Passing thus rapidly over the space of twenty-four years, we reach 
 the date of the Rev. William Hudson's settlement, which occurred 
 in 1782. He was then in his twenty-fourth year; but from the outset 
 he commended himself to all around him by his deep seriousness, 
 fervent piety, and genial kindness. Mr. Hudson, assisted by lay- 
 coadjutors, founded the first Tintsvistle Sunday-school in the year 
 1788. Finding, however, that the very class of youth whose improve- 
 ment was contemplated did not avail themselves of the proffered 
 benefit, the school was broken up after six years of trial. During the 
 next ten years there was a suspension of all direct Sabbath-school 
 labour. This circumstance, coupled wdth the fact that for fourteen 
 years he hadapparently laboured in vain, had avery depressive eflfect on 
 the mind of the devoted pastor. Mr. Hudson saw but one step before
 
 360 Nonco7tformity in Cheshire. 
 
 him — that of resigning his charge. From the execution of this pur- 
 pose he was dissuaded by neighbouring ministers, and especially by 
 his own people : to those intreaties and dissuasives he could not turn 
 a deaf ear. The precious seed, which had been sown in the hearts of 
 so many, began to spring up, and a religious awakening was ushered 
 in, which, more or less, lasted to the end of his ministry. In the 
 autumn of 1803, the school was resumed, and before long a larger 
 house of prayer was needed. With a cheerfulness " which the Lord 
 " loveth," the people gave abundantly of their substance. But the 
 pastor did not live to see the glory of that latter house. On the very 
 day, March 26th, 181 1, when the old meeting-house was razed to its 
 foundations, Mr. Hudson breathed his last, aged fifty-one. What 
 he was in life may be inferred from his death. On being asked 
 by the Rev. W. Evans of Stockport, if he had left any manu- 
 scripts behind him in a state to meet the pubhc eye and to gratify 
 the wishes of his friends, Mr. Hudson replied, — " I have given 
 " directions that my papers should be locked up or burned. I wish to 
 " be unnoticed." And then, with a sweet placid smile, repeated, — 
 
 Thus let me live unseen, unknowoi ; 
 
 Thus unlamented, let me die. 
 Steal from the world, and not a stone 
 
 Tell where I lie ! 
 
 After a vacancy of nearly three years, the pulpit was occupied 
 by the Rev. B. Senior, a student from Idle, who was ordained 
 pastor of the church at Tintwistle, September 6th, 18 15. He was 
 succeeded in 1827 by the Rev. John Cass Potter, now of Whitby. 
 On the date of his settlement, the church numbered only forty-seven 
 members. Under his earnest and popular ministrations the congre- 
 gation and the school were greatly increased. Eleven years after 
 (February 1838), Mr. Potter removed to another sphere of labour. 
 
 In the subsequent May, the congregation unanimously requested 
 the Rev. T. J. Davies of Royston, to occupy the vacant pas- 
 torate. The late Rev. Jonathan Sutcliffe of Ashton-under-Lyne, 
 has left the following testimony regarding him : — " He gave convinc- 
 " ing proof that he was willing to spend and be spent. His heart 
 " was in his work. In his unwearied exertions there seemed a complete 
 " oblivion of self. Such was the intimate union between him and his 
 " flock that he seemed to feel what every member bore. Hence when 
 " a re-action took place he became depressed and exhausted." On
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 3 61 
 
 May 20th, 1843, he was taken suddenly, in his 39th year, from his 
 work to his reward. Upon his tombstone the following epitaph is 
 engraven : — 
 
 " In memory of the Rev. Thomas Davies, who was pastor of this 
 " church for nearly five years. He died May 20th, aged thirty-nine 
 " years. He was an affectionate husband, a tender parent, and a 
 " sincere friend ; obliging in manners, affable in disposition, and 
 " prompt to deeds of benevolence. A good minister of Jesus Christ; 
 " ardent in zeal, abundant in labour, and an instrument of much 
 " good. He rests from his labours, and his works do follow him." 
 
 Mr. Davies was succeeded in the pastorate by the present minister, 
 the Rev. R. G. Milne, M.A. What has since followed the hand of 
 other chroniclers must tell. Gratitude, however, prompts both pastor 
 and people to rear a pillar of remembrance, and with glad hearts to 
 write on it — " The Lord hath done great things for us." 
 
 NOTE. 
 The Rev. William Bagshaw. 
 
 William Bagshaw was bom at Litton, in the parish of Tideswell, Derbyshire, 
 January 17th, 1628. His father, ha\'ing been left an orphan, was defrauded of a 
 considerable property by some of his relations. But it pleased God to raise up 
 friends for him, through whose wise advice the little that remained was so profitably 
 invested that he became wealthy. Ever after his heart beat wath true sympathy 
 toward the oppressed and the fatherless. Of his numerous family, William, the eldest, 
 was the only one to reach the years of maturity. He was baptized at Tideswell, by the 
 Rev. Mr. Greavel. Under the ministry of Mr. Rowlandson of Bakewell, and Mr. 
 Bourne of Ashover, he received a deep tincture of reHgion. "With what pleasure," 
 says he, " do I call to mind that, when I was a schoolboy, Mr. Rowlandson was a 
 " diligent catechist as well as preacher. He remembered the charge given him by 
 " the Lord Jesus for the feeding as of his sheep so of his lambs." Of Mr. Rowlandson 
 he further says, " I have heard that this worthy man, when young, was employed 
 " in and at our Chappel-le-Frith." He apphes to him the saying, " His doctrine 
 *' was as thimder, and his Ufe was as lightning." On quitting the school, where 
 he had distinguished himself by his diligence and ability, William Bagshaw entered 
 Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and, while passing through the curriculum of 
 study, was rehgiously benefited by the public labours of Drs. Hill, Arrowsmith, 
 and Whichcot. On his return from the university, he preached his first sermon in 
 the chapel of Warmhill, in Tideswell. Thence he removed to Attercliffe, as 
 assistant to the Rev. James Fisher of Sheffield. Before leaving that post, Mr.
 
 362 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 Bagshaw was solemnly ordained at Chesterfield by the presbytery, before a numerous 
 congregation, on January 1st, 1650. The ministers prominent in the service 
 were the Revs. Immanuel Bourne, moderator; Messrs. John Rowlandson of 
 Bakewell, James Hewit, and John Brocklehurst. A few months after he was 
 invited to the parish of Glossop. For eleven years he prosecuted his pastoral 
 duties with great earnestness and fidelity. His labours were manifold, and, as 
 a father, he lived among his people. His administration of the Lord's Supper 
 was a service marked by great solemnity. "As he would not admit the grossly 
 " ignorant and notoriously profane to that sacred feast, so he durst not exclude 
 " those in whom he saw anything of the image of Christ; though they were of 
 " different sentiments in lesser matters of religion, and had been too averse to that 
 " way of church government which he believed to be most agreeeble to the rules 
 " of the gospel." 
 
 His usefulness was suddenly stopped by the Act of Uniformity. In con- 
 sequence he vacated his home at Glossop. But such was the value put on his 
 services that a gentleman in the parish, who had an interest in the presentation, 
 offered to secure it for him, if the attempt met with Mr. Bagshaw's consent. 
 But, having conscientiously refused to conform, he declined the generous offer. 
 He retired to Ford, near Chinley, in the same county, and lived on his own 
 estate. For several years he attended the Parish Church with his household, 
 morning and afternoon. But, being persuaded that no power could cancel 
 his authority or disannul his obligation to preach the gospel, he preached privately 
 in his own house on the Sabbath evening. Upon the declaration by Charles H. 
 for liberty of conscience, 1672, he preached three Sabbaths in the month in the 
 parish of Chapel-le-Frith, and on the fourth Sabbath in the parish of Glossop, 
 from which he had been banished. " He was the chief instrument in gathering 
 " the congregations at Ashford, Malcoffe, Middleton, Bradwall, Chalmarton, and 
 " Hucklow ; besides setting up lectures at several places, which were afterwards 
 " kept up." When Charles, on the petition of Parliament, recalled his Declaration 
 of Indulgence, he kept up his meetings privately ; changing the place of assembly 
 almost every Lord's Day, lest his hearers should be subjected to the penalties con- 
 nected with conventicle worship. On one such occasion the preacher himself had 
 a narrow escape. The two informers who disturbed him ingenuously acknowledged 
 that his very countenance struck a terror into them. And one of them, while on 
 his deathbed, sent often to beg his pardon and his prayers. Mr. Bagshaw heard 
 of Charles II. 's death wth great concern; as his successor — ^James — was reputed 
 to be a Romanist at heart. Yet his suspicions did not interfere with his zeal 
 in his heavenly master's work. "He laboured more abundantly than ever. He 
 " allowed himself but little time for sleep, and was very seldom out of his study — 
 " unless at meal times, at family worship, or when abroad on the work of the 
 " ministry, in which he was employed two or three days in every week, and fre- 
 " quently ;it two or three different places on the same day. Yet such was his 
 " industry that, though he preached so often and seldom on the same text in two 
 " auditories, he had prepared several hundreds of sermons which he lived not to 
 " make use of." In addition to his pastoral labours, Mr. Bagshaw published 
 several treatises of great value. Of these may be enumerated Liying Water,
 
 Deanery of Macclesfield. 363 
 
 Sermons on Revelation xxi. 6, The Miner's Monitor, The Riches of Grace, Trading 
 Spiritualized, De Spiritiialibus Pecci — or Notices of some of his Co-workers in the 
 High Peak. Besides these published treatises "he left behind him fifty vols , some 
 ** va. folio and many in quarto, written fair wdth his owti hand on several subjects. 
 '* At the end of every year he usually repeated to his people the substance of his 
 " discourses during the prior twelve months ; and in the beginning of the new year 
 " he went to the houses of his hearers and preached a suitable sermon to each.' 
 His name occurs as the first signature to the Agreement of London Ministers 
 adopted by the ministers of Cheshire, at the formation of their union in 1691. He 
 signs himself "William Bagshaw, minister of y^ gospel in Glossop parish." 
 " His health at last began to suffer, and his growing infirmities compelled him to 
 " shorten his journeys and lessen his labors. Yet he desisted not wholly from his 
 " delightful work more than one Lord's Day before his death." On that occasion, 
 March 22nd, 1702, Mr. Bagshaw preached his last sermon with "a vigour and 
 " vivacity which would have indicated perfect health to a stranger." However, he 
 had no sooner done than he himself was sensible that his preaching work was over, 
 and he thereon said he thought it would be tempting God to make another essay. 
 He became weaker every day. On the following Sabbath he was confined to his 
 bed, and to those about him he remarked that his silence that day was his sermon. 
 The two following days he was \'isited by several of his hearers. To them the 
 dying Apostle of the Peak declared his satisfaction in his Nonconformity, and 
 blessed God who had kept him from acting against his conscience. And, after a 
 young minister's extempore prayer, he expressed surprise that so much should be 
 said against free prayer; adding, " there is not a prayer in all their books would 
 " have suited my present circumstances so well as this has done.''^ On Wednesday 
 night, April ist, 1702, he requested that a hymn might be sung, to be followed by 
 a prayer. At the close of the latter he added his Amen, and then fell "asleep in 
 "Jesus." His mortal remains were consigned to the grave at Chapel-le-Frith. 
 His funeral sermon was preached by his nephew, the Rev. J. Ashe of Ashford, on 
 Hebrews xiii. 7. The fruits of his labours still live in many of the places where he 
 preached the gospel statedly or occasionally. Though 160 years have passed away 
 since the Apostle of the Peak finished his testimony, the traces of his earnest life 
 are yet visible. 
 
 NORTHENDEN. 
 
 This parish was the scene of the labours of a Puritan minister, the 
 Rev. Henry Dunster, who had he hved till 1662 would probably 
 have been a Nonconformist. His predecessor was Mr. Rootes, who 
 is described as minister of Northenden in 1643. The survey of 1649 
 states that " the com and tithes of Northenden are worth 100/. ; one 
 " Mr. Henry Dunstarr is minister there, and was presented by the 
 " Committee for Plundered Ministers. He is an honest able minister."* 
 
 ♦Lambeth MS., vol, iii.
 
 364 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 Mr. Dunster was both a relation and a friend of Henry Newcome, 
 who makes the following references to him in his Diary. " I preached 
 " at a fast for rain the next Tuesday after (June 1652) at Northenden." 
 " August 17th, 1659. Mr. Dunster preached in the afternoon on 
 " 2 Kings ix., at the Manchester Classis." "January nth, 166^. 
 " Mr. Dunster preached for me at Stopford [Stockport] on the Friday." 
 " November 12th, 1661. Got to Northenden before eleven. I 
 " preached on Exodus xx. 6, at the baptism of Felicia Dunstarr." 
 " March 14th, i66|. After, I went to Northenden, hearing my cousin 
 " Dunster being so very ill, whom indeed I found very weak." 
 " March i8th, 1661-2. One from Northenden acquainted me with 
 " the death of my cousin Dunster, with desire to me to preach his 
 " funeral on Thursday. A sad breach it is! " " Thursday March 20th. 
 " Came to Northenden before one. I preached at the funeral of 
 " Mr. Dunster, on i Kings xx. i, where was much lamentation made. 
 " Poor family and poor people." 
 
 Calamy names Mr. Dunster among the Nonconforming ministers 
 of Cheshire, and adds, that "he did not afterwards conform; Mr. 
 " Melbury was remarkably kind to him after his ejectment." Palmer 
 omits these remarks, having probably been better informed regarding 
 Mr. Dunster. The follo\ving epitaph is among the inscriptions in 
 Northenden Church : — "M.S. Henrici Dunster, in artibus magistri, 
 " verbi sacri preconis pii, fidelis et docti, hujus ecclesiae Pastoris 
 " nuper vigilantissimi, qui obiit Mart. 17, et sepult. 20, anno D"" 
 " 1661."
 
 DEANERY OF FRODSHAM 
 
 RODSHAM Deanery is nearly co-extensive with the 
 Bucklow Hundred, and contains ten parishes, some of 
 which are very large, and embrace several chapelries. 
 Eleven Nonconformist ministers were ejected from their 
 livings in this Deanery in 1660 and 1662, viz., Mr. Ford of Ashton- 
 upon-Mersey, James Livesey of Great Budworth, John Machin of 
 Whitley, James Cockayne of Frodsham, Thomas Bradshaw of Grap- 
 penhall, Adam Martindale of Rosthern, Robert Hunter of Knutsford, 
 Robert Norbury of Over Peover, and Robert Eaton of Daresbury. 
 
 ASHTON-UPON-MERSEY. 
 
 (By Joseph Thompson, Esq.) 
 
 There was a Presbyterian incumbent here during the Civil Wars. 
 Adam Martindale, in his Autobiography,* states that he had been 
 invited to become minister of the place (in 1647), and again t he 
 tells his people on the memorable Sunday August 17th, 1662, that 
 he had been invited to Ashton at double the salary his people paid 
 him. The pulpit was occupied by Mr. Ford, who is mentioned by 
 Newcome,:}: Friday October 4th, 1661, "Was after supper an hour 
 *' at Mr. Heyricke's, and procured Mr. Case for Mr. Ford at Ashton, 
 " for y* next Lord's Day but one." Mr. Ford was afterwards ejected. 
 Nonconformity must have spread in this parish, for Gastrell states 
 that in his time there was a Presbyterian meeting-house there, and 
 that one eighth the famiUes were Nonconformists. 
 
 * Page 76. t Page 171. Ij: Diary, page 5.
 
 366 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 Cross-street Chapel. 
 
 Cross-street, now commonly known as Sale Moor, is supposed to 
 have taken its name " from the ancient Watling-street, which forded 
 " the Mersey and entered Cheshire at the same point with this road, 
 " and proceeded for some miles in a similar direction."* Noncon- 
 formity took its rise here most probably immediately after Mr. Ford's 
 ejection. Bishop Gastrellt says there was "a Presbyterian meeting- 
 " house at Cross-street in this parish, to which great numbers resort, 
 " rt/z/w 17 16." Prior to this Mr. Michael Fletcher, who was a 
 student of Mr. Frankland's, at Natland, in 1695, was ordained the 
 minister 18th June 1700, and in the year 17 15 he still continued to be 
 the minister, and had — for so scanty a population — the large number of 
 322 hearers.+ His name also appears among the signatures to the cen- 
 sure of Mr. De la Rose of Stockport, in 1722. The good man, however, 
 fell into trouble, for,-after spending upwards of a quarter of a century 
 in the ministry, his conduct had to be enquired into, and a committee 
 of ministers was appointed to make the investigation September 3rd, 
 1728. § Two years after this date the vacant pulpit was offered to 
 Mr. Hamnett as a candidate ; he did not settle there, for in May of 
 the following year " it was agreed that, upon Mr. Nehemiah Reyner's 
 " removal to Cross-street, the Rev. Mr. Gardiner, Mr. Mottershed, 
 " and Mr. Jones shall join in a letter to y^ London ministers to 
 " procure the money formerly allowed to that place, which for some 
 " time has been discontinued." || Mr. Reyner appears to have been 
 excluded from the Ministers' Association August 1738. The cen- 
 sure was afterwards revoked, and he was owned as a brother again 
 at a meeting held May 6th, 1740. Subsequently the pulpit was 
 occupied by Mr. Mottershed, and then by the Rev. R. Harrison, 
 formerly of Shrewsbury. The Rev. Robert Harrop, who had pre- 
 viously undertaken the charge of the chapels at Millbrow and Green- 
 acres, followed Mr. Harrison. He preached at Sale for thirty-seven 
 years, and combined with his duties there the oversight of the chapel 
 at Hale Barn, which he held for forty-six years, " when he retired 
 
 * Ormerod, vol. i., page 421. fNotitia Cestriensis, vol. i., page 312. 
 
 X Josiah Thompson's MS. in Dr. Williams's Library. 
 
 § Cheshire MS. || liid^ page 69.
 
 Deanery of Frodsham. 367 
 
 " with the undivided respect and affection of his flock." It is probable 
 that, during this period, he was assisted by Mr. Gabriel Nichols, who 
 preached at Sale and Partington alternately in 1773. The Rev. 
 William Johns of Manchester was aftenvards minister here for 
 several years. 
 
 The old chapel still exists at Cross-street, but the date and origin 
 of it are not known. It has an endowment consisting of a small farm 
 at Ashton-upon-Mersey, which produces about 40/. a year. Like 
 many of the chapels built by the Protestant Dissenters after the 
 passing of the Toleration Act, it has lapsed into the hands of the 
 Unitarians, and, although the connexion cannot be clearly traced, it is 
 probable that the introduction of Congregationalism originated from 
 this cause. 
 
 Independent Chapel, Sale. 
 
 In the year 1800 some gentlemen from Manchester, deeply 
 interested in the spiritual welfare of this neighbourhood, commenced 
 the preaching of the gospel in a cottage at Cross-street, and their 
 labours appear to have continued about three years. The success of 
 this effort was sufficient to induce the same friends to build a sub- 
 stantial chapel, capable of holding about four hundred hearers. 
 The principal contributors were Messrs. Robert Spear* and Arthur 
 Clegg, the former giving 50/. for every 20/. contributed by the latter, 
 and by these means the whole amount was raised with the exception 
 of about 50/. contributed by the people in the neighbourhood. 
 
 In the year 1805 a church was formed which consisted of twelve 
 
 * Mr. Spear's name is mentioned in connexion with Partington, near which 
 place he resided, and where he bought his house — Z^Iill Bank — in the year 1807 
 (Lysons's Cheshire, page 515 j. Mr. Spear— unhke too many men both before and 
 since his time — when he had accumulated a fortune by his own exertions, did not 
 consider it necessary, either to forsake the principles he had pre\'iously held, for the 
 sake of position in the world, or to hoard up his money for his own gratification 
 and selfish enjoyment — on the contran,-, he looked upon these things as talents en- 
 trusted to his care, and he put them out to interest like a faithful steward. His 
 portrait now adorns the w-alls of the Lancashire Independent College, of which he 
 may be said to have been the father, as he greatly assisted young ministers by 
 placing them under the care of the Rev. William Roby for education, and this 
 training was afterwards carried on at Blackburn until the Lancashire College was 
 opened, to which institution the Blackburn students were transferred. For a fuller 
 account of this good man's life the reader is referred to the Autobiography of the 
 Rev. Wm. Jay, page 432.
 
 368 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 members. For some time this chapel was supplied by Mr. Ashton, 
 a gentleman of fortune, who thought fit to devote himself to the minis- 
 try, and had received some instruction from Mr. Roby. Under his 
 ministry the church greatly prospered, and was regarded as one of the 
 most flourishing of country congregations. It is not known how long 
 Mr. Ashton's labours continued, but for some time subsequent to his 
 withdrawment the pulpit was supplied by lay preachers from Man- 
 chester. 
 
 In 182 1 the Rev. Mr. Crockford became the minister of the 
 place ;* the church prospered under his pastorate for a time, but after- 
 wards it languished, whereupon Mr. Crockford removed in 1826 to 
 Salem Chapel, Warrington, where he remained for about seven years. 
 No record remains of the spiritual condition of this church at Sale 
 previous to the year 1826. For nearly five years the pulpit was filled 
 by laymen from Manchester. 
 
 About the year 1831 Mr. Gibbon, who had formerly been a local 
 preacher among the Wesleyan Methodists, but had subsequently 
 united himself to the Congregational Church at Grosvenor-street, 
 under Mr. Roby, came to preach at Sale. Shortly afterwards he 
 became the minister of the chapel, and as a preacher he was successful. 
 The church which had been reduced to three members was increased 
 sevenfold during the year. A large amount of prosperity rewarded the 
 preacher during the next five years, when he unhappily adopted Hyper- 
 ' Calvinistic views, and also took a prejudice against Sunday-schools. 
 These views did not suit the common sense of the people, who speedily 
 forsook the preacher, and in the year 1841 Mr. Gibbon removed to 
 Warrington. The pulpit was then occupied by lay preachers who 
 held the same views as the last minister, but the congregation still 
 declined till 1842, when the few persons remaining were unable to 
 defray the expenses incidental to public worship. The place was 
 closed for about two months when, at the request of the trustees, the 
 Rev. Edward Morris — then settled at the neighbouring village of 
 Stretford — re-opened the chapel, and in conjunction with Mr. 
 Jonathan Lees of Manchester and the junior students of the Lancashire 
 College, made an effort to quicken the religious life of the place. 
 Their attention was first turned to the Trust Deed, — a matter far too 
 much neglected by our smaller churches — and to the condition of 
 
 • Slate's History of the Lancaster County Union, page 48.
 
 Deanery of Frodsham. 369 
 
 the building, both of which were found to be in a most unsatisfactory 
 condition ; after the expenditure of a large amount of labour and 
 money, they were both renewed, and the chapel now began to assume 
 a more inviting appearance. 
 
 In October 1842 the present church consisting of eleven members 
 was formed — the Revds. R. Fletcher, James Griffin, and E. Morris, 
 taking part in the service. An invitation was offered to Mr. Morris 
 to become pastor of the church, which he accepted in addition to the 
 pastorate of the church at Stretford. The result was most satisfactory, 
 large additions being steadily made to the school and congregation — 
 the church also increased and numbered about fifty members at the 
 close of the year 1849. 
 
 The character of Sale Moor rapidly changed about this time in 
 consequence of the railway to Bowdon having been opened : in ad- 
 dition to the cottages which lined the high road, the few gentlemen's 
 houses and scattered farms, new houses were built in large numbers, 
 caused by a largely increased population. Mr. Morris felt that this 
 increase demanded his whole attention at one place, and relinquishing 
 his connexion with Stretford, he accepted the pastorate of the church 
 at Sale. In March 1851 it was found necessary to provide additional 
 accommodation. The erection of a new chapel was agreed upon, and 
 the result of the movement was the building of the present chapel on 
 a site of land presented by S. Brooks, Esq. ; the chapel will hold five 
 hundred persons ; it is of the early Enghsh style ; it is fronted with 
 stone, and cost 2,200/., the whole of which was paid on the completion 
 of the building. The number of members received into the church 
 since its re-organization in 1842 is 184. The Sunday-school numbers 
 two hundred, and the present accommodation being too hmited, the 
 enlargement of the schoolroom is contemplated. 
 
 BOWDON. 
 
 (By Joseph Thompson, Esq.) 
 
 " This town of Bowdon takes its name from our two old Saxon 
 " words Bode (which is yet in use with us for a dwelling or habitation) 
 " and Do7i or Dun (which is as much as a plain upon a rising hill, 
 " for which we now use the word Do\vn), so that Bodon signifies as 
 " much as a town or dwelling on the downs, unless, perhaps, we 
 z
 
 370 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " write it JBoge-don (for so we find it anciently written in Doomsday 
 " Book), and then it may denote a down or hill by a bog; at the side 
 " whereof, towards Ashley, heth a great deep bog."* It may be 
 added that, on the north and east, are the mosses or bogs of Carring- 
 ton and Sinderland, as also the flat land which was once the bed of 
 the Mersey. Which of these derivations is the more correct is of little 
 matter to the present sketch, but the latter may be adopted as more 
 appropriate, for as Bowdon is situated on a hill it commands a view 
 of nearly all the places mentioned in this paper. 
 
 The religious history of Bowdon goes far back. " There was a 
 " church here in the Conqueror's time : 'ibi Presbyter et ecclesia, 
 " ' cui pertinet dimidia hida,' saith Doomsday Book, so that it seems 
 " to surmount the time of the Norman Conquest."t In confirmation 
 of this it may be stated that during the recent rebuilding of the parish 
 church, traces of three foundations were discovered, one of Saxon 
 origin, another supposed to be of the twelfth century, and the third 
 that of the Tudor building recently removed. Little is known of 
 ecclesiastical aff'airs before the middle of the seventeenth century, for 
 the parish registers only begin with the year 1628. Shortly after this 
 date many events of importance occurred, and as Sir George Booth 
 of Dunham Hall was so much mixed up with them, it will be well, 
 perhaps, to give a sketch of his life. 
 
 " Sir George Booth \ (says Clarendon) was a person of one of the 
 " best fortunes and interest in Cheshire, and for the memory of his 
 " grandfather, of absolute power with the Presbyterians. He sat as 
 " representative of the county in the Long Parliament, after the dis- 
 " placing of one of the other members, and was thrice returned 
 " member for the same during the usurpation in 1654, 1656, and 
 " 1660. In the struggle between the King and his subjects, he was 
 " engaged on the side of the Parliament. He and Sir William Brereton 
 " are the only Cheshire gentlemen mentioned by name, in the first 
 " order issued by Parliament for the arming of the county and securing 
 " the equipments and magazines of the Royalists at the first breaking 
 " out of the civil disturbances, and he was again actively employed in 
 " arming the county, on the approach of Sir Marmaduke Langdale 
 " in 1648. 
 
 •Sir P. Leycester, in Ormerod's Cheshire, vol. i., page 392. 
 t Ibid, page 393. +Ormerod, pages 404-5.
 
 Deanery of Frodsham. 371 
 
 " Sir George Booth afterwards favoured the cause of the Restora- 
 " tion. By a commission sent to him from the King at Brussels, in 
 " 1659, he was constituted commander of the King's forces in Cheshire, 
 '' Lancashire, and North Wales. In pursuance of this, he undertook 
 " in this year one of the attempts which were simultaneously executed 
 " in various parts of the kingdom, for seizing the strongholds for the 
 " King, and his attempt was the only one which succeeded ; he 
 " obtained possession of Chester city, but Colonel Croxton, the Par- 
 " liamentarian governor, resolutely defended himself in the castle. 
 " On this the Royalists divided — Sir Thomas Middleton proceeded 
 " towards Wales, and was defeated on Pree's Heath ; Sir George 
 " Booth set out to march by Kendal and Skipton towards York, which 
 " was deemed likely to fall into his hands ; but from this expedition 
 " he was recalled by the advance of Lambert, to his position at Ches- 
 " ter, where Colonel Croxton still held the castle, and the city walls 
 " had been partly razed. Prevented by these circumstances from 
 " standing a siege, which might have been fatal to the Parliament 
 " forces, Sir George sallied forth to meet Lambert, and sustained 
 " defeat at Winnington. In Lambert's letter to the Parliament, the 
 " Royalists are stated to have ralhed again, within a quarter of a mile 
 " of the scene of their defeat, ' disputing the place very gallantly, both 
 " 'parties shewing themselves like Englishmen.' 
 
 " After the battle. Sir George attempted to effect his escape in 
 " female attire, but being discovered, and taken at Newport Pagnell, 
 " was committed to the tower. He was afterwards liberated, and 
 " was restored in February 1659-60 to his seat in Parliament, and had 
 " shortly after the happiness of being the first of the twelve members 
 " elected to carry to King Charles II. the answer of the house to His 
 " Majesty's letter. In the same year the sum of twenty thousand 
 " pounds was on the point of being voted to him, as a reward for his 
 " eminent services and great sufferings, when he himself, in his place, 
 " requested that his reward might not be more than half the amount, 
 " which was accordingly granted by the Commons on August 2nd, 
 " and confirmed by the Lords the day following. As a further reward 
 " from the crown he had the barony of Delamer, of Dunham Massey, 
 " conferred upon him, and had hberty to propose six gentlemen to 
 " receive the honour of knighthood, and two others to have the dignity 
 " of baronet. ' After this,' according to Collins, ' not being studious to 
 " ' please the court in those measures that were taken in some part of
 
 372 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " * that reign, both he and his family were soon aftenvards disregarded 
 " ' by the King, and ill-used by his successor James II.' 
 
 " A memorial of George lord Delamer, placed over his vault by a 
 " faithful domestic, will be found in the list of epitaphs in the church 
 " of Bowdon." 
 
 The death of Oliver Cromwell completely broke down the Com- 
 monwealth, and enabled the Royalists to strike for the King, though 
 imder false colours. Sir George Booth, backed by the Presbyterians, 
 if judged by his proclamation, rose to maintain the freedom of Par- 
 liament ; he really fought for the King, and the Presbyterians afterwards 
 reaped a "Stuart's gratitude" in being utterly forsaken. "But it is 
 " generally agreed that from this time the Presbyterians appeared no 
 " longer among the King's enemies, but very much promoted his 
 " restoration. Upon the foundation of this union an insurrection 
 " was formed in several parts of the country. . . Sir G. Booth, a 
 " Presbyterian, had an opportunity of appearing about Chester, but 
 " was defeated by Lambert and made prisoner. The King and Duke 
 " of York came to Calais, to be in readiness to embark in case it 
 " succeeded. . . Several of the Presbyterian ministers appeared 
 " in this insurrection, . . all were afterwards ejected by the Act 
 " of Uniformity."* 
 
 The district had experienced troublous times before Sir George's 
 rising, for in the year 1642 there was issued to the "gentlemen of 
 " Cheshire," " a declaration of the Lords and Commons assembled 
 " in Parliament, concerning the late treaty of peace in Cheshire. 
 " Wherein they renownce the said agreement, as being very prejudi- 
 " ciall and dangerous to the whole kingdom, that any one county 
 " should stand as newter, and withdraw themselves from the assistance 
 " of the rest." This declaration was ordered to be " read in all parish 
 " churches and chappells in the county of Cheshire, by the parsons, 
 " vicars, or curates of the same." It recites that " For this, and other 
 " reasons, we hold ourselves bound in conscience in performance of 
 " the severall Protestations that we have made to hinder all further 
 " proceedings upon that agreement. And therefore it is ordered by 
 " the Lords and Commons that no such neutrality be observed in that 
 " county, which will secretly advantage the forces raised there, and 
 
 *Neal's Puritans, vol. iii., pages 7, 8, edition 1837. See also Hume's History 
 of England, vol. viii., pages 350 — 353; Hunter's Life of Oliver Heywood, page 
 112; Adam Martindale's Life; Newcome's Autobiography, &c., &c.
 
 Deaneiy of Frodskam. 373 
 
 " in the neighbour counties against the Parliament, and no way 
 " benefit Cheshire, but rather be most dangerous to them, by keeping 
 " that county without any defensive forces ; whereby it will be open 
 " to the King to bring back his army thither at his pleasure; by 
 " which meanes it will become the state of the wars, and if this 
 " should not fall out, yet if the rest of the kingdome be suppressed, 
 " what hopes can Cheshire have but to be involved in the pubUck 
 " misery." &c., &c. 
 
 According to Walker, in the year 1643 the Vicar of Bowdon, 
 named Smith, was sequestered. " He was turned out by a committee 
 " of Parliament without ever being heard."* Then followed the 
 Presbyterian occupancy of the pulpit, for we read that James 
 Watmough, pastor of Bowdon, signed the Cheshire Attestation of 
 Presbyterian ministers in 1 648. There is little to be found relating 
 to this man; it is certain that he did not prevent the disturbances 
 which speedily rose up between the Presbyterians and Independents 
 both at Bowdon and elsewhere. During the year 1651 Adam Mar- 
 tindale of Rostherne was drawn into the controversy. He relates that 
 the malcontents of his own parish had long before engaged him in a 
 dispute with the Separatists in Bowdon parish, which caused " a paper 
 " scuffle" between their teacher and him.f 
 
 During the Commonwealth, Ashley Hall was in the possession 
 of Thomas Brereton, Esq., who built a domestic chapel there in 1653. 
 The minute book of the Manchester Classis contains entries regard- 
 ,Jng two ministers who were successively appointed to this chapel. 
 " Mr. Thomas Aspinall, B.A., aged about twenty-five years, was 
 " ordained and hcensed to exercise his ministry in the chapel of 
 " Ashley, Cheshire, on February 28th, 1654." "Mr. Joseph Birch, 
 " B.A., of Caius College, Cambridge, was ordained minister of Ashley, 
 " and brought a certificate from Thomas Brereton of Ashley, Esq., 
 " shewing his desire to have him his chaplain, March 30th, 1659." 
 Mr. Brereton died in 1660, aged sixty-six, and was buried at Bowdon. 
 
 Sir George Booth was a warm friend of the Presbyterians, both 
 before and after he was ennobled as Lord Delamere ; he had Divine 
 service in his own house, and was very kind to the ministers after the 
 passing of the Act of Uniformity. Newcome,:}: the exemplary preacher 
 
 * Sufferings of the Clergy, part ii. 
 tLife of Adam Martindale, pages 105, 106. ^Autobiography, page 74.
 
 374 Nonconformity m Cheshire. 
 
 at the Collegiate Church, and subsequently at Cross-street Chapel, 
 Manchester, makes frequent mention of him, and speaks of the second 
 lord with all the warmth and earnestness of a father. " 1657, August 
 " 22nd. I went to Dunham, and preached there the next day, in the 
 " forenoon ; and at the chapel in the afternoon at Bowden, on Heb. 
 " ii. 3. How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation. And 
 " at this time had the first knowledge of, and acquaintance with, that 
 " honorable person Sir George Booth." Again in 1664 he stayed four 
 days at Dunham when the effects of the ejectment were fully expe- 
 rienced : nor was he alone, for the good Mr. Eaton* "three years 
 " lived at Dunham," whither Adam Martindale also went to read 
 mathematics with the Lord Delamere, and to instruct the children 
 therein. + He also officiated as chaplain at Dunham for fourteen 
 years. Martindale tells us that, in 1663, "the bishop (of Chester) 
 " preached fiercely against Nonconformists at Bowdon, and as one 
 " that had a notable faculty of extracting salt water out of a 
 " pumice upon those words. We are not ig?iorant of his devices, 
 " 2 Corinthians ii. 11; made even the most harmlesse practices of the 
 " Nonconformists devices of Sathan, soe farre as his Episcopall 
 " authoritie would authenticate such doctrine." Though the minister 
 of Bowdon was probably a Conformist, these references to the 
 Separatists of Bowdon parish, and the Nonconformists of Bowdon, prove 
 that the Dissenters were a strong part}^ there in 1662. They probably 
 attended Martindale's ministrations, at the Sunday evening services 
 which he held as chaplain to Lord Delamere, and at Ringway Chapel, 
 where Mr. Brereton preached. 
 
 The first " Lord Delamere, my good friend and favourer, died 
 " (says Newcome) a little before this (September 3rd, 1684), and was 
 " buried in great solemnity at Bowden, September 9th. "J 
 
 The Presbyterians, heartily sick of the Stuarts and their broken 
 pledges, now warmly espoused the cause of the Prince of Orange, and 
 felt the deepest interest in the second Lord Delamere's adhesion to it. 
 Newcome manifests so much concern for one whose life was of great 
 value to Nonconformists generally, and to the inhabitants of Bowdon 
 especially, that we cannot forbear transcribing some passages from his 
 
 ♦Martindale's Autobiography, page 157. fLife, pages 175, 197, 
 
 + Newcome, page 256. Zachary Cavvdrey, rector of Barthomley, preached a 
 funeral sermon at Bowdon for Lord Delamere, which was pubhshed in 1684. It is 
 entitled, The Certainty of Salvation to them who Die in the Lord. 
 
 1
 
 Deanery of Frodshani. 375 
 
 life. Under date of November 24th, 1685, he says : — "The news came 
 " of the Parhament prorogation, which was unexpected. An instance 
 " of God's power and providence, who can put men beside their 
 " measures. But we may trembUngly wait for the issue of these things. 
 " I look upon it as a strange thing, if possible, to rescue the Lord 
 " Delamer, whom I prayed for. God changed the affairs of the nation 
 " to save his father in '59. God can save him by reason of state." 
 " December ist. We heard of the bail of the Lord Delamere. A 
 " great mercy. Soon clapped up again." 
 
 For seven weary weeks they waited the issue of the trial ; the dull 
 and anxious Christmas passed, the New Year dawned without hope, 
 but relief came at last, and we can fancy the joy in that little assembly 
 at Dunham when on " Sabbath January 17th (1686), " It pleased God, 
 " passed all expectation, to bring us the news of the Lord Delamere's 
 " being cleared at his trial. I could do little all day for the thoughts 
 " of the unexpected mercy. Whilst it was hot, I wrote something in 
 " the evening of the use for God I would have him make of it. It 
 *' was honestly designed, and sent to London. But I never heard of 
 " it, whether it was received or not." 
 
 Two years afterwards the nation was astir, nor were the Non- 
 conformists without hope. October 7th (1688). "Now was the 
 " amuseing ( ! ) news of the Prince of Orange's design to come upon 
 " us."* " 1 6th. Things are dark and in great confusion. The Lord 
 " be merciful to us." November i6th. " Lord Delamere came to town 
 " soldierlike. I was affected with a great passion of tears to see him 
 " ride b)^" 26th. " A great alarm in the evening about Dunham, as 
 " if some were a coming to fire the house. The country generally 
 " rose to relieve it." 28th. " The Lord Delamere, with his company, 
 " went from Nottingham in a sad season." 30th. " We heard the 
 " news, amazing and surprising, of the general revolt of most of the 
 " great ones from King James." t 
 
 Shortly after this there was the rumour of a treaty, then of the 
 King being taken. During the first week of the next year, Lord 
 Delamere returned to Dunham, and very soon received from Parlia- 
 ment — what his friends most earnestly desired for him — some prefer- 
 ment. He was ere long created Earl of Warrington. This eventful 
 life of only forty-one years was closed January 2nd, 169I. He was 
 
 * Newcome, page 267. f Pages 268, 269.
 
 376 Nonconformity in Cheshire, 
 
 buried at Bowdon Church, in the Dunham chancel, where a monument 
 was erected to his memory. A description is given in Ormerod's 
 Cheshire* 
 
 Nonconformity maintained a finn footing in Bowdon parish after 
 the passing of the Toleration Act. There were three Nonconformist 
 chapels within the boundary of the parish, namely, at Baguley, 
 Partington, and Ringway. Bishop Gastrell mentions an Anabaptist 
 meeting-house at Baguley.f In the year 181 2 a small Baptist chapel 
 was built here. 
 
 Independent Chapel, Partington. 
 
 The village of Partington is distant some five miles to the north- 
 west of Altrincham, and in the parish of Bowdon. It is situated near 
 the banks of the Mersey, and in the neighbourhood of what not long 
 ago Avere mosses, but have since been made good farm land. Noncon- 
 formity seems to have become rooted here early in the last century. In 
 the year 17 15 the Rev. William Harding settled here as minister, 
 having one hundred hearers. In April of the previous year he " was 
 " examined, approved, and allowed to preach as a candidate, by Mr. 
 " Risley and Mr. Owen of Warrington, with whom he lived." J He was 
 ordained on August 7th, 1716. "The evening before he exhibited 
 " his thesis and defended it. His question was Qiicenam est consecratio 
 " EucharisticE. et qualis consecratio sit necessaria ? The day following, 
 " namely August 7 th, in a very numerous assembly of ministers and 
 " people, met together in the new chapel (at Knutsford), he was 
 " solemnly set apart to y^ ofiice and work of y® ministry. The minister 
 " of the place began with prayer and reading some portions of Scripture. 
 " Then Mr. Waterhouse prayed before y* sermon, which was preached 
 " by Mr. Fletcher from Matthew v. 16. After sermon ended, Mr. Irlam 
 " called for a confession of his faith, which he made before y® congre- 
 " gation ; and then put the usual questions to him, to which he 
 " answered verbis conceptis: and so he was set apart by prayer and 
 " imposition of hands of Mr. Owen (who also prayed over him), Messrs. 
 " Irlam, Gardner, Fletcher, Waterhouse, and Lea. Then Mr. Owen 
 " gave y® exhortation from i Timothy vi. 20, Timothy,, keep that 
 
 * Vol. i., page 395. t Notitia Cestrienses, page 312, 
 
 + Cheshire MS. Minute Book.
 
 Deanery of Frodsham, 377 
 
 ' which is cofnmitted to thy trust. So concluding with prayer, thanks- 
 " giving, singing, and pronouncing y« blessing, y* congregation was 
 " dismissed."* 
 
 Mr. Harding seems to have taken the advice given in the charge 
 with such good result that a petition was sent to the ministers' meeting 
 in August 1 72 1, requesting help, doubtless to raise funds for the pro- 
 posed chapel; and at the meeting of May ist, 1722, it was agreed 
 " that each of the ministers will endeavour to procure something for 
 " them (the people at Partington), in their respective congregations, 
 " with all convenient speed." 
 
 During that year the plot of land on which the chapel stands was 
 purchased for the sum of thirty shillings "from George Jones of Par- 
 " tington, yeoman, of a part of the moss field, containing about four 
 " roods of land, which was conveyed, for the term of ten thousand 
 " years, to John Gleave, John Barratt, and Edmund Irlam of Parting- 
 " ton. Upon this land a meeting-house was erected by subscription, 
 " which has been continued in the hands of trustees from that time 
 " till the present."t The trust deed was renewed in 1730, 1751, 1800, 
 and 1858, and is now in the Lancashire College. 
 
 Mr. Harding's services were wholly devoted to Partington till 
 1730, when it was determined that he should give one fourth of his 
 time to the chapel at Cross-street (Sale old chapel). He was a regular 
 attendant at the ministers' meetings till August 1737, taking part at 
 ordinations and other services of importance, and he appears to have 
 been a man of acknowledged worth. 
 
 He was succeeded by Mr. George Whitelegg, " on whose pro- 
 '• duction of a request from the people at Partington for his ordination, 
 " and at his own desire, and being examined and approved, it was 
 " determined that he should be ordained at the next meeting, August 
 " 1738-"+ This ordination does not seem to have taken place; there 
 is no record of the event in the Minute Book, and Mr. Whitelegg died 
 while very young : he was buried at Bowdon Church. 
 
 Mr. Gabriel Nichols was the next minister, and remained at 
 Partington for many years. He had been ordained by the Cheshire 
 ministers, September ist, 1730, when Mr. Gamaliel Jones of Hatherlow 
 offered the ordination prayer, and Mr. Gardner of Chester preached 
 
 * Cheshire MS. Minute Book, 
 t Congregational Magazine, 1821, page 48. t Cheshire MS. Minute Book.
 
 37^ Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 from the appropriate words in i Corinthians ii. 2 : For I determined 
 not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 
 Between the years 1755 — 1773 he preached at Partington and Cross- 
 street alternately. 
 
 During his ministrations Mrs. Jane Hardman gave 100/. to be 
 placed out at interest for the use of the minister of Partington Chapel. 
 In 1768 this sum was expended in the purchase of one acre, two 
 quarters, and twenty perches of land, Cheshire measure, being about 
 3^. \q. 30/., statute measure. " And as a consideration for the alter- 
 " nate use, with others, of a piece of land containing a quarter of an 
 " acre and twenty perches." This land brings in 16/. a year, in 
 addition to which the chapel receives yearly 5/. rent charge on Stret- 
 ton estate, from Mr. Lyon of Appleton ; rent of cottage, &c., 7/. ; 
 interest on 100/. at present in Altrincham Savings Bank, 3/. ; making 
 altogether about 31/. 
 
 When Mr. Nicholls left Partington the chapel was supplied by 
 students from the Warrington Academy, an institution founded by the 
 Presbyterians in 1758, and of which Hugh, Lord Willoughby, was first 
 president. 
 
 They were followed by a Mr. Tuffs, and the pulpit was successively 
 filled by Mr. Corbishley, Mr. Clegg, Mr. W. Grindrod, Mr. W. Johns 
 from Nantwich, Mr. Tellingham from Congleton, and Mr. R. Slater. 
 Mr. Benjamin Holmes from Park Chapel, Lancashire, came to Par- 
 tington in 181 1, under the auspices of the late Robert Spear, Esq., of 
 Mill Bank, who fitted up a room in his house for Mr. Holmes to 
 preach in ; the services were well attended, and he continued his work 
 at Mill Bank till December 1815. For some time previous to this the 
 cause at the old meeting house had languished. " It appears that for 
 many years the trust had been in " the hands of gentlemen who were 
 " professedly Unitarians, of which denomination were all the persons 
 " named in the deed of 1800. (This must be an error, for it is certain 
 " that the survivors in 1858 were not Unitarians)." Some of these gen- 
 tlemen, however, observing that very "few hearers attended in 18 14 
 " and 18 15, and considering that no good could result to the neigh- 
 " bourhood from keeping the place open upon such terms, also that 
 " many of the neighbours were desirous of a change, resolved, when 
 " Mr. Holmes had completed his engagement with Mr. Spear, to 
 " allow him to preach in the old meeting-house. An Unitarian 
 " minister was at the same time invited to preach ; and when the
 
 Deanery of Frodsham. 379 
 
 " opinions of the hearers were taken, a considerable majority, both 
 " of them and the trustees appeared to be in favour of Mr. Holmes, 
 " who, in consequence became the minister, the majority of the 
 " Unitarian trustees assisting to instal him. The total amount of 
 " the endowment attached to the place at that time was 18/. a year, 
 " exclusive of the sum of 10/. annually received from Lady Hewley's 
 " fund. But although the trustees of Partington old meeting-house 
 " had manifested such laudable liberality in favour of Mr. Holmes, 
 " he did not obtain an equally favourable reception at Wakefield, 
 " where the trustees of the said fund refused to continue the annual 
 " payment; and the congregation at Partington not being able to raise 
 " a sufficiency for his support, he was compelled to remove to another 
 " situation."* 
 
 Mr. Holmes was succeeded by the Rev. Charles Lowndes, who 
 continued \\'ith the people about eight years. He displayed much 
 zeal, and enjoyed the reward of success. "The plain but serious 
 " addresses of Mr. Lowndes have been so acceptable that the con- 
 " gregation has greatly increased ; a church has been formed consisting 
 " of thirty members (January 1821); a house has been erected by 
 " the people for the minister, also a Sunday-school at the end of the 
 " chapel, and a new gallery over the school. Such have been the 
 " beneficial results of a fair, honest, and candid administration of a 
 " trust which, it will be confessed, must have originally had respect 
 " to the propagation of the sentiments usually considered and desig- 
 " nated orthodox, and which could not, without a dereliction of the 
 " plainest duty, have been administered, as has been the case in some 
 " other instances, with a perverse feeling of hostility to those very 
 " sentiments. "t Mr. Lowndes removed to Mobberley, and accepted 
 the charge of the church at Gatley. The interest at Partington was 
 fully kept up whilst he remained with the people. He was suc- 
 ceeded by Mr. Stewart, during whose time the congregation fell 
 away. This was also the case with his successor Mr. Fielding, who 
 died in the village. The pastorate was then accepted by the Rev. 
 C. T. Sevier of Bowdon, in the year 1843. Unhappily there was no 
 improvement in the attendance, the people having joined the 
 Methodists in such numbers as to induce them to rebuild their chapel. 
 In the year 1858 some of the Bowdon friends began to take an 
 
 • Congregational Magazine, vol. iv, page 48. t I^id-
 
 380 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 interest in the place ; a new trust deed was made, but for the time 
 little good could be done. In the spring of 1861 Mr. Sevier retired 
 from the ministry. The trustees then gave an invitation to Mr. H. 
 Bond to take the oversight of the place. He consented, and shortly 
 afterwards took up his residence among the people. The value of a 
 resident minister was speedily felt and appreciated by those who 
 needed words of counsel or of comfort. The result was soon mani- 
 fested by the congregation increasing to 80 in the morning, and 150 
 in the evening. Unhappily Mr. Bond became very ill, and has been 
 obliged to remove to IManchester for medical advice. When he left 
 Partington his people accompanied him with much sorrow for his 
 affliction, and now earnestly hope for his recover}^ During his absence 
 they have erected a handsome organ, which was opened by J. D. 
 Morell, Esq., M.A., LL.D., and since the opening they have made 
 further improvements to the instrument. It is devoutly hoped that 
 Mr. Bond may be restored, and that much good may yet be done in 
 a place which has no little interest attached to it. 
 
