William Morley Punshon
Encyclopedia
William Morley Punshon was an English
Nonconformist divine].
He was born at Doncaster
, Yorkshire
, was educated in his native town, and, after spending a few years in business, at the Wesleyan College, Richmond. In 1845 he received his first appointment, at Marden, Kent
, and soon became famous as a preacher
. After serving the usual period of probation he was ordained at Manchester
in 1849 and for the next nineteen years travelled in several circuits, including some of the London ones (1858-1864).
In 1868 he went to Chicago
as the representative of the Wesleyan Methodist
conference, and settling in Canada
did much to advance the cause of his denomination. His preaching and lecturing drew great crowds both in the Dominion and in the United States, and he was five times president of the Canadian conference. In Canada, he often worked with and mentored Manly Benson
a Methodist minister who was an eloquent lecturer.
He returned to England in 1873, was elected president of conference 1874, and in 1875 one of the missionary secretaries. A sign of his oratory was the collection after one of his sermons at the City Road chapel in 1873, which raised 2,079. He also raised £10,000 over three years for the ‘Watering Places Chapel Fund’ which built 24 chapels in resorts in England and Wales.
He published several volumes of sermons, and a book of verse entitled Sabbath Chimes (1867, new edition 1880).
He died at Tranby Lodge, Brixton Hill
, on 14 April 1881 and was interred in a miniature Gothic chapel erected at West Norwood Cemetery
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Nonconformist divine].
He was born at Doncaster
Doncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, was educated in his native town, and, after spending a few years in business, at the Wesleyan College, Richmond. In 1845 he received his first appointment, at Marden, Kent
Marden, Kent
Marden is a village about 13 km south of Maidstone and civil parish in the Maidstone District of Kent, England. The parish is located on the flood plain of the River Beult near Maidstone. It is on the B2079 road linking the A229 Maidstone with the A21 at Flimwell. It has its own railway...
, and soon became famous as a preacher
Preacher
Preacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
. After serving the usual period of probation he was ordained at Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
in 1849 and for the next nineteen years travelled in several circuits, including some of the London ones (1858-1864).
In 1868 he went to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
as the representative of the Wesleyan Methodist
Wesleyan Methodist Church
The Wesleyan Methodist Church was a Methodist denomination in the United States organized on May 13, 1841. It was composed of ministers and laypeople who withdrew from the Methodist Episcopal Church because of disagreements regarding slavery, church government, and the doctrine of holiness...
conference, and settling in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
did much to advance the cause of his denomination. His preaching and lecturing drew great crowds both in the Dominion and in the United States, and he was five times president of the Canadian conference. In Canada, he often worked with and mentored Manly Benson
Manly Benson
Manly Benson was a Methodist minister. He was born in Newburgh, Upper Canada and attended the Newburgh Academy where he was probably influenced by their religious teachings to convert to the Methodist faith....
a Methodist minister who was an eloquent lecturer.
He returned to England in 1873, was elected president of conference 1874, and in 1875 one of the missionary secretaries. A sign of his oratory was the collection after one of his sermons at the City Road chapel in 1873, which raised 2,079. He also raised £10,000 over three years for the ‘Watering Places Chapel Fund’ which built 24 chapels in resorts in England and Wales.
He published several volumes of sermons, and a book of verse entitled Sabbath Chimes (1867, new edition 1880).
He died at Tranby Lodge, Brixton Hill
Brixton Hill
Brixton Hill is the name given to a 1 km section of road between Brixton and Streatham Hill in south London, England. It slopes downhill towards central London.Brixton Hill and Streatham Hill form part of the traditional main London to Brighton road...
, on 14 April 1881 and was interred in a miniature Gothic chapel erected at West Norwood Cemetery
West Norwood Cemetery
West Norwood Cemetery is a cemetery in West Norwood in London, England. It was also known as the South Metropolitan Cemetery.One of the first private landscaped cemeteries in London, it is one of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries of London, and is a site of major historical, architectural and...