Evangelical clergyman, the son of an alehouse keeper of Kirkleatham, Yorks. While curate at Ewhurst, Sussex (1759-1762), his prejudices were dispelled by contacts with local Methodists and he was converted by Thomas Rankin in 1762. His evangelical preaching drew large congregations, but also complaints to the rector. Dismissed from his post in November 1762, he joined John Wesley in London and later was one of the Readers at Wesley's Chapel, where he conducted Wesley's funeral service in 1791. He suffered for his last 26 years from asthma, said to have been caused by sleeping in a damp bed while visiting John Berridge at Everton . He died at Camberwell on 10 February 1792 and was buried in Wesley's grave behind City Road Chapel..

Entry written by: JAV
Category: Person
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