

CHAPTER V. 



NONCONFORMISTS. 



What is a Church ? let truth and reason speak, 

 They should reply, " The faithful, pure, and meek ;" 

 From Christian folds the one selected race, 

 Of all professions and of every place. 



Crdbbe. 



In the old days of Nonconformist persecution, great 

 sufferings were endured by many peaceable people in 

 Kingsbridge and the neighbourhood, for their religious 

 convictions. 



The Conventicle Act, forbidding religious meetings, caused 

 much strife and persecution ; and many of the inhabitants, 

 on account of such meetings, were heavily fined, while 

 others had their furniture and beds sold from them, and 

 some were immured in Exeter Gaol. 



George Reynell, Esq., of Malston, in the parish of Sher- 

 ford, and John Beare, Esq., of Bearscombe, in the parish 

 of Buckland-tout-saints, were two magistrates most rigid 

 in carrying the law against conventicles into execution; 

 while Matthew Hele, Esq., of Halwell, and William 

 Bastard, Esq., of Gerston, two other justices of the peace, 

 were mild and tolerant; so much so, indeed, as to incur 

 prosecution for not being sufficiently active to suppress 

 these religious assemblies. 



