Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Brewer, Jehoiada
BREWER, JEHOIADA (1752?–1817), dissenting minister, was born at Newport in Monmouthshire about 1752. Influenced by a minister of Lady Huntingdon's connection, he took to preaching in the villages around Bath, and afterwards preached with remarkable popularity throughout Monmouthshire. Intending to enter the national church, he applied for ordination, but was refused by the bishop. Brewer persisted in preaching, whether ordained or not, and for some years he settled at Rodborough in Gloucestershire. He afterwards attracted a large congregation at Sheffield, where he spent thirteen years, and ultimately settled at Birmingham, where his ministry at Livery Street was numerously attended to the close of his life. He died 24 Aug. 1817. A spacious chapel was being built for him at the time he died, and he was buried in the grounds adjoining the unfinished edifice. A specimen of Brewer's preaching is printed as part of the service at the ordination of Jonathan Evans at Foleshill in 1797, and Brewer's oration at the burial of Samuel Pearce at Birmingham was printed with Dr. Rylands's sermon on the same occasion in 1799. Brewer is now remembered only by a single hymn, printed with the signature of 'Sylvestris' in the 'Gospel Magazine,' 1776. A portrait of him was inserted in the 'Christian's Magazine,' 1791. A different portrait of him appeared in the 'Evangelical Magazine' in 1799.
[Evangelical Magazine, October 1817; Bishop's Christian Memorials of the Nineteenth Century, 1826; Gadsby's Hymn Writers, 1855.]