Papers of Kingsley Melling

The Kingsley Melling Papers are a collection of typewritten sheets that record Melling's thoughts on and interpretation of the Bible. All books of the Bible are covered. It also contains Melling's thoughts and views on various themes and aspects of the Christian faith. This collection was probably Melling's primary resource for his adult Bible classes which were held following the Sunday service at Horwich Evangelical Church in Bolton. Also included are two typescript histories produced by members of Horwich Evangelical Church. These papers would be of interest to historians of the Brethren movement as well as biographers of Brethren preachers.

Kingsley Melling was born in Bolton on 19 October 1903 to Walter and Ann Melling along with his twin brother, Clifford. Melling went to Bolton Grammar School, then to night school at the School of Pharmacy in Manchester. He eventually set up a chemist shop in Horwich which he ran with his son, George. He worked up to the age of 90. When not working, Melling was active in the Brethren movement and became a respected preacher who was known to prepare well and research thoroughly. This collection is evidence of that. Melling died on 18 August 2004.

The papers were arranged into the following seven series

• Biblical Books
• Quotes
• Outlines
• Themes
• Melling's Miscellany
• Miscellaneous
• Typescript Histories

The collection is open to any accredited reader.

Bob Heath at Horwich Evangelical Church

Photocopies and photographic copies of material in the archive can be supplied for private study purposes only, depending on the condition of the documents.

A number of items within the archive remain within copyright under the terms of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988; it is the responsibility of users to obtain the copyright holder's permission for reproduction of copyright material for purposes other than research or private study.

Prior written permission must be obtained from the Library for publication or reproduction of any material within the archive. Please contact the Head of Special Collections, John Rylands Library, 150 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3EH.

These papers were stored in a filing cabinet at Horwich Evangelical Church and were transferred to the University of Manchester in November 2012

none expected

Tim Grass, Gathering to His Name: The Story of the Open Brethren in Britain and Ireland (Milton Keynes: Paternoster, 2006)