September 2, 1805 letter from Sir Egerton Leigh to Thomas Haweis
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Title |
September 2, 1805 letter from Sir Egerton Leigh to Thomas Haweis |
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Post Date |
September 2, 1805 |
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Author |
Leigh, [Sir] Egerton (1762-1818) |
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Recipient |
Haweis, Thomas (1734-1820) |
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Date |
1805-09-02 |
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Physical Description |
4 pp. total; 3 pp. text; 1 p. address |
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Dimensions |
38.4 x 23.9 cm |
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Location (Box, Folder) |
Box 2, File 12 |
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Address To |
Aldwinkle, near Thrapston, Northamptonshire |
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Country To |
England |
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Address From |
Brownsover [Warwickshire] |
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Country From |
England |
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Transcriber |
Gareth Lloyd |
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Plain Text Transcription |
From Egerton Leigh in Brownsover, Warwickshire, T.H. at Aldwincle in Northamptonshire. He received T.H’s kind letter on Saturday and he was very grateful for the kind concern expressed by T.H. and his wife [Elizabeth] at this distressing time. (Leigh's letter is edged in mourning black indicating that a death had recently taken place in the family). The living at Aldborough Major is the gift of Lady Leigh and has occupied their thoughts for some considerable time. He feels it his duty to promote the ‘the late Mr B.’s welfare’ and would therefore have used any means possible to have him inducted. As the Lord has now removed that possibility, (through the death of Mr. B.?) they have determined to have a gospel clergyman and whoever he is, he will certainly find the ‘fields ripe for harvest.’ Opinion in this part of the country would welcome an evangelical preacher. ‘Our first object will be personal friendship.’ T.H. will be acquainted with Mr William Hanbury at Oxford – if he is of age and can be ordained as a priest immediately, they would wish him to have the living. Leigh thinks that Hanbury was converted under the ministry of the local curate. If Hanbury cannot accept the living, they would in that case wish to remember their friend Mr Foyster - he has left a son who Leigh thinks is in holy orders. If the young man is evangelical, is acceptable, has no church appointment and is a priest, then the living shall be his. Leigh would be grateful if T.H. can confirm these particulars. If the two young men above cannot be appointed, then they would like to consider Mr Jones of Creaton – he is an able preacher, and a man of his talents and experience will do well at Aldborough. The cause of Christ is their chief concern in whatever steps they take in this matter. There are several things that will be necessary in the person who comes to Aldborough – he must do the duty himself except through age or infirmity. (in other words, not appoint a curate to undertake the care of the parish while the Rector himself was non-resident) Also, if he accepts another living, then he must resign the Aldborough appointment in favor of another minister of the Leigh family’s choosing – this will prevent a practice that Leigh considers to be disgraceful, namely plurality. (ministers holding more than one parochial appointment and employing curates to cover for their non-residence). Leigh hopes that when an evangelical clergyman is settled here, that T.H. will visit. He does not know whether T.H. can preach in Leigh’s chapel in Rugby – it would certainly be a great pleasure to see T.H. and [Elizabeth]. 2 September 1805 Sir Egerton Leigh (d.1818) was born in South Carolina, a member of a prominent English landowning family with branches in several counties. Upon his return to England, Leigh experienced an evangelical conversion and commenced itinerant preaching. He was also appointed a director of the London Missionary Society and chaired one of the first meetings. Leigh built several Baptist chapels and settled in Rugby as the pastor of the congregation there. |
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Notes |
Letter edged in black |
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Digital Resources Type |
Image |
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Digitization Date |
Digitized: 2012 |
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Digitization Process |
Digitization process: Derivatives resized at 4030 pixels in height or width |
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Digital Publisher |
Bridwell Library, Special Collections; Perkins School of Theology; Southern Methodist University |
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Rights |
Permission to publish materials must be obtained from the Head of Special Collections of the Bridwell Library |
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Decade |
1800-1809 |
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Thomas Haweis Documents and Images at Bridwell Library
