Rev. John Hyatt
Encyclopedia
John Hyatt was an Englishman of simple rural upbringing who found Wesleyan theology as a young man. He went on to become a much loved and revered driving force of early Methodism in London, becoming influential in the First Great Awakening
. He was to be found preaching regularly in the East End slums of Hackney
in London. He gained a large following and was always in demand for his sermons, which were greatly influenced by those of John Wesley
and George Whitefield
.
, Dorset, England to John Guppy Hyatt and Elizabeth Hyatt. He was baptised on 24 January 1767, in Sherborne, Dorset, England. Hyatt died on 30 January 1826, aged 59, in Hackney, London, and was buried in Bunhill Fields
, London. Hyatt married at the age of 20 years and his wife, Elizabeth Westcombe, was born in 1765 in Kingston, Somerset, England to William Westcombe and Eleanor Varder. She was baptised on 8 February 1765, in Kingston St Mary
, Somerset. She died in 1832, aged about 67, and was also buried in Bunhill Fields Cemetery with her husband.
Elizabeth Westcombe was a niece of the Rev. Daniel Varder, a Dissenting Minister, who arrived in Sherborne around 1757. Some time after this, his niece Elizabeth Westcombe joined him. Daniel Varder was ordained a Minister on 6th Oct 1757 in Sherborne, Dorset.
Of Hyatt's parents, little is known other than that his Father was abandoned as a young man when his own Father left for the East Indies
from Sherborne. There is no trace of his demise.
It is said of Hyatt's father "that having no friends possessed of considerable means, was taken in and trained up amidst scenes of obscurity and dependence. When but very young, he entered upon the married life, after which he commenced business in a small public house
in his native town, where, by the aid of divine providence, and a prudent and excellent wife, he brought up a numerous family in decency and comfort" . One of his children was to become The Rev. John Hyatt.
. At 18 he took charge of the cabinet makers upon the death of the owner, but he was not really interested. He was more interested in spending his time at the family Inn, drinking and getting into bad company. He soon became "ungodly" and took to "sinful pleasures" In his late teens he met Elizabeth Westcombe. Her father had an extensive library and Hyatt soon began to educate himself there in order to be close to Elizabeth. Hyatt married Elizabeth in 1787.
According to a record in Alfred W Light's book about the Bunhill Fields
burial ground in London, one of Hyatt's unnamed biographers said this of his relationship with his Father:
In 1794 he became friendly with the Rev J. Weston, a visiting Wesleyan preacher. This led to Hyatt preaching his first sermon at Compton
, near Sherborne. Over the next two years he visited chapels nearby to preach and gained a good following, including in Mere, Wiltshire, where he built a chapel
Hyatt was ordained on 17 July 1798 . He then moved to Frome
, Somerset, c. 1800. In 1805 his peers in the church sent him (not entirely at his own wish) to London, to Whitefield's Tabernacle, Tottenham Court Road
where he became Minister of the London Tabernacle for the next 20 years or so until his death from asthma
, becoming a celebrated man. During his life in London he lived at 61 Great Russell st. Bloomsbury Square
.
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First Great Awakening
The First Awakening was a Christian revitalization movement that swept Protestant Europe and British America, and especially the American colonies in the 1730s and 1740s, leaving a permanent impact on American religion. It resulted from powerful preaching that gave listeners a sense of personal...
. He was to be found preaching regularly in the East End slums of Hackney
London Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
in London. He gained a large following and was always in demand for his sermons, which were greatly influenced by those of John Wesley
John Wesley
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield...
and George Whitefield
George Whitefield
George Whitefield , also known as George Whitfield, was an English Anglican priest who helped spread the Great Awakening in Britain, and especially in the British North American colonies. He was one of the founders of Methodism and of the evangelical movement generally...
.
Family
Hyatt was born on 12 January 1767 in SherborneSherborne
Sherborne is a market town in northwest Dorset, England. It is sited on the River Yeo, on the edge of the Blackmore Vale, east of Yeovil. The A30 road, which connects London to Penzance, runs through the town. The population of the town is 9,350 . 27.1% of the population is aged 65 or...
, Dorset, England to John Guppy Hyatt and Elizabeth Hyatt. He was baptised on 24 January 1767, in Sherborne, Dorset, England. Hyatt died on 30 January 1826, aged 59, in Hackney, London, and was buried in Bunhill Fields
Bunhill Fields
Bunhill Fields is a cemetery in the London Borough of Islington, north of the City of London, and managed by the City of London Corporation. It is about 4 hectares in extent, although historically was much larger....
, London. Hyatt married at the age of 20 years and his wife, Elizabeth Westcombe, was born in 1765 in Kingston, Somerset, England to William Westcombe and Eleanor Varder. She was baptised on 8 February 1765, in Kingston St Mary
Kingston St Mary
Kingston St Mary is a village and parish in Somerset, England, situated at the southern end of the Quantock Hills north of Taunton in the Taunton Deane district...
, Somerset. She died in 1832, aged about 67, and was also buried in Bunhill Fields Cemetery with her husband.
Elizabeth Westcombe was a niece of the Rev. Daniel Varder, a Dissenting Minister, who arrived in Sherborne around 1757. Some time after this, his niece Elizabeth Westcombe joined him. Daniel Varder was ordained a Minister on 6th Oct 1757 in Sherborne, Dorset.
Of Hyatt's parents, little is known other than that his Father was abandoned as a young man when his own Father left for the East Indies
East Indies
East Indies is a term used by Europeans from the 16th century onwards to identify what is now known as Indian subcontinent or South Asia, Southeastern Asia, and the islands of Oceania, including the Malay Archipelago and the Philippines...
from Sherborne. There is no trace of his demise.
It is said of Hyatt's father "that having no friends possessed of considerable means, was taken in and trained up amidst scenes of obscurity and dependence. When but very young, he entered upon the married life, after which he commenced business in a small public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
in his native town, where, by the aid of divine providence, and a prudent and excellent wife, he brought up a numerous family in decency and comfort" . One of his children was to become The Rev. John Hyatt.
Biography
Hyatt was said to be a young man of ill repute, brought up in the Crosskeys inn, Sherborne, Dorset (still existing today). At 14 he was an apprentice Cabinet makerCabinet making
Cabinet making is the practice of using various woodworking skills to create cabinets, shelving and furniture.Cabinet making involves techniques such as creating appropriate joints, dados, bevels, chamfers and shelving systems, the use of finishing tools such as routers to create decorative...
. At 18 he took charge of the cabinet makers upon the death of the owner, but he was not really interested. He was more interested in spending his time at the family Inn, drinking and getting into bad company. He soon became "ungodly" and took to "sinful pleasures" In his late teens he met Elizabeth Westcombe. Her father had an extensive library and Hyatt soon began to educate himself there in order to be close to Elizabeth. Hyatt married Elizabeth in 1787.
According to a record in Alfred W Light's book about the Bunhill Fields
Bunhill Fields
Bunhill Fields is a cemetery in the London Borough of Islington, north of the City of London, and managed by the City of London Corporation. It is about 4 hectares in extent, although historically was much larger....
burial ground in London, one of Hyatt's unnamed biographers said this of his relationship with his Father:
In 1794 he became friendly with the Rev J. Weston, a visiting Wesleyan preacher. This led to Hyatt preaching his first sermon at Compton
Compton
-Canada:* Compton, Quebec* Compton County, Quebec* Compton , a former Quebec provincial electoral district now part of Mégantic-Compton* Compton , a former Quebec federal electoral district-England:...
, near Sherborne. Over the next two years he visited chapels nearby to preach and gained a good following, including in Mere, Wiltshire, where he built a chapel
Hyatt was ordained on 17 July 1798 . He then moved to Frome
Frome
Frome is a town and civil parish in northeast Somerset, England. Located at the eastern end of the Mendip Hills, the town is built on uneven high ground, and centres around the River Frome. The town is approximately south of Bath, east of the county town, Taunton and west of London. In the 2001...
, Somerset, c. 1800. In 1805 his peers in the church sent him (not entirely at his own wish) to London, to Whitefield's Tabernacle, Tottenham Court Road
Whitefield's Tabernacle, Tottenham Court Road
Whitefield's Tabernacle, Tottenham Court Road, a church in London, England; also called Tottenham Court Road Chapel, was built in 1756 for George Whitefield. It was enlarged in 1759...
where he became Minister of the London Tabernacle for the next 20 years or so until his death from asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
, becoming a celebrated man. During his life in London he lived at 61 Great Russell st. Bloomsbury Square
Bloomsbury Square
Bloomsbury Square is a garden square in Bloomsbury, Camden, London.- Geography :To the north of the square is Great Russell Street and Bedford Place, leading to Russell Square. To the south is Bloomsbury Way. To the west is the British Museum and Holborn tube station is the nearest underground...
.
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