ESSEX-STREEY.-Unitarian.

church, Dr. Disney became colleague with Mr. Lindsey, at Essex-street, and they continued their joint-labours till the resignation of the latter in 1793. After this event, Dr. Disney continued his services at Essex-street every forenoon, till the year 1804, when he resigned the ministry, having a large fortune bequeathed to him by the. late Mr. Brand Hollis. Dr. Disney is a fellow of the Antiquarian Society. He is author of a few single sermons, and has printed, but not published, some Memoirs of his munificent friend and benefactor, the late Mr. Hollis. After the resignation of Mr. Lindsey, he had for his associate at Essex-street, the Rev. Jeremiah Joyce, who officiated in the after part of the day, but relinquished upon the accession of the present minister, who has undertaken both services.

THOMAS BELSHAM.-Dr. Disney was succeeded at Essex-street by the Rev. Thomas Belsham. Though this gentleman has for some years taken a lead amongst the antitrinitarian writers, he was educated a Trinitarian and a Calvinist; agreeably to the sentiments of his father, who was a Dissenting minister of great respectability, first at Bishops Stortford, and afterwards at Newport Pagnel, Bucks. Mr. Belsham pursued his academical studies under Dr. Caleb Ashworth, at Daventry. His first settlement was with a congregation at Worcester, from whence, upon the death of Dr. Ashworth, he returned to Daventry, being chosen to assist Mr. Robins in the academy. Mr. Robins receding from his situation, in consequence of the loss of his voice, in the year 1781, Mr. Belsham succeeded to the office of divinity tutor, which he held for some years; till a change taking place in his religious sentiments, he felt it his duty to retire. It may be proper to observe, that the academy at Daventry was chiefly supported by a fund bequeathed by William Coward, of Walthamstow, Esq. who, in his will, expressly required that the students should be instructed according to the principles of the Assembly's Catechism,

ESSEX-STREET.-Unitarian.

which is unquestionably Calvinistic. Mr. Belsham being able no longer to comply conscientiously with this injunction, like an honest man, relinquished his situation; and in so doing, exhibited a rare instance of integrity, which cannot fail of being commended, even by those who are the most averse to his religious sentiments. After this, he became a tutor in the New-College, Hackney; and, in the year 1794, succeeded Dr. Priestley at the Gravel-Pit Meeting in the same village. Upon the withdrawment of Dr. Disney, in 1804, he removed to Essex-street, where he now preaches on both parts of the day. Mr. Belsham is well known to the world as a controversial writer, and may be considered as one of the leading champions of modern Socinianism. In defence of this system, he has combated the writings of Mr. Wilberforce, Dr. Pye Smith, and Mr. Benjamin Carpenter; and in addition to these, he has been attacked with great spirit by Mr. Andrew Fuller, of Kettering. It has been said of some preachers, that after appearing in the pulpit for a long course of years together, it could never be collected from the strain of their discourses, what were their individual sentiments. But this remark cannot apply to Mr. Belsham, who declares himself from the pulpit, as well as from the press, in the most bold and unequivocal manner. In the various plans set on foot, of late years, for the propagation of the Socinian. principles, he takes a conspicuous lead; and is said to have had a considerable hand in the New Version, of the Testament, published a few years ago by the Unitarian Society. He has published several single sermons; Elements of the Doctrine of the Human Mind; a summary View of the Evidence and practical Importance of the Christian Revelation; and some controversial pieces against Mr. Wilberforce, Dr. Smith, and Mr. Carpenter.

NEW-COURT, CARLY-STREET.—— Independent.

NEW-COURT, CAREY-STREET.

INDEPENDENT.

THE meeting-house in New-court, Carey-street, Lin

coln's-inn-fields, was erected about the year 1705, for the well known Mr. Daniel Burgess, who was the first pastor of this church. It was gathered, as nearly as can be ascertained, about the year 1687, when King James's declaration for liberty allowed some breathing time for the Nonconformists. About this time, Mr. Burgess began first to be taken notice of in the city, and some little singularities that attended his preaching, contributed to gain him no small share of popularity. His hearers, in a little time, becoming very numerous, formed themselves into a regular society. Many of them were the remains of Dr. Manton's congregation, and among them several persons of distinction. The first meeting-house they engaged for him, as we learn from Matthew Henry, was in Bridges-street, Covent-garden; most probably the same that Dr. Manton had preached in, some years before. After some time they removed to another meeting-house in Russel-court, Drury-lane, where they continued for several years; but the lease of that place expiring about 1705, the landlord turned them out, and it became a chapel of ease to the parish of St. Martin's in the Fields, which has been its condition ever since. Mr. Burgess being deprived of this place, a new meeting-house was built for him in New-court, Carey-street. But it unhappily fell out, that soon after it was erected, he had a difference with some of his people, which occasioned a large part of them to leave him, and join with Dr. Earle, at Hanover-street; by which means a debt of seven or eight hundred pounds for building the meeting-house, was left on those that remained

behind.

NEW-COURT, CAREY-STREET.Independent.

And to add to this burthen, in March, 1709, Dr. Sacheverell's mob broke all the windows, tore down the pulpit and all the pews, and burnt them in Lincoln's-innfields, which damage amounted to three hundred pounds, or upwards. This happening at such a juncture, the people were not able to repair the damage; so that they were destititute of a place of worship for a considerable time; and had it not been for the kind assistance of their brethren, it is probable they would never have been able to recover the place. By their friendly interposition, however, the loss was now repaired; but the main debt still continued, which was such a discouragement, that the church never flourished during the remainder of Mr. Burgess's life. Nor did it recover itself under his successor; who removing to another place, in 1727, this people were again in danger of breaking up. It happened fortunately enough for them, that about this time the celebrated Thomas Bradbury, had some difference with his people, in Fetter-lane, which occasioned his leaving them. Upon this the people in New-court, in their destitute circumstances, were very willing to receive him; and it being near the old place, well suited Mr. Bradbury, who brought many of his old friends with him; so that the two interests, though weak separately, were a considerable body when united. And what was a farther encouragement, Mr. Bradbury, and his brother, made such interest with many rich citizens, that they soon discharged all the old debt on the meeting-house. During the whole of his time there was a full congregation, and it continued in a respectable state for many years after his death. During some of the latter years of the late Mr. Ricard Winter, who grew old and infirm, the congregation somewhat declined; but it has been greatly revived since his death, and is apprehended to be as large now as during any former period.

This church, in its original constitution, was strictly Presbyterian; and till the time of Mr. Bradbury, the ministers carried the contributions of the society to the Presby

NEW-COURT, CAREY-STREET.--Independent.

terian fund. Mr. Bradbury, however, made it a condition of his acceptance of the pastoral office, that the people should join the Independents, and send their contributions to the Independent fund: and this has been its state ever since. There has been no material alteration in this people, as to doctrinal sentiment, from their origin as a church. Mr. Burgess was a Divine of the old Protestant stamp; Mr. Bradbury's zeal for orthodoxy is well known; and since his time the ministers have been reputed Calvinists. The meeting-house is a good square brick-building, of a moderate size, and has three galleries. Its obscure situation was rendered necessary at the time it was built, when past persecutions were fresh in the recollection, and apprehensions were entertained of their revival; but it is undoubtedly a prejudice to the Dissenting interest in this day of open liberty.

The following is a complete catalogue of the ministers who have preached at this place, whether as pastors or assistants, from the foundation of the meeting-house to the present time: