Billericay Methodist Church

We are collecting information on the former ministers of this church. Please contact us if you can shed light on the ministries mentioned below or have a photograph that we can publish.

Arthur Powell Davies: Born in 1902, entered Richmond College in 1922 and served in the Ilford Circuit (which included this church) from 1925-8. With his new wife, Hannah, he emigrated to the USA in 1928.
Eventually he transferred to the Unitarian Church ministry and became a renowned orator and prominent social activist for civil liberties and government accountability.
He was minister of All Souls Unitarian Church in Washington DC from 1943-57 which gave him a powerful platform for influencing national issues.
He was a prolific author on religious and social topics, and many of his books are still available today. He died in 1957.
Read more here.

Leslie Newman: Born in 1904 and entered the ministry in 1927. The Ilford circuit (including this church) was his first appointment. Minister of Brunswick Methodist Church in Newcastle on Tyne (1944-53) and superintendent of the Dome Mission in Brighton (1953-67). Distinguished Methodist preacher. 
Author of several books including Highways in the Byways, The Master Enters and News from the North.
Died in 1986.

William Chamings: Born in 1857 and entered the ministry in 1880. As a supernumerary, assigned to Warley barracks in 1928 as chaplain to the Essex Regiment, with responsibility for Billericay church in 1930. 
Author of The Church and the Children and of several hymns.
Died in 1932.

Rodney McNeal: Born in 1903 and entered the ministry in 1928. Died in 1981.

Garth Flemington: Entered the ministry in 1931 and Ilford Circuit (including Billericay) was his first appointment. Most of his ministry spent in the south of England. Died in 1968.

Vincent Knowles: Entered the ministry in 1927. Died in 1976.

George Massey Chesters: Born in Liverpool in 1871. Entered the ministry in 1896 and was active for 41 years, then as a supernumerary served as chaplain to the Essex Regiment at Warley barracks and as Billericay minister from 1937-1942. 
Died in 1949.

Wilmot Carvosso Carlyon: Born in 1878. Entered the ministry in 1904. In 1942, as an active supernumerary, assumed responsibility for Brentwood and Billericay churches, Warley barracks and RAF Hornchurch. Died in 1957.

John Hurd Barley: Entered the ministry in 1947. His appointment to the new Romford circuit was his first and he was the first minister to be resident here. Died sometime after 1967.

James Temple: Entered the ministry in 1945.

Normal Earl: Entered the ministry in 1941.

Bernard Holland: Entered the ministry in 1957. His Romford circuit appointment (here) was his second.

David Dunn Wilson: Entered the ministry in 1955. Retired and living in Eastbourne.

Trevor Allen: Entered the ministry in 1961. Retired and living in Kent.

Derek Poole: Entered the ministry in 1964. Spent much of his active ministry in Central America. Now retired and living in Eire.

Keith Lemar: Entered thr ministry in 1983 and resigned in 2003. Also served at Blackpool.

John Buxton: Entered the ministry in 1960. Served as Billericay minister in 1994-5 whilst circuit superintendent and based at Basildon. Retired and lives in Harlow.

Neil Trainer: Born in 1954 and died whilst in service at Billericay in 1998. Appointments in Sierra Leone.

Kathleen Allen: Widow of the Rev Tom Allen, whose appointments were in Boston, Doncaster, Folkestone, Bromley and Bishops Stortford. She entered the ministry after his death in 1991 and Billericay was her first appointment. Later moved to Brighton & Hove as circuit superintendent and retired to Essex in 2007.

Ian Carpenter: Born in Staines, Middlesex and candidated for the Methodist ministry after some years in personal banking and finance. Served in County Durham and Billericay and resigned from the ministry in 2005.

Les Wallace: Entered the Methodist ministry in 1994 as a deacon in the Peterborough circuit, after in-service training in south Norfolk and at Wesley House, Cambridge. He was ordained in 1996.

He transferred to the presbyteral ministry and was ordained into that order in 2003, after his move to Billericay. Les and wife Di moved to Alston, Cumbria in 2008.

This page was updated on 9th March 2011 with information supplied by Methodist historian, John Lenton.