Jeremiah Learnoult Garrett
Encyclopedia
Jeremiah Learnoult Garrett (fl.
1809), was an English dissenting minister.
, near the Old Stairs, on 29 February 1764. His parents were boat-builders. Before he was eight he had 'strict views of the world being burnt up, and the wicked being turned into hell.' Soon after this date his father died. He was now sent to school, first at Christ's College, Hertford, and afterwards at Jackson's Academy, Hampton. He was then set to learn the tailoring trade, but disliking it was apprenticed to a builder of ship's boats at Wapping
, who ill-used him. His master absconding for debt, he was apprenticed to another in the same business.
At the age of fourteen or fifteen he had a vision of an "ancient form", which he took to be Jesus Christ. A dissenting minister was called in to see him, to whom he confessed his sins; the minister 'pointed him to the blood of Christ.' Subsequently, however, he took to vicious courses, had a man-of-war's man who had assaulted him arrested, frequented theatres, fought with his fellow-apprentice, contracted debts, and a disease for which he was treated in the London Lock Hospital
. On emerging from the hospital he attended the ministrations of John Wesley
's preachers, as well as the services of the church, used `to go out into the fields, and rave hell and damnation to sinners.', and came to be called a second George Whitefield
by the old women in Moorfields
. A mysterious find of £80 in his bed enabled him to pay his debts.
At a somewhat later period he held forth at the old Rectifying House and the old Soap House, Islington
, and in 1788 he laid the foundation-stone of the chapel since known as Islington Chapel in Church Street. He was received into Lady Huntingdon's Connexion and ordained. About this time he married. He moved to Basingstoke
, then to Wallingford, Oxfordshire, and later spent some three years in Guernsey
. Returning to England, he ministered for a time at Ashby-de-la-Zouche, but his views on baptism
caused his ejection from Lady Huntingdon's Connexion.
Garrett went into the business of a cotton dyer at Leicester
. He soon, however, resumed preaching, and, after ministering for some time at Nottingham
, established himself just before 1800 at Lant Street Chapel, in the Borough, Southwark, having also a lecture at Monkwell Street Chapel, London. His views seem to have inclined to antinomianism
. The date of his death is uncertain.
A plate of Garrett's head is in Southcott's 'Answer.'
Floruit
Floruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active...
1809), was an English dissenting minister.
Life
Garrett was born at Horselydown, SouthwarkSouthwark
Southwark is a district of south London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Southwark. Situated east of Charing Cross, it forms one of the oldest parts of London and fronts the River Thames to the north...
, near the Old Stairs, on 29 February 1764. His parents were boat-builders. Before he was eight he had 'strict views of the world being burnt up, and the wicked being turned into hell.' Soon after this date his father died. He was now sent to school, first at Christ's College, Hertford, and afterwards at Jackson's Academy, Hampton. He was then set to learn the tailoring trade, but disliking it was apprenticed to a builder of ship's boats at Wapping
Wapping
Wapping is a place in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets which forms part of the Docklands to the east of the City of London. It is situated between the north bank of the River Thames and the ancient thoroughfare simply called The Highway...
, who ill-used him. His master absconding for debt, he was apprenticed to another in the same business.
At the age of fourteen or fifteen he had a vision of an "ancient form", which he took to be Jesus Christ. A dissenting minister was called in to see him, to whom he confessed his sins; the minister 'pointed him to the blood of Christ.' Subsequently, however, he took to vicious courses, had a man-of-war's man who had assaulted him arrested, frequented theatres, fought with his fellow-apprentice, contracted debts, and a disease for which he was treated in the London Lock Hospital
London Lock Hospital
The London Lock Hospital was the first venereal disease clinic, being the most famous and first of the Lock Hospitals, which opened on 31 January 1747....
. On emerging from the hospital he attended the ministrations of John Wesley
John Wesley
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield...
's preachers, as well as the services of the church, used `to go out into the fields, and rave hell and damnation to sinners.', and came to be called a second George Whitefield
George Whitefield
George Whitefield , also known as George Whitfield, was an English Anglican priest who helped spread the Great Awakening in Britain, and especially in the British North American colonies. He was one of the founders of Methodism and of the evangelical movement generally...
by the old women in Moorfields
Moorfields
In London, the Moorfields were one of the last pieces of open land in the City of London, near the Moorgate. The fields were divided into three areas, the Moorfields proper, just north of Bethlem Hospital, and inside the City boundaries, and Middle and Upper Moorfields to the north.After the Great...
. A mysterious find of £80 in his bed enabled him to pay his debts.
At a somewhat later period he held forth at the old Rectifying House and the old Soap House, Islington
Islington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
, and in 1788 he laid the foundation-stone of the chapel since known as Islington Chapel in Church Street. He was received into Lady Huntingdon's Connexion and ordained. About this time he married. He moved to Basingstoke
Basingstoke
Basingstoke is a town in northeast Hampshire, in south central England. It lies across a valley at the source of the River Loddon. It is southwest of London, northeast of Southampton, southwest of Reading and northeast of the county town, Winchester. In 2008 it had an estimated population of...
, then to Wallingford, Oxfordshire, and later spent some three years in Guernsey
Guernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
. Returning to England, he ministered for a time at Ashby-de-la-Zouche, but his views on baptism
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
caused his ejection from Lady Huntingdon's Connexion.
Garrett went into the business of a cotton dyer at Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
. He soon, however, resumed preaching, and, after ministering for some time at Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, established himself just before 1800 at Lant Street Chapel, in the Borough, Southwark, having also a lecture at Monkwell Street Chapel, London. His views seem to have inclined to antinomianism
Antinomianism
Antinomianism is defined as holding that, under the gospel dispensation of grace, moral law is of no use or obligation because faith alone is necessary to salvation....
. The date of his death is uncertain.
Works
He published:- 'The Power of an Endless Life contrasted with the Law of a Carnal Commandment. A Sermon preached at Monkwell Street on Thursday, 5 March 1801,' London, 1801.
- 'Rays of Everlasting Life,' not later than 1803.
- 'Democracy detected, Visionary Enthusiasm corrected; or Sixpennyworth of Good Advice selected from the Scriptures of Truth,' London, 1804 (?) (an attack on Joanna SouthcottJoanna SouthcottJoanna Southcott , was a self-described religious prophetess. She was born at Gittisham in Devon, England.-Self-revelation:...
, to which she replied in 'Answer to Garrett's Book, and an Explanation of the word Bride, the Lamb's Wife, in the Revelations,' London, 1805). - 'The Songs of Sion. Principally designed for the use of Churches and Congregations distinguished by the name of the Children of Sion,' London, 1804?.
- 'Huntington corrected, and Garrett's Doctrine protected from the Misconstruction of the Disaffected; or a Reply to a Book lately published called "The Doctrine of Garrett refuted by William Huntington,"' Southwark, 1808. The controversy related to the doctrine of the eternal sonship of Christ, which Huntington accused Garrett of denying.
A plate of Garrett's head is in Southcott's 'Answer.'