Anne Steele, 1716-1778

Abstract

"A NNE STEELE was the eldest daughter of William Steele, a timber merchant and contractor to the Navy, who regularly for 60 years conducted services in the Baptist Church at Broughton in Hampshire. Half of that time he preached occasionally as a deacon, and the remaining half more regularly as a lay pastor. The' Steele family played a great part in the life of the village and the Baptist Church. Anne's great uncle had been its lay pastor for 40 years having been ordained lay pastor in 1699, and had been succeeded by her father. The family was a prosperous one, and gave cottages and a burial ground to the church. The great uncle, Henry Steele, was a remarkable preacher. Bishop Burnet told the local clergyman that he "must preach better than Henry Steele" if he would stop his congregation deserting to the Dissenters. "