Penrose, Thomas (1815-1888)

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Primitive Methodist Magazine 1859

Copy provided by Steven Carter

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Primitive Methodist Magazine 1909

Early years

Thomas was born on 31 May 1815 in Knaresborough, Yorkshire. He was educated at a Church of England School.

Ministry

Thomas had been a local preacher and was deemed ready for wider ministry by the age of 19.

Whilst in London he originated the Annual Metropolitan Missionary Meeting, initially at Bloomsbury chapel and later at Mr Spurgeon’s Tabernacle. In 1867 he became Secretary of the Metropolitan Chapel and School Building Fund, a role he held until his death.

His obituary records: ‘ He had a genial presence, a magnificent voice, a mind well stored with biblical and theological truth, and a heart full of sympathy with sinning and suffering humanity.’

Family

Thomas married Frances Waddingham (1810-1888) on 4 February 1842 at Sculcoates. Census records identify four children.

• Thomas John (1842-1894) – a PM Minister
• Eliza (1844-1926) – married Alfred Thomas Barton, a Thames lighterman
• Nathaniel (1846-1934) – a schoolmaster; in an asylum at the time of 1881 census and later.
• William (1850-1909) – a manager at a drapers

Thomas died on 26 October 1888 at Reading, Berkshire, almost four weeks after his wife.

Circuits

• 1835 Malton
• 1836 Leeds
• 1837 Halifax
• 1839 Hull
• 1842 Bury
• 1844 Preston
• 1845 Wrexham
• 1846 Chester
• 1847 Burnley
• 1849 Barnsley
• 1851 Ripon
• 1853 Halifax
• 1855 Leeds l
• 1857 Wakefield
• 1859 London ll
• 1861 London lll
• 1864 London l
• 1867 Leighton Buzzard
• 1870 Reading
• 1873 Reading (S)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1859/fr; 1890/50; 1904/623; 1913/946

PM Minutes 1889/13

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers