ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 



Bristol. 1 He provided new fittings for the chapel and put a cross of white 

 marble, let into a black background, under the east window. So strong was 

 the feeling of the times that he was accused of popish leanings on account of 

 his use of such an ornament and his taste for reading lives of the saints. He 

 exercised great care in accepting candidates for ordination, and in his choice 

 of the clergy for preferment and promotion. Thomas Newton (176081), 

 who was also dean of St. Paul's from 1768 until his death, set his face against 

 certain abuses. He spent several months every summer at Bristol, except 

 when prevented by illness, hoping that by his example the cathedral clergy 

 might be induced to reside. * Alas! ' he wrote, in 1781, 'never was church 

 more shamefully neglected. The bishop has several times been there for 

 months together without seeing the face of dean or prebendary, or anything 

 better than a minor canon.'* He remonstrated with the chapter for their 

 neglect, pointing out that 



their want of residence was the general complaint not only of the city, but likewise of all 

 the country, that great numbers resorted every year to the wells and generally came at 

 least on a Sunday to see the cathedral, that they were astonished at finding only one minor 

 canon both to read and to preach, and perhaps administer the sacrament. 



Reminding them that ' there were those who contended for the worthlessness 

 and uselessness of deans and chapters,' he said that no more flagrant instance 

 of good pay received and little duty done could be found than in the church 

 of Bristol. He grieved over the neglect of the cathedral, for while the dean 

 of Gloucester was improving and beautifying his church, ' poor Bristol lay 

 utterly neglected, like a disconsolate widow.' He rejoiced over the appoint- 

 ment of Dean Hallam in 1781, hoping that he would rectify all irregularities 

 and restore the good old order and discipline of the church. Between 1763 

 and 1777 he delivered five charges to the clergy of his diocese. 8 Like War- 

 burton he desired to raise the standard of learning, and on admonishing them 

 how to study the scriptures he said : c I must suppose that you are able to 

 read the scriptures in the original languages. If you have not already attained, 

 it should be your endeavour to attain this knowledge.'* In speaking on the 

 supposed increase of popery in 1766 he lamented that eagerness after pleasure 

 and indifference to religion had taken possession of too many of the clergy.' 

 They not only neglected their studies, but the necessary duties of their call- 

 ing. Incumbents did not reside in their parishes, and there was a lack of 

 resident curates. He advised the clergy to get Bishop Gibson's collection of 

 the principal tracts and discourses written against popery, which, though con- 

 sisting of three large volumes in folio, could be purchased at a moderate price. 

 He congratulated himself on having had the aid of Grenville in suppressing 

 a ' masshouse ' which was to be opened at Bristol.' In 1790, eight years 

 after his death, the Jesuits opened St. Joseph's Chapel in Trenchard Street. 1 

 During the next forty years the number of Roman Catholics increased so 

 rapidly that the pro-cathedral of Clifton was begun in 1834. It was opened 

 in 1848, and two years later Pius IX established a see at Clifton. 



The full force of the Methodist movement was felt in Gloucestershire. 

 George Whitefield was the son of the proprietor of the Bell Inn at Gloucester.* 



1 Spooner, op. cit. 13. ' Thomas Newton, op. cit. i, 126-8. * Ibid, iii, 433-515. 



Ibid. 443. Ibid. 461. Ibid. 459. 



' Nicholls and Taylor, Bristol Pait and Prtient, ii, 274. ' Diet. Nat. Biog, Ixi, 8;. 



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