Evangelists' Home evangelists - 50 names

In my Englesea Brook Chapel Aid Lecture of 2001, “Joseph Odell and the Evangelists’ Home’ (pub. Englesea Brook, 2001) I described the work of Odell in generating the lay training centre for Primitive Methodists corresponding to Cliff College in Wesleyanism.

I listed in an Appendix all the names of the evangelists that I had recovered.

This Appendix is now copied below.

APPENDIX ONE : The Evangelists

This Appendix lists all evangelists discovered. Odell claimed that ‘more than 160 young men joined the staff of “Home-labourers”’ (Kendall 1906, 542), but only 50 are here.

Abbreviations:b – born                       em – entered ministry

                        d – died                                   Poss – only possibly a Home evangelist

[ Note that references to the Primitive Methodist World (PMW) only give the first reference to each placement; subsequent weeks may contain more information. ]

BAGE, Albert.

Moved from Sheffield to Driffield (East Riding) in January 1889 (PMW 3 January 1889). At Middleton (presumably one of the Yorkshire ones) in February 1889 (PMW 21 February 1889). In 1889 Mr Bage engaged as Hull District Evangelist (PM 26 September 1889); October-November 1889, Albert B. at work at Easington Lane, Hetton, Co.Durham (PM 7 November 1889).

BAILEY, S.

At work for six months in Swindon Second Circuit November 1896 – April 1897 (PM 22 April 1897). Working at Lyng in the West Bromwich Circuit in October 1897 (PM 28 October 1897).

BAKER, A.

1894, at Bilston, Staffs, three months, July – September (PM 13 September 1894).

BANHAM, Robert.

Referred to in Odell obituary as missionary (PMMag 1923, 656). b Barnham (county undefined) 3 Jan 1869, em 1896, d 16 March 1926 (Leary 1990, 11).

BARKER, Sarjeant.

Poss. Open air evangelist at The Association for the Promotion of Scriptural Holiness meeting at Nottingham in September 1892 (PM 22 September 1892).

BAYLIFFE, John Brunskill.

Began at Allenheads before going to the Home, 20 January 1890. Worked on secondment with Frank Crossley at the Star Hall Manchester 1894-1902. Appointed Connexional Lay Evangelist 1903 (PMMins 1903, 207). Used as example in Odell’s Evangelism (1903, 123), and Kendall’s History (1906, 542). b Appleby 1868, em 1917, d 12 July 1950 (Leary 1990, 15). Biography: Crossley 1952.

BISHOP, E.

To Bloxwich (near Walsall) in November 1888 (PMW 29 November 1888). With Birmingham Second Circuit, December 1888 (PMW 13 December 1888). In Bath January 1889 (PMW 10 January 1889). On to Swindon for February 1889 (PMW 21 February 1889).

BREEZE, A.

Four weeks at Greenhead, Haltwhistle circuit (PM 14 November 1889).

BRIDGES.

Five weeks mission ‘just ended’ 2 January 1896. Not entirely clear that the Evangelists’ Home evangelist is called Bridges (PM 2 January 1896).

BROWN, James Marcus.

Referred to in Kendall as a product of the Home (1906, 478). b Southampton 1 October 1867, em 1892, d 10 October 1933 (Leary 1990, 30).

BUTCHER, G.

At Croxdale in the Spennymoor Circuit, October 1889 (PM 17 October , 14 November 1889). Called the Circuit Evangelist at the Quarterly Meeting (PM 5 December 1889) and the District Evangelist when the Barnard Castle Quarterly Meeting hoped to engage him (PM 12 December 1889). Re-engaged for a third year in Kilburn, London, December 1897 (but no Evangelists’ Home reference) (PM 16 December 1897).

CARTER.

Yardley Green evangelist (Yardley 1952).

COOK.

May be more than one person . Yardley Green evangelist (Yardley 1952). Henry Markham, b Goole 1874, em 1900 (Birmingham Fourth Circuit), d 16 February 1941 (Leary 1990, 48). In November 1893, (when Rev H.M.Cook was stationed in Horsham, Surrey), the Newcastle upon Tyne Circuit reported the work of .. ‘ .. our dear brother H.Markham Cook, of the ‘Evangelists’ Home’ Birmingham (under the supervision of the Rev.J.Odell).’ (PM 30 November 1893). This is confusing.

COULBECK, Herbert

b. Cleethorpes 1876, em 1905, d 4 April 1949 (Leary 1990, 50). Connexional Evangelist 1916-31.

DEARDEN.

Yardley Green evangelist (Yardley 1952).

DODSWORTH, D.

Aldershot, November 1892 (PM 17 November 1892). T.Dorsey Dodsworth appointed as a Lay Evangelist at Horsham, London, in the Home Mission District, on the stations 1905.

DODSWORTH, T.

In residence at the Evangelists’ Home, census day 1891. May be the same man as D.Dodsworth.

DOLPHIN, brothers, P. & T.

Messrs P. & T. helped recreate the Highley society, Kidderminster Circuit, 1896. Bros Dolphin at Staincross in the Barnsley Second Circuit with ‘several weeks .. wave of revival’ (PM 1 April 1897). F. & G. Dolphin Birmingham Fourth Circuit members of the Birmingham Primitive Methodist Council in 1912; F. a member of the Sunday School Committee and G. a member of the Chapel Committee at Conference Hall (Birmingham Primitive Methodist Quarterly Guide (=Plan) (Birmingham City Archives, Birmingham Central Library, MA2/25)).

DRAKE, Edward.

New evangelist, January 1889: at work in Long Eaton, Notts. (PMW 17 January 1889). Moving to Drighlington near Bradford, West Riding, January 1889 (PMW 24 January 1889). To Crewe, February 1889 (PMW 14 February 1889). In residence at the Evangelists’ Home, census day 1891. An Edward Drake em 1893 in New Zealand, was President in 1903, but disappears from 1913 (Leary 1990, 264).

ELLIS, Herbert Piddick.

Mr.H. at Glossop March 1890 (PM 27 March 1890). H.P.Ellis in Nottingham Second Circuit October 1892 to January 1893 (26 January 1893). b Moulton (county unspecified) 1868, em 1917, entry preceded by ‘Evangelists Tr Home’, d 8 March 1955 (Leary 1990, 67).

EVANS, “Uncle John”.

First named, February 1889, at Lyndon End, Birmingham (PMW 14 February 1889).

FLETCHER.

At work in Minsterley circuit, Shropshire, March-April 1892 (PM 21 April 1892).

HARRISON.

There may have been more than one person of this surname working as evangelists . 1889 Mr.H. engaged as an evangelist by the Hull District (PM 26 September 1889). Open air evangelist at The Association for the Promotion of Scriptural Holiness meeting at Nottingham in September 1892 (PM 22 September 1892). Poss: Mr J., evangelist at Brandon, Spennymoor, Co.Durham, winter, 1896  (PM 31 December 1896). Poss: Mr.T., in the Sunderland (First ?) Circuit for three months from September 1897 (PM 16 September 1897).

HARVEY, John.

New evangelist, to begin at Stafford, January 1889 (PMW 24 January 1889). ‘In the villages of Shropshire’, February 1889 (PMW 7 February 1889).

HAWKES, E.

First mission, January 1889, to Manea, Cambs. (PMW 17 January 1889).

HEYWOOD, J.W.

Second man into the work, to Lichfield in October 1888 (25 October 1888). Working in Buxton December 1888 (PMW 13 December 1888). Going to Worcester, February 1889 (PMW 14 February 1889).

HOLLAND, Tom.

Travelling evangelist for most of his life.

JAMES, A.

1894, 5 weeks at Copley, St.Helens Auckland, Co.Durham from 4 February (PM 22 March 1894). At Whitehaven, March 1897 (PM 25 March 1897).

KING, G.

At Paisley, west of Glasgow, December 1888 (PMW 13 December 1888).

LANGDON, E.

November to December 1896, at work at Ravensthorpe, Dewsbury (PM 17 December 1896).

LANGDON, G.

Poss. Evangelist from Birmingham at Browney, Spennymoor, Co.Durham, winter, 1896 (PM 31 December 1896).

MARTIN.

New evangelist to Basingstoke February 1889 (PMW 21 February 1889).

NEWCOMBE, George.

Sent to Congleton in November 1888, where a revival had begun and was faltering; saw great success (PMW 8 November 1888). To Newcastle under Lyme, November 1888 (PMW 15 November 1888). At Minsterley (Shrops) in November 1888 (PMW 6 December 1888). Intended for the Potteries, January 1889 (PMW 10 January 1889). Moving on to Somerset , February 1889 (PMW 7 February 1889), and at the Yeovil Mission (PMW 21 February 1889).

ODELL, George.

Either James G, son of Joseph, or from another family. Nine weeks in Maryport, Cumberland at Crosby Villa, Prospect and Ellenborough chapels, completed by December 1896. (PM 24 December 1896).

ODELL. J.H.

Prob. son of Joseph. To Heckmondwike in November 1888 to assist Parsons (PMW 22 November 1888). At Tamworth, Staffs, December 1888 (PMW 13 December 1888).Em 1889 (Leary 1990, 154).

PAGE, A.

At Driffield (almost certainly the East Riding one) in December 1888 (PMW 13 December 1888).

PARRACK, W.J.

Yardley Green evangelist (Yardley 1952). At Higherland chapel, Newcastle under Lyme from 22 March to 7 April 1896, and a return visit in October (PM 16 April, 5 November 1896).

PARSONS, Emmanuel.

The first man into the field , to Heckmondwike, October 1888 (PMW 4 October 1888), for several months. At Batley by February 1889 (PMW 21 February 1889).

PECK, Bramwell.

First mentioned February 1889 ‘started in the villages of Shropshire.’ (PMW 7 February 1889) and at Dawley later (PMW 21 February 1889). In residence at the Evangelists’ Home, census day 1891.

SANDFORD, T.

January-February 1892 in Burnham Market, Ringstead, and Dersingham in north Norfolk (4, 11 February 1892). Thomas Sandford (may not be the same) b Bromsgrove 1874, em 1901 after training at Hartley College, d 5 February 1951 (Leary 1990, 184).

STARRACK.

Poss. Open air evangelist at The Association for the Promotion of Scriptural Holiness meeting at Nottingham in September 1892 (PM 22 September 1892).

TALLENTIRE, R.

November 1894, at Kidderminster and at Short Cross, Halesowen; February 1895 Welshpool, Sheepbridge and Old Whittington in March (neither identified) (PM 1 November , 29 November 1894, 21 February, 14 March, 21 March 1895).

TITMARSH, R.

New name January 1889; at Appleby, Westmorland, January 1889 (PMW 10 January 1889).

WALKER, John.

Nine months, 1894-June 1895, at Ashbourne, in Derbyshire (PM 13 June 1895). By March 1896 at Newbury, ‘retain [him] .. to the end of June’ (PM 12 March 1896). In April 1897 continuing what the Dolphin brothers started at Staincross in Dewsbury (PM 15 April 1897).

WALKER, T.W.

Sent to Malvern in November 1888 (PMW 8 November 1888). In Penzance December 1888 (PMW 13 December 1888). On to St.Ives by January 1889 (PMW 17 January 1889). Yardley Green evangelist (Yardley 1952); reported at work there November 1897 (PM 25 November 1897). Minister at Mineral Point, Wisconsin (Kendall, 1906, 448).

WARD.

‘Prospecting the “Black Country” and [has] taken a few nights at Wednesbury’ (PMW 15 November 1888). Fred, working in Birmingham, and an ‘accepted missionary’ to the Barotze (PMW 29 November 1888).

WILLIAMS.

To Buxton for village work, February 1889 (PMW 14 February 1889).

WILSON, Frank.

With Birmingham Second Circuit, December 1888 (PMW 13 December 1888). At Burton on Trent, January 1889 (PMW 10 January 1889).

WORTHINGTON, William.

In residence at the Evangelists’ Home, census day 1891.

Unnamed evangelists

… at Halesowen, August 1889 (PM 1 August 1889).

… for Middlesbrough, September 1889 (PM 12 September 1889).

… at Brinkworth, September 1893 (PM 14 September 1893).

 

 

Comments about this page

  • Arthur James (age 31) and his wife Mary B. James (age 26) are listed as Evangelists (P.M.) on the Census Return for Bedlington, Northumberland in 1901. They were lodgers in the household of Mrs Mary A Hewitt in Glebe Terrace. It would appear, however, that they left Primitive Methodism as in 1911 he is listed as a Congregational Minister in Spittal, Berwick upon Tweed.

    By David Tonks (02/08/2019)

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