Midland Churches: A History of the Congregations on - General ...

After this rapid and painful succession <strong>of</strong> changes <strong>the</strong> Evesham society
had <strong>the</strong> good fortune to secure <strong>the</strong> services <strong>of</strong> Timothy Davis, a son <strong>of</strong>
David Davis, <strong>of</strong> Castellhywel, who settled here in June, 1819, and remained
its attached minister until his retirement in 1854. His first years <strong>of</strong>
ministry were devoted to his native country, being CO-pastor with his fa<strong>the</strong>r ;
after which he servecl tllz society assembling in <strong>the</strong> Great Meeting, Coventry,
from 1810 till his call to Evesham, where, in 1811, he had been married
to Elizabeth, daughter <strong>of</strong> Anthony New, wool-stapler.
A memoir <strong>of</strong> this excellent man and minister was contributed to <strong>the</strong>
Christian R~OYITZPI; 1861, by his son, David Davis, B.A. (died at Evesham,
30 September, 1897)) n-ho worthily maintained <strong>the</strong> ministerial traditions <strong>of</strong>
<strong>the</strong> family, at Whitby, Stockport, Lancaster, and Norwich, and was fa<strong>the</strong>r
<strong>of</strong> Rudolf Davis, <strong>the</strong> present minister <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Evesham society.
John Gordon, who succeeded John Calbraith Lunn at Evesham, was
<strong>the</strong> only son <strong>of</strong> Alexander Gordon (d. 7 January, 1848) and Maria (Loxton)
(d. 13 January, 1833), <strong>of</strong> Dudley. " Educated at <strong>the</strong> Dudley Grammar
School, under Proctor Robinson, his name was placed on <strong>the</strong> books <strong>of</strong>
Queen's College, Oxforcl, with a view to his entering <strong>the</strong> ministry <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
Established Church. But he shrank from <strong>the</strong> subscription, which met him
at <strong>the</strong> threshold <strong>of</strong> collegiate life, and in place <strong>of</strong> going to Oxford, studied
at home for <strong>the</strong> Weslej-an ministry. He began life as assistant to Henry
Moore, John Wesley's executor, at City Road Chapel, London, and filled
various appointmeilts as a Wesleyan minister from 1827 to 1835, when
Conference expelled him, along with Samuel Warren, LL.D., and o<strong>the</strong>r
leaders <strong>of</strong> reform. For nearly three years he left <strong>the</strong> ministry, and during
this period <strong>the</strong> writings <strong>of</strong> Channing and <strong>the</strong> influence <strong>of</strong> John Kentish,
minister <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> New Meeting, Birminghsm, led him into Unitarianism.""
He was, as we have seen (p. 84)) miq ,at Coseley, 1838-1840, next
at Coventry, 1840-1854, where he was an acknowledged leader in public
work, <strong>the</strong>n at St. Mark's Chapel, Edinburgh, 1854-1858, whence he removed
to Dukinfiqd Chapel, 1858-1862. In October, 1863, he entered on his last-
stated ministry, and coiltinued at Evesham for nine years, when he retired
from active duty in pursuance <strong>of</strong> a long-formed resolution to do so at <strong>the</strong>
age <strong>of</strong> 65. His coming to Evesham was an advantage to <strong>the</strong> social life <strong>of</strong>
<strong>the</strong> little borough. The political platform, <strong>the</strong> institute, <strong>the</strong> local charities
~~~~~~~~~al Accolr~rt qf L)riX.i?zfiel~i Chapel, Alexander Gordon, M.A., 1896, p. 83.
and <strong>the</strong> private circle were streng<strong>the</strong>ned by <strong>the</strong> influence <strong>of</strong> his character,
his moral power, and his genial manners. The last few years <strong>of</strong> his life
were spent at ICenilworth, where he died in April, 1880; from 1850 to,
1854 he had been minister <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Presbyterian society here, in addition to
his Coventry ministry.
Gordon was one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> active founders <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Midland</strong> Christian Union,
and a man whose services to <strong>the</strong> cause <strong>of</strong> religious liberty, and especially
to Liberal Christianity, must always call for grateful remembrance.
Benjamin Lepard Green was educated for <strong>the</strong> Baptist ministry, but he
experienced a change <strong>of</strong> views, and in 1876 became minister <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> High
Street society, at Newport, Isle <strong>of</strong> Wight, whence he removed to Evesham.
He was always in delicate health, and died at his fa<strong>the</strong>r's house at Bowdon,
on 17 May, 1882, in <strong>the</strong> 32nd year <strong>of</strong> his age.
The register <strong>of</strong> births, baptisms, and burials is a well-preserved, thick,
square volume, bound in vellum, and contains entries from 1778 to 1837,
when it was deposited with <strong>the</strong> Registrar-General. The following table
was compiled from it by <strong>the</strong> author in July, 1898 :-
~IINISTER.
--
David Jones ... ...
Henry Procter . . ...
Charles Lloyd ... ...
Benjamin Davis . . .
Peter Charles .. ...
Timothy Davis ... ...
FIRST ENTRY. ----
17 November, 1778 ...
16 January, 1783 ...
14 June, 1789 ... ...
I August, 1791 . ..
6 December, 1811 ...
20 November, 1819 ...
LAST ENTRY.
One entry <strong>of</strong> burial only we reproduce :-
Elizabeth, dazrghter <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Rev. Titzothy Davis, and Elizabeth, his ulzjre, May
16, 1822, aged 8 years, Rev. W71~ 'l;&, Warwick, osciated on <strong>the</strong> occasion.
Qwiescat in Pace.
Chalice (I), silver, ins. tall, plain bell. Inscription between handles-
PRESENTED TO THE COMMIJNICANTS IN THE PRESBYTERIAN CHAPEL,
OAT STREET, EVESHAM, BY THE FAMILY OF THE
LATE ANTHONY NEW, 1838.
-. -W-
10 March, 1783
30 October, 1787
6 December, 1789
I January, 181 I
17 May, 1812
8 January, 1837