THEIR AUTHORS AND ORIGIN. 239
Chapel, London. This latter edifice was opened in 1783. It was for about fifty years the principal scene of Rowland Hill’s popularity and usefulness ; and there he gathered one of the most numerous congregations in the Metropolis—a congregation ever since well maintained by his successful and devoted successors. His position as being in a sense neither in nor out of the Church of England, exposed him to the criticisms of friends and enemies. His Nonconformist friends could not understand how the author of the severe and humorous pamphlet on the " Sale of Curates " could be in any way complicated with the Episcopal system, and his Episcopalian friends thought it anomalous that he, an ordained clergyman, who had not formally seceded, should yet occupy what was practically a dissenting pulpit; but the course he took seemed to him to be justified by the circumstances.
Mr. Hill was united in marriage to Mary, sister of Clement Tudway, M.P. She died after a few years, leaving no family. Various benevolent and religious objects found in Mr. Hill an able advocate and supporter. He vindicated Sunday-schools when they had many enemies, and prepared hymns and catechisms for children. He was also one of the earliest advocates for the introduction of inoculation. In this he co-operated with Dr. Jenner, who resided near Wootton-under-Edge. Home and Foreign Missions also found in him a zealous friend. He travelled at his own cost thousands of miles, on behalf of the London Missionary Society, of which he was one of the founders. The Religious Tract Society also received help from him, and he was on its first committee. He also entered warmly into theological controversy in favour of Calvinism and Toplady, and against Wesley ; and he was not free from the polemical asperity of those times. He was strong in his attachment to Calvinism, but as strong in his hatred of Antinomianism. In promoting religious objects he gave as well as laboured. Towards one work alone, the erection of a chapel at Leamington, Warwickshire, he is said to have given £2,000. As he approached the close of his disin-