 Independent Chapel, Bowdon. 
 
 In the year 1803,* an excellent minister of Christ, the Rev. 
 James TuPvNER of Knutsford, began occasionally, travelling to Man- 
 chester, to pass through the parish of Bowdon. During these journeys 
 it occurred to him that some measures might be adopted, and ought 
 not to be delayed, for the introduction to Altrincham or the neigh- 
 bourhood of the doctrines and government of Independent churches. 
 The usefulness and propriety of this course appeared the more 
 unquestionable on account of the frequency with which the members 
 of churches in Manchester, even then, were observed to visit and 
 reside in the district. Mr. Turner, fully possessed -with his project, 
 applied to an aged and poor widow of the name of Cox, a member 
 of the Independent Church at Gatley, but resident in Altrincham, 
 and obtained her permission to preach, at intervals, in her little 
 thatched cottage near the Market Place. The humble building has 
 long since disappeared, but there, with very slender encouragement, 
 this self-denying servant of the gospel first regularly preached the 
 truth professed by the denomination to which he belonged. It should, 
 
 * Church Book, Bowdon Downs Congregational Chapel. 
 
 I
 
 Deafiery of Frodsham. 381 
 
 however, be recorded that other excellent ministers pursuing a similar 
 " labour of love" were also received into the house by this same poor 
 woman. These efforts of Mr. Turner were afterwards discontinued, for 
 lack of local sympathy and support, and some time appears to have 
 elapsed before a zealous person from Manchester, named Whitworth, 
 began to visit the district, with the hke object in view, but with hardly 
 more success, although the assistance of the Chester County Union 
 had been enlisted for the benefit of the neighbourhood. 
 
 A few years again passed away before anything permanent or 
 regular was attempted towards the establishment of Independency at 
 Bowdon. But, o\\"ing to the liberality of some Christian friends, a 
 little chapel at the foot of the Downs, formerly occupied by the fol- 
 lowers of a clergyman who had seceded from the Church of England, 
 was purchased 6th May 1839, for 465/. The cost of alteration, deed 
 of settlement, &c., raised this amount to 588/. The Revs. Dr. Raffles 
 of Liverpool, S. Luke of Chester, and J. Turner of Knutsford, preached 
 at the dedication of the building on July 4th, 1839. In April 1840, 
 the Rev. John Earnshaw became the first minister of the church — 
 the first Christian society consisting of ten members. In 1844 the 
 Rev. Flavel Stenner became the second minister; the first deacons 
 were chosen in August of that year. Mr. Stenner subsequently 
 resigned the charge, when it devolved on the Rev. John Wilkinson, 
 who, in May of the follo\\Ting year, " in the youth of his days," was 
 summoned away by death. 
 
 The increase of the population, and the growing importance of 
 the neighbourhood, having rendered needful a larger and more com- 
 modious place of worship, many generous friends aided the church in 
 the erection of a New Chapel — the building being opened in June 
 1848. 
 
 In April 1849 the office of pastor was accepted by the Rev. Henry 
 Christopherson from Newcastle-upon-Tyne. During Mr. Christo- 
 pherson's pastorate the church increased both in numbers and energy, 
 it was therefore, with great regret, that the church and congregation 
 learned from him that he had accepted the in\atation to take the 
 oversight of New College Chapel, London. Mr. Christopherson bade 
 farewell to his people at Christmas 1856. 
 
 In May 1857 the Rev. H. T. Robjohns, B.A., "Western College, 
 Plymouth, accepted the pastorate. It had long been felt that the old 
 chapel at the foot of the Downs was most unsuitable as a Day and
 
 382 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 Sunday-school, the accommodation being wholly inadequate to the 
 growth of the population, and the room being badly ventilated, small, 
 and without classrooms, it was therefore determined to build new 
 schools. After great difficulty a site of land was secured, and in 
 January i86r the present schools were opened, free of debt. Their 
 total cost was 2,600/. In March of the same year Mr. Robjohns 
 resigned his charge, having accepted a call to Newcastle-upon-Tyne. 
 During Mr. Robjohns' pastorate the church began an evangelistic 
 movement in the neighbourhood, which has borne good fruit. Mr. 
 Robjohns also took considerable interest in the Sunday-schools, and 
 the establishment of Bible classes. In the autumn of the year the choice 
 of the church was unanimously in favour of the Rev. A. J. Morris of 
 HoUoway, who accepted the invitation. The church determined to 
 welcome Mr. Morris by clearing off the debts on the chapel and school, 
 which was done; the deeds of those buildings are now deposited in the 
 Lancashire College. The church aids the preaching at Lymm, Par- 
 tington, Hey Head, and Mobberley, all which stations will be noticed 
 in their place. The new schools were at first opened for preaching, 
 but were aftenvards closed when the Rev. A. Dewar opened the old 
 chapel at the foot of the Downs, where there is a good congregation 
 and the chapel is Independent. 
 
 The Unitarians have a chapel in Shaw's Lane, which was opened 
 in 18 1 4. The Rev. W. Jevons, from the Manchester College, York, 
 was minister here from 1816 to 181 9, when he was followed by the 
 Rev. Charles Wallace, who, while minister of Ringway, officiated 
 here also. 
 
 RINGWAY. 
 
 (By the Rev. S. Ellis.; 
 
 This place, called variously Rinhay, Ringay, Ringey, and Ringway, is 
 a hamlet in the parish of Bowdon, on the road between Wilmslow and 
 Altrincham, at nearly an equal distance from each of them. Little is 
 on record respecting the chapel there ; but there are circumstances 
 which render its early history peculiarly interesting. There was for- 
 merly an inscription in it of the year 15 15, in which prayers were 
 desired for the soul of the Earl of Derby. It is also said that there is 
 a bell there with the letters G. B. upon it, and the date 1627. These
 
 Deanery of Frodsham. 383 
 
 are supposed to be the initials of Sir George Booth, an ancestor of the 
 Sir George who was created Baron Delamere at the coronation of 
 Charles the Second, and of whose predilections in favour of Presby- 
 terianism there is abundant proof. But the interest we feel in Ringway 
 Chapel centres in its Nonconformist associations. In this view it has 
 a history of its own. Sir Peter Leycester, in his Antiquities of Cheshire, 
 thus describes it : — "There is a hamlet in Hale called Ringey, wherein 
 " is situated a chappel of ease, called Ringey Chappel, within the 
 " parish of Bowdon, of which I have little to say, save that it was 
 " much frequented in the late war by schismatical ministers, and, as 
 " it were, a receptacle for Nonconformists ; in which dissolute times 
 " every pragmatical, illiterate person, as the humour ser\^ed him, stepp'd 
 " into the pulpit without any la^\^ul calling thereunto, or licence of 
 " authority." 
 
 The ministrations of the Nonconformists, however, did not termi- 
 nate with the " dissolute times" of the Ci\'il war. The changes which 
 affected many churches and chapels at the Restoration, and many 
 more after the enforcement of the Act of Uniformity, seem not to 
 have reached Ringway. Bishop Gastrell describes it in these words : 
 " Ringhay, a hamlet in Hale township, certified that nothing belongs 
 " to it now (1722), and a long time since in the hands of the Dissenters, 
 " who have set up pews and galleries in it, and made an additional 
 " building to it four yards square. But several clergymen have per- 
 " formed Divine service in it since the Restoration, particularly Mr. 
 "Yates of Lymn, now living, 1722." He also adds, '■'■ Brereton, 
 " minister, anno 1662." There is hardly room for a doubt that this 
 was the Rev. John Breketon, who in 1660 was removed from the 
 church at Wilmslow. How long he continued at Ringway, and who 
 were his immediate successors, we cannot learn. But the place 
 remained in the possession of the Dissenters for about sixty years 
 after the recorded date of his ministry there. From the restraints so 
 generally imposed on conscience, the congregation there happily con- 
 tinued free. During that protracted period it had flourished. The 
 chapel had proved too small, and additional accommodation had been 
 provided. These were signs of prosperity', which, according to the 
 testimony of Bishop Gastrell, had appeared while the place was in 
 the hands of the Dissenters. 
 
 The writer of a history of Hale and Altrincham chapels* states 
 
 * Christian Reformer for 1852, page 296.
 
 384 Nonconformity i7i Cheshire. 
 
 that, among the MSS. belonging to Hale Chapel, there is a book 
 containing a list of subscriptions towards the maintenance of the 
 minister at Ringway, in the year 1719-20. The subscribers are said 
 to have been persons ordinarily composing the congregation of 
 Protestant Dissenters at Ringway Chapel, or claiming to have a right 
 of seats therein. According to the original list, it appears that " there 
 " were at that time 107 subscribers, and that one quarter's contribu- 
 " tions amounted to 5/. i^. dd. The subscribers extended over 
 " several rural townships, — Hale, Mobberley, Ashley, and Northern 
 " Etchells are specified." There are two points of interest in this 
 subscription. One is, the relative largeness of the number of sub- 
 scribers. On the reasonable assumption that they were, for the most 
 part, heads of families, and that there were many who worshipped 
 with them whose circumstances did not elevate them to the subscrip- 
 tion point, we must regard them as representing a numerous village 
 congregation. The other is, the extensive ground over which they 
 were scattered. Like the chapel at Dean Row, Ring\vay Chapel was 
 crowded on each returning Sabbath by devout worshippers, many of 
 whom came from a considerable distance. Almost every village and 
 hamlet within a few miles of the place, and many a solitary homestead, 
 sent their little bands of loving followers of Christ to swell the 
 assembly. 
 
 The Rev. Robert Moselev was one of the ministers who formed 
 the Cheshire Association in 1691. He signed their agreement as 
 minister of RingAvay Chapel. And that he was a hard worker may 
 be inferred from the circumstance that he applied for advice to 
 the ministers assembled at Knutsford, on a question arising from the 
 multiplicity of his labours. Like most of the Nonconformist minis- 
 ters of the day, he performed a large amount of home missionary 
 work. He preached at various places, and the idea seems to have 
 been entertained that each preaching station should be a little centre 
 of church fellowship, at which the communicants residing in the 
 neighbourhood might have the ordinance of the Lord's Supper ad- 
 ministered to them. It was on this subject that he consulted the 
 brethren, who advised him to administer it at one fixed place, and "to 
 " desire his friends to resort thither, that were in a capacity for it, on 
 " supper days." The Cheshire Minute Book contains the following 
 notices of RingAvay ministers: — On May 29th, 1692, "Mr. Robert 
 " Moseley's removal from Ringhay Chapel to Mellor Chapel was
 
 Deanery of Frodsham. 385 
 
 " agreed to, on the condition that Mr. William Dearniley, or some 
 " other approved person, would be ready to take his place." On the 
 28th of June, " Ringhay case was further considered. Ad\'ice sent to 
 " the people to testify their choice of Mr. Dearniley. And dissenters 
 " required to give in their reasons, if any, thereto the next general 
 " meeting. A copy of the letter foUoweth : — 
 
 At our meeting at Macclesfield, in pursuit of what was formerly advised in 
 reference to Ringhay Chapell, it is now further advised that forasmuch as the con- 
 gregation there hath had tryal of Mr. Dearniley five Lord's Days, and it is presumed 
 that they do generally consent to choose him for their pastor instead of Mr. R. 
 Moseley. We therefore fiu-ther advise that they give their hands to sign their 
 consent, and that this be signified to the ministers at their next meeting. If any 
 dissent, we desire they will shew their reasons, and we will endeavour to give them 
 satisfaction. 
 
 " The above advice was consented to by the two ministers concerned." 
 Another minute under the date August 17th, 1692, states : — "According 
 " to advice given to the people at Ringhay, the preceding meeting, 
 " to testify the choice of Mr. Dearniley for their pastor, the letter to 
 " them was sent back with fifty hands affixed to it. And all the 
 " ministers were satisfied of the clearness of his call to that people." 
 These minutes shew the anxious care with which the ministers of 
 that day watched over the interests of the Dissenting congregations, 
 and provided, by their judicious counsel, for the continuance of the 
 ministry among them. 
 
 Mr. Dearniley was ordained at Knutsford, September 27th, 1692. 
 His thesis was, '•'■An obedientia Christi tollat Christianam obedientiam. 
 Mr. Matthew Henry was present, and has recorded it as a good day. 
 " The candidates," he says, " gave good satisfaction ; blessed be God 
 " for the rising generation, the Lord double his Spirit upon them." 
 But Mr. Dearniley's ministry was of brief duration. He died May 
 28th, 1701. Under that date the following entry occurs: — "Dyed 
 " Mr. W. Dearniley, minister of Ringey, a person of great worth. He 
 " was one of very good natural parts, and a considerable scholar, of 
 " soberandmoderateprinciples, and a blameless and exemplar)' conver- 
 " sation. Polite and accurate in his composures and performances, 
 " but extraordinary for his humility, modesty, and fidelity in friendship. 
 " He chose two texts to be preached on after his decease, one at 
 " his funeral, Jeremiah xxiii. 6, In his days Judah shall be saved, and 
 " Israel shall dwell safely, and this is the ?iaffie whereby he shall be called, 
 " The Lord our Righteousness; the other, the Lord's Day after to his 
 
 2A
 
 3i86 Nonconformity in CJieshire. 
 
 " people, Hebrews xiii. i, Let brotherly love contimie." In addition to 
 this testimony to Mr. Dearniley's character by the associated brethren, 
 Mr. Tong remarks that he was " greatly lamented by all that knew 
 " how judicious, how humble, how serious, and how acceptable a 
 " minister he was ; his memory is fresh and precious in those parts to 
 " this day."* 
 
 Mr. Dearniley's successor was the Rev. Nicholas Waterhouse. 
 He was a young man and had preached for Mr. Deamiley during his 
 sickness. He was ordained at Warrington, June i6th, 1702. Mr. 
 Henry assisted at his ordination, and remarks in his diary : " I took 
 *' the confession and vows, and Mr. Risley concluded 'v^ith a serious 
 " exhortation; the work of the day was done to general satisfaction." 
 
 Mr. Waterhouse continued to officiate till his death in 1724. 
 During his ministry proof was given that the old spirit of persecution 
 which had inflicted such grievous ^v^ongs on the Nonconformists in 
 the previous century was not dead. The fostering influence of 
 the Crewes and the Booths, two families belonging to the county, 
 whose Presbyterian principles at that time were indisputable, had no 
 doubt been exerted in favour of this retired hamlet and of its Non- 
 conformist congregation. They were suffered to hold the chapel in 
 peace for more than half a century. At length this privilege, which 
 they so much valued, was withdra^vn. Mr. Waterhouse was ejected 
 from the pulpit, and the congregation, who had no taste for the rites 
 and ceremonies now rendered compulsory, were obliged to worship 
 God elsewhere. 
 
 The tradition in the neighbourhood that Mr. Waterhouse was 
 forcibly ejected is supported by satisfactory evidence. The writer of 
 the article in the Christian Reformer, to which we have before 
 referred, the late Rev. Charles Wallace of Hale, was at considerable 
 pains to verify this tradition, and we give the substance of it 
 almost in his own words. In 17 21, John Crewe, Esq., of Crewe 
 Hall, who inherited the lordship of Ringway, having outgrown the 
 ancient predilections of his family for the Nonconformists, signi- 
 fied his intention of giving up the chapel to the EstabUshed Church. 
 With this account a note by Canon Raines to Bishop Gastrell's notice 
 of Ringway is in substantial agreement. He says that the chapel 
 was rebuilt and consecrated in 1720, shortly after the death of a 
 
 • Life of Matthew Henry, page 259.
 
 Deanery of Frodsham. 387 
 
 female of the Crewe family who had been a Presbyterian and pos- 
 sessed the donative. Mr. Ashton of Ashley Hall, who is reputed 
 to have been a man of dissolute morals, presuming on Mr. Crewe's 
 approval of his proceedings, determined to interrupt the peace which 
 the congregation at Ringway had so long enjoyed. One Sabbath 
 morning Mr. Ashton went to the chapel, followed by a number of 
 servants. Advancing up to the pulpit, he seized Mr. Waterhouse 
 by the collar, dragged him do^vn, turned him and the congregation 
 out of the chapel and locked the doors. But this forcible ejection 
 was not the final closing of the chapel against the Dissenters. 
 During the follo's^'ing week they managed to regain possession of the 
 building, and occupied it until the governors of Queen Anne's Bounty 
 granted an augmentation, and made it an Episcopal chapel, by 
 statute under George I. The appointment of a minister licensed by 
 the bishop followed as a thing of course. 
 
 And now the time had come when the people must submit to 
 what they felt to be a wTong. The new minister did not imitate Mr. 
 Ashton in his employment of physical force. On the Sabbath when 
 he first arrived to claim the pulpit, the congregation had assembled 
 and the service begun. He desired them to proceed, and took his 
 seat among them as a hearer. But in the afternoon the clergj-man 
 took formal possession of it, and they peaceably ^^^thdrew. Mr. 
 Waterhouse, after his expulsion from Ring\vay Chapel, preached for 
 some time in a bam at the Ashes Farm, in the immediate neigh- 
 bourhood. But this was only a temporary expedient. A new 
 meeting-house was erected at Hale, a mile and a half from Ringway 
 Chapel, and nearer Bowdon. 
 
 Hale Chapel was opened in 1724, and ]Mr. Waterhouse and his 
 friends removed to it. But his work was nearly done. He saw the 
 people of his charge settled in their new religious abode, and in the 
 foUoAving year he rested from his labours, and was buried in Bowdon 
 Churchyard. Although the ministerial course of Mr. Waterhouse was 
 stormy, it was not unsuccessful. At Ring^vay in 1715 he had four 
 hundred hearers, twenty -seven of whom were gentlemen. 
 
 The next minister of Hale Chapel was the Rev. Ratcliffe 
 ScHOLEFiELD, who had previously been settled at Whitworth in Lan- 
 cashire. His ministry at Hale was not very protracted, for in 1728 
 the Rev. Silas Sidebottom was the pastor of the people, and con- 
 tinued to be so until his death. In the minutes of the Cheshire
 
 388 Nonconformity in CJieshire. 
 
 Association, Mr. Sidebottoni is frequently mentioned between the 
 years 1706 and 1745. It is therein recorded that he "was ordained 
 " at Knutsford, August 6th, 1706." Mr. Timothy JoUie was Mr. 
 Sidebottom's tutor. He is mentioned as the minister of Wheelock 
 in 1707, and he appears to have remained there until he removed to 
 Hale. He took an active part in the business of the association. 
 He preached before the Classis at Knutsford, May 5th, 17 13, from 
 2 Corinthians v. 20. He was three times appointed moderator, and 
 assisted at ordinations. In May 17 19 he was one of the examiners 
 of Mr. Braddock of Nantwich. At Mr. Thomas Woodcock's ordina- 
 tion at Knutsford, May 8th, 17 21, he gave the exhortation from 
 Numbers xxvii. 18, 19. He also gave the charge at Mr. Bond's ordi- 
 nation at Wheelock, October 27tli, 1731. He died in 1747, and was 
 buried in Brook-street Chapel, Knutsford, where his tombstone bears 
 the following inscription: — "The Rev<^- Silas Sidebottom, V.D.M. 
 " Interred Sepf^- 13th, 1747. M. d^." Judging from the memorials 
 of him which remain, he must have been an active and diligent 
 minister, who loved his work and was not given to change. He 
 divided the forty years of his public ministry between Wheelock and 
 Hale. There is one fact connected with his labours in the latter 
 place which reflects honour on his memory. He founded a Day 
 school in the township, purchased land, and caused a schoolhouse to 
 be erected upon it, and conveyed it to the trustees of Hale Chapel 
 in 1740. 
 
 Mr. Sidebottom was succeeded by the Rev. Hugh Worthington, 
 Junr., son of the Rev. Hugh Worthington of Dean Row, who is said 
 to have been a preacher of popular talents. He ceased to be the 
 minister of Hale Chapel in 1767, owing probably to the failure ot 
 health. The writer before referred to, had access to the private 
 diary of Mr. John Worthington of Outwood, and found in it the 
 following entry: — "August ist, 1767. At Hale, to make Mr. 
 " Worthington's will." This was about the time when he relinquished 
 his connexion with Hale Chapel. Having removed first to Morley 
 and then to Wilmslow, he died at the latter place, May 31st, 1773. 
 If we may judge from the epitaph on his tombstone, which by some 
 unaccountable mistake gives the date of his decease incorrectly, he 
 must have been a man of many afflictions : — "Rev. Hugh Worthington 
 " succeeded his father as minister of Dean Row in 1735, and, after 
 " conflicting with many difiiculties in the world, peaceably left it, 
 " October ist, 1773, aged 62."
 
 Deanery of Frodsham. 389 
 
 After Mr. Worthington's resignation, the pulpit was supplied, in 
 part at least, from the Dissenting Academy at Warrington. Mr. Ralph 
 Harrison, a student from that institution, is mentioned as one of the 
 occasional preachers. He was then a very young man, and became 
 subsequently the minister of Cross-street Chapel, Manchester. From 
 the general character of the academy from which the people at Hale 
 derived their supplies, we may fairly infer that at that time they had 
 ceased to entertain the doctrinal views of their Nonconformist fore- 
 fathers. The Warrington Academy of that day was established in 
 1757. One of its first tutors was Dr. Taylor, the learned author of the 
 Hebrew Concordance, who had abandoned the doctrine of Christ's 
 deity and atonement. " John Seddon supplied Dr. Taylor's place as 
 " resident classical tutor at the academy, till death removed him in 
 " 1769. He was equally distinguished for talents and for departure 
 " from the principles of the first Dissenters; for he was zealous not 
 " only for heterodoxy, but for the introduction of a liturgy into the 
 *' Dissenting worship."* Dr. Aikin, Dr. Joseph Priestley, and Dr. 
 William Enfield were successively tutors. The academy was dis- 
 solved in 1783. 
 
 At length, after an interval of two years, the people at Hale Chapel 
 again secured the services of a settled minister, the Rev. Robert 
 Harrop, who had been educated at Daventry. He had first been 
 minister of the chapels at Mill Brow and Greenacres near Oldham. 
 He removed to Hale in 1769, and retained the pastorate during forty- 
 six years. For thirty-seven years he held the chapel of Cross-street, 
 Cheshire, together with that of Hale, In 18 16 he resigned his charge, 
 being then seventy years old. His life was prolonged twenty-one 
 years after his resignation, and he finished his earthly course at the 
 advanced age of ninety-one. A short time before Mr. Harrop retired 
 from the ministry, he had relinquished his connexion with Cross-street, 
 and had taken charge of a congregation at Altrincham conjointly with 
 that of Hale. In 18 16, the Rev. William Jevons, from the Dis- 
 senting College at York, succeeded Mr. Harrop as minister at both 
 places. He remained until 18 19, and had for his successor the Rev. 
 Charles Wallace, who resigned the charge on account of broken 
 health in 1856, and died in the same year. The Rev. James White- 
 head was then minister for a short time, and was followed by the Rev. 
 Mr. Gammel. The Rev. A. Creary has recently become the pastor. 
 
 * Bogue and Bennett's History of Dissenters, vol. iv., page 284.
 
 3 go Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 At Hey Head, a village in the immediate neighbourhood of 
 Ringft'ay, the Independents have erected a commodious Schoolroom, 
 which was opened in November 1863, and where Sunday services 
 are regularly held. 
 
 NORTHWICH. 
 (By the Rev. James Johns, B.AJ 
 
 The plain unsightly meeting-houses that are to be found in many 
 English towns, approached by narrow streets, shut in by a mass of 
 houses, and possessing none of those lines of beauty and grandeur that 
 so often delight us in the buildings raised for the worship of God by 
 our Catholic ancestors, are after all not without interest. Their very 
 form is suggestive. It reminds us that their builders were solid, sturdy 
 men, who could, whatever else they failed in, make a bold stand against 
 the storms that raged about them. Round these old walls, too, float 
 stories that cannot be forgotten without loss to the history of the church. 
 Men have suffered on behalf of the principles, as a witness to which 
 those chapels were built, and many a gentle life throws over them its 
 rich soft light. It was, therefore, an exceedingly happy thought that we 
 in Cheshire should gather together the histories of such places in our 
 county, and with them raise a monument to the fathers into whose 
 labours we have entered. The stone now brought may not be hewn 
 and polished, and yet no doubt it has its place. 
 
 Northwich lies in the central part of Cheshire, and is built upon 
 the banks of the River Weaver, at the extremity of the beautiful 
 Vale Royal. It is one of the chief places for the production 
 of salt, which is carried down the river to Liverpool in small 
 vessels. About 347,000 tons are yearly sent from the salt works. 
 The volumes of smoke that pour out from the chimneys connected 
 with the works, and the stir of life upon the river, down which, in the 
 year 1 860-1, more than 800,000 tons of salt were carried, give it an 
 air of some importance. The tottering appearance of a large number 
 of the houses, however, caused by the subsidence of the ground, gives 
 it no less an air of wretchedness. Rich pasture land spreads in all 
 directions round the town, which is thus in the midst of the cheese
 
 Dea7iery of Frodsliam. 391 
 
 district. Presuming that our description of the place is sufificient to 
 give it substantiaUty to the reader's mind, let us pass at once to the 
 immediate purpose of the paper. 
 
 It appears that there were some people at Northwich inclined to 
 Puritan doctrines as early as the year 1640, for Adam Martindale 
 tells us that, before leaving Gorton, he had, amongst others, an invi- 
 tation to settle doAvn at Northwich. Whether this invitation refers 
 to the Parish Church or not we cannot tell. If it does we may expect 
 to find that the minister who officiated at the church at the Restoration 
 leaned to the side of the Nonconformists. There are one or tvvo 
 passages in Adam Martindale's Diary that would lead us to suppose 
 this was the fact. He tells us, for instance, that the minister of the 
 church (Mr. Earle) befriended him at the sessions. The circumstances 
 were as follows : — A magistrate in the neighbourhood sent forth a 
 paper called a precept, in which all religious meetings " in any place 
 " whatever but in publick parish churches and chappells appointed 
 " for the same" were prohibited. All ministers were required to read 
 this precept before the congregation. The minister of Rostheme, 
 thinking that the magistrate's precept went further than the prohibition 
 of the King, refused to do so, and it was thereupon determined to 
 serve him with a warrant to appear at the Northwich sessions. The 
 warrant was misconveyed, and though Mr. Martindale repaired to 
 North\vich on hearing that he was to appear before the magistrates, 
 he left the town again before his case was brought up, knowing that 
 they could not legally examine him whilst the warrant had not been 
 served. " The day following," he says, " when it grew late and no 
 " constable nor returned warrant yet appeared, the businesse was 
 " brought on against me with a great deal of furie : voted an high 
 " contempt, and Mr. Earle, the minister of that place, interposing a 
 " few words on my behalfe to sweeten them, had hke to have been 
 " committed for his labours, as he soone after writ to me."* Later on, 
 and after the great gulf had been made that separated Conformists 
 and Nonconformists, the same friendly feeling existed between the 
 minister of Witton and the ejected of Rostherne, as will appear by 
 what follows. Speaking of his son, Adam Martindale writes, " About 
 "August 1679, the minister of Northwich writ to him to supply his 
 " place for a day, in order, as he said, to gain interest there in relation 
 
 * Adam Martindale'B Autobiography, page 147.
 
 392 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " to the schoole,* having a master at it that neither gave nor tooke 
 " control, and was lately begun to preach, with intent to leave it as 
 " was thought." t 
 
 These notices shew that the preaching at the Parish Church was 
 not very different from the preaching of the Nonconformists. Under 
 such preaching some of the hearers would be trained to value gospel 
 truth ; and would, did any change of ministers bring with it a change of 
 doctrine, be likely to make some efforts to secure a minister more in 
 accordance with their own views. 
 
 Whether the Nonconformist congregation in this town actually 
 took its rise from such an event no one can say. It is, perhaps, more 
 probable that it entered in through another door. Surrounded as the 
 town was by Nonconformist influence ; lying as it did in a direct line 
 between Chester and Knutsford — those two points from which Non- 
 conformist light streamed with so rich a glory in the early part of the 
 last century — we can hardly believe that some rays at least would not 
 fall upon it. It was within an hour's ride, too, of the evangehst 
 Machin. The position of the town was thus favourable. Yet the 
 references to it in the diaries of the Nonconformists are few and 
 unimportant. Like the spot of ground that lies midway between two 
 lamps, the light seems to have been feebler here than elsewhere. At 
 what time "preaching was first commenced here by Nonconformists I 
 cannot tell. The first notice of such occurs in an entry in the Minute 
 Book of the Cheshire Classis for August 6th, 1700. " At a meeting 
 " at Knutsford, it was then agreed also that the Reformation lecture 
 " should be carried on. Accordingly Gamaliel Jones of Chadkirk 
 " was appointed to preach at Northwich on Wednesday the 9th of 
 " October." The first minister was Mr. Partington. He appears 
 to have begun his ministry when there was no chapel, for, whilst one 
 entry in the book before noticed informs us that " at a meeting of the 
 " ministers at Knutsford, held August 9th. 1720, Mr. John Partington 
 
 * It may interest some to know that the mastership of Witton School was 
 obtained by the younger Martindale. He entered upon his duties at Michaelmas 
 1679, and for a time there was much stir of life in the school. " His scholars came 
 " well on, tablers began to come to towne, and divers more (whereof some were 
 " persons of quality) were about to send him their children." Suddenly all was 
 dashed. In 1680 a deadly fever raged in the town, and before one year had passed 
 the dwellers in Witton stood about their doors, watching the master's funeral 
 as it left the town, attended by a goodly number of gentlemen, and proceeded to 
 Ro itherne. 
 
 t Martindale's Autobiography, page 216.
 
 Deanery of Frodsham. 393 
 
 " was examined, approved, and allowed to preach as a candidate," 
 another, and later entry, dated May 2nd, 172 1, speaks of the desire 
 of certain persons to have a chapel built at North^vich. " Whereas 
 " some persons from Northwich applied to us for our assistance 
 " towards the building of a meeting-house there, we promised to 
 " make collections for them, on, at, or before our next meeting in 
 " August." The chapel thus projected was built. Bishop Gastrell, who 
 wrote about the year 1 7 20, notices it in his Notitia Cestriensis. Mr. Par- 
 tington appears to have been a man of ability. He was ordained at 
 Knutsford on the 4th September 1722, having, on the pre\aous evening, 
 read a paper on the question, Quis sensus sit dicti Apostoli Pauli : 
 " justificamur fide, sirie operihis legis ? " There was a large gathering of 
 ministers, and a Northwich Congregationalist strolling into the quaint 
 old chapel at Knutsford may think with pleasure of that ordination 
 service a hundred and forty years ago. 
 
 It was not long before the infant church was called to experience 
 the changes that come upon Christian communities. Two years had 
 scarcely passed from the time of his ordination when the first pastor 
 removed to Coventry. Later on in his life he seems to have minis- 
 tered in London, as ^vill appear from the following entry in the 
 Cheshire Minute Book. "September 4th, 1744. Ministers met at 
 " Knutsford. Among those present Mr. Partington from London. 
 " Mr. Partington preacht from ix. Matthew, first part of 36th verse, 
 " and thanks of the brethren for his good sermon." After Mr. Par- 
 tington, came Mr. Turner of Rivington, Lancashire. He stayed 
 here for many years, there being reason to believe that he was still 
 the pastor of the church in 1755. I do not think his ministry could 
 have been greatly valued, for in the year 1759 it was declared, in a 
 correspondence between Mr. R. Eaton of Liverpool and Mr. T. Nor- 
 bury, one of the trustees of the chapel, " that the meeting at Northwich 
 " is broken up." And now came an interval of desolation. The 
 chapel remained, but the service of God within its walls was silenced. 
 We may hope that some faithful hearts at least mourned in solitude 
 over the ruin. Three years passed on and still the doors were un- 
 opened. But, in 1762, certain persons who laboured in connection 
 with John Wesley came with the message of mercy to the townspeople 
 of Northwich. As was natural, they found their way to the Presby- 
 terian Chapel, led thither, perhaps, by some of the old members, and 
 once more the place became a house of prayer and exhortation. But
 
 394 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 the zeal of these servants of God had overstept their prudence. The 
 trustees of the chapel had not been consulted, and they at once 
 determined upon taking legal proceedings to recover the chapel. 
 Happily the disagreement was settled by an ofter made by a gentle- 
 man at Little Leigh, named Daniel Barker. An annual rental of 61. 
 was to be paid for a lease of the chapel for eleven years ; the lease 
 to be avoidable upon payment of 20/., "in case a minister of the 
 " Presbyterian persuasion shall, before the expiration of the term, be 
 " fixed upon and meet with proper encouragement to preach in the 
 " chapel." A fresh difficulty now arose. Four miles from Northwich, 
 at Allostock, or more properly Rudheath, there was a small Presby- 
 terian chapel now held by the Unitarians of Knutsford. The minister 
 of this chapel now commenced preaching at the Northwich Chapel, 
 and his friends claimed its use for him. This led to further vexatious 
 dispute, the end of which was that both parties retired from the 
 building, and it was once more closed. Thus it remained till the 
 end of the year 1765, or the beginning of 1766, when the Rev. J. 
 Green became the minister. He continued at Northwich till 1784. 
 In the spring of that year a Mr. Davies of Manchester was chosen as 
 pastor. For a short time Mr. Davies excited attention, but his 
 character not proving good, he was obhged to leave after little more 
 than a year's stay. In 1786 Mr. Jarvis was elected to the pastorate, 
 and remained here until 1794, when he went to Chorley in Lancashire. 
 Up to this time our history has been little better than a genealogical 
 table. The ministers whose names have been recorded may have 
 been men of worth, but, if they were so, the memory of that worth 
 has passed away. We now come upon a more important period. 
 Those who are acquainted with the history of the Dissenting interest 
 in Cheshire are aware that, amongst the men who told most power- 
 fully in its favour toward the close of the last century, a high place is 
 due to the Rev. — or as he was usually called — Captain Scott. This 
 gentleman, seeing the destitute condition of the county in spiritual 
 things, applied to the Dissenting College at Northowram for a preacher 
 to labour in Cheshire. There had just entered that college a young 
 man of ardent disposition, who had been accustomed to an active 
 life, and no doubt felt the confinement of a college to be out of 
 harmony with his habits. To him the application was made, and 
 by him it was gladly accepted. A year was spent in visiting different 
 parts of the county. Macclesfield, Nantwich, Northwich, and other
 
 Deanery of Frodsham, 395 
 
 places were thus visited, and the result was that in 1795 Mr. Job 
 Wilson came to.Northwich with the intention of making it his home. 
 He had come to no easy place. The chapel at which he was to 
 preach was small and inconvenient. The town was at that time 
 often visited with floods, the action of which on the chapel had very 
 much injured it. A flight of steps had to be ascended to reach it. 
 The people who worshipped there were few and poor; and so high 
 did prejudice against the flock run at that time that when the shepherd 
 passed along the streets few persons above the rank of pauper would 
 deign to meet him. They crossed to the other side. It is not diffi- 
 cult to see how all this came about. We have seen in our rapid 
 sketch that there had been no small amount of wrangling at the 
 chapel doors; and that one of the ministers had not been careful to 
 keep his garments unspotted from the world. The sure reward of all 
 this came in the dislike felt by the people of the town to the congre- 
 gation and the minister. From such a position many men — perhaps 
 most men — would have retired. But so did not Mr. Wilson. Prayer- 
 fully and earnestly he began his work. Ever)' Sunday saw him, for 
 many years, travelling to Middlewich to preach after the ser\'ice in 
 his own chapel. In October 1797, he was ordained, the ministers 
 present being Mr. Smith of Leek, Mr. Reece of Sheffield, Mr. Lewis 
 of Wrexham, Mr. Scott of Matlock, Mr. Holmes of Holcome, and 
 Mr. Roby of Manchester. Years passed on and the improvement 
 was but small, as we may judge from the following passage in one of 
 his letters to a friend : — " I was here twelve years before the people 
 " at Northwich raised twenty pounds a year for everything." 
 
 At different times the work of a minister is different. In our day 
 the springs of eternal life gush up on every side of us, and no villager 
 in our neighbourhood need go far to drink of them. In the Church* 
 of England evangelical religion has in recent years greatly revived, so 
 that in many parish churches the gospel is now preached in all its 
 purity. The earnest sons of Wesley, belonging to different branches 
 of the great Methodist body, have covered the county — at least this 
 part of it — with a multitude of chapels; and our own communion 
 has more or less hold on many of the larger towns. For a minister 
 to occupy much of his time now in evangelistic work, unless he has a 
 very special gift for such work, would plainly be superfluous. In Mr. 
 Wilson's day the state of things was far different. Then the county 
 was in dense darkness. Suiting his labours to the circumstances about
 
 396 Nonconformity in Cites hire. 
 
 him, Mr. Wilson went about doing good. How earnest and laborious 
 he was in this work the following extract from his diary will show : — 
 
 " During the following three months I preached seventy-five ser- 
 " mons, and travelled about nine hundred miles, mostly on foot. 
 "August 2ist, Northwich; 23rd and 24th, Tatenhall; 25th, Nant- 
 "wich; 26th, Over; 28th, home, and two following Sabbaths. 
 " September 5th, Sandbach ; 6th, Schollow Green ; 7 th, Brook House 
 "Green; 8th, Over; nth, home; 13th, Knutsford ; 15th, home; 
 " i8th, Congleton; 19th, Sandbach; 20th, Schollow Green; 21st, 
 " Brook House Green; 22nd, Over; 25th, home. Week following 
 " preached at Knutsford, Pick Mere, and Northwich, on week days, 
 " and at Tatenhall on the Sabbath, three sermons. October 3rd, 
 " Bosley; 4th, Yew Tree; 5th, Tatenhall; 6th, Over; 7th, New 
 "Church; 9th (Sabbath), three times at home; 13th, Goose Tree; 
 " 1 6th, Leek; 17th, Schollow Green; i8th, Brook House Green; 
 " 19th, Sandbach; 20th, Over; 21st, New Church. This was my 
 " ordinary course for several years, and I have great reason to be 
 " thankful to God for the health and strength it pleased Him to grant 
 " to such an unworthy rambler. I often long to have again some of 
 " those warm seasons. We certainly were at some of them favoured 
 " with times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord." 
 
 In 1806, things had so far improved at Northwich that Mr. Wilson 
 entered on the labours connected with building a new chapel. Ad- 
 joining premises were purchased, by which the site was extended. 
 No Congregational Chapel Building Society, nor Bicentenary Fund, 
 existed then, and the penny post had not as yet made it easy to turn 
 upon the country a flood of letters asking for, at least, six stamps in 
 return. So Mr. Wilson had to travel far and wide, and expose him- 
 self to much vexation in order to procure the money. Whether it 
 was gathered before the chapel was opened I cannot tell, but on the 
 25th of September 1806, the new chapel was opened, having been 
 made to seat some three hundred persons. It was at that opening 
 that the idea of a County Union was first suggested. And now the 
 current had set in. Years of patient working and waiting had made 
 Mr. Wilson a power in the town. The chapel was twice enlarged ; 
 first by the addition of a front, and afterwards by two side galleries. 
 The people who came, too, were somewhat better able to bear the 
 expenses necessary in a place of worship. We have seen that, for 
 the first twelve years, they could scarcely raise for everything 20/. a
 
 Deaneiy of Frodsham. 397 
 
 year. In a later period he records that, besides what they had con- 
 tributed to his own support, they had raised in one year " 10/. for 
 " books for the school, 12/. for lighting and cleaning the chapel and 
 " the school, and 52/. for the County Union and Missionary Society, 
 " making a total of 74/." The prosperity continued. A great 
 gathering into the church at one time, so far as I can ascertain, there 
 never was. But increase there was, and no doubt much of the seed 
 did not come up till the sower had passed away. That passing away 
 came at last. In London, June 1838, there was great pomp and joy, 
 for Queen Victoria was being crowned ; in North wich the joy of 
 loyal subjects was dashed •with no little sorrow, for Job Wilson had 
 breathed his last. In heaven there was gladness among the angels, 
 and joy in the presence of the Father for the head that had grown 
 grey in lo\"ing service was being crowned by the Master's own hand. 
 
 A great many of the tradesmen of the to^^■Tl attended Mr. Wilson's 
 funeral. The resident clergymen joined in the procession, and one 
 rector came some distance to show his respect for the deceased 
 minister. His body was laid to rest in the chapel, and a tablet was 
 afterwards placed in the chapel bearing the following inscription : — 
 
 " Sacred to the memory of the Reverend Job Wilson, for the 
 " period of forty-one years the beloved and honoured pastor of this 
 " church. A man of primitive simphcity and apostolic zeal, of un- 
 " blemished reputation and unwearied benevolence. He lived, not 
 " for himself, but for the glory of God and the best interests of his 
 " fellow men. Of his persevering and successful labours this edifice, 
 " erected through his instrumentality, is a lasting monument; whilst, 
 " not in this place only, but throughout the whole of the surrounding 
 " district, he has left behind him a fragrant name and a blessed 
 " memory. He was bom at Sowerby in Yorkshire, February i6th, 
 " 1765, and entered into his rest June 28th, 1838." 
 
 When the present chapel was built, the remains of Mr. Wilson 
 were removed into it, as was also the tablet. The church, which 
 when first formed by him in 1797 comprised twelve members, num- 
 bered at his death forty-two. 
 
 In 1839, the Rev. William Lamb was chosen to succeed Mr. 
 Wilson. Many persons were added to the chxurch during his ministry, 
 which was terminated by his acceptance of an invitation to Wakefield 
 in 1842. He was succeeded by the Rev. John Harrison. In 1849 
 another change took place, and the Rev. D. G. Watt, M.A., became
 
 39^ Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 the pastor of the church. In Mr. Watt's time it was deemed desirable 
 to build a new chapel, on account of the increasing noise by which 
 worship in the old chapel was interrupted. A suitable site having 
 been obtained, the foundation stone was laid in October 1852, by 
 Thomas Barnes, Esq., M.P., and the chapel, seating 320, was opened 
 on the 8th June 1853. The cost of the building, which, together 
 \vith expenses incurred by the alterations and repairs that have been 
 made necessary by the sinking of the ground, amounted to more than 
 2,000/., has been entirely paid off. Besides the chapel, the church 
 still possesses the old schoolroom (the chapel itself having been sold), 
 in which a Sabbath-school is conducted, and a building is rented at 
 the upper end of the town, where a .second school is carried on. 
 An invitation to Dickson Green, near Farnworth, occasioned the 
 resignation by Mr. Watt of his pastorate at North^\^ch. He left 
 in i860, carrying with him the esteem and affection of all the people; 
 and was succeeded by the present minister, the Rev. James Johns, 
 B.A., in June 1861. Establish Thou Lord the work of our hands, 
 yea the work of our hands establish Thou it. 
 
 GREAT BUDWORTH. 
 
 (By the Rev. James Johns, B.A.) 
 
 The district lying on either side of the straight line that joins North- 
 wich and Warrington is all included, till within a mile of Warrington, 
 in the parish of Great Budworth, which is accordingly some fifteen 
 miles long. The width varies, but at many points is not less than 
 five miles across. So large a parish makes many references to Great 
 Budworth indistinct. The village itself lies to the north of North- 
 wich, at about three miles distance. It is an old-fashioned place of 
 the quietest kind possible, reached by a very steep road. The church, 
 which is dedicated to All Saints, and is a fine Gothic structure built 
 of stone, stands at the top of the village. 
 
 The vicars of Great Budworth, during the seventeenth century, 
 were strong Puritans. Of these the first was Mr. Eaton, who became 
 vicar in the year 1604. The influence of his family in the cause of 
 Puritanism was great and long-continued. The editor of Adam Mar- 
 tindale's Life, in speaking of them, says, " The Eatons were an old 
 " Puritanical family in this neighbourhood, and some of them still
 
 Deanery of Frodsham. 399 
 
 " remain." Calamy enumerates six of that name as ministers ejected 
 by the Bartholomew Act. Two of them resided in Lancashire and 
 Cheshire, and one of them, Samuel (of Dukinfield and Stockport, a 
 Congregationalist), was the son of Mr. Richard Eaton, vicar of Great 
 Budworth. Ormerod tells us that the Eatons possessed property in 
 this parish for several centuries. 
 
 On the death of Mr. Richard Eaton, in i6i5,the Rev. John Ley 
 was appointed. Though born in Warwick, this gentleman was 
 descended from the Leys of Cheshire. He became a student of Christ 
 Church, Oxford, in 1601. He was presented by the dean and canons 
 of Christ Church to the vicarage of Great Budworth (according to 
 Ormerod in 16 16), and continued there for several years a constant 
 preacher. He was afterwards prebendary of the Cathedral Church at 
 Chester, sub-dean thereof, and weekly lecturer at S. Peter's Church, 
 Chester. He was once or twice elected as clerk of the convocation 
 of clergy. Mr. Ley was always inclined to Puritanism, and when the 
 struggle between the King and his Parliament commenced, in 1641, 
 he sided with the Presbyterians, and took the Covenant. He carried 
 into his new sphere all the energy and learning that had won for him 
 so many honours as a clergyman of the Church of England, and they 
 were rewarded with fresh distinctions. He was elected a member of 
 the Assembly of Divines, and examiner in Latin to that assembly; 
 rector of Ashfield in Cheshire, and, for a time, of Astbury in the same 
 county; chairman of the Committee for the Examination of Ministers, 
 and of the Committee for Printing; one of the ordainers of ministers 
 according to the Presbyterian way, &:c. In 1645 he became president 
 of Sion College, and was minister successively of the parishes of 
 Brightwell near Wallingford, Solyhull in Warwickshire, and Sutton 
 Colfield in the same county. 
 
