Notable Methodists from
North Lancashire

Martha Thompson, b.Preston 1731; went to London and greatly influenced by Wesley's preaching. She was believed to be suffering from religious mania because of her enthusiasm. John Wesley secured her release from Bedlam and she became known as Preston's first Methodist.

William Bramwell, b.in the Fylde 1759. He was one of Mr Wesley's Preachers. Success in evangelism and his encouragement of women to become preachers brought him notoriety. Picture

William Threlfall, (1799-1825) born in Woodplumpton, near Preston. He felt the call to be a missionary as a teenager and sailed for South Africa in 1822 and worked among Africans in Delagoa Bay. The isolated missionary station had had to be closed because of the outbreak of dysentery and malaria. He along with two African colleagues were brutally murdered by robbers, and he was looked upon as the first Methodist Martyr. Picture

Dr. Vincent Taylor, FBA, one of Methodism's most outstanding Biblical scholars, especially in the NT and The Person and Work of Christ. He was born in Edenfield in 1887, entering the ministry in 1909 and was Principal of Headingly College for many years. His outstanding work was a commentary on St. Mark's Gospel.

GeorgeTomlinson MP, b. 1890 and was educated at Rushton Wesleyan Methodist Day School. He became President of the Weavers Union and was elected as an MP in 1938. In the Post War Labour Government he was appointed as Minister of Works and later was Minister of Education (1947-51). He was largely responsible for implementing the Education Act of 1944.

Sir. William Pickles Hartley, (1846-1922) born in Colne into a strong Primitive Methodist family. Success in the manufacture of jam brought considerable wealth and he used this to promote the advancement of the P.M. Connexion. He built a model village for his employees at Aintree, Liverpool. His great interest in Ministerial Training led him to establish the Hartley Lecture and the major beneficiary of his generosity was The Theological Institute in Manchester, generally known as Hartley College. He was President of the PM Conference in 1909. Pictures

Methodist Day Schools were a common feature in North Lancashire from the 1870's until recent years. They represented Wesleyan Methodism's contribution to the education of the poor. There were many in the North Lancashire District, notably at Leyland, Preston, Burnley, and some small villages. Many were handed over to local authorities and by 1997, in the country as a whole there were only 56 'voluntary schools', and 28 were joint Anglican/ Methodist Schools.

Details

For some examples see the Picture Gallery