John Morison (pastor)
Encyclopedia
Rev. Dr John Morison 1791 - 1859) - occasionally spelt Morrison - was a longstanding editor of the Evangelical Magazine & Missionary Chronicle, author of theological and biographical subjects, and a Congregational pastor at Trevor Chapel, Chelsea
, London
. He was known for his bold and fervid utterances on the platform, his enthusiastic advocacy of the work of the London Missionary Society
, and support for the abolition
of slavery in the USA.
in London, during the mid-nineteenth century and a committee member of the London Missionary Society
. Along with fellow LMS committee member, Rev. Dr Thomas Raffles of Liverpool, and his friend the Rev. Dr Alexander Fletcher of Finsbury Chapel, he was honoured to be one of the three people to whom the escaped slave Moses Roper
brought a letter of introduction on his arrival in Britain, seeking assistance and patronage to pursue his object of promoting the cause of emancipation and abolition
. To Dr Morison, Moses Roper
gave the task of revising the manuscript of his autobiography, A Narrative of the Adventures and Escapes of Moses Roper, but though illness he was compelled to pass this task, and preparation of the preface, to the Rev. Dr T. Price.
An enthusiastic public speaker, Dr Morison, was frequently in demand as a platform speaker for Evangelical societies and meetings in London, frequently held at Exeter Hall
. His style can be see from this 'Discourse Preached on the Occasion of the Demise of George Fourth' entitled 'God the Setter Up of Kings and Remover of Kings' (1830):
, Kensington
, and was demolished in the 1950s after being taken over for use by Harrods
department store.
In his early pastorate he had worked as minister at Union Chapel, Sloane Street
. However, he resigned and was followed by some of his Independent congregation, who met in Smith & Baber’s floorcloth factory during 1816, until they could complete the building of their own Independent chapel at corner of Arthur Street and Lancelot Place. This opened in December 1816, largely paid for by a member of his congregation, John Souter, who bought a lease for the site of chapel, and several houses, in Trevor Square. Dr Morrison's Chapel was later enlarged, during 1830s, and was completed with schoolrooms by the end of the decade. Shortly after his death a gallery was added in the 1860s, to the Congregational Chapel. He was succeeded at the chapel by his co-pastor, who also succeeded him as Editor of the Evangelical Magazine and Missionary Chronicle.
, Stoke Newington
, London
, by a pedimented pedestal memorial of white marble.
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is a central London borough of Royal borough status. After the City of Westminster, it is the wealthiest borough in England....
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He was known for his bold and fervid utterances on the platform, his enthusiastic advocacy of the work of the London Missionary Society
London Missionary Society
The London Missionary Society was a non-denominational missionary society formed in England in 1795 by evangelical Anglicans and Nonconformists, largely Congregationalist in outlook, with missions in the islands of the South Pacific and Africa...
, and support for the abolition
Abolitionism
Abolitionism is a movement to end slavery.In western Europe and the Americas abolitionism was a movement to end the slave trade and set slaves free. At the behest of Dominican priest Bartolomé de las Casas who was shocked at the treatment of natives in the New World, Spain enacted the first...
of slavery in the USA.
Abolition and evangelical work
A native of Scotland, John Morison became one of the principal representatives of CongregationalismCongregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
in London, during the mid-nineteenth century and a committee member of the London Missionary Society
London Missionary Society
The London Missionary Society was a non-denominational missionary society formed in England in 1795 by evangelical Anglicans and Nonconformists, largely Congregationalist in outlook, with missions in the islands of the South Pacific and Africa...
. Along with fellow LMS committee member, Rev. Dr Thomas Raffles of Liverpool, and his friend the Rev. Dr Alexander Fletcher of Finsbury Chapel, he was honoured to be one of the three people to whom the escaped slave Moses Roper
Moses Roper
Moses Roper was a mulatto slave who wrote one of the major early books about life as a slave in the United States — Narrative of the Adventures and Escape of Moses Roper from American Slavery.-Life as a slave:...
brought a letter of introduction on his arrival in Britain, seeking assistance and patronage to pursue his object of promoting the cause of emancipation and abolition
Abolitionism
Abolitionism is a movement to end slavery.In western Europe and the Americas abolitionism was a movement to end the slave trade and set slaves free. At the behest of Dominican priest Bartolomé de las Casas who was shocked at the treatment of natives in the New World, Spain enacted the first...
