John Chorlton
Encyclopedia
John Chorlton was an English presbyterian minister and tutor.
in 1666. On 4 April 1682 he was admitted to be educated for the ministry at Rathmell Academy
under Richard Frankland
. On completing his studies he was chosen (7 Aug. 1687) as assistant to Henry Newcome
, the founder of nonconformity in Manchester. On 8 March 1689 he married Hannah, daughter of Joseph Leeche.
On Newcome's death (17 Sept. 1695) he became pastor. The congregation on 14 Oct. 1695 invited Oliver Heywood
to become his colleague, but the old man declined to leave Northowram
. An assistant was obtained (1697) in the person of an adventurer passing under the name of Gaskeld, who, after pleasing the Manchester presbyterians with his learning and eloquence, disappeared (1698) with a borrowed horse, made his way to Hull
(where he called himself Midgely, and falsely represented himself as one of the authors of Letters Writ by a Turkish Spy
), and finally fled to Holland.
On Frankland's death (1 Oct. 1698) at Rathmell
, Chorlton, with great spirit, resolved to continue Frankland's 'northern academy', transferring it to Manchester
. Accordingly on 21 March 1699 he ‘set up teaching university learning in a great house at Manchester.’ Eleven of Frankland's students finished their course with him, and the names of twenty others who studied under him are known. His most distinguished student was Thomas Dixon
. James Clegg
, one of the transferred students, is our chief authority on the mode in which the academy was conducted. He describes Chorlton as a worthy successor to Frankland, and superior as a preacher. Matthew Henry
speaks of his ‘extraordinary quickness and readiness of expression; a casuist, one of a thousand, a wonderful clear head.’ Chorlton now wanted assistance both in the pulpit and in the academy. Applications were made in 1699 to James Owen of Oswestry and Thomas Bradbury
, both of whom declined. Next year the services of James Coningham
were secured. The ‘provincial meeting’ of Lancashire ministers gave a public character to the academy, passing resolutions in its favour and raising funds for its support. At the summer assizes of 1703 Chorlton was presented for keeping a public academy, but through private influence the prosecution was stayed.
Chorlton's labours were cut short in his prime. He suffered from stone
, and died in his fortieth year on 16 May 1705; he was buried at the collegiate church (now Manchester Cathedral
) on 19 May.
Life
John Chorlton was born at SalfordCity of Salford
The City of Salford is a city and metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It is named after its largest settlement, Salford, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Eccles, Swinton-Pendlebury, Walkden and Irlam which apart from Irlam each have a population of over...
in 1666. On 4 April 1682 he was admitted to be educated for the ministry at Rathmell Academy
Rathmell Academy
Rathmell Academy was a Dissenting academy set up at Rathmell, North Yorkshire, in the north of England by Richard Frankland from 1670.-Preparations:...
under Richard Frankland
Richard Frankland (tutor)
Richard Frankland was an English nonconformist, notable for founding the Rathmell Academy, a dissenting academy in the north of England.-Biography:...
. On completing his studies he was chosen (7 Aug. 1687) as assistant to Henry Newcome
Henry Newcome
-Life:He was the fourth son of Stephen Newcome, rector of Caldicote, Huntingdonshire. He was born at Caldicote, and baptised on27 Nov. 1627. His mother was Rose, daughter of Henry Williamson, B. D. ,...
, the founder of nonconformity in Manchester. On 8 March 1689 he married Hannah, daughter of Joseph Leeche.
On Newcome's death (17 Sept. 1695) he became pastor. The congregation on 14 Oct. 1695 invited Oliver Heywood
Oliver Heywood (minister)
Oliver Heywood was a British nonconformist minister, ejected for his beliefs.-Early life and education:Oliver Heywood, third son of Richard Heywood, yeoman, by his first wife, Alice Critchlaw, was born at Little Lever, near Bolton, Lancashire, in March 1630, and baptised at Bolton parish church...
to become his colleague, but the old man declined to leave Northowram
Northowram
Northowram is a village in Calderdale, West Yorkshire, England that stands to the east of Halifax on the north side of Shibden valley. Southowram stands on the southern side of the valley....
. An assistant was obtained (1697) in the person of an adventurer passing under the name of Gaskeld, who, after pleasing the Manchester presbyterians with his learning and eloquence, disappeared (1698) with a borrowed horse, made his way to Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
(where he called himself Midgely, and falsely represented himself as one of the authors of Letters Writ by a Turkish Spy
Letters Writ by a Turkish Spy
Letters Writ by a Turkish Spy is an eight-volume collection of fictional letters claiming to have been written by an Ottoman spy named "Mahmut", in the French court of Louis XIV....
), and finally fled to Holland.
On Frankland's death (1 Oct. 1698) at Rathmell
Rathmell
Rathmell is a village and civil parish in the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England. It is close to the River Ribble and about three miles south of Settle. Other towns and villages nearby include Wigglesworth, Tosside, Giggleswick and Long Preston....
, Chorlton, with great spirit, resolved to continue Frankland's 'northern academy', transferring it to Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. Accordingly on 21 March 1699 he ‘set up teaching university learning in a great house at Manchester.’ Eleven of Frankland's students finished their course with him, and the names of twenty others who studied under him are known. His most distinguished student was Thomas Dixon
Thomas Dixon (nonconformist)
Thomas Dixon, M.D. was an English nonconformist minister and tutor.-Life:Dixon was probably the son of Thomas Dixon, ‘Anglus e Northumbria,’ who graduated M.A. at Edinburgh on 19 July 1660, and was ejected from the vicarage of Kelloe, County Durham, as a nonconformist. Dixon studied at Manchester...
. James Clegg
James Clegg
James Clegg, M.D. , was a presbyterian minister.Clegg was born at Shawfield in the parish of Rochdale, Lancashire, on 26 Oct. 1679, was educated by the Rev. Richard Frankland at Rathmell in Yorkshire, and the Rev. John Chorlton at Manchester....
, one of the transferred students, is our chief authority on the mode in which the academy was conducted. He describes Chorlton as a worthy successor to Frankland, and superior as a preacher. Matthew Henry
Matthew Henry
Matthew Henry was an English commentator on the Bible and Presbyterian minister.-Life:He was born at Broad Oak, a farmhouse on the borders of Flintshire and Shropshire. His father, Philip Henry, had just been ejected under the Act of Uniformity 1662...
speaks of his ‘extraordinary quickness and readiness of expression; a casuist, one of a thousand, a wonderful clear head.’ Chorlton now wanted assistance both in the pulpit and in the academy. Applications were made in 1699 to James Owen of Oswestry and Thomas Bradbury
Thomas Bradbury
-Life:Bradbury was born in Yorkshire, and was educated for the congregational ministry Attercliffe Academy; Oliver Heywood gave him books. He preached his first sermon on 14 June 1696, and went to reside as assistant and domestic tutor with Thomas Whitaker, minister of the independent congregation,...
, both of whom declined. Next year the services of James Coningham
James Coningham
James Coningham was an English presbyterian divine and tutor.-Life:Coningham was born in 1670 in England and educated at Edinburgh, where he graduated M.A. on 27 February 1694. The same year he became minister of the presbyterian congregation at Penrith...
were secured. The ‘provincial meeting’ of Lancashire ministers gave a public character to the academy, passing resolutions in its favour and raising funds for its support. At the summer assizes of 1703 Chorlton was presented for keeping a public academy, but through private influence the prosecution was stayed.
Chorlton's labours were cut short in his prime. He suffered from stone
Calculus (medicine)
A calculus is a stone that forms in an organ or duct of the body. Formation of calculi is known as lithiasis...
, and died in his fortieth year on 16 May 1705; he was buried at the collegiate church (now Manchester Cathedral
Manchester Cathedral
Manchester Cathedral is a medieval church on Victoria Street in central Manchester and is the seat of the Bishop of Manchester. The cathedral's official name is The Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Mary, St Denys and St George in Manchester...
) on 19 May.
Works
- (Anon.) Notes upon the Lord Bishop of Salisbury's four Discourses to the Clergy of his Diocess … relating to the Dissenters, &c., 1695, 4to
- The Glorious Reward of Faithful Ministers, &c., 1696, 4to. Funeral sermon [Dan. xii. 3] for Henry NewcomeHenry Newcome-Life:He was the fourth son of Stephen Newcome, rector of Caldicote, Huntingdonshire. He was born at Caldicote, and baptised on27 Nov. 1627. His mother was Rose, daughter of Henry Williamson, B. D. ,...
. Robert HalleyRobert HalleyRobert Halley was an English Congregationalist minister and abolitionist. He was noted for his association with the politics of Repeal of the Corn Laws, and became Classical Tutor at Highbury College and Principal of New College, St John's Wood, London.-Early life :Robert Halley was born in...
reckoned it "one of the best of the nonconformist funeral sermons". Preface by John Howe. - (Anon.) Dedication to Lord WilloughbyHugh Willoughby, 12th Baron Willoughby of ParhamHugh Willoughby, 12th Baron Willoughby of Parham was an English peer of the House of Lords. He was the eldest son of Thomas Willoughby, 11th Baron Willoughby of Parham and his wife Eleanor, daughter of Hugh Whittle of Horwich...
, and 'Brief Account of the Life of the Author', prefixed to Henry Pendlebury's Invisible Realities, &c., 1696, 12mo.