Pinchen, John (1867-1946)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1922
Primitive Methodist Magazine 1922

Early years

John was born on 12 April 1867 at Corpusty, Norfolk, to parents Thomas and Rebecca. Thomas was a farm labourer (1871) and later a coal miner (1881).

While a mere child, the family migrated to the North of England, and his childhood and youth were spent in connection with the village Sunday school and Church at Moorsley, Co Durham.

Although his bent was towards a musical career, it soon became evident that he was destined for the PM ministry. John spent two years at Hartley College.

Ministry

His obituary records that John’s sermons and prayers alike bore evidence of a fresh, lucid, and forcible thinker, and the evangelical note was seldom absent. His unconventional approach to great themes, his clear and incisive speech, combined with a strong sense of humour not always obedient to discipline, secured for him the attention few men command. An avid reader, John was well versed in general literature and apologetics, but his main interest was philosophical rather than theological.

John served a term as Secretary of the District Building Committee.

Family

John married Katherine Hannah Gill (1869-1951) in late 1895 at Gateshead, Co Durham. Katherine was the daughter of Rev John Gill. Katherine was a skilled musician and she succeeded in raising hundreds of pounds for the depleted funds of Church and Trust Estate. Census returns identify one child.

  • Ivan Gill (1896-1963)

John died on 11 May 1946 at Darlington, Co Durham.

Circuits

  • Hartley
  • 1892 Glasgow
  • 1893 Gateshead II
  • 1895 Chertsey
  • 1898 Tottenham
  • 1903 Glasgow IV
  • 1907 Alston
  • 1909 Hetton
  • 1913 Shildon
  • 1918 Blyth
  • 1922 St Helens Auckland
  • 1927 Shotley Bridge
  • 1930 Allendale
  • 1932 Alston
  • 1933 N Shields

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1922/76

Methodist Minutes 1946/145

W Leary, Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits, 1990

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

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