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Venn: Adm. pens. (age 20) at ST JOHN'S, Oct. 10, 1764. [6th] s. of Sir Rowland [1st] Bart., of Hawkestone, Salop [and Jane, dau. of Sir Brian Broughton, Bart.]. B. Aug. 27 (variously given also in references as 12th and 23rd), 1744, at Hawkestone [or Hauxton]. Schools [Shrewsbury and] Eton. ' Matric. Michs. 1764; B.A. 1769; M.A. 1772. Excelled in all athletic pursuits, and is said to have swum from Cambridge to Grantchester. While at Cambridge he came under the influence of John Berridge, Fellow of Clare, then celebrated as an itinerant preacher, and himself preached in Cambridge and in the surrounding villages, being often insulted by mobs. Kept up a correspondence with friends of similar Methodistical views. In his first attempt to take Orders was refused by six Bishops in succession on account of his irregular preaching. Ord. deacon (Bath and Wells) June 6, 1773; C. of Kingston, Somerset, 1773. Chaplain to Melusina, Countess of Chesterfield. While C. of Kingston [p.374] continued to make extensive evangelical tours, and was therefore refused Priest's orders. Without renouncing his orders, he travelled for 12 years, preaching wherever he could find an audience, often in the open air, and to immense crowds. A chapel was built for him at Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucs. Preacher at Surrey Chapel, London, 1783-1833. A founder of the London Missionary Society and first Chairman of the Religious Tract Society. Took a leading part in all the great religious and philanthropic movements of the day and was also a well-known hymn-writer. A warm advocate of vaccination during its first unpopularity, and towards the close of his life claimed that he had himself vaccinated some 9000 persons. Started Sunday Schools at the Surrey Chapel in 1786, which were among the first to be held. Preached 22,291 times. Married, May 27, 1773, Mary Tudway. Died s.p. Apr. 11, 1833. Buried in Surrey Chapel. 'Monumental inscription.'M.I. (Eton Coll. Reg.; St John's Coll. Adm., III. 701; D.N.B.; Burke, P. and B.; Julian, Dict. of Hymnology.)
SEE OXFORD DNB: Hill, Rowland (17441833), evangelical preacher