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

Rebuilt, 1846.
First Meeting-house built, 1705.
MINISTERS.
Samuel Turton
John Bassett
Samuel Philips ...
John Kirkpatrick, M.A.
Josiah Corrie ...
Thomas Burkitt
John Ludd Fenner ..
Samuel Wood, B.A. ...
William Field
John Gordon . . . . . .
Daniel Davies Jeremy, M.A. ...
George Heaviside, B. A.
John Mrilliam Lake ...
According to a manuscript entry made in <strong>the</strong> register <strong>of</strong> baptisms by
William Field, this society was founded about <strong>the</strong> year 2700. The ejected
minister from Kenilworth was William Maddocks, who, when cast out <strong>of</strong>
Kenilworth, and <strong>the</strong> country was too hot for him, hid himself in a wood,
and made his way to London, where he was soon noticed for his useful
preaching, and chosen pastor by <strong>the</strong> Presbyterian society in King John's
Court, where he remained for <strong>the</strong> rest <strong>of</strong> his days. It is unlikely that
Maddocks had any direct part in <strong>the</strong> founding <strong>of</strong> this society, though
doubtless <strong>the</strong> effects <strong>of</strong> his preaching in Kenilworth were such as helped
<strong>the</strong> movement ; which resulted in <strong>the</strong> building <strong>of</strong> a small meeting-house in
1705. The only descriptioils <strong>of</strong> this building which <strong>the</strong> author has yet met
with are those given in <strong>the</strong> Christian Refor~?zeq 1845, p. 845 :-"The old
Presbyterian meeting-house being in a dilapidated state, scarcely admitting
<strong>of</strong> repair, some time ago <strong>the</strong> congregation came to <strong>the</strong> determination <strong>of</strong>
taking it down "; and in Robert Spears' (d. 1899) U?zil'nria;rz PVorthies, p. 90,
<strong>the</strong> old chapel was in a dilapidated, forlorn condition-heavy, dark and
unsightly, within and without."