John Fawcett

John Fawcett (1740-1817) was a Yorkshire resident all his life. He was converted through the ministry of George Whitefield, and after a brief stint as a Methodist preacher, was ordained a Baptist minister in 1765. He began his ministry at Wainsgate before moving the church to Hebden Bridge in 1777, where he remained (living at Ewood Hall) until his death in 1817. Though twice offered pastorates outside Yorkshire, he chose to remain with his people there. Though self-educated, Fawcett was a man of culture and a leader in providing education for young ministerial students in the north of England. He was instrumental in the founding of Horton Academy at Bradford (later Rawdon College), and kept a private academy for many years. He was an active supporter of the BMS and the British and Foreign Bible Society, a hymn writer, occasional author, and leading figure in the Baptist Evangelical revival of his day. See John Fawcett, Jr., An Account of the Life, Ministry, and Writings of the Late Rev. John Fawcett, D.D (London: Baldwin, Cradock, and Joy, 1818).