Stephenson, John (1801-1873)

Early years

Born 10 November 1801 at Willoughton, Lincolnshire. Died 24 June 1873 in Ripley, Derbyshire.

Born a Wesleyan Methodist, it was while he was serving as an apprentice in Fillingham that the Primitive Methodists visited the village. There he joined them in 1823 ‘Having obtained the pearl of great price, he soon became anxious to be the means of imparting it to others.’ (1874 PM magazine: 238). Initially he became an ‘exhorter’ and journeyed for many miles to fulfil his duties.

Ministry

Despite the hardship and poverty faced by many PM ministers at that time, he began his ministry in 1828 in Grimsby.

Extracts from his diaries bear testament to his zeal as an evangelist. From an extract in 1842, ‘..upon the whole we had a good day…. Since then a few souls have been converted there, and among these, there is an old man, in his 89th year. A brand plucked from the burning! May they go on and prosper’. And from his journal in 1843: ‘On April 12th, I held a penitent meeting at Ilkeston, and gave an address on faith and a present salvation. Many persons were present; and after we had had a hard struggle with the powers of darkness victory was obtained, four or five souls were brought into the liberty of the children of God.’

A ‘keen and penetrating mind’, John Stephenson was remembered as ‘natural, outspoken and witty; in public meetings often droll in the extreme, but so pithy and pointed as to make the people laugh and cry almost in one breath’. He strove to be true to himself and in spite of struggles with his mental health, his ministry was characterized by growth and faithfulness to the Gospel.

Family

First wife, Ann. Born Leeds 2 June 1808. Married 4 June 1828. Died 3 November 1829 a few days after giving birth to John.

Second wife, who gave birth to his second son, William in 1833 (died 1848). She died in 1848.

Third wife, Mary. Married June 1849. Died 11 January 1868.

Fourth wife. Married 1870.

Circuits

1825 Grimsby
1826 Leeds
1827 Huddersfield
1829 Preston
1830 Newcastle
1832 N Shields
1833 Hexham
1835 Darlington
1836 Pocklingon
1838 Hull
1839 Nottingham
1840 Winster
1842 Ilkeston
1844 Boston
1846 Uttoxeter
1848 Kniveton
1850 Chesterfield
1852 Brampton
1853 Milford
1854 Ashby de la Zouch
1855 Lincoln
1857 Bridgeford
1858 Nottingham I
1860 Ripley
1863 Ilkeston
1865 Bottesford
1867 Ripley (Sup)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine: 1828, 1843, 1849 (Portrait), 1874.

References in PM magazine for wives: 1830 (Ann), 1869, 1849, 1874

Minutes of Conference: 1874 (obituary)

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