From [William] Edwards at Berrow near Wrington [postmark]. A number of circumstances have combined to prevent him from replying to Tooth's letter before now. His wife has in any case, already written to give some particulars of their journey here etc [FL/2/15/1]. As Tooth has always expressed great interest in their welfare, he will however provide more details.
Edwards has been greatly preoccupied since arriving here [Banwell Circuit]. 'A disunion which took place between the people & the preachers [Francis Wrigley and Joseph Bowes], who preceded us in this Circuit caused our path to be rather rough; especially as I came a second married preacher, to which they objected: but when I came, although neither house nor lodgings were provided; they said they were willing to do all in their power to make us comfortable: the superintendent's house being rather large & families being rather small, the Circuit stewards urged us [Edwards and his colleague Caleb Simmons] to live together, & they would provide necessary furniture; to this proposal myself & my wife felt agreeable; knowing that plan would be the most economical; which we conceived to be necessary, especially in such a Circuit as this: Mr [Simmons] was willing, but Mrs [Simmons] objected! & thereby gave fresh & great offence, which is not yet forgotten. '
'All they allowed me at our first qr [quarter] day for board, was 5s [shillings] pr week, & only £5.5s for quartage, wasting, letters, travelling expenses etc, the same which they formerly gave to their single preacher, & said they could do no more; which is far less than I ever had in any other Circuit when single: last qr day they allowed 7s pr week; but I am not certain whether they will be able to continue it; this is different to the 14s in Brosely particularly as it will not be made up by the Conference: however I had more allowed me at our financial District meeting, for coals, candles, lodgings & wifes quartage, [more] than I expected; Mr Griffiths & Moore [Henry Moore, stationed at Bristol King Street] did I believe as much as they could for me, & I thought in a great measure through the influence of a CERTAIN FRIEND! [Tooth?] but is not pecuniary embarrassment that has given me the greatest grief of mind: a spirit of contention, & evil speaking, & want of piety among professors [ie Christians] has certainly caused me sorrow of heart: the prejudice formed in the minds of some against the itinerancy has deprived us of the hope of being very useful…but I must say notwithstanding all the difficulties, that the people have in general been kind to me, & have repeatedly said they are satisfied with the instrument: Mr [Simmons] has been much liked as a preacher, but has displeased by several small things; particularly by changing the two Circuit stewards (who had been in office for almost twenty years) & by saying something upon the nature of their duty: I believe if these stewards had been changed some years ago many unpleasantries now existing would have been prevented!'
Edwards's aim has been to establish peace among the various contenders and things have of late seemed quieter. Spiritual matters are discussed in detail.
He is sure that when there was no house for them to stay in, the Lord directed them to a place which few would have thought of. The lodgings are comfortable and the people with whom they live, are very kind. They had not heard much Methodist preaching before the arrival of the Edwards's but now attend regularly.
They were very pleased to hear that Tooth is well and that their old Circuit [Madeley] is prosperous and the preachers very well regarded [Jonathan Crowther and John Sumner].
Tooth has no doubt heard of the death of [Samuel] Taylor. May the Lord he a husband to his widow and a father to his children. [Joseph] Benson is also called to his eternal rest. They were upset to hear of the recent deaths in Madeley, especially that of Mr Perton which was so sudden. Spiritual matters are discussed.
They were very pleased to hear that Mrs Williams is well again. It would be wonderful if Tooth could come to Bristol in the summer and to visit them in Langford. It is only twelve miles from the city and it is a pleasant road. It was good of Tooth to tell them how the young woman is getting on [see 2/15.1].
In a postscript, he mentions that he was sorry to read in the newspapers of the fresh riots in Tooth's neighbourhood. An account would be gratifying.
Notes
- Francis Wrigley (1746-1824) was born in Manchester. He entered the Wesleyan itinerancy in 1769 and exercised an active Circuit ministry for fifty-five years in England, Ireland and Scotland. His conference obituary describes him as a rigid enforcer of Methodist discipline. In his personality there was 'a degree of harshness; and he retained throughout his life an abruptness of manner, which not infrequently produced…an opinion unfavourable to his courtesy: but those who knew him best, discovered in him great tenderness of affection….' At the time of his death he was the oldest Methodist minister. Wrigley was buried at City Road chapel in London. Source: Hill's Arrangement 1819 and Minutes of Conference 1825
- Joseph Bowes (1766-1849) was raised in the Roman Catholic faith but began to attend Protestant worship at an early age. He went to live with an uncle who was a Methodist and this led to his conversion. Bowes entered the Wesleyan itinerancy in 1792 and exercised his Circuit ministry in Wales and England until superannuation in 1835. He spent his retirement in Bristol. Source: Hill's Arrangement 1847 and Minutes of Conference 1850
- Joseph Benson (1748-1821) was born of farming stock at Mamerby in Cumberland. Intended by his father for the Anglican ministry, Benson received a sound classical education and became a teacher at the age of sixteen. Converted under the influence of a Methodist cousin, he was introduced to John Wesley and was appointed classics master at Kingswood School. In 1769 Benson entered St Edmund Hall Oxford but was denied Anglican orders because of his Methodist sympathies. After serving for a short time as headmaster of the Countess of Huntingdon's ministerial training college at Trevecca, he joined the Methodist itinerancy in 1771. Benson was a great favourite of John Wesley and the two often corresponded. He went on to become President of Conference in 1798 and 1810 and served as its secretary in 1805 and 1809. In 1803 Benson was appointed connexional editor and in this capacity was a major influence on the development of the Methodist Magazine. Despite his own experiences, Benson was a staunch supporter of the link with the Church of England and two of his own sons entered the Anglican priesthood. Source: Encyclopedia of World Methodism (1974) and Dictionary of Evangelical Biography 1739-1860, edited by Donald M. Lewis (1995)
- Jonathan Crowther (1759-1824) was born at Northowram near Halifax in Yorkshire. After hearing the preaching of the Anglican evangelical Brian Bury Collins in 1779, Crowther joined the Bradford Methodist Society and was converted under the influence of the Wesleyan minister Alexander Mather. Crowther entered the itinerancy in 1786 and served Circuits in Scotland and England. Adept at finding remedies to the financial problems which plagued the Connexion, he was also involved in the controversies of the 1790s between preachers and chapel trustees. In 1810 he wrote The Methodist Manual, which went through several editions in Britain and the United States, and became a useful weapon in the fight against Lord Sidmouth's bill of 1811. His reputation was further enhanced by his biography of Thomas Coke, which appeared in 1815. Crowther was elected President of Conference in 1819 and deputed to the same office in the Irish Conference a year later His death followed two years when he was afflicted with paralysis. Two of Crowther's brothers also served as Wesleyan ministers, as did his son Jonathan junior. Source: Minutes of Conference 1824 and Dictionary of Evangelical Biography, edited by Donald Lewis (1995)
- John Sumner, Senior (1790-1837) was converted at the age of seventeen and entered the Wesleyan itinerancy in 1811. His Circuit ministry of twenty-six years was spent in England. Sumner's last Circuit appointment was Rochdale and it is stated in the Conference Minutes, that the 'vexatious annoyances and harassing duties' which he experienced there, hastened his early death. Source: Hill's Arrangement 1833 and Minutes of Conference 1837
- Samuel Taylor (1769-1821) entered the Wesleyan itinerancy in 1790. He served Circuits in England and Wales until his death after a short illness whilst stationed in the East London Circuit. Source: Minutes of Conference 1821