Sheffield-Stannington Congregational Church History

SHEFFIELD:
Sheffield-Stannington Congregational Church History up to 1868.

At Stannington, near Sheffield, Richard Spoone built a small chapel in 1652 or 1653, and endowed it with a piece of ground for the support of the officiating minister.

Among the successive ministers have been-

• 1652. Rev. RALPH WOOD; till 1655.
• 1655. Rev. ROBERT MATHEWSON; till 1657.
• 1657. Rev. ISAAC DARWENT. Though called an ejected minister, he had not ceased to preach till after 1662, and he occupied the chapel lands till 1665.
• 1663. Rev. -- HOPWOOD; till 1665.
• 1665. Rev. JOSEPH BACON; till 1667.
• Rev. -- REVELL; till 1668. 1668. Rev. TIMOTHY DIGHTON , till 1671.
• 1673. Rev. THOMAS MELLOR; till 1674.
• 1674. Rev. WILLIAM WALKER; till 1676.
• 1684. Rev. GEORGE CROSLAND; till 1689.
• 1689. Rev. ABRAHAM DAWSON. In his time the Book of Common Prayer ceased to be used in the chapel. Till 1696.
• 1696. Rev. WILLIAM BAGSHAW (Jollie's Acy.). He preached the funeral sermon for Mrs. Jollie. Mr. B. died here, 1713.
• 1713. Rev. SAMUEL SMITH, who died here 1761. The congregation now numbered 350.
• In 1742 the old chapel gave way to a new one, erected by T. Marriott, Esq., of Ughill, with the aid of friends.
• 1761. Rev. JOHN HALL. Removed to Rotterdam 1780.
• 1779. Rev. JOSIAH RHODES, an Independent (Heckmondwike Acy.), till 1785.
• 1785. Rev. EDWARD Grimm. Mr. G. removed to Stockport, 1794.
• 1794. Rev. ASHLEY MEANLEY, from Ashford, Derbyshire. He died 1814.
• 1814. Rev. PETER WRIGHT.

We have no information as to the more modern history of this ancient congregation. Hunter says, "At a little distance from the chapel is a comfortable house built for the minister's residence, with a spacious garden adjoining, which were much improved by Mr. Meanley. The chapel is a plain building. On the communion-table lies the Book of Martyrs, the gift of some unknown hand. There have been a few interments at the chapel, and at no great distance, on the brow of the hill opposite, was a small decent enclosure, in which were deposited the remains of about ten or twelve persons of the family of Brookside."