Portsmouth, Meeting-House Alley Baptist Church

Portsmouth, Meeting-house Alley Baptist Church. The following account is taken from F. Ridoutt, The Early Baptist History of Portsmouth  (Landport: G. Chamberlain, 1888).

Joseph Horsey was originally from Crewkerne, Somersetshire, and was apprenticed at Gosport, where he became a Baptist. Thomas Dunscombe and Caleb Evans preached at Horsey’s ordination in 1782 (63). The church joined the Western Association in 1787, and the Association met there on 14-5 June 1788 (64).  He notes that the Shovellers by 1798 had seen seven of their children die! (67).  After Horsey’s paralysis in November 1801, Daniel Miall was appointed co-pastor of the church in December.  Horsey recovered enough to attend the meeting of the Western Association at Bristol at the end of May 1802 and spoke there (68).  Horsey died on 4 September 1802, aged 65. He was succeeded by Daniel Miall, who remained pastor until 1829. He was succeeded by C. E. Birt.  Among the ministers called out from Meeting House Alley were Saffery, Miall, Crooms, Barnett, Mallett, Shoveller, Ivimey, Knight, and many others. C. E. Birt came to the Portsmouth church to assist Daniel Miall in March 1827, and upon Miall’s retirement, Birt became sole pastor in 1830. The church had an orchestra at that time, just prior to getting an organ in the 1830s! Birt left for Bristol and Broadmead in August 1837. He was replaced by Charles Room (See An Historical Sketch of Kent Street Baptist Church, Portsea. From 1704 to 1889 [Portsmouth, 1889], 16-19). Horsey was very active in the abolition of the slave trade and Ridoutt records this letter from Granville Sharp to Horsey, from Leadenhall Street, London, 11 July 1789 (66):

Revd. Sir,

Having communicated the resolution of the Baptist Association at Horsley, to the committee of the society for effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade, I received their directions to request that you will be pleased to acquaint the Association, that their approbation of the endeavours of this committee and their so hearty concurrence with us, in the purposes of our institution, afford very great satisfaction to the committee, and encouragement to their steady perseverance; and they also desire me to acknowledge the receipt of the second subscription from the Association of Five Guineas, which has been received by the Treasurer of this Committee.

I am, with great respect

            Your most obedient servant,

                        Granville Sharp, Chairman.

To,

Rev. J. Horsey

Portsea