. To Dr Morison, Moses Roper
Moses Roper
Moses Roper was a mulatto slave who wrote one of the major early books about life as a slave in the United States — Narrative of the Adventures and Escape of Moses Roper from American Slavery.-Life as a slave:...
gave the task of revising the manuscript of his autobiography, A Narrative of the Adventures and Escapes of Moses Roper, but though illness he was compelled to pass this task, and preparation of the preface, to the Rev. Dr T. Price.
An enthusiastic public speaker, Dr Morison, was frequently in demand as a platform speaker for Evangelical societies and meetings in London, frequently held at Exeter Hall
Exeter Hall
Exeter Hall was a hall on the north side of The Strand, London, England. It was erected between 1829 and 1831 on the site of Exeter Exchange, to designs by John Peter Gandy, the brother of the visionary architect Joseph Michael Gandy...
. His style can be see from this 'Discourse Preached on the Occasion of the Demise of George Fourth' entitled 'God the Setter Up of Kings and Remover of Kings' (1830):
- It is now many years since our nation proscribed all traffic in human flesh, and made it felonious to steal men from the shores of Africa. And yet, in spite of all the discussions in and out of parliament on this mounrful topic, slavery yet exists in our West Indian colonies, and seems equally to defy coercive and conciliatory measures. O cruel, accursed slavery! -what a scourge hast thou proved to millions of the human race! On Afric's shores, how many hearts hast thou left bleeding and in despair... Let Christians awake from their lethargy on this subject, and let the struggle of principle effect that at last which the struggle of politics will never be able to accomplish.
Trevor Chapel
Dr Morrison's chapel, Trevor Chapel, was situated at Trevor Sq. (formerly Arthur Street), KnightsbridgeKnightsbridge
Knightsbridge is a road which gives its name to an exclusive district lying to the west of central London. The road runs along the south side of Hyde Park, west from Hyde Park Corner, spanning the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
, Kensington
Kensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
, and was demolished in the 1950s after being taken over for use by Harrods
Harrods
Harrods is an upmarket department store located in Brompton Road in Brompton, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London. The Harrods brand also applies to other enterprises undertaken by the Harrods group of companies including Harrods Bank, Harrods Estates, Harrods Aviation and Air...
department store.
In his early pastorate he had worked as minister at Union Chapel, Sloane Street
Sloane Street
Sloane Street is a major London street which runs north to south, from Knightsbridge to Sloane Square, crossing Pont Street about half way along, entirely in The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Sloane Street takes its name from Sir Hans Sloane, who purchased the surrounding area in 1712...
. However, he resigned and was followed by some of his Independent congregation, who met in Smith & Baber’s floorcloth factory during 1816, until they could complete the building of their own Independent chapel at corner of Arthur Street and Lancelot Place. This opened in December 1816, largely paid for by a member of his congregation, John Souter, who bought a lease for the site of chapel, and several houses, in Trevor Square. Dr Morrison's Chapel was later enlarged, during 1830s, and was completed with schoolrooms by the end of the decade. Shortly after his death a gallery was added in the 1860s, to the Congregational Chapel. He was succeeded at the chapel by his co-pastor, who also succeeded him as Editor of the Evangelical Magazine and Missionary Chronicle.
Death and memorial
Dr Morison is buried at the Congregationalists's non-denominational Victorian garden cemetery, Abney Park CemeteryAbney Park Cemetery
Abney Park in Stoke Newington, in the London Borough of Hackney, is a historic parkland originally laid out in the early 18th century by Lady Mary Abney and Dr. Isaac Watts, and the neighbouring Hartopp family. In 1840 it became a non-denominational garden cemetery, semi-public park arboretum, and...
, Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington is a district in the London Borough of Hackney. It is north-east of Charing Cross.-Boundaries:In modern terms, Stoke Newington can be roughly defined by the N16 postcode area . Its southern boundary with Dalston is quite ill-defined too...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, by a pedimented pedestal memorial of white marble.
Books
- Morrison, John (c.1830s-50s), The Evangelical Magazine and Missionary Chronicle, London:Ward & Co.
External links
- http://docsouth.unc.edu/fpn/roper/support1.html Review of Moses Roper's Book, March 30th 1830
- http://docsouth.unc.edu/fpn/roper/menu.html Narrative of Moses Roper
- http://www.middlesexpast.net/wprot.html Trevor Chapel