This church is located in the eastern part of London, but of its founder, or the date of its origin, our accounts are very imperfect and unsatisfactory. The present records, in possession of the church, date back to 1673; but as they refer to another book which had been previously used, it is certain that the church was organized much earlier. Indeed, we have every reason to believe that this church is a perpetuation of the fraternity gathered by John James, the martyr, which originally met in Bull-Steak Alley, Whitechapel. We shall therefore consider Mr. James as the first pastor of this church. On the 19th day of October, 1661, while in the midst of a warm and fervent discourse, an officer entered the place of worship, forcibly ejected him from the pulpit, and led him away to the police under a strong guard. Thirty members of his congregation were likewise taken before a bench of justices, then convened at a public house in the vicinity, where each one was required to take the oath of allegiance, and those who refused to comply were committed to prison. Mr. James underwent a long and tedious examination, when he was committed to Newgate, upon the testimony of several profligate witnesses, by whom he was accused of speaking treasonable words against the king. At his trial, which came on about one month afterwards, his apparent innocence, deep piety, and resignation, sensibly affected a large concourse of spectators, but could not soften the obdurate hearts of his judges, by whom he was sentenced to be hanged, drawn, and quartered. He was unaffected by this horrid sentence, and calmly observed, "Blessed be God, whom man condemneth, God justifieth." While he lay in prison under sentence of death, he was visited by several persons of distinction, who were deeply affected by his patience and resignation, and who cheerfully engaged to exert their utmost influence to secure his pardon. But he appears to have been too well acquainted with the power and designs of his enemies, to have entertained much hopes of their success.