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

held in Shrewsbury, May, 1898 (see catalogue, p. 75, No. 399). The Rev.
Edmund Butcher, in his Excz~rsion from Sid~~~outh to Chester, 1805, i., pp.
185-6, says, <strong>of</strong> Whitchurch, that <strong>the</strong> meeting-house is remarkable for
having over many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> pews brass plates, containing <strong>the</strong> names <strong>of</strong> persons
and families who are buried <strong>the</strong>re." This sentence, toge<strong>the</strong>r with <strong>the</strong> testimony
<strong>of</strong> an old worshipper in <strong>the</strong> place, led to <strong>the</strong> author finding <strong>the</strong>
brasses behind <strong>the</strong> present woodwork on <strong>the</strong> walls <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> old building,
now, and for many years past, used as a school-house.
Augustus J. C. Hare,* in his charming work on " Shropshire," 1898,
p. 205, says :-
Doddington is part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> parish <strong>of</strong> Whitchurch. Here, in <strong>the</strong> Church <strong>of</strong>
<strong>the</strong> Saviour, are no less than 23 brasses, removed from <strong>the</strong> Presbyterian
Chapel, in which Divine worship ceased in 1844. They represent 41 lives
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> old Salopian families <strong>of</strong> Benyon, Collyer, Edwhds, Gentleman, Holt,
Clay, and Yate, and cover a period <strong>of</strong> 164 years, from 1672 to 1836. The
Benyon brasses are I729 and 1746 ;. that <strong>of</strong> Ebenezer Keay and his wife,
1779, 1776 ; those <strong>of</strong> 1755, 1825 and 1832 bear <strong>the</strong> name <strong>of</strong> Edwards; that
<strong>of</strong> Robert Gentleman is <strong>of</strong> 1757 ; <strong>of</strong> Lydia Collyer, 1744; <strong>of</strong> John Holt, 1781.
All <strong>the</strong> brasses are small, but most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m bear coats <strong>of</strong> arms.
Five articles dealing with <strong>the</strong> history <strong>of</strong> this once numerous and in-
fluential society were contributed to <strong>the</strong> Seedsower, 1894, var. pp.
The registers, stored in Somerset House, are <strong>of</strong> much interest. The
first two are thin quarto books in paper covers, not ruled for entries, <strong>the</strong>
writing faded and indistinct.
David Benion
Ebenezer Keay
Thomas Jenkins
David William Jones
Joseph Marriott
John Philp
Richard Shawcross
18 July, 1708
21 Sept., 1743
4 Jan., 1783
25 Dec., 1815
7 April, 1822
14 Oct., 1823
10 March, 1827
' 10
Dec., 1724
30 March, 1777
16 April, 1814 '
5 July, 1818
I I Sept., 1823
22 July, 1826
10 March, 1836
In vol. iii. Shawcross has placed a note to <strong>the</strong> effect that prior to his
ministry, ie. from 1708-1827, <strong>the</strong> registe~ books mere in <strong>the</strong> ct~stody <strong>of</strong> one <strong>of</strong>
"Author <strong>of</strong> '' Memorials <strong>of</strong> a Quiet Life," "Walks in Rome," &c.
<strong>the</strong> trgstees, and are fragmentary. This is very evident, as between 1724
and 1743 <strong>the</strong>re are no entries ; this is <strong>the</strong> period nearly covered by Colt-
hurst's ministry.
In two <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> earliest entries glimpses are afforded <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Rev. Ralph
Lathrop, <strong>of</strong> Wem :-
August 26, 1709, Elizabeth, daughter <strong>of</strong> Mr. Ra&h Lafhroj, at his own
house in Wem, baftzied by Daz)id Benyon.
January 5, 1711, Richard, ye son <strong>of</strong> Rev. Ra&h Ttathr<strong>of</strong>, at his ozu?z house
in Wem. B.B.
Here an allusion to <strong>the</strong> riots <strong>of</strong> 1715 :-
1715, September 3. John, <strong>the</strong> son <strong>of</strong> Iohn Lee, <strong>of</strong> Whzjcall, at Broad Oak.
The chaflel at Whitchztrch being demolished by ye mobb on July 15th, 16th~ 18th,
and 19th~ before.
Philip Henry was buried in <strong>the</strong> old church (fell down, 1711) <strong>of</strong> St.
Alk*nd, Whitchurch, where <strong>the</strong> entry in <strong>the</strong> register runs :-
Burialls, 1696. June, Mr. PhiZlz) Henry, <strong>of</strong> Broad Oak, in <strong>the</strong> p~sh <strong>of</strong>
Malpas-late ir~iriister <strong>of</strong> Wo;<strong>the</strong>n6uyi, in ye ~iunty
<strong>of</strong> Flint-27th.
Pell was also buried here, <strong>the</strong> entry in register is :-
May 23, 1707, MY. Rob. Pell, <strong>of</strong> 1VhixaZZ.
I. Baptisms
11. Baptisms . . .
111. Births and Burials
X4SS.-The account <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> congregation written by Thomas Jenkins,
its minister, 1783-1815, in vol. iii. <strong>of</strong> above-noted registers ; copy penes
editor, 1899.