William Bagshaw
Encyclopedia
William Bagshaw or Bagshall (1628 – 1702) was an English presbyterian and nonconformist minister, known as the "Apostle of the Peak".
, in the parish of Tideswell
, 17 January 1628, the son of William Bagshaw of Hucklow
. He received his early education at country schools, and met puritan ministers, Rowlandson of Bakewell
and Bourn of Ashover
. He entered Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
in 1646. He preached his first sermon in the chapel of Warmhill, in his native parish. From Tideswell he moved to Attercliffe
, in Yorkshire. Here he occupied a twofold post, being assistant to the Rev. James Fisher of Sheffield
, and chaplain in the family of Colonel John Bright. He received presbyterian ordination in 1651 at Chesterfield
, and after some time was presented to the living of Glossop
.
After the Restoration
and the Act of Uniformity 1662
he gave up his living and retired to Ford Hall near Chinley
, in an adjacent parish. He lived as a country gentleman, attended the parish church, but continued to preach and regularly conducted a service on Thursday evenings in his own house. After the Declaration of Indulgence
of 1672, he felt free to preach regularly in his former parish and in the neighbourhood. He lectured at , Malcoffe, Middleton
, Bradwell
, Chalmarton, and Hucklow. When the Declaration was recalled by Charles II, he continued to preach secretly. There were several ineffective warrants issued against him. While James II's 'Declaration for Liberty of Conscience' was in force, and again through the beginning of William and Mary's reign, he was an incessant preacher. He died on 1 April 1702, and was buried at Chapel-en-le-Frith
.
His Life and Funeral Sermon was published by John Ashe (1704), the main source of information concerning him.
Life
He was born at Litton, DerbyshireLitton, Derbyshire
Litton is a village in the Derbyshire Peak District of England. It is one mile from Tideswell and six miles from Bakewell.The locals will tell you "It's 1000 feet up - minus a boy scout". It has a village hall, a village shop, a small primary school, a post office run by a co-operative of villagers...
, in the parish of Tideswell
Tideswell
Tideswell is a village and civil parish in the Peak District of Derbyshire, in England. It lies east of Buxton on the B6049, in a wide dry valley on a limestone plateau, at an altitude of above sea level, and is within the District of Derbyshire Dales...
, 17 January 1628, the son of William Bagshaw of Hucklow
Great Hucklow
Great Hucklow is a small village in the Derbyshire Peak District which nestles under Hucklow Edge between the villages of Tideswell and Bradwell. It has a population of about 100. The area is now mainly agricultural, but the village was formerly a centre of the Derbyshire lead mining industry...
. He received his early education at country schools, and met puritan ministers, Rowlandson of Bakewell
Bakewell
Bakewell is a small market town in the Derbyshire Dales district of Derbyshire, England, deriving its name from 'Beadeca's Well'. It is the only town included in the Peak District National Park, and is well known for the local confection Bakewell Pudding...
and Bourn of Ashover
Ashover
Ashover is a village in the English county of Derbyshire. It is in the North East Derbyshire district of the county. It sits in a picturesque valley, not far from the town of Matlock and the Peak District national park. The centre of the village is a conservation area. The River Amber flows through...
. He entered Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is notable as the only college founded by Cambridge townspeople: it was established in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
in 1646. He preached his first sermon in the chapel of Warmhill, in his native parish. From Tideswell he moved to Attercliffe
Attercliffe
Attercliffe is an industrial suburb of northeast Sheffield, England on the south bank of the River Don.-History:The name Attercliffe can be traced back as far as an entry in the Domesday book -Ateclive- meaning at the cliffe, a small escarpment that lay alongside the River Don...
, in Yorkshire. Here he occupied a twofold post, being assistant to the Rev. James Fisher of Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, and chaplain in the family of Colonel John Bright. He received presbyterian ordination in 1651 at Chesterfield
Chesterfield
Chesterfield is a market town and a borough of Derbyshire, England. It lies north of Derby, on a confluence of the rivers Rother and Hipper. Its population is 70,260 , making it Derbyshire's largest town...
