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

Stephen Davies, v~ho was minister for 30 years, had one child, who
became <strong>the</strong> wife <strong>of</strong> his succcessor. George Hampton was a Welshman,
born at Wrexham. He settled at Banbury, after <strong>the</strong> colnpletiotl <strong>of</strong> his
course at Glasgow, and for more than 56 years ministered to <strong>the</strong> religious
wants <strong>of</strong> this society. Herbert Jenkins, who settled at Stourbridge in 1796,
on leaving Banbury, was .for four years assistant to Hampton.
Peter Usher, who was a Homerton student, settled here in 1796, and
was minister for 18 years ; after his retirement he continued to live in <strong>the</strong>
town until he emigrated to U.S.A., where he died in 1846.
Hubbard, who was born in Walton Hall, Norfolk, and baptized by
Thomas Stanton, D.D., minister <strong>of</strong> Hapton Chapel, hard by, was also a
Homerton man, his principal associates atnongst his fellow-students being
Charles Berry-afterwards nlinister <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Great Meeting, Leicester, for 56
years-and Tho S Morell. Hubbard's biographer sayss-
\
Banbury was a residence in many respects suited to his taste. There were
a few families <strong>of</strong> intelligence and refinement who appreciated <strong>the</strong> sin~plicit~
<strong>of</strong> his manners and cheerfulness <strong>of</strong> his piety. Eminently Cathoiic in spirit,
he delighted to meet nien <strong>of</strong> different commu:lions. . . . He read Greek
and Hebrew with a neighbouring clergyman.
His connection v~itl~ this society lasted nearly jo years, and was closed
in <strong>the</strong> spring <strong>of</strong> 1843, when he accepted an invitaticn fi-oin <strong>the</strong> Rivington
society, where he remained until his death in 1554.
The life's story <strong>of</strong> Henry Hunt Piper was told by his bro<strong>the</strong>r-in-law,
Sir John Eowring (1792-1872)) and appeared in <strong>the</strong> (iipuirpr, 30 January,
1864. This lnemoir was subsequently reprinted, toge<strong>the</strong>r with an extract
frcm his futneral sermon, preached at Hampstead by Dr. Sadler. In it <strong>the</strong>
year <strong>of</strong> Mr. Fiper's birth is incorrectly stated, it should be 1781, and is so
corrected here, 011 <strong>the</strong> authority <strong>of</strong> his daughter, Mrs. Cobb, from docu-
ments in her possession. Mr. Piper was more than once heard to say that
he was born <strong>the</strong>year after tAe Gordon riots <strong>of</strong> 1780. The scene <strong>of</strong> his longest
and busiest labours was that as private chaplain to <strong>the</strong> Shore family at
Norton Hall, for thirty-seven years. This family was amongst <strong>the</strong> most
advanced Liberals and Nonconformists <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> north. Attached to <strong>the</strong> seat
and park <strong>of</strong> Norton Hall, near Sheffield, where <strong>the</strong>y dwelt, was <strong>the</strong> small
*C.R., 1854, p. 452, F [ranklin] B [aker], Bolton, June 5th.
chapel which was dedicated to <strong>the</strong> service <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> one God and Fa<strong>the</strong>r."
Its pastor, says Sir John Bowring-
stood in <strong>the</strong> character <strong>of</strong> domestic chaplain to <strong>the</strong> squire, and <strong>of</strong> especial
friend in <strong>the</strong> squire's household. In <strong>the</strong> dissenting body <strong>the</strong>re was only one
o<strong>the</strong>r family (that <strong>of</strong> Mr. Milnes, in which Mr. Malleson held a similar <strong>of</strong>fice),
whose social position allowed <strong>the</strong>m <strong>the</strong> distinction <strong>of</strong> possessing a pastor
specially attached to <strong>the</strong>mselves. To occupy this post Mr. Piper was
called. . . Through many vicissitudes an intimate intercourse with <strong>the</strong>
Shores was preserved to <strong>the</strong> last, with abundant evidence <strong>of</strong> mutual esteem
and affection. . . In <strong>the</strong> pretty village <strong>of</strong> Norton <strong>the</strong>re was born and
<strong>the</strong>re was buried Francis Chantrey. As a boy he led a donkey and sold
milk in <strong>the</strong> streets ; as a youth he was apprenticed to a glazier, and his
love <strong>of</strong> art was displayed by moulding in putty <strong>the</strong> faces <strong>of</strong> some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
distinguished people in <strong>the</strong> neighbourhood. In <strong>the</strong> days <strong>of</strong> his penury he
took to <strong>the</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>ession <strong>of</strong> painting, and under <strong>the</strong> patronage and with <strong>the</strong>
introduction <strong>of</strong> Mr. Piper, he raised a few pounds by producing in oil colours
some eight or ten portraits, among which <strong>the</strong>re is one <strong>of</strong> Mr. Piper himself,
to whom, m through life, he felt strongly and gratefully attached. . . James
Montgomery. . . a sweet and popular poet, whose contributions to devotional
psalmody hold, and will long continue to hold, a distinguished p!ace
ill <strong>the</strong> service <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Satlctuary. . . was <strong>the</strong> friend and frequent guest <strong>of</strong>
<strong>the</strong> Pipers, and on <strong>the</strong> birth <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir first child wrote those pretty and wellknown
lines beginning :-
Two roses on a single stem
In sweet communion grew.
The "Wanderer <strong>of</strong> Switzerland" was <strong>the</strong> first publicatioll <strong>of</strong> Montgomery
which awakened general attention to his poetical merits. . . Mr. Piper
reviewed <strong>the</strong> poe1:l in <strong>the</strong> first volume (1806, p. 377) <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Monthly Repository.
. . Mr. Piper's school at Norton had a high and widely spread
*The baptismal register, 1777-1836, is a little volun~e <strong>of</strong> much interest. It contains
entries by Thomas Halliday from 7 November, 1777, to 23 January, 1794; John IVilliams,
26 October, 1794, to 24 January, 1804 ; William Whitelegge (minister at Fulwood, near
Sheffield, 1803-I~II), 2 September, 1804, to 31 March, 1805 ; and Henry Hunt Piper,
15 December, 1805, to 17 November, 1836, when <strong>the</strong> boolr was sent to <strong>the</strong> custody <strong>of</strong>
<strong>the</strong> Registrar-General, and is now in Somerset House, where I saw it in December,
1897. At <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> it is a l?e,bster <strong>of</strong> I/znon~Zotiorz.fol- <strong>the</strong> Cow Pox, A.D. 1303, by ,?.
IYiZZinms. He records 183 "punctu~-es," between 19 May, 1803, and 29 June, 1804.
nqinisters at Norton were-John Wood, M.A., (l. I April, 1690, ~ t 65 . ; Thomas Rose,
1690-1700 ; Nathan Denton ; George Lo~ve, d. April, 1717; Samuel Wood (d. January,
1723?) ; Nicholas Warren, 1724-[~726] ; John Holland, 1731-1743 ; Daniel Lowe, 1744-1776 ;
Thomas Halliday, 1776-January, 1794 ; John Williams, 1791-1804 ; Robert Aspland, 7 April-
May, 1805; Henry Hunt Piper, 1805-1843. G.E.E.