Shropshire Routes to Roots - Shropshire places - Wem
by Samuel Garbet
Before I give the succession of the dissenting teachers, it will be proper to observe the provision that is made for them. At first they subsisted entirely on the voluntary contributions of the people. After sometime they got £5. per annum, out of a fund at London, which is still continued to them. In 1697, they had an augmentation of £4. per annum, charged on messuages and lands, left to charitable uses, by Robert Hill, of Wem, glover. In 1747, a neat, and convenient house, worth £6. a year, was bought for the use of the minister, with money collected among the brethren. And one Stannage, of Wem, tailor, has left the yearly interest of £16. to the minister, after the decease of an aged woman, whom he designed to many. Upon this view, it appears, that the income of the dissenting teacher is not very considerable at present, but that it is still encreasing.
SAMUEL TAYLOR was the first minister of a separate congregation at Wem. He had been chaplain, or curate of Edstaston, but was ejected thence by the act of uniformity on Bartholomew's day, in 1662. After which, as the times gave liberty, he preached privately at Wem; always ordering so, as that they might not interfere with the public assemblies at church, which both he and his audience constantly attended. At the dreadful fire in 1677, he shared in the common calamity, by having his house burnt, and one circumstance was peculiar to him, that in the confusion of this miserable night, his wife was delivered of a child. His death happened at Wem, June 26th, 1695, and Mr. Philip Henry preached his funeral sermon. He was a clean, nice, little, slender man.
RICHARD LATHAME, a native of Cheshire, succeeded him. In his time the dissenters provoked by the continual invectives of the curate, Mr. Hughes forsook the church; and taking advantage of the act of indulgence, or toleration purchased a barn in Leek lane, and fitted it up for a meeting-house, where Mr. Lathame officiated till his death in 1706. He was suceeded by
RICHARD LATHROP, born at West-Felton, in Shropshire, and educated at Sheriff-Hales, under Mr. Woodhouse. He was not ordained presbyter, and so according to their discipline, could neither administer the sacrament of baptism, nor the Lord's supper. Being disgusted at the application of some money to the poor, which he thought belonged to him, be resigned in 1708; and was succeeded by
THOMAS FISHER, a gay young man, born at Manchester, in the county of Lancaster. He continued at Wem till 1711, when he removed to Castle Henningham, in Suffolk, and was succeeded here by his predecessor,
RICHARD LATHROP, distinguished by his civilty and moderation. In his time in the year 1715, the meeting-house was pulled down, and burnt by the mob. After this riot, he preached in private houses, till the new meeting-house was erected in 1716, when upon some fresh uneasiness, he removed to Ledbury, in Herefordshire.
THOMAS HOLLAND was the next minister. He was born at Mobberly, in Cheshire, and educated at Manchester, under Mr. James Cunningham. He and his elder brother, who inherits the estate of the family, were twins. He married Mrs. Mary Savage, grand-daughter of Philip, and niece of Matthew Henry, of the Broad Oak. His own and wife's fortune were laid out in the purchase of an estate in Cheshire, of about £20. per annum. As to his person, his stature was large, constitution strong, complexion a little swarthy. The dissenters esteemed him as a good man, but did not admire him as a preacher. The churchmen disliked nothing in him, but his separation. For he was a sensible good natured man, pleasant, and facetious in conversation. He died of a dropsy September 26th, 1753, in his grand climacteric, the sixty-third year of his age. The disorder of his body took its rise from, at least, was much increased by the apostacy, and wavering of his congregation; some of which, shamefully deserted to the Antinomians, and others too visibly favoured them.
PHILIP HOLLAND, eldest son of Thomas, succeeded his father in 1754. He was born at Wem, and brought up in the free school of that town, under the care of Mr. Appleton. His education was finished at Northampton, at the academy of the famous doctor Doddridge. For some years he was employed as an assistant at a school and a meeting house at Wolverhampton. On his father's death he was invited to Wem, where he was ordained in 1754. For this unreasonable custom prevails among the presbyterians, of letting young men preach, before they are admitted to orders. Towards the end of the next year he removed to Bolton, in Lancashire.
Page created 7 September 2003 and last updated 22 June 2007
