WINCHESTER-HOUSE-Particular Baptist, Extinct. JOHN HUMPHRIES.-Dr. Watson was succeeded, after an interval of a few months, by the present pastor, Mr. John Humphries. He is a native of Bromsgrove in Worcestershire, and received his education at Homerton academy. For about five years he was settled at West Bromwich, where he succeeded the late Rev. Thomas Robins. Being recommended to the church in Deadman's-place by several ministers in London, he received a call to settle there in October, 1783; and on the 3d of March, 1784, he was set apart to the pastoral office there. Dr. Fisher began the service with prayer, Dr. Addington delivered the introductory discourse, Dr. Gibbons prayed, Mr. Barber preached, and Mr. Towle concluded. A short time after Mr. Humphries' settlement, a new meeting-house was built for him in Union-street, where he now preaches. A few years ago he opened an academy at Newington, where he teaches classical learning. WINCHESTER-HOUSE. PARTICULAR BAPTIST.-EXTINCT. WINCHESTER-HOUSE, near St. Mary Overies Dock, ter. was originally a palace belonging to the Bishops of WinchesIt was erected about the year 1107, by William Giffard, bishop of that see, who transmitted it to his successors for their town mansion. In process of time they transferred their residence to the court end of the town, when this ancient building was converted into warehouses and dwellinghouses. After the Revolution, a part of it was formed into a place of worship, for the use of a society of Particular Baptists. In 1692, we find this church united with the WINCHESTER-HOUSE-Particular Baptist, Extinct. general assembly in London; at which time, Mr. Richard Baxter, and Mr. David Towlers, were the joint elders. Of these persons we know nothing, excepting that they appear to have been fifth monarchy men, and to have been far gone in enthusiasm. The former published a book with a quaint and disgusting title,* which we mention because it has been attributed falsely to the famous Mr. Baxter of Kidderminster, who, notwithstanding the apology made for him,† would never have descended to so much vulgarity. Some circumstances connected with the people at Winchester-house are noticed in the proceedings of the Association in London, March 25, 1705. "We further signify," say the Association, "that this Assembly being informed that there are several persons who call themselves Baptists, and meet at Winchester-house, near St. Mary Overies Dock in Southwark, who pretend to have formed themselves into a church of Christ different from the baptized churches in London, and are composed chiefly, in not only of persons who were under the censure or dealing of some churches; or after a disorderly manner rent themselves from sundry churches in this association, and from other baptized churches; and that they receive persons into their said society, without due recommendation from, or satisfaction to the respective churches, to which such persons did belong; and do take a liberty to reflect upon and revile the baptized churches, and their ministers, and all these allegations being fully proved to the satisfaction of this assembly; agreed 1. That it is the opinion of this assembly that the said persons meeting at Winchester-house are not, nor ought to be esteemed or owned as a church of Christ. 2. That it is the opinion of this assembly, that it is irregular and disorderly for any members of a baptized church to join themselves to them, or to frequent, or in any way encourage or counte "A Shove for the Heavy ....d Christian." CARTER-LANE, TOOLEY-STREET.- -Particular Baptist. nance the said meeting at Winchester-house. 3. And we do recommend it to all the churches of this association to dissuade their members from any such practices, and to mark them that attend such an irregular meeting, as walking disorderly." We know nothing further of this people or place, excepting that it appears to have been registered as a meetinghouse when Maitland wrote in 1738. An aged member of the Baptist persuasion informed us some time since, that a Mr. Holdridge preached there about fifty years ago, and was counted a Sabellian. CARTER-LANE, TOOLEY-STREET. PARTICULAR BAPTIST. THIS HIS church was formed about ninety-four years ago, in consequence of a division that took place in an ancient society that met for many years in Goat-street, Horsleydown. Mr. Stinton, the pastor of that church, dying in 1719, the late Dr. Gill was invited to preach as a candidate to succeed him in the pastoral office; but a difference of opinion arising in the society as to the propriety of electing him to that situation, a division ensued, when the majority who were against him kept possession of the meeting-house. (A) Upon this, Mr. Gill's friends withdrew, and assembled for a time in * Crosby's Baptists, vol. iv. p. 11, 12. (A) A rhapsody lately published under the title of " A Brief Memoir of the Life and Writings of Dr. Gill," says that Mr. Gill " was chosen by a very great majority." If that was the case some of his friends must have fallen off, as the majority certainly remained behind, and kept possession of the meeting-house. CARTER-LANE, TOOLEY-STREET.-Particular Baptist. Crosby's school-room upon Horsleydown. They formed themselves into a church March 22, 1719-20, and on the same day, Mr. Gill was ordained their pastor. In November following, Mr. Arnold was chosen pastor of the people who remained behind at the old place, and a few years after his settlement they built a new place of worship in Unicornyard. Upon their removal, Mr. Gill's people returned back to the place in Goat-street, and continued to assemble there till 1757, when they erected the present meeting-house in Carter-lane. It was opened by Dr. Gill on the 9th of October in that year, when he preached from Exod. xx. 24. Upon the Doctor's death, and the choice of the present minister to succeed him, another division took place, and gave rise to the church in Dean-street, in the same neighbourhood. About five and twenty years ago the church had formed a design of building a new meeting-house upon a more extended scale, and were looking out for a piece of ground with that view; but not suiting themselves readily, they were satisfied with enlarging their own place, which they did very considerably. The church and congregation are considered to be the most numerous of the denomination in London. The meeting-house is an oblong building, with galleries entirely around. There is also a large baptistry, with every conveniency for baptizing. In the vestry there is a large three quarter painting of Dr. Gill, from which his best portraits are taken. Of the Doctor we will now present the reader with a brief account. JOHN GILL, D. D.-This learned and celebrated Divine was born on the 23d of November, 1697, at Kettering in Northamptonshire. His father was a deacon of the Baptist church in that town, and discovering in him very early an uncommon capacity for learning, sent him to a neighbouring grammar-school, where he soon outstripped his companions. By the time that he was eleven years of age, besides having gone through the common school books, he CARTER-LANE, TOOLEY-STREET.Purticular Baptist. had read many of the principal Latin classics, and made considerable proficiency in the Greek language. At this period, a circumstance occurred that occasioned his leaving the school. His master, a rigid churchman, had formed a determination that the children of Dissenting parents should, with the other scholars who belonged to the establishment, accompany him to church on week-days when service was performed. This conduct the Dissenters resented as an arbitrary and bigotted imposition, making conformity a test by which his pupils were to receive the benefit of education. Accordingly, they withdrew their children from his school, and sent them, for the most part, to other seminaries, where they might reap equal advantages without being subject to the same imposition. The parents of our author, however, were not in circumstances sufficiently affluent to enable them to pursue a similar course; and they had no other prospect of providing for him, but by training him to his father's business. In these circumstances, several neighbouring ministers endeavoured to procure for him the assistance of some of the funds in London, appropriated to the benefit of young persons designed for the ministry; and transmitted testimonies of his progress in learning. Their applications, however, did not prove availing; for it was replied, that he was too young to receive the benefit of their exhibitions, and that should he continue, as it might be expected he would, to make such rapid advances in his studies, he would go through the common circle before he could be capable of taking care of himself, or of being employed in any public service. Discouraging as young Gill's situation now was, yet he possessed an unconquerable love of learning, and diligently improved the hours of leisure from business, not only to preserve, but greatly to extend his acquaintance with classical literature. Before he was nineteen years of age, he had read all the Greek and Latin authors that fell in his way, and had studied logic, rhetoric, moral and natural philosophy. |