 Amid all these changes and engagements Mr. Ley found time for 
 the abundant employment of his pen, as will be seen from the list 
 of his published works given below.* 
 
 *An Apology in Defence of the Genezia Notes on the Bible. This work was sub- 
 mitted to the judgment of Archbishop Usher, who greatly approved of it. Wood 
 says that it was pubUcly discussed and severely handled by Dr. Howson, in S. Mary's 
 Church, Oxford. — Pattern of Piety ; or., Religious Life and Death of Mrs. Ratcliff, 
 Widow, and Citizen of Chester. Lond. 1640, 8vo. Several sermons, as (i) Sermon 
 on Ruth iii. 11. Lond. 1640. {2) A Monitor of Mortality. Lond. 1643,410. This 
 consists of two funeral sermons, one on the death of Job Archer, son and heir of 
 Sir Simon Archer of Warwickshire, Knight, the other on the death of Mrs. Harper
 
 400 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 The list shows Mr. Ley to have been a friend of Archbishop 
 Usher, and the fact that he was elected preacher on one occasion to 
 the House of Parliament is a proof of his ability. So untiring and 
 able a man must have done much to establish the parishioners of 
 
 of Chester, and her daughter. The texts of these sermons are James iv. 14. Gen. 
 xUv. 3. (3) Fury of War and Folly 0/ Sin. Lend. 1643, 4to. This was a fast 
 sermon preached before the House of Commons. The text was Jer. iv. 21, 22. 
 (4) Sunday a Sabbath; or, a Preparative Discourse for Discussion of Sabhatory 
 Doubts. Lond. 1641, 4to. In this work he was assisted by the MSS. and advice 
 of Archbishop Usher. — The Christian Sabbath Maintained ; being an answer to a 
 book of Dr. Pockhngton, styled Sunday in Sabbath. — A volume containing the 
 three following works : — (i) Defensive Doubts ; Hopes and Reasons for Refusal of 
 the Oath imposed by the Sixth Canon of the Synod. Lond. 1641. (2) Letter 
 against Erecting afi Altar ; written 29th June 1653, to John, Bishop of Chester. 
 (3) Case of Conscie7ice concerning the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. — Compari- 
 son of the Parliamentary Protestation zvith the late Canonical Oath and the 
 Difference between them, as also the Opposition between the Doctrine of the Church 
 of England and that of Rome. — A Discourse concerning Puritans ; a Vindication 
 of those who unjustly Suffer by the mistake, abuse, and misapplication of that 
 name, etc. 1641. — Examination of John Saltmarsh''s new Query, and determina- 
 tion upon it, publicly to retard the establishment of the Presbyterian Government, 
 etc. 1646. — Censure of what Mr. Saltmarsh hath produced, to the same purpose 
 in his other and later books which he calleth The Openi^ig of Mr. Prynne's Vindi- 
 cation. — Apologetical Narrative of the late Petition of the Common Council and 
 Ministers of London to the Honourable Houses of Parliament, with a Justification 
 of them from the Contumacy of the weekly pamphleteers. — Light for Smoak ; or, 
 a Clear and Distinct Reply to a Dark and Confused Answer in a book made and 
 entitled The Smoke in the Temple, by John Saltmarsh, late preacher at Breasteed 
 in Kent, now revolted from his pastoral calling and charge, 1646. To this book is 
 joined Novella Mastix; or, a Scourge for a Scurrilous Newsmonger, in answer to the 
 Ignorant and Malevolent Aspersion cast upon that Reverend and learned divine 
 Mr. John Ley, by the writer of a pamphlet called The Perfect Passages. — An After- 
 reckoning -with Mr. Saltmarsh; or, an Appeal to the Impartial and Conscientious 
 Reader, etc., against his last paper called An End of our Controversy ; or, an 
 Answer ; a letter to Mr. Ley's large book. 1646. — Mr. Ley also -WTOte some 
 elaborate annotations on the Pentateuch, and a learned defence of the legality of 
 tithes for the maintenance of gospel ministers. 1653. — General Reasons, grounded 
 on Equity, Piety, Charity, and Justice, against the Payment of a Fifth Part to 
 Sequestered Ministers'' Wives and Children. 1654. — An acquittance or discharge 
 from Dr. E. H. (Edward Hyde), his demand of a fifth part of the rectory of 
 Brightwell in Berkshire, pleaded as in a court of equity and conscience. 1654. — 
 Letter to Dr. Edward Hyde in answer to one of his, occasioned by the late insur- 
 rection at Salisbury, 1655. — Debate concerning the English Liturgy, etc., between 
 E. H., D.D., and John Ley, 1656. — Discourse ofi Disputations, chiefly concerning 
 matters of religion. 1658. — Animadversions on Two Printed Books, by John 
 Onely, a lay preacher. Equitable and Necessary Considerations for the Association 
 of Arms throughout England and Wales. — Petition to the Lord Protector by divers, 
 for the establishment of themselves and others their brethren, for their own lives, 
 and the places to which they are admitted to officiate as Ministers of the Gospel, 
 without institution and induction by the Bishops. — Comparison of the oath of the 
 Sixth Canon of the last Synod of Bishops, and the protestation set forth by the 
 Parliament in answer to a letter of Pedoel Harlow, Gent. — Attestation of the 
 ministers of Cheshire to the testimony of the ministers of the province of London, 
 against Errors, Heresies, and Blasphemies. — Exceptions, many and just; being an 
 answer to two injurious petitions against tythes.
 
 Deanery of Frodsham. 401 
 
 Budworth, during his residence among them, in the doctrines of his 
 predecessor. Who succeeded him does not appear. The next infor- 
 mation we meet with that relates to the vicars of Great Budworth is 
 to be found in Adam Martindale's biography. Speaking of a propo- 
 sition upon pastoral visitation and instruction that had been agreed 
 to at a meeting of the Cheshire ministers, he says, " The minister of 
 " Great Budworth and I had such vast parishes to go through, that 
 " multitudes of the people would be dead, in all probability, ere we 
 " could goe once over them. He, poor man, was soon excused by 
 " falling into such weakness as tooke him off all his worke, pubHc 
 " and private, and soon after put an end to his dayes."* The minister 
 here spoken of seems to have been the Rev. John Hulme, whose 
 name is found amongst the signatures to the Attestation of the 
 Cheshire Ministers, the Testimony of the Westminster Assembly, and 
 to the Solemn League and Covenant, in 1648. It appears that he had 
 to resign his cure for refusing the Engagement, for in 1650 the parish 
 was without a minister, and in 1653 we find him settled at Brereton 
 in Cheshire. His successor at Great Budworth was the Rev. Arthur 
 Francis, as appears by the following extract from the minute book 
 of the Manchester Classis. " A letter to be sent to Mr. Marbury, 
 " with other of the gentlemen and parishioners of Great Budworth, 
 " to signify unto them that Mr. Arthur Francis hath been before us 
 " and desired ordination. Your answers concerning his free and fair 
 " calling to Budworth desired. Dec. loth, 1650." The next minister 
 was the Rev. James Livesey, M.A. From the will of George Chetham, 
 Esquire (nephew of Humphrey Chetham, the founder of Chetham's 
 Hospital in Manchester), whose daughter Mr. Livesey married, he 
 appears to have been vicar of Great Budworth in 1661. On the 
 passing of the Act of Uniformity he did not conform, and was conse- 
 quently ejected from the living. He continued, however, to reside 
 in the parish, and in 1680 preached at the funeral of Martindale's 
 son. Mr. Livesey published two voluminous funeral discourses, one 
 upon the death of his wife's half-brother, Humphrey Chetham, and 
 the other upon that of James Atherlow of Atherlow. He also wrote 
 Jehoshaphaf s Charge to his Judges, on 2 Chronicles xix. 6. London, 
 1657; 8vo. Discourse. London, 1660; i2mo. A 71 Apology for the 
 Power and Liberty of the Spirit; in three sermons on Micah ii. 7. 
 1674. London, 1684; Svo. 
 
 * Martindale's Autobiography, page I22. 
 B2
 
 402 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 A line of such vicars must have done much to nourish the 
 parishioners of Budworth with Puritan doctrine, and the natural 
 result was that a goodly number of Nonconformists were eventually 
 to be found within its borders. Evidence of this appears in the fact 
 that on the 28th of June 1692, before the Cheshire ministers assem- 
 bled at Knutsford, " the case of the people about Great Budworth 
 " was presented, who were not in a capacity to maintain a gospel 
 " ministry; yet very desirous to have one fixed among them, and it 
 " was recommended to the charitable persons in London in the 
 " ensuing form : — 
 
 " We whose names are subscribed do believe that the congrega- 
 " tion at Great Budworth is unable to maintain a minister, though 
 " the auditors are very many yet y® contributors are very few, inso- 
 " much that it is concluded they cannot raise 15/. per annum at 
 " present, which is likely to be less if some aged persons be removed. 
 " Their opposition from the public place is more than usual. We 
 " desire the contents may be well considered by those that are both 
 " able and willing to forward gospel work."* 
 
 It would appear from this that the Nonconformists in Budworth 
 had not many persons of substance amongst them. At Wincham, 
 which is adjacent to Budworth, the respected Colonel Venables 
 resided. He was a well known Presbyterian. Mr. Thomas Lee of 
 Damall, also a Presbyterian, married the co-heiress of Colonel 
 Venables, and from him are descended the Townshends of Wincham. 
 The colonel, however, does not appear to have worshipped with his 
 co-religionists in Budworth, or they would have been equal to greater 
 things than 15/. per annum. The aid solicited seems to have been 
 rendered. One or two entries in the Minute Book speak of a settled 
 minister at Great Budworth. 
 
 In 1691, Mr. BuRNHAM resided there, and his name occurs in the 
 list of ministers. Reference is afterwards made to an investigation 
 into the character of a minister named Marsh, whom the people had 
 invited to become their pastor, but round whose name some ill odour 
 had gathered. The ministers do not appear to have been satisfied 
 with the case, for they requested the Warrington Class to undertake 
 the responsibility of ordaining him, pleading their inferiority of age 
 and the singularity of his case as reasons for their exemption from tlie 
 work. 
 
 * Minute Book of the Cheshire Ministers, page 7.
 
 Deanery of Frodsham. 403 
 
 For some years subsequent to this, Dissent maintained a footing 
 in the parish. Bishop Gastrell speaks of four Dissenting meeting- 
 houses in his time. Of these, two were " private houses certified for 
 •' the Presbyterians, where persons seldom met." One Quakers' 
 meeting, of about sixty persons; and one Anabaptist meeting of about 
 the same number. The bishop does not define the position of these 
 Dissenting chapels. In what part of the parish the Presbyterian 
 houses were situated it is not possible to say. One of them must 
 have been on the side adjoining Warrington, for in the case of Mr. 
 Marsh, already referred to, one reason given for his being ordained 
 by the Warrington rather than by the Knutsford Classis was that his 
 sphere of labour was in the neighbourhood of Warrington. 
 
 The Friends' Meeting-house still stands, and the congregation 
 is made up from a wide district round. 
 
 The Baptist Chapel is a very interesting place. It is in the town- 
 ship of Appleton, about two miles from Warrington. The origin of 
 the church cannot be ascertained. The traditions of the place give it 
 a history prior to the Reformation. This is perhaps an exaggeration, 
 but stones lying in the yard attest the existence of the burying ground 
 in the sixteenth century. One stone bears the date 1599, another 
 1577, whilst a third carries us back to the year 1523. It certainly is 
 one of the oldest Baptist churches. In the middle of the seventeenth 
 century it was knowTi (among members of the Baptist denomination 
 most probably) as "the Church of Cheshire," then as that of Warrington, 
 afterwards of Stockton. It is now known as the chapel at Hill CHfie. 
 The neighbourhood in which it stands was the scene of many battles 
 in the great Civil War, in some of which Cromwell was present. He 
 is said to have worshipped in the chapel at Hill Cliffe, whilst one of 
 his officers occupied the pulpit. The first minister of whom anything 
 is kno-\vn was a Mr. Weyerburton, who is supposed to have been a 
 member of the Warburton family. A Mr. Turner was minister in the 
 early part of the last century, and seems to have been very useful. 
 In his day, preachers were sent out in all directions, and the Baptist 
 churches of Liverpool have to look up to Hill Cliffe as their mother — 
 the first Baptist church in Liverpool having been originated from Hill 
 Cliffe in 1700. The author of Dialogues of Devils (Mr. Macgowan) 
 was once settled over this church. He left in 1759 for Bridgnorth. 
 The old chapel, which had many doors of escape, has now disappeared. 
 A new building has been erected, and all Nonconformists must trust
 
 404 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 that it will stand long enough to see the full triumph of religious 
 liberty and equality. 
 
 WHITLEY. 
 
 Whitley is a township and chapelry in the parish of Great Budworth, 
 about five miles from Northwich. Gastrell mentions that "one 
 " Thomas Pierson, minister of Brampton, Herefordshire, bom at 
 " Weverham, Cheshire, and brought up at Mr. Touchet's school of 
 " Nether Whitley, did by will 15th October 1633, give 250/. to main- 
 " tain a minister at Whitley, and 50/. for ditto at Witton. ' 250/. in 
 " ' money by Mr. Pierson, minister of Brumpton Brian, Herefordshire 
 " ' (for or towards the perpetual maintenance of a preacher at Whitley 
 " 'Chapel).' These are the words of the will dated October 15th, 
 " 1633. The money is now in the hands of Sir J. Chetwood."* 
 Possessing a chapel and a minister, Whitley still needed a school, 
 and this was supplied by a member of the Eaton family. The school- 
 room was built in the year 1645, by means of funds gathered in the 
 town and neighbourhood, and the school was endowed by W. Eaton, 
 a resident of the town. The payment of sixpence per quarter entitled 
 anyone to admission. It was here that Adam Martindale settled 
 on leaving the army of the Parliament. He says, " When I was 
 " at last set at liberty, 1644, a free school was vacant, and, as it 
 " were, waiting for me, in Over Whitley, in Cheshire, with which I 
 " closed when I lacked a few weeks of twenty-one years old, and this 
 " was a perfect manumission from the hated life I had lived about 
 " two years among the souldiers, though mine office was all along to 
 " employ my penne, not my sword, and to spend inke not spill blood."t 
 In Martindale's time the schoolhouse was built, and his name was 
 over the door. Alterations have since been made, and his name no 
 longer graces the building. Here he passed in quiet industry some 
 years of his life. The school was full, having amongst its scholars 
 " a prettie store of rich itien's sons." Mr. Eaton's endowment of 
 100/. brought eight per cent interest, which, though a small income, 
 was, we are told, regularly paid, and was increased by the payments 
 of the pupils and the earnings of the master's pen in drawing up 
 writings for the neighbours around. 
 
 * Gastrell's Notitia Cestriensis, vol. i., page 326. f Autobiography, page 41.
 
 Deanery of Frodsham. 405 
 
 The chief interest of Whitley to a Nonconformist, however, Ues in 
 the fact of its having been the residence of that holyman John Machin. 
 His friend and neighbour Henry Newcome Avrote a short memoir of 
 him, from which I have made the following abridgment. 
 
 He was bom at Seabridge near Newcastle, in the county of Staf- 
 ford, on the 2nd of October 1624. His father was a substantial 
 yeoman, whose ancestors had possessed the estate of Seabridge from 
 the reign of Henry VHI. Being an only son, much care was bestowed 
 on his early education, and an intention was formed of bringing him 
 up to the law. But, when the time for his lea\dng home came, his 
 parents found their hearts so bound up in him that parting was impos- 
 sible, and for several years he remained at Seabridge engaged on his 
 father's farm. During this time he took deep interest in the coarse 
 sports of that age, deUghting greatly in cock fighting, &c., and although 
 his father told him in after years that his name ought to be Samuel, 
 because, he said, " I begged thee of Him in thy mother's straits," 
 there is reason to believe that the father was by no means so mindful 
 of his promise as was the meek and gentle Hannah, and knew too 
 little of God himself to instruct his son in His ways. At the age of 
 twenty-one young Machin went to Cambridge, not so much to improve 
 his mind as to acquire the polish of a gentleman. He entered Jesus 
 College, and the first year of his stay proved the turning point 
 in his character and history. Two sermons preached in the chapel 
 of Jesus College — one by Dr. Hill on Ephesians vi. 12, 13, 14; 
 the other by a stranger on i Corinthians x\d. 22 — were blessed to his 
 conversion. The time and place of his conversion were distinctly 
 known to him, and he would often show his friends the place where 
 he sat when he first felt the power of the gospel. He loved the very 
 sight of the seat, and would always, if it was in any way practicable, 
 crush into it. The change that had taken place within, soon showed 
 itself His letters home became full of earnest expostulation with 
 his parents and his three sisters, to all of whom there is ground to 
 hope his message was made the power of God unto salvation. 
 
 The influence of the gospel does not flow merely in one channel, 
 but is poured into many, and brings into action all the wheels of life. 
 It was eminently thus with Mr. Machin, so that, after his conversion, 
 he studied with such conscientiousness (his dihgence being well aided 
 by his natural quickness) that, on leaving Cambridge, his learning was 
 inferior to none in the college. At the same time his loving
 
 4o6 Nonconfovmity m Cheshire. 
 
 biographer assures us that he had good sense enough not to torture 
 his hearers, as did many of the preachers in his day, with perpetual 
 quotations in Latin and Greek. He gave them the results of study 
 without its show; allowed his hearers to eat the pleasant fruit without 
 making them push their way through the concealing branches. His 
 consecration to the ministry was not puq^osed by him close upon the 
 time of his conversion. More than a year passed away before he 
 resolved upon taking this step ; the immediate occasion being a dan- 
 gerous illness, which threatened to end his life in the year 1647. 
 During this illness his mind was powerfully impressed with the thought 
 of serving God in the ministry of His Son, should life be spared. On 
 his recovery the vow was neither forgotten nor delayed. Remaining 
 at the university to fit himself more fully for the high work to which 
 he had now put his hand, he waited not for better opportunities or 
 more urgent need of work, but began at once to employ his powers 
 in the service of Christ. He commenced a religious meeting among 
 the students, which flourished for many years, and was made a blessing 
 to many. The following letters, written to him after his leaving Cam- 
 bridge, witness to the usefulness of this gathering of students. 
 
 " Dear Friend, — I received your loving letter, which breathed 
 " nothing but piety and good affection. The next companion to him 
 " who is both Fwidator, Socius, and Presses of the College of Graces 
 " is he whom God hath warmed with the same principles, to be in- 
 " strumental for the enlivening them in others. I bless God the 
 " society you were the founder of in the college do grow nuinero et 
 " mensiira, and you have here my real thanks in that you have been 
 " instrumental in setting religious meetings on foot, wherein you reap 
 " much of the answer of your prayers, in that they carry it so prudently 
 " yet, as I hear of nothing but what malice and guile tax them withal. 
 " In all my serious thoughts I see you represented to me either as a 
 " pattern of strict walking, or an upbraiding of my little serviceable- 
 " ness, but always a blessing and a comfort in this, that I have known 
 " you and the manner of your life, and that I reap the benefit of your 
 " prayers and best affections, which is a treasure I always desire to 
 " prize above all the jewels in the world." Another writes to him 
 thus: — " My dear and precious friend, I received yours. Your lines 
 " sweetly refresh me. Oh that I could hear oftener from you. It 
 " glads my soul to see your constancy. O that your example might 
 " be a motive and incentive to me to be more steady, settled, and
 
 DeaneTj of Frodsham. 407 
 
 *' fixed upon God, in the way of God." Tender and true must have 
 been the life, in all its details (for none know each other so well as do 
 fellow-students), to which college companions refer so lovingly. 
 
 In 1649, Mr. Machin took the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In 
 February of the same year he was ordained to the ministry at Whit- 
 church in Shropshire, on which occasion he was very earnest in asking 
 the prayers of all his friends that God's blessing might rest on his 
 ministry. The months immediately following his ordination were 
 spent in labours amongst his own friends and neighbours, in which 
 he was so earnest that one of his relatives said he " liked his cousin 
 " Machin well, but that he made his house a chapel when he came to 
 " him." In the early part of the year 1650, Mr. Machin settled 
 at Ashbourne in Derbyshire. The neighbourhood around was in 
 great darkness, and Mr. Machin at once devised plans for its enlighten- 
 ment. He himself was constantly preaching, and, through his influence, 
 a number of ministers would sometimes spend three or four days 
 together preaching at several places in the same neighbourhood. 
 Large numbers attended these meetings, which were made very useful. 
 
 It is often said that, whilst the early Nonconformists clung tena- 
 ciously to their first charges, and so cultivated them that even the 
 rockiest ground became fruitful under their skilful and painstaking 
 husbandry, the ministers of the present day are so often changing as 
 very greatly to hinder the progress of churches. There is much truth 
 in the statement. Yet there are many instances of ministers amongst 
 the first Nonconformists who moved from place to place, and were 
 very useful in their day. Mr. Machin was one of these. Perhaps 
 his ardent desire that all men should hear the gospel made him almost 
 too ready to accept a fresh charge. His plan evidently was to make 
 his home the centre of his workfield. He went out from it in all 
 directions, and as soon as he had fairly and fully declared the gospel 
 in that neighbourhood he was ready to begin elsewhere. When Mr. 
 Newcome was in some perplexity whether he should leave his parish 
 for another to which he had been invited, Mr. Machin, whom, as a 
 bosom friend, he consulted, prayed that he " might be alike a plough- 
 " man, who, when he had finished one field went to another, and set 
 " in his plough as if it were all one furrow." The simile gives us a 
 key to Mr. Machin's own life. Looking upon the whole world as one 
 field, he was never troubled about leaving one part of it for another. 
 After staying two years at Ashbourne, he removed to Atherstone in
 
 4o8 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 Warwickshire, where he had a lecturer's place. Here he continued 
 for eighteen months, busily and successfully employed in his Lord's 
 service, comforting himself in the midst of difficulties, which he regarded 
 as the work of Satan, that the more the devil hated him the more his 
 God loved him. 
 
 It has been the fashion in certain circles to talk of the Puritans as 
 unlearned men. A greater mistake could scarcely be made. There 
 were, doubtless, minor sects that decried learning, but the men with 
 whom the name Puritan is usually associated paid great deference 
 to scholarship, and were usually well educated. To those in 
 our own day (they are but few) who delight in speaking ill of 
 learning, the fact that Nonconformity had most power in the nation 
 when its ministry was distinguished for breadth and thoroughness of 
 learning, as well as for deep-toned piety, ought to suggest some doubt 
 as to the wisdom of their opposition to a regular college training. 
 We have seen that Mr. Machin was a diligent student whilst he was 
 at Cambridge, and his biographer assures us that his sense of the 
 value of learning was never diminished. To show his regard for it, 
 he was much inclined to take the degree of Master of Arts whilst he 
 was at Atherstone, and only relinquished the idea on account of the 
 expense. But, though he abandoned the idea of taking a higher 
 degree, he remained a diligent student, taking philosophy, the classics, 
 history, doctrinal and practical theology, as his main subjects of study. 
 His biographer, however, tells us that with him there was nihil in 
 pompani, omne in usum. 
 
 In the spring of 1652, Mr. Machin removed to Astbury in Cheshire. 
 Whilst there he married Mrs. Jane Butler, whom he describes as a hum- 
 ble, gracious woman, whose price was above rubies. The incidents 
 of the marriage, which took place at Uttoxeter, are very characteristic 
 of him. He made arrangements with two of his ministerial brethren 
 to be present on the occasion, and to preach to the people; and he 
 himself was soon employed in his favourite work. Speaking of his 
 marriage, Mr. Newcome, in his Autobiography, says, "He, good man, 
 *' with me, was as ready for the work of the Lord as if it had been 
 " another's wedding and not his own that he had been at. He 
 " preached the next day at Macclesfield." Two or three days after 
 the marriage he started on a preaching tour of some length. Nothing 
 was allowed to interfere with the one thing to which he had conse- 
 crated every talent he possessed. Another proof of this all-embracing
 
 DeMiery of Frodsham. 409 
 
 consecration is to be found in the employment of his property for the 
 spread of the gospel. Some months before his marriage he instituted 
 a monthly lecture, to be preached in some of the large towns of 
 Staffordshire and Derbyshire, and to the support of this lecture he 
 left, in his first will, which was made a short time before his marriage, 
 a large portion of his property. Two lectures were to be preached 
 every month at different towns, the ministers being selected from the 
 most eminent men of the time. For five years this scheme was 
 rigidly carried out, under the superintendence of Mr. Machin, who, 
 during all this time, kept an exact account of the day of the month, 
 the place, the preachers, and their texts, together with his own obser- 
 vations on the number and behaviour of the congregation. The 
 troubled times that came with the Restoration broke up Mr. Machin's 
 plans, and forced him to make a new will, in which his property was 
 otherwise disposed of. 
 
 In May 1661, Mr. Machin removed to Whitley. Here he seems 
 to have been very successful. He himself says, " After some time I 
 " found that God was with me in ordinances to make conversion 
 " work; and in providences to prevent evils and to reach good things 
 " to us." Little more than a year had passed, however, before the 
 pleasant labour at Whitley was brought to a close by the passing of 
 the Act of Uniformity. Mr. Machin did not, however, leave Whitley, 
 nor did he entirely cease from his work. The gentry of the neigh- 
 bourhood respected him so greatly that they gave him no molestation, 
 and he continued to do much good in the neighbourhood. Indeed, 
 as we shall presently see, there is ground to believe that Noncon- 
 formists were somewhat in favour at Whitley. But, though the holy 
 man whose life we are recording took meekly the blow dealt to him 
 and his brethren, there is reason to believe that it was the prime 
 cause of his death. When some of his old neighbours went to see 
 him, he significantly told them that he had " never lived since he had 
 *' died." He died on the 6th of September 1664, at the age of forty. 
 Speaking of his death, Philip Henry says, " Mr. John Machin was 
 " buried at Newcastle, September 8th, 1664. A worthy minister in 
 " gospel work; laborious, faithful, and successful above his fellows; 
 " taken away in the midst of his days ; the first candle I have heard 
 " of put out by God, among the many hundreds put under a bushel 
 " by man."* 
 
 * Philip Henry's Life, chapter xi.
 
 4^0 Nonconformity i7i Cheshire. 
 
 Enough has been said already to show that John Machin was 
 verily a man of God. But, as there are not wanting men who speak 
 
 of the ejected ministers in language deplorably ignorant and wicked, 
 it may be well to add a few words on his character. I am the more 
 anxious to do so because, his name not ranking with the grand leaders 
 of the Nonconformists, we may look upon him as affording us an 
 example of what the unknown men, the rank and file of that amiy of 
 martyrs, were. His private character is represented as being amiable 
 to a degree. He dwelt in love. Hence he was not found minghng 
 in the theological controversies of that time. That was not his work. 
 His nature led him rather to the quiet fields of meditation. As a 
 man of prayer he seems to have risen to a distinguished place even 
 amongst those men of prayer. It was a great point with him to have 
 some one special thing for which to pray. He was also very anxious 
 to secure the prayers of his friends, and was exceedingly hearty in 
 praying for them. "Always think of your friends with a praying 
 " thought," was a remark of his. Besides the ordinary times of 
 devotion, he often set apart a day for fasting and prayer, and he 
 never entered a house without immediately praying; publicly, if 
 that was possible, if not, then alone in his own chamber. The 
 Scriptures were well and constantly used by him. Newcome says, 
 in his life of Machin, that "his Bible was his constant companion 
 " by day, and usually his pillow at night."* Besides prolonged study 
 of it, his habit was to take it up in every pause from labour, and 
 whenever his eye fell on a passage that promised refreshment, the 
 corner of that page was turned down, and the new found spring was 
 again and again visited until the soul of the thirsty man was satisfied. 
 His mind being thus saturated with Scripture, he was always pouring 
 it forth again to others. Rarely did he part from a friend without 
 giving him some passage suitable to his circumstances to think upon. 
 His letters were usually full of allusions to the Word of Life. Trees 
 and walls often bore silent testimony for Christ through the texts which 
 he wrote upon them. Indeed so fond was he of this method of pub- 
 lishing the gospel that his friends knew where he had been by these 
 marks. As a preacher he was in labours abundant. As a pastor he 
 was most diligent and watchful. As a friend his counsel was wise, 
 his heart loving, his hand liberal. Few beggars left his door unfed, 
 
 * Newcome's Life of Machin, page 67.
 
 Deanery of Frodshani,. 4 1 1 
 
 and many poor ministers were benefited by his gifts. As a wayside 
 evangelist he appears to have been particularly useful ; scathing the 
 bold sinner with vivid rebuke, and leading into profitable and delightful 
 conversation those who had tasted, with him, that the Lord is gracious. 
 The following testimonies to his worth have been recorded. One 
 intimate friend of his says, " Never man more watchful against re- 
 " lapses, nor more jealous to maintain his first love to the height. I 
 " have sometimes told him that it was not usual for converts to retain 
 " that land-flood of comfort, that intention of zeal, and extension of 
 " affection which flourished in him, and was preserved to the height; 
 " he must expect an abatement in time, and the current thereof to be 
 " contracted and settled in a narrower channel."* A minister says, 
 " I have admired at the constant frame of his spirit ; he was not sub- 
 " ject to that deadness and indisposedness as other good men seem 
 " to be; his heart was continually burning with a holy zeal." One 
 who afterwards rose to some distinction in the church said of him, 
 after his death, " I am so well satisfied as to his extraordinary piety 
 " in general, that I wish my everlasting portion may be \vith him. I 
 " never knew one more public spirited, more sensible of men's spiritual 
 " necessities, and more ready, according to his ability, to supply 
 " them; more zealous for God's glor)^; more delighted, incessant, 
 " importunate, and successful in prayer, and more thankfully sensible 
 " of the returns thereof than this holy person was, of whom this 
 " degenerate world was not worthy, and therefore, having been abun- 
 " dant in the work of the Lord, God hath satisfied him with never- 
 " ending experiences that his labours, from which he now rests, shall 
 " not be in vain in the Lord."t This was one of the men who was 
 expelled from the ministry of the Church of England in 1662. It is 
 cheering to know that his work, though hindered, was not entirely 
 broken up. As has been already said, he continued at Whitley doing 
 much good. 
 
 Some leading men in Whitley must have had strong leanings to 
 the Nonconformists. The successor of Mr. Machin, Mr. Kvnaston, 
 senior, never conformed. In Tong's Life of Henry\ we meet with the 
 following passage : — "Mr. Kynaston (of Knutsford) was son to a very 
 " good and faithful minister, who, though he could never thoroughly 
 " conform to the Church of England, yet was satisfied to read some of 
 
 * Newcome's Life of Machin, page 62. f Palmer's Nonconformist Memorial.
 
 412 Nonconfortnity in Cheshire. 
 
 " the prayers; and by the favour of Mr. Chetwood of Whitley (father 
 " to Sir John Chet\vood), exercised his ministry at Whitley Chapel 
 " without disturbance. He was an acceptable and useful preacher, 
 " his ministry was much frequented, and attended with very good 
 " success; he died in the midst of his days."* Mr. Kynaston was 
 followed by the Rev. Ralph Ainsworth as minister at Whitley, who 
 mingled freely with the neighbouring Nonconformist ministers, and 
 subscribed the Agreement of the Cheshire ministers at Knutsford, in 
 1 69 1. He is mentioned also as taking part in ordinations at Knutsford 
 and Chester. Upon the appointment of a Conformist as curate of 
 Whitley, Mr. Ainsworth removed to Brombro' in Wirral, and after- 
 wards to Rivington in Lancashire, where he died in May 17 16. 
 
 ALLOSTOCK. 
 
 The Nonconformist chapel at Allostock has a history that runs back 
 to within a few years of the Act of Uniformity. It lies upon the high- 
 way leading from Knutsford to Church Hulme, being about five miles 
 distant from the former place. No village or large cluster of houses 
 is grouped around it, though it is probably in a central and advan- 
 tageous site. The origin of the congregation is seen from the following 
 memorandum taken out of the Church Book : — 
 
 "The Church of the Word gathered in order, March 2nd, 1689. 
 " That wee, whose names are subscribed, being (through grace) made 
 " sensible of our want of gospell order and priviledges, doe unanimously 
 " agree to joyne together (the Lord assisting) for the enjoyment of 
 *' gospell order and priviledges." 
 
 Then follow the names of sixteen men and seven women — in all 
 twenty-three. At the same time a church agreement was drawn up, 
 of which the following is a copy : — 
 
 "Those that joyn to the church were in these wordes. Wee doe 
 " declare and promise to give ourselves to Christ as Lord and Law- 
 " giver, Husband and Head, and to this pticlar. (particular) church to 
 " walk orderly with them in all Gospell ordinances. 
 
 . f Robert Bury, pastor. 
 
 ° ' \ Robert Holland." 
 
 *Tong's Life of Matthew Henry, page 274.
 
 Deanery of Frodsham. 4 1 3 
 
 This purely voluntary agreement, in which no reference is made to 
 any human authority outside of the church itself, and which is signed 
 •by two ministers, the one pastor, the other probably teacher, indicates 
 that the church was formed on Congregational principles. It appears 
 from the above memorandum that the first pastor was Robert Bury. 
 Mr. Robert Holland, whose name is coupled with Mr. Bury's in 
 the church agreement, was among the first to sign the Agreement of 
 the Cheshire Ministers in 1691. During his ministry the first chapel 
 was built. Mr. Richard Wheshaw, whose name occurs among the 
 signatures of the members of the congregation, gave the ground for 
 the term of five hundred years. Mr. Holland's death occurred in the 
 year 1705. Matthew Henry thus refers to him: — "This good friend 
 " of mine, after nine or ten weeks' illness, finished his course last 
 " Lord's Day, and was buried in his own meeting place on Wednesday. 
 " He was an honest plain man, happily familiar in speaking to ordi- 
 " nary people; aged between fifty and sixty,- as I suppose; educated 
 " to a trade, but strongly inclined to the ministry; had a good 
 " acquaintance with the Hebrew tongue, and was very useful."* In 
 1706, the Rev. Samuel Garside, son of the ejected minister at 
 Bosley, became pastor. His interest in Allostock induced him to give 
 a small estate near Macclesfield to the perpetual maintenance of a 
 minister at Allostock Chapel. He is the only minister of whom any 
 record is to be found on the walls of the chapel, and the inscription 
 to his memory is severely brief, we might indeed call it cold. " Here 
 " lyeth the body of the Rev. Mr. Samuel Garside, who died May 9th, 
 " 17 16." That is all. One touch of sorrow or affection would have 
 made it more human, and might have quickened the heart of succeeding 
 pastors. Another inscription, chiselled we should suppose by the 
 same Spartan hand, tells us that " Here lyeth the body of Mrs. Mary 
 " Garside, widow, who died May 6th, 1718." This was Mr. Garside's 
 mother. 
 
 The next minister was the Rev. William Vawdrey. Of his 
 ordination the following notice occurs in the Cheshire Minute Book : — 
 
 " May 6th, 17 18. The evening before, he read his thesis, and dis- 
 " cussed it. His quest [ion] was, An Christies vere existebat priusquam 
 *'■ inutero Virginis conceptus fuerit. Affirmative. He was also examined 
 " in divinity, having been before examined in y^ languages and in 
 
 * Tong's Life, page 281.
 
 4134- Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 "philosophy, when he was aflowed to preach as candidate. He also 
 " read his confession of faith before y® ministers then present, who like- 
 " wise made triall of his knowledge in y® Scriptures, being asked by them • 
 " the meaning of severall texts. The day following (May 6th), in a 
 " very numerous assembly of ministers and people met together in 
 " y® new chappel, he was solemnly set apart to y® office and worke of 
 " y^ ministry. The minister of y^ place began with prayer and reading 
 " some portions of Scripture; then Mr. Mottershed prayed before 
 " y* sermon, w''^ was preached by Mr. Gardner from Ephesians iii. 8. 
 " After sermon ended, Mr. Owen called for a confession of his faith, 
 " w*'^ he made before y^ congregation, and then he put y® usuall ques- 
 " tions to him, to w'^'^ he answered verbis conceptis, and then he was 
 " set apart by prayer and imposition of hands of Mr. Irlam (who 
 " pray'd over him), Mr. Owen, Gardner, Waterhouse, Sydebottom, 
 " Worthington, Cooper, Holland, Lea. Afterwards Mr. Worthington 
 " gave y® exhortation from 2 Timothy iv. i, 2." 
 
 Mr. Vaudrey removed to Nantwich in 17 19, and was succeeded 
 by the Rev. John Lightbown, who remained until his death in the 
 year 1728. He had during his ministry 220 hearers, twenty-eight of 
 whom had votes for the county. Mr. Samuel Eaton next came to 
 Allostock. He was ordained at the ministers' meeting at Knutsford, 
 September 2nd, 1729. In addition to his pastoral duties, he kept a 
 school, which prospered greatly, and included among its scholars some 
 who rose to high distinction. Lord Clive, the great founder of British 
 rule in India, was one of Mr. Eaton's scholars. The fact, however, that 
 Clive was sent from schoolmaster to schoolmaster, and at last shipped 
 off to India with the character of a stupid and headstrong boy, will 
 not allow us to attribute to Mr. Eaton much of the honour 
 connected with his pupil's subsequent magnificent career.* It is said 
 that General Wolfe, the conqueror of Quebec, was also at this school. 
 In 1737 Mr. Eaton being about to remove to Nottingham, resigned 
 his charge, both of the church and of the school, to the Rev. William 
 Turner. This gentleman had been approved and allowed to preach 
 as a candidate by the ministers assembled at Knutsford on August 2nd, 
 
 * It is said that on his return to England Lord CHve, in a letter to Mrs. Eaton, 
 complained that although as a boy he relished her barm puddings, he could not 
 now enjoy the daintiest dishes. Mrs. Eaton replied that she did not wonder at his 
 boyish appetite, for she well remembered the terror to which he put her by 
 climbing up one side of the barn and descending the other side. She feared he had 
 no such exercise now.
 
 Deanery of Frodsham. 4 1 5 
 
 1737. By them he was ordained to the work of the ministr}'- on August 
 7th, 1739. Mr. Turner was lax in his theological views, and from 
 his time the succession of ministers has been more or less unorthodox. 
 He was a friend of Dr. Priestley, and in after years rose to some 
 eminence as an Unitarian minister at Wakefield. 
 
 After Mr. Turner's removal, which took place in 1746, the pastorate 
 of the church was for six years unoccupied. During this time the 
 duties of the office were to a great extent discharged by Mr. John 
 Holland, of Mobberley. This gentleman belonged to the old Non- 
 conformist family, of whom the present eminent physician, Sir Henry 
 Holland, is a member. Judging from an extract in her diary, his 
 mother was a woman of deep piety, and the employment of his 
 talents in the service of the sanctuary met with her heartiest approval. 
 The extract may teach Nonconformist mothers of the wealthier class 
 a lesson too slowly learnt by many. '• June 8th, 1744. My son John 
 " began to preach at Ormskirk. We have an account. His perfor- 
 " mances were acceptable. May they be so to Thee ; I will give 
 " Thee all the glory, oh my God. I am sure it is Thy due. May 
 " he be humble, and encrease in and be furnished for whatever may 
 " best honour Thee." 
 
 Mr. Holland published two volumes of sermons, some of which, 
 on such subjects as drunkenness, have been republished within the last 
 few years. From these sermons it is clear that he was decidedly opposed 
 to some of the doctrines generally considered Scriptural. He preached 
 at Allostock for the last time on the 15th December 1751. On the 
 28th of the same month he died, and was buried in the graveyard of 
 Brook-street Chapel, Knutsford. After Mr. Holland's death the pulpit 
 was occupied by Mr. George Buxton until the year 1754. In 
 1755 the Rev. John Holland of Wem, settled over the church at 
 Allostock, remaining there till the year 1763. He afterwards 
 conformed to the Established Church. For one year, namely from 
 1763 to 1764, Mr. John Palmer was minister. He was an intimate 
 friend of Dr. Priestley, and removed hence to the Unitarian Chapel 
 at Macclesfield. Mr. Palmer is said to have been an exceedingly 
 gifted, but ludicrously eccentric man.* 
 
 * The following amusing story was related to the writer concerning Mr. Palmer, 
 by the Rev. Henry Green of Knutsford. On Mr. Green's first settlement at 
 Knutsford there was an old lady in his congregation who, in her childhood, was 
 placed under Mr. Palmer's care at Macclesfield. She told Mr. Green that one of
 
 4i6 Nonco7iformity in Cheshire. 
 
 The Rev. Benjamin Slap was minister at AUostock from 1764 to 
 1766, when he removed to Shrewsbury. 
 
 Mr. Martin Lawton and Mr. Taylor supphed up to 1768. 
 Mr. James Green of Northwich from 1768 to 1787. When Mr. 
 Green left he dehvered the keys into the hands of a Mr. Glover, who 
 was a trustee of the chapel, and resided in the neighbourhood. He 
 officiated until the year 1822, when the chapel was brought under the 
 care of Mr. Ashton, the minister of the Unitarian Chapel, Knutsford. 
 His successor, the Rev. Henry Green, is the present minister. In 
 Mr. Green's time the old chapel has been taken down, and a very 
 neat building has been erected on its site. The congregation having 
 dwindled down to a very few, it was thought to be desirable so to 
 arrange the chapel as to accommodate a school during the week. 
 By this means a very great boon seems to have been conferred upon 
 the neighbourhood, as the religious connections of the children are 
 in no way interfered with, whilst the secular training appears to be 
 needed. A Sabbath service is held monthly. 
 
 The story of AUostock Chapel resembles, in its leading features, that 
 which might be told of many chapels in Cheshire, and the opponents 
 of free churches have found in the history an argument against volun- 
 taryism. It is scarcely needful to point out that the possibility of 
 declining from the truth is not peculiar to non-established churches. 
 The Church of England in the present day includes theologians of the 
 most opposite views, nor does it seem able to free itself from anyof them, 
 however dangerous their tenets may be considered even by the heads 
 of the church. Nonconformist churches have no greater tendency to 
 error than state churches. There is, however, an important difference 
 between them. A free church addresses itself to the individual judg- 
 ment, and if its teaching is not consistent with the word of God it is 
 shorn of all its power. A state church, after its departure from the 
 gospel, is still supported by forced contributions, and may, accordingly, 
 
 her guardian's grotesque doctrines of education was that young people should be 
 trained to bear disappointment. One fine Saturday afternoon he told her that she 
 should ride over to see her parents, who were Hving at some five miles distance. 
 Very joyfully did she lift herself into the pillion behind the sen'ant-man, but when 
 her young heart was quickened into the strongest excitement by the sight of her 
 father's house, the horse's head was turned round, and she learnt from the servant 
 that orders had been given him to return as soon as they came within sight of the 
 house. Thus she was to learn to bear disappointment !
 
 Deanery of Frodsham. 417 
 
 continue to poison the springs of truth. To argue against the principles 
 of our churches because, in some instances they have denied the faith, 
 and in others have scarcely left their names to posterity, is to argue 
 against the Scriptural foundation of the first churches, since of them 
 also the same facts may be stated. 
 
 Dr. Owen has compared the different chiurches of Christ to the 
 branches of a tree. They belong to the same great whole. They 
 drink in nourishment from one trunk. The storms of earth may 
 rudely drive them against each other, but the time will come when, 
 in the serene atmosphere of heaven (not indeed as distinct churches, 
 but as individuals gathered out of them), they shall peacefully abide 
 in Christ and bring forth fruit. 
 
 ROSTHERNE. 
 
 (By Joseph Thompson, Esq.) 
 
 The pretty little \dllage of Rostheme is situated about three miles 
 south of Bowdon; it lies a little to the east of the old Roman Watling- 
 street, and is approached from the modem turnpike running from 
 Chester to the North, by a lane that would rival those of Devonshire 
 in picturesque beauty. 
 
 Rostheme has many claims to the favour bestowed upon it : for 
 the antiquary there is the effigy in chain armour wrought in stone, so 
 long a puzzle as to whether it represents a Manwaring, a Brereton, 
 or a Venables, also the monuments of former representatives of 
 neighbouring families; for the lover of art there is Westmacott's 
 beautiful statue of Miss Egerton; for the rambler and student of natiu-e 
 there is the glorious view from the church yard of meadow, trees, and 
 mere, with Bowdon crowning the hill in the distance; and for the 
 Cheshire Nonconformist there is to be found, in the life of a former 
 vicar of this parish, one of the most valuable insights into the manners 
 and customs of Dissenters prior to the Restoration which can be 
 obtained any^vhere. The hfe of Adam Martindale is so full of interest 
 that we cannot forbear giving it from its commencement.* 
 
 *This sketch of Adam Martindale's life is taken chiefly from his Autobiography, 
 edited by the late Canon Parkinson, B.D., for the Chetham Society. It is impos- 
 sible to read this volume wnthout bearing testimony to the great interest Canon 
 Parkinson has given to it by his valuable notes, and to the plaj-ful manner in M-hich 
 he sometimes exposes his hero's foibles ; although differing from jNIartindale so 
 thoroughly upon church polity, there is no bitterness displayed, but an amount of 
 fair dealing most creditable to the editor both as a Christian and as a gentleman. 
 
 C2
 
 4i8 Noncofiformity in Cheshire. 
 
 Adam Martindale was born at Prescot in Lancashire, in the 
 monthof September 1623. His father was a yeoman of some substance. 
 During his childhood various events of interest occurred to him. He 
 says he was "welcomed into the world by a great losse," which 
 resulted from his father becoming surety for another man, and as the 
 man could not pay, Adam's father had to do so, " having been taken 
 " by the bayliffes, whom nothing would satisfie but either paying 
 " downe the money or going to prison ; the latter was very unpleasant 
 " to be thought of, and tended to crack his credit, which he highly 
 " valued," so he had to let some land on lease which he had lately 
 marled, whereby was great loss. Adam speaks of various " remark- 
 " able providences" which occurred during his childhood ; when he 
 fell and cut his head, escaped from drowning, and was rescued 
 from falling down a coalpit. These deliverances left an impres- 
 sion on the child's mind which were doubtless of use in later years. 
 When six years old he had a primer given to him by his godmother, 
 and took delight in learning its contents. Before he was seven years 
 old he read the Bible "and any other English booke" with so much 
 delight that he could almost have read a day together without play 
 or meat. 
 
 Shortly after this time troubles fell upon the family. Adam 
 was sent to the Free School at S. Helens. The poor little fellow — 
 he was only seven years old — had not a happy time of it. He was 
 being prepared for the trials of an eventful life. He complains of the 
 frequent change of teachers, and they none of the best ; of the tedious 
 method of teaching practised ; of the dulness of some of his school- 
 mates, who kept back the others ; and, lastly, of the distance he had 
 to travel to school. From S. Helens he was removed to Rainford, 
 and progressed under a better master, whom he followed to S. Helens 
 on his transference thither. More troubles beset the family, sickness 
 and death invaded it, nor did Adam escape a serious illness. When 
 he was fourteen years old the father took him from school, at the 
 earnest solicitation of friends, and he was set to his father's caUing, 
 most probably as a stonemason. The father fortunately saw that his 
 son was better fitted to become a scholar than a builder, so Adam 
 was sent back to school, where he remained two years more and then 
 finally left, having made sufficient progress as to fit him for the 
 university. 
 
 This project of an university education was not carried out. The
 
 Deanery of Frodsham. 419 
 
 country had become thoroughly roused and dissatisfied. Then was 
 the upheaving which was so soon to end in rebelhon, for who could 
 place reliance in Charles's often broken promises ? Martindale sum- 
 marises these events so admirably that his words must be quoted : — 
 
 "But the worst was, the University was not so readie for me; 
 " warres being coming on that soone after turned Oxford (whither I 
 " was designed) into a garrison, and many scholars into souldiers. It is 
 " true things were not then come to such an height, but working fast 
 " that way. The Scots had invaded England and entered Newcastle, 
 " and though a pacification followed that seemed onelie to remove the 
 " seate of warre into ovu owne quarters, great animosities were set on 
 " foote concerning monopolies and ship money. Great ministers of 
 " state, such as the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Lord Keeper Finch, 
 *' and Secretary Windebanke, almost everywhere pubhckly complained 
 " of ; Archbishop Laud and several bishops and their chaplains taxed 
 " with innovations, licensing Popish and Socinian bookes, and perse- 
 " cuting many godly ministers to deprivation itselfe. The censures 
 " also and deep sufierings of Prynne, Bastwick, Burton, Layton, Lil- 
 " bourne and otherswere much ventilated ; somesaying these Boutefeus 
 " (agitators) deserved more than they had, others that they were 
 " honest men and used barbarously. Shortly, it was generally thought 
 " that if a Parliament did not heale us we should breake all to pieces, 
 " as accordingly it proved." 
 
 During this interval Martindale was occupied as a tutor to the 
 family of a Mr. Shevington, in Eccles parish. His connexion with 
 the family was not a happy one. His employer appears to have been 
 an exacting man, and his pupils, not corrected by their parents, were 
 insolent to him, so that, he says, " I would almost as soone have led 
 " beares as take the charge of such ungovernable creatures; and yet 
 " it was expected at my hands they should profit highly." 
 
