Samuel Lowell

Samuel Lowell (1759-1823) was born in Birmingham and trained to be an engraver. As a young man he was called to be a Methodist itinerant preacher. He first preached in the Methodist connection in Yorkshire at Stainland (1781-1786) and Brighouse (1786-1789), where he was ordained in 1786. In 1789 he became a Calvinist, ministering to the Independent meeting at Woodbridge, Suffolk, from 1789 to 1799. While there, his preaching became “attractive and popular … and soon became known beyond the sphere of his immediate ministrations.” After some preaching engagements at the Tabernacle in Bristol in 1798, he was invited to preach for a season at Bridge Street, where he formally commenced his pastorate in the summer of 1799, remaining there until his death in 1823. The church experienced considerable growth under Lowell’s leadership. In 1801 he published Sermons on Evangelical and Practical Subjects, Designed Chiefly for the Use of Families, and in 1802, at the cessation of the war with France, The Blessings of Peace, a sermon preached in Bristol on the national day of thanksgiving. John Leifchild succeeded Lowell at Bridge Street. The following excerpt from a letter by the Rev. David Edwards of Ipswich to Samuel  Lucas (see below) at Shrewsbury, dated 9 March 1790, notes Lowell’s removal to Woodbridge: 

Mr Lowell from Halifax succeeds Mr Palmer at Woodbridge. He was formerly in Mr Wesley’s connection, but saw reasons to join the congregational churches—is a lively preacher and an agreeable talent at extempore preaching, lively and conversible in company—I was, at what is calld, his settlement in Novr last—There was a large and a respectable congregation—your friend Waldegrave preachd or rather went into the pulpit to laugh at us, or to make folks laugh; but, I assure you I was very serious, and often vexd—He took a noble text viz. To me who am less than the least of all saints &c—We expected to hear something of the unsearchable riches of the gospel, but we had very little of that—It was the most crude and undigested discourse as I have heard for many years—However there were some useful sentences deliverd now and then—His attempts at being witty were like Solomon’s fly in the ointment. But I would not be too severe—Our Christian tempers shd be like the windows narrow without, but very wide within. (Eng. MS. 369, f. 40, JRULM)

See also M. Caston, Independency in Bristol: With Brief Memorials of its Churches and Pastors (London: T. Ward, 1860), 102-111.