Samuel Stennett 1727-1795

Another contemporary hymn writer of Anne Steele and a supporter was Samuel Stennett DD, grandson of Joseph Stennett and son of Joseph Stennett, DD. All three were seventh day Baptists. He was born most probably in 1727, at Exeter, where his father was at that time the Baptist minister. When quite young he removed to London, his father having become pastor of the Baptist Church in Little Wild Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields. In 1748, Samuel became assistant to his father and in 1758 succeeded him in the pastoral office at Little Wild Street. From that time until his death, on August 24, 1795, he held a very prominent position among the Dissenting ministers of London. He was much respected by some of the statesmen of the time, and used his influence with them in support of the principles of religious freedom. The celebrated John Howard (1726-1790), the hospital and prison reformer, was a member of his congregation and an attached friend. In 1763, the University of Aberdeen conferred on him the degree of DD. He is buried in Bunhill Fields. Dr Stennett's prose publications consist of volumes of sermons, and pamphlets on Baptism and on Nonconformist Disabilities. He wrote one or two short poems, and contributed 38 hymns to the collection of his friend, Dr. Rippon (1787). His poetical genius was not of the highest order, and his best hymns have neither the originality nor the vigour of some of his grandfather's.