 The country was in so distracted a state that Adam wisely thought 
 it better to endure than to seek a change. Manchester was within 
 six miles of his residence,' and against that town Lord Strange, after- 
 wards the unfortunate Earl of Derby who was beheaded at Bolton, 
 comes wth an army, besiegeth, and assaults it, but goes away without 
 taking of it.* The defeated party then ranged about the county, 
 
 * This appearance of Lord Strange strook a great terrour and amazement into 
 the countrey, so that instantly, for their safety and defence, the townsmen of Man- 
 chester put themselves into arms, and many of the parts adjacent came voluntarily 
 in unto them for their assistance. — OrmerocTs Civil War Tracts — Chetham Society, 
 page 16.
 
 420 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 spreading terror at their approach. They afterwards garrisoned Bolton, 
 which caused Adam's employer to fortify his house; he afterwards 
 abandoned this plan, broke up his house, and retired to Wigan, a 
 stronghold of the King's. 
 
 Adam returned to his father's house at Christmas 1641. He was 
 kindly welcomed ; but he found things wofully altered, the " great 
 " trade" which his father and brothers had hitherto carried on "was 
 " quite dead, for who would either build or repaire a house when he 
 " could not sleep a night in it with quiet and safetie?" The country 
 was made the more lawless by the practices of the Royalist troops. 
 Lord Derby's officers summoned the younger men, upon pain of 
 death, to appear at general musters, from which they were frequently 
 forced into the service with such weapons as they possessed. These 
 levies were escorted by a guard, who had orders to shoot any strag- 
 glers; nor did their misery end here, as they incurred the enmity of 
 the Parliamentarians for taking up the royal cause. 
 
 Adam had a wholesome horror of being summoned to " general 
 " muster," so he sought out a school and obtained one at Up- 
 Holland in Lancashire. He soon found that the parents scarcely 
 liked to send their children from home in those days of constant 
 alarms; moreover he had to hold his school in a public-house, and 
 had to share his beds and rooms with Papists, drunkards, and 
 soldiers, who did not fail to taunt him and embitter his life to such an 
 extent that he removed to Rainford. At Rainford he had promise of 
 a good attendance of the children of substantial yeomen, with his 
 commons to be found. The children were sent, but not the commons ; 
 nor did he escape his enemies, nor his warning to attend musters. 
 He excused himself as " a piece of a clergy-man," and stayed away, 
 and subsequently accepted service under Colonel Moore, then newly 
 arrived at Liverpool for the defence of that town under Prince Rupert.* 
 
 During these dark times a ray of brightest light shone upon Mar- 
 tindale, and influenced him through life. He heard Mr. Smith 
 (probably the minister of Bowdon) preach, whose earnest words roused 
 him to enquiry. They proved " like a sharp needle, drawing after a 
 " silken thread of comfort in due season." He honoured Mr. Smith 
 as his spiritual father until death. 
 
 * For an account of this see Civil War Tracts^ Chetham Society, pages 198, 
 201 — 207.
 
 Deanery of Frodshain. 421 
 
 He accepted a clerk's place under Colonel Moore, for which he 
 received good pay, but much discomfort; he then became chief clerk 
 and deputy quarter-master to the regiment, with exemption from 
 military duty. Whilst in this service he subscribed the Covenant. 
 
 Martindale held these offices till Liverpool surrendered to Prince 
 Rupert, June 26th, 1644. The besieged were offered free quarter, 
 and surrendered on those terms; nevertheless some 360 were cruelly 
 slaughtered by the Royalists. Martindale suffered imprisonment for 
 nine weeks, and became ver}^ anxious to return to the peaceful occu- 
 pation of schoolmaster. His prospects were gloomy in the extreme. 
 His brother Thomas and his family, left to the mercy of their enemies, 
 lost nearly all their property; his aged father saw his house plundered 
 of ever}'thing worth taking, and then was led a prisoner to Bolton. 
 He was made to walk without shoes, and the barbarous soldiers 
 snapped his ears with the locks of their pistols. For himself, he had 
 no occupation. He found all the clergy " to a man, except only two, 
 " tippling boone companions," and all serious Christians on the Par- 
 liament side, to which he allied himself He had escaped many 
 dangers, for which he was ver)' thankful, and Providence still watched 
 over him. Shortly after his release he obtained the mastership of the 
 Free School at Over Whitley. For this providence he wrote, with 
 gratitude, " When God so times his mercies that they are given us 
 " when we greatly need them, and so soon as we are capable of them, 
 " they are more than ordinarily sweet." But he was not to lie idle in 
 his nest : a Lancashire minister pointed out the great need of spiritual 
 teachers, and urged him to prepare for a charge. He began to study 
 Hebrew, logic, and theology with vigour, and hoped to obtain an 
 entrance to one of the colleges at Oxford or Cambridge. 
 
 During this time of preparation Manchester was visited by the 
 plague, and so numerous were the deaths — there were 310 during 
 August, and 266 during September 1645 — that business was stopped, 
 the ministers died during their work, and Martindale was more strongly 
 urged to prepare for the ministry. He was pressed by his friend to 
 preach for him at one of J;hree places ; feeling that he could not refuse, 
 he consented to preach at Middleton, taking for his text Ephesians 
 ii. 4, 5, But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith 
 he loved us, even when we were dead ifi sins, hath quickened us 
 together with Christ (by grace ye are saved). The two sermons were 
 favourably received. He was offered the place of assistant to the
 
 42 2 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 rector, but, finding it already filled by a former master of his, he 
 decUned to accept it. 
 
 Shortly afterwards he was invited to preach at Gorton near Man- 
 chester. He found the people very civil, and most anxious to secure ■ 
 him as their minister. He would not consent to this till he found that 
 he was the choice of the people, and till he could obtain the consent 
 of the committee of ministers. The people speedily gave their wel- 
 come, and the ministers approved him at his first appearance among 
 them. He took the charge in April 1646. 
 
 But even here difficulties followed him. The war was changed 
 from the military to the ecclesiastical camp. The Presbyterians were 
 then in power. They had propounded a scheme for a grand National 
 and Presbyterian Church government. Two years before this settle- 
 ment of Martindale's, Parliament had summoned the Assembly of 
 Divines. The Presbyterians had it all their own way, and the Inde- 
 pendents, finding they had no voice in the assembly, changed their 
 tactics, and speedily gained an influence through the press. The 
 soldiers very generally adopted Independency, and it received the 
 hearty patronage of Cromwell. Martindale entered the ministry at 
 Gorton in the midst of this controversy. The Presbyterians had 
 gained great hold upon Lancashire, and the accomphshed warden 
 of Manchester Collegiate Church, Mr. Heyrick, determined to 
 stop the advance of the Sectaries. He got up a petition to 
 Parliament, which was signed by many thousands, praying for the 
 immediate establishment of the Presbyterian scheme as recommended 
 by the Westminster Assembly. The effort was successful. An Act, 
 dated October 2nd, 1646, was passed, in which the recommen- 
 dation was sanctioned that the county of Lancaster should be formed 
 into an ecclesiastical province; that the spiritual affairs of each con- 
 gregation should be managed by its own presbytery ; that the province 
 should be partitioned into nine classical districts, each to be governed 
 by a monthly assembly of its own congregational presbyteries ; and 
 that each classical assembly should meet as synods at stated periods 
 to legislate for the whole.* The Presbyterian scheme in its fulness 
 was that, "Wherever there was an established congregation with a 
 " pastor, whether in a church to which tithe of common right belonged, 
 " or one in which a vicar was established, or a mere chapel to which 
 
 *Hibbert's Foundations of Manchester, vol. i., page 245.
 
 Deanery of Frodsham. 423 
 
 " no tithe belonged, persons called ruling elders were to be chosen 
 " by the votes of the congregation, whose duty it was to assist the 
 " pastor or minister by their information, advice, and service, and to 
 " exercise a superintendence over all the other persons composing 
 " the congregation. These formed the congregational eldership. The 
 " minister and some of the more discreet of the ruhng elders in dis- 
 " tricts containing about twenty or thirty congregations, were to meet 
 " once a month as a classical presbytery; the number of elders sent 
 " by each congregation not to be more than four nor less than two. 
 " One of the ministers was to act as moderator or chairman. Great 
 " power was to be given to these presb>1:eries. They might redress 
 " any abuse of any kind that could be construed into an offence 
 " against ecclesiastical discipline. They were the examiners of can- 
 " didates for tlie ministr}', and with them it lay to give or refuse 
 " ordination. An appeal, however, lay from them to the Provincial 
 " Assetnbly, which was to meet twice a year, and to consist of two 
 " ministers and four ruling elders sent from each classical presbytery 
 *' in the province. Above all was to be a National Assembly, com- 
 " posed of two ministers and four ruling elders sent from each provincial 
 " assembly, together mth five godly persons from each of the univer- 
 " sities. This was the court of final appeal, but it could meet only 
 " when summoned by Parliament."* 
 
 The Independents did not Hke this assumption of power. They 
 could not beheve in the divine right assumed by the Presbyterians, 
 nor did they beheve in one universal church governed by men, so as 
 to form a national church ; on the contrary, they held that Christ alone 
 is the Head of the Church; that wherever a number of professing 
 Christians — be their number large or small — unite for worship, with 
 a pastor and deacons, they constitute a church, capable of main- 
 taining itself, and responsible to no other church for its acts; they 
 are without any connection or dependency on or with any other 
 similar communit>', except such as might be agreed upon for purposes 
 of friendly communication or spiritual assistance and advice. It was 
 sufficient with them that a pastor should be the choice of the church 
 after earnest prayer and deliberation; they needed not the laying on 
 of hands of any kingly appointed bishop; they acknowledged the 
 efiicacy of the preaching of "gifted" or lay " brethren." 
 
 * Hunter's Life of Oliver Heyawood, page 55.
 
 424 No7ico7tformity in Cheshire. 
 
 Martindale settled at Gorton in the midst of these controversies. 
 Mr. Samuel Eaton of Dukinfield had lately arrived from New England ; 
 he strongly urged his Independency, and was supported by Mr. Timothy 
 Taylor and Mr. Root. Independency was not new; it had been 
 urged and suffered for by Robert Brown of Northamptonshire during 
 Elizabeth's reign, it had its firm adherents during the reigns of James 
 and Charles, and sought freedom from persecution in North America, 
 and now it rose to be a recognised power. 
 
 The controversy was unhappily a bitter one. Martindale found that 
 he could not associate with either party without provoking the suspi- 
 cion of the other, and when he was desirous of seeking kindly feeling 
 and intercourse with some who were of the Congregational way, such 
 as Mr. Eaton and Mr. Taylor, he found his way beset with difficulties. 
 He possessed one zealous friend who was most anxious for his ordi- 
 nation, and showed great kindness to him, but his urgency for the 
 ordination brought about troubles he had not foreseen. On the 
 whole Martindale disagreed with Congregationalism, still he found 
 some things in the system to admire, and retained an affection for its 
 advocates in his neighbourhood ; he entertained strong doubts also 
 upon some points in the Presbyterian scheme, and whilst these doubts 
 remained he did not wish for ordination, the more especially as his 
 church did not appear to suffer by letting things remain as they w^ere ; 
 then again he found several of his congregation in favour of Congre- 
 gationalism, and he hoped by silence and kindness to keep them in 
 the church. 
 
 In his perplexity he sought the advice of " holy and peaceable" 
 Mr. Angier, who considered the matter with great kindness, and 
 imparted it to Mr. Heyrick; the latter advised time to be given, so 
 that Adam might satisfy himself or be dismissed. Mr. Angier also 
 wished for time to be given, but on no account for him to leave 
 Gorton. The case was brought before the Manchester Classis June 
 8th, 1647, when a schedule of rules was agreed to and signed by the 
 members of the Classis and by Martindale. He did not, however, 
 attend the meetings of the Classis, for an entry is made a month 
 after this agreement to the effect that " Mr. Angier is desired to speak 
 " to Mr. Martindale to know the reason of his not coming, seeing 
 " he hath professed to have received satisfaction." And again, on 
 September ist, " Mr. Ad. Martindale to be warned to appear at the 
 " next meeting." *
 
 Deanery of Frodsham. 425 
 
 Adam's remissness was doubtless occasioned by his engaging in 
 the work urged upon him by Mr. Angier, namely, to read over 
 " endways" all the considerable authors for and against Presbyterianism 
 and Independency. This gigantic work he undertook, transcribing 
 the best arguments of each side j and so voluminous were his notes 
 that he was afraid to publish them, yet upon " great importunity of 
 " friends and insultation of enemies" he gave an epitome to the world, 
 which won the praise of Richard Baxter, and at his solicitation an 
 enlarged edition was prepared in 1659, " when moderation was grown 
 " in fashion." Meanwhile, Adam had resolved his OAvn doubts. 
 During this controversy he married Elizabeth Hall, the daughter of a 
 substantial yeoman at Droylsden, 31st December 1646. 
 
 For various reasons Martindale determined to leave Gorton. His 
 popularity appears to have been great, for he received " calls" from 
 no less than five places in Cheshire and six in Yorkshire. He was 
 led to choose the invitation from Rostherne, the vicarage of which 
 place was vacatif by the death of the former vicar.* The " call" was 
 very generally subscribed; " the whole parish,t in a manner, including 
 " three gentlemen and all that made any eminent profession of reli- 
 " gion, to a man joyned in an engagement to pay me ten pounds for 
 " a quarter then commencing, and some of them declared their reso- 
 " lution to do their best to settle me in the vicarage." The desire of 
 the people was marred by two or three circumstances. The Baron 
 of Kinderton, who was patron of the living, had to be asked. He 
 had recently appointed a man whom the people did not accept; 
 opposition from him was feared. " Some gentlemen of the parish,:}: 
 
 * The li%-ing was at this time vacant by the death of the late vicar, Mr. Shenton, 
 as the following entry still exists in the parish Register:- — " Sepulturse 1647. 
 Gulielmus Shenton, vicarius de Rostherne, Sepultus erat, 3 Feb." — A^ote to 
 '' Life,'" page 77. 
 
 t The parish of Rostherne, in iMartindale's time, was much larger than it is 
 now ; it then contained sixteen villages and to^\Tis, including Knutsford and Peover. 
 The advowson remained with the barons of Kinderton till the end of last century, 
 when it was purchased by Mr. Egerton. Christ Church, Oxon, is the impropriator. 
 The present church was rebuilt 1 743 (Note to Gastrell's Notitia Cestriensis, page 
 339, by Canon Raines). In Gastrell's time there were in the parish sixty-six Dis- 
 senting families, and an Anabaptist meeting-house, but these were most probably 
 resident at Knutsford. 
 
 + Mr. Hunter, in his Life of Oliver Heywood, page 94, says, with his usual bit- 
 terness against the Independents, "but when his Si quis was placed on the church 
 " door, eleven persons of his parish, where Independent principles had found their 
 " way, and brought with them, as usual, cavilling and dissention, objected." Mar- 
 tindale does not say that the objectors were Independents; his statements shew 
 that they were high Presbyterians.
 
 426 Noiiconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " thinking themselves undervalued, and not liking a man of my 
 " kidney," attempted to introduce others, but the design failed; they 
 then tried to persuade old Sir George Booth, a very old man, that 
 Martip^dale was unfit for the Uving, as he had not been ordained. 
 The case came before him, Mr. Marbury of Marbur}', and Mr. Leigh 
 of Boothes; but it failed, as Martindale was able to prove that he had 
 been approved by a committee of ministers at Manchester. At 
 length his friends, quickened by the opposition, sent up a petition 
 very numerously signed, to the Committee for Plundered Ministers, 
 who by their order of March 26th, 1649, freely gave him the vicarage 
 with all its appurtenances. 
 
 He then sought ordination from the Manchester Classis; but 
 meeting with opposition from some of his neighbours, he went to 
 London and there obtained what he sought. Whatever objections 
 may be made about the cruelty of the Nonconformists in ejecting the 
 Episcopal clergy from their livings, no such charge can be brought in the 
 case of Martindale. It has been noticed that the living was vacant 
 through the death of the former vicar, and that Adam was the choice 
 of the people; further, his biography testifies that he paid the late 
 vicar's widow most liberally for the improvements her husband had 
 made to the property; she also enjoyed the occupancy of the vicarage 
 for more than two years after Adam's acceptance of the pulpit. 
 
 A new perplexity now disturbed him ; it arose from doubts which 
 he felt concerning the legaHty of Cromwell's position. He questioned 
 whether it was right to serve one whom he thought did not reign 
 lawfully. The subject was not immediately dropped ; it led to some 
 disputation and not a few pamphlets; it was, however, soon merged 
 into the more important matter of subscription to the " Engagement 
 *' to be true and faithful to the Commonwealth as then established, 
 " without a King or House of Lords." 
 
 Adam was greatly troubled with this question, and sought the 
 advice of others; abundance of pamphlets were issued, much contro- 
 versy both by the press and by speech followed, and as is usual with 
 abstruse questions, men who could agree upon most points disagreed 
 upon this. Adam did not stop to enquire so much about 'the usurpa- 
 tion of power, but power having been assumed ought he to obey it? 
 He found that " all the ministers of any account for ability and good 
 " conversation in the neighbourhood that I used to converse with 
 " were for subscribing it." So also were his parishioners. On the
 
 Deanery of Frodsham. 427 
 
 other hand, when the Classis met at Warrington, the " great knockers 
 " of debate" with others were against it. Martindale argued in favour 
 of subscription with considerable power, and was unconvinced by 
 the repUes of his brethren. He afterwards subscribed, but he was 
 frequently troubled with doubts as to the rightness of the step. 
 
 Martindale now settled down to work, of which there was plenty, 
 and in doing which he was well pleased. He preached twice on the 
 Sunday to a large congregation ; his week-days were spent in visiting 
 the sick of a large parish, and in attending to the numerous duties 
 which fall to the lot of a conscientious minister. He now enjoyed a 
 period of comparative peace; sons and daughters were added to him; 
 his quiet pastoral work was broken by no formidable trouble. During 
 this period he undertook to dispute ■vvith the " Separatists of Bowdon 
 " parish." These appear to have been both numerous and trouble- 
 some. It has been conjectured that they were Independents, but 
 this is not very clear. Adam had " another partie to engage with," 
 members of Mr. Eaton's Congregational church, who conceived they 
 were "gifted persons," and began to preach at Tabley. This was a 
 source of great annoyance to Martindale. The able editor of the 
 Life says such persons " have always been found thorns in the sides 
 " of establishments." Martindale speedily shewed his parishioners 
 that their conduct in listening to these men was objectionable. 
 
 He was shortly to be engaged in a work of great importance to 
 the county. On September 14th, 1653, the minister at their meeting 
 at Wilmslow moved that a letter should be drawn up, to invite many 
 other ministers to give them the meeting at Knutsford on 20th October, 
 being the exercise day; "and there they agreed upon a Voluntary 
 " Association of themselves and their churches, for mutual advice and 
 " strengthening of one another." Here we have a forerunner of our 
 County Union, whose meetings are so beneficial to the churches when 
 they are properly conducted and carried out. Martindale quickly 
 joined the society, from which he derived " much comfort and assist- 
 " ance." He thus excuses himself for taking part in this association 
 when he could not conscientiously join the Classis at Manchester: — 
 " The case was not the same. Here was only a voluntary association 
 " of such as were desirous to advise and assist one another; nor did 
 " we look upon ourselves as having any pastoral inspection over one 
 " another's congregations, but only to be helpful to them in a charitable 
 " way. We pretended not to any power to convert any before us, or
 
 428 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " suppresse any minister because dwelling in such a place, within 
 " such a verge, and differing from us in practice." 
 
 The Classis speedily began its work, approving elders and ordaining 
 ministers. The church at Rostherne was somewhat backward in 
 accepting the rules laid down by their minister; at length, in July 
 1655, six ruling elders were chosen by the church, three of whom 
 served the office. On the whole Martindale enjoyed much peace 
 during his ministry at Rostherne ; it was probably the happiest period 
 of his life. In spite of the peevishness which Mr. Hunter thinks is 
 always introduced with Independency, there was great accord between 
 the two sections of the congregation. Martindale gives a clear view 
 of the working of his method of church government at this time. 
 He says : — 
 
 " We agreed in our Classis, by mutuall consent, upon such rules 
 " for the administration of Baptisme and the Lord's Supper, as also 
 " of the solemnization of matrimonie, as my religious neighbours 
 " seemed well pleased with. And as for transactions among ourselves, 
 " we never disputed about the power of church guides, nor libertie of 
 " the brethren. For smaller matters, that came of course, they were 
 " willing enough the officers should dispatch without troubling the 
 " societie. And for those that Avere weightier, as receiving in new 
 " communicants, or suspending any from the communion that had 
 " been before admitted (which I think was but twice used, and that 
 " in cleare cases of scandall, and with good success), we allwayes 
 " tooke their consent along with us, which we used to ask after the 
 " sacrament or at a week-day confirmer. And so unanimous we were 
 " that, though most of all the communicants that were accounted the 
 " chiefe for parts and pietie leaned much towards the Congregationall 
 ** way of church government, and some of them for their naturall 
 " tempers peevish enough, and great admirers, not onely of Mr. Eaton, 
 " but of divers of his gifted members, yet I cannot remember that so 
 " much as one of them forsooke us, or that we had any breach or 
 " considerable controversie among us, but we ivent sweetly and comfort- 
 " ably so long as libertie contimiedy 
 
 Time had done much to reduce the asperities between the two 
 great religious parties of the country. The Independents had no 
 reason to change their opinion that any sect allied to, and recognizing 
 the government as its head, is apt to become tyrannical and over- 
 bearing. Numerous cases did not lead them to change their opinion
 
 Dea7iery of Frodsham. 429 
 
 with regard to the position of Presb}1;erianism; still they felt they had 
 so many points of contact with the dominant sect that they wiUingly 
 listened to any overtures of a brotherly and spiritual alliance. On 
 the 13th July* 1659, a meeting of Presbyterians and Congregationalists 
 was held in Manchester College, when certain resolutions tending 
 to the increase of brotherly love were agreed upon; but, alas! 
 the agreement came too. late, the lion-hearted Protector had been 
 dead some nine months, and his son Richard had feebly reigned in 
 his stead. The country was growing into order under the wisdom 
 and energy of Oliver Cromwell — it could not endure a weak successor. 
 Various disturbances arose, the most formidable being that under Sir 
 George Booth of Dunham, who attempted to take Chester, but was 
 defeated by Lambert. Lambert showed mercy to the vanquished, 
 and allowed many of the insurgents to escape. The Cheshire minis- 
 ters were aftenvards accused of being priAy to this rising, of which 
 most of them were, Martindale among the number. Sir William 
 Brereton "had much ado to stay the furie" of Parliament against 
 them. He succeeded ; the Cheshire ministers sent up a petition to 
 the effect that they might not suffer through surmises or false sugges- 
 tions; they went further and petitioned in favour of Sir George Booth 
 and Mr. Peter Brooke of Mere, and as Adam says, " This, Sir Peter 
 " Brooke doth still remember, and hath thankfully acknowledged 
 " many a time." 
 
 Upon the Restoration, Martindale, in common with other ministers, 
 began to suffer. A gentleman and neighbour to whom he had she^vn 
 great kindness during the recent troubles became his enemy. When 
 the proclamation forbidding " unlawful assembhes" was sent down to 
 Martindale, as vicar of Rostheme, to read aloud in church, he refused ; 
 for, though it bore the names of the three deputy-lieutenants of the 
 county, it was not signed by them. Its nature was so different from 
 that given under most solemn pledges at Breda that it appeared to be 
 a forger)^; its restrictions were such that even Martindale, who had 
 been confirmed as \-icar of Rostheme for life, by the Act for Con- 
 finning and Restoring of Ministers, was not allowed to preach in 
 unconsecrated chapels ; he could not pray ^vith a sick person at home, 
 nor baptize a child in its father's house. He gives very full reasons 
 for his refusal, and determined to bear the brunt of his insubordina- 
 tion.t 
 
 * Newcome's Autobiography, page io8. Martindale's Life, page 128. 
 + Autobiography, page 143.
 
 430 Nonco7iformity in Cheshire. 
 
 He had not long to wait. A warrant was sent him to attend the 
 sessions at Northwich; it miscarried and was sent to Mere. Hearing 
 of this, he attended the sessions with sundry substantial neigh- 
 bours whom he took as witnesses. The case did not come on, and 
 having to preach at Knutsford exercise, he returned home. The 
 following day the case came fonvard, and, as Adam was absent, the 
 justices were very wroth, and voted his absence a " high contempt." 
 
 In a few days a second warrant was issued. Adam heard of it, 
 and not wishing to be carried with force, appeared, in company with 
 his neighbours. One of the justices was very abusive to him, and 
 appeared to take a delight in tormenting him to the utmost ; his lan- 
 guage was insulting and his conduct brutal. For the present Martindale 
 escaped by putting in sureties, and a warning that he was to read the 
 precept on the next Sunday. 
 
 Martindale refused to read the precept, but read the proclamation 
 instead. The justice charged him to tell him, in writing, whether he 
 had acted up to his instructions. Martindale answered characteristi- 
 cally with the acknowledgment that he had not read it on the day 
 appointed, and with the excuse, " But if I read it upon the day first 
 " appointed there was no reason I should do it again; and if I had 
 " not, I desired it might be made out against me by evidence before 
 " I suffered upon such an accusation." The justice cut the matter 
 short by committing him to Chester, where he was kept close prisoner 
 at the Feathers Inn — his spiteful neighbour having the satisfaction of 
 attending as captain of his body guard. Adam was dreadfully plucked, 
 what with his diet at the inn, his costs for law, and the extortion of 
 his protectors ; at last, through the interference of Lady Gamul, he 
 was released upon giving a bond of i,ooo/. His trouble did not end 
 here ; his persecutor sent up his name to the Privy Council, but in 
 this overshot his mark. Just then Clarendon and the court were 
 trying to further sell the Presbyterians by the offer of the bishopric of 
 Hereford to Baxter.* The Chancellor was only too willing to grant 
 any favour, and the case having been laid before Baxter he obtained 
 the protection needed. During these troubles Martindale was cheered 
 by the kindness of his parishioners — who testified to his loyalty — 
 and by the birth of a " gallant boy." 
 
 Divers of the lowest class annoyed him by setting up a maypole 
 
 * Sir J. Stephen's Essays, article — Baxter. — Autobiography, page 152.
 
 Deanery of Frodsham. 43 1 
 
 near the church ; but this was a small thing compared with what was 
 to follow. On the 28th May a Prayer Book was handed to him, 
 with instructions from the Baron of Kinderton — his enemy — that he 
 was to read it in church on the follo\\ing day, the anniversary of the 
 restoration of the " most reUgious King." Neighbours were invited 
 to attend as witnesses to the work being done, among them his old 
 enemy the comet, who religiously spent his morning in setting up the 
 broken maypole, and his evening in getting drunk During the day, 
 when the prayer ought to have been read he was called out of church 
 to see his dying horse, so Adam escaped for that time as there was 
 no one who would witness against him. 
 
 His respite was but brief. Early in the winter of 1661 he was 
 indicted to the assizes for refusing to read the Book of Common 
 Prayer.* The witnesses when called could only prove that he had 
 not read from the book, not that he ever refused to read it. The 
 grand jury cut the bill, whereon the foreman — the persecuting justice — 
 obtained a new jmy, who were pressed in the judge's chamber to find 
 a bill. Martindale secured counsel, who pointed out so many glaring 
 faults in the indictment that the judges — only too anxious to punish 
 him — turned counsel and refused to " quash" the bill. Adam hoped 
 that by gaining time he might reduce the virulence of his enemies, 
 and also secure his Lady Day rents ; he sought for a " traverse" for 
 the winter assizes, which was granted. 
 
 " And now came out that fatall Act of Uniformitiet that threw off 
 " many hundreds of us out of our places." Martindale received the 
 Act with notice on the 22nd August ; two days later he was to give 
 his unfeigned assent and consent to all and everything contained in 
 the revised Prayer Book. He complains of the short time allowed for 
 the study of the book ; but he knew sufficient of its contents to enable 
 him to make up his mind on the subject. He had already resolved 
 not to subscribe. He took leave of his people on the previous Sunday 
 (17th), taking for his text Acts xx. 32, And now, brethreji, I co77imend 
 you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, 
 and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. 
 The words were full of meaning both to his people and to himself; 
 
 * For a list of the objections by the Presbyterians to the Prayer Book, see 
 Documents, &c., page iii. 
 
 t See Documents, &c,, and the Introduction to this Volume. Martindale gives 
 gives the Bishops' Order in full, page i66 Life, «S:c.
 
 432 Nonco7iformity in Cheshire. 
 
 he needed consolation, for his was a hard case. It has been 
 shewn that he displaced no man when he took the living ; he had 
 the strong support of his parishioners ; he was a loyal subject, and 
 served the royal cause during the Cheshire Rising , he was confirmed 
 in his incumbency. But all these things were as valueless as the 
 royal word. No time was lost in serving the churchwardens with an 
 ejectment. On the 29th August the Bishop of Chester issued his 
 order forbidding Martindale the use of the pulpit, from which he had 
 preached so faithfully for many years. The order is given at length 
 in the Life, page 166. 
 
 Martindale had heard from his friend Newcome that the King did 
 not really wish to be so hard upon the Nonconformists, and that he 
 would take it unkindly if they threw up their livings unforced. Accor- 
 dingly on the next Sunday, a day ever memorable in England, he 
 found the church doors open as usual ; the soft music of the bells 
 floated over meadow, wood, and mere as before ; there was no change 
 outside the church, and inside a great congregation was gathered, 
 " but there was no man to break the bread of life to their hungry 
 " souls," so he officiated once more. He told his people he had 
 come there in opposition to no man, but solely for the King's pleasure. 
 He preached from Psalm cvi. 4, Remember me, O Lord, with the 
 favour that thou bear est unto thy people. But all this was a mistake ; 
 the King's pleasure might be judged by his sanctioning the unjust Act; 
 the patron of the living had caused the bells to be rung in mockery, 
 and had left the congregation without a preacher that he might be 
 petitioned to procure one. 
 
 And now Martindale, with a large family, had to face the world 
 to seek for his daily bread. His successor speedily took possession 
 of the vicarage, and did not give him Avhat salary was due. He 
 suffered loss of property in various ways, but with his noble mind 
 determined to make his living conform to his limited income. He 
 removed to Camp Green, where he lived for three and a half years, 
 and during this time remained a hearer of his successor, Mr. Benjamin 
 Crosse, frequently repeating the vicar's .sermons, with an addition of 
 his own, to a few friends on the Sabbath evening. Adam manfully 
 fought against poverty and turned schoolmaster, but in this employment 
 he was not to be let alone. The Bishop of Chester "preached fiercely 
 "against Nonconformists at Bowdon;" Sir Job Charleton, when 
 upon the bench at Chester, gave a severe charge against Noncon-
 
 Deanery of Frodsham.' 433 
 
 formists being entertained as tutors in great families, or teaching 
 private schools. These remarks were highly approved by Sir P. 
 Leycester and the other justices. They had their effect ; Adam lost 
 the sons of a neighbouring gentleman, who could not face ecclesiastical 
 threats. Martindale found he must turn to something else ; he 
 thought of medicine, but was too conscientious to kill his patients, so 
 he took to mathematics, and found a great helper in Lord Delamer, 
 who on this and other occasions proved to be his good friend. 
 
 Whilst he profited by Lord Delamer's kindness, who lent him 
 books and instruments, and who frequently gave a stimulus to their use 
 by his o^vn discourse upon them — Martindale did not neglect his 
 people; many of them were Nonconfomiists, and he regularly preached 
 to them, but this exercise was greatly hindered by the appearance of 
 the Conventicle Act. He had to break up his congregation into small 
 knots to prevent its coming within the limits of that Act. His 
 labour was greatly increased, as he sometimes preached four or five 
 times a day. He had also to break up his school ; but in all this 
 he found help. Lord Delamer commanded him to his school at 
 Warrington, where he perfected his scholars so far in land surveying 
 as to bring down the praise of all those who saw their exploits. 
 He was also well received at Preston; and both there and at 
 Warrington he had " the happiness of spiritual libertie and employ- 
 " ment among the Christians of most eminence." In addition to 
 these engagements he became the tutor of Mr. Charles and Mr. 
 Benjamin Hoghton of Hoghton Tower, "where Sir Richard, my 
 " ladie, and indeed all the family, shewed me great respect ; and 
 " for hbertie to preach there was more than I desired, for they had 
 " an able and godly chaplaine of their owne that I delighted to heare." 
 But, though these temptations to remain were very great, he would 
 not leave his own people, wishing rather to do good. He had other 
 advantageous offers, among them one from Mr. Banks of Wigan, but 
 the Five Mile Act forbade his going there. During the next seven 
 years Martindale continued to teach mathematics at Manchester and 
 elsewhere; he also preached as opportunity afforded, sometimes 
 running risk of apprehension. During the time when the first Con- 
 venticle Act had run out, and before the second was passed, he 
 preached in Bury parish, and found the house surrounded. He was 
 brought before Dean Bridgman, who reproved him and indicted him 
 to the sessions at Manchester, but by his legal ingenuity and the 
 
 D2
 
 434 Nonconformity in CJieshire. 
 
 perjury of the witnesses against him he escaped. His old enemy 
 Bishop Hall meanwhile had died, and Bishop Wilkins filled the see 
 of Chester in his stead. Dr. Wilkins had married Cromwell's sister, 
 and was much beloved. He wished to encourage moderate Noncon- 
 formists, and among them made an overture to Martindale, which 
 would have been gladly accepted had not the Archbishop of York 
 stopped these liberal practices. 
 
 The connexion between Martindale and Lord Delamer was to be 
 made closer; during September 167 1 he accepted an engagement to 
 become chaplain and tutor to his lordship's family. Martindale grate- 
 fully bears testimony to the kindness which was so admirable a feature 
 in the conduct of one who had been so exalted as Lord Delamer. 
 In return, Martindale educated a son, who afterwards contributed in 
 no small degree to the establishment of England's liberty, and to the 
 toleration which was granted to Nonconformists by William and 
 Mary. Martindale says of his engagement : — " When I was first 
 " invited to officiate as chaplain at Dunham, it was only for three 
 " weeks or a month ; but this proved to be fourteen years, and pro- 
 " bably would have been more if my lord's death had not put an end 
 " to my attendance there. All this while I had the same libertie 
 *' among my own people of Rotherston parish as before. Mine 
 " employment there (besides accompanying my lord oft abroad) was 
 " family duty twice a day; which before dinner was a short prayer, a 
 " chapter, and a more solemn prayer, and before supper the like, with 
 " a psalm. . . . When we kept at home I oflliciated ; and when, 
 " on the Lord's Day, we went to Bowdon, I catechized in the evening, 
 " and expounded the catechism in a doctrinal and practical way." 
 
 Martindale's sufferings did not make him tolerant of some other 
 Dissenters. It is sad to hear him say, " that if the King had offered 
 " me my liberty, upon condition that I would consent that Papists, 
 " Quakers, and all other Avicked sects should have theirs also, I think 
 " I should never have agreed to it." He profited by the King's short- 
 lived Declaration of Indulgence, issued March 167 1-2, "which of all 
 " the many unpopular steps taken by the government was the most 
 " unpopular."* He took out a licence and preached tsvice each 
 Sunday ; on one of these occasions he called upon his successor, whom 
 he found in his last illness, and who desired his prayers. Adam did 
 not hesitate to speak faithfully to him. 
 
 *Macaulay, vol. i., page 220.
 
 Deanery of Frodsham. 43 5 
 
 Several years passed quietly away, during which Martindale pub- 
 lished various works, such as his Countrey Stirvey Book^ his Almanacks, 
 &c., which gained the approval of the Royal Society.* Nor was 
 
 * The following is a list of Adam Martindale's works ; most of them are very rare, 
 not to be found even in the British Museum. Not one of them is mentioned by 
 Lowndes, Bibliographer's Manual, edit. 1861 : — i. Summary of Arguments Jor 
 and against Presbyterianisme and Independencie. London, 1650. 2. Divinity 
 Knots unloosed. London, 1649. 3. An Antidote against the Poyson of the Times. 
 London, 1653. 4. Almanacks. London, 1675-6-7. 5. Countrey Survey Booke. 
 London, 1681. 6. Truth and Peace Promoted. London, 1682. "]. Animadversion 
 upon the new booke called Jtilian the Apostate, 1682. 8. IVlietJier kiieeling in 
 receiving the Lord's Supper be lawful, 1682. 9. A Token for Ship-Boyes, 1683. 
 10. The Patriarchal Sabbath, 
 
 Of the above, numbers 7 and 8 were circulated in MS. No. 10 was not printed, 
 owing to a quarrel between the publisher in London and one Philip Burton of 
 Warrington, who had procured the MS. 
 
 During 1683 Mr. John Houghton, F.R.S., published some papers concerning 
 husbandry and trade, among them were the follo\\-ing by Martindale : — Vol. i. 
 No. 6, May i8th, 1682. A Letter from the ingenious ^Ir. Adam Martindale of 
 Cheshire, about improving Land by Marie. Xo. ii, December i6th, 1682. A 
 further account of the same. Vol. ii.. No. 4, December nth, 1683. An account 
 of a great improvement of Mossie land, by burning and liming. 
 
 There is also in the Philosophical Transactions, Abr. I. 539, 1670, "Extracts 
 " of Two Letters written from Rotherston in Cheshire, by the ingenious Mr. Adam 
 " Martindale, concerning the Discovery of a Rock of Natural Salt in that county." 
 
 The title page of "Divinity Knots," with a few extracts from the work, are given 
 below : they were taken from a copy in the Library of Trinity College, Dubhn : — 
 
 "Divinity Knots Unloosed, or a cleare Discovery of Truth, by dissolving many 
 " doubts, according to Scripture, orthodox Di\"ines, and sound reason, so as weak 
 " capacities may receive satisfaction therein. To which purpose a number of points 
 " are explained by familiar Similes. A treatise intended specially for the instruction 
 " of young Christians in Rothstome parish in Cheshire, but pubUshed for a further 
 " extent of the benefit thereof to the Israel of God. By Adam Martindale, one of 
 " the meanest labourers in the Lord's har\'est. 1649," (In some copies there is 
 another title-page.) 
 
 Dedication. — "To my dear and precious Father, Captain James JoUie, and to 
 " my present and quondam hearers at Rothstome in Cheshire, and Gorton in 
 " Lancashire." "Strethill, Apnl the 9th, 1649." 
 
 Extracts. 
 
 Martitidale' s views on Inspiration. — "We freely confess that in the characters 
 " and printing there may be errour. And without the Spirit of God to assure us, no 
 " knowledge of the original is sufficient to give us full assurance that it is God's 
 " Word (i Cor. ii. 14) ; but by the help of the Holy Spirit (i John ii. 20, 27) 
 " the Scriptures may sufficiently inform an Uliterale man for his salvation." 
 
 The Authority of Conscience. — " Doubt. If my conscience be erroneous what 
 " course can I take ? If I go against the truth, I sin (2 Thes. ii. 10) ; and if I go 
 " against my conscience, I sin also (Romans xiv. ult.) ? — Resolve. It is true : and 
 " therefore the way is to pray and seek for satisfaction, that your conscience may 
 " comply and close \vith the truth." — Page 48. 
 
 On free will ; (an example of his similes). — " You know a blind man foUoweth 
 " his leader freely (that is, he is not haled or dragged away forcibly), which 
 " notwithstanding, I hope no man will say that a blind man, who reJyeth 
 " wholly on the guidance of his leader, can go whither he will, and escape all 
 " dangerous places of himself; but according to his guide so is his going. So the 
 " will of man acts freely, but it seeth not by its own eyes but is guided by the
 
 436 No7ico7iformity in Cheshire. 
 
 theology neglected; he was much engaged in the controversy 
 touching kneeUng at the sacrament. The confidence of Lord 
 Delamer in his chaplain is manifested by his lordship sending him 
 into Northumberland to arrange a marriage between his daughter 
 and Sir Ralph Delaval, Bart. Troubles came thick and fast upon 
 him shortly after this. He had already mourned over sons and 
 daughters ; he now suffered from fire and fever, and above all from 
 the " unspeakable losse of my deare and faithful friend, my noble 
 " Lord Delamer, together with all hopes of employment at Dunham." 
 The loving intimacy of many years was broken, the counsellor, patron, 
 and friend was dead, and Adam, weak in body and with broken 
 health, had once more to face the world ! To face the world and 
 find a prison. Monmouth's rebellion in the west, and its subsequent 
 failure, gave another plea for persecuting the Nonconformists. Orders 
 were sent down to the deputy-lieutenants to secure all the Noncon- 
 formist ministers in the county; some were sent to Knutsford, some 
 to Chester ; Martindale to the latter place — weak, weary, and so ill 
 as to be compelled to lie down twice on the journey he was compelled 
 to go, though perfectly innocent. He was confined in jail for eighteen 
 days, and then liberated on bail. 
 
 Soon after his return home he heard of the death of his fellow- 
 prisoner, Mr. Briscowe.* It was followed by the deaths of many others 
 who had suffered for conscience sake. One by one his friends passed 
 away ; the past had been full of trouble, the future looked gloomy, 
 causing him to write, as the last sentence of his Diary, " When God 
 " is housing his sheep (or rather sheep-herds) so fast, it is a dangerous 
 " prognosticke of a storme ere long to ensue." 
 
 The reader may sometimes have wandered on the high cliffs by 
 the sea shore : deep down below, the tide breaks with a hoarse roar 
 upon the beach : the sun has been hidden ever and anon by clouds, 
 
 " understanding, which because of corruption is a false guide to it; and therefore 
 " until God by His Spirit sanctify the understanding to be a faithful guide to the 
 *' will, it must needs act perversely though freely." 
 
 * Michael Briscowe was a student in Trinity College, Dublin, and afterwards 
 became pastor of a Congregationalist church at Walmesley in Lancashire. Thence 
 he removed to Toxteth Park, where he preached in the chapel jointly with Mr. 
 Thomas Crompton, and continued there till his death in September 1685, at the 
 advanced age of ninety-six. Martindale calls him "a solid, able scholar, and a 
 " singular good preacher. We were not," he adds, "directly of the same per- 
 " swasion (for he was thoroughly Congregationall), but that bred no dissension 
 '• among us."
 
 Deanery of Frodsham. 437 
 
 and as he sets huge banks of cloud rise up as if to overwhelm his 
 power, but through them beam forth streams of ruby light, and when 
 at length the monarch of the day has sunk he lightens up the western 
 sky with golden glory. So, too, the Christian life is sometimes 
 chequered; peculiarly so was.it with Martindale. From his cradle 
 to his grave he encountered trouble, privation, and sorrow; but as we 
 now stand, far removed from the tumult of the age in which he lived, 
 we can review his course and feel that from amid the cloud beamed 
 out bright light, leaving its blessing behind, and giving promise of a 
 brighter rising on another scene. 
 
 Canon Parkinson thus concludes the Diary : — " He seems to have 
 " commenced, and probably concluded, this journal in the year 1685 ; 
 " and in the Parish Register of the Church of Rotherston is found 
 "this simple record of his death: — 'Sepulture Anno Dom. 1686. 
 " 'Mr. Adam Martindale of Leigh, bur. Septem. 21.' Thus he was 
 " buried (as he himself would not have failed to remark) on the very 
 " day of his Baptism, and when he had just completed his 
 " sixty-third year. He has left behind him no descendants to hand 
 " down his name, no portrait to represent his features and habit, 
 " to poste rity. ' After life's fitful fever he sleeps well,' — without a 
 " stone or an epitaph, in the chancel of that beautiful church which 
 " was the scene of so many of his labours and sorrows; and he is 
 " gone silently to that bourne where his faith and hope, his indomit- 
 " able perseverance, and his steady devotion to his Master's service 
 " will not be forgotten." 
 
 ' The history of Nonconfonnity at Rostherne from this time is 
 
 br^iefly told— it may be said to have migrated to Knutsford — it does 
 
 "not now exist in the village, or if it do it does not shew itself A 
 
 small chapel exists at Bucklow Hill ; the interest was begun some 
 
 twenty years ago in a barn, but now occupies a larger place. Mr. 
 
 SiDEBOTTOM is the recently appointed minister. 
 
 KNUTSFORD. 
 
 (By the late Rev. J. TuRNER.j 
 
 As to the town of Knutsford itself, from the account given by Tong, 
 in his Life, c^c, of Matthew Henry, it appears to have been in a 
 very anomalous state as to ecclesiastical matters from the time of the
 
 438 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 passing of the Act of Uniformity, and for more than twenty years 
 afterwards. There were a number of the inhabitants of the town and 
 neighbourhood who were Dissenters in principle ; but there was an 
 aged minister in the church, a Mr. Turner, who had so much of the 
 Puritan in his spirit and method of proceeding that they were unwiUing 
 to leave him. How he came to be endured in those times by the 
 High Church party seems unaccountable. But it appears that, up to 
 that time, the inhabitants generally had claimed the right of choosing 
 their own minister, and part of the time good Dr. Wilkins, whose 
 wife was sister to Oliver Cromwell, was Bishop of Chester, and was 
 much blamed for showing so much favour towards Dissenters. This 
 is stated in his funeral sermon, preached by Bishop Lloyd, who 
 apologises for him. Dr. Calamy also mentions Dr. Wilkins's " soft 
 " interpretation of the temis of Conformity," which, he says, brought 
 several into the church. 
 
 But, upon the death of Mr. Turner, his successor was a person in 
 judgment " for a very rigorous Confonnity," and then a time of much 
 violence seems to have arisen. The Dissenters separated and others 
 joined them, so that a strong body appears to have been formed, to 
 whom Mr. Tong became the first pastor ; and then, about the time 
 of King Wilham's revolution, the venerable chapel was built now 
 occupied by the Unitarians, and Knutsford frequently became the 
 place for the meetings of the Dissenters and their ministers, among 
 whom Matthew Henry was the most distinguished individual. 
 
 After the introduction of anti-Trinitarian doctrines (about 1740) 
 into the old chapel, an interval of sixty or eighty years must have 
 elapsed in which there was no preaching of the pure gospel at Kraits- 
 ford in connexion with Nonconformity, except what was procured 
 occasionally by individuals, of whom some from time to time seem 
 to have been raised, who were lovers of "the truth as it is in Jesus." 
 But, in 1803, the students from the Rev. W. Roby's very useful insti- 
 tution at Manchester visited Knutsford ; and to their labours, under 
 the Divine blessing, the present public Independent interest there is 
 to be ascribed. I was the first student who came thither, and a 
 powerful effect at the time seemed to be produced. In 1808 I was 
 induced to settle there, Mr. Roby's institution being discontinued, 
 and no other means of supplying the place being known ; and there 
 I have continued to the present time, encountering many difficulties 
 of which it is useless and it would be sinful to complain. About a
 
 Deanery of Prodskam. 439 
 
 year and a half ago infirmities obliged me to resign my pastorate. 
 The place is at preserlt served by supplies, and what may be in reserve 
 " the Lord only knoweth." 
 
 It will be seen from the above that there happened, in 1662, no 
 ejectment at Knutsford itself, but adjacent places and parishes sup- 
 plied cases of this kind in every direction. Rostherne, Mobberley, 
 Over Peover, and Budworth may be mentioned as instances. Of the 
 ministers ejected from these places, besides their names, Dr. Calamy 
 gives an excellent character, particularly of Mr. Robert Norbury of 
 Over Peover. But the most remarkable man among them was Adam 
 INIartindale of Rostherne. The Autobiography which he WTOte of 
 himself was lying silently in the British Museum until a few years ago; 
 but it has been printed latterly by the Chetham Society, and makes 
 a considerable volume. It is much to be regretted that it is not in 
 general circulation, as perhaps nothing else would give to the public 
 so curious and incomparable a picture of the times to which it relates. 
 But it is the rule of that societ}' to supply copies of the works they 
 print from old manuscripts to none but their own members, who are 
 limited to a certain number. 
 
