Preacher and hymnwriter, born at Brailsford, Derbys. Converted at 18, he began to preach in 1749 and served as a local preacher for around seventy years. He moved to London, where he became acquainted with the Wesleys, John Fletcher and other leading Methodists. He became headmaster of the Royal Park Academy in Greenwich, but resigned in favour of his son-in-law, Dr James Egan (through whom he was related to the Moulton family) in order to devote himself to evangelism, especially in the Greenwich area, though without becoming an itinerant. The only one of his hymns to survive into the Methodist Hymn Book, Hymns and Psalms and Singing the Faith is 'Hail, thou once despisèd Jesus' (HP 222; SF 301). Thomas Olivers' hymn 'The God of Abraham praise' (HP 452; SF 91) was written at Bakewell's house in Westminster. He died at Lewisham on 18 March 1819 and is buried in the graveyard at Wesley's Chapel.

Entry written by: JAV
Category: Person
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