Hinchcliffe, Ann (1768-1836)

MEMOIR OF MRS. ANN HINCHCLIFFE,

(Huddersfield circuit)

Ann, the beloved wife of Mr. John Hinchcliffe, of Barnside, changed mortality for life, May 9, 1836, aged sixty-eight years.

She was brought up to the church of England, and under a pious clergyman, was convinced of her lost estate; but was not made acquainted with salvation by faith in the great Atonement.  At length she heard Dr. Coke from “There are three that bear record in heaven,” &c.  He remarked, that Lady Huntingdon was seven years seeking pardon before she ventured to lay hold on the blessing.  This so encouraged our departed Sister, that she sought the Lord with great earnestness, and soon found him to the joy of her soul.

After this she joined the Methodists, became a useful pious member, and a great support to the cause, paying the class money for several poor members.

January 2, 1816, she married Mr. John Hinchcliffe, who had been a class leader among the Methodists twenty-seven years; and she joined his class.

About eight years after this, the P. Methodists visiting Barnside, preached next door to Mr. Hinchcliffe’s.  He went to hear, and was much affected with the singing.  The hymns they sung were of those in the small book.  After service he said to Mrs. Hinchcliffe, “The poor preacher has a long way to go, and perhaps nothing to eat; I should like to give him his tea.”  She immediately fetched him in.  When at tea the preacher (Jeremiah Gilbert,) read a considerable portion of his journal, which so affected Mr. and Mrs. Hinchcliffe, that they conceived a warm attachment for the P. Methodists, and finally joined them.  A class was formed, and Mr. Hinchcliffe appointed leader, which office he still sustains.  From this class another has been formed, which is strong and lively.

Mr, and Mrs. Hinchcliffe have been great supports to the cause, and in assisting the poor members in their quarterly contributions; which practice Mr. H. still continues.

In class, Mrs. Hinchcliffe let her light shine.  Her sound and deep experience; her love to the means of grace; her anxiety for the salvation of the neighbours; her liberal contributions; her love and care for the poor whom she comforted both temporally and spiritually; her great attachment to the preachers, whom she received as the angels of God, will long be remembered both by Bros. Holliday, Gilbert, Bottomly, Moss, Batty, and many others.

For fourteen years we preached in Mr. Hinchcliffe’s large kitchen.  But now, principally through the influence of Mr. H. and family, a neat little chapel has been erected.

She rejoiced greatly to see Mr. H. raise up a class of the fruits of the P. Methodist labours; and to see the members walk circumspectly, grow in grace, and some of them to go shouting to heaven.

She was much esteemed by her neighbours; and it is a common remark, that “if ever any character was worthy of being preserved in the pages of Christian biography, her’s was.”

A little before Christmas, 1835, her health began to fail, and for eight weeks she was confined to her bed.

The last class meeting she attended, her experience was, “Christ is precious; I have long found him precious, and I recommend him to all around.”  She then shouted, “Glory, glory, glory!”

Sunday, May 8, 1836, she changed much for the worse; and by her desire, her, daughter read chapter xiv. of John’s gospel.  After this, she repeated clearly and distinctly the Lord’s prayer, which prayer she had used much in private.  She then uttered, “Glory be to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost!”  To her son- she said, “What a quantity of little children are round my bed.”  And on another occasion she said to her servant, “All will be well tomorrow,” and added, “what a number of little children there are, and some of John Beaumont’s (her son-in-law’s,) are among them!”  No wonder these happy spirits hovered round her dying bed, for she was a great lover of children, and a spiritual nursing mother to them.

Towards the last her evidence was brighter, and her faith stronger.  The last words she was heard to utter were, “Harp and crown.”  And about twenty minutes past two o’clock on Monday morning, May 9, 1836, her happy spirit entered the mansions of glory, to be ever with the Lord.

J. Clewer

(Approved by the Quarter-day board.)

Primitive Methodist Magazine, 1838.  Pages 103-104.