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

Calamy tells us Oasland-
went to see his friends, intending to return and pursue his studies. But <strong>the</strong>
famous Mr. Tombs* after his dispute with Mr. Baxter, in Bewdley Chapel,
leaving <strong>the</strong> town, <strong>the</strong> magistrates prevailed with Mr. Oasland to succeed
him in 1650. . . He was <strong>the</strong> legal minister <strong>of</strong> Bewdley, from whence he
was unwiiling to remove, though he had considerable <strong>of</strong>fers, because <strong>the</strong>re
were so many excellent Christians in <strong>the</strong> town. He continued his public
labours here till August 24, 1662, having both here and in <strong>the</strong> towns adjacent
surprising success. . . When he was ejected he and his family (in which
were five children) were supported only by a jointure his wife had from her
former husband, but he was contented and easy. . . After <strong>the</strong> Toleration
he preached twice every Lord's day, and several lectures some miles from
home, which he continued till Lord's day, October 3, 1703, when he was
so ill that he could not preach, and on <strong>the</strong> 19th he died, aged about 80.
The public minister preached a funeral sermon at his interment on Rev.
xiv., 13.
James Scott supplements this last sentence by writing that OasZand's
q~ze?~ory was so re$ected that twelve fineral sirnro?zs were preached for him. He
was buried in <strong>the</strong> chancel <strong>of</strong> Kingswinford's Church, and left two sons
amongst <strong>the</strong> Nonconformists-Edward, <strong>the</strong> elder, was pastor at Bewdley,
?r,here he had for some tinre assisted his fa<strong>the</strong>r, and Henry, <strong>the</strong> younger, who
died in Cambridgeshire. Under <strong>the</strong> Indulgence <strong>of</strong> Charles II., in 1672,
we findf-
The howse <strong>of</strong> Hen. Osland, at Bewdley, Worc., Licence to Henry Osland, to
be a Pr. Teacher in his howse at Bewdley, Worc., 25 July.
Since Oasland was one <strong>of</strong> Baxter's lieutenants it is practically certain
that this society at Bewdley was not established till after Toleration (1689),
for Baxter took good care that <strong>the</strong>re should be no nonconforming congre-
gation at <strong>the</strong> neighbouring town <strong>of</strong> Kidderminster in 1662 or in 1672.
Ed~vard Oasland was educated by John Woodhouse, one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> minis-
ters silenced in Nottinghamshire, who afterwards kept his academy- at
"John Tombes was born at Bewdley in 1602, entered Magdalen Hall, Oxford, 1617,
graduated M.A., took orders, and became Lecturer <strong>of</strong> St. Martin's, Carfax. In 1630 he
became a preacher in Worcester, and <strong>the</strong>nce removed to Leominster. In 1653 he was
appointed one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Triers for <strong>the</strong> County. He was a tower <strong>of</strong> strength to <strong>the</strong> Baptists,
and had many controversies. He afterwards married and lived a retired life. Wood's
Athfnne ii., 556.
.I.S.P. Domestic Interregnum, 38a.
Sheriff-hales, in Shropshire, where, says Job Orton-
he was an eminent tutor, and educated many excellent divines and several
gentlemen <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most considerable families in <strong>the</strong>se parts, as Foley, Hartley,
Hunt, &c.
Walter Wilsoil states that Edward Oasland had a MS. memorandum
book containing an account <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> building <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> original place <strong>of</strong> worship
by Tyndall. This book is not amongst <strong>the</strong> trustees' papers, nor could I
find it in <strong>the</strong> present chapel when visiting it 011 rg September, 1892.
The following undated document containing Reynolds' name is pre-
served amongst <strong>the</strong> chapel papers, and a similar one is also affixed to <strong>the</strong>
inner front cover <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Baptismal Register :-
Be it Known to all whom. it may concern that <strong>the</strong> Zatt Mr. Reynolds
left by will, twenty shillings to be equal& divided between <strong>the</strong> Rector
<strong>of</strong> Ribbesfoord, and <strong>the</strong> Protesta~zl Dissenting Minister, <strong>of</strong> Bewddey ,
yeas.@ for ever, that is to say ten shil'lzigs each year&, to be laid out
iw purchasin.g Bibles for <strong>the</strong> poor. me savze twenty shilliqs fo be
paid year@ by <strong>the</strong> proprietor <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> house Known as <strong>the</strong> Swan Inn,
,i~z BewdZey, ilz Easter week <strong>of</strong> each year.
Joh~ Jones,
Protestant Dissenting Minister <strong>of</strong> Bewdley.
John Adams was ordained on 18 July, 1751, Dr. Doddridge taking part
iu <strong>the</strong> service.\ He is said to have had three assistants here, viz. :-Denny,
Morris, and Vicary.
John Jones was a Daventry student, being admitted in 1763, and from
1764 to 1765 was <strong>the</strong>re on <strong>the</strong> foundation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Presbyterian Board. He
has recorded in <strong>the</strong> Baptismal Register that he canre to Be7.dZey1 liriday, yz~ne
19, 1768, whilst this note at <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> register gives us <strong>the</strong> date <strong>of</strong>
<strong>the</strong> ending <strong>of</strong> his long ministry here :--ohn Jones, Navember p, 1823, reszgned.
He died on 25 May, 1824, zet. So. The present substantial meeting-house
was built during his ministry, but <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> exact year <strong>of</strong> its opening <strong>the</strong> author,
as yet, has no definite information.
His successor, Evan Jones-not to be confounded with Evail Owen
Jones, <strong>of</strong> Coseley, I 804-6 ; Belper, I 807- I o, and Duffield, I 807- 1867--was
a student <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Presbyterian College, Caermar<strong>the</strong>n, 1814-1818, being 18
years <strong>of</strong> age when admitted, and ministered at <strong>the</strong> Great Meeting, Hinckley,
from 1820 till 1824, when he removed to Kidderminster, as master <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>