KING JOHN'S-COURT.-Presbyterian, Extinct.

nisters at Salter's-Hall, in 1719. This worthy minister died in 1728, and was succeeded by the colebrated Dr. Benson.(u)

GEORGE BENSON, D. D.-Of this learned and eminent Divine, we have spoken at length under a former article. In the present place it will be sufficient to observe, that his first charge was at Abingdon in Berkshire, where he set out a Calvinist, but during his residence there altered his sentiments. In 1729, he was invited to succeed Mr. Matthews in St. Jolin's Court, and continued the pastor of that church for the space of eleven years, during which time he published some of his most valuable works. Upon the death of Dr. Harris in 1740, he was chosen colleague with the learned Dr. Lardner, at Crutched Friars; where the reader will find a more ample account of him.

EDWARD PICKARD.- We have already given an account of Mr. Pickard elsewhere. He was invited from Stratford in 1740, to succeed Dr. Benson as pastor of the congregation in St. John's Court; in which connection he continued till the latter end of the year 1746, when he was chosen to assist Mr. Newman at Carter-Lane, and upon that gentleman's death, succeeded to the whole pastoral charge.

JOHN BLACKBURN.-Mr. Pickard was succeeded by Mr. John Blackburn, a North of England man, who pursued his studies for the ministry under Dr. Rotherham, at Kendal. He was settled some time at Ravenstonedale, in Westmorland, from whence he removed to St. John's Court. He was settled here a few years, but the congregation being in a very reduced state, dissolved before the year 1760, and the

(u) Mr. Matthews published, "Good Kings and Queens nursing Fathers and Mothers to the Church: A Sermon at Court Yard, Oct. 15, 1727, on their Majesties Coronation." Isa. xlix. 23.

KING JOHN'S-COURT.—Presbyterian, Extinct.

surviving members joined with Mr. Henry Read. After this, Mr. Blackburn settled at Newbury, where he preached at the Presbyterian meeting till the time of his death. He published "Reflections on Government and Loyalty," a Thanksgiving Sermon for the Peace, preached at King John's Court, April 25, 1749, on Psa. xxxiii. 10, 11. "The Character of Nathanael considered and improved ;" a Sermon on the Death of Mrs. Eliz. Mauduit, who died Sept. 1. 1752, aged 44 years, on Johni. 48. He was the editor of Mr. Hopton Haynes's," Scripture Account of the Attributes and Worship of God, and of the Character and Offices of Jesus Christ," 1750.*

After the old congregation broke up, the meetinghouse was sold to the Wesleyan Methodists, and it was used by their societies for a considerable time, Mr. Wesley himself occasionally preaching there. Mr. Hart afterwards of JewinStreet is said to have preached his first sermon in this place about 1760. In 1768 it was occupied by Mr. CHARLES BRADBURY, who published a collection of hymns. was succeeded by Mr. CHARLES DELASLEY, a Calvinistic Methodist, who preached here till the place was shut up about 1778. Since that time it has been occupied as a wool warehouse, for which purpose we believe it is still used.

He

LONG WALK.

THIS

HIS was a small place built soon after the Act of Uniformity, for Mr. WILLIAM WHITAKER, who was ejected from the parish church. In Mr. Mauduit's time, about the year 1699, the congregation removed to a new meeting-house in St. John's Court, in the same neighbourhood, as related in the preceding article.

• Monthly Repos. vol. v. p. 325, 478.

SHAD THAMES.-General Baptist.

There was a congregation of Muggletonians that met in Barnaby-Street, in the year 1738, but we do not know the exact spot.

GRANGE ROAD.

THIS place was erected about thirty years ago, at the joint

expence of Mr. John Duncan, a deacon of the church at Gainsford-Street, and Mr. Stephen Mesnard, a deacon of Dr. Rippon's church in Carter-Lane, who had each left their respective churches. The meeting-house was opened by the late Mr. Huntington, and Mr. Duncan, the latter of whom had just commenced preacher. The two proprietors did not live long in amity; and after they quarrelled, the place is said to have been chiefly managed by Mr. Huntington. This is one of the numerous places where Mr. Davis, now of the Three Cranes, is said to have preached. It is at present occupied, as it has been for some time past, by Mr. John Helmsworth, and it goes by the name of the "Paragon Chapel."

SHAD THAMES.

GENERAL BAPTIST.

IN

IN the reign of Charles II. there was a meeting-house at Shad Thames, occupied by a society of Baptists, we believe of the general persuasion, although one of their ministers at

BLACKSFIELDS-Particular Baptist.

least was a Calvinist. The pastor of this church in 1681, was Mr. JOHN CLAYTON, who died about the time of the revolution. He was succeeded by Mr. RICHARD ADAMS, who about 1690 was called to succeed Mr. Daniel Dyke, at Devonshire-Square. He was succeeded at Shad Thames by Mr. GEORGE WHITE, in whose time a new meeting-house was erected in Fair-Street, Horsleydown. To that place we refer for a further account of the society.

BLACKSFIELDS.

PARTICULAR BAPTIST.

THIS

HIS place is situated in Gainsford-Street, and was built about sixty years ago for a society, of which Mr. JOHN DOLMAN was pastor. He had been bred to the trade of a basket-maker, but commencing preacher, became pastor of a congregation in Bristol. "ConHe there published templations amongst St. Vincent's Rocks, near Bristol." Afterwards removing to London, he became pastor of the congregation in the above place. It was constituted upon the Independent plan, but afterwards adopted that of mixed communion, and admitted Calvinistic Baptists. In 1766, there was a lecture supported in this place, and preached by Mr. Eades, and Mr. Richardson. As for Mr. Dolman, he continued to preach here about six or seven years, when he judged fit to conform to the Church of England, the patrons of which rewarded the basket-maker with three livings -the vicarage of Chalk, near Gravesend; the rectory of St. James's Isle of Grains, Kent; and the vicarage of Little Brikhill, Bucks; all of small value. He is said to have been a very ignorant man, and went by the name of "Parson Twig." His conformity took place in 1765.

BLACKSFIELDS.-Particular Baptist.

Mr. Dolman was succeeded at Blacksfields, by Mr. JOHN LANGFORD. He had been a member of Dr. Gifford's church in Eagle-street, and preached his first sermon in this place Sept. 18, 1765. After a trial of some months he was invited to take upon himself the pastoral office, to which he was ordained Sept. 18, 1766. The confession of faith that he delivered upon the occasion was published. Mr. Langford continued at Blacksfields about twelve years, when he removed to another meeting-house in Rose-lane, Ratcliff. There he continued but a few years. He afterwards preached for a few months at a small place in Bunhill-row; but his imprudent conduct compelled him, at length, to give up preaching. He was nephew to Mr. Thomas Watson, an eminent callico-printer at Morrice's Causeway, near Lambeth, who bequeathed him considerable property. prosperity, however, proved his ruin; for he launched forth into so many extravagancies, that he quickly dissipated all his property. As a consequence of his imprudence he became reduced to the greatest poverty and distress, insomuch that we have been told, he actually asked alms in the streets. He died in great wretchedness about the year 1790. There are a few sermons of his in print; as one on the death of Mrs. Mary Bailey, who died June 17, 1768; and another on the death of the Rev. George Whitefield, 1770.

His

Mr. Langford was succeeded at Blacksfields by Mr. MICHAEL BROWN, who was originally in the Tabernacle connexion, and settled here about 1778. He is the present minister.