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

Almost quite alone in <strong>the</strong> wilderness I am, but without <strong>the</strong> Baptist's liking
for solitude.
He <strong>of</strong>ten suffered from-
horribly low spirits-a dreadful business is that <strong>of</strong> a thinker.
Here, in 1849, he published " Beauties <strong>of</strong> Channing, with an Essay prefixed."
It ends thus :-
And now his simple name is a nobler thing than even <strong>the</strong> books <strong>the</strong>mselves
<strong>of</strong> most o<strong>the</strong>r writers.
In November, 1849, by <strong>the</strong> aid <strong>of</strong> a free passage obtained for him by
Dr. Huntingdon, he sailed for Boston, where he arrived after a wretched
voyage <strong>of</strong> six weeks. He preached at <strong>the</strong> Thursday lecture, on 17 January,
in <strong>the</strong> First Cliurch, to a great crowd, many had to stand; among <strong>the</strong>
audience were Longfellow, and o<strong>the</strong>r Cambridge pr<strong>of</strong>essors and literary
men. Dr. Rufus Ellis writes :-
' Euthanasy ' had gone before him, and <strong>the</strong> delighted readers were eager
to see and hear a writer by whom <strong>the</strong>y had been so attracted.
Intending to return, he had not resigned his ministry at Kingswood,
but circumstances made him decide upon remaining in America, <strong>the</strong>nceforth
to be his home, where he married, wrote " Miracles, Past and Present "
(<strong>the</strong> first edition (1870) was sold in twelve days), lost his loved wife,
suffered financial difficulties, and quietly passed into <strong>the</strong> Silent Land, valuing
greatly <strong>the</strong> cordial kindness <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Rev. Brooke Herford, <strong>the</strong>n minister in
Boston, a successor <strong>of</strong> Dr. Channing and Dr. Gannett, who conducted his
funeral service, a sad contrast between <strong>the</strong> enthusiasm which had greeted
him on his arrival in America and <strong>the</strong> loneliness <strong>of</strong> his departure.
The Rev. James Taplin devoted <strong>the</strong> last twelve years <strong>of</strong> his active life-
to making Kingswood better than he found it.*
The main features in his long life are given in Co&tonia, pp. 34-39.
For all who would know about his son and successor here, Lindsey
Taplin, <strong>the</strong> town <strong>of</strong> Todmorden, its magnificent church, its Taplin fountain,
and, above all, its inhabitants, will give <strong>the</strong> answer.
It was not until Tuesday, 15 June, 1869, that <strong>the</strong> Monthly Meeting held
its first ga<strong>the</strong>ring at Kingswood, on which occasion a sermon was preached
by <strong>the</strong> late Benjamin Wright on <strong>the</strong> value <strong>of</strong> Christianity.
*Tablet in <strong>the</strong> Chapel, pity that <strong>the</strong> medallion on it is not a better portrait <strong>of</strong> this
devoted minister ! G.E.E.
No early register <strong>of</strong> baptisms nor burials is forthcoming ; if any existed
it possibly perished in <strong>the</strong> rioters' burning <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> meeting-house in 1791.
The communion vessels, one cup and four patens are <strong>of</strong> pewter, all
marked, K. W. M."
DAVID LEWIS, b. [172g] min. Kingswood, 1766-1783; m. Ann (d. 1797) ; Issue, George,
Dorothy (d. 1816).
d. 18 December, 1783, zt. 54 ; bur. Birmingham, Old Meeting Yard, and removed,
1882, to Witton Cemetery.
C$ P.D.M., 1798, P. 322 ; Wilson ii., p. 164; Beale, plate, 124 ; Tombstone at Witton,
seen by author, 1897.
GEORGE LEWIS, h. Kingswood; ed. Dnventry Academy, by Thomas Robins, 1779- ; min. Kingswood, assistant,
-1785; London, Carter Lane, afternoon preacher, 1785-1796; when resigned <strong>the</strong> ministry; living 1823.
cf. Wilson ii., p. 164 ; M.R., 1822, p. 198 ; Jeremy, p. 175.
JOHN HOBSON, min. Kingswood, 1787-1791.
cf. C.F., 1870, p. 25 ; Minutes <strong>of</strong> Dudley and Oldbury Double Lectures.
JOHN TINGCOMBE, b. [l7711 at Plymouth ; ed. Daventry Academy, 1787-1789, and Hackney
Coll., 1789-[17gz] by Thonias Belsham ; min. Kingswood, 1792-1795 ; Devonport,
[17g5]-1798 ; Plymouth, 1798-1806 ; Newport, I. <strong>of</strong> W., 1806-1815 ; Bridgwater, 1815-
1826 ; Frenchay, 1829-1835 ; Bristol, without charge.
d. g October, 1848, zt. 77.
cf: Mzrrch, var. pp. ; C.R., 1848, p. 703 ; Esti,nes, var. pp. ; Minutes <strong>of</strong> Double Lectures.
TKOMAS MOORE, b. [l7671 in Leicester; ed. Daventry Academy, by Thomas Belsham,
1785-1789 ; min. Dartmouth, nssistant, one year; Walsall, 1790-1791; Kingswood, 1795-
1809 ; London, where kept school ; nz. Frances (d. 1848) ; Issue, Frances (m. William
Edwards), Elizabeth (b. 26 June, 1791).
d. 23 August, 1842, zt. 75 ; bur. New Bunhill Fields, Islington.
4 M.R., 1822, p. 286; C.R., 1842, p. 729; WaIsa11, Old Meeting-house Register.
REES LLOTD, b. Cardiganshire ; ed. Castellhywel, by David Davis ; Caermar<strong>the</strong>n, Pres.
Coll. ; min. Risley, few years [ -181o?] ; Kingswood, 1810-1839 ; m. and had issue,
Rees Lewis (min. Belper, 1845-188~3, Mary (d. 1844).
d. 7 July, 1839 ; bur. Kingswood Chapel Yard.
C$ C.R., 1839, p. 630; Nightingale iv., p. 259 ; personal recollections <strong>of</strong> author's
fa<strong>the</strong>r, 1899.
THOMAS EVANS, min. Kingswood, 1839-1848.
d. 21 June, 1848, at fa<strong>the</strong>r's house, Lampeter.
cf. C.R., 1848, p. 512.