Introduction

Biography

Walter was the son of Laur­ence Shir­ley (son of the 1st Earl Ferr­ers, and cou­sin of the Count­ess of Hunt­ing­don).

In 1742, he ma­tri­cu­lat­ed at New Col­lege, Oxford. He gra­du­at­ed with a BA in 1746, and the same year be­came rec­tor of Lough­rea, Coun­ty Gal­way.

He was a friend of White­field and the Wes­leys, and oft­en preached in their cha­pels.

In 1774, he helped the Count­ess of Hunt­ing­don re­vise the Col­lect­ion of hymns used in her cha­pels.