Lowe, Thomas (1822-1896)
Early years
Thomas was born on 18 August 1822 in Liverpool. His father was a Scottish Presbyterian. Thomas was converted aged 12 at an open air service. He became a well-known ‘boy preacher’ and aged only 15 began his ministry with the Huddersfield circuit.
Ministry
Kendall writes that his ministry extended to the unprecedented length of fifty-eight years. He had a fervent, optimistic temperament and a highly rhetorical style. His enthusiastic, untiring advocacy of the African mission, however, is that feature in his character and ministry with which we are now most concerned. He was ‘gone’ on Africa. A large map of the continent hung on the walls of his study. The shelves of his library bristled with books on Africa. In whatever company he found himself the conversation was sure to turn on Africa.
His obituary records that when in his prime, he was one of the most popular ministers in the connexion and in great request for ‘specials’ all over the country.
Literature
Thomas authored the following.
The pilot of the Galilean Lake , 1854
The good intent, or, The heaven-bound ship a characteristic sketch of Primitive Methodism, 1860
The Christian Speaker: Or, Plain and Practical Sketches for the Pulpit, Platform, and Pew, 1874 (with William Whitby)
The Norfolk Herald of the Cross , 1881
Family
Thomas married Ann Major (b1822) of Messingham in 1843. Census returns identify three children.
- Luther Major (b1848) – a printer compositor (1881)
- Milton Thomas (1852-1897) – a traveller dry salter and confectioner
- Alfred (b1856) – a draper (1881)
Thomas married Charlotte Willoughby Riches Balls (b1839) in 1868 at Tunstead, Norfok. Census returns identify three children.
- Edith Ann M (1869-1949) – a schoolteacher; married Alfred Percy Thacker, a wood engraver
- Lilian Beatrice B (1872-1965) – a milliner
- Frank Livingstone Riches (1874-1960) – a Congregational Minister
Thomas died on 18 November 1896 at Hove, Sussex.
Circuits
- 1837 Isle of Man
- 1839 Preston Brook
- 1840 Scotter
- 1842 York
- 1843 Brighton
- 1844 Portsmouth
- 1845 Bedford
- 1846 Lynn
- 1847 Briston
- 1849 Rockland
- 1851 Cambridge
- 1853 Ipswich
- 1855 Briston
- 1857 Yarmouth
- 1860 Lynn
- 1862 E Dereham
- 1865 Norwich
- 1867 Hull (Sup)
- 1869 Winterton (Ac)
- 1872 Alford
- 1875 Tadcaster
- 1877 Epworth
- 1880 E Dereham
- 1882 Presteign
- 1884 Wolverhampton
- 1886 Stratford
- 1889 Ramsor
- 1892 Leake
- 1893 Lydney
- 1896 Hove
References
Primitive Methodist Magazine 1863 (portrait); 1868/375 (wife)
The Primitive Methodist, 1896/787
PM Minutes 1897/20
H B Kendall, Origin and History of the PM Church, vol 2, p482
W Leary,Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits , 1990
Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers
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This page was modified on 24 December 2015 to add an article published in the Christian Messenger 1915.
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