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wonderful works of God. These considerations are the foundation of an enlightened attachment, not of blind partisanship. They satisfy my own mind; if they did not, I would not give the Bible Society another penny of my money, nor another moment of my time."

FEMALE PREACHING AT KNARESBOROUGH, YORKSHIRE.

The attention of many persons in this town and neighbourhood, both of the Established Church and among the Dissenters, has been excited for several years back, by the religious services of Mrs. Stevens, who is a near relation of the Rev. Andrew Cheap, the vicar of the parish. Furnished with rare endowments for teaching, and moved with pious concern for the rising generation, she commenced giving catechetical instruction to the young people, who assembled for that purpose for some time within the precincts of the vicarage: as these exercises attracted others of riper years, they were conducted, by degrees, with a view to the information of adults also, ultimately assuming the character of Lectures on the Scriptures, and were concluded with singing and prayer.

When tidings of these things came to the ears of the Lord Bishop of the diocese, it is reported, that he directed that the meetings should be discontinued; but considering that she might be regarded as extra parochial on her own premises, a spacious school-room was erected in the town, in which she continued those instructions totally unconnected with the ministerial arrangements of Mr. Cheap,"the distinct concern of an independent person, firmly indeed attached to the ministrations in the Established Church in heart and sentiment; but exercising, under a peculiar providential appointment, the talents committed to her charge, both lawfully and usefully." Not only have the poor of the flock been edified, but persons of superior rank and learning, as well as others bolding official stations in the church of God, have been charmed with the elegance of her diction, and instructed by the solidity of her expositions It has been no uncommon occurrence to see at the door, carriages belonging to the gentry staying at Harrogate; nay, it is said, that one of the most eloquent Dissenting Ministers in the county, was recently melted almost to tears in one of these meetings, and expressed his most unqualified approval and delight with her services. Indeed the circumstance of such singular female elocution and biblical knowledge, in one exercising her talents under the shield of the Toleration Act, while sincerely attached to the national church, learned without any assumption of literature, adorned with simplicity, which imparts the most powerful charm

to eloquence, and modesty which sheds the brightest lustre on the sex, could not fail, in such an age of excitement as the present, to render Mrs. Stevens both useful and popular.

Whether this public teaching of a female is sanctioned by apostolic authority, is a question on which good people have been divided; but whether the Bishop of the Diocese has stretched his ecclesiastic prerogative a little too far, by putting down these meetings, as it is rumoured, in the shape of an intimation to the vicar, that no curate of Mr. Cheap's nomination should be licensed to the church, if he did not employ all his influence to silence Mrs. Stevens, is a query of less equivocal meaning. As the lady herself, too, has lately published a paper in defence of her teaching, in which she appeals to the canons of Scripture, with her accustomed ingenuity, she may feel not perfectly satisfied in surrendering an inalienable right, by yielding to the mandates of the Bench, rather than the dictates of conscience.

CONGREGATIONAL SCHOOL ELECTION. On Tuesday, the 30th of October, the Half-yearly General Meeting of this Institution was held at the London Tavera, for the election of three children into the school, and other business. There were eight candidates for admission; on closing the poll, the majority of votes was for Hinchcliffe, Davies, and Anthony, who accordingly were declared duly elected.

CHAPELS OPENED.

On the 10th of October, 1827, a chapel at Pitchcombe, near Stroud, which some time since was used by the Wesleyan Methodists, was re-opened in the congregational connexion. The Rev. J. Burder, and the Rev. John Rees, of London, delivered suitable discourses on the occasion

On the 1st of November, 1827, a new chapel was opened at Stonehouse. The Rev. J. Burder, the Rev. Jenkin Thomas, and the Rev. Evan Jones preached on the occasion.

On Tuesday, the 30th of November, 1827, a building fitted up for the purpose of divine worship was opened at Overton, Hants. Rev. J. Welsh, of Basingstoke, preached in the morning. Rev. J. G. Hewlett, of Newbury, in the afternoon; and Rev. John Jefferson, of Andover, in the evening. This place is connected with Whitchurch, and is to be supplied by Mr. Bean on the Lord's-day morning, and the Wednesday evening. The attendance at the opening was very encouraging. A Sabbath School has been commenced with pleasing prospects.

Some years ago, a Sunday School was commenced at the destitute village of Lye-Waste, Worcestershire. A large room was built, and public worship com

menced. This place proving too small, a chapel was erected, which was opened with encouraging prospects of success on the 8th of October. The Rev. J. A. James preached in the morning; and the Rev. T. East in the evening. The sum collected was upwards of £51. The population is exceedingly large and poor. A debt remains upon the place of about £200. The aid of the religious public must be solicited towards its liquidation.

ORDINATIONS.

On the 1st of January, 1827, Mr. W. Richards was ordained pastor of the church at Stonehouse. The introductory discourse was delivered by the Rev. T. Adkins; the ordination prayer by the Rev. R. Meek; the charge by the Rev. J. Burder; and the sermon to the people by the Rev. John Davies.

On Tuesday, August the 28th, 1827, Mr. W. Bean was ordained over the Inde. pendent Church at Whitechurch, Hants. The Rev. T. Welsh, of Newbury, read the Scriptures and prayed. Rev. J. Jefferson, of Andover, delivered the introductory discourse and asked the questions. Rev. T. Adkins, of Southampton, offered the ordination prayer. Rev. J. E. Good, of Salisbury, gave the charge to the Minister; and the Rev. John Reynolds, of Romsey, preached to the people. Mr. Adkins preached in the evening, and Mr. Good the preceding evening.

October 2, 1827, a meeting of Ministers was held at Oswestry, Shropshire, to recognize the setting apart of the Rev. T. W. Jenkyn, formerly of Wem, to be the overseer of the church meeting at Old Chapel, formerly under the pastoral care of the late Rev. John Whitridge.

The service was introduced with reading and prayer by the Rev. Mr. Cook. The Rev. Mr. Pearce, of Wrexham, delivered the introductory discourse, on the Principles of Dissent. The Rev. David Lewis, of Newport, asked the usual questions. In reply to these, Mr John Roberts, senior deacon, read a concise statement of the measures, which had led to the present service, and confirmed the call of the church and the Rev. T. W. Jenkyn, publicly signified his acceptance of the call, and stated the motives and

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principles which had actuated him in his decision. The Rev. Mr. Lewis then offered special prayer. The Rev. John Roberts, of Llanbrynmair, addressed the Minister very affectionately from 1 Tim. iv. 16. The Rev. Dr. Raffles, of Liverpool, addressed the church from 1 Cor. iv. 1. The Rev. Mr. Rees, of Sarney, concluded with prayer. In the evening the service was commenced with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Waterfield, of Wrexham; and Dr. Raffles preached a very impressive sermon from 2 Cor. v. 18.

The

On Wednesday, the 31st of October, was publicly recognised, the settlement of the Rev. Henry Bromley, formerly of Appledore, Devon, as pastor over the Independent church at Clavering, Essex. Rev. W. Clayton, of Saffron Walden, having commenced the service with prayer and reading the Scriptures, the Rev. T. Craig, of Bocking, delivered a judicious and interesting introductory discourse, and called on the church to signify their approval of the invitation previously given to Mr. Bromley, as well as on him, to express his acceptance of it. The Rev. W. Chaplin, of Bishop Stortford, in a most impressive and affectionate manner implored the divine blessing both on Minister and people. The Rev. Dr. Winter, of London, delivered a very appropriate and excellent sermon, from 1 Thess. iii 8.; and the Rev. J. B. Pearce, of Maidenhead, the late pastor of the church, concluded the service with prayer. All who were present retired, it is believed, delighted with the varied services of the day: and it is hoped the earnest supplications which were presented, will be answered by the great Head of the Church, in the increasing comfort and prosperity of this part of his vineyard, of which its present harmony and affection seems to afford an encouraging intimation.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND MINOR CORRESPONDENCE.

COMMUNICATIONS have been received during the last Month from the Rev. George Redford- C. N. Davies-George Foster--James Jackson--J. N. Goulty -D. Jones-J. Green--W. Bedford-J. Arundel--J. Wooldridge--H, BromleyW. Roby--S. J. Breeze--G. H. Rylands.

Also from Messrs. W. Newlands--R. Simpson--J. Powell --Theognis.

The communication from T. R. J. will appear in our next; we shall be glad to hear from him again.

We regret the unavoidable omission of several Short Notices, Literary Announcements, and Articles of Intelligence, which the great length of our Original Department has compelled us to postpone till a future number.

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Apr21.1827, for the Congregational Nagy B.J. Foldsworth. 18. S. Pals Ourch Yard.

TO THE

CONGREGATIONAL

MAGAZINE,

FOR THE YEAR 1827.

HISTORICAL AND EXPLANATORY REMARKS,

INTRODUCTORY TO THE LIST OF THE

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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.

FROM the passing of the Act of Uniformity in 1662, to the death of Queen Anne in 1714, the affairs of Nonconformists were often in a perilous and always in an unsettled state. Their numbers, wealth, and influence were concealed from public observation, and they erected their meeting-houses on sites peculiarly favourable to seclusion. It is true, indeed, after the happy revolution, an attempt was made in 1690, to promote a general correspondence amongst them; but it is not known that any returns were at that time made of the numbers and circumstances of the dissenting churches. Indeed the fond hopes of perfect religious freedom, which the revolution had inspired, were soon dissipated by the violence of high church partizans, who by their French alliances, and Stuart friendships, rendered themselves formidable both to the government of William and Anne, so that the Dissenters could not feel themselves secure, or a studied concealment unnecessary, till the last sovereign of the house of Stuart had resigned her sceptre, and the illustrious family of Hanover succeeded to the throne.

The Rev. Daniel Neal, the celebrated author of the History of the Puritans, obtained in 1716, a list of the number of the dissent N. S. SUPP. 1827.

ing congregations in each county of England and Wales, distinguishing the Baptist from the Pædobaptist congregations, but without noticing the relative number of the Presbyterian and Independent denominations.

Messrs. Bogue and Bennett, in their History of Dissenters, observe on this omission, "that from other sources it appears that both the number and size of the Presbyterian congregations at that time were nearly double to that of the Independents. And though the congregations of the Baptists were nearly equal to the Independents in number, they were inferior to them in size."*

As we are anxious to present to our readers all the information we possess, illustrative of the numbers and progressive increase of the Dissenting community in the United Kingdom, we shall transcribe into our pages, Mr. Neal's list, which, as we have already intimated, bears the date of 1716.

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