Rotherham Independent Academy

An account of the Rotherham Independent Academy, which was opened on November 5, 1795.

The following is an extract from the book, using scanned images

To every sensible observer, the great importance of the gospel ministry must appear sufficiently evident, as it has a powerful and extensive influence on society; and,to every religious character still more evident, because a gospel ministry is of divine institution. and has been in all ages eminently owned as, the means of: begetting and nourishing the life of grace, directing men to the righteousness of faith, the unsearchable riches of Christ, and eternal glory.But, if the ministry of the gospel be consesedly of great moment, we must also admit that the academical institutions which have, for their object a suitable preparation for the ministry , are proportionally momentous. Though a gracious heart- and good natural abilities, are the primary quaIifications for the ministerial work, and the influences of the divine spirit the principal cause of all usefullness, yet this is not an argument against literature and the study of improvement. since God produces effects in grace as well as nature, by the use of means. And, if some ministers have been useful without previous academic studies, it is sufficient to observe, that they might have been more so with those preparatory aids.

A consideration of the importance of the gospel ministry, and particularly of an academical institution founded on the best principles, and conducted in a proper manner, gave rise, about forty yeats ago, to a Society for educating young Men for the work of the Ministry, in the the West Riding of the Connty of York. At first a few ministers and gentlemen in London deliberated on some happy method of dispelling the “ cloud of ' Socinian darkness' then spreading over the 'northern counties of England,' to use their own words, by which many congregations might be blessed with godly preachers, found in the faith and exemplary in their lives.

Accordngly, on May 24 1756 a Society was formed of ministers and other gentlemen, for this purpose which they agreed to support an academy in the north of England, as a probable mean of raising the interest of religion in that part of the kingdom. At the same time it was unanimously agreed, That the REV.JAMES SCOTT of Heckmondwike, be employed in the education of young men in grammar learning and academical studies. That the great design of obtaining a converted ministry might be properly forwarded, it was agreed. That no young man, be proposed until he hath produced an account, in writing, of the reason of his hope, and of what he apprehends to be the principal doctrines of christianity. It was also agreed That no student should be taken under the care of the society 'till he hath been three months with the tutor, at the expence of the society, for the trial of his abilities and ap plication to study; and that the tutor be desired to acquaint the society with his opinion of each young man, upon the expiration of the time allotted for such a trial.

The success of that undertaking hath been eminently great; places have been supplied with faithful and valuable ministers in Yorkshire, Lancashire, Derbyshire, Cheshire, Westmoreland etc. The streams of this fountain have been signally blessed for refreshing and making fruitful many congregations which were like a dry and barren wilderness.

Such was the origin and usefulness of that institution, under the patronage of the Society, and labours of REV.JAMES SCOTT whose praise is yet in the churches and who continued to tutor until his death which took place in January, 1783. Not long after the Reverend SAMUEL WALKER succeeded. As he was fixed at Northouram, the academy was moved thither. And though it soon appeared that the important post was not filled with equal satisfaction to the public, many useful ministers were brought up there in the course of twelve years.

Some years before the dissolution of the old Academy the public and particularly the churches in the most correct he could procure. The letter d. after a name denotes that the person is deceased.

By the Rev Mr. Scott of Heckmondwike

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Page 45   ... enlarged scale of the academy - Building was unavoidably necessary; nor does it now appear that convenient apartments will be fitted up with much less expence than the sum specified. *

*   Convenient apartments - for the sum specified That the apartments are 'convenient', all who have seen them have admitted. But as this account may be perused by some who have no personal knowledge of the building or situation, the following sketch is subjoined: -

The building is situated on a gentle eminence, near half a mile from the town of Rotherham and left from the village of Masbrough, surrounded by garden and pasture grounds, with retired walks - separated only a few yards from the tutors house, and but a small distance from the place of public worship - with two fronts, one to the south-west and the other to the north=east. Its dimensions are forty-six feet by twenty-eight. The lower part consists of two rooms. The hall is twenty-five feet by eighteen, the library twenty-five square. The two floors above are divided alike, containing each four lodging rooms and seven studies. The passages run the whole length of the building, five feet wide, with windows at each end for a plentiful circulation of air. The importance of this article for such a building, made it adviseable to have each window so formed as to admit air both at the top and bottom. The whole is finished in a neat but plain manner.

He who knows anything of building will easily perceive, that the structure now described must have cost more than the sum specified, the fact is, that though the materials, labour etc., were procured on the best terms, it cost very near six hundred pounds. Mr. JOSHUA WALKER, therefore, laid out about £100 more than the specified limitation, of which, at the last committee meeting, he generously made a present to the institution.

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Source: Based on information from English Short Title Catalogue. Eighteenth Century Collections Online. Gale Group

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