# John Chorlton > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/John_Chorlton > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/John_Chorlton.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Chorlton > Source revision: 1295759060 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|English presbyterian minister and tutor (1666–1705)}} {{More citations needed|date=June 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} '''John Chorlton''' (1666 – 16 May 1705, [Manchester](/source/Manchester)) was an English presbyterian minister and tutor. ==Life== John Chorlton was born at [Salford](/source/City_of_Salford), in 1666. On 4 April 1682 he was admitted to be educated for the ministry at [Rathmell Academy](/source/Rathmell_Academy) under [Richard Frankland](/source/Richard_Frankland_(tutor)).{{cite web |url= https://drc.usask.ca/projects/ark/public/public_person.php?id=2574 |title= John Chorlton (1666 - 16 May 1705) |author= |date= |website= University of Saskatchewan |publisher= |access-date= June 9, 2025 |quote=}} On completing his studies he was chosen (7 August 1687) as assistant to [Henry Newcome](/source/Henry_Newcome), the founder of nonconformity in Manchester. On 8 March 1689, he married Hannah, daughter of Joseph Leeche. On Newcome's death (17 September 1695) he became pastor. The congregation on 14 October 1695 invited [Oliver Heywood](/source/Oliver_Heywood_(minister)) to become his colleague, but the old man declined to leave [Northowram](/source/Northowram). An assistant was obtained (1697) in the person of an adventurer passing under the name of Gaskeld, who, after pleasing the Manchester Presbyterians with his learning and eloquence, disappeared (1698) with a borrowed horse, made his way to [Hull](/source/Kingston_upon_Hull) (where he called himself Midgely, and falsely represented himself as one of the authors of ''[Letters Writ by a Turkish Spy](/source/Letters_Writ_by_a_Turkish_Spy)''), and finally fled to [Holland](/source/Holland). On Frankland's death (1 October 1698) at [Rathmell](/source/Rathmell), Chorlton, with great spirit, resolved to continue Frankland's 'northern academy', transferring it to [Manchester](/source/Manchester). Accordingly, on 21 March 1699 he ‘set up teaching university learning in a great house at Manchester.’ Eleven of Frankland's students finished their course with him, and the names of twenty others who studied under him are known. His most distinguished student was [Thomas Dixon](/source/Thomas_Dixon_(nonconformist)). [James Clegg](/source/James_Clegg_(minister)), one of the transferred students, is our chief authority on the mode in which the academy was conducted. He describes Chorlton as a worthy successor to Frankland, and superior as a preacher. [Matthew Henry](/source/Matthew_Henry) speaks of his ‘extraordinary quickness and readiness of expression; a casuist, one of a thousand, a wonderful clear head.’ Chorlton now wanted assistance both in the pulpit and in the academy. Applications were made in 1699 to [James Owen of Oswestry](/source/James_Owen_of_Oswestry) and [Thomas Bradbury](/source/Thomas_Bradbury_(minister)), both of whom declined. Next year the services of [James Coningham](/source/James_Coningham) were secured. The ‘provincial meeting’ of Lancashire ministers gave a public character to the academy, passing resolutions in its favour and raising funds for its support. At the summer assizes of 1703 Chorlton was presented for keeping a public academy, but through private influence the prosecution was stayed. Chorlton's labours were cut short in his prime. He suffered from [stone](/source/Calculus_(medicine)), and died in his fortieth year on 16 May 1705, and was buried at the collegiate church (now [Manchester Cathedral](/source/Manchester_Cathedral)) on 19 May. ==Works== *(Anon.) ''Notes upon the Lord Bishop of Salisbury's four Discourses to the Clergy of his Diocess … relating to the Dissenters'', 1695. * ''The Glorious Reward of Faithful Ministers'', 1696. [Funeral sermon](/source/Funeral_sermon) [Dan. xii. 3] for [Henry Newcome](/source/Henry_Newcome).{{cite web |url= https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo2/A32879.0001.001?view=toc |title= 'The glorious reward of faithful ministers declared and improved in a sermon upon the occasion of the funeral of that excellent minister of Jesus Christ Henry Newcome ... ' by John Chorlton |author= |date= |website= University of Michigan Library |publisher= |access-date= June 9, 2025 |quote=}} [Robert Halley](/source/Robert_Halley_(minister)) reckoned it "one of the best of the nonconformist funeral sermons". Preface by [John Howe](/source/John_Howe_(Puritan)). * (Anon.) Dedication to [Lord Willoughby](/source/Hugh_Willoughby%2C_12th_Baron_Willoughby_of_Parham), and ''Brief Account of the Life of the Author'', prefixed to [Henry Pendlebury](/source/Henry_Pendlebury)'s ''Invisible Realities'', 1696. ==See also== *[Cross Street Chapel](/source/Cross_Street_Chapel) ==References== {{reflist}} {{DNB|wstitle=Chorlton, John|volume=10}} {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Chorlton, John}} Category:1666 births Category:1705 deaths Category:17th-century English Presbyterian ministers Category:Dissenting academy tutors --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [John Chorlton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Chorlton) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Chorlton?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.