 Mr. Martindale, with many others, complained that he had not 
 opportunity given him to see the newly-modelled Prayer Book to 
 which his "assent and consent" were required before the time hmited 
 by the Act of Parliament had expired ; so that, if he had approved 
 of every word in the book, he could not, he said, as an honest man 
 have conformed to it. After his ejectment he was received as chap- 
 lain into the establishment of the first Lord Delamer, by whom he 
 was greatly esteemed. He was a great mathematician, as well as a 
 judicious di\ine. He kept a mathematical school at Warrington, and 
 afterguards at Dunham in Cheshire. He published several useful 
 works on mathematical subjects, some of which were much esteemed 
 by members of the Royal Society; and in theology he was author of 
 Divinity Knots Unloosed, and Truth and Peace Frofnoted. He was 
 buried at Rostherne, the scene of his former labours, in September 
 1686. The respectable clerical editor of his Autobiography, himself 
 now deceased, treats his memory with great tenderness and respect, 
 on account of the uprightness and transparency of his Christian 
 character. 
 
 Among these Nonconformist worthies in Cheshire, an incident, 
 which occurred to me more than fifty years ago, leads me to refer to
 
 440 Noncofifomiity in Cheshire. 
 
 the case of VLx. John Machin, whose labours in the ministry are 
 recorded to have been very abundant and useful both in Staffordshire 
 and Cheshire. An aged and very poor woman presented me with a 
 mutilated copy of Newcome's Life of Mr. Machin^ which she had 
 preserved for many years as a relic of him, knowing herself to be a 
 descendant of his. She could not, of course, have any remembrance 
 of himself ; but she gave me a very interesting account of his daughter, 
 who was her grandmother, as well as of the religious character of her 
 grandfather, and of the godly order observed in their family. Mr. 
 Machin was for some years minister at Astbury in this county; but, 
 not long before the passing of the Act of Uniformity, he had removed 
 to Whitley, also in Cheshire, from which place he was ejected. Mr. 
 Philip Henry has given him a leading place among the good men 
 kno\\'n to him, whose memories he has recorded. " Mr. John Machin," 
 he says, "was buried at Newcastle, September 4th, 1664, a worthy 
 " instrument of gospel work, laborious, faithful, and successful above 
 " his fellows, taken away in the midst of his days ; the first candle I 
 " have heard of put out by God among the many hundreds put under 
 " a bushel by man."* 
 
 Upon such an occasion as this it is worthy of being mentioned 
 that the two grandfathers of the Rev. John Wesley, both paternal and 
 maternal, were included in the number of the two thousand ministers 
 cast out, and were men of note among them. The manner in which 
 this is referred to by Dr. Adam Clarke, in his Memoirs of the Wesley 
 Family^ is worthy of notice. It is well knoA\Ti that Dr. Clarke was 
 sufficiently liberal, in his day and among his connections, on the 
 point of Conformity to the EstabUshed Church ; but, after giving an 
 abstract of the Act of Uniformity, and of the circumstances in which 
 the Nonconforming ministers were placed by it, he says, " For my 
 " own part, so far from being surprised that so great a number as two 
 " thousand and t^venty-five, according to Mr. Palmer's reckoning, 
 " were cast out of the church in one day, I am surprised that one 
 " learned or conscientious minister was found, on the requisitions of 
 " the Act, to retain the living." t 
 
 In another place Dr. Clarke says : — " But this (full and fair dis- 
 " cussion) was the farthest thing from the minds of the bishops. They 
 " were determined to yield nothing, but carry everything their own 
 
 * Life, page 284. f Memoirs, &c., page 14.
 
 Deanery of Frodsha')n. 441 
 
 " way ; and the easy King, intent on nothing but his sinful pleasures, 
 " made no remonstrance, bu,t permitted them to act as they pleased. 
 " The consequence was the true pastors of the flock were expelled 
 " from the fold, and hirelings, who cared more for the place and the 
 " pay than for the sheep, climbed over the wall and seized on flocks 
 " to which they had no right, either divine or human, and the people 
 " of God were either starved or scattered." 
 
 To the foregoing sketch but little remains to be added.* The 
 ancient towm of Knutsford became the usual place of assembly for 
 the Cheshire Association of Presbyterian and Congregational minis- 
 ters, in the latter half of the seventeenth and the early part of the 
 eighteenth centur}^ Unusual interest, therefore, attaches to our 
 memorials of this tOA\Ti. But, inasmuch as the Introduction to this 
 volume gives a full account of this Association' in its collective capa- 
 city, it will not be necessar}' to allude to these ministerial meetings 
 here. We shall simply attempt to fill up the preceding outline of the 
 growth of the Nonconformist places of worship at Knutsford.t 
 
 The parish of Rostherne originally included within itself the 
 chapelry of Knutsford ; but in 1741 this last mentioned place was 
 made a separate parish. In the year 1777 Knutsford numbered 375 
 families, and 1,674 inhabitants. In 1722 Bishop Gastrell computed 
 that there were 338 families resident here; of which seventy-four 
 formed the congregation at the Presbyterian meeting-house. 
 
 The ancient parochial chapel of Knutsford:|: had three Conformist 
 ministers, who were, more or less, Puritans and Presbyterians. Of 
 these ministers the first dates from 1640. He is thus described — 
 " Mr. Edward Bold — chosen ' minister of God's worde.' " To him 
 succeeded, in 1665, ^Mr. Robert Hunter, "minister of God's worde." 
 
 *The following supplement to the late Rev. J. Turner's sketch has been fur- 
 nished by the Rev. S. W. McAll, M.A., of ^lacclesfield. 
 
 •f For some particulars that immediately follow we are indebted to an interesting 
 little volume — Knutsford, its Traditions and History ; by the Rev. H. Green, 
 M.A. ; as well as to some MS. notes Mr. Green has kindly furnished. 
 
 X Bishop Bridgman suspended this chapel under the follomng circumstances. 
 A gentleman of ICnutsford, being fond of sport, caused a bear passing along the 
 street to be led into the chapel. The bishop no sooner heard of the chapel being 
 thus profaned by the bear, than he suspended it from being used for public worship, 
 and it remained long under this ecclesiastical censure. — Brook's Lives of the Puri- 
 tans — Thomas Paget. See also Paget' s Dejence.
 
 442 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 In 1662, Mr. Hunter at first refused to subscribe to the Book of 
 Common Prayer; but at length he conformed, and remained in office 
 till 1667, when he removed to Macclesfteld. Calamy says that he 
 died at Liverpool. In an ode composed by him in honour of Sir Peter 
 Leycester, and quoted by Mr. Green in his volume on Knutsford, 
 this Mr. Hunter signs himself — " Robertus Hunter, Knutsfordiensis 
 " Ecclesiae Pastor in Agro Cestrensi; Postea vero Maxfeldensis." 
 On Mr. Hunter's removal, Mr. Kettleby Turner was chosen 
 minister of the parochial chapel. He died in 1687. 
 
 Here we interrupt our narrative for a moment to revert to the 
 year 1646-7. In that year the following minute was passed relating 
 to the maintenance of the minister of Knutsford, who at that date was 
 probably Mr. Ralph Hall. " Att the Comitt®® for Plundered Ministers : 
 " Januarii 13**° Anno Dni. 1646. By vertue of an Order of both houses 
 " of Parhament of the second of May last, it is ordered that y* yearely 
 " summe of fforty pounds bee allowed and payd out of the Impropriate 
 " tythe corne of the rectory of Ffrodsham, in the county of Chester, 
 " sequestred from John, Earle Rivers, delinquent, to and for increase 
 " of the maintenance of such minister as this committ®^ shall approve 
 " off to officiate in the chappell of Knottesford, within the p**^ of 
 " Rosterne in the said county : the present maintenance belonging 
 " to the said chappell being but a stipend of fiive pounds sixe shil- 
 " lings eight pence p. ann. ; the to\vne of Knottesford being an ancient 
 " markett towne, and the said chappellry consisting of above two 
 " hundred famihes. And the sequestrators of the premises are 
 " required to allowe and pay the same accordingly, att such tymes 
 " and seasons of the yeare as the said tythe corne shall grow due and 
 " payable. " Har. Grlmstone."* 
 
 That Mr. Ralph Hall was pastor of Knutsford in 1 648 is evident 
 from his signature to the Cheshire Attestation. Whether or not he 
 immediately succeeded Mr, Bold does not appear. He removed 
 to a church in Staffordshire, at Mear, from which he was ejected in 
 1662 ; and subsequently he resided in Chester, in the account of 
 which city, in this volume, a further reference to him will be found. t 
 We have also to notice that, previously to the death of Mr. Turner, 
 there was another Nonconformist minister resident at Knutsford, Mr. 
 Peter Lee (or Leigh), who had been removed from his hving in 
 Chester. Of him, too, notice will be found elsewhere. J 
 
 * Record Office, Domestic Interregnum No. 287. + See Page 27. X Page 13.
 
 Deanery of FrodsJiam. 443 
 
 Up to the year 1687 the inhabitants of this towTi had the right of 
 choosing their own minister, as we learn, in part, from a remark of 
 Gastrell's, "minister chosen by the inhabitants, anno 1662." Mr. 
 Turner was thus elected, and while he lived he united in one the 
 various religious parties in the to^\^l. The Nonconformist section of 
 the community, unwilling to forsake him, continued to attend on his 
 ministry until he died. He is said to have been " a man of great 
 " simplicity and godly sincerity," one who " used to keep days of 
 " prayer with some of his hearers, inviting them to pray as well as 
 " himself, according to the way of the good old Puritans." 
 
 Upon the decease of Mr. Turner dissensions occurred as to the 
 choice of a successor. Mr. Tong \\Tites : — " Upon the death of Mr. 
 " Turner, which I think was not long before Mr. Henr}^ came to 
 " Chester, the to\^Ti of Knutsford was divided very much about the 
 " choice of another minister. Though there be a chapel in the town, 
 " and a church about half a mile out of town, they are in the parish 
 " of Rostheme. However, the inhabitants had been used to choose 
 " their own minister, and thought they had a legal as well as a Scrip- 
 " ture right to do so ; but some of the inhabitants that were for a 
 " greater strictness in the rituals of religion, and a greater liberty in 
 " morals than Mr. Tiumer had approved of, were very industrious to 
 " have a minister of their own temper, and rather than fail of their 
 " design they chose to give up all pretensions to the right of electing 
 " their minister, and applied themselves to the Bishop's Court about 
 " it. The case was somewhat intricate where the right of presentation 
 " lay, but at length the High Church party prevailed, and Mr. Holmes, 
 " who was chaplain to Lord Delamere, was fixed with them. He 
 " was a person of very good learning, and of sober conversation. 
 " His parents were Dissenters, but his judgment was for a very 
 " rigorous Conformity."* 
 
 From this point the Nonconformity of Knutsford has a history of 
 its o\\Ti. We shall allow Mr. Tong still to speak for himself, as the 
 first minister of the Nonconformist congregation. Speaking still of 
 Mr. Holmes, he says, " Many of the inhabitants that had never been 
 " Dissenters refused to own him as their minister, and joined nith 
 " others that had been always Dissenters in judgment, to set up a 
 " meeting and imdte a Dissenting minister to come and preach to 
 
 * Life of Henry, page 254.
 
 444 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " them. In this they were encouraged by several eminent Christians 
 " that Hved near that place, such as the pious widow of Colonel 
 " Venables of Wincham, Mr. Lee of Oughterton and his son at 
 " Ollerton, Mr. Brooks and Mr. Low of Chelford, Mr. Colthurst, 
 " Mrs. Ward of Caperthorne, Mr. Holland of Mobberley, Mr. Philip 
 " Wright and Mr. Randal Merril of Pever, Mr. Robert Kell, and 
 " several others, most of whom had been hearers of the Rev. Mr. 
 " Edge at Withington, and were some of the most eminent persons 
 " for religious knoAvledge and wisdom, for a spirit of prayer, for a 
 " true Christian temper and regular conversation that ever I had the 
 " happiness to be acquainted with. In this design of theirs to set 
 " up a meeting at Knutsford, they consulted the ministers of their 
 " acquaintance, and I received an invitation from them ; and by the 
 " advice of both Mr. Henr}'S — father and son — and Mr. Hervey of 
 " Chester, and particularly my kind friend Mr. Henthorn, who knew 
 " the place well and many of the people, and did not a little encourage 
 " their design, I adventured upon the work, though under some dis- 
 " couragements in my own mind from the great contentions there had 
 " been, and ^till were, in the town, in which I was loath to engage 
 " myself. I feared lest those that had not been Dissenters till on this 
 " occasion would not prove so steady or so regular as those that had 
 " been better instructed in the principles of Nonconformity ; but in 
 " all these things God was pleased to prevent us and to encourage us. 
 " We met with less opposition than we had expected, and with more 
 " success and comfort than we could promise ourselves; we had a full 
 " congregation; many young persons came in; we had great peace 
 " and love and unanimity amongst ourselves. The effects of former 
 " contentions began to cease, and the prejudices of the other side to 
 " abate; and I hope the valuable interests, not of party but of practical 
 " religion were promoted, and continue to be so to this day." * 
 
 The first Nonconformist chapel was opened in 1 689. Mr. William 
 ToNG did not remain long as its pastor. He left Knutsford in 1690, 
 and removed to Coventry. From there he removed again to London, 
 and became the intimate associate of Matthew Henry in the metro- 
 poHs. Of his own subsequent history we have but scanty knowledge. 
 This most excellent man has rendered himself chiefly known by his 
 Life of Matthew Henry; a book written with remarkable judgment 
 
 *Life of Henry, page 255.
 
 Deanery of Frodskam. 445 
 
 and good taste. The biographer obtrudes himself and his opinions 
 as Htde as possible, and leaves us longing to know more of him, as a 
 man of true Christian worth. On the occasion of Mr. Henry's visiting 
 London, in May 1698, Mr. Tong seems to have embraced the oppor- 
 tunity of Henry's passing through Sutton Colefield to request him to 
 preach at the meeting-house in this place. Here many ministers 
 from Birmingham and Coventry met him ; and after the service that 
 day Henry went on to Coventry, and thence the next day " his friend 
 *' Mr. T. went along with him to London." Who this friend was 
 there is no reasonable doubt ; and this appears to have been the 
 commencement of Tong's residence in London. On February 14th, 
 1704, Henry received a letter from " Mr. T.," earnestly inviting him 
 to make a journey to London that spring ; a request that the good 
 man complied with. 
 
 Mr. Tong's name appears, along with that of the Rev. James 
 Shower, appended to the " recommendation" that prefaced the first 
 volume of Matthew Henry's Commentary. The preface to the work 
 bears date " Chester, October 2nd, 1706;" and the recommendation, 
 or " epistle to the reader," bears date '• London, 31st October 1706." 
 At this time Mr. Tong was settled in the metropolis ; and when in 
 1 7 14 Henry set out from London for Chester, on his last journey 
 there, his biographer accompanied him, also on a journey to Coventry; 
 and parted with his much loved friend at S. Albans. They never 
 met again. The year 17 16 still found Mr. Tong in London; for his 
 Life of Matthew Henry is dated thence, and was published in the 
 year just named.* 
 
 Reverting now to Knutsford, the vacant pulpit there was supplied 
 by the Rev. Thomas Kynaston, who died, however, after a pastorate 
 of only five years. " January loth, 169^. It pleased God to remove 
 " by death the worthy Mr. Thomas Kynaston of Knutsford, at whose 
 " house we were wont to meet. He had not quite completed the 
 " thirtieth year of his age. He was one of very good parts, solid 
 
 * William Tong was born on the 24th June 1662, at Eccles in Lancashire, and 
 was educated for the law. He first met Matthew Henry at Gray's Inn, when the 
 friendship was formed which lasted through life. He entered Mr. Frankland's 
 academy at Natland March 2nd, 1680-1. When he left Knutsford he became the 
 successor of Dr. Grew at Coventry. In 1704 he succeeded the Rev. Nathanael 
 Taylor as minister of Salter's Hall, London. He was one of the " Subscribers" in 
 the controversy regarding the Trinity at Salter's Hall, and wrote an introduction to 
 the work by them published, entitled The Doctrine of the ever-blessed Trinity 
 stated and defended. He died March 21st, 1727, aged sixty-five years.
 
 446 Nonconforinity in Cheshire. 
 
 " judgment, a very profitable preacher, and of eminent humility, 
 " modesty, and sweetness of temper, and had been instrumental of 
 " much good at Knutsford, where he had been about five years." 
 Such is the allusion to his death in the Minute Book of the Classis. 
 Matthew Henry records, with unfeigned grief, his receiving of the 
 news of Mr. Kynaston's death; " a man younger than I (he says), but 
 " fitter for heaven." He was the son of Mr. Kynaston, minister of 
 Whitley Chapel, who, dying a young man, left his son Thomas a mere 
 child ; but friends were kind to the widow and her children, and, 
 after educating them, sent the eldest son — Thomas — to Dr. Frank- 
 land's academy at Natland, near Kendal, in 1681. After being there 
 for some years, Mr. Kynaston returned to Manchester and enjoyed 
 the ministry of Mr. Newcome for some time. "God gave him a humble, 
 " meek, honest disposition of soul, which, together with his ministerial 
 " gifts, made him a very acceptable person, beloved by his people, by 
 " his brethren in the ministry, and well spoken of by all men." He 
 died — " not full of days, but full of faith" — giving upon his deathbed 
 his hearty consent to that gospel covenant which he made the great 
 subject of his ministry. Such is the testimony to his character of one 
 who knew him well. 
 
 Upon Mr. Kynaston's death the church gave an invitation to the 
 Rev. Samuel Low, then settled at Chorlton. Being comfortably 
 fixed Avith his people, and doing much good, he was reluctant to leave 
 them, the more so as they were very unwilling to part with him. He, 
 however, took the advice of the ministerial association with which he 
 was connected, and upon their recommendation he accepted the 
 invitation he had received. These brethren ground their recommen- 
 dation upon the fact that there was a larger sphere of usefulness at 
 Knutsford than at Chorlton; and they advise that in three months 
 they should remove. He died of a fever at Knutsford on April 19th, 
 1709. He seems to have been a good scholar and an excellent 
 preacher. His funeral seimon was preached by Matthew Henry, who 
 thus refers to the service: — "On the 21st [April], I went early to 
 " Knutsford, to Mr. Low's funeral ; a faithful minister, aged about 
 " thirty-nine, of whom the world was not worthy. He had been 
 " about thirteen years at Knutsford. I find him universally lamented. 
 " He greatly recommended himself by a dispassionate temper of 
 " mind. He was buried in the meeting-place. I preached on the 
 " sad occasion from John xii. 35, Yet a little while is the light with 
 " yoii. Walk while ye have the light."
 
 Deanery of Frodsham. 447 
 
 In May 1709, the Rev. Thomas Lea, then at Upton, was chosen- 
 as Mr. Low's successor. He commenced his ministry in August of 
 the same year. Mr. Tong, referring to Knutsford as the place of 
 meeting of the Classis, adds these words — "• where, after two worthy 
 " young ministers, Mr. Kynaston and Mr. Low, their present minister, 
 " Mr. Lee, is, with faithfulness and diligence, watching for their souls." 
 From other references to Mr. Lea we may gather that he was much 
 respected — a useful and consistent minister of the gospel. In 17 15 
 he had five hundred hearers, of whom eighteen were gentlemen and 
 seventy-seven had votes for the county. Mr, Lea died May 17th, 
 
 I733-* 
 
 During the next two years the church invited to the pastorate, 
 first, Mr. Chorley, and then Dr. Clegg ; but both of these gentlemen 
 declined the invitation they had received. In 1735 we find the name 
 of the Rev. John Turner as minister of this chapel. Before coming 
 to Knutsford, Mr. Turner lived at Preston. When there, he and 
 many of his congregation joined the army under General Willis, on 
 the occasion of the breaking out of the Rebelhon in 17 15. On 
 November 13th in that year. Generals Willis and Carpenter met the 
 forces of the Pretender at Preston, and obliged them to surrender at 
 discretion. Mr. Turner was firmly attached to the principles of the 
 Revolution ; and on this occasion rendered such material service to 
 General Willis that he was publicly thanked by the general, in the 
 presence of the whole army. This we learn upon the authority of a 
 notice of Mr. Turner in the Congregational Magazine, in October 1820. 
 
 Of this good man's ministry in Cheshire we know nothing. He 
 died on October 12th, 1737. His successor was the Rev. Thomas 
 CoLTHURST. He died January 27th, 173^ We find a passing 
 allusion to him in the diary of Mrs. Savage, the sister of Matthew 
 Henr)' : — "1739, Monday, February 12. I hear of the death of 
 " Mr. Colthurst, minister at Knutsford. Surely a pubhc loss. An 
 " upright, charitable man." 
 
 In 1739, the Rev. Robert Lord was chosen pastor of the now 
 vacant church. He retained his position for about fifty years, removing 
 at length to Nottingham. Mr. Lord was in sentiment a Socinian. 
 Under his ministry the Association of Presbyterian and Independent 
 Ministers was broken up. The succession of ministers from his day 
 
 ♦Seepage 88.
 
 44^ Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 to the present time at the old chapel — now held by the Unitarian 
 congregation — is as follows : — 
 
 1790-1795. Rev. Theophilus Harris — emigrated to the United 
 States. 
 
 1 7 95-1 809. Rev. Philip George Davis — died April 5th, 1809. 
 
 1810-1819. Rev. John Smethurst — removed from Knutsford. 
 
 1 820-1 8 2 6. Rev. Joseph Ashton — removed to Halifax. 
 
 In 1827 the Rev. Henry Green, M.A., the present minister, 
 entered upon the pastorate of the church. 
 
 Knutsford Independent Chapel. 
 
 The Independent Chapel at Knutsford originated in 1770; when 
 persons attached to Evangelical truth met together in private houses 
 and read semions on tlie Sabbath Day. At length, through the exer- 
 tions of Captain Scott, meetings for worship were held more statedly ; 
 and in 1803 a small chapel was erected by a friend at his o^vn expense. 
 This place was soon enlarged ; and from the first the church formed 
 in this new place of worship has enjoyed the pastoral oversight of the 
 venerable and much honoured man who has, in the preceding pages, 
 given his personal reminiscences of his early ministry. 
 
 And now, since a large portion of the present volume has been in 
 the press, the Rev. James Turner himself has, " in a good old age," 
 been "gathered to His people." Faithful to the ministry which he 
 had "received in the Lord," he has entered into the promised rest ; 
 whilst we, whom he has left behind, and who have watched his manner 
 of life, and how he was ever " serving the Lord with all humility of 
 " mind," would glorify God on his behalf 
 
 So far as Mr. Turner's life — quiet and unobtrusive as it was — sup- 
 plies the materials for a biographical sketch, we cannot do better 
 than reproduce here, with some slight changes, a notice of the late 
 minister of the Independent Church at Knutsford, which appeared 
 in the Macclesfield Courier of May 30, 1863. 
 
 " When for the long period of sixty years a minister has been 
 " before the same congregation, in earnestness and integrity of purpose 
 " fulfilling the duties of his station — death alone temiinating his service 
 " in his blessed Master's cause — it is with more than common feeUngs 
 " of respect we take note of his departure from this earthly scene. 
 " His sphere of usefulness may not have been wide, nor his talents
 
 Dea'nery of Ffodskam. 449 
 
 " commanding, nor his outward success remarkable ; yet the unob- 
 " trusive and steady carr}dng out of the true purposes of the Christian 
 " ministry, where Divine Providence first placed him, has a record in 
 " the hearts of those who knew him, and a far nobler record on high. 
 " He has done good work from morning dawTi until evening shade ; 
 " though he has observed, to the very letter, the resolution of the 
 " Shunamite, ' I dwell among mine o^\^l people.' 
 
 " How many changes has he not seen and experienced even in the 
 " small community among whom his life has been spent ? Probably 
 ".there is not one remaining of those who, in 1802, heard his first 
 " sermon, in Knutsford, declaring the Gospel of the grace of God. 
 " The people who then gathered around him have departed to the 
 " keeping of the righteous Creator, many of them supported by the 
 " consolations which he well knew how to administer. His own turn, 
 " in God's appointment, has come for descending into the dark valley 
 " of the shadow of death ; where, we doubt not, he found the same 
 " refuge and solace which he had so faithfully set before others. 
 
 "Mr. Turner was born at Shaw, near Oldham, in March, 1782 ; 
 " and his first occupation in life was as an apprentice to a bookseller 
 " in Manchester. His fondness for study, and his decidedly religious 
 " turn of mind, led him, before his apprenticeship was over, to place 
 " himself under the care of the Rev. William Roby, of Manchester, 
 " who conducted a very useful Institution for preparing young men 
 " for the Christian ministry. While a student here, in December 1802, 
 " he preached his first sermon in Knutsford ; and the Independent 
 " interest was kept up for five or six years in the town by himself and 
 " his fellow students. ^Ir. Roby's academy was discontinued ere long, 
 " and Mr. Turner became a student at Rotherham College, under Dr. 
 " WilHams and the Rev. Maurice Phillips. Whilst at Rotherham, he 
 " received an invitation to Carlisle, which he declined, and one to 
 " Knutsford, which he accepted. 
 
 " He entered on his stated ministry in 1808 ; from which time 
 " Knutsford continued to be the centre of his labours. During the 
 " same period, also, he had charge of the Independent congregation 
 " in Mobberley : and, until increased infirmities prevented him, he 
 " was regular in the discharge of his duties. A year or two previous 
 " to his death, he nominally resigned the pastorate ; but as no suc- 
 " cesser had been chosen, he may be regarded as really the pastor of 
 " these churches till death gave him release. 
 
 E2
 
 450 Nonco7iformity m Cheshire. 
 
 " For twenty-four years he was the local secretary of the British 
 " and Foreign Bible Society ; and for upwards of twenty years, secre- 
 " tary to the Cheshire Union of Independent Ministers and Churches. 
 " He also continued almost to the last to be one of the managers of 
 " the Knutsford Savings Bank. His judgment and clearness of mind 
 " were not unfrequently made use of in private business ; and great 
 " confidence was, on this ground, reposed in him. 
 
 " He died on Friday May 22nd, 1863, after a few weeks' illness — 
 " if illness that can be called in which nature's poAvers have gradually 
 " decayed from eighty-one years of exercise. The boundary of this 
 " human life had been reached, and God's servant sank to his rest. 
 " May we be as uncomplaining and hopeful as he was under many 
 " difficulties, and, like him, find joy and peace in believing." 
 
 Mr. Turner was buried at the parish church at Knutsford, on 
 Thursday, May 28th, amidst demonstrations of respect from all classes 
 of society. The Rev. Richard Alliott, B. A., is the present minister. 
 
 Baptist Chapel, Millington. 
 
 A chapel was erected here for the Particular Baptists in 1759. 
 The first minister who officiated here was Mr. Thomason, who left in 
 1766 ; he was succeeded by Mr. Isaac Cheetham. He remained till 
 his death, in 1800. After this the congregation depended upon the 
 occasional ministrations of Mr. Thomas Aked, of Halifax, who came 
 a distance of forty miles, once a month, to preach and administer the 
 ordinance of the Lord's Supper. Mr. John Chetham occupied the 
 pulpit on the intermediate Sundays. In course of time he was invited 
 to become the settled minister of the place. This offer was accepted, 
 and Mr. Chetham remained with his people till his death, in 18 19. 
 The chapel has been supplied with some irregularity since then ; 
 preaching is still carried on there, and the chapel is kept in good 
 order. 
 
 FRODSHAM. 
 
 Walker names Rowland Haywood, D.D., as " persecuted, harrassed, 
 " and thereby driven from this living," about the year 1 645. " He lived 
 " to see the Restoration, but did not return to his parish. His first
 
 Deanery of Frodsham. 451 
 
 " successor was a Presbyterian, and the next an Anabaptist, ot\q James 
 " Cockayne, who quitted it at the Restoration, leaving most of the parish 
 " either of his own persuasion or the Quakers."* The name of the 
 Presbyterian who was appointed in place of Dr. Haywood, was 
 Samuel Bo\\t)en, who signed the Attestation of Cheshire Mmisters 
 in 1648. He was ejected for refusing the Engagement, and was suc- 
 ceeded by James Cockayne, a Baptist minister, who was ejected in 
 1660. Dr. Rowland Hay^-ood was then reinstated, but resigned in 
 favour of Theophilus Cooke, A.M., who was instituted to the rectory 
 May 20th, 1 66 1. 
 
 During the Interregnum this living was sequestered from Earl 
 Rivers, in whose possession it had been ; and in the minutes of the 
 Committee for Plundered Ministers there is an entry to the eflfect that 
 " 25/. from Frodsham, sequestered from Earl Rivers, be paid to the 
 " maintenance of John Pemberton the younger, minister of the parish 
 " chiurch of Whitegate."t The castle of Frodsham was destroyed by 
 fire in 1654, the dead body of John Earl of Rivers then lying in it. 
 
 In the year 1648, Henry Newcome preached at Alvandley Chapel, 
 in this parish, for several weeks together, probably through the 
 influence of the Ardem's, who then resided there. J The Quakers were 
 numerous in the parish, and George Fox occasionally \'isited them. 
 Bishop Gastrell notes two Dissenting meeting-houses in Frodsham 
 parish : one belonging to the Quakers, the other to the Presbyterians. 
 
 General Baptist Chapel, Kingsley. 
 
 Matthew Henry, while minister of Crook-street Chapel, Chester, 
 was wont occasionally to preach a reformation sermon at Frodsham. 
 He notes in his Diar}' : "August 9, 1709. Went to Frodsham, preached 
 " on Ecclesiastes ix. 10; an encouraging auditory; dined at Mrs. 
 " Banner's. March 14, 17 10. Preached the lecture at Frodsham on 
 " Psalm iv. i. September 12. Preached the lecture at Frodsham on 
 " Psalm iv. 2 ; expounded Matthew xii. ; called of Sam. Bennet, not 
 "well; complaints of Mr. John Wood, their minister. August 14, 
 " 17 1 1. Went to Frodsham, preached on Psalm iv. 5 ; met with Mr. 
 " Dutton. October 9. Went to Frodsham, expounded John v. ; 
 
 * Sufferings of the Clergy, part ii., in loc. 
 
 t Record Office, Domestic Interregnum, 286. 
 
 + Newcome's Autobiography, page 1 1 .
 
 452 N O7iconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " preached on Psalm iv. 6, 7." These entries indicate the existence 
 of a Nonconformist congregation in this place, with a stated minister; 
 and it is probable that this was the beginning of the church at 
 Kingsley, which is in Frodsham parish. Mr. Joseph Mottershed, 
 afterwards minister at Nantwich, preached at Kingsley, while a candi- 
 date for the ministry, from 17 10 to 17 12. He was succeeded by Mr. 
 Thomas Holland, son of Mr. John Holland, of Mobberley, who had 
 been educated by the Rev. Mr. Cunningham, of Manchester, and who 
 was examined, approved, and allowed to preach as a candidate by 
 Matthew Henry and Mr. Murrey of Chester, in 1 7 1 1 . Mr. T. Holland 
 was ordained in August 17 14, and in 17 15 he had one hundred hearers 
 at Kingsley, thirty of whom had votes for the county.* He removed 
 to Ware in Shropshire, in 17 17, and was succeeded at Kingsley by the 
 Rev. Thomas Valentine. Mr. Valentine was ordained at Knutsford 
 5th May, 17 19, together with Mr. Edward Thornton. The evening 
 before, they read their theses. Mr. Thornton's question was, An reaius 
 primae transgressionis in se posteris Adatni ifnputattir ? Affirmative. 
 Mr. Valentine's was, An jusiiiia quae coram Deo siibsistimus sit justitia 
 Christi Mediator is ? Affirmative. Afterw^ards in a numerous assembly 
 of ministers and people, met together in the new chapel, they were 
 both solemnly set apart for the office and work of the ministry, t Mr. 
 Valentine continued at Kingsley till 1731, when he removed to 
 Blackley Chapel, Lancashire, where he laboured in the midst of poverty 
 till his death, in i755.| David Herbert, the next minister, was 
 ordained in 1732, and remained at Kingsley six years, when a severe 
 censure was passed upon him by the Cheshire ministers, who for a 
 time excluded him from their society. In 1738, Mr. John Phillips 
 was ordained as minister of Kingsley. He died January i8th, 1761, 
 aged forty-eight years. John Forest, from Warrington Academy, fol- 
 lowed; but he died here, very young, in 1762. The next minister was 
 the Rev. James Green, who removed to Northwich, in 1764, and was 
 followed here by the Rev. John Clough. He is said to have kept a 
 school. After him came Edward Astbury, who, in 1 808, collected 
 82/. to rebuild the chapel, and was still the minister in 1820, since 
 which date we have no account of the place. 
 
 * Josiah Thompson's MSS., Dr. Williams's Library, 
 t Cheshire Minute Book. t Booker's History of Blackley Chapel, page 97.
 
 Deanery of Frodsham. 453 
 
 GRAPPENHALL.* 
 
 Grappenhall is situated some two miles from Warrington, and was 
 the property of the same Osbem who owned one moiety of Lymm at 
 the Conquest. The Rev. William Seddon, M. A., a RoyaHst clergyman, 
 who had been obliged to leave Chester and Eastham,t obtained 
 the presentation of this living — vacant by the death of the former rector, 
 the Rev. Ralph Richardson — through Mr. Brotherton of Lancashire, 
 who " freely tendered it to him, and persuaded him with all secrecy and 
 " expedition to post up to the Commissioners, or Triers, or ministers, 
 " which accordingly my father did;" — the account purports to be his 
 son's — " and upon examination was by them approved and recommended 
 " to the rectory of Grapenhall, a parsonage worth about 1 20/. per 
 " annum. J Here he settled and fixed himself, well accepted and beloved 
 " by his parishioners, so that he had time to re-collect his dispersed 
 " family and enjoy a calm. But this could not be durable ; he was soon 
 " haunted with the old rumours of a dangerous delinquent, a malignant, 
 " &c., and at last with a moral assurance that one Major Brooks, 
 " a Parliament officer (whose malice he had formerly experienced), 
 "■ intended shortly to seize and apprehend him ; which caused him for 
 " a time to abscond, and afterwards (upon overt attempt made upon 
 " him) to fly into Lancashire. A new rector, one Mr. Bradshaw, a 
 " rigid Presbyterian, was put in ; whether appointed by the com- 
 " missioners or usurpation I know not. Presently, upon the Resto- 
 " ration, he ejected Bradshaw again, who, though a rigid Presbyterian, 
 " yet then trimmed, and got another benefice called Ly7?i, in Cheshire, 
 " where I think he died.§ And my father, being restored to the 
 " rectory of Grapnall, re-settled himself and his family in the Parsonage 
 *' House there, where he and my mother — the constant partner of his 
 *'' sufferings — aged each of them about seventy, departed this life in 
 ■" one month, and lie buried both in one grave in the chancel there, 
 " 1671." 
 
 * The notices of Grappenhall, Lymm, and Warburton, are furnished by Joseph 
 Thompson, Esq., of Bowdon. 
 
 t See page 70. 
 
 X The same vahie is set upon it by Bishop Gaslrell, in Notitia Cestriensis, vol. i., 
 page 333 ; the able editor, Canon Raines, gives its value in 1834 at 542/. 
 
 § Ormerod places Bradshaw among the rectors of Lymm, but without date ; 
 he takes no notice of him as rector of Grappenhall.
 
 454 No7iconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 With the close of this chequered Hfe Nonconformist history' 
 almost ended in Grappenhall. Omierod does not mention Seddon's 
 early installation to the living, but at the close of his predecessor's 
 career, states that William Seddon became rector, the living having 
 been presented by the King "by lapse," i8th September 1661. He 
 held it till his death in 167 1. 
 
 In 1 7 12 a school was built by the town, and endowed by Mr. 
 Thomas Johnson, an7io 1627, with lands at Appleton of the value of 
 1 2/. 1 2s. per annum.* Gastrell's account differs somewhat from this. 
 " Here is a school, built at y* expense of y® town, an. 17 15, and not 
 " yet endowed, only 3/. per annum, which was given some time ago 
 " to a school when there should be any other provision, and in y^ mean- 
 " time to y* Parish Church." 
 
 Of the sixty families in Gastrell's time,t three only were Noncon- 
 formists. 
 
 LYMM. 
 
 The village of Lymm lies about equi-distant between Altrincham — six 
 miles to the east — and Warrington to the west. It possesses consi- 
 derable natural beauty, being situated on an elevation of sandstone, 
 from which extensive views can be obtained. The river Dane, banked 
 up at the entrance to the village, has quite the appearance of a lake ; 
 from this point it is frequently broken into pretty cascades, and takes 
 its course between lofty sandstone rocks, covered with moss, lichen, 
 and fern, till it has passed through the village, and meanders among 
 the meadows on its way to the Mersey. 
 
 The parish church is of ancient origin, " a very ancient parish 
 " church, dedicated to the Virgin Mary," says Sir P. Leycester, who 
 also adds, " here hath been a church before the Norman Conquest." 
 The parish is divided into two moieties, one of which was held by 
 Gilbert Venables, and the other by Osborne, son of Tezzon. The 
 singular custom prevails still of two rectors being appointed by the 
 lords of the manor : " So that either lord had one-half of the church : 
 " and so at this day are two parsons presented to Limme, who supply 
 " the ministry there alternis vicibus, one one Sunday and the other the 
 next Sunday after, and so by course. J The notices of Nonconformity 
 
 * Lyson's Cheshire, page 665. f Vol. i., page 2)2)i- 
 
 X Ormerod's Cheshire, vol. i., page 433.
 
 Deanery of Frodsham. 455 
 
 at Lymm are but few. Calamy says that the Rev. John Shaw, M.A., 
 aftenvards Nonconformist minister of Hull, was presented to this 
 living by Sir W. Brereton in 1643, and held it two years. "Walker, 
 in his Sufferings of the Clergy, alludes to Thomas Br.a.dshaw, a Presby- 
 terian, who, under the influence of the ruling powers, ejected the 
 rector of Grappenhall, and, being dispossessed in turn at the Resto- 
 ration, conformed, and retired to Lymm. His name is given by 
 Ormerod as rector under the Leigh moiety, somewhere between 
 1662 — 1670 ; but no precise date is mentioned, nor the name of the 
 patron. 
 
 Nonconformity continued after this ; for Bishop Gastrellt records a 
 Presbyterian meeting-house as being there, also a Presbyterian family. 
 
 In November 18 19 the Baptist meeting-house in Cherry Lane was 
 opened. In September 1850 the pretty stone Baptist chapel, situated 
 on the Altrincham Road, was opened. This chapel owes its erection 
 mainly to the late Thomas Ridgway, Esq., of Beech wood, who gave 
 the land and building materials, and also a large sum of money towards 
 the erection. The Rev. Isaac Ridgway is the present minister. 
 
 Congregational Chapel, Lymm. 
 
 In April 1859 the Cheshire Congregational Union held its annual 
 meeting at Macclesfield, when a small committee was formed, con- 
 sisting of the ministers at Bovvdon and Sale, and half-a-dozen laymen; 
 and it was determined to begin preaching at Lymm, both on account 
 of the present large population in the neighbourhood, and because it 
 was expected that the locahty would ultimately become a fashionable 
 place of residence. In August of the same year, a large upper room, 
 kindly lent by G. C. Dewhurst, Esq., was opened for preaching by 
 Professor Newth, of the Lancashire Independent College. The cause 
 progressed, and the Rev. R. Bertram was chosen as pastor of the 
 place. He resigned in the spring of 1863, and in the December 
 following the Rev. Joseph Kightley accepted the pastorate. After 
 considerable delay, a most eligible site of land was secured from 
 Mr. Dewhurst (to whom the committee were indebted for many acts 
 of kindness), in the best part of Lymm. Mr. Walters of Manchester 
 was called in as architect, and the present beautiful chapel, built of 
 
 t Notitia Cestriensis, voL i., page 335.
 
 456 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 stone, in the early English style, was opened May 21st, 1863, when 
 the Rev. H. Stowell Brown of Liverpool preached in the morning, 
 from Romans i. 14 — 17, and the Rev. Professor Newth preached at 
 night. 
 
 The chapel, with heating, gas, railing, &c., cost 2,500/. It is 
 expected that the schools (not yet commenced) will cost 800/., and 
 half the chief rent, 400/., making a total of 3,700/. Towards this 
 500/. have been received as the proceeds of the sale of Park Gate 
 Chapel to the Presbyterians ; 600/. from the Bicentenary Committee ; 
 and 342/. raised by friends. The amounts promised on the day of 
 opening reached 640/, and it is fully expected that the remaining debt 
 upon the chapel will be wiped off. 
 
 WARBURTON. 
 
 The only notice of Warburton, as a centre of Nonconformity, is 
 that given by Calamy,* where he says : — " The Rev. Joshua Barnet, 
 " ejected from Rockadym (Wrockwardine) in Shropshire, after his 
 " ejectment, removed into Cheshire some years before his death, and 
 " preached publicly in the Parish Church of Warburton, but he never 
 " conformed ; that place being exempt from episcopal jurisdiction. 
 " He was a personable man, of considerable abilities, and a pleasing 
 " preacher. He died very much lamented." 
 
 During the summer of 1861 some of the Congregationalists of 
 Bowdon began to preach here on Sabbath evenings. " The common 
 " people heard them gladly," and were anxious for them to continue ; 
 they were, however, afraid to let their cottages for preaching, and the 
 effort had to be discontinued. 
 
 RUNCORN. 
 
 Ephraim Elcock signed the Cheshire Attestation as pastor of Run- 
 corn in 1648. He was probably father of the person of the same 
 name who was a pupil of Adam Martindale's son,t and who was 
 afterwards master of the Free School at Tarvin, and curate to Dr. 
 
 * Vol. iii., page 150. + Martindale's Autobiography, page 192.
 
 Demiery of Frodsham. 457 
 
 Arderne at Thornton. Ephraim Elcock did not hold the Hving of 
 Runcorn till the Restoration. He was succeeded by Thomas Breck, 
 who was probably ejected in 1662, and the living was presented to 
 William Finmore, archdeacon of Chester. 
 
 Bishop Gastrell tells us that in his time there were seven families 
 of Dissenters in this parish — two Presbyterian, two Quaker, and 
 three Anabaptist. 
 
 Independent Chapel, Runcorn.* 
 
 Some time during the year 1829, about six persons assembled 
 together in a house in Runcorn for prayer and other religious exercises. 
 In a short time their number increased, and attracted the observation 
 of a person named Mr. William Pennington, who had property in the 
 neighbourhood, and who offered to build a chapel for them if they 
 would undertake the instruction of the children in that part of the 
 town on the Sabbath Day. His kind offer was gratefully accepted, 
 and soon after the chapel called S. Luke's was erected in Pennington's 
 Row, with the schoolrooms attached to it, and the whole, together 
 with a piece of land opposite — originally designed for a burial ground — 
 was given over in trust. The neighbouring ministers encouraged the 
 little flock by occasionally preaching for them. Pecuniary aid was also 
 rendered by the County Unions, and especially by John Tomkinson, 
 Esq., then of Liverpool, who had quarries in the vicinity of Runcorn, 
 and was engaged in large building operations, having been contractor 
 for the erection of the Liverpool Custom House, S. George's Hall, &c. 
 
 The Rev. J. Robinson, from Airedale College, commenced his 
 ministry in this chapel on the ist of January 1832. A church, 
 according to the views of the Independent denomination of Protes- 
 tant Dissenters, was formed on the 27th of the following June. The 
 ministers named as having taken part in the services on the occasion 
 are the Revs. Job Wilson of Northwich, J. Kelly and J. Widows 
 of Liverpool, and Millard of Wigan. Mr. Tomkinson afterwards 
 purchased a very eligible site in High-street, on which he reared 
 an excellent chapel for the congregation, capable of conveniently 
 accommodating seven hundred persons, at an expense to himself of 
 nearly 6,000/. To this, which was named Bethesda Chapel, the 
 
 * Furnished by the Rev. A. Howson of Runcorn.
 
 45 8 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 congregation removed on the 29th of September 1835, when the 
 ordination of Mr. Robinson to the j)astorate took place. The 
 ministers who officiated were the same as had been engaged at the 
 formation of the church, with the exception of Mr. Millard, and the 
 addition of the Revs. Dr. Raffles of Liverpool, John Ely of Leeds, 
 and G. B. Kidd of Macclesfield. Mr. Robinson resigned in the 
 summer of 1839, and became pastor of a church at West Haughton 
 in Lancashire. The next minister chosen was the Rev. S. Hillyard, 
 then of Elstead, Surrey. He commenced his stated labours at Run- 
 corn on the 29th of March 1840, and resigned in July 1843. Ii^ 
 course of time he settled at Bedworth in Warwickshire, Avhere he 
 still resides. The Rev. R. B. Blakehurst of Rotherham College, 
 was next chosen. He soon displayed a leaning to the Established 
 Church, and after a pastorate of about a year he left in February 
 1845, and subsequently became a minister in the Establishment. In 
 the following June the Rev. Andrew Thomas of Glasgow University 
 accepted an invitation to the pastorate. He was ordained on July 
 2nd, 1845, resigned in October 1846, and afterwards went to America. 
 These frequent changes were unfavourable to the advancement of 
 the church and congregation. 
 
 On January 3rd, 1847, the Rev. J. L Jesson, who had been 
 driven by French persecution from the island of Tahiti, South Pacific, 
 entered on his charge as pastor. Within a year and a half a 
 change took place in Mr. Tomkinson's affairs, and the chapel not 
 having been placed in trust, as he had fully intended, a demand of 
 1,200/. was made upon the property, which, ere it could be met, by 
 the accumulation of interest and other expenses, had increased to 
 more than 1,500/. The committee of the Lancashire Chapel Building 
 Society having been made acquainted with the state of matters, 
 offered 700/. toward the liquidation of this sum on condition that the 
 congregation would exert themselves to raise the rest. Meanwhile 
 Mr. Jesson continued his ministry for about six years and a half, and 
 resigned it in June 1853. Although there had been a considerable 
 increase in members during the former part of his pastorate, yet, in 
 consequence of some unpleasant circumstances which occurred towards 
 its close, there was a serious falling off, and the church remained 
 without a pastor for about two years; then the Rev. W. H. Mann, of 
 the Lancashire Independent College, having been invited, com- 
 menced his ministry on July 21st, 1855. In the spring of 1857 the
 
 Deanery of Frodsham. 459 
 
 long continued eflforts of the congregation to remove the incumbrance 
 on the chapel, and to have it properly placed in trust, were crowned 
 with success. On the 17th November 1858 Mr. Mann resigned his 
 charge, being about to remove to the pastorate of Mill Hill Chapel, 
 Blackburn. 
 
 The following year the Rev. A. Howson, then of Hartlepool, 
 Durham, accepted an invitation, and began his stated ministry Novem- 
 ber 6th, 1859. Towards the close of i860 the erection of a new 
 schoolroom upon a piece of land behind the chapel, which had been 
 reserved for that purpose, was projected. The contract was taken 
 for 400/. The room was opened in October 1861, when, through 
 the liberality of friends, the pastor had the gratification to announce 
 the receipt of a sufficient amount to cover the expenditure, and a 
 considerable surplus toward the expense of furnishing. The next 
 year the schoolrooms at S. Luke's Chapel were converted into a 
 comfortable cottage, and the chapel itself, which had become much 
 delapidated, was refloored and otherwise improved. It is regarded 
 as an out-station. Sabbath school is held in it, and meetings for 
 worship on Sunday and Thursday evenings. Both chapels are regis- 
 tered as the property of the Independents, and the deeds are deposited 
 in the muniment room of the Lancashire Independent College. 
 
 HILL CLIFFE. 
 
 (By the Rev. Joseph Tywell of Stockport.) 
 
