Binns, John (1854-1928)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1911
Primitive Methodist Magazine 1911

Early years

John was born on 19 November 1854 at Norland, Yorkshire to parents John and Mary. John, senior, was a woollen spinner.

John surrendered himself absolutely to Jesus Christ when aged fourteen. Being of a retiring and studious disposition he gave himself diligently to the cultivation of his mind and to the enrichment of his spiritual life. He became a local preacher.

Ministry

The unfortunate coal strike of 1893 gave John the opportunity for the exercise of his practical sympathy with suffering and distress. Here were the chance and the demand, and he rose to meet them, revealing a broad and genuine interest in the welfare of mankind not discovered by all.

John’s ministry covered a wide area and a variety of circuits. He shrank from district and other official recognition, concentrating his efforts on circuit ministry.

John’s health broke down at Cheadle and he retired to live at Clun in 1915. He continued to render useful pulpit service until a year or so before his death when increased infirmity made that impossible.

Family

John married Martha Riley (1856-1945) in the summer of 1880 at Halifax, Yorkshire. Census returns identify one child.

  • Edith Sophia (b1881) – married Richard Davies, a corn chiller and farmer (1911)

John died on 5 February 1928 at Clun, Shropshire.

Circuits

  • Sunderland
  • 1876 Wakefield
  • 1878 Pontefract
  • 1879 Leeds VI
  • 1880 Birmingham I
  • 1882 Hay
  • 1884 Dudley
  • 1887 Church Stretton
  • 1888 Liskeard
  • 1891 St Day
  • 1892 Normanton
  • 1895 Scholes
  • 1898 Swinefleet
  • 1900 Halifax III
  • 1903 Clun
  • 1906 Helmsley
  • 1909 Middleham
  • 1910 Newmarket
  • 1912 Leek
  • 1913 Cheadle
  • 1915 Clun (Sup)
  • 1916 Presteign
  • 1926 Clun

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1911/843; 1928/615

PM Minutes 1928/255

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

Comments about this page

  • Daughter’s husband was a corn-miller: manuscript source is hard to read.

    By Sandy Calder (11/03/2019)

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