A SECT THAT MO V ED THE W O RLD THREE GENERA TIONS OF CLAPHAM SAINTS AND PHILANTHROPISTS O HN TELFO R D B . J , . A AUTHOR or ’ “ ‘ THE mm W r m: u se o r C HARLES wnsun r OF JOHN ESLEY. , “ ’ ’ m : o r Tm: UPPER ‘ wxsm v s ca n “. STORY ROOM , AND wxsm v' u n ’ s ous . , ETC WITH PORTRA ITS AND I LLUSTRATIONS g a n h n n CHARLES H ! ELL . Y z m u n n ca m n , cm ! ow . AND 26 PATERNOSTB ! ow, a c. SECT THAT MO V ED THE W O RL D THREE GENERA TIONS OF CLAPHAM SAINTS AND PHILANTHROPISTS OHN TELFO RD B A . J , . AUTHOR OF W ’ ‘ W ’ THE LIFE OF JOHN ESLEY, THE LIFE OF CHARLES ESLEY, ’ ’ ‘ THE THE ‘ wa sm v s AND STORY OF UPPER ROOM , CHAPEL W ' ’ ESLEY S HOUSE . ETC. WITH PORTRAITS AND ILLUSTRA TIONS z n n b a u H R E H ! ELL C A L S . Y z E E 26 PATERNOS’I‘ ER Row CASTL STR ET, CITY ROAD, AND , Debicatcb TO P. PERCY M. THORNTON, M. , ATTERSEA I SE U E OF B R HO S , G RANDSON O F MP U . SAM EL THORNTON, , A ND R N M M. RS. PERCY THO NTO , MP HENRY THORNTON, . P R EF A C E THIS little b ook appears on the eve of the Centenary of the Abolition of the Slave Tr a d e. The scenes at Clapham in which in that unwearied, unostentatious, and glorious crusade was carried on for twenty years may still be visited ; and as we enter House i Battersea Rise , wh ch was the head quarters of the campaign , or step inside the C parish hurch , where the Clapham Sect loved to worship , we seem to share the inspiration of those heroic workers . The links between the leaders of the Evangelical Revival and these famous sons of the All Church of England were very close . were moved by the same spirit , and laboured for the same ends . In these pages indications of sites and houses have been made as clear as possible , so that visitors may be able to find them without di fficulty . The last chapter may serve as a guide to those who are strangers 9 IO PREFACE e to the neighbourhood . It is a great pleasur to be allowed to dedicate this little book M. P. to Percy M . Thornton , Esq . , , and Mrs . Thornton , who live in the house where Henry Thornton and William Wilber force carried on their great campaign against the slave trade . I have gratefully to acknowledge my R u special debt to Mr . B . T cker for most of the photographs of this volume“ Mr . Thornton has allowed photographs to be ’ Ho n er s taken of John Thornton , of pp painting of Henry Thornton, and of Bat ’ t er sea Rise House . John Thornton s house has been photographed by the kind I permission of its present occupants . f ’ owe the illustration of Mr . Wol f s house to the kindness of Mrs . Spokes . ’ ld l a h a O C . Mr . Grover s p m and Dr John ’ Venn s A n n a ls of a Cler i ca l F a mily have been carefully consulted . Dr . Venn has kindly read the proof- sheets and given me the benefit of his knowledge of the h a subj ect . He s also supplied the portraits of Henry Venn and John Venn and the View of the old parish church of Clapham . J OHN TELFORD . C O NT E NT S CHAPTER I VENN AND HIS FRI ENDS AT C LAPHAM CHAPTER II V ENN AND THORNTON I N LATER LI FE CHAPTER III THE CONVERS I ON OF WI LLI AM WI LBERFORCE CHAPTER IV THE ABOLITION OF THE S LAVE TRADE CHAPTER V CHURCH MISSIONARY SOC I ETY 1 2 CONTENTS CHAPTER VI THE I NHERITORS OF THE G REAT TRAD I TION CHAPTER VII A PI LGR I MAGE IN CLAPHAM I NDE! LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS BATTERSEA RISE HOUSE M A . a ci n . 2 V . HENRY ENN , f g p 4 J OHN THORNTON ’ S HOUSE JOHN THORNTON CLAPHAM PARISH CHURCH MA V . JOHN ENN , B MP WILLIAM WIL ERFORCE , . ’ MR . WOLFF S HOUSE AT BALHAM B E THE LI RARY , BATT RSEA RISE HOUSE MP. HENRY THORNTON; . ’ WILLIAM G REAV ES SCHOOL TAB LET TO WILLIAM ARTHUR IN CLAPHAM WESLEYAN CHURCH TO ME THE THORNTON , AND HENRY ’ THORNTON S TAB LET CLAPHAM WESLEYAN CHURCH THE P OLD ARISH CHURCH , CLAPHAM I3 Sir Ja mes Steph en i s still th e chi ef author ity for th e h istor y of th e C a a Sec h ose e a n e i ca sa in s of h i a r e l ph m t . T v g l l t s sa n s n ee e a r e e a n a n d m a al i t i d d , but th y v ry hum , it y f l out tha t th e spice with which h e embalmed them will pr e serve their lin ea men ts when th e hol y m en of a n ewer d i s ’ en a i n a r t h e er es s e e n s p s t o e m t of k l to . ' MAITLAND Li e o Lesl e e S i St h en . I6 f f p , p . Th e Cla pha m Sect very wisely a bsta in ed fr om plun gin g n o or for c e e e n ot e ali fie a n d e ot e i t w k whi h th y w r w ll qu d , d v d t e se es t o or t o c e er e or o hl e a h m lv w k whi h th y w th ug y qu l . T e e e m en of s n ess a n d e ev o e h e r s n ess h y w r bu i , th y d t d t i bu i e n of a ll r oses or e ca pa cities t o th oblest pu p . Wilberf c con r e h is on e e s asi e e o en ce h is soc a t ibut d w d rfully p r u v l qu , i l nflen ce h is con n ex on t m en of t h e o of a ll sor s i u , i wi h w rld t Th orn ton h i s kn owledge of a ffa ir s Stephen h is lega l a cumen Z a cha r y Ma ca ul a y h i s orga n iz in g powers ; J oh n Ven n h i s n t e n sen e T e er e o e or ess m en of sa c ifi d commo s . h y w m r l eal a n d e e a e t a ea t a s e a a t a en w th , th y r g rd d h t w l h lit r lly l t ’ t o b e employed i n th e Master s use a n d wha t w as per ha ps of ar ess o a n ce a a en t t o a e t h e ost of a s h dly l imp rt , t l m k m , n s n e en co d o o ly bu i ss m uld . V AND REETO N The En li sh Chur ch . 2 . O ERTON , g , p 35 CHAPTER I CLAPHAM Tha t I m ay live t o th e glor y of Th y Na me I a petiti on ’ in Hen en n s a F o of P a e a e t h e fir s ry V d ily rm r y r , m d t ‘ He a s e W a ee e o s ess on on h is n . d p r ligi u impr i mi d k d , h t i s it t o live t o t h e glor y of G od ? Do I li ve as I pra y ? ’ W a t co se of e o I t o r s e t o or G od ? h ur lif ught pu u , gl ify He a e in th e C o s er s of T n Co e e Ca r e w lk d l i t ri ity ll g , mb idg , ’ ’ th e e f St Ma s was o n a t n n e o c oc a n d a s o . b ll ry t lli g i l k , am s th e so e n t on es a n d a ses of th e e a n d t h e id t l m p u b ll , s n ess a n d a n ess of th e n o n e i n im till d rk ight , w uld i dulg ess e a n d a eflec on s on Dea a n d e en t pr iv wful r ti , th Judg m , ’ a en a n d el He v H l .