The Norwich Church Book informs us that on the 29th day of the second month (April), 1655, Brother Thomas Lawson was dismissed to join with the Christians at Denton. He had joined the church at Norwich, October 28th, 1649, at which time he resided at Doningland. We infer from the wording of the above entry that the church had not, at that date, been formed; but the next entry in the Norwich book informs us that the inchurching had then taken place, and "on the 3rd day, 4th month (June), the right hand of fellowship was given to the church there."
The early records of this church are lost, and the following
account is therefore gathered from various sources.
There is no doubt that Mr. Lawson was pastor of this church from its commencement. He appears also to have been Rector of Denton, (He was presented by Robert Wilton, Esq. to the living of Denton in 1650 or 1651, and remained until 1659. Robert Rogerson succeeded him in that ycar. - Denton Parish Register) and was silenced after the Restoration. He was MA; was educated at Kath. Hall, Cambridge, where he was so well esteemed as to be chosen afterwards to a fellowship in St. John's.
After his removal from Denton he united with the church at Weston (Wattesfield), as we find by a notice in the Bury Church Book.
There is no doubt that Mr. Lawson was pastor of this church from its commencement. He appears also to have been Rector of Denton, (He was presented by Robert Wilton, Esq. to the living of Denton in 1650 or 1651, and remained until 1659. Robert Rogerson succeeded him in that ycar. - Denton Parish Register) and was silenced after the Restoration. He was MA; was educated at Kath. Hall, Cambridge, where he was so well esteemed as to be chosen afterwards to a fellowship in St. John's.
After his removal from Denton he united with the church at Weston (Wattesfield), as we find by a notice in the Bury Church Book.
"Jabez, the son of Tho. Lawson, Minister, and four other children of
brethren of the church which is at Weston (ye said church being without
a pastor,) were baptized in this church, at a meeting of several the brethren
thereof together with the pastor, appointed by the whole to meet at
Wortham for that end, upon the sixth and twentieth day of the fifth month
[July], in the yeare 1661."
Mr. Lawson had therefore left Denton before the Bartholomew
Act came into operation, and was not ejected from that living,
though he was silenced at Weston. Calamy tells us that "he
was a man of ability, but had no good utterance;" notwithstanding this, in the unsettled times after the Restoration, the
church at Bury were glad of his services, whilst their pastor was
obliged to retire to London; and for some time he preached to
the major part of that divided church.
In 1672, April 17th, a license was granted for "the house of
Thomas Lawson, in Norten, Suffolk, to be an Independent
meeting place," and on the same day, another was granted to
him to be an "Independent teacher in his own house."
"In 1689, October 20th. Thomas Lawson, a minister of the gospel,
aged near 70, who had been a member of the church at Norwich, and
from thence removed to Denton, but now having no membership, was
desirous to be found in the way of his duty, and to remove by death from
some church of Christ. After a large account of his faith, and experience,
and settled judgment about the Congregational Churches, he gave up
himself to the Lord and us, and was received into the fellowship of the church and broke bread with us." (Bury Church Book).
He died in the year 1695, aged about 75, and the Bury
Church Book says, that
"Upon Black Bartholomew, 1662, he left all to follow Christ, and ceased
not to teach and preach the gospel in perilous times ... He passed out
of the church militant into the church triumphant, where he possesseth
the joy of the Lord."
The Rev. T. W. Davids says (Evangclical Nonconformity in Essex, p. 551) that he was settled in the
sequestration of Jos. Long, at Fingringhoe, in June, 1646; and
on the union of that parish with the neighbouring one of East
Donniland, he was instituted to that living also by order of the
House of Commons, May 4th, 1647, on the presentation of Henry Tunstall the patron. He continued to discharge the
united cure until after 1650, at which date he is returned at
Fingringhoe as, " by order of the Committee of Plundered
Ministers." He signed the "Essex Testimony" in 1648.
We do not quite see how this will all agree with the fact that on October 28th, 1649, he joined the church at Norwich, and yet the Norwich Church Book describes him as of Doningland.
We do not quite see how this will all agree with the fact that on October 28th, 1649, he joined the church at Norwich, and yet the Norwich Church Book describes him as of Doningland.
From the time of Mr. Lawson's removal till 1676, the church
at Denton was, in all probability, materially assisted by the
ministers who still continued in the neighbourhood, and who
preached as opportunity served. Tradition, in Mr. Harmer's
days, mentioned Mr. Starke, one of these, as a frequent preacher
here; and in 1672 we find that there was quite a constellation
of them in this district (Samuel Petto, ejected from Sandcroft, was living at Wortwell, and preaching at
Redenhall, Harleston, Wortwell, and Alburgh. John Starke in Stradbroke was living at Wingfield, and preaching there, and at Syleham and at Rattlesden. Robert
Ottie, silenced at Beccles, was preaching there. Richard Vynne from Drayton,
was living and preaching at Stratton St. Michael. And Samuel Manning Jun, of
Walpole, afterwards of Bungay, preached at Pulham St. Mary. These and others who
had no fixed employment would most likely render aid.— License Book, R.O. & Id. Noncon. Memorial.)
Mr. Wm. Bidbank, MA., who had
been ejected from Scottow in Norfolk, and had been co-pastor
with Mr. Green at Tunstead, was living at Lammas, and licensed
to preach at the house of Robert Primrose, of Denton; he appears therefore to have been a regular supply. Four years
afterwards, in 1676, he was dismissed from Tunstead to the
Church at Denton. Here he lived very comfortably and usefully, with a small estate of his own, and a slender allowance
from his people, being greatly beloved by all that knew him, for
his sweetness of temper, obliging deportment, and excellent
preaching! The concise and expressive form of Church Covenant which
continued in use at Denton long afterwards was drawn up by
Mr. Bidbanck: —
"We do covenant and engage, by the assistance of the Spirit of God,
to give up ourselves unto the Lord and unto his people, to walk together
in all the ordinances of Christ, according to the order of the gospel, owning Him as our head, Lord, and King."
Mr. Bidbanck wrote a little book entitled ''A Present for
Children" and prefixed an "Epistle Dedicatory" to a posthumoous volume of sermons by Mr. Robert Ottie, of Beccles,
printed in 1690, addressed to the congregation there. He died
here much lamented about 1693.
The Rev. John Hurrion came to Denton, and was set apart July 29th, 1701, and removed to Hare Court, London, in 1724. (John Hurrion was born November 15th or 16th, 1676. His maternal grandfiitherwis Mr. Edmund Whincop [see Wattisfield]. In 1698 he was studying with Mr. Robinson or Robertson, then minister at Walpole, and in tne same year he began to preach. His settlement at Denton took place 29th July. 1701. On that occasion Mr. Stackhouse of Norwich, delivered a discourse from Acts xx. 28 — John Baker's MSS. At his coming there were only thirteen members at Denton. The congregation originally met in a barn; but in the first year of Mr. Hurrion's pastorate, the land was bought on which the chapel was built. There is an estimate of his works and character in Evangelical Mag, 1819, p. 147.
In a letter from Samuel Hurrion, son of the Denton pastor, to his son John, he says: "You are a descendant of remarkably pious ancestors. As to myself I wish you may be a greater honour to them than I have been, and better bear up the name than I have done. Your great-grandfather, and grandfather, and uncle Hurrion were eminent in their day. You bear their name; may you inherit their graces, and be another John Hurrion, a burning and a shining light, &c." "Be kind and loving to your dear sister."' - Fletcher's MSS. From this it appears that John Hurrion, of Denton, was the son of a minister of the same name. In the License Book in the Record Office the house of John Hurrion, of Sibton, [near Yoxford] was licensed for a preaching place, and he was licensed to be a Congregational Teacher there. This was no doubt the father of the Denton mmister. And in Candler's MSS. in the British Museum, we find that Mr. Thomas Hill, of Ipswich, married as his second wife Agnes Hurrion, daughter of Thomas Hurrion, of Yoxford, some time before 1595. This Thomas Hurrion was owner of sundry lands and tenements in Yoxford. and was probably the grandfather or great-grandfather of the Denton minister. The sister of the youngest John Hurrion was named Jane; she married Mr. Robert Dawson, and died March 4th, 1827, aged 82.)
He found the church here in a low and declining condition, and in the early part of his ministry was instrumental in bringing it into a very flourishing state, but in the latter part of his pastorate it again declined. This was probably the result of his method of living. "He addicted himself to close study, by which means he gained a great stock of knowledge," and was so much of a recluse that "he shut himself from the world, unless when he appeared in public on the Lord's day, and hardly conversed with his own family excepting in what respected the necessary duties belonging thereto." He appeared with eminence among his brethren in the country, and had a large share of the affections and esteem of the churches in these counties; but his sedentary life induced a dropsical habit of body, which made him a burden to himself.
In early life he was engaged in private controversy with Mr Wm Manning, who had exerted a perverting influence on the mind of Rev T Emlyn, but continued true to his original principles in regard to the proper deity of Jesus Christ, and in his later years wrote considerably on this subject.
He married Jane, the daughter of Samuel Baker, Esq., of Wattesfield, and left two sons, John, who was ordained at Gosport, May 3rd, 1732; and Samuel, who was pastor of Guestwick. He died in London, December 31st, 1731, aged 56. Dr. Ridgely published a funeral sermon for him, and Mr. Abraham Taylor published a considerable volume "Of the difficult work and happy end of faithful ministers," a discourse occasioned by his death; to which is added some account of his life.
The Rev. Julius Saunders son of the Rev. Julius Saunders of Bedworth, was ordained at Denton, July 8th, 1725. He was a pupil of Mr. Shuttlewood, of Creaton, and had for his companion there Mr. Thomas Emlyn. He died at Denton; was interred in the burying ground connected with the meeting house; and Dr. Wood, of Norwich, prepared the following inscription for his tomb.
In memory of the Rev. Mr. Julius Saunders, who died Jany. 28th, 1749, in the 59th year of his age. A person of singular prudence, Tender conscience, Deep seriousness. Great liberality, exact and eminent piety. A fervent laborious minister, and 24 years a faithful and much loved pastor of the Dissenting Church at Denton.
He enjoyed a remarkable degree of health, never having been laid aside from his work during the twenty-four years of his ministry, but at last was seized by a paralytic affection, which removed him in a few days. ....
The Rev. John Hurrion came to Denton, and was set apart July 29th, 1701, and removed to Hare Court, London, in 1724. (John Hurrion was born November 15th or 16th, 1676. His maternal grandfiitherwis Mr. Edmund Whincop [see Wattisfield]. In 1698 he was studying with Mr. Robinson or Robertson, then minister at Walpole, and in tne same year he began to preach. His settlement at Denton took place 29th July. 1701. On that occasion Mr. Stackhouse of Norwich, delivered a discourse from Acts xx. 28 — John Baker's MSS. At his coming there were only thirteen members at Denton. The congregation originally met in a barn; but in the first year of Mr. Hurrion's pastorate, the land was bought on which the chapel was built. There is an estimate of his works and character in Evangelical Mag, 1819, p. 147.
In a letter from Samuel Hurrion, son of the Denton pastor, to his son John, he says: "You are a descendant of remarkably pious ancestors. As to myself I wish you may be a greater honour to them than I have been, and better bear up the name than I have done. Your great-grandfather, and grandfather, and uncle Hurrion were eminent in their day. You bear their name; may you inherit their graces, and be another John Hurrion, a burning and a shining light, &c." "Be kind and loving to your dear sister."' - Fletcher's MSS. From this it appears that John Hurrion, of Denton, was the son of a minister of the same name. In the License Book in the Record Office the house of John Hurrion, of Sibton, [near Yoxford] was licensed for a preaching place, and he was licensed to be a Congregational Teacher there. This was no doubt the father of the Denton mmister. And in Candler's MSS. in the British Museum, we find that Mr. Thomas Hill, of Ipswich, married as his second wife Agnes Hurrion, daughter of Thomas Hurrion, of Yoxford, some time before 1595. This Thomas Hurrion was owner of sundry lands and tenements in Yoxford. and was probably the grandfather or great-grandfather of the Denton minister. The sister of the youngest John Hurrion was named Jane; she married Mr. Robert Dawson, and died March 4th, 1827, aged 82.)
He found the church here in a low and declining condition, and in the early part of his ministry was instrumental in bringing it into a very flourishing state, but in the latter part of his pastorate it again declined. This was probably the result of his method of living. "He addicted himself to close study, by which means he gained a great stock of knowledge," and was so much of a recluse that "he shut himself from the world, unless when he appeared in public on the Lord's day, and hardly conversed with his own family excepting in what respected the necessary duties belonging thereto." He appeared with eminence among his brethren in the country, and had a large share of the affections and esteem of the churches in these counties; but his sedentary life induced a dropsical habit of body, which made him a burden to himself.
In early life he was engaged in private controversy with Mr Wm Manning, who had exerted a perverting influence on the mind of Rev T Emlyn, but continued true to his original principles in regard to the proper deity of Jesus Christ, and in his later years wrote considerably on this subject.
He married Jane, the daughter of Samuel Baker, Esq., of Wattesfield, and left two sons, John, who was ordained at Gosport, May 3rd, 1732; and Samuel, who was pastor of Guestwick. He died in London, December 31st, 1731, aged 56. Dr. Ridgely published a funeral sermon for him, and Mr. Abraham Taylor published a considerable volume "Of the difficult work and happy end of faithful ministers," a discourse occasioned by his death; to which is added some account of his life.
The Rev. Julius Saunders son of the Rev. Julius Saunders of Bedworth, was ordained at Denton, July 8th, 1725. He was a pupil of Mr. Shuttlewood, of Creaton, and had for his companion there Mr. Thomas Emlyn. He died at Denton; was interred in the burying ground connected with the meeting house; and Dr. Wood, of Norwich, prepared the following inscription for his tomb.
In memory of the Rev. Mr. Julius Saunders, who died Jany. 28th, 1749, in the 59th year of his age. A person of singular prudence, Tender conscience, Deep seriousness. Great liberality, exact and eminent piety. A fervent laborious minister, and 24 years a faithful and much loved pastor of the Dissenting Church at Denton.
He enjoyed a remarkable degree of health, never having been laid aside from his work during the twenty-four years of his ministry, but at last was seized by a paralytic affection, which removed him in a few days. ....
