Turner, John (1853-1928)
Early years
John was born in 1853 at Zeals, Wiltshire to parents Joseph and Mary. Joseph was a baker.
John was converted at the age of sixteen under the ministry of Rev E Powell. He immediately became a Sunday School teacher, and at the age of nineteen became a fully accredited local preacher. Having received a limited education in the village school, John gave himself to diligent reading and systematic study. He was invited to serve as a hired local preacher in his own circuit, which he did for six months.
Ministry
In all his stations the care of his churches was John’s chief concern. His plain, practical Scriptural preaching, his faithful visitation, his organising abilities, backed up with a sterling Christian character had but one object in view, the strengthening of his circuits in the things that endure.
John did his fair share of chapel building and debt reduction.
He was one of the first in Cornwall to take his turn before the magistrates as a Passive Resister.
John served as District Sunday School Secretary.
Family
John married Miriam Rebecca Foot (1855-1952) in the spring of 1881 at London Fields Chapel, Hackney, London. Census returns identify three children.
- Beatrice Maud (b1882)
- Daniel John (1886-1917) – a schoolmaster and local preacher; died in Egypt during WW1
- Edith Violet (1893-1975)
John died in the spring of 1928 at Warminster, Wiltshire.
Circuits
- 1875 St Neots
- 1877 Folkstone
- 1879 Brighton
- 1883 Horsham
- 1886 Exmouth
- 1889 Frome
- 1894 Abertillery
- 1897 Tredegar
- 1900 Redruth
- 1904 Lydbrook
- 1907 Lydney
- 1910 Newark
- 1913 Penzance
- 1918 Coleford
- 1921 Warminster
References
Primitive Methodist Magazine 1911/463
PM Minutes 1929/292
W Leary, Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits, 1990
Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers
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