 The oldest Baptist church in the county, and probably the oldest in 
 England, is that at Hill Cliffe, about two miles from Warrington. 
 Whether this church was actually the first organised body of Baptists 
 in the country it is impossible to affirm, for so early as 1457 there 
 were articles of indictment brought against persons reported to have 
 been members of the church at Chesterton near Cambridge, in which 
 they are charged with the " heresy" of believing that " a child does 
 " not need and ought not to be baptized." But whether there was a 
 church at that early date at Chesterton is doubtful, or rather it is not 
 yet proved. If there were it has long since disappeared, and but 
 little now is known of such a body beyond some vague floating tradi- 
 tions. But it is different with the church at Hill Cliffe, which has
 
 460 Nonconfor7nity in Cheshire. 
 
 maintained a continuous existence from a very early date, and is the 
 mother church of the Baptists in Liverpool, Warrington, Little Leigh, 
 and Cherry Lane, in the parish of Lymm. Tradition gives it an 
 existence prior to the Reformation, and it is ascertained that a Mr. 
 Weyerburton, a person of property and a devoted man, was its 
 recognized minister; that he remained with the people to the end of 
 his days; and that he died in the year 1594. This fact being beyond 
 doubt, there is at least a probability that the church was, at any rate, 
 coeval with the Reformation, which may be said to have taken place 
 in 1529.* The Rev. Francis Turner was minister somewhat more 
 than a centur}^ ago. During his ministry the Baptist Church at 
 Liverpool was formed ; the members of which had till that time been 
 members at Hill Clifife, whence they were regularly dismissed to 
 Liverpool. The next name, which occurs without date, is that of the 
 Rev. John Heyes, to whom succeeded Mr. Hall, and to him Mr. 
 Harper, who, becoming erroneous in his sentiments, was ejected at 
 a very considerable expense to the people. The place was shut up 
 about seven years after Mr. Harper's removal, but was re-opened in 
 August 1792, by the Rev. John Thompson, who continued in the 
 pastoral office at Hill Cliffe from that time till the year 1820, when, 
 on account of his advanced age and increasing infirmities, John 
 SwiNTON and James Bradford were ordained co-pastors. John 
 Thompson died November 1825. John Swinton died October 1825. 
 James Bradford died February 1830. Enoch Lloyd became pastor 
 of the church in 1830, and left in 1834, and the church was much 
 unsettled for several years after his removal, though the people did 
 not remain long without a successor to their last minister, for, in 1835, 
 the Rev. William Jones succeeded to the pastorate, but left in Sep- 
 tember 1838. The present pastor, the Rev. A. Kenworthy, settled 
 at Hill Cliffe in 1839. The church consists of about one hundred 
 members. The original place of worship was long and narrow, 
 measuring forty-eight feet by eighteen, but in 1801 it was widened 
 twelve feet. The freehold, which was purchased at a very early date, 
 is about four hundred yards in depth, and one hundred yards wide in 
 the broadest part, and comprehends altogether the meeting-house, a 
 burying-ground eighty-four yards by twenty-five, occupied with tombs 
 and gravestones, and a large plot of pasture land. Some of the 
 
 * History of the Midland Association, page 163. See also atitc, page 403.
 
 Deanery of Frodsham. 461 
 
 tombstones are dated as far back as 1523. A few years ago the 
 present minister had a pulpit Bible and the pastor's walking-stick, 
 alike bearing the date 1638. They are now in the possession of 
 Dr. Kendrick of Warrington. In earlier times Hill Cliflfe was a very 
 secluded spot, and probably this was the reason why it was selected 
 by the Baptists, for it offered a retreat from the observation of enemies 
 where they could worship God in agreement with their own princi- 
 ples ; yet much persecution at times was endured by them, and some 
 even suffered death itself 
 
 DARESBURY. 
 
 This is a chapelry in Runcorn parish, wherein the Rev. Robert 
 Eaton* laboured during the Commonwealth, and whence he was 
 ejected in the year 1662. He was a son of the Rev. Robert Eaton 
 of Great Budworth, and was educated at Cambridge, and lived after 
 his ejectment in Manchester, and preached to a congregation in 
 Prestwich parish, where they built him a handsome chapel. He was 
 a solid divine, a good scholar, and a judicious Christian, of great 
 moderation and exemplary in his behaviour. He died at Manchester 
 in August 1 70 1. 
 
 Regarding Thelwall Chapel, in the same parish. Bishop Gastrell 
 says that it was " domestic to the family of the Pickerings. No service 
 " in it for twenty years past (17 17). Uncertain report of some legacy 
 " left to it. Presbyterians endeavoured to get it, but Mr. Pickering 
 " would not suffer them."+ Gastrell also mentions a Quaker meeting- 
 house at Daresbury, with about twenty-three meeters. George Fox 
 was wont to visit this neighbourhood in his travels, and had some 
 warm friends here. 
 
 WEAVERHAM. 
 
 In 1 64 1 the rectory of Weaverham was in the possession of Peter 
 Warburton, Esq., of Cheshire, and worth 140/. per annum.;}: Heffer- 
 ston Grange, the residence of the Warburtons, was close by. Matthew 
 
 *The name is given Roger Eaton in the Morrice MSS., Red Cross-street 
 Library, London. 
 
 f Notitia Cestriensis, vol. i., page 358. + Lambeth MSS.
 
 462 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 Henry, having married Mary, daughter of Robert Warburton, Esq., 
 and granddaughter of Peter Warburton, Esq., chief-justice of Chester,* 
 was a frequent visitor at Grange. Tong gives the following account 
 of the Warburton family : — " The family of Grange was very eminent 
 " for religion — Mr. Warburton's father was that learned and religious 
 '' gentleman Peter Warburton, Esq., a person of eminent wisdom and 
 " integrity, Avho chose for his motto Christ is the Christian's all; 
 " which being deeply inscribed in his heart, v^as put up in almost 
 " every room in his house, and ordered to be engraven upon the 
 " rings given at his funeral. This religious Judge Warburton of 
 " Helperstone [Hefferston] Grange (so I find it called) considerably 
 " improved both the estate and virtue of the family, and his son 
 " (whose daughter Mr. Henr^- married) built upon that good founda- 
 " tion ; he was the third son, but the two eldest died in infancy. He 
 " married Elizabeth, the daughter of Alderman Barkley of London, a 
 " very strict and serious Christian. Mr. Warburton was a gentleman 
 " that greatly affected retirement and privacy, especially in the latter 
 " part of his life ; the Bible and Mr. Baxter's Saints' Everlasting Rest 
 " used to lie daily before him on the table in his parlour ; he spent 
 " the greatest part of his time in reading and prayer ; his house was 
 " a little sanctuary to the silenced ministers and those that adhered 
 " to them ; the cause of Nonconformity he fully approved, and never 
 " deserted it to his dying day." f Henry Newcome also frequently 
 visited Grange, preaching and administering the Lord's Supper in the 
 family. 
 
 Mr. John Holland was ordained in Manchester July 9th, 1656, 
 and had testimonials in the usual form appointing him to the work of 
 the ministry in the church of Weaverham, Cheshire.^ He was pro- 
 bably ejected in 1662, and was followed in the rectory by the Rev. 
 John Barber, Confonnist. 
 
 OVER PEOVER. 
 
 We find the following mention of this chapelrj' in the minutes of the 
 Committee for Plundered Ministers: — "September 26th, 1646. 
 " Ordered that 25/. per annum be allowed out of the profits of the 
 
 * Williams's Life of Matthew Henry, pages 57, 58. 
 
 t Tong's Life of Matthew Henry, pages 107, 108. 
 
 + Minute Book of Manchester Classis, Chetham Library, Manchester.
 
 Deanery of Frodsham. 463 
 
 " impropriate rectory of Waverham, sequestered from the Bishop of 
 " Chester, and 25/. out of the profits of the rectory of Middlewich, 
 " sequestered from Lord Brereton, towards the maintenance of such 
 " minister as this committee shall appoint to officiate in the parochial 
 " chapel of Over Peover ; the present maintenance being but 
 " 8/. 175. 4^/. a year." Who the minister of Over Peover was at the 
 date of this order we are not informed ; but during the Commonwealth 
 the Rev. Robert Norbury, M.A., a man of learning and piety 
 laboured here, and was ejected for his Nonconformity in 1662. 
 Calamy gives the folloA\nng account of him : — " He was a serious, 
 " hiunble man ; blameless in conversation and acceptable in his 
 " ministry. He was educated in the college of Dublin, of which he 
 " was made a Fellow. He was ordained by some Dublin ministers, 
 " and while he was in the college preached in a place neai- that 
 " city, to the great satisfaction of his auditors. But alterations being 
 " made in the kingdom and college, he was obliged to leave his place 
 " and fellowship, and return to his friends in Cheshire ; where he 
 " preached in divers places, and particularly at Upper Peover, before 
 " Bartholomew Day 1662. He went afterwards to Ireland, with a 
 " design speedily to" return ; but breaking a vein and vomiting blood, 
 " he fell into a consumption which quickly carried him off. He 
 " died with great peace and comfort, and a satisfying hopie of a 
 " better life." 
 
 Mr. Norbury's name may still be seen in the list of the Fellows of 
 Trinity College, Dublin. 
 
 NETHER PEOVER. 
 
 We have no direct intimation that there was ever a Puritan minister 
 at Nether Peover ; but there is some reason to think that Mr. John 
 Garside was deprived of his living in this place under the Act of 
 Uniformity. 
 
 In the Notitia Cestriensis, we have this record in the Bishop's notes 
 about Nether Peover : " Left by Mr. Garside, Presbyterian teacher, 
 " 5^- 5^- PS^ annum ; out of which 10/. to be raised for buying Bibles 
 " to be given to the poor by his trustees ; afterwards the estate to go 
 " to the maintenance of a Presb}i:erian teacher, while the toleration 
 " continues, and when it is taken away to be kept and enjoyed by his 
 " trustees."
 
 464 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 Calamy, however, says that Mr. Garside was preaching somewhere 
 in Derbyshire when the Act of Uniformity passed, but was best known 
 in Cheshire, where he chiefly lived. In this uncertainty as to Nether 
 Peover itself, we are in no want of information as to its Presbyterian 
 teacher. He was well known to Matthew Henry, whose biographer 
 has this record concerning him : " The next year, 1707, May 7, there 
 " was another ordination at Knutsford. The candidates were Mr. 
 " Twemlow and Mr. Garside, son to that good, aged, humble minister, 
 " that lived and died near Macclesfield, several years ago, greatly 
 " esteemed by all that knew him, and especially by the good people 
 " at Chester, to whom he used to preach very privately in the times 
 " of persecution. [He was] a person of uncommon learning and 
 *' judgment, and gifts in preaching and prayer; and of great simphcity 
 " and godly sincerity — affecting plainness in his garb and way of 
 " living beneath what his friends thought was due to his station as a 
 " minister; but he was contented and best pleased with it. It was a 
 " great satisfaction to those of his friends that were alive to see his 
 " son so well qualified for the ministry, and solemnly engaged in it."* 
 Turning again to the Nonconformist's Me77iorial,-\ we find that Mr. 
 Garside was a great sufferer for Nonconformity. " He was once 
 " pulled out of the pulpit in Bosley Chapel by Sir Geoflrey Shakerley, 
 " in 1669; and the next day was carried to Chester, where he suffered 
 " imprisonment, according to law. Another time he was taken up in 
 " Derbyshire, for the same crime of preaching, and carried to Derby. 
 " He was bold in hazarding himself to preach the gospel, and feared 
 " no dangers. . . When he found his end draw near, he 
 " expressed his hope that he had done something for God which, 
 " through Christ, would find acceptance ; and he blessed God he was 
 " not afraid to die." 
 
 In this chapel is the monument of Sir Geoffrey Shakerley, appointed 
 governor of Chester Castle by Charles II. at the Restoration, who in 
 that capacity relentlessly persecuted the Nonconformists, and with 
 the severest rigour executed the Conventicle and Five Mile Acts 
 against them. 
 
 *Tong, page 265. t Vol, i., page 346.
 
 NOTES. 
 
 Page 5. 
 
 Bishop Downham had two sons who afterwards became distinguished men. 
 George Downham became Bishop of Londonderry, and John Downham became 
 an eminent Nonconformist minister. John was born in Chester, educated in Christ's 
 College, Cambridge, and afterwards a laborious and useful preacher in London. He 
 was the first who delivered and afterwards promoted the famous lecture at Bartholo- 
 mew's Church. In the year 1640 he united with his Puritan brethren, the ministers 
 of the city, in presenting their petition to the Privy Council, against Laud's Book 
 of Canons. In 1643 he was appointed one of the licensers of the press, and in 1644 
 he was chosen one of the London ministers to examine and ordain public preachers. 
 He was a venerable and celebrated di\dne, and he died at a very great age about 
 the close of 1644. Fuller, who classed him among the learned writers of Christ's 
 College, Cambridge, styles him "a grave divine, and memorable to posterity for 
 " his excellent work, entitled the Christian Warfare^ — Brookes Puritans, vol. ii., 
 page 496. 
 
 Page 13. 
 
 Onnerod is in error in naming Philip Wilson as minister of S. John Baptist. 
 Pemberton was followed by Peter Leigh. Samuel Eaton preached a sermon in S. 
 John's, on his return from Xew lilngland in 1640, which excited much attention. — 
 See ^^ Remonstrance agai7ist Presbytery,'" by Sir T. Aston, 1641. 
 
 Page 16.— John Knowles. 
 
 Mr. Knowles afterwards became minister at Pershore in Leicestershire, where he 
 was apprehended by Lord Windsor, and imprisoned on April 25 th, 1665. His 
 dwelling was searched and his papers were seized ; among these were the following : 
 "Articles of Faith to be enquired into in reference to these times. I. What ia 
 " believed concerning ye Doctrine of ye Trinity. 2. Concerning ye Deity of ye 
 " Son and ye Spirit. 3. Concerning ye first Sin and ye Propagation of Sin. 4. 
 " Concernmg Election, Redemption, Reconciliation, ye Moral Law." "A refuta- 
 " tion of certain reasons against Laymen's preaching of ye Word." Also letters 
 from his friends, with animadversions evidently noted down for the purpose of 
 establishing against him the charge both of heresy and rebellion — e.g. "Now to 
 " thy desire of Mr. Biddle's reading of ye first chapter of John. . . Et verbum, 
 F2
 
 466 Nonco7iforniity in Cheshire. 
 
 " aut potius sermo, erat apud Deum ; ergo non ipse ille Deus. ' By which it 
 " ' appears that Mr. Knowles is a Socinian and denys the Godhead of Christ ; 
 " ' that he is so doth more largely appear in his book, and by his communication 
 " ' he hath with Mr. Biddle and the use of his blasphemous writings, with which 
 " 'his study is well furnished.' " Another letter evidently bearing only on religion 
 is described as "a very strong invitation to sedition and to alter y® constitution of 
 " government, in dark terms, wherein Mr. Knowles is expected to be very 
 "instrumental." — Record Office, Domestic, Charles II., 119, 125. 
 
 The following letter, praying for release, shows how great must have been Mr. 
 Knowles's sufferings while in prison: — "To his Grace the Duke of Albemarle. 
 " My Lord, I humbly beseech your grace to suffer this paper to have access to you 
 " to inform you of my sad and deplorable condition here in ye prison of ye Gate- 
 ' ' house, where I have lyen now about two months upon a bare suspicion, through 
 " ye misinformation of some. ... I beseech your grace, and now ye more 
 " earnestly considering ye great increase of that contagious disease wherewith 
 " Almighty God hath now visited us, that you will be pleased to speak to my lord 
 " Arlington, that bayle may be accepted for me. John Knowle.s. Julj', 1665." 
 Record Office, Domestic, Charles II., 127, 135. 
 
 Page 29. 
 For Wybunbur}' read Worthenbury. 
 
 Page 37. — The Rev. Joseph Murrey. 
 
 He assisted Matthew Henry in his ministerial labours in Chester for some years, 
 supplying his pulpit in his absence and preaching also in the neighbouring villages. 
 There are several references indicating this in Matthew Henry's Diary (now in the 
 possession of Joshua Wilson, Esq., of Tunbridge Wells). Mr. Murrey published 
 " Closet Devotions," which Mr. Henry was " wonderfully pleased with," and "The 
 " Example of S. Paul represented to Mmisters and private Christians, out of the 
 " Acts of the Apostles and his own Divine Letters : to which is added an Account 
 " of Timothy, 1726." This book was recommended by the Revds. J. Watts and 
 J. Evans. 
 
 Page 52. — Farndon. 
 
 " I2th August 1646. Memorandum that the Committee for Plundered Ministers 
 " have assigned 40/. a year for ye maintenance of ye minister of Audelem seques- 
 " tered from Sir Thomas Smith, delinquent, out of ye profits of ye impropriation 
 " aforesaid. And 50/. a year more out of ye impropriation o{ Farndon sequestered 
 "from Sir Richard Grosvenor, Bart., to ye minister of /arWiJw aforesaid. And 
 " 40/. a year more to ye minister of Harihill out of ye said impropriation of Farn- 
 " ^(7« sequestered from ye said Sir Richard Grosvenor." — Order Book, Domestic 
 Interregnum No. 286. 
 
 Hargrave. 
 
 " At ye Committee for Plundered Ministers 17th June 1646, By virtue of an 
 " order of both Houses of Parliament of ye 2nd of May last, it is ordered that
 
 Notes. ' 467 
 
 " ye yearly sum of 40/. be paid out of ye impropriate tythes of Ince in the county 
 " of Chester sequestered from ye Lord Cholmly, delinquent, to and for ye increase 
 " of ye maintenance of ye minister of ye chapel of Hargrave within ye parish of 
 " Tarum in ye said county, ye said chappel being two miles distant from an\- 
 " church."— /^/a'. 
 
 Page 63. — Samuel Fisher. 
 
 The title of his little work is "A Love Token for Mourners, teaching Spiritual 
 " Dumbness and Submission under God's smarting Rod. By Samuel Fisher, M. A , 
 " late preacher at Bride's, London, now at Thornton in Cheshire. September 25th, 
 " 1654." He also -^vrote " An Antidote against the fear of Death ; being Medita- 
 " tions of Samuel Fisher, in a time and place of Mortality;" with an advertisement 
 describing the treatise thus: — "Some thoughts which the author used to flatter 
 " and allure his soul to be well pleased with death, when he with the Rev. Mr. 
 *' Blake stayed in Shrewsbury (in July and August 1650), in a time of God's last 
 " visitation of that place by the pestilence, to execute their pastoral office amongst 
 " their people that did abide there in that doleful time, when they were under the 
 " continual expectation of arrest." 
 
 Page 66.— Backford. 
 
 " loth June 1646. From the impropriate Rectory of Backford, sequestered 
 "from James Poole 50/. a year; ye present maintenance being but 14/. per 
 " annum." — Order Book Domestic Interregnum No. 286. 
 
 Page 68. — Bebington. 
 
 " May 5th, 1647. Whereas the Rectorie of Bebington is sequestered from 
 " Hugh Poole, and yosias Clarke was appointed minister by order of this Com- 
 " mittee on ye 5th of February last, complaint is made that ye said Mr. Poole doth 
 "notwithstanding retain the rectory. — May loth, 1647. This Committee do 
 " appoint to consider ye petitioners of Bebington on ye 5th July next, whereof Mr. 
 " Clarke, minister of Bebington aforesaid, is to have convenient notice together 
 " with a copy of ye said Petition." 
 
 " June I2th, 1647. Whereas ye Committee of ye loth of May last appointed 
 ' ' to consider of ye petition of ye Parishioners of Bebington in ye county of Chester, 
 " on ye 5th July next, whereof Mr. Clarke, minister of Bebington aforesaid, was to 
 ' ' have convenient notice ; for that ye said Mr. Clarke slandeth in no way charged 
 " with any misdemeanour, and it now appeareth that he was lately ordained to 
 " ye ministry by ye seventh Classis within ye citty of London, and that he was 
 " afterwards appointed by ye Assembly of Divines as fit to officiate ye cure of ye 
 " said Church, and was thereupon by order of this Committee of ye 5th of February 
 " last invested in ye said Rectorie : And it now appeareth by certificate under ye 
 " hands of ye several godly ministers within ye County of Chester, that he is an 
 " orthodox divine and well gifted for his years, and that he hath an audible voice ;
 
 468 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " this Committee doe therefore confirm ye said fonner order and dismisse y* said 
 " cause, and discharge y^ said Mr. Clarke from any further attendance on ye said 
 " 5th July next." 
 
 "July 5th, 1647. Whereas ye Rectorie of ye Parish Church of Bebington, in 
 " ye County of Chester, is sequestered from Hugh Poole, and Mr. Josias Clarke is 
 " by order of this Committee of ye 5th of February last invested in ye said Rectorie 
 " and ye Profitts thereof, notwithstanding which he hath been from time to time 
 " opposed in his possession and enjoyment of ye said Rectorie and Profitts thereof, 
 " and in officiating ys cure of ye said Church by ye said Mr. Poole, as by divers 
 " illaffected to him ye said Mr. Clarke in ye said Parish : It is ordered that ye said 
 " former order whereby ye said Rectorie is sequestered to y® said Mr. Clarke be 
 " confirmed, and this Committee doe refer it to ye Committee of Parliament for 
 " ye said County, to take some effectual course from time to time to see ye said 
 " order duly executed. And for that divers of ye said Parishioners have by their 
 " Petition (a copy whereof is hereunto annexed) complained that divers of ye said 
 " Parishioners have by force thrust one Mr. Poole, a sequestered minister, into ye 
 " said Church, this Committee doe refer ye said Petition to y® committee of 
 " Parliament for ye said County, who are desired to examine ye truth thereof and 
 " settle and quiet all differences, and in case they see cause doe certifie ye con- 
 " temners of their orders to this Committee." 
 
 "July 19th, 1647. Whereas complaint is made that Mr. Clarke, to whom ye 
 " Rectorie of Bebington in ye County of Chester, is sequestered, is notwithstanding 
 " ye said order opposed in his quiet enjoyment of ye said Rectorie and Profitts 
 " thereof by RaljDh Poole, John Fortlofght, and Henry Meoles, it is ordered that 
 " ye said Ralph Poole, John Fortlofght, and Henry Meoles, do permit and suffer 
 " ye said Mr. Clarke to possess and enjoy ye said Rectorie and Profitts thereof, 
 " and officiate ye said cure according to ye said order, or shew cause to ye contrary 
 " on ye 6th day of August next." 
 
 " August 17th, 1647. It is ordered that ye matters in difference between Mr. 
 " Clarke to whom ye Rectorie of Bebington in ye County of Chester is sequestered 
 " and ye Parishioners of ye said Parish be referred to Sir William Brereton and 
 " Mr. Aldworth members of ye House of Commons Colonell Brooks High Sheriff 
 " of ye said County who are desired to hear and examine ye said differences and 
 " compose and settle them if they can or else to certify ye same to this Committee." 
 
 "September 27th, 1647. Whereas this Committee ye 17th of August last 
 " referred ye matters in difference between Mr. Clarke to whom ye Rectorie of 
 " Bebington in ye County of Chester is sequestered and the Parishioners of ye said 
 " Parish to Sir William Brereton and Mr. Aldworth members of ye House of 
 " Commons and Colonell Brooks High Sheriff of ye said County to hear examine 
 " compose and settle them (if they could) or to certifie ye said cause to this 
 " Committee; And complaint is made by ye said Parishioners that notwithstanding 
 " ye said reference they are disturbed in ye interval by ye said Mr. Clarke for tythes 
 " of ye said Rectorie; It is ordered that ye Parishioners doe keepe their tythes in 
 " their hands till ye said difference be by ye said Referees determined or certified 
 " provided that they make their certificate by ye 28th of October next." — Minutes 
 of Committee for Plundered Ministers, British Museum, Add. MSS., No. 15,671. 
 
 It appears that Mr. Clarke did not settle at Bebington, but that the differences
 
 Notes. 469 
 
 referred to in these extracts were settled by the appomtment of Ralph Poole to 
 Bebington and of Mr. Clarke to Tattenhall, as the signatures of both to the 
 Cheshire Attestation prove. 
 
 Page 69.— BiDSTON. 
 
 The following extracts show that this curacy was held by Gabriel Boardman, 
 who was sequestered in 1647. 
 
 " August 14th, 1647. It is ordered that y^ cause concerning Gabriel Boardman, 
 " minister of Bidston in ye county of Chester, be heard on Tuesday next." 
 
 " August 17th, 1647. It is ordered that ye cause concerning Gabriel Boardman, 
 " curate of ye Parish Church of Bidston in y© county of Chester, in ye presence of 
 " ye said Mr. Boardman and counsell of ye prosecutors, and upon hearing his 
 " defence therein before this Committee it appears that ye said Mr. Boardman is a 
 " common frequenter of alehouses and oftentimes drunk, and a singer of lewd and 
 " idle songs ; It is therefore ordered that ye said church and curacie and all profitts 
 " thereto belonging be forthwith sequestered from him ye said Mr. Boardman to 
 " ye use of some godly orthodox divine." 
 
 " September 4th, 1647. Upon ye humble petition of Gabriel Boardman, from 
 " whom ye curacie of Bidston in ye county of Chester is sequestered : It is ordered 
 " that ye said Mr. Boardman shall have all rents stipends fees and profitts due and 
 " payable unto him before ye 17th day of August last, on which day ye said 
 " curacie was sequestered from him, and this Committee doe refer ye said Mr. 
 " Boardman to ye justices of peace in ye said county to relieve him in his recovery 
 " of ye premisses according to ye late ordinance of Parliament in that behalf." — 
 Committee for Plundered Ministers, British Museum, Additional MSS. 15,671. 
 
 Page 69. — Richard Hopwood. 
 
 The Committee for Plundered Ministers on "August 24th, 1646, referred Richard 
 " Hopwood, minister, to ye Assembly of Divines for ye cure of ye church of Burton 
 " in Com. Chester." 
 
 " September 24th, 1646. Whereas ye rectorie of ye Parish Church of Burton in 
 " ye county of Chester is sequestered by ye Committee of Cheshire from Mr. 
 " Trafford for his delinquency, it is ordered that ye said rectorie shall stand seques- 
 " tered from henceforth to ye use of Mr. Richard Hopwood a godly and orthodox 
 " divine, and that he doe forthwith officiate ye cure of ye said church and rectorie 
 '* and preach diligently to ye parishioners there and he shall have for his pains 
 " therein all houses and glebe lands and all stipends rents duties availes and 
 " profitts whatsoever of ye said church and customarily paid to ye curate thereof 
 " till further order shall be taken in ye premisses ; And all person and persons are 
 " required quietly to permit ye said Mr. Hopwood to officiate ye said cure and to 
 " enter possess and enjoy ye said houses and glebe lands and to have receive and 
 " take to his own use all ye said stipends rents and profitts whatsoever of ye said 
 " curacy, as they will answer ye contrary at their peril." — British Museum, Addi- 
 tional MSS, 15,670. 
 
 " loth June 1646. From the rectory of Burton sequestered from Sir Thomas
 
 470 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " Smith 40/. per ami. is to be paid to the minister of Burton; the present mainte- 
 " nance being only 6/. 13^. 4^1. per ann." Another order to the same effect follows 
 on October 22nd, 1646. — Record Office, Domestic Interregmon 286. 
 
 Page 70. — Eastham. 
 
 " loth June 1646. From the rectory of Eastham sequestered from George Pen- 
 " ruddocke 50/. the present maintenance being but 20/. per ann. Also July ist, 
 " 1646, from the profits of the same rectory 50/. a year is to be paid towards the 
 " support of the minister at Bidston.^^ 
 
 It appeared, however, that the profits of the rectory at Eastham were com- 
 pounded for, and the order of the Committee on June loth, 1646, was nullified. 
 Under date April 13th, 1647, therefore, we have a second order discharging the 
 pre\aous one, and providing otherwise for the minister at Eastham. " 17th June 
 " 1646. 50/. from the impropriate rectory of Bromborough sequestered from George 
 ' ' Penruddocke towards the support of the minister. Present maintenance 4/. 6s. 8d. 
 " per ann." — Record Office, Domestic Interregnum 286. 
 
 Page 72. — Neston. 
 
 " 22nd September 1646. It is ordered that y^ articles against Francis Greene 
 minister of y^ parish of Great Neston in ye county of Chester (a coppy whereof 
 is hereunto annexed) be referred to ye Committee of Parliament for ye hundred 
 of Wirrall in ye said county or any three of them, who are desired to receive 
 ye said Mr. Green's answer to ye said articles and to call before them and 
 examine ye witnesses that shall be produced as well for ye proof of ye said articles 
 as of ye said Mr. Green's defence and to certify ye said answers and depositions 
 to this Committee." 
 
 " September 22ud, 1647. Whereas Francis Green vicar of Great Neston in 
 ye county of Chester, being by reason of his age disabled from officiating ye cure 
 of ye said church, hath relinquished ye same and submitted ye same to ye disposal 
 of this Committee ; ye said Mr. Green praying that Samuel Marsden a godly 
 orthodox divine maybe settled there; It is therefore ordered that ye said Samuel 
 Marsden doe from henceforth officiate ye cure of ye said church and preach 
 diligently to ye parishioners." — British Museum, Add. MSS. 15,669, 15,670. 
 
 Page 73.— Shotwick. 
 
 " loth June 1646. From the profits of the tythes of Shotwck 50/. a year; the 
 " present maintenance being but 5/. 6s. Sd. per ann. (sequestered from Thomas 
 " Glasiour.)" 
 
 Stoak. 
 
 " At ye Committee for Plundered Ministers loth June 1646. By virtue 
 " of an order of both Houses of Parliament of ye 2nd of ]May last, it is ordered 
 " that ye tythes of ye rectorie of Stoak in ye county of Chester sequestered from 
 " Henry Bunbury delinquent, not exceeding 50/. a year be paid to and for 
 " ye increase of ye minister of ye Parish Church of Stoak aforesaid, ye present
 
 Notes. 47 1 
 
 " maintenance belonging to ye said church being but 14/. per ann. And ye seques- 
 " trators of ye premisses are required to allow ye same accordingly at such times 
 " and seasons of ys year as ye same are payable. Har. Grimston.'''' — Record Office^ 
 Domestic Interregnum 286. 
 
 Page 74. — Matthew Jenkins. 
 
 " 31st October 1654. Ye like order [an augmentation] for Matthew Jenkins in 
 " ye county of Denbigh, upon an order from ye Committee for Approbation dated 
 " 19th July 1654. Directed to ^Denbigh." — Committee for Compounding Orders 
 for Payment to Plundered Ministers. Record Office, Domestic Interregnum 319. 
 
 Page 76. — West Kirby. 
 
 " Samuel Eaton of West Kirby in the diocese of Chester, clerk, was fined, about 
 " 1634, in sums mounting to from 50/. to 500/., by doubling each time for his 
 " contumacy in not appearing before the Commission." — Proceedings of Commis- 
 sioners for Ecclesiastical Causes, quoted in the MSS. of the Rev. Joseph Hunter. 
 British Museum, Hunteriana Collectanea 24,460. 
 
 Page 11. — Thomas Glover. 
 
 " April i6th, 1646. Upon y® humble petition of Thomas Glover from whom 
 " ye rectorie of West Kirby in ye county of Chester is sequestered (a coppy whereof 
 '* is hereto annexed) it is ordered that ye Committee of Parliament for Wirrall in 
 " ye said county be desired to certifie unto this Committee ye causes of ye said 
 ** sequestration with all convenient speed." 
 
 " August 24th, 1646. Ralph Marsden minister is referred to ye Assembly of 
 " Divines for ye cure of ye church of West Kirby in ye county of Chester." 
 
 " 24th September 1646. Whereas ye rectorie of West Kirby is by order of 
 " ye Committee of Parliament sequestered from Thomas Glover for his delinquency 
 " it is ordered that ye said rectorie shall hereafter stand sequestered to ye use of 
 " Ralph Marsden a godly and orthodox divine." 
 
 "September 14th, 1647. Upon complaint made by Mr. Marsden to whom 
 " ye rectorie of West Kirby in ye county of Chester is sequestered, that Mr. Glover 
 " from whom ye same is sequestered together with his wife in contempt of ye said 
 " sequestration have intruded into ye said Parsonage House and deteyne and keep 
 ' ' ye possession thereof from ye said Mr. Marsden, and do also intenupt and disturb 
 " ye said Mr. Marsden in his receiving and enjoyment of ye tythes of ye said 
 " rectorie and have seized upon part of them: This Committee doe therefore 
 " referr ye said Mr. Marsden to ye Sheriff Justices of Peace and Committees of 
 " Parliament for ye said county who are desired and required to settle ye said Mr. 
 " Marsden in ye quiet and peaceable possession of ye said Parsonage House and of 
 " y® glebe lands thereto belonging, to assist him in his receiving of ye tythes and 
 " profitts of ye said rectorie and to afford him such further relief as shall be requisite 
 " and expedient according to ye ordinance of Parliament of ye 23rd of August last 
 " in that behalfe." — Minutes of Committee for Plundered Ministers, British 
 Museum, Additional MSS. 15,670, 15,671.
 
 472 Nonconformity in Cheshire, 
 
 Page 103. — Tattenhall. 
 
 The following extracts show that Dr. Moreton was sequestered from Tattenhall 
 for delinquency in 1646, and that Mr. Francis Smith was appointed in his place. 
 Mr. Smith seems to have encountered great opposition from the parishioners, and 
 though he was supported by the Committee for Plundered Ministers, he resigned 
 the liv'ing, and yosias Clarke, who had gone through a similar battle at Bebington, 
 succeeded him. 
 
 "April i6th, 1646. Referred Francis Stnith minister to ye Committee of 
 " ye Assembly of Divines, to officiate y© cure of Tattenhall in ye county of Chester." 
 
 " 1 8th September 1646. Whereas ye rectorie of ye Parish Church of Tattenhall 
 " in ye county of Chester is by ye Committee of Parliament for ye said county 
 " sequestered from Dr. Moreton for his delinquency it is ordered that ye said 
 " rectorie shall stand sequestered from henceforth to ye use of Francis Smyth a 
 ' ' godly and orthodox divine, and that he doe forthwith officiate ye cure of ye said 
 " church and rectorie and preach diligently to ye parishioners there. And he shall 
 ' ' have for his pains therein ye Parsonage House and glebe lands. " 
 
 " September 4th, 1647. Upon consideration had of ye certificate of John Crew 
 " and Jonathan Bruen Esqires Justices of Peace in ye county of Chester whereby 
 " it appeareth that John Bruce Thomas Breese Thomas Buckley and Thomas Dod 
 '* accompanied with divers others of ye parish of Tattenhall in ye said county were 
 " summoned before ye said justices according to ye ordinance of Parliament in that 
 " behalfe, upon complaint made by Mr. Smith to whom ye rectorie of Tattenhall 
 " aforesaid is sequestered that they refused to pay their tythes unto ye said Mr. 
 " Smith, ye said Thomas Dodd producing before them a book entitled Two 
 " Petitions of ye sequestered clergy of England and Wales to ye King's Majesty 
 " and to his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax with a pretended declaration of 
 "ye general and counsell of war; and that by ye said practice and false and scan- 
 " dalous pretences divers persDns hereabouts are encouraged against their minister: 
 " It being further certified from ye said justices that they conceive ye ordinance of 
 " Parliament for payment of tythes cannot be by them put into execution without 
 " bloodshed: It is therefore ordered that ye Sergeant at Arms of ye House of 
 " Commons or his deputy or deputies doe bring ye said John Bruce Thomas Breese 
 " Thomas Buckley and Thomas Dod in safe custody to answer their said contempt. 
 " And ye sheriffs of ye said county and all justices of peace mawr bayliffe constable 
 " and all other his Majesty's officers and loving subjects are desired and hereby 
 " required to be aiding and assisting in ye due execution hereof." 
 
 "September 23rd, 1647. Upon hearing ye cause between Mr. Smith to whom 
 " ye rectorie of Tattenhall in ye county of Chester is sequestered and John Bruce 
 " Thomas Breese Thomas Buckley and Thomas Dodd parishioners of Tattenhall 
 " aforesaid in ye presence of counsel on both sides; it is ordered that they be con- 
 " tinued in custody till they have given Mr. Smith satisfaction." 
 
 " September 24th, 1647. I^ '^ ordered that John Bruce Thomas Breese Thomas 
 " Buckley and Thomas Dodd parishioners of Tattenhall in ye county of Chester 
 " having now satisfied Mr. Smith to whom ye rectorie of Tattenhall aforesaid is
 
 Notes, 473 
 
 *' sequestered for y^ tythes and profitts from them due to him, it is ordered that 
 " they shall be discharged." — Minutes of CommitUe for Plundered Ministers, 
 British Museum, Additional MSS. 15,670, 15,671. 
 
 Dr. Moreton, who was restored in 1660, died in March 1674-5. 
 
 Page 120.— Acton. 
 
 " 22nd July 1646. From the tythes arising from the chapelry of Wrenbury in 
 " ys parish of Acton 50/. to the minister of Acton; the said parish being very large 
 " and populous." — Record Office, Domestic Ititcrregmim 286. 
 
 "25th April 1654. Upon reading ye petition of Edward Burghall minister of 
 " Acton in Cheshire complaining that he cannot enjoy y^ augmentation of 30/. 
 " per an. settled upon him as minister of ye church of Acton in regard that he 
 "hath refused to take the Engagement which is since wholly taken away; and 
 " therefore he prays our order for repayment of ye arrears hitherto withheld from 
 " him upon ye account of non-engaging and not otherwise. It is ordered that 
 " ye petitioner doe produce to us y® order by which ye augmentation is settled on 
 ' ' him, and that our new Committee in Cheshire doe certifie ye ground and reason 
 " wherefore ye petitioner hath not been allowed ye said augmentation, and he is to 
 " make his return herein within fourteen days after notice hereof. E. C, E. W., 
 " R. M., R. W., J. V." — Order Book, Domestic Interregnum 319. 
 
 " 15th September 1654. To Mr. Robinson, Committee for the county of 
 " Chester. Sir, Your letter 31st July last we have this day again perused and as 
 " to augmentations therein mentioned you say in ye postscript to ye said letter you 
 " hear and are confident that all ye ministers in your county except Mr. Burghall 
 •' have bin here and have orders of approbation. We doubt not but you received 
 " our letter 21st July last whereby we let you know that all orders for payment of 
 " augmentations are to be by yov. produced to our auditor or else he is to charge 
 " ye whole revenue upon your accounts; and we gave you our directions to fill up 
 " orders and letters carefully by our order ye 21st of June last for ye reasons therein 
 " expressed. We gave some directions concerning Mr. Burghall formerly upon 
 " his petition presented to us and we do of course give orders of allowance of 
 " ye orders which are brought to us from ye Committee appointed for approbation 
 " of publique preachers, which we thought meet to signifie to you, and are, yours 
 " &c., E. W., J. v., R. M., R. ^y— Letter Book (arranged in Counties), 
 Domestic Interregnum 327. 
 
 "31st October 1654. The like order (augmentation) for Mr. Edward Burghall 
 " in ye county of Chester, upon an order from ye Committee for Approbation, &c., 
 " 28th July 1654. Directed to Chester." — Order Book, Domestic Interregnum 319. 
 
 Page 124. — Naxtwich. 
 
 Mr. John Paget was minister of Nantwich about the year 1598. The times not 
 bearing the continuance of his Nonconformity, he went into the Netherlands. In 
 1607 he was called to be pastor of the English church at Amsterdam, in which 
 station he continued thirty years. While there he -vvrote a book called his Primer, 
 dedicated to his friends at Nantwich, printed 1601 ; and some Sermons that were 
 G2
 
 474 Nonco7iformity in Cheshire. 
 
 published after his death ; together with his Defence of Presbyterian Church 
 Government, edited by his successor at Amsterdam, Thon.as Paget, who was his 
 kinsman, possibly his son. — See Evans's MSS.^ vol. il, page 6^, Red Cross-street 
 Library. 
 
 Page 134. 
 
 Samuel Acton published the following works: — "The Folly of Wise Scep- 
 " ticks — a sermon on Jeremiah viii. 8; Gospel Compulsion — on Luke xiv. 23; 
 " Salvation by Grace — on Ephesians iv. 5." These appeared in the year 1714. 
 In 1 717 he published a Discourse on the Sacrament — ^John xix. 3. 
 
 Baptist Chapel, Nantwich. — "There was some years ago a respectable 
 " society of Baptists at Nantwich, but, through the odd conduct and management 
 " of some of the principal supports of the place, it is now dwindled and come to 
 " nothing, and Mr. Roger Maddock hath agi-eed with the Methodists to let them 
 " have the meeting-house for a teiTn of years upon keeping it in repair. Upon 
 " further inquiry the following particulars were sent to J. Thompson, in a letter of 
 " the 5th April 1773. That the Baptist meeting-house at Nantwich was ve.sted in 
 " the hands of several trustees, some of whom are now living. That Roger Maddock 
 " has 100/. in his hands belonging to the same, and that there is a small house or 
 " two belonging to the said chapel held by some person or persons that keep pos- 
 " session of the same and never pay any rent to the trustees. Mr. Radcliff, minister 
 " of Whillock, commonly preaches alternate Sabbaths there and at Leek in Stafford- 
 " shire." — Rev, J-osiah Thompson'' s MSS., Dr. Williams'' s Library. 
 
 Page 139. — Wrenbury. 
 
 Robert Nicholls was minister of Wrenbury, where he was held in high repute 
 for his excellent abilities and worthy ministerial labours. He was a man of a clear 
 head, a tender heart, and a most holy life. He was called before the High Com- 
 mission, and with many of his brethren was exceedingly harassed for Nonconformity. 
 Being required by Bishop Moreton to produce his arguments against the cross in 
 baptism, the use of the surplice, and kneeling at the sacrament, he presented them 
 to the Bishop in the High Commission court, when, though he was esteemed a 
 most learned and pious minister, his lordship treated him with much scorn and 
 abuse. He was contemporary with Mr. Ball, Mr. Herring, Mr. Ashe, and other 
 divines of distinguished eminence, with whom he lived in the greatest friendship. 
 During the persecution of the times he found an asylum under the hospitable roof 
 of the excellent Lady Bromley of Sheriff Hales, in Shropshire, at whose house he 
 died in the year 1630. He was the author of the third part of a work entitled 
 " So7ne Treasure fetched Old of Rubbish ; or three short but seasonable Treatises 
 " found in a heap of scattered papers which Providence hath reserved for their 
 " service who desire to be instructed from the Word of God concerning the Impo- 
 " sition and use of significant Ceremonies in the Worship of God, 1660." His 
 part is entitled "Three Arguments, syllogistically propounded and prosecuted, 
 " against the Surplice, tlie Cross in Baptism, and Kneeling in the act of receiving 
 " the Lord's Supper." — See Brooks^ Puritans, vol. ii,, page 375; Clark's Lives, 
 page 165 ; Paget' s Defence, preface.
 
 Notes. 475 
 
 The follo\ving minutes of Parliamentary committees show that Zachary Crofton, 
 who was turned out of Wrenbury for refusing the Engagement, was followed, after 
 an interval, by Joseph Ottiivell, who had previously been settled a short time at 
 Chelford. — See page ■257. 
 
 "July 4th, 1646. Upon ye humble petition of ye parishioners of Wrenburie in 
 " ye county of Chester this committee do hereby desire ye committee of ye said 
 " county to make enquiry of ye value of ye said vicarage and whether ye impropriate 
 " tythes of ye said parish are sequestered from ye Lord Kilmurrey or from whom, 
 " and to certifie ye same to this committee." — British Museum, Additional MSS. 
 15,669. 
 
 "July 15th, 1646. From ye impropriate rectorie of Wrenburie sequestered 
 " from Lord Kilmurrey 50/. towards the support of the minister of the parish; the 
 " said parish being very populous and consisting of above six hundred communi- 
 " cants." — Record Office, Domestic Interrcg7ium 286. 
 
 "November 19th, 1652. Whereas the Parish Church of Wrenburie in the 
 " county of Chester is at present destitute of a minister; It is ordered that Joseph 
 " Ottwell a godly and orthodox divine do from henceforth officiate the cure of the 
 " said church and preach diligently to the parishioners there; and that he have 
 " for his pains therein all houses, &c., whatsoever belonging to the minister of the 
 " said church ; till further order shall be taken in the premisses. Gilbeit Millington, 
 " Nath. Hallowes, J. Danvers, and others." — Record Office, Domestic Inter- 
 regnum 287. 
 
 "20th January 1652. Whereas we have received an order from ye Committee 
 ' for Plundered Ministers dated 19th November 1652 (a copie, &c.) reciteing that 
 ' ye Parish Church of Wrenburie in ye county of Chester was then destitute of a 
 ' minister ; whereupon they ordered that Joseph Otwell a godly and orthodox 
 ' divine should from henceforth officiate ye cure of ye said church and preach 
 ' diligently to ye parishioners there and that he shall have for his pains therein all 
 ' houses glebelands tythes rents duties and profitts whatsoever of or belonging to 
 ' ye minister of ye said church, till further order shall be taken in ye premisses ; 
 ' It is ordered that ye Committee for Sequestration in ye said county of Chester 
 ' doe observe ye directions of ye said order and proceed therein according to ye Act 
 ' of Parliament of ye 31st May 1650, this order being first entered with our auditor. 
 ' S. M., E. W., W. M., R. M." 
 
 " 20th January 1652. Whereas we have received an order from ye Committee 
 ' for Plundered Ministers dated ye 30th December last (a copie, &c.) reciteing 
 ' that ye Lord Kilmorey upon his composition did by conveyance made unto 
 ' certain feoffees in trust settle ye yearly sum of 50/. for ever upon ye minister of 
 ' ye Parish Church of Wrenburie in ye county of thester for ye time being; 
 ' whereupon they ordered that ye said 50/. a year should from time to time be 
 ' paid unto Mr. Joseph Ottiweli settled in ye vicarage of Wrenburie aforesaid by 
 ' order of ye said committee of ye 19th of November last; and further ordered (in 
 ' regard ye said Mr. Ottiweli had officiated the cure of ye said church divers months 
 ' before his said settlement) that ye feoffees upon whom ye 50/. a year is settled 
 ' for maintenance of ye minister of ye said church, should pay unto him one year's 
 ' arrears of ye annual stipend then in their hands for ye said service, and ye growing 
 ' profitts from time to time as it should grow due ; Now upon reading a letter from
 
 4-7 6 Nonco7iformity in Clieshire. 
 
 " ye Committee for Sequestration in y® county of Chester dated 20th January 
 " instant, it is ordered that ye said committee in Cheshire do see that ye said Mr. 
 " Ottivvell be payd ye said augmentation of 50/. per annum and ye arrears thereof 
 " according to ye settlement and ye afore-recited order of ye Committee for Plun- 
 " dered Ministers, for that he hath taken ye Engagement appointed by Act of 
 " Parliament as is affirmed to us by Colonell Worsley." — Committee for Com- 
 pounding Orders for Payment to Plundered Ministers, Domestic Interregnum 319. 
 
 Page 141. — Baddiley. 
 
 " January 1st, 1646-7. 40/. per annum from the surplus of profits of the tithes 
 " of Frodsham, for increase of the maintenance of the minister to be appointed to 
 " the church of Baddiley. The present maintenance belonging to the said church 
 " in the best times not being worth above 30/. per annum." — Order Book, 286. 
 
 Page 148. — Chukch Minshull (see also Page 184). 
 
 "July 4th, 1646. Upon ye humble petition of Ellinor ye wife of Lawrence 
 " Newton from whom ye vicarage of Church Minshull in ye county of Chester is 
 " sequestered it is ordered that ye said Mistr. Newton shall have for and towards 
 " ye maintenance of her and her children ye full clear fifth part of ye tythes rents 
 " ]£aster book of ye vicarage from ye sequestrators thereof (all charges first deducted 
 " from ye whole) unlesse good cause be shewn to ye contrary; Ye said Mr. Newton 
 " and his wife yielding all due obedience to ye said sequestrators; ye examination 
 " of which cause (if there be any) this committee doe referre to ye Committee of 
 " Parliament for ye county of Chester or any three of them who are desired to hear 
 " ye parties on both sides therein and to call before them and examine such wit- 
 " nesses as shall be produced as well for proof of ye said cause as on ye behalfe of 
 ye said Mistresse Newton for ye justifying of her and y® said parties, and to 
 determine ye difference between them." — Committee for Plundered Ministers, 
 British Museum, Additional MSS. 15,670. 
 
 " September 26th, 1646. Ordered that the tythe com of Minshull worth about 
 " 24/. per annum sequestered from John Minshull, Esq., be paid to the increase of 
 " the maintenance of Mr. Holford, minister of the Parish Church of Minshull 
 "aforesaid; the present maintenance being but 8/. per annum." — Order Book, 
 Domestic Interregnum 286. 
 
 " 31st October 1654. An order for an augmentation is made in favour of Mr. 
 " John Bradley of Minshull. — Order Book, 319. 
 
 Page 148. — WlBUNBURY. 
 
