Page:VCH London 1.djvu/487

 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 1754 they removed to Mile End, the tutors being Dr. John Conder, Dr. J. Walker, and Dr. Thomas Gibbons. In 1769 the institution was again removed to Homerton, where it remained till 1850, when it was combined with two other Congregational divinity schools and located at Hampstead, where it still flourishes as New College. The Presbyterians also instituted an academy in Hoxton Square, about 1700, which only lasted till 1729 or 1730. The tutors were Joshua Oldfield, D.D.,John Spademan, William Tong, William Lorrimer, and Mons. Capel, formerly of Saumur.'"^ Another academy was commenced in Wellclose Square in 1744, the tutors being Dr. Jennings, minister in Old Gravel Lane, Wapping, and Dr. S. Morton Savage, who succeeded Dr. Watts at Bury Street.'"' On the death of Jennings in 1762 it was removed to Hoxton Square, Dr. Andrew Kippis and Dr. Abraham Rees, Presbyterians, being associated with Dr. Savage. It was discontinued in 1785, and in the following year some ' Wide Dissen- ters,' i.e. Unitarians, resolved to establish an academy on their own principles. This was located at Hackney and presided over by Dr. Kippis, with whom were associated Thomas Belsham and Gilbert Wakefield ; but it ceased to exist within ten years. Meanwhile others determined to found a new institution on moderate Calvinistic lines.^'° After an unsatisfactory experiment (1778-82) the Evangelical Academy was commenced at Mile End in 1783, under the tutorship of Stephen Addington, D.D., minister of Miles Lane ; in 1795 it was removed to Hoxton Square, thence in 1826 to Highbury, and in 1850 it was merged in New College, Hampstead. The New Connexion of General Baptists, formed in 1770, found it necessary to provide a suitable training for their future ministers, and from 1797 students were placed under the care of Rev. Dan Taylor, who ministered in Church Lane, Whitechapel."' On Mr. Taylor's death in 18 13 the students were transferred to Wisbech and subsequently to Loughborough, Chilwell, and in 1882 to Nottingham ; such in brief is the history of the Midland Baptist College. Another training institution, originated by trustees of the Particular Baptist Fund in 1810,''^ was first located at Stepney under the tuition of Rev. W. Newman, D.D., and in 1856 was removed to Regent's Park. Its most distinguished tutors were Rev. W. H. Murch, D.D., 1828-43, and Rev. Joseph Angus, D.D., 1849-1902. The Hbraryofthis college contains probably the finest collection of Baptist literature extant. A third Baptist college, initiated in 1856 by Rev. C. H. Spurgeon, was com- menced in Camberwell, and in 1861 was removed to the Metropolitian Tabernacle, Newington Butts. It is named the Pastors' College, and its avowed aim is ' the training of evangelists, not the educating of scholars.' As early as 1796 a 'Village Itinerary or Evangelical Association' was in active operation."' Its leading spirit was an Anglican clergyman. Rev. John ■ Eyre, M.A., of Hackney, who cordially welcomed the co-operation of Non- conformists. The society deeming it advisable to train its own agents, Mr. Eyre gave the lease of his house as a home for the projected seminary, for which substantial endowments were provided, Rev. Rowland Hill being a liberal benefactor. The seminary was commenced in 1803; Rev. C. '"' Bogue and Bennett, op. cit. i, 310-13, 320-1 ; ii, 213-15. '"' MS. in New Coll. Lib. "° Ibid. ; Bogue and Bennett, op. cit. ii, 519-20. '" CaJ. of Assoc. Coll. (1892), 105. '"Ibid. 130. ■ '" Ibid. III. 399