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

were printed separately in <strong>the</strong> same year ; <strong>the</strong>y contain large slices <strong>of</strong> Job
Orton's historical Account-Sowe Afe?~zoirs 07 <strong>the</strong> Chz~rcii 01 ChrISt at Sh~vws-
bury, in <strong>the</strong> Cozcnty <strong>of</strong> Salbp, asse~rzbdifzg at <strong>the</strong> ChafleZZ i7z <strong>the</strong> High 5treet, and
k7zow?z by <strong>the</strong> name <strong>of</strong> Prcsl?yteria?z, Aria. ~743-which he inserted in <strong>the</strong> Church
Record Book.
Since 1847, however, much has been written by various persons about
Job Orton, and as all readers <strong>of</strong> this book may not have access to <strong>the</strong>
Dictionary <strong>of</strong> National Biography, <strong>the</strong> author thinks <strong>the</strong>y will be grateful if
he here inserts an extract from <strong>the</strong> article by " A.G.," which has recently
appeared in it :--
Orton succeeded Berry on 29 September, 1741. The small i'ndependent
congregation at King's Head Chapel (<strong>of</strong> which his fa<strong>the</strong>r was a member)
was also vacant by <strong>the</strong> removal <strong>of</strong> John Dobson to Walsall. Its 23 members
<strong>of</strong>fered to join <strong>the</strong> High Street Congregation, and it was <strong>the</strong> prospect <strong>of</strong>
<strong>the</strong> union that was Orton's main inducement to leave Northampton. The
King's Head congregants were admitted to fellowship on 5 November, 1741,
being 'unanimously agreed that <strong>the</strong> old distinguishing names <strong>of</strong> Presbyterian
and Independent should be entirely dropped and forgotten, and <strong>the</strong> sacred
name, Christian, alone be used.' The death <strong>of</strong> Orton's fa<strong>the</strong>r a fortnight
later affected his health, and <strong>the</strong> work at Shrewsbury was henceforth mainly
carried on by his assistants, <strong>of</strong> whom <strong>the</strong> third in succession, Joseph Fownes,
became his firm friend. On 18 September, 1715, Orton received Presbyterian
ordination in High Street Chapel at an assembly <strong>of</strong> thirty ministers, headed
by Samuel ~ouin, <strong>the</strong> younger, and Joseph Mottershea'd. He declined, in
1746, an invitation to be Bourn's colleague in Birmingham. Orton was
pressed, in March, 1752, to succeed Doddridge as minister at Northampton ;
Ca!eb Ashworth, D.D., had already been elected to <strong>the</strong> Academy in terms
<strong>of</strong> Doddridge's altered will. He hesitated some time, but eventually (27
April) declined. He refused a synchronous invitation to succeed Obadiah
Hughes, D.D., at Prince's Street, Westminster ; he had a prejudice against
London, and never visited it in his life. After three refusals he went to Buxton
to recruit his health.
Orton preached for <strong>the</strong> last time on 15 September, 1765, which he reckoned
his birthday, owing to <strong>the</strong> change <strong>of</strong> style. In 1766 he resigned. Disputes
arose about <strong>the</strong> appointment <strong>of</strong> his successor, and, 011 <strong>the</strong> election <strong>of</strong> Benjamin
Stapp, an Arian, <strong>the</strong>re was a large orthodox secession (12 October, 1766).
Orton withdrew (26 October, 1766) intending to settle at Birmingham (where
he had relatives), but could find no quarters. Chance took him to Kidder-
minster for <strong>the</strong> winter. He was <strong>the</strong>re attended by James Johnstone, M.D.,
to whose skill he considered that he owed his life. He remained at Kidder-
minster, and bought a house. He encouraged <strong>the</strong> Shrewsbury seceders in
building a new chapel, and got Robert Gentleman to be <strong>the</strong>ir minister. At
<strong>the</strong> same time he kept up his friendship with Fownes. In 1780, <strong>the</strong> Kidder-
minster Presbyterian Congregation was divided on <strong>the</strong> afipointment <strong>of</strong> a
minister. The seceders this time were more or less heterodox, but Orton
again encouraged <strong>the</strong>,formation <strong>of</strong> a new congregation, <strong>of</strong> which Gentleman
ultimately became minister.
I
Orton's position in <strong>the</strong> dissenting world was peculiar, and not easily under-
stood. Both orthodox and heterodox dissenters have venerated him as a
patriarch. Kippis thought him ' one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most striking preachers ' he ever
heard ; but his repute was not that <strong>of</strong> a preacher, and his period <strong>of</strong> greatest
influence was that which he spent as a valetudinarian recluse at Icidderminster.
He corresponded with dissenting ministers <strong>of</strong> all sections, and with many
clergymen.
In <strong>the</strong> same book <strong>of</strong> Church records, alluded to above, <strong>the</strong>re is in <strong>the</strong>
handwriting <strong>of</strong> Job Orton a list <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> High Street society
at <strong>the</strong> time <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> union, toge<strong>the</strong>r with a list <strong>of</strong> those who came over from
<strong>the</strong> Independents after his settlement as minister <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> former society.
These lists were printed in 'ErEdowes's Shrezusbz~ry Journal, 8 July, 1891, and
are here given, being reproduced from a copy revised by <strong>the</strong> late Rev.
Edward Myers, and now in <strong>the</strong> author's possession.
A LIST OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST
ASSEMBLED AT THE CHAPPELL IN THE
HIGH STREET, SHREWSBURY, 1741.
Job Orton, pastor [d. at Kidderminster, July 19, 17831
Richarc! Allatt, d. Feb. g, 1766, aged 88. [The fa<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
founder <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Allatt School, <strong>of</strong> this town.]
Mrs. Allat, his wife, gone to <strong>the</strong> New Meeting [now Swan Hill
Chapel]
Thomas TVright, <strong>of</strong> Bicton
Mary Jones, <strong>of</strong> Ukinion, dead
Mrs. Fernehaugh, <strong>of</strong> Preston, d. Oct. 6, 1745, aged 65
Judith Tipton, d. Aug. 20, 1755, aged 96
Edward Tipton, dead
Mary Clark, d. April 17th, 1757, aged 80
Ann Clark, d. Feb. 22, 1756
Elizabeth Cowckley, d. Jan. 14, 1741-2, aged 80
Mary Wood, d. June 6, 1782, aged 79 or 80
Grace Platt, d. June, 1751
Mary Tristram, d. Jan. I, 1748-9, aged 87
Widow Hyth [or Lyth], d. 1741, aged 70