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

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Hanover Square Society, on <strong>the</strong> removal <strong>of</strong> Samuel Laurence, D.D.,
to <strong>the</strong> Monkwell Street congregation, London. He had a bro<strong>the</strong>r, Josiah
Rogerson, one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ministers (1724-1763) <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Friar Gate congregation,
Derby ; a man <strong>of</strong> great abilities and character, who particularly distinguished
himself as an assertor <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> right <strong>of</strong> private judgment, in <strong>the</strong> controversy
which took place in those parts on <strong>the</strong> occasion <strong>of</strong> a Mr. Joseph Rawson,
<strong>of</strong> Nottingham, being excluded from communion by his minister, Mr. Sloss,
on account <strong>of</strong> some difference <strong>of</strong> opinion between <strong>the</strong>m concerning <strong>the</strong>
doctrine <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Trinity. The whole affair is circumstantially related in Dr.
Taylor's masterly Defence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Co~ttnzon Rights <strong>of</strong> Christians.
The next name met with as minister here, is that <strong>of</strong> George Brodhurst,
who probably succeeded Rogerson. He was <strong>the</strong> son <strong>of</strong> Edward Brodhurst
(q.v.), minister <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Old Meeting, Birmingham, and died at Alcester, in
August, 1775, having resigned <strong>the</strong> ministry a year or two before, through
ill health. His-
ingenuity <strong>of</strong> mind, and cheerful temper gave a charm to his conversation,
and vivacity to his letters.*
Brodhurst was followed by Benjamin Evans, who remained at Alcester
until 1785, when he removed to Stockton-on-Tees, to minister to <strong>the</strong>
society <strong>of</strong> Protestant Dissenters in that town. He was born on <strong>the</strong>
beautiful banks <strong>of</strong> river Tivy, between Llandyssul and Newcastle Emlyn,
<strong>of</strong> a very respectable dissenting family, much esteemed in that neighbour-
hood. It is believed that his first settlement was at Newport, Mon.,
whence he removed to Alcester, where, says his biographer-\----
during his residence he enjoyed <strong>the</strong> intimacy <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most eminent ministers
in that neighbourhood--Mr. Emans, <strong>of</strong> Coventry, Mr. Carpenter (q.v.) <strong>of</strong>
Stourbridge, Mr. Wood (q.v.) <strong>of</strong> Dudiey ; R4essrs. Bly<strong>the</strong> (q.v.), Hawkes
(q.v.), and Scholefie!d (qv.), and afterwards <strong>of</strong> Dr. Priestley (q.v.) <strong>of</strong>
Birmingham.
He was succeeded, in 1785, by aaotl:er Welshman, Belljamin Maurice,
a native <strong>of</strong> Pembrokeshire, and like his preclecessor, also an alumnus <strong>of</strong>
<strong>the</strong> Presbyterian College, Caermar<strong>the</strong>n. During <strong>the</strong> latter part <strong>of</strong> his
ministry, <strong>the</strong> society, through deaths and o<strong>the</strong>r causes, had become very
small. Though his salary <strong>the</strong>n was little more than ;G20 per an. he
contrived, writes his biographer*-
to live within his income, and by <strong>the</strong> economical management <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> liber-
ality <strong>of</strong> his friends, he was enabled to leave behind him a sufficiency to
cover <strong>the</strong> expenses <strong>of</strong> his funeral (which was conducted in a decent and
respectable manner) and a few small legacies, amongst o<strong>the</strong>rs half-a-guinea
each to four poor old widows. hlaurice enjoyed in a remarkable degree
<strong>the</strong> good will and genuine friendship <strong>of</strong> many <strong>of</strong> his fellow townsmen.
From <strong>the</strong> worthy rector <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> parish, and a respectable gentleman <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
faculty, well known to <strong>the</strong> Royal Family, he received <strong>the</strong> kindliest <strong>of</strong>
attentions at all times, but particularly in his illness ; when nei<strong>the</strong>r medical
nor pecuniary aid were wanting. From several pr<strong>of</strong>essional gentlemen--
from Catholics and Churchmen, from some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Baptist persuasion, as
well as from individuals <strong>of</strong> his own congregation-he experienced great
kindness.
Richard Wright in his iWissiona~y Lge and Labors, 1824 p. 353, alludes
to his visit to Alcester, shortly before Maurice's death. He says that <strong>the</strong>
congregation was nearly extinct, and that <strong>the</strong> few persons that remained
thought <strong>the</strong> case hopeless, and that nothing could be done. Still he was
resolved to make an attempt. He preached at Alcester first on a week
day evening, and was so well attended that he resolved to preach <strong>the</strong>re
on <strong>the</strong> following Sunday, which he did three times-
and had good congregations.
Maurice preached for <strong>the</strong> last time on <strong>the</strong> 17 January, and died at
Alcester on 11 February, 1814, having ministered in <strong>the</strong> town for nearly
thirty years.
The meeting house was <strong>the</strong>n closed, until, in 1816, Christmas Newson
Saint began his short pastorate here. At <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> following year
he removed to <strong>the</strong> Grezt Meeting, Hinckley. After a short time at
Cranbrook G.B. Church, he settled with <strong>the</strong> Headcorn G.B. Church in
1832, and remained <strong>the</strong>re till <strong>the</strong> close <strong>of</strong> his active ministry in 1853, when
he returned to his native city <strong>of</strong> Norwich, to be near his bro<strong>the</strong>r Samuel
Saint (d. 16 April, 1860, act 72). He did not elljoy his retirement long,
as he died on 11 September, 1854, and was buried in <strong>the</strong> Rosary, where
a headstone marks <strong>the</strong> two bro<strong>the</strong>rs' grave.
T.D. says <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> period at which'we have now arrived-
About two gears ago E18181 Mr. John Hancock, a young man, an inhabitant
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> town, engaged to conduct a religious service on <strong>the</strong> Lord's Day, with