James Bennett D.D. (22 May 1774 – 4 December 1862) was an English congregational minister and college principal.

Life

Bennett was born in London 22 May 1774, and was educated there and at

Gosport Gosport ( ) is a town and non-metropolitan borough on the south coast of Hampshire, South East England. At the 2011 Census, its population was 82,662. Gosport is situated on a peninsula on the western side of Portsmouth Harbour, opposite t ...

, where he was prepared for the congregational ministry

David Bogue David Bogue (18 February 175025 October 1825) was a British nonconformist religious leader. Life He was born at Hallydown Farm, in the parish of Coldingham, Berwickshire, Scotland, the son of John Bogue, farmer, and his wife, Margaret Swanston. ...

. In 1797 he was ordained at

Romsey Romsey ( ) is a historic market town in the county of Hampshire, England. Romsey was home to the 17th-century philosopher and economist William Petty and the 19th-century British prime minister, Lord Palmerston, whose statue has stood in the t ...

, where he remained till 1813. There he became a supporter of the

London Missionary Society The London Missionary Society was an interdenominational evangelical missionary society formed in England in 1795 at the instigation of Welsh Congregationalist minister Edward Williams. It was largely Reformed in outlook, with Congregational miss ...

, and supported

Robert The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...

and

James Haldane The Rev James Alexander Haldane aka Captain James Haldane (14 July 1768 – 8 February 1851) was a Scottish independent church leader following an earlier life as a sea captain. Biography The youngest son of Captain James Haldane of Airth ...

in some of their evangelistic tours. In 1813, Bennett moved to

Rotherham Rotherham () is a large minster and market town in South Yorkshire, England. The town takes its name from the River Rother which then merges with the River Don. The River Don then flows through the town centre. It is the main settlement of ...

, where he was both tutor in

Rotherham College Rotherham College (formerly Rotherham College of Arts and Technology shortened to RCAT) is a further education college in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England. It was established as Rotherham School of Science and Art in the 19th century. From ...

and pastor of the church. In 1828 he was transferred to London, where, first in Silver Street and then in Falcon Square, he exercised his ministry till 1860, when he resigned. Among his congregation was

David Livingstone David Livingstone (; 19 March 1813 – 1 May 1873) was a Scottish physician, Congregationalist, and pioneer Christian missionary with the London Missionary Society, an explorer in Africa, and one of the most popular British heroes of t ...

, while in London as a medical student. Bennett died in London, 4 December 1862, at the age of 88. He was noted for the defence of Christianity against the unbelievers of the day, particularly Robert Taylor, a popular lecturer; the promotion of Christian missions, as one of the secretaries of the London Missionary Society; and the advancement of the

Congregational Union Congregational churches (also Congregationalist churches or Congregationalism) are Protestant churches in the Calvinist tradition practising congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its ...

Works

Bennett's main works were: * ''Memoirs'' of

Risdon Darracott Risdon is a surname and also a first name, and may refer to: ; Given name * Risdon Beazley (1904–1979), British businessman ; Surname * Dustin Risdon (born 1981), Canadian professional golfer * Elisabeth Risdon (1887–1958) English film actr ...

, whose granddaughter, Sarah Comley, he married in 1797. * ''The History of Dissenters from A.D. 1688 to 1808'', with David Bogue (2nd ed. London, 1833, 3 vols.) * ''The History of Dissenters: during the last thirty years, from 1808 – 1838'' (1839), sequel by Bennett alone. * ''Lectures on the History of Christ'', 3 vols. * ''Memoirs of the Rev. Dr. Bogue''. * ''Lectures on the Preaching of Christ''. * Congregational lectures on ''The Theology of the Early Christian Church''. * ''Justification as revealed in Scripture''. * ''Lectures on the Acts of the Apostles''. * ''Lectures on Infidelity''.

Family

James Bennett married Sarah Comley in 1803 in Romsey, Hampshire. His children were

James Risdon Bennett Sir James Risdon Bennett (29 September 1809 – 24 December 1891) was an English physician. Life The eldest son of the Rev. James Bennett, a nonconformist minister, he was born at Romsey on 29 September 1809. He received his education at Rothe ...

(1809), John (1811), Thomas (1813), Joseph (1814) and Sarah Comley (1815).

Notes

;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Bennett, James 1774 births 1862 deaths English Congregationalist ministers Dissenting academy tutors