Transcription of obituary published in the Primitive Methodist Magazine by William Watts
JOHN CHENEY was born at Countesthorpe, in the county of Leicester, October 12th, 1834, and died at Bolsover in the county of Derby, July 25th, 1867. His father was a Primitive Methodist local preacher thirty years, and his mother also was a member of our society. In early life John was taught the way to heaven. His journal contains the following:—When fifteen years of age, after much sorrow for sin, I found salvation through faith, in Christ.
In the year 1852 his name appeared in the preachers’ plan of the Leicester circuit; in process of time he was employed as a hired local preacher in the Coventry, Melton Mowbray, and Boston circuits, the last of which called him into the regular ministry. He travelled in the following stations:—Horncastle, Donington, Lincoln, Oxton Branch, Wirksworth, Ripley, and Bolsover Branch. By the last Conference he was appointed, to the Burton-upon-Trent circuit, but before he entered on this station he heard the Saviour’s voice saying, “Come up higher.”
He was generally acceptable and useful. He was respectful and respected. His work was soon done. The last meeting he attended was at Bolsover, on Whitmonday. He never recovered from a severe attack of ague he had when in the Donington circuit, where he travelled with the writer. During his illness, which lasted a few weeks, he suffered much. When he could express his feelings (he was not always conscious) he gave conclusive evidence that he was on the Rock. Let the following specimens suffice. The hymns that he selected and sang and the expressions used, were:— “O God, our help in ages past, etc.” “Rock of Ages, cleft for me.” “I am going home to glory.” “I shall soon be in heaven with brother Parkes,” (one of our ministers who died October, 1866). When taking the last farewell of his wife, he said, “Meet me in heaven.” “A convoy of angels wait to escort me home.” He passed without a lingering groan from earth to heaven in the eleventh year of his ministry.
The following remarks will we hope be interesting to our numerous readers who have not seen brother Cheney in person. As a man he was not physically strong nor mentally great. As a Christian he was consistent, not dull and gloomy, not light and frothy. He did not partake of the hermit on the one hand, or the clown on the other. He was kind, courteous, and obliging. As a minister he was punctual as to time and place in the performance of duty (a fine trait). He aimed at doing good, and was desirous of doing more than he could. His journal testifies to the conversion of many souls to Christ, the great work of a minister’s life. May we all be baptized with fire. Amen and Amen.
Family
John was born on 12 October 1834 at Countesthorpe, Leicestershire.
He married Maria Farbon (1835-1919) in the summer of 1860 at Horncastle, Lincolnshire. Maria worked as a school teacher after John’s death.
John died on 25 July 1867 at Bolsover, Derbyshire.
Circuits
- 1856 Boston
- 1857 Horncastle
- 1858 Donington
- 1860 Lincoln
- 1861 Lincoln II
- 1862 Oxton
- 1863 Wirksworth
- 1864 Ripley
- 1866 Bolsover
- 1867 Burton on Trent
References
Primitive Methodist Magazine 1868/36
PM Minutes 1868/7
W Leary, Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits, 1990
Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers
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