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Author: Shenston, William

Biography:

SHENSTON, William (1771-1833: Baptist Magazine)

He was born on 12 July 1771 at Holywell Street, St. Leonard’s Shoreditch, East London, the son of William Shenston and his wife Mary Stacey. His father was a General Baptist and deacon for over thirty years in Church Lane, Whitechapel, East London. Nothing is known of his education. He married Elizabeth Smith on 28 Oct. 1792 at St. George’s, Hanover Square, Westminster, and moved away from General Baptists towards the Eagle Street congregation in Holborn. He was rebaptised (together with his wife) about May 1793. Under the guidance of Rev. William Smith, he developed his talents for the ministry and was first sent out to preach at Devonshire Square in January 1797. He came under the influence of Rev. Joseph Swain (1761-96) (q.v.) whose Walworth Hymns (1792) probably influenced the work listed here. He was then invited to preach at Little Alie Street where he remained for over thirty-five years. He outlined his views in A Declaration of the Faith and Practice of the Church of Christ in Little Alie Street (1799). He remarried at some point with his will naming his widow as Ann. (There are two matches for a marriage but both are problematical and without corroboration.) He died on 27 June 1833 at his residence in Bedford Square East, Commercial Road, Mile End, and was buried behind the vestry in Alie Street. A further edition of Vestry Hymns was announced after his death but does not appear to have been published. (Baptist Magazine Sept. 1833, 401-6; ancestry.co.uk 21 Sept. 2022; findmypast.co.uk 21 Sept. 2022; Globe 1 July 1833) AA

 

Other Names:

  • W. Shenston
 

Books written (1):