John Bennet (preacher)
Encyclopedia
John Bennet was an early Methodist preacher, regarded as being “one of Wesley’s most responsible helpers in Yorkshire
, Lancashire
and Derbyshire
”. Born at Whitehaugh, near Chappel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire
, he was the youngest son of William Bennet, a yeoman
, and Ann his wife, who were members of the local dissenting Chapel of Dr James Clegg. Having received a good education at the school at Chappel-en-le-Frith and at the hands of private tutors, at the age of about seventeen Bennet attended Findern Academy, near Derby, to study for the Ministry. However, for reasons unknown, Bennet later commenced work as a Justice’s Clerk, and later as an independent packman transporting goods across the moors
from Sheffield to Macclesfield
.
While working as a packman Bennet met the itinerant preacher, David Taylor
, a former butler
of Selina Hastings, the Countess of Huntingdon, and became his traveling companion
. In January 1741 Bennet had an evangelical conversion
experience at Heyfield, Derbyshire. In the spring of the following year he met Benjamin Ingham
the Moravian, and became his associate. In the Summer of 1742 Bennet first met John Wesley
and, impressed by his preaching, became connected with the Methodist movement. As a Methodist preacher Bennet soon established a circuit of religious societies scattered throughout the north of England, later known as “John Bennet’s Round”. Usually on horseback, Bennet would follow a route from his home at Chinley
which took him throughout the northern counties.
While serving as a Methodist preacher Bennet not only served as an itinerant preacher but he was, as Frank Baker remarked; “one of the architects of early Methodist connexionalism
”. Bennet was highly influential in the introduction of the first annual Methodist conference, not only providing the idea for such a conference, providing a detailed account of that meeting. Bennet is also credited with establishing the first Methodist Circuit Quarterly Meeting which took place “at Major Marshall’s at Todmorden Edge on Tuesday 18th October, 1748”. Under Bennet’s supervision, such Quarterly Meetings were introduced elsewhere and became a key feature of Methodist organization.
Apart from his preaching activities, Bennet will be remembered for his marriage to the widow Grace Murray on 3 October 1749, a woman who at the time of Bennet’s proposal was already apparently engaged to be married to no less a person than John Wesley himself. This affair de coeur, and Bennet’s Calvinistic views which stood in sharp contrast with Wesley’s Arminianism
, led to Bennet’s departure from Methodism. In 1752 Bennet, after a fierce debate with Wesley, seceded from the Methodist Church in Bolton, Lancashire, taking a large segment of the Methodist society with him. He served as minister at Bolton for the following two years. In 1754 Bennet, now ordained as a congregationalist Minister, pastored a Church in the village of Warburton, Cheshire. On 24 May 1759, Bennet, fatigued with much preaching and constant sickness, finally died at the age of forty-five.
Traditionally Methodist historians loyal to Wesley have dismissed Bennet as “an incorrigible Dissenter”, or as “a treacherous, unfriendly man”. A more accurate appraisal of Bennet is given by Nehemiah Curnock, when he stated that Bennet was “one of the most successful of the north-country evangelists”. As James Everett
remarked: “few men were more useful in the early stages of Methodism than he”.
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...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
and Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
”. Born at Whitehaugh, near Chappel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, he was the youngest son of William Bennet, a yeoman
Yeoman
Yeoman refers chiefly to a free man owning his own farm, especially from the Elizabethan era to the 17th century. Work requiring a great deal of effort or labor, such as would be done by a yeoman farmer, came to be described as "yeoman's work"...
, and Ann his wife, who were members of the local dissenting Chapel of Dr James Clegg. Having received a good education at the school at Chappel-en-le-Frith and at the hands of private tutors, at the age of about seventeen Bennet attended Findern Academy, near Derby, to study for the Ministry. However, for reasons unknown, Bennet later commenced work as a Justice’s Clerk, and later as an independent packman transporting goods across the moors
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
from Sheffield to Macclesfield
Macclesfield
Macclesfield is a market town within the unitary authority of Cheshire East, the county palatine of Chester, also known as the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The population of the Macclesfield urban sub-area at the time of the 2001 census was 50,688...
.
