Bateman, Thomas (1799-1897)

Early Local Preacher

Primitive Methodist Magazine
Englesea Brook Museum ENBM 1990.21.42a
Portrait by Archibald Mackinnon painted in 1888
Engelsea Brook Museum

Thomas Bateman was one of the most influential laymen in the early years of the Primitive Methodist Church.

Early years

Thomas was born on 29 October 1799 at the settlement of Frith, near Wrenbury, Cheshire. His parents were John, a farmer and land surveyor, and Elizabeth Bateman. Thomas was baptised on 1 January 1800 at Wrenbury Parish Church. In his early years he attended both the Anglican church and Faddiley Wesleyan Methodist Chapel on an occasional basis. Later both the Anglicans and Methodists courted him to become a clergyman but their offers were declined.

Joining the Primitives

Thomas came under the influence of the preaching of John Wedgewood in 1819 during his mission to Cheshire. Having declined an invitation to attend John Wedgewood’s service at Bulkeley, Thomas was influenced by those who had attended. Through his friend George Taylor, Thomas was gradually drawn in to the primitive fold, attending class meetings for some time before committing to membership and again when starting preaching it was some time before he allowed his name to appear on the plan. However, once committed, he preached regularly for over 50 years. During his first 12 years as a Local Preacher he did not miss one Sunday often walking up to 40 miles to complete his appointments.

Contributions to the neighbourhood

Thomas was a farmer and later a land surveyor. The 1851 census reveals that he farmed 165 acres and employed 4 labourers and one boy. He was also trustee and treasurer to many charities in his native parish of Wrenbury.

Thomas also helped to build chapels. The Primitive Methodist Chapel in Welsh Row, Nantwich, built in 1840 (now closed), is attributed to him

Family Life

Thomas married Ann Salmon on 20 June 1833 at Barthomley Parish Church. Ann was born abt 1807 in Barthomley, Cheshire and died in 1885.

The 1851 census records a family with 7 children, 2 boys and 5 girls. Once retired, Thomas continued to live on the farm with his elder son, John, taking over as the farmer. The younger son, Thomas Salmon Bateman became a Primitive Methodist Minister; the 1871 census records Thomas and his wife, visiting Thomas Salmon Bateman in Chester.

Contribution to Primitive Methodism

Thomas became a Deed Poll Member in 1851. He was one of the few laymen to become President of Conference in 1857 and again in 1867. In all he served his church in almost every representative capacity possible to a layman.

Kendall quotes extensively from his Journals in describing the development of the church in Cheshire. He also authored a memoir of the life and labours of John Wedgewood, 1870.

Kendall also quotes from a book “Observations on, and Explanations of, the Deed Poll of the Primitive Methodist Connexion,” by Thomas Bateman that seeks to explain the importance of the Deed Poll, signed in 1830, and the reasons for the delay in its preparation.

Barber relates; ‘ He had an eye for essential things; although he claimed to be a thoroughgoing Primitive Methodist he still professed to be something higher than that – he wanted to be a Primitive Christian.’

Memorial

Thomas died at home on 2 Feb 1897.

There is a memorial garden at Chorley, nr Wrenbury where a granite obelisk stands in memorial to Thomas. It is inscribed ‘In memory of Thomas Bateman of Chorley, an associate of Hugh Bourne, and one of the fathers of the Primitive Methodist Connexion’.

References

J Petty, The History of the Primitive Methodist Connexion, 1880, p.166

H B Kendall, Origin and History of the PM Church, vol 1, p439, p511; vol 2, p21

B A Barber, A Methodist Pageant, 1932, p 157

Rev David Leese “This amiable family” – Hugh Bourne and the Deakins of Rushton, 2004

PM Minutes 1897/179

G J Stevenson, Methodist Worthies, vol 5, p 834, pub 1886

A memorial of the centenary on the venerable Hugh Bourne: Earnest Methodists; Sketches of eminent Primtive Methodist Ministers and Laymen, Published by F H Hurd, 1872

 

Downloads

Comments about this page

  • Thanks to Andrew Lamberton for drawing our attention to “Archibald MacKinnon: Nantwich artist” that he wrote with Les Pickford. It tells the story of the man who painted the portrait on this page and is available from Nantwich Museum as a book or a digital download.

    By Christopher Hill (22/12/2021)
  • This page was modified on 28 October 2017 to add a transcription of a sketch published in the Primitive Methodist Magazine 1904.

    By Geoff Dickinson (28/10/2017)
  • This page was modified on 14 November 2016 to add a transcription of an article about Thomas Bateman published in the Christian Messenger 1900.

    By Geoff Dickinson (14/11/2016)

Add a comment about this page

Your email address will not be published.