clergyman speaker writer author
The fourth son of the Honorary Laurence Shirley and Anne, daughter of Sir Walter Clarges, bart., he was born at Staunton Harrold, Leicestershire, on 23 September 1725. His father was youngest son of Robert Shirley, 1st Earl Ferrers.
Laurence Shirley, 4th Earl Ferrers, was his elder brother, and Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon, was his first cousin.
In 1742 Walter matriculated at New College, Oxford, graduating Bachelor of Arts in 1746, and the same year became rector of Loughrea, County Galway. His family connection with the Countess of Huntingdon brought him into intimate touch with the revivalist movements of the time. He was often absent from Loughrea, and he became familiar speaker at English and Irish revivalist meetings
Robert Southey remarks that his intentions in his advocacy of Wesley were better than his judgment, since he belonged to the most dogmatic section of the movement.
His work as a revivalist preacher brought him repeatedly into conflict with his bishop and fellow clergy. A circular issued by him inviting the clergy and laity to oppose Wesley drew from John William Fletcher of Madeley his ‘Checks to Antinomianism,’ and Shirley"s influence embittered the dispute.
William Romaine, Henry Venn, and John Berridge were among his close associates. His portrait hung in the library of Cheshunt College, in the foundation of which he took an interest.
In his later years he suffered from dropsy, and of this he died on 7 April 1786.
He was buried in Saint Mary"s Church, Dublin.