While working as a packman Bennet met the itinerant preacher, David Taylor
David Taylor
- Sports :*David Taylor *David Taylor , former Welsh footballer*David Taylor , FA Cup winner with Bradford City in 1911 and 1914 with Burnley...
, a former butler
Butler
A butler is a domestic worker in a large household. In great houses, the household is sometimes divided into departments with the butler in charge of the dining room, wine cellar, and pantry. Some also have charge of the entire parlour floor, and housekeepers caring for the entire house and its...
of Selina Hastings, the Countess of Huntingdon, and became his traveling companion
Traveling Companion
Traveling Companion is a 1996 Italian drama film directed by Peter Del Monte. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Asia Argento - Cora* Michel Piccoli - Cosimo* Lino Capolicchio - Pepe...
. In January 1741 Bennet had an evangelical conversion
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
experience at Heyfield, Derbyshire. In the spring of the following year he met Benjamin Ingham
Benjamin Ingham
Benjamin Ingham , was born and raised in the Yorkshire and Humber region of England. He earned his B.A. degree from Oxford, and was ordained at age 23. Methodist connections from Oxford led to a colonial mission in America where he developed a keen interest in the Moravian church from fellow...
the Moravian, and became his associate. In the Summer of 1742 Bennet first met John Wesley
John Wesley
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield...
and, impressed by his preaching, became connected with the Methodist movement. As a Methodist preacher Bennet soon established a circuit of religious societies scattered throughout the north of England, later known as “John Bennet’s Round”. Usually on horseback, Bennet would follow a route from his home at Chinley
Chinley
Chinley is a rural village in High Peak Borough, situated on the western edge of the Peak District National Park in Derbyshire, England, with a population of around 2000. Before the railway, the area was economically dominated by agriculture and quarrying. Three textile mills were established in...
which took him throughout the northern counties.
While serving as a Methodist preacher Bennet not only served as an itinerant preacher but he was, as Frank Baker remarked; “one of the architects of early Methodist connexionalism
Connexionalism
The term Connexionalism is today most commonly used to describe the theological understanding and foundation of Methodist polity, as practised in the British Methodist Church and the American United Methodist Church...
”. Bennet was highly influential in the introduction of the first annual Methodist conference, not only providing the idea for such a conference, providing a detailed account of that meeting. Bennet is also credited with establishing the first Methodist Circuit Quarterly Meeting which took place “at Major Marshall’s at Todmorden Edge on Tuesday 18th October, 1748”. Under Bennet’s supervision, such Quarterly Meetings were introduced elsewhere and became a key feature of Methodist organization.
Apart from his preaching activities, Bennet will be remembered for his marriage to the widow Grace Murray on 3 October 1749, a woman who at the time of Bennet’s proposal was already apparently engaged to be married to no less a person than John Wesley himself. This affair de coeur, and Bennet’s Calvinistic views which stood in sharp contrast with Wesley’s Arminianism
Arminianism
Arminianism is a school of soteriological thought within Protestant Christianity based on the theological ideas of the Dutch Reformed theologian Jacobus Arminius and his historic followers, the Remonstrants...
, led to Bennet’s departure from Methodism. In 1752 Bennet, after a fierce debate with Wesley, seceded from the Methodist Church in Bolton, Lancashire, taking a large segment of the Methodist society with him. He served as minister at Bolton for the following two years. In 1754 Bennet, now ordained as a congregationalist Minister, pastored a Church in the village of Warburton, Cheshire. On 24 May 1759, Bennet, fatigued with much preaching and constant sickness, finally died at the age of forty-five.
Traditionally Methodist historians loyal to Wesley have dismissed Bennet as “an incorrigible Dissenter”, or as “a treacherous, unfriendly man”. A more accurate appraisal of Bennet is given by Nehemiah Curnock, when he stated that Bennet was “one of the most successful of the north-country evangelists”. As James Everett
James Everett (writer)
-Life:Everett was born in 1784 at Alnwick in Northumberland. He was the second son of John Everett and his wife, Margaret Bowmaker. Everett's father died when he was young, and the boy soon learned to help his mother. After a short time at a private school in Alnwick, he was apprenticed to a...
remarked: “few men were more useful in the early stages of Methodism than he”.