Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Moore, Richard (1619-1683)
MOORE, RICHARD (1619–1683), non-conformist divine, son of William Moore, was born at Alvechurch in Worcestershire, and baptised there on 8 Aug. 1619 (par. reg.) He belonged to an ancient Worcestershire family who were settled in Alvechurch in the time of Edward II. Matriculating at Oxford from Magdalen Hall on 30 June 1637, he graduated B.A. 12 Nov. 1640. In 1647 he was possessed of property in Alvechurch and Weatheroak Hill. During the Commonwealth he was 'a preacher of God's word' in Worcester, sometimes at the cathedral, along with Simon Moore, who was ejected thence in 1662. In 1650 Richard Moore was occupying a house in Worcester 'next to the lead-house,' and was probably preaching. He 'intruded into the living' of Alvechurch, and was present at a parish meeting there on 12 Aug. 1658. After the Restoration he gave up the rectory, and obtained a license to preach in what he represented as his house and room adjoining at Withall, near Alvechurch. The house was really the curate's chamber over part of Withall Chapel, and the 'room adjoining,' the chapel itself, into which he had made an opening from the chamber (State Papers, Dom. Ser. 1662, vol. lxvi. f. 34). In 1662 the license was revoked. In April 1672 he was restored to the chapel, and remained there for two years. He afterwards preached privately in his house at the foot of Weatheroak Hill, near to the top of which stands Withall Chapel. The house, a farmhouse within the parish of Alvechurch, is still standing. Moore died in September 1683, and was buried at King's Norton on the 27th (par. reg.) Moore was probably a presbyterian. He was author of 'Pearl in an Oyster-Shel, or Pretious Treasure put in Perishing Vessels,' London, 1675, the first part of which contains two sermons preached in Withall Chapel in 1674. The second part of the work, called 'Abel Redivivus, or the Dead Speaker,' supplies another sermon, the life of Thomas Hall (1610-1665) [q. v.] of King's Norton, with whom Moore was closely associated, and verses on Hall, John Ley, and other ministers. Calamy mentions another work, entitled 'Paul's Prayer for Israel,' but gives no date.