Collyer, William Bengg, Dd, Lld, Fsa

Collyer, William Bengg, D.D., LL.D., F.S.A.

an English dissenting minister, was born at Blackheath Hill near London, April 14, 1782. He studied at Homerton College under Dr. J. Pye Smith, and became pastor of a dissenting church at Peckham, now a suburb of London, before he was twenty years of age, which post he occupied with great honor and usefulness to the end of his life. At his ordination in 1801 the church numbered only one hundred and ten members, but it soon increased in membership, and in 1818 Hanover Church was built for about twelve years he was pastor of Salter's Hall Chapel; which afterwards became a Baptist Church. For half a century Dr. Collyer was the most popular dissenting minister in London attracting large audiences to his church. He died in London, January 9, 1854. His lectures were published at intervals, from 1809 to 1823, and embraced Scripture Prophecy, Facts, Miracles, Parables, Doctrines, Duties, Comparisons. In 1812 he printed a collection of hymns for the use of his congregation, nine hundred and seventy-nine in all, fifty-seven of which were his own. In 1837 he published Services Suited to the Marriage Service, to which were attached eighty- nine hymns by himself. See New York Observer, June 10, 1880; Cong. Yearbook, 1855, page 210. (W.P.S.)