, and after some time was presented to the living of Glossop
Glossop
Glossop is a market town within the Borough of High Peak in Derbyshire, England. It lies on the Glossop Brook, a tributary of the River Etherow, about east of the city of Manchester, west of the city of Sheffield. Glossop is situated near Derbyshire's county borders with Cheshire, Greater...
.
After the Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
and the Act of Uniformity 1662
Act of Uniformity 1662
The Act of Uniformity was an Act of the Parliament of England, 13&14 Ch.2 c. 4 ,The '16 Charles II c. 2' nomenclature is reference to the statute book of the numbered year of the reign of the named King in the stated chapter...
he gave up his living and retired to Ford Hall near Chinley
Chinley
Chinley is a rural village in High Peak Borough, situated on the western edge of the Peak District National Park in Derbyshire, England, with a population of around 2000. Before the railway, the area was economically dominated by agriculture and quarrying. Three textile mills were established in...
, in an adjacent parish. He lived as a country gentleman, attended the parish church, but continued to preach and regularly conducted a service on Thursday evenings in his own house. After the Declaration of Indulgence
Declaration of Indulgence
The Declaration of Indulgence was two proclamations made by James II of England and VII of Scotland in 1687. The Indulgence was first issued for Scotland on 12 February, and then for England on 4 April 1687...
of 1672, he felt free to preach regularly in his former parish and in the neighbourhood. He lectured at , Malcoffe, Middleton
Middleton
Middleton may refer to:-Australia:*Middleton, South Australia*Middleton Beach, Western Australia*Middleton Reef, Tasman Sea-United Kingdom:England*Middleton, Cumbria*Middleton, Essex*Middleton, Greater Manchester*Middleton, Hampshire...
, Bradwell
Bradwell
-People with surname Bradwell:*Tom Driberg, Baron Bradwell , British journalist and politician*Chris Bradwell , US athlete*James B. Bradwell , US lawyer and judge*Mike Bradwell , Canadian athlete...
, Chalmarton, and Hucklow. When the Declaration was recalled by Charles II, he continued to preach secretly. There were several ineffective warrants issued against him. While James II's 'Declaration for Liberty of Conscience' was in force, and again through the beginning of William and Mary's reign, he was an incessant preacher. He died on 1 April 1702, and was buried at Chapel-en-le-Frith
Chapel-en-le-Frith
Chapel-en-le-Frith is a small town in Derbyshire, England, on the edge of the Peak District near the border with Cheshire, from Manchester. Dubbed "The Capital of the Peak District", the settlement was established by the Normans in the 12th century, originally as a hunting lodge within the Forest...
.
His Life and Funeral Sermon was published by John Ashe (1704), the main source of information concerning him.
Works
He left manuscripts (fifty volumes) but little survived. His published books are all short. Their (abbreviated) titles are:- 'Waters for a Thirsty Soul, in several sermons on Rev. xxi. 6.' London, 1653.
- 'Of Christ's Purchase,' to which is prefixed his 'Confession of Faith.'
- 'Rules for our Behaviour every Day and for sanctifying the Sabbath, with Hints for Communicants.'
- 'The Ready Way to prevent Sin,' on Prov. xxx. 22, with 'A Bridle for the Tongue,' on St. Matt. X. 36.
- The 'Miner's Monitor.'
- The 'Sinner in Sorrow and the Humble Sinner's Modest Request.'
- 'Brief Directions for the Improvement of Infant Baptism.'
- The 'Riches of Grace,' three parts.
- 'Trading Spiritualized,' three parts.
- 'De Spiritualibus Pecci: Notes concerning the Work of God, and some that have been walkers together with God in the High Peak of Derbyshire,' a biographical work (London, 1702).
- 'Principiis Obsta,' 1671.
- 'Sheet for Sufferers.'
- 'Matters for Mourning' — posthumous.
- 'Essays on Union to Christ,' which appeared after his death.
External links
- http://www.hucklow-old-chapel.org.uk/history.htm