History of Nonconformists in London, England and surrounding counties

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History of Nonconformists in London, England and surrounding counties

Aim of project

To write the history of English protestant nonconformist or dissenters from the perspective of the families involved. Many of these families were nonconformist for many generations, married other nonconformist families and were part of the nonconformist community which existed across the country.

The Act of Uniformity 1662 and the Test Act of 1673 were among several statutes that imposed civil and religious restrictions on non-Anglicans. The Toleration Act of 1689 made public worship easier for dissenters but did not fundamentally alter their legal status as second class citizens, prohibiting them holding public office, senor rank in the military or attending university. ^[1]

A good summary of the legislation that limited the freedoms of dissenters has been published by Queen Mary College, University of London

The starting point for my research are the families in London and surrounding counties, from about 1700 to about 1850.

There is clearly no list of people who were Nonconformists but individuals can be identified through church records, burial records, lists of supporters for Nonconformist causes and membership of Nonconformist organisations. It is planned to develop a picture of the Nonconformist community through these sources.

England Team Topic

This page is part of the TopicsTeam, a topic of the England Project. Please get in touch with Topic Manager Trevor Pickup or EP Topics Coordinator Marjorie Gibbon if you are interested in joining the team!

Nonconformist Churches: Categories on Wikitree

Individuals can be identified when they christen or baptise their children in nonconformist churches, and when they are buried in nonconformist burial grounds. They may have also been named as supporting nonconformist causes, such as charities or publications.

City of London

City of London

Aldermanbury Postern Independent Chapel

The Aldermanbury Postern meeting house was built for the congregation formerly assembling in Rope-makers Alley, Moorfields. The meeting house was built in 1672 and it continued to meet there until 1753 when another building was constructed, when Rev Thomas Towle (abt.1755-abt.1828) was the minister.

In 1797 the church joined the congregation at Founders Hall, continuing under the pastoral care of Rev. Joseph Barber . Use this link Aldermanbury Postern Founders Hall for this category from 1797 onwards. For a detailed history see The History and Antiquities of Dissenting Churches and Meeting Houses, in London, Westminster, and Southwark (London, 1808-1814).

Link to the category here. 11 individuals identified by February 2024

Aldermanbury, Postern and Founder's Hall Chapel, City of London

This category is for profiles associated with this church from 1797 onwards, when it was established.

The Aldermanbury, Postern and Founder's Hall Chapel was formed in 1797 when 2 separate congregations formed a union at Aldermanbury Postern. These were
Aldermanbury Postern which met from 1672-1797.
Founder's Hall which met from 1760-1797, which met at Little St Helen’s from 1760 until 1764 and then at Founders Hall from 1764 until 1797.

Included in the List of places to worship, London 1804 under Aldermanbury Postern, with Thomas Towle and Joseph Barber as preachers

Link to the category here 11 individuals identified by February 2024.

Bury Street Meeting House, St Mary Axe

An Independent Meeting House listed in the 1804 list of London Churches. Ministers were Isaac Watts as assistant 1698 - 1702 then minister 1702 -1748
Samuel Price, as assistant 1703-1713, then minister 1713 -1756
Meredith Townsend assistant 1742 - 1746 Samuel Morton Savage (abt.1721-1791) assistant 1747 - 1753 then minister 1756 - 1787
Thomas Porter
Josiah Thompson Thomas Beck 1788 - 1844
Henry Heap

Included in the List of places to worship, London 1804 with Thomas Beck as preacher

See The History and Antiquities of Dissenting Churches and Meeting Houses, in London, Westminster, and Southwark vol 1, page 251 for detailed history

Carter Lane, St Pauls

A Presbyterian congregation which met at Little Carter Lane, Doctor's Commons, considered to be the leading congregation within the denomination.

Ministers Matthew Sylvester 1667-1708
Richard Baxter (assistant) 1687- 1691
Edmund Calamy (assistant) 1692- 1696
Samuel Wright (1683-1746) Jeremiah Burroughs (assistant) 17?? - 1718
Thomas Newman (assistant) 1718 -1746 then minister 1746 - 1758
Edward Pickard (assistant) 1746 - 1758 then minister 1758 -1778
John Tailor (assistant) 1760-1766
Thomas Tayler (assistant) 1767 - 1778 then minister 1778 - 1811

The National Archives have the records from 1711-1757 [Carter Lane, Blackfriars, London]

See The History and Antiquities of Dissenting Churches and Meeting Houses, in London, Westminster, and Southwark Vol. 2, page 105 for detailed history.

Included in the List of places to worship, London 1804 as an English Presbyterian Congregation, with Thomas Tayler as preacher.

Link to the category Carter Lane Independent Chapel, City of London category 12 individuals identified by February 2024

Not to be confused with the Carter Lane Meeting House, Southwark, Surrey category a Baptist church.

Camomile Street Meeting House

When the congregation at Lime Street had to relinquish their meeting house and the minister, Mr Richardson relinquished his role, the church divided. The larger group who retained the church books, moved to Miles Lane, being accommodated by Mr jolie's congregation. Mr William Porter was appointed minister, and he served for about ten years. The congregation then built a new meeting house and moved to Camomile Street.

MInisters
William Porter 1756 - 1773
John Reynolds 1774 - 1803
John Clayton 1805 -

The congregation of Charles Buck (abt.1771-1815) met there on a temporary basis from 1802 to 1804, before moving to Wilson Street, while their meeting house was being constructed.

Included in the List of places to worship, London 1804 with preachers Reynolds and Charles Buck

See The History and Antiquities of Dissenting Churches and Meeting Houses, in London, Westminster, and Southwark Vol.1, 387 for detailed history.

Fetter Lane

Fetter Lane Independent Chapel was founded in Fetter Lane, in the City of London in 1738. The Fetter Lane Society was founded by Peter Boehler, the London Moravian leader. They began with the purpose of meeting once a week for prayer and fellowship. Most of their members were Anglicans, most prominently John Wesley, Charles Wesley, and George Whitefield.

The History and Antiquities of Dissenting Churches and Meeting Houses, in London, Westminster, and Southwark identifies three meeting houses in Fetter Lane, including the United Brethren (Moravians).

Included in the List of places to worship, London 1804 as a Congregational Church with preacher George Burder.

Link to the category for the Independent Congregation here 10 individuals identified by February 2024.

The membership list of the first 72 members with biographical information was been published^[2]

Founders' Hall, aka Founders' Hall, Lothbury 1760-1797

Founder's Hall Chapel, London, also known as Founders Hall, Lothbury, met from 1760 until 1797

The Founders Hall congregation was formed in 1760 when Rev. Joseph Barber (1727-1810) moved to London to take charge of a newly formed church, consisting of those who had separated from Mr Samuel Pike (abt.1717-bef.1773)'s Church at Three Cranes. The church met at Little St Helens from 1760 until 1764 when the Founders Hall became vacant. In 1797 the congregation formed a union with the congregation at Aldermanbury Postern.

Link to the category here 8 individuals identified by February 2024.

Haberdashers Hall, City of London

Haberdashers Hall, 1820

The congregation met in the Hall of the Haberdashers Company, one of the guilds in London. It was an Independent church located at Haberdashers' Hall at Staining Lance and Gresham Street.

A previous Presbyterian congregation under the pastoral care of Dr Lobb used the hall until 1734. It was then taken on by an Independent congregation under the care of Dr Robert Wright, which had been meeting at Girdlers Hall. This church was perhaps the most ancient of Independent churches in London.

Ministers since 1723
Robert Wright 1723 -1743,br/> Thomas Gibbons 1743-1785
Joseph Shrimpton Brooksbank 1785 - 1828?

see Free space page Haberdashers Hall Independent Church, Staining Lane. for more details

Link to the category [1] 20 individuals identified by February 2024.

Kings Weigh House Meeting House, Eastcheap

Weigh House Chapel, 1780

Also known as the Weigh House Meeting House.

Ministers were
James Wood, 1727 -1747
William Langford 1742 -1775
Samuel Wilton 1776 - 1778
John Clayton was the minister from 1778 - 1826. The congregation moved to Fish Street Hill in 1833-34.

Assistant ministers were
Samuel Palmer 1763 - 1766
Edward Vennor 1767 - 1775

Included in the List of places to worship, London 1804 as Weigh House Meeting house, an Independent Church with preacher John Clayton

The Category for the meeting house is here with 14 profiles added so far (July 2024)

Records at the National Archives

Article on the Kings Weigh House on Wikipedia

Detailed history The History and Antiquities of Dissenting Churches and Meeting Houses, in London, Westminster, and Southwark Vol. 1, Page 148.

London Wall Scots Church

The Old Scots Church Meeting was established at Founders' Hall from 1672 and London Wall from 1764.
The church moved to Islington in 1857 on the expiry of the London Wall lease. It was known as Trinity Presbyterian Church, Canonbury and was situated on Church Road (later North Church Road), off Southgate Road.

Included in the List of places to worship, London 1804 with henry Hunter as Preacher (although notes state Hunter had died in 1802 and Robert Young was there by 1809).

Link to the category here 6 individuals identified by February 2024.

New Broad Street Meeting House

In 1727 John Guyse (bef.1680-abt.1761) was invited to become first minister of a congregation which had been formed by a secession from Miles Lane, Cannon Street, and had established itself in New Broad Street. He was an Independent, supporter of Calvinism and critical of Arianism.

Ministers
John Guyse 1727 -1761
William Guyse (assistant) 1728-1758
John Stafford D.D. 1758 -1780
Benjamin Gaffee 1800 -1818?

Included in the List of places to worship, London 1804, preacher Benjamin Gaffee (abt.1780-abt.1818)

Not to be confused with the Presbyterian Church in New Broad Street.

For detailed history see The history and antiquities of dissenting churches and meeting houses, in London, Westminster, and Southwark ^[3]

Parliament Court, Bishopsgate,

Previously a French Huguenot church, in 1792 the building was leased to to a Universalist Baptist church under Elhanan Winchester of Philadelphia. When Winchester returned to the United States a few years later, the church was taken over by William Vidler (1758-1816) who had been associated with Winchester since 1794. When Vidler declared himself to be a Unitarian in 1801, a large part of his congregation seceded. Vidler continued to lead a congregation in Parliament Court until his death in 1816. He was succeeded by William Johnson Fox, who in 1824 took the church to South Place, Finsbury where it eventually became an Ethical Society^{[4] [5]}

In 1824 the building was used by a congregation of Scottish Baptists under S. Stennett and J. Winning came from Cateaton Street and in 1833 the building was called 'Salem Chapel',

Parliament Court Chapel, Bishopsgate Street included in the List of places to worship, London 1804 with William Vidler as preacher, succeeded by William Johnson Fox in 1817.

The category for Parliament Court Chapel, Spitalfields, Middlesex is here and has 4 profiles (December 2024).

Paved Alley

See under Poultry Chapel

Poultry Chapel, Camomile Street

The congregation first met in 1640 under the leadership of Thomas Goodwin D.D. (1600-1680) somewhere near Thames Street and moved to the Paved Alley meeting house Lime Street, when it was built in 1672. The congregation was considerable both in numbers and wealth and had the largest collection for the fund of any church in London.

In 1755 the East India Company purchased the site. The congregation divided into two with one moving to Artillery Street (and then Whites Row, see entry) and the other moved to Miles Lane. The latter moved to the Poultry in 1785. The church then moved again and was known as The City Temple, Holborn Viaduct.

There is more detail available about Poultry Chapel.

Link to the category here 10 individuals identified by February 2024.

Salters Hall, Dissenters Chapel, Walbrook

Dating from 1688, Salters Hall was a large and prosperous Presbyterian church, used for both Sunday worship and a series on midweek and Sunday evening lecturers.

The category for the chapel is here Salters Hall Dissenters Chapel, Walbrook, City of London with 7 profiles identified (December 2024).

For more information see Salters Hall, Dissenters Chapel, Walbrook, City of London

Essex

Essex

Bocking End Independent Chapel, Braintree,

The Independent Chapel, at Bocking End, adjoining Braintree, was a large and handsome building which was erected in 1707.

Link to the category here 29 individuals identified by February 2024.

The burial ground uses the current name for the church Bocking End Congregational Churchyard, Braintree, Essex category

Coggeshall Independent Church,

The first independent place of worship in Coggeshall was a converted barn on East Street, put to use in 1672. In 1710 a permanent chapel was built on Stoneham Street for "Protestant Dissenters from the Church of England, commonly called Independents". By 1716 there were 700 hearers including some of the wealthiest and most influential people from the local area. In 1834 the chapel was enlarged and again in 1865.

Link to the category here 33 individuals identified by February 2024.

Newland Street Independent Church, Witham

The church was founded in 1715 with Baptism and Burial records existing from 1752.

Link to the category here 27 individuals identified by February 2024.

Kent

Kent

Butt Lane Independent Church, Deptford

Link to the Category here

24 individuals identified by February 2024.

Middlesex

Middlesex

Alie Street Presbyterian, Goodman's Fields, Tower Hamlets

The Presbyterian chapel, a sober brick building, was built during the ministry of the Rev. Joseph Denham (d. 1756). He was succeeded by Rev Dr William Prior, died 1774

Decades of doctrinal schisms whittled the congregation down, and it is said to have become Unitarian towards the end of the eighteenth century. It was dissolved in 1804, and in 1807 a lease was taken by John Bailey, a Particular or Strict Baptist minister of Greenfield Street, and the building was renamed Zoar Chapel.

The Category for the Presbyterian congregation is here Great Alie Street Presbyterian Church, Whitechapel,

Included in in the list of places of worship in London in 1804, but listed as Alie Street Meeting-house, Goodman's Fields, with preachers Morgan, Shenston, Oates. John Brittain Shenston was initially a General Baptist.

Bethnal Green Meeting House, Cambridge Road

Congregational meeting house founded in 1669, ministers were John Walker (-abt.1770) 1755 until 1771 and then John Kello (abt.1750-1827) until 1827. Included in in the list of places of worship in London in 1804. The Meeting house was on the west side of Cambridge Road, with capacity for 300 in 1810. A new Chapel was built in 1819 at Bath Street (later Birbeck Street)

Detailed history of the nonconformist churches in Bethnal Green on British History site. Also a history of the church on the National Archives site

Included in the List of places to worship, London 1804, as a Congregational congregation with John Walker the minister until 1770 and John Kello as preacher from 1771 until 1827

Bull Lane, Stepney

Stepney Meeting House, Bull Lane, 1783

Ministers
Rev. Samuel Brewer was the minster from from 1746- 1796 and his children and some of his grandchildren were baptised in the church.
George Ford 1796 - 1821
Joseph Fletcher from 1823

Included in the List of places to worship, London 1804 as Stepney Meeting House, an Independent congregation, preacher George Ford

Link to the category here

52 individuals identified by February 2024.

Church Street Chapel, Mile End New Town, Stepney, AKA Coverley Fields

The building was previously an Anglican Chapel of Ease on the south side of Church Street (now Hanbury Street) probably established in 1770 - 1780. The build was then taken over by nonconformists, being used by then Calvinist Methodists.

The minister was Rev John Cottingham who died and was buried in the chapel, with his wife, Elizabeth, who was buried before 1795. He was succeeded by Rev George Evans in 1808. A new building on a site near Mile End Road was constructed. This was called Brunswick Chapel, and opened in 1825. By 1829 the roginal building was disused and was used by the Home Missionary Society. After various other uses, A new building was constructed in 1861 and was known as Trinity Congregational Church Details taken from British History Online site, (see under Trinity Congregational Church).

Included in the List of places to worship, London 1804 as Church Street Chapel, preacher John Cottingham.

Gravel Pit Church, Hackney,

Not this is not the Gravel Lane congregation from Stepney or Wapping, on the east of London
The Gravel Pit Chapel was established in 1715-16 in Hackney, Middlesex for a Presbyterian congregation. It took its name from the gravel pit near the bowling green in Mare Street.

