A HISTORY OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE 



belonged to the Baptists. 1 Twenty years later there were over 8,000 non- 

 conformists in the county.* 



In 1735 Martin Benson became bishop of Gloucester. Unlike many 

 of his brethren, he was no seeker after preferment, and though Gloucester 

 was one of the poorest bishoprics, he declared his intention of refusing any 

 offer of translation. 3 He spent large sums of money on the cathedral and 

 the palace. 'His purity,' wrote Porteus, bishop of London, ' though awfully 

 strict, was inexpressibly amiable. It diffused such a sweetness through his 

 temper and such a benevolence over his countenance, as none who were 

 acquainted with him, can forget.' 4 In a letter of commission which he 

 issued shortly before his primary visitation, he expressed his determination ' to 

 continue the ancient authority and use of rural deans,' * and his contemporary, 

 Archbishop Seeker, stated that he completely revived it.* Clerical poverty 

 was a serious problem: in 1736 there were 168 livings in the county of 

 which the revenues did not exceed 50 a year. 7 



Of the later bishops of the eighteenth century, Warburton (1760-79) 

 alone, on account of his learning and great industry as a writer, has any 

 special claim to distinction. Dr. Newton, afterwards bishop of Bristol, 

 preached the sermon at his consecration, and said : 



When divines eminent for literature, conspicuous as preachers, illustrious as authors, are 

 advanced to the first stations in the Church, it is not only a security to religion but an en- 

 couragement to learning, and a strong incitement to others to prosecute the same studies 

 and to excel in the same useful arts. 8 



Warburton's influence over his clergy was exerted chiefly in that direction. 

 In his charge in 1761 he exhorted them not ' to mistake the completion of 

 their academic courses for the completion of their theologic studies,' and to 

 extend their knowledge that they might be able to oppose and discourage 

 ' fanaticism, whether spiritual or literary, bigotry, whether religious or civil, 

 and infidelity, whether philosophical or immoral.' * However, he determined 

 to see that no candidates should be presented for confirmation except such as 

 were duly prepared. 10 Tucker, then dean of Gloucester, was exemplary * in 

 keeping his residence and performing his duties, in managing the chapter 

 estates, in living hospitably, in repairing and improving his house, and in 

 adorning the church and churchyard.' He was a man of ' strong and lively 

 parts,' but like the bishop also ' of strong passions,' and Bishop Newton 

 regretted that they were not in friendship and harmony. 11 



It was owing to the poverty of the see of Bristol, which in 1761 brought 

 in little more than ^3 a vear > t^ at m *he eighteenth century most of the 

 sixteen bishops were ' birds of passage,' ls and held some other emolument in 

 commendam. Two of them made their influence felt in the diocese. Joseph 

 Butler, author of the Analogy, was appointed in 1738 and held the see until 

 1750, when he was translated to Durham. In 1740 he also became dean of 

 St. Paul's, then resigning the benefice of Stanhope and a prebend at Rochester. 

 Out of the revenues of the deanery he repaired and rebuilt the palace at 



1 Records of Nonconformity, MS. i, fol. 1 3 ; Dr. Williams's Lib. * Ibid. MS. ii, 42. 



* Diet. Nat. Biog. iv. 258. 4 Spooner, Bishop Butler, \ I. 



6 Dansey, Horae Deeantcae Rurales, 421. * Seeker's Charges, 1 8 6. 



7 Return made by the Governors of Queen Anne's Bounty in 1736, pp. 70, 88. 



8 Watson, Life of William Warburton, 495. ' Ibid. 593. 

 10 Ibid. 510. " Works of Thomas Newton, i, 79. " Ibid. 148. 



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