Pearce, Joseph (1862-1945)

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Rev Joseph Pearce, Brighton, 1904

Englesea Brook Museum 10.04

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Primitive Methodist Magazine 1916

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Primitive Methodist Magazine 1932

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Primitive Methodist Magazine 1916

Early years

Joseph was born in 1862 at Old Hill, Staffordshire to parents Thomas and Eliza. The 1881 census identifies Thomas as a colliery engine driver.

Joseph was working as a clerk at a timber yard at the time of the 1881 census.

Joseph was guided as a young Christian by Dr Joseph Ferguson, who put him on the plan, directed his evangelistic fervour, mapped out his studies and called him into the ministry. Before entering the ministry at Brighton, Joseph spent six months as Dr Ferguson’s assistant at Burslem. In that time he witnessed some 200 conversions.

Ministry

Joseph spent five years as Connexional Temperance Secretary. During that time, he inaugurated the Young Abstainers’ league, won Band of Hope representation at circuit meetings and roused churches by his eloquent tongue and his powerful pen.

His obituary records that Joseph was a preacher of outstanding merit. He had a burning passion for souls, travelling all over the country, preaching, lecturing and winning men for the Kingdom. A gracious personality with a flair for friendship, he was a skilful raconteur whose infectious laugh was a tonic.

Literature

Joseph authored the following.

The Alabaster Box

Life on the Heights

Family

Joseph married Edith Palmer (1856-1942) in the summer of 1887 at Old Hill, Staffordshire. Census returns identify three children.

• Edith Eliza (1888-1976) – an elementary school teacher (1911); married William George Cripps, a PM Minister, in 1921
• Hilda Annie (1889- – a music teacher (1911); married Ewart Nelson Woodhouse, a chain manufacturer, in 1914
• Joseph (1891-1967) – a PM Minister

Joseph died on 17 December 1945 at Newport, Monmouthshire.

Circuits

• 1884 Brighton I
• 1885 Birmingham
• 1887 W Bromwich
• 1889 Burnley II
• 1892 Barrow in Furness
• 1896 Grimsby 1
• 1899 Bridlington II
• 1901 Brighton
• 1905 Bristol III
• 1908 Cradley Heath
• 1912 Birmingham V
• 1918 Kidderminster
• 1920 Walsall
• 1924 Church Gresley
• 1929 Knighton (S)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1916/535; 1932/535

Methodist Minutes 1946/135

W Leary, Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits, 1990

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers