JOHN NEVILLE

MY PRIMITIVE METHODIST 1839-1919

BY GEOFF DICKINSON

Early years John was born at Minster Lovell, Oxfordshire to parents William and Jane. William worked on the land. William and Jane attended the Church of England. John was baptised 13 October 1839 at Minster Lovell. He was confirmed by Bishop Samuel Wilberforce.

In 1851 John was working as an agricultural labourer. John was converted quite young and joined the Primitive Methodists who had commenced preaching in the area. In turn he became a prayer leader, exhorter and local preacher. In parallel he self studied to compensate for his lack of formal education. He was pledged in 1861 by the Newbury circuit.

Ministry As a preacher John was thoughtful and earnest, aiming to build up the people in a robust Christian life. John spent 8 years on the Probationers Examination Committee. He spent 14 years as Secretary of the District Committee. When he retired his colleagues present him with an easy chair.

Family John married Emma Smith (1833-1880) in early 1869 in the Kingston Registration District. Surrey census returns identify one child. Egbert (1869-1936 — a chemist). John married Sarah Ann Moon (1843-1921) on 2 January 1882 at Hackney, London. Sarah was a head teacher of a British School and then ran her own private school in Cirencester before her marriage.

John died on 20 February 1919 at Newbury.

Circuits

1862 Aylesbury

1864 Andover

1885 Brinkworth

1868 Newbury

1869 Cranbourne

1870 Poole

1873 Winchester

1878 Aylesbury

1881 Banbury

1885 Wallingford

1888 Blandford

1891 Brinkworth

1895 Oxford

1898 Newbury, was a temperence supporter and passive resister

1905 Newbury (S)

References: Primitive Methodist Magazine 1881/696 (Emma). 1895/563 1919/653 1822/136 (Sarah Ann)

PM Minutes 1918/277

W. Leary Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits. 1990. Census Returns and Births, Marriages and Deaths Registers.

Sources: