Bridlington Congregational Church History

BRIDLINGTON:
Bridlington Congregational Church History up to 1868.

Calamy mentions Mr. Lucks as having been ejected in 1662 from Bridlington parish church, but gives no account of him. Mr. Laughthorne was at the same time removed from Boynton. Mr. Peter Clark, M.A. (a member of Westminster Assembly, ej. Kirkby), was at one period at Carnaby. It seems that Lucks preached to a small congregation in a private house. He was succeeded by

• 1672. Rev. RICHARD WHITEHURST, from Thornton (ej. Northen-en-le-Morthen). He was a Fifth-Monarchy man; a stedfast asserter of the personal reign. Died 1697. He probably preached in a brewery, on the site of which, a meetinghouse was built in 1698.
• 1698. Rev. JOHN BENSON became pastor.
• Rev. -- OILS. Of him we know nothing but the name.
• About 1706, a new meetinghouse was erected, called Zion Chapel. It was endowed by Matthew Yeates, who was a man in middle life at the time of the ejectment, and by his grandson, Matthew Prudom. A further endowment was made in 1728 by E. Huddleston, Esq., of, or near, York.
• Rev. GEORGE BRAITHWAITE, M.A., a Baptist. Wilson, in "Dissenting Churches" (vol. i. p. 443)", says, "He preached at Bridlington several years with reputation and success; and in all probability had ended his days there, had not his zeal against prevailing intemperance rendered his situation uneasy. It was with a view to serve the best interests of his people that he published a small treatise against unnecessary frequenting public houses, which gave great offence." Removed to Devonshire Square, London, 1734.
• 1736. Rev. THOMAS LAX, from Topcliffe near Morley. Here in 1745.
• Circ. 1753. Rev. JOHN SMITH. Minister for nearly twenty years. Became Unitarian. Excluded by trustees. "There were, in 1773, two congregations, of which J. Smith and Jos. Gawkroger were ministers."*1 J. Smith was minister at Zion Chapel up to 1768, and probably a few years later.
• Circ. 1780. Rev. WILLIAM NORTHEND (Heck. Acy., from Haslingden.) Resigned, and was afterwards at Brighouse.
• Circ. 1788. Rev. SAMUEL LYNDALL. During his pastorate a new chapel was built. Removed to London, 1797.
• Rev. -- BLAKE.
• 1805. Rev. RALPH DAVISON. Removed to Newcastle.
• Rev. -- FORD. Left England for America.
• 1816. Rev. G. F. RYAN. Removed to Stockport.
• Rev. EBENEZER MORLEY. Removed to Hull, thence to London.
• Rev. -- MOSES.
• Rev. E. HALLIDAY. Removed to America.
• About 1832, Rev. J. BENSON, M.A. (Rothm. Coll.), who had been settled at Northallerton, received a call from the church to the pastorate. The trustees, however, refused to admit him. In consequence, a majority of the congregation worshipped for a time in the Town Hall with the approbation of the "Hull and East Riding Association." In the mean time, the chapel was occupied by Rev. -- Shawyer. By the withdrawal of the two ministers, however, the people became at length united.
• 1837. Rev. G. F. RYAN, D.D., from Dogley Lane. Removed to Beverley, 1857.
• 1858. Rev. JOHN DICKINSON (Edin. Un. and Glas. Theol. Ins.). An attempted exercise of power on the part of the trustees led to the submittal of the whole question of right to the Charity Commissioners, by whom the whole matter has been finally arranged. Mr. Dickinson is the present minister (in 1868).

NOTES:-
* Authorities - Harness, Hunter, and Rev. J. Dickinson. Aided by Mr. Tyndall.
*1 Hunter's MSS., Mus. Brit.