Bell, Benjamin (1839-1921)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1893

Early years

Benjamin was born on 23 November 1839 at Great Yarmouth, Norfolk to parents George and Mary.

His father George was a shopkeeper and local preacher for 53 years. His brother George was also a PM minister.

On 15 March 1859 Benjamin gave himself to God. He immediately started to teach in Sunday School and three months later his name was on the plan. Within 12 months of conversion, Benjamin was called to minister in Ipswich. The following year, 1861, he was pledged by the Ipswich circuit.

Ministry

The 1893 biographical sketch in the Primitive Methodist Magazine records that his great aim was to be a plain, useful, Primitive Methodist Minister. He was mainly a preacher of the Gospel.  He delighted in preaching. The popular platform had little or no attraction to him. Benjamin was most at home in dealing with the great truths and themes of the Bible.

Benjamin’s natural disposition was somewhat retiring; he never thrust himself to the front; yet he lacked not the courage and outspokenness when occasion required.

Benjamin had something of wit, was good at repartee and was not altogether destitute of sarcasm. His make up was of too practical a kind to have much appreciation of the poetical.

Whilst in the Norwich District, Benjamin was Secretary of the Equalisation Fund for some time and in the Leeds District he served as Secretary to the Sunday School Committee for three years.

His obituary records that as a colleague he was brotherly, and as a pastor genial and kind.

Family

Benjamin married Mary Ann Smith (1840-1870) in 1865. Census returns identify four children.

  • Benjamin John (1866-1954) – a boiler tester (1911)
  • Alice Mary Ann (1867-1947) – married James Edward Keighley, a cotton ways dresser (1911)
  • George Ernest (1868-1886)
  • Robert William (1870-1871)

Benjamin married Fanny Elizabeth Mays (1840-1920) in the summer of 1871 at Swaffham, Norfolk. Census returns identify three children.

  • Elizabeth Fanny (1872-1920) – married Herbert William Douse, a sorting clerk in Post Office (1911)
  • William Herbert (1873-1907) – an engine fitter
  • Ellen Eliza (b1880)

Benjamin died on 22 June 1921 at Wisbech, Cambridgeshire.

Circuits

  • 1861 Ipswich
  • 1862 Hadleigh
  • 1864 Aylsham
  • 1865 Wangford
  • 1867 Norwich
  • 1870 Swaffham
  • 1873 Fakenham
  • 1874 E Dereham
  • 1877 Docking
  • 1881 Leeds V
  • 1885 Shipley
  • 1889 Gainsborough
  • 1892 Leek
  • 1894 E Dereham
  • 1898 Swaffham
  • 1900 Swaffham (S)
  • 1902 Kings Lynn
  • 1905 Wisbech

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1893/512

PM Minutes 1922/251

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

 

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