 *' 1 2th August 1646. 50/. a year from the tithes arising in the parish of 
 '• Wybunbury sequestered from Sir Thomas Delves, to be paid to the maintenance 
 " of William Paretree minister of the church of Wybunbuiy ; there being seventeen 
 •• towns within the said parish and the vicarage thereof being formerly worth 60/. 
 " per annum and it is now woith but 40/. a year." — Order Book, 286.
 
 Notes. 477 
 
 "William Pearetree of NanUnch, clerk," was one of the Cheshire ministers 
 plundered and imprisoned by the Royalists in the beginning of the Civil War. He 
 afterwards became pastor of S. Mar}''s, Chester. — See page 13. 
 
 Page 152. — AsTBURY. 
 
 " 27th August 1646. It is ordered that yohn Ley, M.A., be commended to 
 * }'* Committee of ye Assembly of Divines for examination of ministers, who are 
 ' hereby desired to examine ye fitness of ye said Mr. Ley to have ye sequestration 
 ' and to officiate y« cure of ye Parish Church of Astburie in ye county of Chester 
 ' and to certifie ye same to this committee." — Additional MSS. 15,670. 
 
 "August 24th, 1647. This committee being informed that John Ley, B.D., 
 ' one of ye Assembly of Divines settled by authority of Parliament in ye rectorie 
 ' of Astburie in ye county of Chester is opposed in ye participation of ye profitts of 
 ' that living by some malignant and ill-advised persons of that parish upon 
 ' pretence of some inhibition of His Majesty by some paper of his in form of a 
 ' proclamation heretofore issued out against ministers placed by power of Parlia- 
 ' ment whilst His Majesty was in act of hostility against his Parliament whereby 
 ' by ye late distractions those ill-minded persons have taken courage to hope for 
 ' some alteration, and presume to detaine from their minister his rights; Doe 
 ' hereby think fit to enjoin and order that ye parishioners of ye said parish make 
 ' due payment of their tythes to ye said ^Ir. Ley in such manner as they did or 
 ' ought to have done to their former rector from whom ye Uving stands sequestered, 
 ' notwithstanding their said false and scurrilous pretences, ye said paper bemg of 
 ' no force to control ye proceedings of Parliament. " — British Museum, Additional 
 MSS. 15,671. 
 
 Page 156. 
 
 Mr. Moxon had a son, George Moxon, minister of Rad%vinter in Essex, from 
 which place he was ejected in 1660. — See Nonconformist Memorial, vol. ii. page 
 313 ; and Davids'' Annals of Essex Nonconformity, page 445. 
 
 Page 164. — MiDDLEWICH. 
 
 " 13th January 1646. Whereas the parish of the market town of Middlewich 
 " in the county of Chester is very large, containing fourteen townships, whereby 
 " the cure of the said Parish Church hath been supplied by two ministers, and this 
 " committee have formerly granted 50/. a year for increase of the maintenance of 
 " Mr. Langley, one of the said ministers, the present maintenance belonging to 
 " the said church being but 19/. a year: It is ordered that the further yearly sum 
 " of 50/. be paid and allowed out of the profits, &c., to and for increase of the 
 " maintenance of Mr Matthew Clayton, the other minister of the said church : and 
 " the sequestrators, &c. Har. Grimston." — Record Office, Order Book, 286.
 
 47^ Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 Page 178. — Over. 
 
 " X2th August 1646. 50/. a year from Over, sequestered from Thomas 
 " Cholmley, Esq., delinquent, farmer thereof under the Bishop of Chester, towards 
 " the maintenance of the minister that this committee shall settle in the church of 
 " Over; and from the same profits 40/. a year to the minister to be appointed to 
 " the chapel of Wettenhall within the said parish; and three miles distant 
 " from the said church of Over." 
 
 Further, on December 7th, 1652, occurs an order reciting that 40/. per annum 
 had been settled by Thomas Cholmeley, Esq., on the minister of Over, and 
 directmg "that the same be from time to time paid and continued to Mr. John 
 " Ashbrooke, this day settled minister of the said church by this committee." 
 
 " 26th January 1652-3. Whereas we have received an order from ye Committee 
 " for Plundered INIinisters bearing date above written reciteing a former order of 
 •' theirs of y^ 7th December 1652 whereby they settled John Ashbrooke a godly 
 " and orthodox divine in ye vicarage of Over in ye county of Chester and granted 
 " him ys augmentation of 40/. a year settled by Thomas Cholmondly, Esq., delin- 
 " quent, by conveyance unto feoffees in trust upon ye minister of ye Parish Church 
 " of Over aforesaid for ye time being, and by ye same order of ye date above 
 " written they order that ye said Mr. Ashbrooke shall have and receive all arrears 
 " of ye said 40/. a year which become due and payable for such time as he officiates 
 " ye said cure of ye said church as by ye said order of ye date hereof (a copie 
 "whereof is annexed) appears; It is therefore ordered that ye Committee for 
 " Sequestration in ye said county of Chester doe obser\'e ye directions of ye said 
 " order and proceed therein according to ye Act of Parliament of ye 31st May 
 " 1650; this order being first entered with our auditor. And ye said committee 
 " are to see that ye feoffees upon whom ye said augTnentation is settled doe pay 
 " ye said arrears unto ye said Mr. Ashbrooke according to ye settlement and 
 " ye order of ye Committee for Plundered Ministers. S. M., E. W., A. S., R. M." 
 Minutes of Committee for Compounding Orders, Domestic Interregnum 319. 
 
 " 3rd August 1654. The like order [for payment of an augmentation] for Mr. 
 •• John Colefax of Wettenhall in com. Chester." — Ibid. 
 
 Page 193. — Brereton. 
 
 "September 22nd, 1646. Whereas ye rectorie of Brereton in ye county of 
 " Chester is sequestered from Mr. Robinson by ye Committee of Parliament for 
 " ye county it is ordered that ye Committee of Ministers in ye said county appointed 
 " for examination of ministers in ye county of Lancaster doe and they are hereby 
 " desired to examine ye fitness of Thomas Upton minister of ye word to ofificiate 
 " ye cure of ye said parish and to certifie ye same to ye end that upon approbation 
 " he may be settled in ye sequestration of ye said rectorie; and it is ordered that 
 " ye said Mr. Upton doe officiate and be established in ye said rectorie and parish 
 "in ye meantime." — Minutes of Committee for Plundered Ministers, British 
 Museum, Additional MSS. 15,670.
 
 Notes. 479 
 
 " iSth October 1652. Whereas the church of Brereton in the county of 
 " Chester is at present destitute of a minister, It is ordered that Joh^t Holme, a 
 " godly and orthodox divine do from henceforth officiate the cure of the said 
 " church, and preach diligently to the parishioners there : and that he shall have 
 " for his pains therein all houses, glebelands, &c. ; and all person and persons are 
 " required quietly to permit the said Holme to officiate the said cure; and to enter, 
 " possess and enjoy the said houses, &c. : or they will answer the contrary to their 
 *' peril. 
 
 [Endorsed] — "John Thornicroft maketh oath that he received this order from 
 " Mr. Phelpes, clerk of the Committee for Plundered Ministers, as the original 
 " order of settlement for Mr. Holme to officiate the cure at Brereton. 
 
 " (Signed) JOHN THORNICROFT. 
 
 " (Countersigned) R. M." 
 
 On 1 6th February 165 1 we have a further order respecting Mr. Holme, to the 
 same purport as the above. — Order Book, 319. 
 
 Page 235. 
 
 The register of baptisms belonging to the chapel in King Edward-street, Mac- 
 clesfield, commences in September 171 3. The first entries (as appears from an 
 examination of the original, now in the keeping of the Registrar-general) are in the 
 handwriting of Dr. Holland, and are very difficult to read. Dr. Holland distin- 
 guishes between public and private baptisms. "In my house, " he adds occasionally. 
 Mr. Culcheth's handwriting commences April 6th, 1718, and ends on April 14th, 
 1 75 1. So far the registers are very carefully kept. Mr. Street's handwriting 
 commences (apparently) on April 28th, 175 1, and ends December 24th, 1763; but 
 the name of the minister does not occur. After this date the entries in the older 
 book bear the signature of William Brockleliurst. This was, doubtless, Mr. 
 Brocklehurst of Dean Row. His name occurs as officiating at King Edward-street 
 from March 5th, 1764, to September 1785. In a second and separate book, how- 
 ever, we have a list of "persons in and around Macclesfield" baptized at the 
 Presbyterian Chapel by the Rev. John Palmer; and the entries in this book com- 
 mence August 4th, 1765. After this the name of the Rev. Lowthion Pollock 
 occurs (as following Mr. Palmer) from September 1780 to May 1788. We have 
 no mention of Mr. Bolt ; but perhaps one folio of entries affixed to the end of the 
 older book — and in a different handwriting to that which appears elsewhere — is to 
 be assigned to him. These entries extend from about 1769 to 1771. 
 
 The list of ministers given above (page 235) was taken in part from the Cheshire 
 Minute Book, and in part from an article in the Congregational Magazine for 
 November 1820. 
 
 Page 247. 
 
 It may be mentioned that on the occasion of Mr. Mc. All's ordination at 
 Townley-street the introductory discourse was delivered by the Rev. G. B. Kidd ; 
 the questions were proposed to Mi-. Mc.All by the Rev. Samuel Bowen; the 
 ordination prayer was offered by the Rev. Samuel Mc.All, president of Hackney
 
 480 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 College ; and the charge was delivered by the Rev. Dr. Raffles of Liverpool. In 
 the evening of the day the sermon to the church and congregation was preached by 
 the Rev. Dr. Alliott of Spring Hill College. 
 
 Page 255. 
 
 Since the above notice of the Baptist Chapel, Macclesfield, was in print, the 
 congregation have been enabled to complete the purchase of the chapel premises. 
 The late T. Whillock, Esq., of Rainow, bequeathed the sum of 250/. to aid in 
 clearing off the chapel debt. To this sum the congregation has added about 1 70/. ; 
 and in addition to the removal of the debt, has made many necessary improvements 
 in the interior of the chapel. 
 
 Prestbury. — " 15th July 1646. Upon hearing ye counsell of Mr. Leigh of 
 " Adlington in ye county of Chester in ye cause appointed by order ye 28th of May 
 " last concerning ye rectorie of Prestbury; this committee think fit that all things 
 •' shall remain as formerly without any alteration of any former orders of this 
 " committee." — Mittiites of Com7nittee for Plundered Ministers, British Museum, 
 Additional MSS. 15,670. 
 
 In March 1861 a preaching-room was opened at Prestbury (in connection with 
 the church at Townley-street Chapel, Macclesfield), where service is held once a 
 fortnight. No school has been opened yet, nor is any church formed. 
 
 Page 257. — Chelford. 
 
 May 25th, 1653. Mention is made of a petition from Hugh Henshaw, minister 
 of the chapelry of Sankie, in the parish of Prescot in Lancashire, for confinnation 
 of an order of the commissioners respecting his stipend. The order is dated 30th 
 July 1649. A further order follows: 8th February 165J. Doubtless this is the 
 Hugh Henshaw who was afterwards ejected from Chelford in 1662. — Order 
 Book, 319. 
 
 Page 261.— WiLMSLOW. 
 
 " l8th March 1645. Whereas ye deputie-lieutenant and ye committee for 
 " ye county of Chester have in pursuance of an ordinance of Parliament of ye 26th 
 " March 1644 sequestered ye rectorie of ye Parish Church of Wilmeslowe in ye said 
 " county from Mr. Wright for absenting himself from ye said church and betakeing 
 "himself to ye forces raised against ye Parliament; and Mr. John Brereton a 
 " godly and holy divine was thereupon invited and appointed by ye said deputie- 
 " heutenant and committee to ye said rectorie and cure of ye church; This com- 
 " mittee doe hereby settle and confirme ye said Mr. Brereton in ye said place, and 
 " order that he shall continue to officiate ye said cure and have possession of and 
 '* enjoy ye said rectorie and all tythes rents revenues and profits thereof according 
 " to ye ordinance of Parliament of ye 26th May 1644 in that case made and pro- 
 " vided. And all person and persons whatsoever are required quietly to permit 
 " ye said Mr. Brereton to officiate ye said cure and to have and enjoy all lawful 
 " emoluments and advantages of ye said rectorie as they will answer ye contrary at 
 " their peril."
 
 Notes. 48 1 
 
 "July 4th, 1646. Upon ye humble petition of Anne ye ^vife of Thomas Wright 
 " from whom ye rectorie of Wilmeslowe in ye county of Chester is sequestered it 
 " is ordered that ye said Mistresse Wright shall have for and towards ye mainte- 
 " nance of her and her children ye full clear fifth part of ye tythes rents Easter book 
 " of ye said rectorie from ye sequestrators thereof (all charges first deducted from 
 •' ye whole) unless good cause be shewn to ye contrar}' : ye said Mist. Wright 
 " yielding all due obedience to ye said sequestration." — Minutes of Committee for 
 Plundered Ministers, British Museum, Additional MSS. 15,669. 
 
 Page 286. — Stockport. 
 
 The following extracts from the minutes of the Committee for Plundered 
 Ministers give the names of two rectors of Stockport who followed Mr, Storer and 
 preceded Mr. Johnson, viz., William Slialcrosse a.nd Thomas Case. 
 
 "July 31st, [645. It is ordered that ye rectorie of Stockport in ye county of 
 " Chester void by ye death of William Shalcrosse rector thereof shall stand seques- 
 " tered to ye use of Thomas Case Master of Arts a godly learned and orthodox 
 " di\'ine, and member of ye Assembly of Divines; who is hereby appointed, and 
 " forthwith do officiate ye cure of ye said church as rector and preach diligently to 
 " ye parishioners there." 
 
 "August 19th, 1645. Ordered that Mr. Wheeler be desired to report from 
 " this committee ye ordinance of Parliament hereto annexed for conferring ye rec- 
 " tone of Stockport on Mr. Thomas Case." 
 
 "April i6th, 1646. Whereas Mr. Thomas Case rector of Stockport in ye county 
 " of Chester hath relinquished ye said rectorie and cure of ye said church in regard 
 " he hath another place with cure of souls; and doth desire that Thomas Johnson 
 "a godly orthodox divine may succeed him in ye said cure and rectorie; this 
 " committee think that ye said Mr. Johnson shall officiate ye cure of ye said parish 
 " and enjoy ye profitts thereof untill further order shall be taken by ye said Parlia- 
 " ment or committee. It is therefore ordered that ye said Mr. Johnson shall 
 " forthwith officiate ye cure of ye said church as rector and preach diligently to 
 " ye parishioners there.'' — Minutes of Cortwiittee for Plundered Ministers, British 
 Museum, Additional MSS. 15,669. 
 
 Thomas Case was son of Mr. George Case, minister of Boxley in Kent. He 
 graduated M.A. at Christ Church, Oxford. His first pastorate was at Erpingham 
 in Suffolk, out of which place he was forced by Bishop Wren's severity. From 
 Stockport he removed to S. Mary Magdalene, Milk-street, London, where he was 
 zealous in promoting the Morning Exercises. He was turned out of this li\ang for 
 refusing the Engagement. He was imprisoned six months in the Tower for Mr. 
 Love's plot, and was afterwards rector of S. Giles's-in-the-Fields. He was one of 
 the commissioners at the Savoy, and was silenced Avith his brethren in 1662. He 
 sur\'ived all the Dissenters who sat in the Assembly of Divines. He died May 30th, 
 1682, aged eighty-four. — See NeaPs Puritans, vol. vf., page 477; Nonconformist 
 Memorial, vol. i., page 153. 
 
 H2
 
 482 Nonconformity m Cheshire. 
 
 Page 287.— Stockport; Mr. Paget. 
 
 Thomas Paget belonged to the family of Paget of Rothley in Leicestershire. 
 He became minister of Blackley Chapel in the parish of Manchester about the 
 year 1600, for his name appears in a " platform" or ground plan of that chapel in 
 1603. He accepted the appointment of Blackley Chapel at the solicitation of the 
 Rev. William Bourne, Fellow of the Collegiate Church, Manchester, of whom 
 Hollingworth relates " that he laboured much and succeeded well to procure 
 " ministers to every chapel in the parish." Mr. Paget gives an account of " some 
 " prelatical proceedings exemplified mostly in the particulars of your humble 
 " advertiser who was called to the work of the ministry many years agone in such 
 " place of Chester diocese [Blackley] where he could execute his function without 
 " such officiating as is usually required of incumbents that take the cm-e in parishes. 
 " In process of time," he continues, " Dr. Moreton became prelate, who taking 
 "knowledge of divers Nonconformists in this diocese sent out letters missive to 
 " summon some of them to the High Commission Court then kept in Chester." 
 A letter of remonstrance on behalf of these Nonconformists, of whom Mr. Paget 
 was one, was delivered to the Bishop at Stockport, " he being not only Bishop but 
 " parson of Stockport, the greatest benefice in Cheshire." Mr. Paget and his 
 brethren were present at the reading of this letter, and the Bishop required his 
 arguments against the ceremonies. At first he declined disputation, but being 
 iirged he gave his arguments, and the Bishop acknowledged his own neglect to 
 study the controversy. Besides releasing him and his brethren, he commanded 
 each to produce his arguments against the ceremonies in writing, which they did ; 
 and these defences of Nonconformity were afterwards published. 
 
 Mr. Paget was not allowed to prosecute his ministry in peace. The wardens 
 of Blackley were admonished in 1622 to provide a book of Homilies and the 
 Articles of Religion, and not to suffer any to preach unless they were licensed under 
 the Bishop's hand and seal. In 1631 he was silenced by Bishop Bridgeman, and 
 in order to escape fine and imprisonment he fled into Holland, to Amsterdam, 
 where in November 1639 he became pastor of the English church. During his 
 residence abroad he edited the works of his predecessor in the charge, the Rev. 
 John Paget, first minister of the English church in Amsterdam. This was in the 
 year 1641. On returning to England in 1646 he was nominated to the rectory of 
 S. Chad's, Shrewsbury, which he- held until 1658. He died in October 1660, 
 rector of Stockport. Newcome (Autobiography, page 87) records how "an 
 " apparitor at Blackley, when old Mr. Paget was there, came in among the com- 
 " municants and took all their names, and bragged that he would present them all 
 " at the Visitation. The next Lord's Day when he was getting up, something as 
 " he thought gave him a dust on the neck; he fell immediately sick and died 
 " within two hours. Some godly men came in when he was dead, as neighbours, 
 " and providentially saw the paper and burned it; and so the mischief by him was 
 " prevented." The grandfather of Oliver Heywood was converted by hearing a 
 sermon preached at Bury " by Mr. Paget minister of Blackley ;" and continued till 
 his death an attendant on the ministry of Mr. Paget. (See Hunter's Life of Oliver 
 Heywood, page 8.) By his will (proved October i6th, 1660) Mr. Paget leaves his
 
 Notes. 483 
 
 property to his two sons, Nathan, a physician, and Thomas, in holy orders ; and 
 alludes to three daughters — Dorothy, Elizabeth, and Mary, entreating his cousin 
 Minshuli, apothecary of Manchester, to be supervisor of his will. Dr. Nathan 
 Paget was the author of a "Thesis on the Plague," printed at Leyden 1639, and 
 was an intimate friend of Milton and cousin to the poet's wife, Elizabeth Minshuli. 
 
 Page 299. — Mr. De la Rose. 
 
 The MSS. of the Rev. Joseph Hunter inform us that Mr. De la Rose of Stockport 
 was brother to John De la Rose of Sheffield, and that they were sons of a French 
 Protestant refugee. The following also, from Mr. Hunter's MSS., throws light 
 upon the controversy at Stockport. 
 
 " Copy of a curious paper respecting Mr. Samuel De la Rose, the minister of 
 " Stockport, formerly belonging to the Rev. Mr. Smith of Stannington : — 
 
 " November 15th, 1720. We whose names are subscribed did amicably agree to 
 " propose to Mr. De la Rose the following things, ist. Whether he is pleased to own 
 •' himself a candidate for a pastor amongst us, and will consent to be enquired into 
 " as to what concerns this affair by the reverend senior ministers in our neighbour- 
 " hood approved by the church? 2nd. If he refuses this, ^vill he be pleased 
 " amicably to consent that the church look out for another person to be their 
 *' pastor, for we earnestly desire one? 
 
 "Josh. Travis, Thos. Taylor, John Bancroft, Wm. Hunt, J. Dutton, Edwd. 
 " Stringer, James Hudson, Wm. Webster, Thos. Smith, Saml. Deane, Edwd. 
 " Benison, Thos. Benison, Joseph Lowe, John Hunt, Roger Walkden, Saml. 
 " Siddal, Henry Davie, Ralph Oldham." 
 
 " To those of the congregation who subscribed the two questions to me. 
 
 "Dear brethren and friends, — I am sorry your matters were no better laid 
 " together in your questions to me. You do in the ist deal unhandsomely by me, 
 " and seem not to have honourable thoughts enough of the reverend neighbouring 
 " ministers. The 2nd as to matter and manner is not by far well managed. But 
 " besides these things some of you who have put your names to the questions have 
 " not any power so to do, and the whole management has not been so serious, 
 " peaceable, and regular as it ought to have been in so solemn and momentous an 
 " affair. I do therefore, which I look upon to be most proper for you at present, both 
 " beseech and charge you to give yourselves much unto prayer, and to seek the Lord 
 " earnestly that you may not act unbecoming the holy and peaceable Jesus whom 
 " you profess to follow. But by the piety of your lives, your peaceableness in the con- 
 " gregation, and discreet management in the weight}' affairs that lie before some of 
 " you in conjunction with others, you may be enabled to adorn the doctrine of God 
 " your Saviour. And then in due time God will put something into the hearts of 
 " the members of the church to propose to me, and I trust I shall be the happy 
 " instrument of settling it in a more truly loving, honourable, and flourishing con- 
 " dition than ever yet it has been in. And that by your weakness and imprudence 
 " you may not render yourselves in particular altogether unworthy of such a blessing, 
 " is and shall be the constant fer^'ent prayer, and earnest steady endeavour of, 
 " your sincere and hearty well-wisherand servant in the gospel, Samuel De la Rose. 
 " December 26th, 1720."
 
 484 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 Then follow in the MS. four paragraphs out of Mr. De la Rose's sermon, 
 pages 4, 8, 10 ; and two censures from the neighbouring ministers, viz. : — 
 " FIRST CENSURE. 
 
 " Stockport, January 28th, 17??. 
 
 "Brethren, — We have seriously and impartially considered the sermon that 
 " hath been read to us, and we think ourselves obliged to declare that it containeth 
 " such doctrine as we apprehend we cannot safely preach to the people committed 
 " to our care. 
 
 "Jer. Aldred (Monton), Thomas Culcheth (Macclesfield), Michael Fletcher 
 " (Cross-street\ James Clegg (Chapel-le-Frith), John Heywood (Blakeley\ Wm. 
 " Perkins (Newton), Nichs. Waterhouse (Ringhay), Nehemiah Rayner (Gorton), 
 *' John Lightbowne (Allostock), Edward Thornton (Tinsel)." 
 
 " SECOND CENSURE. 
 
 "To the congregation of Protestant Dissenters at Stockport, — Whereas we 
 " have been credibly informed to our great grief, that some of our friends belonging 
 " to the Dissenting congregation at Stockport have very injuriously traduced our 
 " behaviour while among them, and have also put a sinister construction upon the 
 " judgment we gave upon the sermon which was read to us. by Mr. Samuel De la 
 " Rose the 25th January last, when we told them we thought it contained such 
 " doctrine as we apprehended we could not sajely preach to the people committed to 
 " our care, we do now declare that by those fore-mentioned words we neither 
 " meant that we were afraid of losing the favour of our people or their contribu- 
 " tions, neither was it that we did not comprehend the meaning of that doctrine, 
 " or understood the consequences of it, but because we thought, and do still think, 
 " that it was disagreeable to the doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ, and therefore 
 " false and dangerous to the souls of men. — With our own hands, Manchester, 
 " February i6th, l7iT-" (Signed by all the above except Mr. Thornton.) 
 
 Page 317. — ^JoHN Jones. 
 
 The following extracts from the minutes of the Committee of Compounding 
 Orders for Payment to Plundered Ministers, show that Mr. John Jones was for 
 some time minister of Charlsworth on the borders of Derbyshire. 
 
 " February 24th, 1655. Whereas we have received an order from ye Committee 
 " for Plundered Ministers dated ye 26th of December 1650 reciteing a former order 
 " of ye 20th of February 1649, whereby they granted 50/. a year out of ye tythes 
 " and profitts of ye impropriate rectorie of Glossop in ye county of Derby seques- 
 " tered from ye Countess of Aruudell and Surrey for increase of ye maintenance of 
 " such minister as ye said committee shall approve of, to officiate in ye chappel of 
 " Chaisworth within ye parish of Glossop in ye county of Derby aforesaid; and by 
 " ye said order of ye 26th of December 1650 they ordered ye said 50/. a year 
 " should from thenceforth be from trnie to time paid unto Mr. John Jones a 
 " godly minister then settled at ye said chappel (a copie, &c. ) it is ordered that 
 " ye Committee for Sequestrations in ye said county of Derby doe observe ye said 
 " directions of ye said order and proceed therein according to ye Act of Parliament 
 " of ye 31st of May 1650; this order being first entered with our Auditor. R. M., 
 "J. R., S. M., E. .W."
 
 Notes. 485 
 
 "June 14th, 1654. The like order [for Augmentation] for Mr. John Jones of 
 " Charlesworth in ye county of Derby, upon an order from y^ Committee for 
 " Approbation of Public Preachers, and dated 12th of June instant; directed to 
 " Derby." — Record Office, Domestic Interregnum No. 319. 
 
 Page 327.— Mr. Burgess. 
 
 "February 7th, 1770. Independent congregation of Stockport seemed intent 
 " upon giving me a call thither, but their hopes of succeeding were suddenly 
 " damped by the unexpected death of Mr. Shepley of Hatherlow, and upon very 
 " good grounds, for Hatherlow congregation, which is far larger than that at 
 " Stockport, gave me (so far as I know) an unanimous call to their place soon 
 " after. The very same day on which I returned an affirmative answer to Hatherlow 
 " call, a reverend brother informed me by letter that he was desired to make use 
 " of his best interests with me to remove to S. Helens. It is remarkable that 
 " Hatherlow and S. Helens were the two congregations which I had for several 
 " yeurs thought I could with more pleasure remove to than any other congregation 
 " whatever in case I left Whitworth." — From a MS. Diary of Mr. Burgess, copied 
 by y. Wilson, Esq., of Tunbridge Wells. 
 
 Page 335. — Cheadle. 
 
 "September 4th, 1646. Whereas Sir William Brereton and ye deputie- 
 " lieutenants of ys county palatine of Chester have in pursuance of an ordinance of 
 " Parliament of ye 26th of March 1644 sequestered ye rectorie of ye Parish Church 
 " of Cheadle in ye said county from Dr. Nicholls for his delinquency, to ye use of 
 " Thomas Gilbert a godly and orthodox divine; it is ordered that ye said order of 
 '•' ye said committee be confirmed and that ye said Mr. Gilbert doe officiate ye said 
 " cure of ye said church as rector and preach diligently to ye parishioners there, 
 " and that he shall have for his pains therein ye parsonage house glebelands and 
 " profitts of ye said rectorie." 
 
 "September 24th, 1646. Upon information that Humphrey Buckley, Esq., 
 " hath intruded himself into ye parsonage house of Cheadle in ye county of Chester 
 " sequestered from Dr. Nicholls to ye use of Thomas Gilbert, and deteyneth 
 " ye possession thereof from ye said Mr. Gilbert contrary to ye said order of 
 " sequestration; it is ordered that ye said Mr. Buckley doe forthwith deliver up 
 " ye said parsonage house and ye glebelands thereto belonging and ye quiet and 
 " peaceable possession thereof, or doe shew cause to ye contrary before this com- 
 " mittee on ye 7th of November next." 
 
 "May 8th, 1647. This committee doe appoint to consider of ye petition of 
 " Thomas Gilbert to whom ye rectorie of Cheadle in ye coiinty of Chester is seques- 
 " tered, on Wednesday next, ye first cause." 
 
 " May i2th, 1647. Upon consideration of ye petition of Thomas Gilbert to 
 " whom ye rectorie of Cheadle in ye county of Chester is sequestered it is thought 
 " fitt and ordered that ye former order of March 4th last procured in ye absence of 
 " ye said Mr. Gilbert be admitted and discharged and that Captain Buckley who 
 " retaineth ye possession of ye parsonage house and glebelands from him doe shew
 
 486 Nonconformity in CJieshire. 
 
 " before this committee by what right y* said Mr. Buckley layeth claim to ye said 
 "parsonage house and glebelands, on ye 24th of June next; and for ye better 
 " preparing of y® said cause for ye said hearing it is ordered that ye Committee of 
 " Parliament for Sequestrations for Maxfifeld hundred doe in ye meantime examine 
 " ye respective claims as well of ye said Mr. Gilbert as of ye said Mr. Buckley to 
 " ye said parsonage house and glebelands hearing and examining such witnesses as 
 " shall be on both sides produced therein and to certifie ye same to this committee 
 " before }e 24th of June. And it is further ordered that ye said Mr. Buckley doe 
 " forthwith upon sight hereof deliver and yield up unto ye said Mr. Gilbert ye keys 
 " of ye said church by him detained whereof he is not to fail at his peril." 
 
 "July 1st, 1647. Whereas there is no certificate returned to this committee 
 " hitherto from ye committee of Maxfield hundred in ye county of Chester to 
 " ye order of ye 12th of May 1647 in ye cause to them referred upon ye petition of 
 " Mr. Gilbert to whom ye rectorie of Cheadle in ye said county is sequestered con- 
 " cerning ye difference between ye said Mr. Gilbert and Mr. Buckley concerning 
 " ye parsonage house and glebelands mentioned in ye said order of ye 12 th of May ; 
 " therefore and for that ye said cause was by order of ye 4th of March 1646 by 
 " ye said Mr. Buckley his consent to admitt and confesse ye said Mr. Gilbert rector 
 "of ye said church ; it is therefore ordered that ye said order of ye 12th of May 
 " upon which there is no return made according to )e purport thereof (although 
 " ye time of ye said returne being ye 24th of June last is elapsed) be discharged and 
 " that ye aforesaid order of ys 4th of March shall stand and ye same is hereby 
 " ratified and confirmed." 
 
 "July i6th, 1647. Upon consideration had of y« examination returned from 
 " ye Committee of Parliament for Maxfield hundred in ye county of Chester in 
 " ye cause to them referred between Mr. Gilbert to whom ye rectorie of Cheadle 
 " in ye said county is sequestered and Mr. Buckley concerning ye parsonage house 
 " complained to be deteyned from him by ye said Mr. Buckley, which said exami- 
 " nations and ye said Mr. Buckley his answers were taken before ye time limited 
 " by order of ye 12th of May last, although by reason of ye distractions at that 
 " time could not be returned ; for that it appeareth by ye said examinations that 
 " Dr. Nicholls did recover ye said parsonage house at law in right of ye said rec- 
 " torie and accordingly held possessed and enjoyed ye same for more than twenty 
 " years together, till absenting himself about three years since ye said Mr. Buckley 
 " broke open ye door of ye said house and made forcible entrie thereupon without 
 " any proceeding at law but against ye said doctor; besides there were heretofore 
 " two verdicts given against ye said Mr. Buckley his claim before }• judges at 
 " Chester (as by a copie of ye said verdict under seal of ye court now produced 
 " appeareth) It is therefore ordered that ye said Mr. Gilbert shall have hold and 
 " enjoy ye said parsonage house with ye appurtenances and ye glebelands thereto 
 " belonging until he shall by due course of law be evicted notwithstanding ye former 
 " order of ye ist of July last. And ye said Mr. Buckley is required forthwith to 
 " deliver and yield up unto ye said Mr. Gilbert ye quiet and peaceable possession 
 " of ye said house together with ye keys of ye said Parish Church and ye glebelands 
 " thereto belonging and suffer ye said Mr. Gilbert quietly to enjoy them until he be 
 " legally evicted as aforesaid and this committee doe desire ye sheriff and justices 
 " of peace in ye said countie to be aiding and assisting to ye said Mr. Gilbert in 
 " his entering and taking possession of ye said house and glebelands and keys."
 
 Notes. 487 
 
 " October 6th, 1647. This committee have taken into consideration y« certifi- 
 •' cate of Henry Brook, Esq., sheriff of ye countie of Chester made in pursuance of 
 ** ye order of reference of y^ agth of July last whereby y^ said sheriff together with 
 " y« justices of peace were desired to settle Mr. Gilbert minister of y^ word in 
 " y8 quiett possession of y^ parsonage house of Cheadle in ye said countie deteyned 
 " from him by Captain Buckley, by which this committee are no way satisfied; 
 " for ye said detayner ye said Mr. Buckley having possessed himself of ye said 
 " house by force whilst ye same was in ye disposition of ye Parliament without 
 " everting by a due course of law ye possession thereof; And ye said Mr. Gilbert 
 " being ye minister of ye parish of Cheadle aforesaid ye said rectorie being seques- 
 " tered to his use by authority of Parliament; it is therefore ordered that ye said 
 " sheriff do put ye said Mr. Gilbert in ye quiet and peaceable possession of ye said 
 " house according to ye said order of ye 29th of July 1646, without prejudice not- 
 •' withstanding to ye said Mr. Buckley his trying of his title at law for recovery of 
 " ye said house; and in case ye said Captain Buckley shall refuse to deliver posses- 
 " sion as aforesaid, it is ordered that ye Sergeant at Arms of ye House of Commons 
 " or his deputie or deputies doe bring ye said Captain Buckley before this committee 
 "in safe custodie to answer his said contempt." — Minutes of Committee for 
 Plundered Ministers, British Miiseiim, Additional MSS. 15,670-71. 
 
 These consecutive minutes are interesting, not only as giving a chapter of local 
 history, but as illustrating the proceedings of the Ecclesiastical Committee and the 
 extent of its power. 
 
 Page 340. — DUKINFIELD. 
 
 George Fox the Quaker often Nnsited this part of Cheshire on his journeys, and 
 made several converts, some of whom had been connected with Samuel Eaton's con- 
 gregation. Fox wTites : — " Passing on I went among the professors at Duckenfield 
 " and Manchester, where I staid awhile and declared truth among them. There were 
 " some convinced, who received the Lord's teaching, by which they were confirmed 
 " and stood in the truth. The professors were in a rage, all pleading for sin and 
 " imperfection, and could not endure to hear talk of perfection or of a holy and 
 " sinless life. But the Lord's power was over all; though they were chained under 
 " darkness and sin, which they pleaded for, and quenched the tender thing in 
 " them." (George Fox's Journal, page 12.) " 1657. After this, returning to England 
 " [from Wales], we came to Shrewsbury, where we had a great meeting, and 
 " visited friends up and down the country in their meetings till we came to William 
 " Gandy's in Cheshire, where we had a meeting of between two and three thousand 
 " people as it was thought, and the everlasting word of life was held forth and 
 " received that day. A blessed meeting it was, for friends were settled in the 
 *' power of God upon Jesus Christ, the rock and foundation." (Page 231.) " 1666. 
 " We came into Cheshire, where we had several blessed meetings, and a general 
 " men's meeting wherein all the monthly meetings for that county were settled, 
 " according to the gospel order in and by the power of God." (foiirnal, page 391.) 
 
 To counteract the teachings of George Fox, Eaton published a small treatise 
 entitled " The Quakers Confuted ; being an answer to nineteen queries propounded 
 " by them and sent to the Elders of the Church of Duckinfield in Cheshire; by
 
 488 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 " Samuel Eaton, Teacher of the church of Christ heretofore meeting at Duckinfield, 
 " now in Stopport in Cheshire, 1653." The story of these " Nineteen Queries" 
 is told in the preface thus : — 
 
 " There was a certain man named Richard Waller, who was servant at a gentle- 
 " man's house near Stopport in Cheshire. This man fell in league with a woman 
 " servant in the same house, who stood related to us, and was a member of our 
 " society. She acquainted us, and sought our consent to the marriage. 
 " Upon the 5th June last, being the first day of the week. Waller delivers the 
 " paper of questions to me in their [the Quakers'] name in the face of the congre- 
 " gation, entitled 'The Quakers' Queries for some friends who call themselves 
 " 'elders of the Church of Christ meeting at Stopport, from some friends of the 
 " 'truth in Lancashire whom the world calls Quakers.'" 
 
 Eaton's book contains the "Copy of a letter which Richard Waller, a Quaker, 
 " sent to a gentleman's family near Stockport in which both he and his wife had 
 "been formerly servants; wherein he pleads for an absolute perfection and for 
 " quaking." Also " Copy of an Answer to the forementioned letter, written in 
 " the name of the church at Duckinfield now meeting in Stopport, and sent unto 
 " the wife of Richard Waller for the settling and establishing of her faith in Christ, 
 "being a member of the forementioned church." This letter begins "Sister 
 " Waller you are very precious to us, though your miscarriage from God hath 
 " been very great, " &c. It is subscribed " from the elders and some brethren of 
 " the Church of Christ meeting in Stopport in the name and on behalf of the rest : 
 " Samuel Eaton." 
 
 The Quakers published a reply to Eaton, entitled "An Answer to a book 
 " which Samuel Eaton put up to the Parliament, in which he saith he is a teacher 
 " of the Church of Christ heretofore meeting at Duckenfield now at Stopport in 
 "Cheshire; and he calls the title of his book Quakers Co7ifuted." 1654. The 
 authors of this book say " We hearing of a paper which was sent to a member of a 
 " church (as they call it) at Duckenfield or that way of which one Eaton is the 
 " pastor, and in that paper we find many slanderous speeches and false accusations 
 " against us whom the world scornfully calls Quakers ; we wrote some things to 
 " the paper and sent it back to the church (as they call it) and certain queries to 
 " be answered." Eaton's book is Christian and temperate, but this reply from the 
 Quakers is full of the coarsest abuse ; e.g. " O Eaton thou lyar ! O thou lyar ! 
 " Doth Satan transform himself into ministers of righteousness ? . . . 
 " Here I charge thee in the presence of Christ to be a lyar. O thou dark sot ! " 
 
 Cheshire Augmentations. 
 
 The following extracts from the Minutes of Commissioners for Compounding 
 deeds and settlements for Augmentation of Livings relate to Cheshire. The volume 
 IS arranged in counties, and is entitled A Book for all such settlements for Augmen- 
 tation of Ministers as have be^ti made by appointtnent of Parliament, and are 
 delivered over by the Cotnmissioners for managing the estates under Sequestration ; 
 unto the trustees appointed by order of His Highness the Lord Protector and his 
 couHsell, dated 2nd September itf^^ entitled An Ordinance for yf better Incouragement
 
 Notes. 489 
 
 of pfeaching ministers and for the uniting of parishes: 2ist December 1654. 
 John Thorowgood, Ri. Sydenham, E. Hopkins, Richard Yong, Ra. Hall, Jas. 
 Brock, John Humphry. 
 
 Chester. — Sir Richard Grosvenor of Eaton in ye said county by deed dated 
 y8 15th December 1646 hath settled y^ rectorie of Fame also Farndon of y^ value 
 of 130/. per annum upon George Booth, Esq., in trust for y^ ministers of such 
 places as ye Committee of Goldsmith's Hall shall appoint for ever. Consideration 
 1,300/. 
 
 Sir Orlando Bridgeman of y^ cittie of Chester by deeds dated ye 3rd March 
 1646 hath settled ye rectorie of Flenistall of ye value of 140/. per an. upon Sir 
 William Brereton and others in trust for ye ministry of such places as the gentlemen 
 for that citty shall advise, and "j^e said Commissioners of Goldsmith's Hall shall 
 approve of for ever. Consideration 1,400/. 
 
 Henry Biuibtiry of Stanney in ye said county gentleman, by deeds dated 25th 
 January 1646 hath settled the rectorie of Stoake of ye value of 25/. per an. upon 
 Sir W. Brereton and George Booth, Esq., in trust for the minister there and his 
 successors for ever. Consideration 250/. 
 
 Sir Thomas Smith of Hough in ye said countie by deeds dated y® 25th January 
 1646, hath settled ye Hospital of S. Andrew and certain glebe lands thereto 
 belonging of ye value of 1 10/. per an. upon Sir W. Brereton and George Booth, 
 Esq., for three lives in trust for ye minister of such places as ye Honourable 
 Committee of Goldsmith's Hall shall appoint. Consideration 1,200/. 
 
 Thomas Glasior of Lea in ye said countie gentleman by deeds dated ye 13th of 
 April 1647 hath settled ye rectorie of Shotzvick of ye value of 15/. per an. upon Sir 
 William Brereton and George Booth for fourteen years in trust for ye raising of 50/. 
 per an. for ye mniister. Consideration 315/. 
 
 Thotnas Chohnojidley of Vale Royal in ye said countie, Esq., by deeds dated 
 4th Maixh A.D. 1646 hath settled ye rectorie of Over upon Thomas Stanley and 
 others in trust for ye raising of 40/. per ann. for ye viccar of Over, 40/. per ann. for 
 ye viccar of IVkettenhall s.rx'l ye remainder upon ye minister of Whitegate for fourteen 
 years. Consideration 720/. 
 
 Robert Lord Viscount Kilmorey by deeds dated ye 14th of April 1647 hath 
 settled ye tythes of Wrenburie, Neuuhall, and Acton of ye value of 120/. per ann. 
 upon Sir W. Brereton and George Booth, Esq., in trust for ye raising of 50/. per 
 ann. for ye minister of Wrenburie, 40/. per ann. for ye minister of Burledam and 
 ye remainder for ye minister of Acton, and their successors for ever. Consideration 
 1,200/. 
 
 William Lord Brereton by deeds dated igth of January 1647 hath settled 
 ye rectorie of Brereton of ye value of 80/. per ann. upon George Booth, Esq., and 
 others upon trust for ye raising of 40/. per ann. for ye minister of Brereton and 40/. 
 per ann. for ye minister of Church Holme and their successors. Consideration 8co/. 
 
 Lawrence Winnington of ye Armitage in ye said countie gentleman by deeds 
 dated ye 17th March 1647 hath settled ye tythes of Goostrey, Twenlow, and 
 Blackden of ye value of 40/. per ann. upon Sir Willi-im Brereton and George Booth 
 in trust for ye minister of Goostrey and his successors for ever. Consideration 41 1/. 
 George Penruddocke of Broad Chalke in Com. Wiltes Esq. by deed dated 
 ye 13th July 1648 hath settled ye tythes of Bromborrowe and Brimstage of ye value 
 12
 
 490 Nonconformity in Cheshire. 
 
 of 80/. per anil, upon Sir William Brereton and George Booth Esq. for 18 years in 
 trust for ye raising of 40/. per ann. for y^ minister of Bromborrowe and 30/. per 
 ann. for ye minister of Eastham. Consideration 500/. 
 
 Thomas Leigh of Adlington in y® said countie, Esq., by deeds dated y^ i6th of 
 November A.D, 1648 hath settled ye tithes of Prestbury of ye value of 56/. per 
 ann. upon George Booth Esq. in trust for ye minister of Boseley and his successors 
 for ever. Consideration 560/. — Record Office, Domestic Interregnum 320. 
 
 The Rev. R. Frankland. 
 
 The Rev. Richard Frankland was born in the year 1630, at Rathmel, in Craven, 
 Yorkshire. He studied at Christ Church College, Cambridge. Oliver Heywood, 
 with whom he afterwards contracted a warm and enduring friendship, entered 
 Trinity College the same year that Frankland entered Christ College. Both were 
 born in the same year, and both professed to owe their spiritual life to the same 
 preacher — Mr. Samuel Hammond, Fellow of Magdalen College, and afterwards 
 ejected from a lectureship at S. Nicholas's, Newcastle. Calamy tells us that Mr. 
 Frankland was ordained on September 14th, 1653, and was given the living of 
 S. Andrew's, Auckland, eleven miles from Durham, by Sir Arthur Haslerigg. He 
 afterwards was nominated to the office of tutor in the college at Durham, projected 
 by Cromwell, but on the death of the Protector the project fell to the ground. In 
 1662, Frankland being ejected from his living, retired to his native village, where, 
 after the lapse of five years, he set up a private Nonconformist academy in his own 
 house, and the name of "George Lyddell, INIarch 8th, 1669, son of Sir Thomas 
 " Lyddell," stands at the head of the list of his pupils. In 1674 Mr. Frankland 
 removed to Natland, near Kendal, Westmoreland, still prosecuting his labours as 
 theological tutor. The enforcement of the Five Mile Act in 1683 obliged him to 
 remove further from Kendal, and in 1686 he transferred his academy to Atterclifife 
 near Sheffield. He returned to Rathmel again in 16S9, and continued the academy 
 till his death. Dr. Clegg, in his account of Mr. John Ashe (both of these ministers 
 were pupils of Mr. Frankland), gives the following testimony regarding his tutor : — 
 " The Rev. Mr. Frankland, M. A., had then under his conduct the most numerous 
 " and flourishing private academy in England, and he was, indeed, by great 
 " learning, ^nsdom, and an admirable temper, excellently qualified for that post 
 ' ' and service. In the space of a few years he had to the number of three hundred 
 " and upwards under his tuition, — some of them intended for the law, some for 
 " physic, but most of them for the ministry of the gospel; and I never knew a 
 " tutor so entirely beloved by them all, nor one that so well deser%'ed it. His 
 " unaffected gravity, sweetened with candour, meekness, and humility, procured 
 " him that esteem and veneration even from the most licentious, that made them 
 " ever afraid of grieving or offending him. Very few, indeed, of any persuasion 
 " conversed \\4th him but they respected and valued him; for he was a man of 
 " great moderation, of a truly charitable disposition, and studious to do good in all 
 " relations. Yet his great worth could not secure him from a great deal of dis- 
 " turbance and vexation, which was given him by the Spiritual Courts. He was 
 " frequently cited and prosecuted, and at last excommunicated, to the great preju-
 
 Notes. 49 1 
 
 ' ' dice of both the tutor and his pupils, as constraining him to remove frequently 
 " from place to place to keep out of their merciless hands; and his troubles were 
 " renewed and continued from year to year till his death. He died in 1698 [aged 
 " sixty-eight years]. I can never forget the manner and frame in which he left the 
 " world, being one of the numerous and sorrowful flock that then stood about his 
 " bed. His last breath was spent in taking leave of us, and most solemnly and 
 " affectionately recommending us to the favour of God, and to the conduct of the 
 " great Shepherd. The candid reader will forgive me this digression; I could not 
 ' ' forbear the payment of this small tribute of gratitude to one of the best of men, 
 ' ' my reverend tutor. " — Account of the Life of the Rev. John Ashe, by Dr. Clegg, 
 
 P<ig^^ 53. 54- 
 
 It is a significant fact that the only published work of Mr. Frankland is a Tract 
 against Socinianism, entitled Reflections on a Letter -writ by a nameless Author to 
 the reverend Clergy of both Universities, and on his bold Reflections on the Trinity. 
 4to. 1697. The following are Mr. Frankland's remarks regarding this pamphlet, 
 extracted from a MS. letter of his preserved in the hbrary of the British Museum : — 
 " That this work of mine, how mean soever in respect of its author, yet as designed 
 " in defence of the glory of our great God, Father, Son, and Spirit, against a 
 " scoffing adversar)', may find acceptance, shall be the earnest prayer of your ever 
 " endeared brother and servant in our Lord, RiCH. Frankland. Rathmel, 
 " March ist, l6<)().''— Letters of Divines, vol. ii., page 95. See Memoir of Frank- 
 land, with a List of his Pupils, by the Rev. R. B. Aspland, M.A. 
 
