Parr, Theophilus M.A. (1849-1921)

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Primitive Methodist Magazine 1906

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Picture supplied by Randle Knight.

Early years

Theophilus was born in March 1849 at Bishops Castle to parents Thomas Parr and Matilda Bayley. His father, Thomas, was a PM Minister.

Theophilus began to serve the Church by the time he was ten. His father apparently made for him a little sermon, which he would recite for those who gathered from far and near to hear him.

Whilst his parents resided at Bloxwich, Theophilus gained entrance to Walsall Grammar School. In attending he walked four miles per day each way. He was converted whilst he was attending the school. At that time his parents had moved to a different circuit and he was staying in the care of a Mrs Heath of Brownhills.

After leaving school, Theophilus found a position in the office of an estate agent in Birkenhead, Cheshire. He threw himself into the work of the Church in Sunday school and later on the preachers’ plan. In 1868, he was called into the ministry by the Chester circuit as a hired local preacher.

Ministry

Theophilus served on both the Probationers’ and College Examining Committees. On the former he was the co-examiner in Hebrew.

Theophilus was blessed with a wiry, vigorous constitution, which had to withstand African fever, Australian heat and English winter cold. While in Africa, he spent thirteen months alone in the bush, his wife having to be ordered home twice during his two-year stay. His diaries reveal that his work in Africa among the Bubis included; road-making, visiting, doctoring, acquiring the language, printing, teaching, and preaching. His work on the language was notable. He reduced the language to a grammatical form and complied a dictionary that was invaluable to those who followed him.

On resuming work back in Britain, Theophilus went to Edinburgh where he also obtained his B.A. degree.

Theophilus was President of the New South Wales Conference in 1895. Whilst in Australia, He served on the Committee which framed the constitution of the United Methodist Church of Australia.

Although he served on Committees and had excellent business and organising capacity, he was primarily an evangelist.

Family

Theophilus married Emily Gregg (1853-1929) in the spring of 1874 at Oakham, Rutland. Census returns identify two children.

• Mabel Emily (1877-1926) – married Harry Percival Fell, a PM Minister
• Theophilus Joseph (1888-1966) – a schoolteacher (1911)

Theophilus died on 14 June 1922 at Bolton, Lancashire.

Circuits

• 1869 Boston
• 1870 Oakham
• 1874 Sheffield III
• 1875 St George’s Bay
• 1877 GMC Agent
• 1878 Edinburgh
• 1883 W Bromwich
• 1886 Manchester VI
• 1890 Newcastle I
• 1893 Sydney I
• 1897 Newcastle II
• 1900 Manchester VII
• 1903 W Bromwich
• 1907 Bolton II
• 1911 Bolton I
• 1916 Manchester (Sup)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1906/423; 1918/4

PM Minutes 1922/275

H B Kendall, Origin and History of the PM Church, vol 2, p436

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers