THE CHURCH MAGAZINE. . No. 27.1 MARCH, 1841. [VOL. III. MEMOIR OF THE REV. FRANCIS CLOSE, M.A., INCUMBENT OF CHELTENHAM. WHEN our readers would be more than ordinarily interested in perusing the sketches of the lives of those whose portraits adorn our numbers, and are anxious, as some are, for long and minute histories of our reverend brethren, it not unfrequently happens that we can furnish only a few leading facts, and those stated without any kind of adornment. To some this is much preferable; while to others a multitude of details is far more acceptable, and even gossip is not unwelcome. "Your memoirs are too short by half," say some; why cannot you give us more full accounts, and let us know every thing about the parties, and something besides;" while another says, "Dear me, how came you to give so long an account of Mr. So-and-So, I have a very great dislike to him, and think that the less you had said of him the better; besides, really you praised him beyond every thing, and I am sure I cannot endure his preaching, nor would you like it if you were to hear him: give me, as a fine eloquent preacher, the Rev. Mr. Ad Captandum. O! it would do your heart good if you were to hear what a fine voice he has, and how beautifully he reads the prayers, and with what 'force and power' he preaches the gospel to us; and as he does not preach written sermons, it comes from the heart, and then, you know, it is sure to go to the heart. You should give his portrait in The Church Magazine' for next May, and then it would be ready just in time for all the religious meetings that are held at Exeter Hall, and other places; for I am sure so many would like to have it." But others would dispute, and with much justice, every inch of the ground thus taken, and greatly prefer the preaching and consistent conduct of the Rev. Mr. Sobriety, who has been rector for the last twenty years, and is much beloved by his people for his steady, constant, and unostentatious performance of all his duties as a parish priest. There is about him no flightiness, no cant, no running hither and thither in the unchristian race after popularity and pride, but a fixed and holy resolution to fulfil his duties faithfully and conscientiously, and as done to God and not to man. He does that which God has commanded him, "whether men will hear, or whether they will forbear" to hear, as the servant of God, and as only the servant of men for Christ's sake. This high and holy principle supports him under all the difficulties and trials and labours of his holy office; and enables him, notwithstanding what man may think or say of him, to go on his way rejoicing, looking only for the approbation of God and a good conscience, and for his reward in that heavenly kingdom where judgment will be awarded not according to outward appearance or the short-sighted notions of mortals, but according to the eternal and unchangeable principles of truth and righteousness. Such characters as this are happily increasing in the country; and, with the sound principles which are F everywhere spreading through the land, will soon be properly estimated by all the sensible, thinking, and pious part of the community. As to the Memoirs which we give, whether long or short, they are always the best we can furnish, considering the materials within our reach, and the great object we have in view. And if our readers feel disposed to blame any statement or comment, praise or dispraise, let them believe that we have substantial reasons for what we state, although those reasons may not appear on the face of the memoir. Some have blamed us also for giving the portraits of low and inconsistent Churchmen; but in this respect also, the cause of truth is often well served by sound principles being thus brought before the minds of latitudinarian Churchmen, who would not have seen them but for the portrait of their favourite preacher. Good has been done in this way to our knowledge; and we rejoice thereat, and so will all lovers of truth and catholicity. When principles or consistency are not in question, we never hesitate to give way, if required, and to become all things to all men, that we may win, or strengthen the attachment of, some to the fold of Christ, and to the participation of the inestimable privileges and blessings nowhere else to be realized and enjoyed. If all the members of the Church of Christ would thus act, we think there would be much more unity and unanimity and cordiality of opinion and feeling than is now sometimes to be found. But we must dismiss this subject, and give what account we can of the reverend gentleman whose portrait accompanies these remarks. The Rev. Francis Close was born in the year 1797, in the neighbourhood of Bath, at the residence of the Rev. Dr. Randolph, with whom his parents were on a visit at the time. His paternal and maternal ancestors have been members of the priesthood in the English branch of Christ's Holy Catholic Church for many generations past. The Rev. Henry Jackson Close, his father, was presented to the valuable rectory of Hitcham, in the county of Suffolk, by the Right Honourable and ever memorable William Pitt; but he afterwards exchanged Hitcham for the living of Hamdle, in Hampshire, where he remained until he departed this life. His youngest son, the subject of this Memoir, received his early education at a school at Midhurst, then under the Rev. Dr. Wool, afterwards head-master of Rugby School. Mr. Close was, some time after, removed to Merchant Taylor's School, in the city of London, where he remained until the fifteenth year of his age, when he was placed under the instruction of the Rev. John Scott, of Hull (son of the Commentator), by whom he was prepared for the University. In due course of time he was entered at St. John's College, Cambridge, and remained an undergraduate and scholar thereof, until he took his degree of Bachelor of Arts in the month of January of the year 1820. In the following month he was united in the holy bands of matrimony, to Anne Diana, third surviving daughter of the Rev. John Arden, of Longcroft's Hall, in the county of Stafford. In the autumn of the same year, he was ordained to the holy office of Deacon, in the Diocese of Lichfield and Coventry; and in the following year he was made a Priest in the Church of Christ, and appointed to the Čuracy of Church Lawford, in Warwickshire. About two years after his Ordination, he removed to the Curacy of Willesden and Kingsbury, in the neighbourhood of London; and was appointed to the Curacy of Cheltenham, in the year 1824. Early in the year 1826 he took the degree of Master of Arts, at Cambridge; and in the following autumn was appointed to the living of Cheltenham, which then became vacant by the death of the Rev. Charles Jervis. Mr. Close was presented to the Incumbency of Cheltenham, by the late Rev. Charles Simeon, of King's College, Cambridge, the patron thereof. This fact is, of itself, pretty conclusive evidence that Mr. Close's views, respecting the Constitution government and discipline of the Church of Christ, were, at the time of his presentation to the living of Cheltenham, if they be not so now, rather of a latitudinarian, low, and inconsistent character, regarding the heinous sin of dissent in a much more favourable light than it is represented to be in the Word of God. But we believe that the railing and bitterness of the teachers of dissent against the Church and the Clergy, have produced considerable improvement in Mr. Close's principles in this respect. And indeed, when we find the Dissenters, as they do in the last October Number of The Evangelical Magazine, stigmatizing the Church as worse than the corrupt and Apostate Church of Rome, and saying that "HOLY IN THE NATURE OF THINGS THE CLERGY CANNOT BE;" and their Eclectic Review telling us that the Prayer Book is the worst book in the English language, and therefore worse than the infidel works of Tom Paine and Owen the Socialist; we need not wonder that so many of those of the Clergy who style themselves Evangelical, have become the most determined enemies of dissent, and the revolutionary schemes of the dissenting teachers. Mr. Close spoke out loudly on the Education question, a few months ago, and received, of course, the usual quantity of "keen hatred and round abuse,' which the teachers of dissent are wont to pour upon those who dare to touch their idol, and in any way prevent their picking the pockets of the people, under the false pretences of preaching the Gospel, which they neither believe nor practise. Mr. Close has now, we believe, entirely come out from amongst them, and refuses altogether to touch the unclean thing. Indeed, no Clergyman can now have any connexion whatever with dissenters, either directly or indirectly, without becoming a base traitor to his blessed Lord and Master, utterly disgracing himself in the eyes of all the honest and upright, as well as of all the pious and holy men in the kingdom. Discountenanced therefore by all the Clergy, and repudiated by all good men, dissent is falling in the country never we hope to rise again to afflict and curse our highly-favoured land. Mr. Close is the author, we believe, of several works of different sizes and kinds, but we know not all of them, and will therefore mention none. He is most highly and deservedly respected in Cheltenham and in the neighbourhood, and in other places where he his known. The character once given of him to us by a papist, and evidently therefore no friend, was as follows, and shall conclude this notice :-"The Rev. Francis Close is a very, very clever man, but wants ballast; he is a most unflinching enemy to Papists, Puseyites, and Paupers." BRITISH MONASTERIES.-BANGOR ISCOED. Ir is now time that we take a more particular survey of some of the characters connected with this institution. The first that demands our attention is Dunawd, one of the reputed founders, and the only abbot of whom we have any account left us. He was the son of Pabo, who had so much distinguished himself in fighting against the Scots and Picts, as to merit for himself the epithet of Post Prydain, or "the Pillar of Britain." Dunawd was also brought up to the military profession, and inherited the undaunted spirit of his father; for he likewise was honoured in a Triad, as one of the "Three Pillars of battle of the Isle of Britain." A contemporary bard recites a general remark made about him when opposed in arms to the sons of Urien, prince of Reged, which confirms the above testi mony to his valour : - |