The National Register.
London, England, 1814-05-29 00:00:00

THE LIFE

AND

MINISTERIAL CITARACTER

Of THE LAVE

REV. HE NB FO •TE R, 111. A.

J'B JP`

Clerlcenwell ap.rear; soon to precept a theatre for
r!erieal contention It; ~allitary reoqse of ten }ears, hardly
acquired, and scarcely consolidated, seems to be fearfully
to -paced liv an event that had been serionly looked for.
:Death •has interposed 'his dart. Providence has at length
v'a'let to his rest an accented Minister of the New 'Testa•
ment,' whose loss, altnough long anticipated, wiLl in all
linman probability occasion much vexation to his congre-
gnted parishioners.
_ _

• The Il t•Ar. HENRY FOSTER, M.A. latterly Rector of St.
•
Jones's, Cleikenwell, and also Presenter of Pentonville Cha-
pel, was 3 native of Yorkshire, where he was born about the
Tear 1744. After passing some of his first years at a country
g aaitnar.school, he is represented as having graduated at
Cambridge; whence, in due time, be repaired to the metro.
polls, and became known to the frequenters of the London
C hurchec, by whom he continued to be esteemed through
We, as Curate to the relebrated Remaine. .About the
•N'ear 7,1), however, being conjoined with the late Mr. Cecil
iu pulpit labours of Long Acre Chapel, his professional
tennta:ion appears to have attained its tine height; for, in
178 t. we find Mr. Foster called upon, by the l'onrt of As-
sistaets of he Weavers Company, to open the Sunday Even-
ing Lecture at Christ Church, Spitalftelds. Here also he
was snrcessivelv al/4sociated with his fi iend Cecil ; and though
the Founder of this Lecture had provided for its being
irtrielied enly from • September to April, inclusive, these
conscientions coadjutors in fact continued it, without further
rewai throlif4h the whole of the year.—"l need not speak,"
obsei yes Mrs. Cecil, in ler Memoir of her Husband, " of
tie vast ron7regations which OSsf.'mbled in that immense
Temple, the very sight of which w:ls animating ; and
twhere the stillness and attention of the unmet .:us pr..:Qr were
3nost interesting!"

Circum-fanees at last induced Mr. Voster to turn his
tlionr;hts towalds the rectory of Ileikenwell.
eartened by vt: unpropitious ft, st attempt tins pl:('e,
friends, on the death (;f the ii v. Mr. Plyins, July MI,
commenced an active canvas, without delay, of whirl the re-
toilt soon appeared to be in favour or thi,; if-pular lyear:her.
On the 20th of the came month, therefore, after; p(tii• of ftinr
itlyg ceotinnance, followed up by:4 farri“iny, Fo:iter was
declared to he duly elected Minister 'of Clerkenweil, by a
itia.f:9rity of fifty-ei;zht votes.: and it may $e worth rematking,
1 ti,: bye, that the same numerical `majoritt, fifty-eight,
;Tel wards decided the question about confirming the old
• hurchwandens for another year, in 'order that the same
p_arties rnieht abide the result of an appeal to the diocesan.
Upwatds of ten thousand individuals had been'polled:

• The Rev.•TlNtly Foster, lire sulticct of. this Memoir, who
changed corruptiot.' for ineorruption,' on Thursday lst, about
nine o'clock in the morning, at his residence. -in Il'ildoliessirow,
near Goswell-street... An ect ire Canvas
.14 the
.14(1m.y pi C! crleenirt it,
tonsbegun yegterdety.ntorOntr by ..the Prititris r.f the Re r.'l7l,iiii.ls Skep.
1,„rd,.111,..t. the liftwister of Penlcntille Chariest; and it is rumoured,
ilia the.Rvv. Mr.- Fattikner. -roeceptiy officiating for the late rector,
-he Rev. Hairy White; A' A. one of the Foundlin4 I.,ecturerq, and
the Net. John Leese,, M.A. Curate ..of Cl:.‘rkenwell, man also io
ttcnggic fur this rectorial prize !!!!

• s.,