In 1809 the congregation moved to new premises in Paradise Place in 1809, and began to identify itself as Unitarian. The original building, from then on known as the "Old Gravel Pit Chapel", was taken over by Congregationalists. See wikipedia article on Gravel Pit Chapel

Original Gravel Pit congregation

The Mare Lane congregation went back to William Bates (1668)

1716 Daniel Mayo and George Smith or Smyth
1723–1747? George Smith alone
1747 Thomas Mole
1754–1758 Thomas Dawson
Timothy Laugher, died 1769
1770–1791 Richard Price
To 1792 Thomas Morgan
1791–1794 Joseph Priestley
1793–1794 Michael Maurice
1794–1805 Thomas Belsham
1805 Robert Aspland

The category for the Gravel pit Independent church is here

New Gravel Pit Chapel, Hackney

The Unitarian New Gravel Pit congregation first met on 4 November 1810, in a new building designed by the architect Edmund Aikin, nephew of Anna Letitia Barbauld, who provided his services without charge.[14] It included Charles Hennell, David Ricardo and Daniel Whittle Harvey.[1]

1810–1845 Robert Aspland 1843–1846 Thomas Sadler 1847–1852 John Boucher 1853–1857 Thomas Lethbridge Marshall In 1858 the chapel was rebuilt in a Dissenting Gothic style, to the designs of Arthur Ashpitel.

1858–1869 Robert Brook Aspland 1870–1891 James Thornely Whitehead 1893 Samuel Fletcher Williams.

Old Gravel Pit Independent Church, Hackney,

In 1810 a congregationalist group, who had seceded from the Ram's Chapel in Homerton after the death of John Eyre, leased the old Gravel Pit Chapel, then in Morning Lane, Hackney. They had gathered from 1804 at Homerton College.

1811–1850 John Pye-Smith (1774-1851) John Davies J. De K. Williams. The last service in the Old Gravel Pit Chapel was held in 1871. The congregation moved to the new Round Chapel, on the Clapton Park Estate, in Upper Clapton. From 1874 there was an Old Gravel Pit mission in the building.

Link to the category here

Holywell Mount Chapel, Shoreditch

Minister was William Francis Platt (1758-1832) from September 1789 at the recommendation of Lady Huntingdon.

Included in the List of places to worship, London 1804 with William Francis Platt (1758-1832) as the preacher.

Link to the Holywell Mount Chapel category is here. 8 profiles (November 2024)

Mare Street Meeting House, Hackney

Established in the 17th Century, with notable pastors such as Matthew Henry (1662-1714) and Samuel Palmer (1741-1813). The congregation moved to a new meeting house in St Thomas' Square in 1811 and is also known by that name.

Included in the List of places to worship, London 1804 as Hackney meeting house, an Independent congregation with Samuel Palmer (1741-1813) as the preacher.

Link to the category for the meeting house is here

Link to category for the burial ground is here

See Mare Street Meeting House, later St Thomas’ Square Independent Chapel, Hackney for more details.

Islington Chapel, Upper Street

Included in the List of places to worship, London 1804 described as a A Calvinist Methodist Chapel with the minister Evan John Jones

Islington Meeting House, Lower Street

An Independent Meeting House included in the 1804 list, where Nathaniel Jennings (1748-1814) was the minister from 1768 to 1814.

Included in the List of places to worship, London 1804 as Independent congregation with Nathaniel Jennings as minister from 1768 - 1814

Church records are held at Greater London Record Office under the name of Islington Congregational Chapel

New Court, Carey Street Meeting House

An Independent Meeting House included in the 1804 list. Ministers were Robert Winter (1762-1833) and William Thorpe (1800-1805) according to the 1804 list, although Robert Winter was still there in 1812.

Included in the List of places to worship, London 1804 as Carey Street Meeting House, an Independent congregation.

Ministers
Thomas Bradbury founded the meeting house in 1728
Richard Winter
William Thorp 1800 - 1805
Robert Winter (1762-1833)

See National Archives account of the history of the congregation.

Nightingale Lane Meeting House, later Pell Street

The meeting-house in Nightingale Lane seems to have been built for a congregation under the pastorate of the Rev. John Knowles, who had been ejected from a preachership in Bristol Cathedral. Knowles died roth April, 1685 ; and was succeeded by the Rev. John James, the ejected minister of Flintham, Notts., who died in 1696 or 7. The Rev. Christopher Midall or Meidel followed for a short time ; he was a native of Denmark, and in 1699 joined the Society of Friends. Thomas Loyd became pastor on 24th September, 1700. In his time a strongly Calvinistic Confession of Faith-including the dogma of " Imputed Righteousness "-was drawn up, to which all members were required to assent. Mr. Loyd becoming infirm, the Rev. John Mitchell was elected co-pastor on 9th December, 1719 ; and on the death of Mr. Loyd, 9th January, 1721, became sole pastor. In 1722 the meeting house was rebuilt on the same site. The succeeding pastors were the Revs. Thomas Toller, 1754-1760; Henry Mayo, D.D., 1762-1792; John Knight, 1793-1803. In that year the meetinghouse was pulled down, the site being required for the construction of the new London Docks. After using temporary accommodation for nearly three years in King Henry's Yard, the congregation obtained possession of a chapel in Pell Street, near Wellclose Square. The first minister there was the Rev. Thos. Cloutt (afterwards Russell), a literary man of some note in his day. Several pastors followed, but after a somewhat troubled history the church became extinct before the middle of the 19th century.^[6]

Old Gravel Lane, Wapping

In 1704 a 'Separate Congregation and Church of Christ assembling....near Wapping Old Stairs' was established as an offshoot of the meeting at Bull Lane, Stepney with Thomas Simmons as minister. It built on the ministry of Edward Veal, who also ran an Academy. Simmons, described as his 'successor', preached at his funeral, held 'for convenience' in the parish church of St John Wapping.

