A HISTORY OF NORFOLK 



Gayton Thorp ; Henry Meriton, rector of Oxborough ; and Lancaster 

 Topcliffc, rector of Oxwold, as well as by two justices of the peace, 

 E. Wodehouse and J. Wodehouse. The meeting, which appears to have been 

 tumultuous, lasted all day without any approach to a settlement of disputes ; 

 and the orthodox seem to have thought this extremely unreasonable of the 

 Quakers, whom they had been sanguine enough to expect to convince 

 promptly by their own unanswerable arguments. At last, ' the night 

 approaching, and many of the People there being at a great distance from 

 their homes, the magistrates then present, seeing nothing more (which might 

 tend to edification) was like to be done, were pleased to put an end to the 

 Contest and dissolve the Assembly.' Afterwards a certificate of proceedings 

 at the meeting was drawn up and attested, not only by the above clergy, who 

 were managers of the meeting, but by other persons present, among them 

 John Meriton, rector of Boughton, Thomas Fysh, preacher of King's Lynn, 

 and John Williamson, minister of the Gospel, so there were probably other 

 nonconformists participating also. There is appended a certificate of several 

 principal inhabitants within the parishes of West Dereham and other adjacent 

 parishes to ' obviate the false reports given out by the said Quakers,' which 

 at least testifies to a certain enthusiasm for the pastor, who came to the 

 parish in 1691, and refused, very rightly, to defend himself. The parish is 

 described as having ' fallen a prey ' to the Quakers when he undertook it, 

 ' having in it several divisions and sectaries, and but an exceeding small 

 salary for a minister, discouraged most men from supplying the cure.' 

 Instances of the ' pernicious principles of the Quakers and their rugged 

 behaviour ' are adduced, and must have been very trying to one described, as 

 this incumbent is, as ' always averse that either he or his Brethren should 

 engage in a public dispute.' But it is impossible not to feel a considerable 

 measure of sympathy with the Quakers, who seem to have been fighting 

 single-handed on this occasion against the combined forces of all ' the 

 divisions and sectaries ' and of the established clergy ; and this feeling remains 

 uppermost, in spite of the statement that the Quakers handed up provocations 

 and challenges in the pulpit. 



It is to be feared that the Norfolk men must at all times have justified 

 Wesley's description of them as ' shattered by divisions,' and that, whatever 

 the colour of their religious convictions, they all dearly loved a conflict. 



Bishop Trimnell, who was consecrated bishop of Norwich 8 February, 

 1707-8, was strongly opposed to the High Church opinions and practices 

 then becoming prominent. He had been connected with the diocese for 

 many years, having been installed in a prebend of Norwich 4 December, 

 1691, and collated archdeacon of Norfolk 1698. As bishop he distinguished 

 himself by the emphasis with which he urged the subordination of the 

 church to the state, and was translated to Winchester 21 July, 1721. 



A list of dissenting congregations, arranged under counties, for the 

 years 171 5 and 1772, shows that in 171 5 there were in Norwich two 

 Baptist congregations, two Independent, and one Presbyterian.^ 



Bishop Green was appointed to Norwich 8 October, 1721. He was 

 domestic chaplain to George I, a Whig, and a warm supporter of the 



' By Josiah Thomson. Add. MS. 32057 ; on fol. 21 there is an account in shorthand of dissent in 

 Norfolk. 



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