Reginald Jennings

Reginald Jennings, Sr., was a maltster and a leader in the Independent congregation at Water Lane in Bishop’s Stortford, where William Chaplin (1773-1844), (formerly the Independent minister in Totness) pastored from 1801-44. Chaplin grew up in Taunton under the ministry of Benjamin Flower’s cousin, the Rev. Thomas Reader, even attending Reader’s academy.   Chaplin may have been a relation of Thomas Chaplin of Harlow (see letter 109).  Reginald Jennings was probably a relation of Mrs. Jennings, who was visiting Stortford.  Mrs. Jenning’s had another relative living in Essex, the Rev. John Jennings, pastor of the Independent congregation at Thaxted. He preached the ordination service for Rev. Chaplin when the latter came to Bishop’s Stortford as assistant pastor in 1797; the charge that day was delivered by the Rev. Nathaniel Jennings of Islington, and the sermon was published by W. Jennings of 34 St. Paul’s Courtyard (Cambridge Intelligencer 7 October 1797).  See M. G. Lewis, The Congregational Church, Water Lane, Bishop’s Stortford 1662-1962 (Bishop’s  Stortford: Anchor Press, 1962), 15; Robert Burls, A Brief Review of the Plan and Operations of the Essex Congregational Union (Maldon: [n.p.], 1848), 98-99; Samuel Thodey, The Hope of Immortality . . . A Sermon Occasioned by the Death of Mrs. Frances Jennings (Cambridge: J. Deighton, 1825), 5.