From Frederick Leach Buxton at the Methodist Church, Cock Road, Kingswood, near Bristol, to Lewis Court.
Buxton, Richard Pyke and John Ford Reed have consulted with Frank Cumbers of the Book Room concerning Court's collection of Bible Christian memorabilia and Cumbers is very keen to have the collection deposited at City Road in London. Cumbers already has one parcel of papers deposited by Court and he has similar items already at City Road.
It is recognised that Court has a great love for Greenbank Chapel in Plymouth, but it must be realised that given time and changes in personnel the collection would be regarded as `so much lumber'. Court's collection is of such historic value that it must be preserved and City Road would be the safest place.
The only additional literature possessed by Reed is a set of old Arminian Magazines published previous to the Bible Christian Magazine and a number of letters between William O'Bryan and James Thorne concerning the split between them.
Buxton is also hopeful that he could find the money to have the volumes bound. Reed and Pyke have promised to help him find a couple of wealthy laymen to help with this.
Buxton is very keen to assist Court in every way possible. The years are taking their toll and something must be done soon.
Notes .
- Frank Henry Cumbers (1905-1991) was born in London. He trained at Richmond College and entered the Wesleyan ministry in 1926. He was appointed the Assistant Book Steward in 1947 and was elected Book Steward and General Manager of the Publishing House a year later. Cumbers served in that position until his retirement in 1969. Cumbers wrote histories of Richmond College and of the Methodist Book Room. He served on many connexional committees and was actively involved with the World Methodist Council. Source: Encyclopedia of World Methodism (1974) and M R 12 September 1991, p.18
- James Thorne (1795-1872) was born in North Devon. In 1816 he became the first itinerant preacher of the Bible Christian Connexion and served with great success in the South-West and later in Kent. Thorne possessed considerable organisational abilities and effectively succeeded William O'Bryan as the leader of the Connexion in 1829. He was five times President of the Conference and edited the Connexional Magazine for thirty-eight year. Source: Encyclopedia of World Methodism (1974)
- William O'Bryan (1778-1868) was the founder of the Bible Christian Connexion. He was born at Gunwen in Cornwall, the son of Anglican-Methodist parents. O'Bryan was a deeply religious youth and committed himself to life as an Evangelist at the age of 23. For several years he made his living as a farmer but absented himself for long periods on preaching tours. He served as a Wesleyan local preacher but proved unwilling to accept Connexional discipline. O'Bryan offered himself for the ministry but was rejected. In 1810 he was expelled from chapel membership for non-attendance in his class. For a few years he worked as an independent minister with considerable success and was reconciled to Wesleyan Methodism, only to be expelled once more. In October 1815 he formed what became the Bible Christian Connexion, which within a few years had put down strong roots in Devon and Cornwall and had established Societies in London, Kent and the Channel Isles. O'Bryan was a highly gifted preacher but possessed little administrative ability. He came into conflict with his followers and emigrated to the United States in 1831. He made several visits to England and was partially reconciled to the Connexion which he had founded. He is buried in New York. Source: Encyclopedia of World Methodism (1974), and Thomas Shaw, A History of Cornish Methodism (1967), pp.88-92