Encourag'd by thy gracious word

Author: William Sanders

Sanders, William, a Primitive Methodist minister, who was alive in 1881, but concerning whom we have no later information, left the home connexion after some years of labour, and undertook pastoral duty at Pottsville, U.S.A., in 1838. In the early days of the Primitive Methodist movement Sanders assisted H. Bourne (p. 165, i.) in compiling the hymn-books for the use of the Connexion. In hymn-writing they often worked together, and numerous hymns in the old collections of the denomination are signed jointly as, "H. B. & W. S.," and again as “W. S. & H. B." In the Primitive Methodist Hymnal of 1887 the following hymns are by him from the Collection of Hymns for Camp Meetings, &c, 1821, in which they are signed "W. S.":— 1. Behold, what… Go to person page >

Author: Hugh Bourne

Bourne, Hugh, the principal founder of the Primitive Methodist Society, and the editor of their first hymn-books, was born at Fordhays, Stoke-on-Trent, April 3, 1772. His father, Joseph Bourne, a person in humble circumstances, was a member of the Church of England, whilst his mother belonged to the Wesleyan Society. His education, for his circumstances, was fairly good; and by earnest application to study he acquired some knowledge of Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. His mind was of a strongly devotional cast, and the Methodist movement of those days had such attractions for him that he joined himself thereto in 1709. The following year he went to reside near the Mow Cop Colliery, near Burslem, where he had secured an engagement. There, with two… Go to person page >