Bryant, Samuel (1854-1923)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1912

Early years

Samuel was born on 2 May 1854 at Camborne, nr Redruth, Cornwall to parents John Bryant and Nannie Bennetts. Both parents were Primitive Methodists. John was a blacksmith.

Samuel attended National School. He had the desire to be trained for the teaching profession, but when aged twelve, in consequence of the death of an elder brother, he was compelled to leave school to work in his father’s blacksmith’s shop.

Samuel was converted, aged eighteen, in a revival that occurred under the ministry of Rev Richard Bennetts. Soon after conversion, his name appeared on the preachers’ plan. When twenty-one, Samuel accepted a call to become a hired local preacher in the St Day circuit. Having successfully passed the candidates’ examination in London, the Conference of 1876 appointed Samuel to St Day as minister on probation.

Ministry

Samuel spent all his ministry in the Bristol and South Wales Districts. He served as District Committee Secretary and also as Secretary of the Equalization Fund Committee. He spent over fifteen years as Secretary of the District Building Committee.

His obituary records that it was as a circuit minister that Samuel rendered the most notable service to his Church, and through his consecrated wisdom, tact, prudence and self-sacrifice, his stations always prospered, and his ministry was blessed to the salvation of many.

Family

Samuel married Mary Symons Hooper (b abt1852) in the summer of 1880 at Redruth, Cornwall. Census returns identify three of four children.

  • Christiana Maud (1881-1952) – married Elias Morgan Williams, an insurance superintendent (1911)
  • William Cullen (b abt1883-1959) – an insurance agent (1911)
  • John Hooper (b abt1885) – a tailor’s shop assistant (1911)

Samuel died on 13 August 1923 at Camborne, Cornwall.

Circuits

  • 1876 St Day
  • 1878 Seend Cove
  • 1879 Hereford
  • 1881 Chippenham
  • 1883 Calne
  • 1885 Radstock
  • 1887 Cross Keys
  • 1891 Penzance
  • 1894 Bath I
  • 1897 Brynmawr
  • 1906 Swansea
  • 1913 Port Talbot
  • 1917 Cardiff
  • 1920 Brynmawr
  • 1922 Cardiff (Sup)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1912/86; 1924/286

PM Minutes 1924/266

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

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