HARF-STREET.-General Baptist.

parent churches, was not of long duration. For, by a memorandum dated February 27, 1693, it appears that the rite of laying on of hands had been dispensed with as to some members who had been admitted at Hart-street, a circumstance sufficient to excite the alarm of the other five churches, and after many fruitless admonitions, eventually to dissolve the union. After this event, the church in Hart-street was left in a great measure to shift for itself. But it possessed within its own boundaries resources sufficient to meet every difficulty; and it was not long before that worthy and eminent man, Mr. John Piggott, then a member, was called to preside over the church, in the relation of pastor. He was followed by a succession of ministers, none of whom died in connexion with this society. The church broke up about the month of April, 1738, after it had existed about forty-six years. Most of the remaining members united with the church in White's-alley.

The following is a list of the ministers who served the church in Hart-street, with the time of their settlement and removal.

JOHN PIGGOTT.-This excellent man, like his illus. trious friend Mr. Joseph Stennett, commenced his ministry in connexion with the General Baptists, and though he

HART-STREET.-General Baptist, Extinct.

afterwards united himself with those of the particular persuasion, yet he preserved through life that moderation of temper and conduct which is so congenial with true worth. Mr. Piggott became the first pastor of the church in Hartstreet about the year 1693, and continued in that relation till the close of 1699, when some circumstances which are not particularly specified, induced him to withdraw from that connexion, and a very considerable part of the congregation separated with him. It is probable that about this time his preaching became more decidedly Calvinistical; for it seems, he was charged with supporting by his vote, a proposition "to change the faith and discipline of the church." Imme diately upon this breach, Mr. Piggott and his friends engaged another building for the purpose of carrying on the worship of God, in Little Wild-street, where he continued to preach with great acceptance and success till the time of his death, as we shall relate more particularly when we come to speak of him under that article.

NATHANIEL FOXWELL.-Notwithstanding the above breach, which made a considerable depression in the affairs of this society, yet it was not long before it became reinstated upon its former principles. For this purpose, application was made to the church in White's-alley, and to other churches in the same connexion, for assistance. It seems, that, at the time of the separation, there was another minister who officiated as assistant to Mr. Piggott, and preached chiefly in the forenoon. This was Mr. Nathaniel Foxwell, who came from Norwich. Upon Mr. Piggott's departure, he was invited to take upon him the pastoral charge, which he declined. The church in White's-alley having conceived some dislike to him, though upon what account is not mentioned, he was dismissed from being morning preacher in Hart-street, December 29th, 1700. Mr. Foxwell will again fall under our notice in the progress of this work.

HART-STREET.-General Baptist, Extinct

JOSEPH JENKINS.-The church in Hart-street was without an elder till the latter end of 1702, when Mr. Joseph Jenkins was chosen to that office. He was originally a member at White's-alley, and had been for some time an occasional preacher to that church. He appears to have been held in great esteem, and it was not without some difficulty, and till after repeated applications, that they were induced to part with him. Mr. Jenkins continued about seven years in this connexion; but in the year 1709, resigned his charge, and accepted a call from the congregation at High-hall, Cow-lane, a place that has been already mentioned in this work. From thence he removed to the Park in Southwark, where he will again fall under our notice.

BENJAMIN INGRAM.-After the departure of Mr. Jenkins, the congregation was for some considerable time without a pastor. It is not quite ascertained who was his immediate successor, but the next name that occurs upon our list is that of Mr. Benjamin Ingram. We know but very little concerning this gentleman. He was certainly here in 1717, and continued pastor of the church in Hartstreet till the latter end of 1723, when he removed to take charge of another society of the same persuasion in Fairstreet, Horsleydown.

JAMES SMITH-Mr. Ingram was succeeded in the eldership at Hart-street, sometime in the year 1724, by Mr. James Smith. We know nothing respecting this person, excepting that he continued his relation to this society, till the church broke up about April, 1738. He then joined in communion with the church in White's-alley, and assisted in the ordination of Mr. Ashworth, at that place, July 3, 1740. Mr. Smith survived the dissolution of his church several years.

JOSEPH EADES.-This gentleman is introduced in the

ADELPHI.- Baptist, Extinct.

capacity of assistant to Mr. Smith, which office he sustained for a few years. His name occurs in a manuscript list of Dissenting ministers in London, in the year 1727, and which is now before us. In the year 1728, or near upon that time, Mr. Eades removed to take charge of a General Baptist Society at Saffron Walden, in Essex, where he continued to preach upwards of forty years, and died greatly respected, November 26, 1769. He was a worthy and pious man, and possessed respectable talents for the ministry. He is not to be confounded with another person of the same name, who preached in Ratcliff-highway, and will be mentioned in his proper place.

It is probable that the church in Hart-street had various other ministers who officiated in the capacity of assistants, but their names have not reached us. The preceding account is much more particular than could at this time of day have been well expected.

ADELPHI.

BAPTIST.-EXTINCT.

THE Chapel in James-street, Adelphi, was built by some persons of the Particular Baptist denomination who separated from the church in Grafton-street, upon the choice of the Rev. John Martin to succeed Mr. Messer, in 1774. They assembled for the first two or three years in an auctionroom, in Berwick-street, Soho, and were supplied by various ministers. About the year 1777 they erected the present chapel, and after a few years chose Mr. John Sandys, from Shrewsbury, for their pastor. Under his ministry they continued but a few years, and never chose a successor.

ADELPHI.—Baptist, Extinct.

After remaining for some time in a destitute state, and their numbers continuing to decline, they determined to dissolve their church union, and separated about the year 1789. The meeting-house was afterwards sold to some Calvinistic Methodists, who have occupied it ever since. Fifty pounds of the money produced by the sale was presented to the Baptist fund by the hands of Mr. Aaron West. The new managers having fitted up the chapel with an organ and a reading-desk, invited Mr. John Henry Meyer, and Mr. Thomas Harper, to conduct the public worship, which they continued to do for a short time jointly; but Mr. Harper being requested to settle there wholly, continued the resident minister for about two years and a half. In 1791, the managers wishing to have the place regulated according to the plan of Tottenhamcourt Chapel, by an alternate change of ministers, they offered to Mr. Harper the situation of prayer-reader and occasional preacher, which, however, he refused; and their connexion was in consequence dissolved. The place is now managed agreeably to this plan, and the seats are ticketed in the manner usual in places of the same description.

Of Mr. Sandys, we will present the reader with the following brief account.

a

JOHN SANDYS was born in the month of September, 1749, at Ulverstone, in Lancashire. At about seventeen years of age, he was sent to Mr. Ryland's academy at Northampton. From thence he removed to London, to be under the tuition of the Rev. William Clarke, who trained few young men to the ministry in his own house at Dockhead. At the close of his studies he went to Colchester as a probationer, and remained there five or six weeks, but did not accept the call of the people to become their pastor. He then went to Shrewsbury, where he was ordained, and continued about seven years. In 1781, or the following year, he removed to London, and took charge of the congregation in the Adelphi. His next removal was to Wat VOL. IV.