John Nelson Goulty

John Nelson Goulty (21 June 1788 – 18 January 1870) was an English Nonconformist Christian pastor. He is best known for his sermons against mandatory tithing to the Church of England and against colonial slavery. After early work at Nonconformist chapels in Godalming and Henley-on-Thames, he moved to Brighton where he became "one of the most important persons" in the 300-year history of the town's Union Chapel. He also helped to found schools and a cemetery in Brighton.

Biography

Early life Goulty was born on 21 June 1788 in East Dereham, Norfolk. He was educated at Homerton College, a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, where he was taught by John Pye-Smith (1774–1851).

Career Goulty was pastor of Union Chapel, Brighton between 1823 and 1861. Union Chapel, Brighton, post-1823 arrangement as it would have appeared at Goulty's tenure, with the design attributed to "H. Wilds, Architect" After Cambridge, he ministered in Godalming, Surrey from 1812 to 1815. and in 1729 a permanent meeting house was built. After its pastor died in 1799, the cause declined and was taken on by the Surrey Congregational Mission and later by Independent Nonconformist students of Homerton College. Goulty was not an ordained pastor at this stage, but his service at the church saw it "considerably revived" from its declining state. He also travelled to the nearby villages of Elstead and Hascombe to preach. The chapel had been enlarged during Styles's 15-year incumbency, The architect has been the subject of much disagreement: Amon Wilds is usually credited, but Charles Busby produced and signed an architectural design in 1825 and the men probably worked together on it. He campaigned for Nonconformism and held many theological debates with the Vicar of Brighton Rev. Henry Michell Wagner and his son Rev. Arthur Wagner, curate of St Paul's Church and founder of others such as the Church of the Annunciation. In 1847, at the bottom of West Street on the seafront, he founded a school for the children of fishermen and an Independent preaching station called the Bethel Arch, at which he ministered to the fishermen themselves. The 1851 religious census confirmed that the chapel was "also used as a Day School" and had a capacity of 250 seats and standing room for an additional 50 worshippers. Goulty, who signed the census return, recorded 280 attendees at afternoon and evening services, and wrote that "the place is generally full ... [there are] many stragglers at the Door on the Beach". The chapel does not survive and its location is not known, although it may have been associated with a Presbyterian meeting house registered in 1779 "in or near Hove Street". Goulty was also instrumental in establishing the Henfield Congregational Church in 1832 with the financial assistance of Union Chapel, Brighton. The church was re-named "Henfield Evangelical Free Church" in 1961 and remains an active congregation situated in the original building on High Street, Henfield.

Goulty was one of the founders of the Extra Mural Cemetery, described as "one of the most delightful spots in the whole of Brighton". Goulty also one of the four founders of the Extra Mural Cemetery in Brighton.

Goulty's pastorate at Union Chapel ended in 1861 with his retirement, He died in Brighton on 18 January 1870 and was buried at the Extra Mural Cemetery. His son Horatio Nelson Goulty, who predeceased him, was also active in public life in Brighton, principally as an architect but also as a supporter of hospitals and schools. His first marriage was to Clementine Sharp. Clementina Sharp Goulty (29 October 1820–unknown). christened 31 August 2014

Legacy A Scania OmniDekka bus of the Brighton & Hove Bus Company, number 664, is named in his honour.

Works Publications by Goulty include: