STAFFORDSHIRE-L Archives

Archiver > STAFFORDSHIRE > 2002-01 > 1010604362


From:
Subject: [STS] Methodist Ministers
Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2002 14:26:02 EST


In a message dated 9/1/02 in Heather
writes: "> George's Grandfather, Charles HEWITT, was a Methodist Minister (New
> Connexion). In 1881 he and his wife Elizabeth KERSHAW lived at 1 Hassells
> St, Newcastle Under Lyme, Stafford, England. Charles was born
> at Dunham Massey, Cheshire and Elizabeth was born at Denton, Lancashire.
> Charles was a Minister for about 50 years and had moved about before
> settling in Newcastle. Is there a repository for records of the Methodist
> New Connexion Church? Are there records of Ministers and their parish
> assignments? Where might these records be held?"

First of all to say there is no Charles Hewitt in the minister list for any
of the connexions which went to make up modern Methodism. I therefore
suspect you do not know the difference between a "Local Preacher" and
"Itinerant Preacher". It was the Itinerants who were called Ministers and
were trained and ordained and worked full time for the Church. The Locals
remained within their home territory called a "Circuit" and earned their own
living, having done three years or so part-time training, they led worship
usually within their own Circuit and the immediate neighbouring ones.

There are plenty of records about Itinerants (I am one myself). I have a
cope of "Hall's List" which gives the names, starting dates, and death dates
of all Ministers and that is where i looked up your Charles Hewitt.

If he was a Local Preacher you have problems - they are notoriously difficult
to research. You have to track down Circuit Plans (the quarterly publication
which told each preacher where s/he was leading worship for the next three
months, and since these were considered ephemera they were usually thrown
away.

There are a whole list of places where you might find residual Plans and you
should try them in this order -

The Superintendent Minister of the Local Circuit. Besides asking him if
there are any Plans in the Circuit Safe also ask if there were any deposited
with the Cheshire Record Office and for the name and address of the District
Archivist. Then write to the District Archivist.

Next try The Society of Cirplanologists who are assembling a database of
existing Circuit Plans. They may be able to tell you who to contact to get a
photocopy made of those which refer to your grandfather. Mr E. A. Rose BA,
26 Roe Cross Green, Mottram, Hyde SK14 6LP. [01457-763485]

Finally try the Methodist Archives and Research Centre at John Rylands
University Library, Deansgate, Manchester M3 3EH [0161-834-5343] - but they
deal with national records more than local ones.

Good Hunting

Cyril








This thread: