James Burgess

James Burgess (d. 1804) ministered to a small Independent congregation at Whitworth, Lancashire, for many years. Powicke notes that by 1770 Burgess was preaching at Hatherlow, but returned to Whitworth in 1776 because of “his opposition to those who were for introducing musical instruments, and to those that were of the free will.” He was best known for his sermon Beelzebuub Driving and Drowning his Hogs (London, 1770), delivered while serving as minister of Haugh-Fold chapel in Lancashire. He also authored The Reconciler (Manchester, 1794). Other works attributed to Burgess include A Proverbial Catechism for Youth, The Pilgrim’s Travels from Mount Sinai to Mount Zion, and Exposition and Select Meditations, although I have not been able to locate any extant copies of these three works. See Frederick James Powicke, A History of the Cheshire County Union of Congregational Churches (Manchester: T. Griffiths, 1907), 191; and William Urwick, Historical Sketches of Nonconformity in the County Palatine of Chester (London: S. Fletcher, 1864), 328.