 Oliver He>-\vood, in the preface which he WTOte to Mr. Frankland's tract, 
 gives the following testimony regarding him. He says, ' ' The trinity of persons, 
 " and hypostatical union of manhood and godhead in Christ, being so fully 
 " revealed in Scripture, let us hold them fast, and contend for them as our freehold. 
 " This is the attempt and design of the ensuing treatise, which was put mto my 
 " hands by a very reverend and dear brother whose praise is in the gospel, who is 
 " better known to the world by the successful fruits of his indefatigable labours, 
 " sounding viva voce, than by legible characters in Scripture, having spent much 
 " time and strength in his peculiar pro\'ince, with much advantage to the church 
 " of God. His learning and capacity elevate him above his fellows, so that he 
 " needs no epistle of commendation from me or any other person; nor doth any 
 " (pruritus scribendi) itch of appearing in print prompt him to this undertakmg, 
 " but purely a zeal for God, his cause truth and glor\', and the preventing of young 
 " students being poisoned wvCn. soul-destructive errors, that have edged his upright 
 " soul and moved his able hand to this uncouth undertaking." 
 
 It must be remembered that the m.ajority of the first ministers of the Noncon- 
 formist chapels in the north of England, buUt on the accession of WiUiam III., 
 and under the protection of the Toleration Act, were Mr. Frankland's pupQs, and 
 shared his Trinitarian ^^ews. 
 
 Dr. Clegg gives the following account of "the method obser\'ed" in Mr. 
 Frankland's academy. "The whole famUy was called to prayer exactly at seven 
 " in the morning, summer and winter. About an hour after breakfast the several 
 " classes, according to their seniority, were called into the lecture room, and the 
 " tutor and his assistant continued reading lectures to them till noon. After 
 " dinner the students that minded their business retired to their closets till six at
 
 492 Nonconformity tn Cheshire. 
 
 " night, and were then called to prayers. After supper the most diligent and 
 " studious met, eight or ten in a chamber, to confer about their reading, and any 
 " difficulties they had met with in it, and one of them prayed before they parted. 
 " On Thursdays the students exhibited theses on such subjects as were given them, 
 " and disputed in publick on such questions as the tutor appointed. On that 
 " night, after supper, they had often disputations in their chambers on such ques- 
 " tions as they agreed to debate. On Saturdays, before the evening prayers, one 
 " read in public what was called an analysis, or methodical and critical dissertation 
 " on some verses of a Psalm or some chapter of the New Testament ; but this was 
 " not expected from any in their first years. After supper, on that night, they 
 " went in their chambers to confer on some practical subject, and concluded with 
 " prayer, which each performed in his turn, but only one of a night." — Life of 
 Ashe, page 55. 
 
 Two academies arose out of Mr. Frankland's — that of the Rev. Timothy Jollie, 
 Independent minister at Attercliffe, and that of Mr. John Chorlton, assistant to 
 Henry Newcome, at Manchester. Dr. Clegg remarks :—" Under him (Mr. 
 " Chorlton) it was that several of Mr. Frankland's pupils finished our studies 
 *• afterwards ; where, besides other advantages, we had opportunities of frequenting 
 " the public library in that town."
 
 INDEX OF PERSONS. 
 
 When a name occurs on two successive pages, the number of the first only is 
 given. Names of persons still living are omitted. 
 
 Adams, Parson, 171. 
 
 Adams, Randall, 75. 
 
 Acton, Samuel, Ixi, 117, 134, 474. 
 
 Addenbrook, Thomas, 201. 
 
 Ainsworth, Ralph, hai, 86, 168, 412. 
 
 Aldred, Jen, 37, 234, 484. 
 
 Aldvvorth, Mr., M.P., 468. 
 
 Anderton, William, 148. 
 
 Angier, John, 6, 11, 57, 146, 167, 169, 
 
 179, 226, 234, 310, 315, 321, 424. 
 Angier, Samuel, Ivii, 191, 292, 316, 344, 
 
 346, 356. 
 Anlezark, Robert, 241, 303, 337. 
 Ardeme, Dr., 64. 
 Arderne, Ralph, 57, 451. 
 Armitage, W., 41, 136. 
 Ashe, John, 292, 490. 
 Ashe, Simeon, 13, 166, 474. 
 Ashbrook, John, 478. 
 Ashton, Mr. (Sale), 368. 
 Ashton, Mr. (Knutsford), 416, 448. 
 Ashton, Solomon, 300. 
 Ashworth, John, 134. 
 Aspinall, Thomas, 373. 
 Aspinwall, Peter, 85, 167. 
 Astbury, Edward, 452. 
 Aston, Sir T. xvi, 163. 
 Auchincloss, Dr. 300. 
 
 BagsHAW, Wilham, Ivi, 15, 292, 323, 
 
 332, 352, 361, 363. 
 Bailey, John, 26, 28. 
 Baker, Mr., 51. 
 Ball, Benjamin, 13. 
 Ball, John (Whitmore), 21, 138, 166, 178, 
 
 474- 
 
 Banne, Dr., 199. 
 
 Banner, Richard, 71. 
 
 Barlow, Robert, 203, 283. 
 
 Barnet, Andrew, xlix, 197. 
 
 Barnet, Joshua, 197, 456. 
 
 Barrett, William, 209, 225, 289. 
 
 Bartle, James, 334. 
 
 Batley, Joseph, 335. 
 
 Becket, Mr., 140. 
 
 Bennet, Thomas, 160, 331, 348. 
 
 Bethel, Hugh, 69. 
 
 Birch, Eliezer, Ivii, 158, 270, 272. 
 
 Birch, Joseph, 373. 
 
 Bispham, William, 52. 
 
 Boardman, Gabriel, 469, 
 
 Bold, Edward, 441. 
 
 Bond, Wilham, 191. 
 
 Bonnyman, George, 95, 107. 
 
 Booth, Sir G., xiii, xxxvi, xxxvii, 1 16, 
 
 262, 370 — 376, 426, 489. 
 Bourn, Joseph, 158. 
 Bowker, Richard, 63, 151, 166. 
 Boyer, John, 49. 
 Braddock, Mr., 130, 132. 
 Bradley, John, 184, 476. 
 Eradshaw, Sir J., 103. 
 Bradshaw, Judge, 151, 262, 313. 
 Bradshaw, Mr. (Bradshaw Hall), 224, 228. 
 Bradshaw, Adam, 167. 
 
 Bradshaw, Henr}', 313. 
 
 Bradshaw, James, 15, 203, 214, 224, 229. 
 
 Bradshaw, Thomas, 365, 453, 455. 
 
 Breck, Thomas, 457. 
 
 Brereton, Sir W., xiii, 50, 116, 156, 261, 
 
 263, 370, 455. 468, 485, 489- 
 Brereton, Lord, 463, 489.
 
 494 
 
 Index. 
 
 Brereton, John, xlix, 203, 261, 267, 383, 
 
 480, 
 Brewen, Cahnn, 8. 
 Bridge, Thomas, 96. 
 Bridgeman (Bishop), x, 6, 97, no, 156, 
 
 441, 482. 
 Bridgeman, Dr. H., 49, no, 123. 
 Bridgeman, Sir O., xviii, xix, 9, 489. 
 Bridges, William, 52. 
 Briscowe, Michael, 436. 
 Brocklehurst, William, 276. 
 Bromfield, Mr., 149. 
 Brook, Peter, 429. 
 Brook, Thomas, 150, 153, 204. 
 Brook, Thomas (Stockport), 300. 
 Brooks, James, 349. 
 Brooks, Major Henry, 453, 468, 487. 
 Browning. J. H., 243. 
 Bruen, John, xviii, 56, 58, 60, 62, 83, 
 
 145, 164. 
 Bruen, Jonathan, 472. 
 Buckley, Captain, 485, 487. 
 Buckley, John, 151, 197. 
 Buckley, William, Ixi, 321, 347. 
 Bunbury, Henry, 470, 489. 
 Burger, Peter, 82. 
 Burges, George, 82. 
 Burgess, J., 327, 485. 
 Burghall, Edward, xx, 115, 119, 122, 142, 
 
 144, 473. 
 Burnham, Mr., Iviii, 402. 
 Burroughs, Hugh, 50. 
 Burroughs, Thomas, loi, I41. 
 Burroughs, Robert, 412. 
 Byfield, Nicholas, ix. 
 Byrom, John, Ivii. 63, 291. 
 
 Carr (or Kerr), Patrick, 140. 
 
 Case, Thomas, 481. 
 
 Cartwright, John, 66, 82, 140, 256. 
 
 Catherall, Randall, 200. 
 
 Catherall, Samuel, loi, 200. 
 
 Cawdrey, Zachary, 103, 142, 144, 187, 
 
 189. 
 Chadderton (Bishop), vii, 5. 
 Chadderton, Lawrence, viii. 
 Chadwick, George, 276. 
 Chapman, Richard, 63. 
 Checkley, George, 349. 
 
 Cheethiim, Isaac, 450. 
 
 Chetham, George, 401. 
 
 Chetwood, Sir J., 404, 412. 
 
 Chidlaw, John, Ixiv, 37. 
 
 Cholmley, Lord, xviii, 467, 
 
 Cholmley, Thomas, Esq., 478, 489. 
 
 Chorlton, John, 169, 234, 300, 492. 
 
 Clark, Josias, 103, 467. 
 
 Clark, Sabbath, xii, 58, 62. 
 
 Clark, Samuel, xii, 63, 73, 166. 
 
 Clarke, Essirius, 107. 
 
 Clayton, Matthew, 477. 
 
 Clayton, Dr. James, 292, 299, 323, 447, 
 
 484, 490. 
 Clayton, John, 334. 
 Clive, Lord, 4 14. 
 Cockayne, James, 365, 451. 
 Colefax, John, 478. 
 CoUey, Mr., 50, 104. 
 Colthurst, Thomas, 132, 447. 
 Cook, William, xxxvi, xlix, 21, 25, 28. 
 Cooper, Bristowe, 349. 
 Cooper, James, 173. 
 
 Cooper, John (Nantwich), 135, 147, 192. 
 Cooper, John (Hyde), Ixi, 349. 
 Cooper, Mr., 159, 4 14. 
 Cope, Joseph, I43, 151, 168, 187 — 191. 
 Cottingham, George, 53. 
 Cowper, Mr., 356. 
 Cresswell, Mr., 338. 
 Crewe, Sir John, 57, 103. 
 Crewe, John, Esq., 190, 386, 472. 
 Crofton, Zachary, 139, 475. 
 Crompton, Mr., 126, 168, 436. 
 Cromwell, Oliver, xxxiii, xxxv, 9, 19, 313. 
 Crowther, Thomas, 300. 
 Culcheth, Thomas, 87, 169, 235, 325, 484. 
 Cunningham, Mr. 452. 
 
 Dale, Roger, 344. 
 
 Davies, D. L., 347. 
 
 Dawson, Benjamin, 159. 
 
 Dearniley, William, 321, 385. 
 
 DeCourcy, R., 105, 135. 
 
 De la Rose, Samuel, lix, 158, 293, 299. 
 
 Delamere, Lord, 299, 433, 483. 
 
 Delves, Sir T., 130, 149, 476. 
 
 Dod, Dr., 152. 
 
 Dod, John, xo2.
 
 Index. 
 
 495 
 
 Done, Sir J., 55, 314. 
 Downham, John, 465. 
 DowTis, Andrew, 150. 
 Duckenfield, Col., 262, 34O. 
 Dunkerley, Daniel, 241, 300. 
 Dunster, Henry, 363. 
 
 Earle, Mr., 391. 
 
 Eaton, Dr., Ivii, l\-iii, 230 — 233, 292. 
 
 Eaton, Richard, xx, 399. 
 
 Eaton, Robert, 365. 
 
 Eaton, Samuel, xii, xvi, xxiv, xxxiv, 15, 
 
 65, 76, 81, 197, 203, 225, 274, 288 — 290, 
 
 340, 342, 465, 471, 487. 
 Eaton, Samuel (Allostock), 414. 
 Eaton, Mr. (Alford), 100. 
 Edge, George, 16 r. 
 Edge, Richard, Iviii, 85. 
 Edge, Thomas, xxxiv, 196, 199, 203. 215 — 
 
 217, 258. 
 Edgley, Samuel, 64, 123, 167. 
 Edwards, Leoline, 87, 191. 
 Edwards, Richard, 50. 
 Edwards, William, M.P., xiii. 
 Egerton, Dr., 1S7, 190. 
 Elcock, Ephraim, 64, 455. 
 Evans, Joseph, 173, 185. 
 Evans, William, 45, 106, 184, 303 — 305, 
 
 348. 
 
 FiLLiNGHAM, William, 159. 
 Finmore, William, 457. 
 Firtnin, Giles, 339. 
 Fisher, Samuel, 63, 166, 467. 
 Fletcher, Edmund, Ixi, 300. 
 Fletcher, Michael, 366, 484. 
 Fogg, Dr., 53. 
 Fogg, Robert, no, 123. 
 Foolowe, Joseph, 292, 323. 
 Ford, John, 178. 
 Ford, ]\Ir. (Ashton), 365. 
 Forshall, Samuel, I45. 
 Fox, George, 451, 487. 
 Fowler, Richard, xx, 142. 
 Francis, Arthur, 401. 
 Frankland, Richard, 490 — 492 
 Freckleton, Robert, 66. 
 
 Gamul, Francis, M.P., xiii. 
 
 Gardner, John, Ixi, 37, 87, 131, 275, 376, 
 
 414. 
 Garside, John, 27, 257, 463. 
 Garsyde, Samuel, Ixi, 169, 413, 464. 
 Gastrell (Bishop), 12. 
 Gates, Mr., 236. 
 Gelborne, Joshua, 52. 
 Gilbert, Thomas, 336, 485 — 487. 
 Glasior, Thomas, 489. 
 Glegge, William, 72. 
 Glendall [Glendole], John, xlix, 13, 26. 
 Glover, Thomas, 77, 471. 
 Goodman, Christopher, iii. 
 Grastie, Samuel, 66, 82. 
 Gray, Andrew, 355. 
 Green, James, 416, 452. 
 Green, John, 135. 
 Gregg, Mr., xlvi. 
 Gregg, Mr. (Malpas), 97, in. 
 Gregory, Cornelius, 147, 192. 
 Griffith, Henry, 139. 
 Griffith, John, 95, 102. 
 Grimstone, Sir Har., 442, 471, 477. 
 Grosvenor, Sir R., 466, 489. 
 Guest, Randal, 54. 
 
 Haines, Thomas, 131. 
 
 Hall, Ralph, 27, 442. 
 
 Hall, Mr. (Over), 179, 
 
 Halliley, Thomas, 164. 
 
 Flammet, George, Ixi, 170. 
 
 Hammond, Samuel, 490. 
 
 Handforth, John, 160, 337. 
 
 Hardie, Edmund, 223. 
 
 Harding, William, Ixi, 376. 
 
 Hardman, Samuel, 333. 
 
 Hardy, James, 299. 
 
 Hargreaves, Mr., 323. 
 
 Harris, John, 244. 
 
 Harrison, Major-General, 113, 119. 
 
 Harrison, Dr., xlvi, xlvii, 19 — 22, 25, 83. 
 
 Harrison, Peter, D.D., 336. 
 
 Harrison, Ralph, 3S9. 
 
 Harrison, R. (Sale), 366. 
 
 Harrop, Robert, 
 
 366, 389. 
 
 Har\-ey, John, Ivii, 28, 31 — 33, 66, 76, 85. 
 Har\-ey, Jonathan, 34. 
 Hassel, Mr., 144. 
 Hatton, Henr}-, 88.
 
 496 
 
 Index. 
 
 Haugh ton, John, 133. 
 
 Hawkes, J., 133, 159, 347. 
 
 Haywood, Rowland, 450. 
 
 Henr}', Matthew, Ivii, 29, 34 — 36, 83, 98, 
 
 125, 127 — 130, 139, 167, 180, 187, 190, 
 
 231. 234, 272, 321,451. 
 Henry, Philip, 1, 11, 95, 109—115. 
 Henshall, Peter, 138. 
 Henshaw, Hugh, 203, 215, 258, 480. 
 Herring, Julines, ix, xii, 138, 474. 
 Hewetson, William, 74. 
 Heyhurst, xMr., 215, 230. 
 Heyrick, Richard, 146, 257, 442. 
 Heywood, Oliver, 63, 166, 179, 269, 315, 
 
 35i>49i- 
 Higgison (or Higginson), Samuel, 115, 
 
 148, 184. 
 Hinde, William, vii, ix, xii, 144, 164. 
 Hitchin, Thomas, 106. 
 Holford, Thomas, 184, 476. 
 Holgate, Thomas, 334. 
 Holland, Dr. Adam, Ixi, 167 — 169, 180, 
 
 234, 321, 479. 
 Holland, John (Weaverham), 462. 
 Holland, John (Mobberly), 415, 452. 
 Holland, Thomas, 79. 
 Holland, Thomas, Ixi, 452. 
 Holland, Mr. (Denton), 344. 
 Holland, Robert, Iviii, 412, 413. 
 Holland, William, 97. 
 HoUingworth, Richard, 146, 214, 227, 257. 
 Holm, James, 316. 
 Holm, John, 479. 
 Holmes, Benjamin, 378. 
 Holmes, Mr., 443. 
 Holt, Thomas, 282. 
 Hooper (Bishop), ii. 
 Hopkins, Edward, 170. 
 Hopwood, Richard, 69, 469. 
 Hoult, Richard, 86. 
 Howe, John, 232. 
 Hudson, William, 359. 
 Hulme, John, 401. 
 Hulse, John, 164. 
 Hunt, Robert, 26. 
 Hunter, Joseph, 483. 
 Hunter, Robert, 365, 441. 
 Hutchenson, Thomas, 152. 
 Hutchins, William, 203. 
 
 Hutchinson, James, 51. 
 Hutchinson, Mr., 153. 
 Hyde, Mr., 302. 
 
 Iludge, George, 125, 129. 
 Illidge, Lieut., 120, 125, 129 — 131, 148. 
 Irby, Sir A., 126, 150. 
 Irlam, Thomas, Ivii, Ixi, 158, 192, 299, 
 321, 356, 376, 414- 
 
 Jackson, Richard, 124, 198. 
 James, John, 136, 138. 
 Jeffries (Judge), 1, 112. 
 Jenkins, Matthew, 66, 74, 471. 
 Jenks, Thomas, 148. 
 Jevons, W., 3S2, 389. 
 Jeynson, Thomas, 215. 
 Johns, William, 133, 378, 
 Johnson, Mr. (Stockport), 120, 286, 481. 
 Jollie, John, 203, 310, 312 — 316. 
 Jollie, Timothy, 272 — 274, 325, 492. 
 Jolly, James, xlvi, xlvii. 
 Jonas, Charles, 150. 
 
 Jones, Gamaliel, Ivi, Iviii, l.xi, 127, 129, 
 ■ 234, 292, 312, 315, 320, 324, 356, 392. 
 Jones, John, 54, 57, 87, 203, 317, 320, 
 
 484. 
 Jones, John (Junr.), 324, 326. 
 
 Keyes, Mr., 66, 72. 
 
 Kilmurrey, Lord, xviii, xix, 475, 489. 
 
 Kimber, Isaac, 117, 134. 
 
 Kingston, John, 237, 240. 
 
 Kirby, Mr., xlvi, 169. 
 
 Kirkes, Mr. (Acton), 122, 140. 
 
 Knowles, Francis, 133. 
 
 Knowles, John, 16, 18, 465. 
 
 Kynaston, Mr., 411, 446. 
 
 Kynaston, Thomas, Iviii, 167, 411, 445. 
 
 Lancaster, Nathanael, xviii, xx, 54, 149. 
 Langley, Samuel, xxxiv, 151, 198, 200, 
 
 202. 
 Langley, Thomas, xii, xxxiv, 7, 62, 145, 
 
 164, 166, 201, 214, 477. 
 Lassells, Brian, 75. 
 Lawrence, Edward, 125 — 129. 
 Lawrence, Samuel, Ivii, 86, 125 — 129, 169, 
 
 180, 191, 234.
 
 Index. 
 
 497 
 
 Lea, Tliomas, Ivii, Ixi, 87 — 89, 414, 447. 
 Leadbeater, Thomas, xlix, 198 — 200. 
 Lee, Thomas, Esq. (Darnhall), 89, 169, 
 
 179. 357, 402. . 
 Leigh, Peter, xlvi, 13—15, 25, 442, 465. 
 Leigh, Thomas (AcUington), 490. 
 Ley, John, xxii, 78, 152, 205, 399, 477. 
 Lightbown, John, 87, 414, 484. 
 Livesey, James, 365, 401. 
 Lord, Robert, Ixiv, 447. 
 Low, Samuel, 89, 169, 321, 446. 
 Lowe, George, 323. 
 Lowndes, Charles, 338, 379. 
 Lyons, James, 38. 
 
 Machin, John, 141, 155, 214, 279, 365, 
 
 405, 440. 
 Maddox, R., 133, 474. 
 Mainwaring, Henry, xviii, xix. 
 Mainwaring, Sir T., 95, 141. 
 Mainwaring, George, 95 — 97, 139, 141, 
 
 149. 
 Mainwaring, Roger, 103. 
 Mallory, Thomas, xxiii, 283. 
 Marbury, James, 162. 
 Marbury, WilHam, xviii, xix, 401, 426. 
 Marigold, John, 64, 104. 
 Marris, George, 160. 
 Marsden, Gamaliel, 73. 
 Marsden, Jeremiah, 72. 
 Marsden, Ralph, 72, 77, 471. 
 Marsden, Samuel, 66, 72, 470. 
 Marsh, Mr., 402. 
 Marsh, George (Martyr), 2 — 4. 
 Martindale, Adam, xxxi, 10, 71, 154, 164, 
 
 197, 228, 264, 315, 317, 365, 374, 391, 
 
 404, 417-437, 
 Masy, Henry, 13. 
 Maurice, Wilham, 170, 237, 302. 
 Maynwaring, Edward, 148, 196. 
 Mc.AU, Dr., 248, 306, 352. 
 Meanley, Richard, 132. 
 Meeke, Mr., 214. 
 Meldrum, John, 171, 330, 337. 
 Mercer, Edward, 140. 
 Mercer, Samuel, 349. 
 Midgley, Joseph, ix. 
 Millington, Gilbert, 475. 
 Milne, Richard, Ixi, 292. 
 
 Milton, Julm, 117, 183, 314, 481. 
 
 Minshull, Elizabeth, 117, 483. 
 
 Morton, Dr., 103, 472. 
 
 Moseley, Robert, Ivii, Iviii, 319, 384. 
 
 Moseley, Francis, 146. 
 
 Mottershed, Joseph, Ixi, 128—130, 414, 
 
 452. 
 Moxon, George, xxxiv, 1, 151, 155 ~ '57, 
 
 271, 477. 
 Murcot, John, 15, 18, 66, 71, 76, 81, 152. 
 Murrey, Jos., 37, 452, 466. 
 
 Newcome, Henry, xxxiv, xxxvi, il, 13, 
 62, 103, 119, 123, 143, 146, 152, 162, 
 164 — 166, 188, 196 — 199,201, 204—226, 
 229, 258, 263, 266, 279, 287, 289, 364, 
 
 373- 
 Newcome, Henry, (Junr.), 103, 152. 
 Newton, Lawrence, 14S, 184, 476. 
 Nicholls, Dr., xxiii, 335, 485. 
 Nicholls, Robert, ix, xii, 139, 474. 
 Nichols, Gabriel, 367, 377. 
 Norbury, Robert, 365, 463. 
 
 Oliver, Philip, 48. 
 Ottiwell, Joseph, 257, 475. 
 Owen, Mr., 87, 131, 414. 
 
 Paget, Thomas, ix, x, xii, xvi, 287, 474, 
 
 4S2. 
 Paget, John, x, 473. 
 Palmer, John, Ixiv, 235, 415. 
 Partington, John, Ix, 392, 
 Pearetree, William, xx, 13, 139, 476. 
 Pemberton, John, 13, 153. 
 Pendlebury, Jeremiah, 337. 
 Penruddocke, George, 470, 489. 
 Perrott, Thomas, Ixi, 87, 
 Peters, Hugh, 22. 
 Petre, Father, li. 
 Phillips, John, 170, 452. 
 Poole, Ralph, 68. 
 Poole, Hugh, 467. 
 Porter, Thomas, 146. 
 Pott, Nehemiah, 200, 259. 
 Preston, John, 254. 
 Priestley, Dr., 133, 389, 415. 
 Procter, W. T., 277. 
 Prynne, William, 7, 9.
 
 498 
 
 Index. 
 
 \ 
 
 Raban, James, 242. 
 RadclifTe, Benjamin, 192. 
 Radclifle, John, M.P., xiii. 
 Ravenshaw, John, xlix, 151, 197. 
 Reece, John, 160, 240, 395. 
 Reyner, Nehemiah, 366, 484. 
 Reynolds, John, 45. 
 Rivers, Earl, xviii, 442, 451. 
 Roberts, John, 100. 
 Robinson, J. (Middlewich), 173, 457. 
 Robinson, Ralph, 72. 
 Robinson, Dr., 329. 
 Roth well, William, 3. 
 Rowbottom, John, 159. 
 
 Sacheverell, Dr., Ix. 
 
 Sandford, Captain, 121. 
 
 Saring, John, xxiii, 123. 
 
 Savage, Mrs., no, 124, 130, 139, 197. 
 
 Scholefield, Nathanael, 172, 181. 
 
 Scholefield, Ratcliffe, 3S7. 
 
 Scholes, Jeremiah, 233. 
 
 Scholes, Nathanael, 168, 233, 321. 
 
 Scott, Jonathan (Captain), Ixiv, 40, 136 — 
 
 138. IS9> 171, 237. 241, 334. 394- 
 Seddon, R., 71, 316. 
 Seddon, William, xxiii, 70, 453. 
 Senior, Mr., 138, 360. 
 Shakerley, Sir G., xlv — xlvii, 257, 464. 
 Shalcross, William, 481. 
 Shaw, John, 455. 
 
 Shelmerdine, Francis, 203, 335, 351. 
 Shepley, James, 326. 
 Sherard, Mr., 103. 
 Sherlock, Dr., 82. 
 Shenton, W., 425. 
 Shipton, Samuel, xxiii, 278. 
 Sidebottom, John, Iviii. 
 Sidebottom, Silas, Ixi, 87, 139, 169, 191, 
 
 321, 387, 414. 
 Sillitoe, Randall, 161. 
 Silvester, William, 45, 105,184, 193 — 195. 
 Simpson, Isaac, 148. 
 Simpson, Samuel, 50, 52, 104. 
 Smith, Sir T., 466, 470, 489. 
 Smith, Mr. (Barthomley), 115, 143. 
 Smith, Mr. (Bowdon), 373, 420. 
 Smith, Francis, 472. 
 Smith, James, 300, 337. 
 
 Spurstowe, Dr., I46 
 Stanley, Sir J., 269. 
 Stanley, Thomas, 265, 489. 
 Steel, Mr., xlix, in, 214. 
 Stephenson, Nicholas, 26, 203, 279. 
 Storer, Arthur, 60, 286, 4S1. 
 Street, Benjamin, 37, 235. 
 Stringer, Gabriel, 124. 
 Stringer, Ralph, 224 — 226. 
 Stringer, Mr., Ivii. 
 Sunderland, Daniel, 145. 
 Swan, John, 141. 
 Swan Thomas, 141. 
 Swanne, John, 145. 
 
 Taylor, Gilbert, Ixi, 321, 356. 
 
 Taylor, Timothy, xxiv, 341 — 344. 
 
 Tetlaw, Reynald, 356. 
 
 Thomas, Zachariah, 123. 
 
 Thornton, Edward, 357—359, 452, 484- 
 
 Thorowgood, John, 489. 
 
 Tong, William, Ixii, 128, 444. 
 
 Travers, Robert, 86. 
 
 Tudman, Thomas, 188. 
 
 Turner, Francis, Ixi, 281, 403, 460 
 
 Turner, James, 106, 249, 285, 380, 448. 
 
 Turner, John, Ixi, 281, 447. 
 
 Turner, Kettleby, 442. 
 
 Turner, Samuel, 337. 
 
 Turner, William, 159, 414. 
 
 Turner, Mr. (North wich), 393. 
 
 Turton, William, 124. 
 
 Twemlow, Nathanael, 169. 
 
 Upton, Thomas, 13, 26, 478. 
 
 Valentine, Thomas, 452. 
 Vaughan, Richard, loi. 
 Vawdrey, William, 130, 413. 
 Venables, Col , 179, 402. 
 Venables, Peter, xiii, 10. 
 
 Walkden, Peter, 300. 
 
 Wallace, Charles, 382, 389. 
 
 Walton (Bishop), 9, 22. 
 
 Waterhou.se, Nicholas, Ixi, 87, 299, 325, 
 
 376, 386, 414, 484. 
 Watmough, James, 373. 
 Watts, Dr., 93.
 
 Index. 
 
 499 
 
 Watts, Mr., 75- 
 
 Weyerburton, Mr., 403, 460. 
 
 White, Ebenezer, 43. 
 
 Whitelegg, George, 377. 
 
 Whitfield, George, Ixiii, 135. 
 
 Whitney, Geoffrey, iv, 5, 116. 
 
 Whittingham, W., iii. 
 
 Wild, Robert, Ixv. 
 
 Wiidbore, J., 238 — 240. 
 
 Wilcoxon, Jonathan, 47. 
 
 Wilson, Bishop, 69. 
 
 Wilson, Dr. L., 299. 
 
 Wilson, Job, 43, 45, 105, 136, 162, 171, 
 
 180, 184, 241, 250, 337, 395—397- 
 Wilson, John, xlvii, 1, 27, 66—68. 
 Wilson, John (Junior), 68, 84. 
 Winnington, Lawrence, 489. 
 
 Withington, Peter, 37. 
 
 Woodcock, Thomas, 87. 
 
 Worsley, Ralph, 90, 257. 
 
 Worthington, Hugh, Ixi, 132, 272 — 275, 
 
 312,323- 
 
 Worthington, Hugh (Junior), 274, 276, 
 
 299, 388. 
 Worthington, John, 316. 
 Worthington, Nehemiah, 257. 
 Wright, Robert, 338. 
 Wright, Thomas, xxiii, 261, 267, 480. 
 Wright, Mr. (Bidston), 69. 
 Wright, Mr. (Harthill), xxiii, loi. 
 Wyrley, George, 284. 
 
 Yates, Mr., 383. 
 Yong, Richard, 489.
 
 INDEX OF PLACES. 
 
 Acton, 64, 115. 119— 122, 138, 473, 489. 
 
 Alderley, 263, 278—280. 
 
 Aklford, vii, 100. 
 
 AUostock, Ivii, Ixi, Ixv, 130, 162, 394, 
 
 412—417. 
 Alvandley Chapel, 451. 
 Appleton, 403, 454. 
 Ashbourne, 407. 
 Ashley Hall, 373, 387. 
 Astbury, xlix, 79, 151 — 155.205, 408, 477. 
 Audlem, 82, 140 — 142, 466. 
 
 Backford, 66 — 68, 467. 
 
 Baddiley, lOi, 141, 197, 476. 
 
 Barlhomley, xlix, 142, 187, 189. 
 
 Baschurch, 125, 129. 
 
 Bebbington, 68, 467. 
 
 Bidston, Ixvii, 69, 469. 
 
 Birkenhead, 90. 
 
 Blackley Chapel, ix, 452, 482. 
 
 BoUington, Ixv, 251. 
 
 Bosley, 256, 490. 
 
 Boughton, 48, 99. 
 
 Bowdon, xi, xlix, 369—382. 
 
 Bramhall, 283. 
 
 Brassey Green, Ixv, 147. 
 
 Brereton, 193, 401, 478, 489. 
 
 Broad Oak, 109, iii, 125. 
 
 Brombrough, Ixi, 19, 66, 83, 86 — 88, 412, 
 
 489. 
 Bucklow Hill, 437. 
 Budworth, xi, 398. 
 Bunbury, vii, ix, xix, 144 — 147. 
 Burleydam Chapel, 140, 489. 
 Burlon, 69, 469. 
 
 Caixot, 205. 
 r.aldecot, 200. 
 Cawk, 138. 
 •Chadkirk, Ivii, ixi, 316-327, 331. 
 
 Charlesworth, 484. 
 
 Cheadle, 335—338, 485- 
 
 Chelford, 216, 257—259, 480. 
 
 Cherry Lane, 455. 
 
 Chester, xlix, Ivii, Ixi. Ixiv, Ixv, i — 49, 67, 
 
 105, 115, 129,430. 
 Church Lawton, 161. 
 Churton Heath, 50, 104. 
 Coddington, loi, 105. 
 Congleton, Ivii, Ixiv, Ixv, 151 — 161, 170, 
 
 193, 205. 
 Coppenhall, 148. 
 Crewe, 142, 148, 192. 
 Cross Street, Ixi, Ixv, 366. 
 Cuddington, 184. 
 
 Daresborough, 461. 
 
 Darnhall, 176 — 180, 402. 
 
 Davenham, 162, 163. 
 
 Dean Row, Ivi, Ivii, Ixi, Ixv, 270 — 277. 
 
 Delph, 170, 359. 
 
 Denton, 98, 315, 320. 
 
 Disley, 338—340. 
 
 Doddington, 130, 149. 
 
 Drayton, 137, 170. 
 
 Dukinfield, xxiv, Iviii, Ixi, Ixv, 15—17, 
 
 160, 289, 340-348, 487. 
 Dunham, 199, 370 — 376. 
 
 Eastham, 70, 79, 470, 490. 
 Eccleshall, I43, 187. 
 Edale, 338, 340. 
 
 Faradon, 52, 466, 489. 
 
 Ford, 353, 362. 
 
 Frodsham, xi, 205, 422, 450, 476. 
 
 Gatley, 337, 338 
 Gawsworth, 203 — 217. 
 Glossop, hi, 354, ^62, 484.
 
 Index. 
 
 501 
 
 Goostrey, 153, 196, 199, 205, 489. 
 Gorton, xxxiii, 71, 311. 422 
 Grappenhall, 71, 453 
 
 Hale, Ixiv, Ixv, 383, 387, 390 
 
 Handforth Hall, 262. 
 
 Handley, lOi. 
 
 Harden Hall, 57, 81, 314. 
 
 Hargrave, 52, 104, 466. 
 
 Harthill, loi, 104, 141, 466. 
 
 Haslington, 87, 142, 144, 187, 189 — 194. 
 
 Hatherlow, Ixi, Ixiv, Ixv, 127, 160, 312 — 
 
 332. 
 Hazel Grove, 312. 
 Hefferston Grange, 461, 462. 
 Heswall, 66, 72. 
 Hey Head, 390. 
 Hill Chffe, Ixi, Ixv, 403, 459. 
 Hinckley, 19S. 
 
 Holmes Chapel, 197 — 200, 489. 
 Hyde, Ixi, Ixiv, Ixv, 348 — 350. 
 
 Ince, xi, 467. 
 
 Iscoyd (Flintshire), no. 
 
 Kermincham, 196, 201. 
 
 Killingsworth, 124. 
 
 Kinderton, 163, 164. 
 
 Kingsley, Ixi, Ixv, 451- 
 
 Knowles Green, 285. 
 
 Knutsford, xi, xvi, Ivii, Ixi, Ixiv, Ixv, 84, 
 
 89, 128, 132, 158, 167, 173, 213, 437— 
 
 450- 
 
 LiSCARD, 93. 
 
 Lostock — see AUostock. 
 
 Lymm, Ixv, 454. 
 
 Macclesfield, xi, Ivii, Ixi, Ixiv, Ixv, 168, 
 
 223—2551 292, 321, 479. 
 Malpas, 1, 95 — 100, no, '139, 141, 149, 
 
 152. 
 Manchester, Isi, 217 — 222, 492. 
 Marbury, 150. 
 
 Marple Bridge, 317—319. 332— 335 • 
 ^larple Hall, 313. 
 Mcar, 27, 442. 
 Mcllor Chapel, 319. 
 
 Middlewich, Ixi, 151, 162, 164, 170—175, 
 
 181, 184, 463, 477. 
 Mill Brow, 332. 
 Millington, 450. 
 Milton [or Milneton], 183. 
 Minshull, 148, 173, 175, 183—185, 476. 
 Minshull Vernon, 183. 
 Mobberley, 283, 449. 
 Moreton Chapel, 69, 153. 
 Morston, 50. 
 Mottram, xi, 350 — 353. 
 Moulton, 162. 
 
 Nantwich, xi, Ivii, Ixi, Ixv, 105, n5, 
 n8, 121, 123—127, 129, 131— 133, 137, 
 144, 184, 198, 414, 473, 477. 
 
 Neston, 72, 470. 
 
 Norbur)', 310—312. 
 
 Northenden, 363. 
 
 Northwich, xi, xxv, Ixi, Ixiy, Ixv, 105, 170, 
 1 84, 220, 390—398, 430. 
 
 Over, 173, 175, 177—183, 478, 489. 
 
 Park Gate, 66, 456. 
 Partington, Ixi, Ixv, 376 — 380. 
 Peover, 173, 462. 
 Peover, Nether, 463. 
 Plemondstall, 53, 489. 
 Prestbury, 255, 256, 480, 490. 
 Puddington, 23. 
 Pulford, 54. 
 
 RiNGWAY, Ivii, Ixi, 269, 273, 320, 382 — 
 
 390- 
 Rosthern, 154, 417 — 437. 
 Rowley, 124. 
 Rudheath, 162. 
 Runcorn, 456 — 459. 
 
 Sandbach, xlix, 105, 142, 184, 186, 
 
 187 — 196. 
 Shocklach, 102. 
 Shotvvick, 73, 470, 489. 
 S. Andrew, Hospital of, 489. 
 Stoak, 470, 489. 
 Stockport, x, Ixiv, Ixv, 170, 197, 286 — 
 
 310, 481, 488. 
 Swettenham, 165, 200—202.
 
 502 
 
 Index. 
 
 TarporLEY, xi, xviii, 54, 57, 147. 
 
 Tarvin, vii, xi, 58, 61, 144. 
 
 Tattenhall, 103, 106, 144, 184, 472. 
 
 Thehvall Chapel, 461. 
 
 Thornton-in-the-lMoors, 63, 167. 
 
 Threapwood, 100. 
 
 Thurstaston, 75. 
 
 Tilstock, 123. 
 
 Tilston, 106, 107. 
 
 Tintwistle, Ixi, Ixiv, Ixv, 87, 352 — 361. 
 
 Upton, Ixi, 66, 83—88. 
 Utkinton, 55, 57, 318. 
 
 Vale Royal, 176 — 178, 317. 
 
 Wallasey, 28, 75. 
 
 Warburton, 403, 456. 
 
 Warford, Ixi, 280 — 283. 
 
 Warrington, xxxi, Ixi, 113, 126,402, 453. 
 
 Waverton, 64 — 104. 
 
 West Kirby, 18, 76, 79, 82, 341, 471. 
 
 Waverham, 141, 177, 178, 404, 461, 463. 
 
 Waverton, 64. 
 
 Wettenhall, 478, 489. 
 
 Wheelock, Ixi, Ixv, 87, 191 — 193, 195. 
 
 Whitchurch, iio, 113, 133, 137, 141, 407. 
 
 Whitegate, 179, 451, 489. 
 
 Whitewell Chapel, loi, in. 
 
 Whitley, Ivii, 86, 156, 320, 404 — 412, 421. 
 
 Wilmslow, 260—270, 277, 480. 
 
 Wincham, 179, 402. 
 
 Wincle, 259, 260. 
 
 Wirrall, Ivii, 65, 83, 86, 199. 
 
 Wistaston, 150. 
 
 Withington, 63, 2i6, 259. 
 
 Wollerton, 137. 
 
 Woodchurch, 82. 
 
 Woodhead, 353. 
 
 Woodhey, 82, 122, 140. 
 
 Worthenbury, 29, 96, 108, III. 
 
 Wrenbury, 95, 122, 124, 136— 1 40, 142, 
 
 197. 474, 489- 
 Wybunbury, xlix, 134, 148, 476.
 
 INDEX OF SUBJECTS. 
 
 Act of Uniformity (1662), xxxix — xli. 
 Agreement of the People, xxviii. 
 Allowance of Fifths to Sequestered Clergj', 
 
 52, 77, 188, 278, 476, 480. 
 Arian Controversy, Ixii. 
 Attestation of Cheshire Ministers, xxv — 
 
 xxNdii. 
 Augmentation of Ministers' Incomes, 266, 
 
 466, 467, 470, 471, 473. 475—478- 
 Articles, v, vi, viii. 
 
 Baptismal Covenant — P. Henry's, 1 10. 
 Baptists, Early, in Cheshire, 459. 
 Bartholomew Day (1662) : — 
 
 At Acton, 121. Manchester, 219. 
 
 Chester, 22, 25. Rosthern, 432. 
 
 Denton, 315. Stockport, 287. 
 
 Macclesfield, 227. Worthenbury, 109. 
 Bishops of Chester, vii, ix, li, i — 12. 
 Book of Sports, ix, 288. 
 
 Charter of Chester, 32, 33. 
 
 Cheshire Association of Ministers (1653), 
 
 xxxii, xxxiii, 213, 264, 428. 
 Cheshire Association of Ministers {1691), 
 
 Iv— lix, 84, 86, 89, 114, 132, 158, 230, 
 
 264, 271, 292, 298, 320, 363, 384. 
 Cheshire Congregational Union (1806), 
 
 Ixv, 304, 396. 
 Cheshire Petition against Episcopacy, xiv. 
 Cheshire Petition for Episcopacy, xv. 
 Cheshire Rising, xxxvi, xxxvii, 260, 340, 
 
 351, 371, 429. 
 Civil War in Cheshire, xvii — xix, 55, 116 — 
 
 121, 142, 149, 163, 188. 
 Committee for Plundered Ministei-s, xx, xxi. 
 Committee for Compounding Orders, xxi. 
 Cole's Irish Commission, 5. 
 Confirming and Restoring Ministers (1660), 
 
 xxxviii, 267, 429. 
 Conventicle Act, xlii, 112, 220. 
 
 Comprehension Bill, liii. 
 Communion, Candidates for, Ivii, 196, 208. 
 Communion, Mode of Administration, 232. 
 Covenant, xxii, 10, 146, 206, 315. 
 Courts of Star Chamber and High Com- 
 mission, 7 — 9, 14, 77, 143. 
 
 Declaration of Indulgence [1672], xlviii, 
 xlix, 23, 29, 53, III, 198, 220, 362, 434. 
 
 Declaration ofLiberty of Conscience [1687], 
 li, 113, 124, 222. 
 
 Directory of Worship, xxiv. 
 
 Disfigimng of Churches, i, 61, 223, 264. 
 
 Dissenting Academies, 490 — 492. 
 
 Ejected Ministers in Cheshire, xlii, Ixvi. 
 Engagement, The, xxix — xxxii, 10, 22, 
 
 63, 139, 146, 197, 206, 315, 336, 401, 
 
 426, 451, 473, 475, 481. 
 Engagement, Reasons for Signing or 
 
 Refusing, xxxi, xxxii. 
 Et Caetera Oath, xii. 
 EvangeUcal Movement, Ixiii. 
 Ex Officio Oath, \i. 
 
 Feoffees, xi. 
 
 Five Mile Act, xlii, xliii, 23, 27, 156, 198, 
 220, 229. 
 
 Hyper-Calvinism, Controversy upon, 
 iix, 293 — 298. 
 
 Independency, Rise of, xxii, xxiv, 209, 
 225, 261, 340—342, 423, 427. 
 
 Ingenious De\'ice for Recollecting Scrip- 
 ture, 60. 
 
 Institution to Livings, Form of, 205. 
 
 Licences in Cheshire (1672), xlix. 
 Long Parliament, xiii.
 
 504 
 
 Index. 
 
 Maypole at Rosthein, 1 54. 
 Millenary Petition, viii. 
 Missions, Indian, 209. 
 Missions, Virginia, 19. 
 Monasteries and Priories : — 
 
 Bangor, 108. Combermere, 140. 
 
 Birkenhead, 90. Vale Royal, 176. 
 
 Chester, i. 
 
 Neonomian Controversy, lix. 
 Neutrality Condemned, xix, 372. 
 Nonconformist Intelligencers, xliii. 
 Nonconformist Preachers, xliv. 
 
 Occasional Conformity, Ix. 
 Ordination, Certificates of, 78, 168, 257, 
 
 351- 
 Ordination, Importance attached to, 258, 
 
 272. 
 Ordinations : — 
 
 Angier, 344. Mosley, 146. 
 
 Bagshaw, 362. Mottershed, 129. 
 
 Bond, 191. Murcot, 78, 152. 
 
 Bowker, 167. Newcome, 165. 
 
 Byrom, 292. Nicholls, 377. 
 
 Dearniley, 385. Ottiwell, 257. 
 
 Edge, R., 85. Partington, 393. 
 
 Edge, T., 258. Scott, 137. 
 
 Edwards, 87. Sidebottom, 191. 
 
 Garside, 169. Swan, 141. 
 
 Harding, 376. Tetlaw, 356. 
 
 Hardy, 299. Thornton, 357. 
 
 Henry, 3r. Travers, 86. 
 
 Holland, 167, 234. Twemlow, 169. 
 
 Jones, 136. Vawdrey, 413. 
 
 Marsh, 348. Waterhouse, 386. 
 
 Martindale, 426. Wilson, 395. 
 
 Meanley, 132. Worthington, 272. 
 Orthodoxy of Early Dissenters, liii, Ixiii, 
 
 30, 35, 40, 334, 412, 416, 491. 
 
 Pacification, Treaty of, xix, 372. 
 
 Penal Proceedings against Nonconformists, 
 xlv — xlvii, 2, 7 — 9, 10, 28, III, 139, 
 166, 198, 310, 375, 387, 391, 430. 
 
 Petition of Cheshire Independents fur 
 
 Liberty of Conscience, xxiv. 
 Plundered Ministers, xviii, xx. 
 Presbyterian Church Government, v, 422. 
 Private Days, 210 — 213. 
 Prophesyings, vi. 
 Protestants in Piedmont, Collection for, 
 
 265. 
 Puritanism, Rise of, ii, v. 
 Puritans, Learning of, 78, 85, 102, 21 4, 
 
 405, 408. 
 
 Quakers, ho, 121, 201, 319, 451, 487. 
 
 Reformation Lectures, 35, 62, 168, 231, 
 
 321. 
 Remonstrance, The Grand, xvi. 
 Revision of Prayer Book, xvi, xxxviii, 
 
 xxxix. 
 Royalist Troops, Conduct of, xviii, 142, 
 
 163, 421. 
 Rye House Plot, 221. 
 
 Sabbaths, Puritan, 24, 56, 126, 286. 
 
 Savoy Conference, xxxxnii. 
 
 Scandalous Ministers, Commission for 
 
 Remo\ang (1654), xxxiv, 213. 
 Schism Bill, Ix. 
 
 Sequestered Clergy, xxii, xxiii. 
 Social Life, Illustrations of (17th Century), 
 
 56, 59, 80, 155, 180, 207, 418—421, 
 
 432— 434> 469- 
 Synod of Dort, ix. 
 
 Test Act, 1. 
 
 Theses, Ordination, 87, 168, 325, 347, 
 
 349> 376, 385> 393. 4i3. 452- 
 Toleration Act, lii. 
 Toleration Act, Enlargement of, Ixiv. 
 Tory Riots, Ix, 158. 
 Triers, The, xxxiv, xxxv, 289, 453. 
 
 Voters for Cheshire (1717), Ixi. 
 
 United Ministei-s, Agreement of, liv. 
 
 Westminster Assembly, xxii. 
 
 Manchester : Printed by A. Ireland and Co., Pall Mall Court.
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 Page 29, line 9, for " Wybiinbury," read " Worthenbury. " 
 151, ,, 8, for "Thomas Cope," read "Joseph Cope." 
 220, ,, 22, for " 1644," read " 1664." 
 222, lines 12 and 13, for " 1686," read " 1687." 
 307, line 15, for "70,000," read "40,000." 
 327, ,, 20, for "John Burgess," read "James Burgess. 
 329, ,, 19, for " Philli[)ians," read " Philippians." 
 
 N.B. — Since the foregoing pages were in type the Rev. W. B. Mac\Yilliam 
 has removed from Middlewich to Altrincham; the Rev. C. 'Chapman has 
 removed from Chester to Bath ; the Rev. R. C. Lumsden has come to Cheadle ; 
 the Rev. S. W. Mc.All lias accepted an invitation to Finchley.
 
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