William Clowes (Primitive Methodist)
Encyclopedia
William Clowes was one of the founders of Primitive Methodism
.
He was born at Burslem
, Staffordshire
, on 12 March 1780,
son of William Clowes, potter, and of Ann, daughter of Aaron Wedgwood
, grandson of Gilbert Wedgwood. He was employed during his early years as a working potter.
For many years Clowes led a dissipated life. He was a fine dancer and aspired to be the premier dancer in the kingdom. On 20 January 1805 was converted. He soon established a prayer-meeting in his own house and led a Wesleyan Methodist
class.
Clowes attended the first Primitive Methodist camp-meeting ever held in England - at Mow Cop
near Harriseahead
on 31 May 1807. He was joined in this meeting by Hugh
and James Bourne and others. In October 1808 he preached his trial sermon with the Wesleyan Methodists and was duly appointed a local preacher; but, continuing to associate with the Bournes and to attend camp-meetings, his name was omitted from the preachers' plan in June 1810, and in September his quarterly ticket as a member of the society was withheld from him.
After this he made common cause with the Bournes and J. Crawfort. With them he founded the Primitive Methodist Connexion, and became one of the best-known preachers of the new society. He worked mainly in northern England, as well as in London
and Cornwall
, were most successful in adding members to the church. In 1819 he introduced primitive Methodism to Hull
.
On 10 June 1842 he was placed on the superannuation fund, but still continued his labours as before, and was at his work until a day or two before his decease, which took place, from paralysis, at Hull on 2 March 1851. He was a man of strong common sense and of great mental powers.
One of his daughters married her cousin Rev. John Wedgwood
.
Primitive Methodism
Primitive Methodism was a major movement in English Methodism from about 1810 until the Methodist Union in 1932. The Primitive Methodist Church still exists in the United States.-Origins:...
.
He was born at Burslem
Burslem
The town of Burslem, known as the Mother Town, is one of the six towns that amalgamated to form the current city of Stoke-on-Trent, in the ceremonial county of Staffordshire, in the Midlands of England.-Topography:...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, on 12 March 1780,
son of William Clowes, potter, and of Ann, daughter of Aaron Wedgwood
Wedgwood
Wedgwood, strictly speaking Josiah Wedgwood and Sons, is a pottery firm owned by KPS Capital Partners, a private equity company based in New York City, USA. Wedgwood was founded on May 1, 1759 by Josiah Wedgwood and in 1987 merged with Waterford Crystal to create Waterford Wedgwood, an...
, grandson of Gilbert Wedgwood. He was employed during his early years as a working potter.
For many years Clowes led a dissipated life. He was a fine dancer and aspired to be the premier dancer in the kingdom. On 20 January 1805 was converted. He soon established a prayer-meeting in his own house and led a Wesleyan Methodist
Methodist Church of Great Britain
The Methodist Church of Great Britain is the largest Wesleyan Methodist body in the United Kingdom, with congregations across Great Britain . It is the United Kingdom's fourth largest Christian denomination, with around 300,000 members and 6,000 churches...
class.
Clowes attended the first Primitive Methodist camp-meeting ever held in England - at Mow Cop
Mow Cop
Mow Cop is an isolated village which straddles the Cheshire–Staffordshire border, and is thus divided between the North West and West Midlands regions of England...
near Harriseahead
Harriseahead
The village of Harriseahead on the northern edge of the Potteries is of historical interest.-Harriseahead:Harriseahead is a village in the county of Staffordshire, England,just north of Stoke on Trent and about 2 miles south-west of Biddulph and very close to the border with Cheshire.The etymology...
on 31 May 1807. He was joined in this meeting by Hugh
Hugh Bourne
Hugh Bourne was the joint founder of Primitive Methodism, the largest offshoot of Wesleyan Methodism and, in the mid nineteenth century, an influential Protestant Christian movement in its own right.- Early life :...
and James Bourne and others. In October 1808 he preached his trial sermon with the Wesleyan Methodists and was duly appointed a local preacher; but, continuing to associate with the Bournes and to attend camp-meetings, his name was omitted from the preachers' plan in June 1810, and in September his quarterly ticket as a member of the society was withheld from him.
After this he made common cause with the Bournes and J. Crawfort. With them he founded the Primitive Methodist Connexion, and became one of the best-known preachers of the new society. He worked mainly in northern England, as well as in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, were most successful in adding members to the church. In 1819 he introduced primitive Methodism to Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
.
On 10 June 1842 he was placed on the superannuation fund, but still continued his labours as before, and was at his work until a day or two before his decease, which took place, from paralysis, at Hull on 2 March 1851. He was a man of strong common sense and of great mental powers.
One of his daughters married her cousin Rev. John Wedgwood
John Allen Wedgwood
The Reverend John Allen Wedgwood , normally known as Allen Wedgwood was rector of Maer Staffordshire.Wedgwood was the fifth of six children and the fourth and youngest son of John Wedgwood , and his wife Louisa Jane Allen...
.