11. Stafford Circuit

It is eminently fitting that in the Municipal centre of the county, from which its pioneers came, Primitive Methodism should, at the present time, be so strong a force, and while early records are scarce and it has not been possible to say that on a given date Hugh Bourne, or William Clowes, or John Benton, or Sarah Kirkland (or other of those whose names were names to conjure with) established a society in this town, it is fairly certain that in the earliest days of the Connexion such an event happened, and throughout the years Stafford and its dependent societies have worthily upheld the highest traditions of our church.

For some time Stafford Circuit was a branch of Wrockwardine Wood Station, with 16 preaching places under its care, and it was not until somewhere about the middle of the 19th century that it was recognised as a separate station. Of the 16 societies then flourishing, only three, Stafford Snow Hill, Wheaton Aston and Gnosall now remain to us, some having faded away with the passing of their members, and others having passed into other hands. Nevertheless, the torch once lighted has never been extinguished, and while the flame has died down in one place, it has broken out somewhere else, and there are to-day 11 Societies—Stafford Snow Hill, Stafford Brook Street, Wheaton Aston, Gnosall, Rugeley, High Offley, Handsacre, Bishops Offley, Pye Green, Coton Clanford and Brockton, each with a substantial following and a spiritual life radiant with the bloom of health, the total membership being 406. There are 10 Sunday Schools with 76 officers and teachers and 506 scholars. 

The Circuit will not go into the United Communion of Methodism with a millstone of financial burden about her, for Trust debts are practically nonexistent—a happy position of which the Circuit may justly feel proud. This has been achieved not by the munificent generosity of the wealthy few, but by common sacrifice. 

Stafford Circuit has been favoured in her Ministers, and many with honoured names have graced her pulpits and served her churches with devotion and distinction. She has always had an adequate staff of lay preachers, whose loyalty and sacrifice in making long journeys to the outposts of this wide circuit, in summer and in winter, in fair weather or in foul, to tell out of a full heart the love of God and the joy there is in serving Him, we shall never fully appreciate. Not a few of the stars of Primitive Methodism have emanated from this district, and the forebears of the late Dr. A.S. Peake were members of our Wheaton Aston Society. It is difficult to single out names for special mention when there are so many whose distinguished service claims for them the right to this honour, but reference must be made to Mr. Charles Banks, the Circuit Steward, who, for over 55 years, has served our Church in one capacity or another with such steadfastness and devotion.

The outstanding event of recent years was the Synod of 1927, held at Snow Hill Church, Stafford, which witnessed such a wonderful outpouring of the Spirit of God and so great an ingathering of young people into the Kingdom. May the 1932 Synod enjoy an even richer experience. 

W.H.R.