In 1737 it moved to Love Lane, near the junction of Green Bank and Old Gravel [now Wapping] Lane: it was about 60' by 30' with a small burial ground. From 1718 to 1762 David Jennings DD was the minister. Jennings was also the Principal of the Wellclose Square Academy.

On Jennings' death William Gordon D.D. (1728-1807) became the pastor, but in 1771 because of his 'partiality to America' he left for a church in Jamaica Plain near Boston. The USA was not what he expected, and he returned to a pastorate in Ipswich. For 37 years, from 1772-1810, Noah Hill was the minister. ^[7]

It is listed as an Independent Meeting House included in the List of places to worship, London 1804 Minister was Noah Hill (abt.1739-1815)

This is the link to the Old Gravel Lane Independent Chapel, Wapping, Middlesex category which has 50 profiles (December 2024)

Old Jewry Meeting House

Included in the List of places to worship, London 1804, a Presbyterian Meeting House on the 1804 list, with the minister Abraham Rees (abt.1743-abt.1825)

Pavement Chapel, Moorfields, later at New North Road Hoxton

List of places to worship, London 1804, with William Wall as the preacher

Link to the category here

34 individuals identified by February 2024.

Peckham Chapel

A Congregational meeting house on the List of places to worship, London 1804 with the Minister William Bengo Collyer D.D. (abt.1782-abt.1854). Later rebuilt as Hanover Chapel.

Princes Street Chapel, Westminster

Originally a Presbyterian chapel with Andrew Kippis (1725-1795) as the minister until 1795 and later became Unitarian.

Included in the 1804 list as a unitarian chapel with Thomas Jervis from 1796 onwards.

This is the category for Princes Street Presbyterian Church, Westminster, Middlesex with 3 profiles so far (December 2024).

Providence Chapel, Marylebone

The chapel founded in 1783 at Titchfield Street, Marylebone by William Huntington a fairly unconventional preacher. It burnt down in 1810 and a New Providence Chapel was built and the congregation relocated to New Providence Chapel, Grays Inn Road.

Included as Providence Chapel, Tichfield Street on the List of places to worship, London 1804 with the Minister William Huntington.

The register at the GRO does not distinguish between these two addresses, but this Providence Chapel, Marylebone, Middlesex category is for the earlier period 1783-1810 at Titchfield Street. 13 profiles identified (by December 2024).

St Thomas' Square Chapel, Hackney

St Thomas's Square Chapel and Schools, Hackney

The chapel was built in 1771 during the ministry of Samuel Palmer (1741-1813). The congregation previously met at Mare Street, Hackney (see above). Also see Mare Street Meeting House, later St Thomas’ Square Independent Chapel, Hackney for more details.

Included in the List of places to worship, London 1804 as Hackney meeting house, an Independent congregation with Samuel Palmer (1741-1813) as the preacher.

Wells Street Scotch Church, Oxford Street, Marylebone

In 1768 a chapel in Wells Street became a Scotch Chapel, the home of a a secessionist or "Burgher Meeting" congregation lead by Archibald Hall (d. 1778) and Alexander Waugh (1782–1827). The chapel was respectably patronised, for instance by John Broadwood (1732-1812) and James Broadwood, the harpsichord and piano makers, and the builders James and Hepburn Hastie. In 1800 the congregation amalgamated with that of Miles Lane in the City. Shortly after that the chapel was rebuilt. It continued in Wells Street till the 1870s, when the congregation united with the Oxendon Chapel and moved to Haverstock Hill.^[8]

Link to the category Wells Street Scotch Church, Marylebone, Middlesex category

Whites Row Independent Chapel, Spitalfields

The congregation had previously met at Artillery Lane and built the Chapel probably in about 1755, by a congregation of Independents under Edward Hitchin (abt.1726-abt.1774). Many members of the congregation at this time are said to have had Huguenot names. Hitchin died in 1774 and was succeeded by Nathaniel Trotman (abt.1751-abt.1793). The congregation was then large, drawing most of its members from within a mile of the chapel: Trotman's reception service was attended by 1,200 persons. He died in 1792 and was followed by John Goode (abt.1754-abt.1831), who served the chapel until his resignation in 1826, by which time the congregation had dwindled considerably.

Link to the category here 18 individuals identified by February 2024.

Suffolk

Suffolk

Rendham Independent Chapel

The church was founded in 1650 and originally met in Sweffing, moving to Rendham in 1750. The chapel attended by Samuel Brewer (abt.1723-1796) as a child. Link to the category Independent Chapel, Rendham, Suffolk here 29 Individuals identified (February 2024)

Tacket Street Independent Church, Ipswich

Link to the category here 41 individuals identified by February 2024. Link to the churchyard category here 12 individuals identified by February 2024.

Surrey

Colliers Rents, Long Lane, Southwark

Church founded in 1726 and originally consisted of both baptists and paedo-baptists as a mixed congregation.

Ministers
John Rogers (abt.1716-abt.1790) from 1745 - 1790
James Knight from 1791

See The History and Antiquities of Dissenting Churches and Meeting Houses, in London, Westminster, and Southwark Vol 4, page 321 for details.

Link to the Collier's Rents Chapel, Southwark, Surrey category, 11 profiles (August 2024)

Congregational meeting house included in the 1804 list.

Jamaica Row Independent Chapel, Bermondsey

Link to the Jamaica Row Independent Chapel, Bermondsey, Surrey category, 7 profiles identified, (August 2024).

Maze Pond Baptist Church, Southwark

Although Baptist Churches are outside the scope for this project, this one is included because it is so significant.

See The History and Antiquities of Dissenting Churches and Meeting Houses, in London, Westminster, and Southwark vol 4 page 285.

Link to the Maze Pond Baptist Church, Southwark, Surrey category 16 profiles (August 2024)

York Street Chapel, Walworth, previously Lock's Field Meeting House

Link to category York Street Chapel, Walworth, Surrey category

Nonconformist Burial Grounds

There are numerous burial grounds used by nonconformists, who did not wish to be buried in Anglican graveyards.

Abney Park Cemetery, Stoke Newington

Opened in 1840 as a non-denominational cemetery, during the Victorian period, Abney Park Cemetery became an attractive resting place for nonconformist or dissenting ministers and educationalists, with many people who were Congregationalist, Baptist, Methodist and Salvation Army members. There are over 200,000 graves. See Abney Park Cemetery, Stoke Newington, London, England for more information.

The category used for those buried there is Abney Park Cemetery category

278 individuals identified by February 2024.

Bunhill Fields Burial Ground

Bunhill Fields Burial Ground 1873

Situated in Islington is the largest nonconformist burial ground in London, with about 123,000 internments. The Wikitree category has identified 310 Individuals Dec 2024 (245 February 2024 figure, 147 individuals January 2022 figure), so still much to be done.

The burial registers are available on Ancestry and the images often include a place of death (where the body was brought from) and sometimes the age of the person.

More details Bunhill Fields Burial Ground

There are also several publications available on the internet including The Inscriptions Upon The Tombs, Gravestones, etc., in The Dissenters Burial-Place Near Bunhill Fields written in 1717.

Some famous individuals are included in Bunhill Memorials, Sacred Reminiscences of Three Hundred Ministers (James Paul, London, 1849)

Also History of the Bunhill Fields Burial Ground first published in 1893

The category used for those buried there is Bunhill Fields Burial Ground

Deadman's Place Burial Ground, Southwark

map of Deadman's Burial Ground, 1746

On the south side of the Thames the largest and one of the most important of the Dissenters’ burial-grounds was that attached to the Independent Chapel in Deadman’s Place (now called Park Street, Southwark), originally a plague-ground, and very much used for the burial of the victims.

Notable Alexander Cruden (1699-1770) was buried there. The category used for those buried there is Deadman's Place Burial Ground, Southwark

7 individuals identified by February 2024.

Mare Street Independent Chapel burial ground, also known as St Thomas Square Independent Chapel Burial Ground)

The burial ground is adjacent to the new building, opened in 1771. See Mare Street Meeting House, later St Thomas’ Square Independent Chapel, Hackney for more details.

Maze Pond Baptist Burial Ground, Southwark

Link to the Maze Pond Baptist Burial Ground, Southwark, Greater London category 17 profiles (August 2024)

Nonconformist Ministers: Categories on Wikitree

... was a nonconformist minister

The categorisation of ministers is not straight forward. Some moved between the church of England and nonconformist churches. More commonly, ministers moved between nonconformist views, with Independents becoming Congregationalists, for example. Others changed their thinking with the growth of Arianian, Socinian and Unitarian views over time. The following categories are in use

England Nonconformist Ministers

This is for ministers of protestant independent nonconformist or dissenting churches. This is the main category used by this topic, The link to the category is here. England Nonconformist MInisters

267 individuals identified by Nov 2024 (252 February 2024, 225 in May 2022).

There are also sub-categories for :-
England Baptist Ministers,
England Congregational Ministers
England Methodist Ministers,
England Presbyterian Ministers,

Non-English Nonconformist Ministers

This is mostly Scottish and European ministers, some of whom worked in England.. The link to the category is here. Nonconformist Ministers.

The Nonconformist Register at Dr William's Library

Dr William's Library, Cripplegate, 1829

Many nonconformist churches maintained their own christening or baptism records which can be searched on the well known sites. In addition, many families registered the birth of their children at the library, and the category for these registrations is Dr William's Library.

Amongst its aims was that, for a small fee, it kept a central registry of the births mainly (but not solely) of non-conformist families, to avoid the necessity of having to have a child baptised in the Anglican Church. Over 49,000 births were registered up until the national registration of Births, Marriages and Deaths began in 1837. The Wikitree category has identified 509 individuals (267 February 2024 figure, up from 90 in May 2021), so still much to be done.

More information available about Dr Williams Library

Subscribers to Nonconformist Publications

The nonconformist community produced a significant amount of printed material and some of the publications represented a significant financial risk to the author. In order to mitigate this, individuals would be asked to subscribe to the publication before printing, and would have their names listed. This practice was widespread and provides numerous lists of individuals who were either genuine supporters, family members or friends of the author.

The History of the Dissenting Academy at Homerton 1812

The history of the Dissenting Academy at Homerton published in 1812 includes a significant list of supporters, subscribers and ministers who were educated there. The freespace page has links to over 190 of those named.

Rise, Progress, and Establishment of the Independence of the United States

William Gordon (1728-1807) was a nonconformist pastor at Gravel Lane Southwark, before he went to America. He returned to England ands published, in 1788, "History of the Rise, Progress, and Establishment of the Independence of the United States", in 4 volumes. He raised over £300 from over 400 named subscribers. This source has been linked to 24 profiles (March 2022).

Seventeen Sermons on Important Subjects

This is a collection of sermons written and preached by the nonconformist minister Samuel Hayward (1718-1757) and published the year after his death. It the sermons were compiled and edited by John Conder D.D. (1714-1781). The sale of the book helped provide financially for Mrs Conder.

About 350 people subscribed to Seventeen Sermons on Important Subjects before it was published and this provides a list of his friends and associates, mostly within the nonconformist community. 31 have been identified so far (February 2024).

Dissenting Deputies

The London Dissenting Duputies were an organisation of prominent London laymen of the Three Denominations of Old Dissent (Presbyterians, Independents and Baptists) formed in 1732 and dedicated to protecting and expanding the civil rights of Dissenters through legal action.

The full account of the history can be read here British History on Line

The biographical details of the 1786-1790 Committee ^[9]and the 1827-28 committee provides other lists of key nonconformist's from this period.^[10] Links to known Protestant Dissenting Deputies are here.

Nonconformist Associations, Societies and Charities

A large number of groups and associations existed and many were widely supported. Of particular interest are those who published lists of their subscribers or supporters, sometimes with addresses and dates, which can be used to identify individuals.

Society for Promoting Religious Knowledge among the Poor

The Society for Promoting Religious Knowledge among the Poor was established in 1750, to provide Bibles, Testaments and other good books where most needed.

The Society was founded by a group of London based dissenters, led by Benjamin Forfitt, who had been sending Bibles to Philip Doddridge (1702-1751) in the year before. Thomas Gibbons (1720-1785) hosted their first meeting and became a keen supporter.

Although their origins were in the dissenting community, their membership was interdenominational and included many from the Evangelical wing of the Church of England. ^[11]

Their annual reports included lists of their supporters, many of whom were from well established nonconformist families. The names (and occasionally addresses) of supporters were published in their reports and 23 individuals have been identified and linked to profiles (May 2021). See the page Society for Promoting Religious Knowledge among the Poor

The Orphan Working School

The Orphan Working School, Hoxton was founded on the 10th May 1758 by Edward Pickard (1714-1778) for the orphans of dissenting families. Attendance at a local nonconformist church was required. The 1769 report includes details of the rules of the charity with a list of about 250 supporters, who appear to all be from the nonconformist community. Links to profiles are created as people are identified, with 20 identified so far (February 2024).

Society for the Relief of the Necessitous Widows and Fatherless Children of Protestant Dissenting Ministers

The Society for the Relief of the Necessitous Widows and Fatherless Children of Protestant Dissenting Ministers was established in 1733.

The aim was to support families of Ministers of the Presbyterian, Independent, and Baptist denominations who died so poor as not to leave their widows and children a sufficient subsistence. Its management was entrusted to twenty-seven laymen. The annual sermon is preached to raise funds, alternately in a chapel belonging to each of the Three Denominations. The link is to the list of the ministers who preached the annual sermons, their denomination and their congregation.

London Annuity Society

The London Annuity Society was established by a group of nonconformist to provide annuities for their wives when they died. They sought a Royal Charter of Incorporation in 1765 and the National Archives has the names of those who involved. Out of the original 24 men named in the Petition, 15 have been identified and linked to profiles.

London Missionary Society

The London Missionary Society was also not a solely non-conformist organisation, but most of the founders and early supporters were. The account of the founding of the organisation in 1795 includes many of the leading non-conformists and evangelical Anglicans of the day.

See London Missionary Society for more information.

London Itinerant Society

Founded in 1797 by Rev. William Francis Platt (1758-1832) Rev Rowland Hill and Matthew Wilks to preach the gospel in the small villages within 10 miles of the City of London.

It was still functioning in 1833, with the announcement of the annual meeting stated LONDON ITINERANT SOCIETY, established in 1797, under the patronage of the late Rev. Rowland Hill, Rev. Matthew Wilks, and the Rev. W. F. Platt, for Preaching the Gospel, and establishing Sunday Schools in the Villages round the Metropolis, will hold their ANNUAL SOCIAL MEETING at the CONGREGATIONAL LIBRARY, near Finsbury Chapel, Moorfields, on THURSDAY next. The Rev. A. FLETCHER will take the Chair at Half-past Four, precisely. Admission by tickets Is. each, which may be had of any of the Committee, or at the Doors. N.B. Tea will be provided as usual. ^[12]

Nonconformist Schools

Horsley Down Dissenters Charity School, also known as Maze Pond

The school was established in 1714 in Horsley Down, to educate boys and girls. The school was supported by the nonconformist community. The school moved to Maze Pond, Southwark in 1790. The 1796 publication, a brief account of the Protestant Dissenters Charity School includes names and addresses of their numerous supporters, from the nonconformist community

A variety of nonconformist schools were set up, which include fee paying schools and charity schools.

John Ryland's school

Schools were set up to educate the sons of Nonconformists, such as the school run by Rev John Collet Ryland, in Northampton. Several LOndon families sent their sons. See Rev John Collet Ryland's Scholars.

Mill Hill School

Mill Hill School was founded in 1807 by a group of dissenting clergymen and merchants, of whom the most prominent were Samuel Favel, warehouseman and citizen of London, and the Revd. John Pye-Smith of Homerton College. Their intention was to provide a classical education equal to that which the sons of Anglicans enjoyed at public schools, while maintaining the broader curriculum of the nonconformist academies.

A boarding school was opened at Mill Hill in the house once occupied by Peter Collinson the botanist, with about 20 boys and the Revd. John Atkinson as principal and chaplain. ^[13]

The school register from 1807 - 1926 has been published with biographical notes on pupils and their parents, written by Ernest Hampden (Cook) Hampden-Cook (abt.1860-1932). Trevor Pickup has a copy of the book.

Dissenting Academies

The dissenting academies were schools, colleges and seminaries (often institutions with aspects of all three) run by English Dissenters, that is, those who did not conform to the Church of England. They formed a significant part of England's educational systems from the mid-seventeenth to nineteenth centuries. See | Dissenting Academies Wikipedia Article for the history.

Gosport Academy

The category for students and staff of the academy is here with 5 people identified (February 2024)

Homerton Academy

The 1812 History of the Dissenting Academy at Homerton provides a history of the Academy with some details of who had attended but also a list of current supporters. The supporters list provides a clue as to the key nonconformists in London at the time. 192 profiles have been identified and linked to the page (March 2022)

The category for students and staff of the academy is here 137 Individuals identified (February 2024).

Mile End Dissenting Academy

The category for students and staff of the academy is here with 15 people identified (February 2024)

Plaisterers Hall Dissenting Academy

The category for students and staff of the academy is here with 15 people identified (February 2024)

Funding for Dissenting Academies

The strategic role of Dissenting Academies in training men for the ministry was well understood and therefore the funding for such bodies was also important. Each student was normally financially supported during their training, and this was available form a number of bodies. The various funding bodies had their own focus and priorities.

Congregational Fund Board

Coward Trust

William Coward (-1738) was a wealthy merchants in London who had previously lived in Jamaica. Much of his income came from sugar plantations and other direct links with slavery.

While living in London, he had supported a number of nonconformist causes, which he wanted to continue after his death.

He died in 1738 and in his will he established a trust that would fund a range of individuals and organisations.

The first meeting of the Trustees of Mr Coward’s charities was held at the Amsterdam Coffee House on May 16, 1738. Present were the Rev. Dr Watts, the Rev Dr Guyse, the Rev Dr Neale. “it was agreed not to enter in to the execution of the charitable trusts of Mr Cowards Will any further than may appear necessary to ther carrrying on of the lecture in Little St Helen’s, and the providing for the students that were under the care of the severtal tutors at the decease of Mr Coward until probate shall be obtained of the will, and the disputes relating to the will be determined.

Nathaniel Neal was elected was elected trustee in the place of Joseph Price, Merchant.

One of the early acts of the trustees was to establish the Catechetical Lecture in 1740 for the religious instruction of children in the Sabbath schools. A letter was sent to Ministers in several counties of England and Wales offering a little salary to Ministers who would teach the Lecture, which was based on the books for children written by Dr Watts.^[14]

King's Head Society

The King's Head Society was a group of laymen named after the Public House behind the Royal Exchange at which they met. The house was kept by Mr Edward Munday, who was a member, and William Coward (-1738) was also a member. They began meeting in 1730. The account of their history is included in published account of the Dissenting Academy at Homerton which they also funded.

They instigated a series of lectures, to defend their orthodox Calvinist faith from a number of other influences and theological views. These were known as the Lime Street Lectures, A course of lectures ‘On the most important Doctrines of the Gospel’ was instituted by him in 1730 in the church of Paved Alley, Lime Street. There were twenty-six in all, afterwards published in two volumes. The preachers were Abraham Taylor (abt.1700-), John Gill, Thomas Bradbury (abt.1676-abt.1759), Robert Bragg (1627-1704), Peter Goodwin (abt.1684-abt.1747), Thomas Hall, John Hurrion, John Sladen and Samuel Wilson. These were published in 1732 and available in the 1844 edition. A defence of some important doctrines of the gospel [microform] in 1844.^[15]. These were of shorter duration at Paved Alley Lime Street on Thursdays from November 1730 to April 1731, given by nine Independent and Baptist preachers ^[16]

From 1730 they also worked to promote Calvinism, by sponsoring young male scholars to attend dissenting academies.

The King's Head Society Academies (1731–1769) included:

• Samuel Parsons's Academy, Clerkenwell Green (1731–35)
  
• Abraham Taylor's Academy, Deptford (1735–40)
  
• Stepney Academy (1740–44); (tutors: John Hubbard (1740-1743); Zephaniah Marryat D.D. (1743-1744); John Walker (1742-1744). Hubbard and Marryat were strict Calvinists;
• Plaisterer's Hall Academy (1744–54)[11] (Tutors: John Walker, Zephaniah Marryat D.D., John Conder D.D. & Thomas Gibbons
  
• Mile End Academy (1754–69) (Tutors: Conder, Gibbons & Walker)
  
• The academy set up after the Society purchased of an estate at Homerton in 1768, with the students in residence by the end of 1769. The name of the institution changed over time; it became known as Homerton Academy and Independent College, Homerton (see above)
  

John Guyse (bef.1680-abt.1761) was an active member of the King's Head Society,

Particular Baptist Fund

Trotman Trust

Links to other pages

The Sandemanian Church

An overview of research into the Sandemanian Church

Research into the London Sandemanian Church and the questions I am seeking to answer
The arrival of Sandemanianism in London with details of the people involved and the impact on the nonconformist community

Other nonconformist families London Nonconformist Glass Cutters, the Leathley, Chater and Hayward Families

Entries that use this source

WikiTree Profiles that use this source