Being once divided, other minor separations or subdivisions soon followed. Thus in 1723-4 Robert Welton was consecrated a Bishop by Ralph Taylor, who, contrary to the canons of the Church, took upon himself to act in his individual capacity. No precedent could be pleaded for such a proceeding, which must, therefore, be regarded as an innovation on the practice of the universal Church, from the Apostolic age. Talbot also was consecrated by Taylor and Welton. These consecrations, therefore, were viewed as irregular, and uncanonical. It appears, that Taylor and Welton were never recognized as Bishops, by the rest of the body: yet both exercised the Episcopal functions in the American Colonies. The government, at the desire of the Bishop of London, at length interposed, when Welton retired to Portugal, where he died in 1726, and Taylor returned to the communion of the National Church.[1] The particulars of Welton's removal from the Rectory of St. Mary's Whitechapel have already been detailed. Taylor was for some time chaplain to the Protestants at the Court of St. Germains.[2]
Collier died in the year 1726. Many particulars respecting him and his writings are recorded in the preceding chapters. His Church History is still one of our most, if not the most valuable, of our ecclesiastical histories: and all his works display talents of no ordinary kind. He was one of the most conspicuous actors in the controversies, which had been carried on since the Revolution. As he refused to surrender himself to the government, he lived in a state of outlawry for several years, though perhaps the authorities were not anxious to secure his person. He was as
