Memorials of the Independent Churches in Northamptonshire: with biographical notices of their pastors, and some account of the puritan ministers who laboured in the county.Coleman, Thomas
History
Memorials of the Independent Churches in Northamptonshire: with biographical notices of their pastors, and some account of the puritan ministers who laboured in the county.
Coleman, Thomas
Clergy -- England -- Northamptonshire; Independent churches -- England -- Northamptonshire; Puritans -- England -- Northamptonshire
After a short but active, affectionate, and faithful ministerial course
here, Mr. Taylor's health again began to decline, which soon brought his
labours in the ministry to a final close. He was under the necessity of
resigning his office. His letter of resignation was dated June 24th,
1845, having scarcely completed six years of pastoral labour in this
place. He died at Birmingham in 1846, at forty-two years of age, in the
faith and hope of the Gospel, leaving a widow and rising family
especially to mourn his loss.
Mr. Taylor was born in Birmingham, February 10th, 1804. His parents were
eminent for their piety, and his father was for many years a deacon of
the Church assembling in Ebenezer Chapel, under the pastoral care of Mr.
Timothy East. He received an excellent classical education at the school
of Mr. J. Hammond, Independent minister, at Handsworth, of whom he
always spake with much respect. He was called in early life to the
knowledge of the truth, under the powerful ministry of Mr. East. The
grace which he had received soon made him a decided Christian, and
pointed him out as one likely to be useful in public service. His
thoughts were soon directed to the work of the ministry; he pursued a
course of study at Highbury College, where his attainments were
respectable, and where he gained the affectionate attachment of his
fellow students. His first situation as a pastor was at New Windsor,
near Manchester. Here he continued until, after eight years' service, he
was obliged by the state of his health to resign his charge, and
preached his farewell sermon from the words of the Apostle, "I would
that ye knew what great conflict I have for you," &c., which was
listened to with the deepest interest; and many sorrowed, "that they
should see his face no more" as their beloved pastor. After an interval
of two years, his health appeared to be sufficiently recovered for him
to resume his stated labours, and he then accepted the invitation to
become the pastor of this Church. Here he ministered with considerable
success for a short period, the Church and congregation increasing; but
the interest at first excited was not sustained until the close of his
ministry, which might partly arise from the weakness of his
constitution rendering him incapable of the continued mental and
physical effort which the stated engagements of the pastor for a series
of years demand. After about six years spent in this situation, symptoms
of decline appeared. He sought relief by spending six months on the
southern coast, but it proved in vain; his disorder increased. It become
necessary for him to resign his second charge; and he retired to end his
days amongst his friends in his native town, where he closed his course,
in the possession of the peace and hope of the Gospel. Mr. Taylor was
amiable, honourable, and affectionate; he had a strong principle of
piety towards God, a deep vein of devotional feeling, a firm reliance on
the merits of the Saviour.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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