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

WH1TCHU~CH.-SALOP.
CHURCH OF THE SAVIOUR.
Church opened, 7 August, 1877.
MINISTERS.
William Carey Walters 1877-1879
Frederick Sydney Morris --. I 880
James Wilson, suppl~f ... Jan.-Mar., 1881
Alfred Lancaster . . . 1881-1882
Walter Reynolds, B.A. ... . . 1883-1884
Owen James Jones ... ... . . . 1885-1887
Guild <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Good Shepherd, szq5plirrE .. , I 888- 1889
George Eyre Evans ... . . . .. 1889-1897
William Frederic Turland . . . 1897-
This society was formed in January, 1877, by <strong>the</strong> withdrawal <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
Rev. W. C. Walters from <strong>the</strong> ministry <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Baptist Chapel in Greenend,
who, toge<strong>the</strong>r with some members <strong>of</strong> his congregation, felt it incumbent
upon <strong>the</strong>m to associate <strong>the</strong>mselves toge<strong>the</strong>r to worship God as a church,
not requiring ei<strong>the</strong>r from its minister or its members assent or subscription
to any <strong>the</strong>ological creed. For some months worship was conducted in
<strong>the</strong> Town Hall, whilst <strong>the</strong> erection <strong>of</strong> an iron church was proceeded with
on <strong>the</strong> present site in Highgate; which was lent to <strong>the</strong> congregation for
a period <strong>of</strong> 21 years by Mr. and Mrs. John Gresty, two <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most
prominent seceders, at a ground rent <strong>of</strong> per an. The church, known
until 1893 as <strong>the</strong> Free Christian Church, was opened for Divine worship, by
<strong>the</strong> Rev. Baldwin Brown, B.A., on Tuesday, 7 August, 1877. His memor-
able sermon, on this occasion, was founded on Ephesians i., v. 22-23-
The church, which is his body.
. On <strong>the</strong> 24th December following, <strong>the</strong> trust deed was executed, which pro-
vides that :-The Ch~rch and buildzizgs are to be used for <strong>the</strong> worshz) <strong>of</strong> God,
and -fir pur-oses <strong>of</strong> edcccatzbn, arzd that no mi?ziskr or member <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> cotzgrqqatio;rz
or charch shall be required to asselzt or subscribe to nny <strong>the</strong>ological creed, From
<strong>the</strong> beginning <strong>the</strong> congregation has steadily and firmly declined to take any
sectarian name whatsoever ; both Trinitarians and Unitarians are included
as its trustees, whilst ministers, <strong>of</strong> various denominations have, from time
. ** --
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IOUR, WHITCHURCH