Mr. Hoppus was a devoted village pastor; he paid great attention to the young, and a weekly meeting was held at his house on Saturday evenings, for the catechetical instruction and the encouragement of those young persons who appeared religiously disposed. He excelled in pastoral visitation; was much in the habit of introducing religious conversation in families, and in the work-rooms of the lacemakers. He endeavoured to extend the knowledge of the Gospel to the villages around him. For many years he preached on stated evenings in the week at Denton, Easton, and Grendon, as well as at Yardley, beside visiting other places. Sometimes he conducted services in the open air. He had a very happy method of dropping a word of religious advice to persons whom he accidentally saw at their worldly calling: in this he was very useful, not only in conciliating the minds of some, but often of implanting deep and permanent impressions. In the year 1813, in the midst of great pastoral success, a fire broke out, which destroyed many houses in the village; and the Chapel also was destroyed, which had stood nearly a century. This grievous trial would have overwhelmed a mind of less energy and enterprise, as the people at Yardley were totally unable to defray the expense of a new building. Mr. Hoppus, however, immediately set about the arduous task of appealing to Christian benevolence, and after many months of unwearied labour raised a sufficient sum in the adjacent counties and the metropolis to erect a Chapel of twice the size of the other place. A gallery was afterwards added, to accommodate a still increasing congregation. But during a pastorate of thirty years, he had to share in some of the trials of the faithful minister. He often lamented that his hands were not more strengthened by the conversion to God of such as might have proved influential in discountenancing vice and immorality by an exemplary life, in consequence of their better circumstances. In some cases his fidelity gave offence. After having been accustomed, till his seventy-second year, to preach three times on the Sabbath, increasing infirmities induced him to resign the pastoral office. The last time he preached at Yardley was on May 4th, 1834; and he administered the Lord's Supper to his late charge only a few weeks before his death.