The Rev. Mr. Finch was one of the first pupils who entered into the first
dissenting academy, erected after the Reformation, by the Rev. Mr.
Frankland; and he survived almost all the 300 gentlemen who, in the space
of thirty years, were educated in that academy. He died October 6th,
1754, on his 93rd birthday, and was buried in St. Peter’s Church, in this
city. His descendents were residents here till 1847. His son was many
years clerk of the peace for the county of Norfolk.
Mr. John Brooke was invited to take his place towards the end of the year
1718. This minister was born in or near Yarmouth, where some of his
descendants have generally resided. He resigned in 1733, and removed to
York, where he died. Dr. John Taylor was elected to the vacant office in
1733, and continued till 1757, when he resigned. He was the author of
many works of a religious character. In 1753 the old chapel was pulled
down, and a subscription was raised of nearly £4000 for a new one. The
first stone of the new building was laid on February 25th, 1754, by Dr.
Taylor; and within three years the present elegant chapel was completed
at a cost of £5174.
Mr. Samuel Bourn, son of Mr. Bourn of Birmingham, was ordained co-pastor
with Dr. John Taylor, and he published volumes of sermons which
established his reputation in that kind of composition. He resigned in
1775, and retired to a village near Norwich. Several gentlemen, who
afterwards attained considerable eminence in science, were brought up
under Mr. Bourn’s ministry, viz., Sir James Edward Smith, so long
president of the Linnean Society; Mr. Robert Woodhouse, the eminent
mathematician and professor of astronomy at Cambridge; and Dr. Edward
Maltby, afterwards bishop of Durham. Mr. Bourn removed to Norwich not
many months before his death, and died in the 83rd year of his age; he
was interred in the burying ground of the Octagon Chapel. Mr. Bourn was
succeeded by the Rev. John Hoyle, who was minister for seventeen years.
He died in the 51st year of his age, on November 29th, 1775, and was
interred in the Octagon burying ground.
On December 15th, 1776, Mr. Alderson was chosen minister, and soon
afterwards Mr. George Cadogan Morgan became co-pastor. He had been
educated under the inspection of his uncle, the celebrated Dr. Richard
Price, so that great expectations were formed of his abilities, and the
congregation were not disappointed. He soon, however, resigned and went
to Yarmouth; and in 1755, Dr. William Enfield was invited to become
co-pastor with Mr. Alderson, and he accepted the office. In 1786, Mr.
Alderson resigned; and in 1787 was succeeded by Mr. P. Houghton.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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