Reed, Henry (1803-1849)

Henry Reed’s life is described in his obituary in the minutes of the 1849 Conference.

“HENRY REED, who was born in the Parish of Coldridge, in the county of Devon, on January 19th, 1803, of moral and respectable parents. His father, who was a farmer, died when he was about eighteen months old; his education consequently devolved on his affectionate mother, who soon after retired from business. She placed him in a decent school, and as far as she knew, (being then unconverted) educated him in his duties, both to God and man. He grew up in the midst of religious darkness, surrounded by incentives to vice; for at that time the parish of Coldridge, and many around it, were not only enveloped in darkness, but destitute of evangelical teaching; thus he lived a wandering sheep without a fold, or earthly shepherd, until he was about fifteen years of age, when he removed with his mother and stepfather, (his mother having again entered the marriage state,) into the parish of Burrington; where he continued to live without God, having no hope in the world, for about four years. In an account of his conversion, written by himself, he says, “In the beginning of the year 1824, hearing of a sudden death, I began to think more fully about my soul, and resolved to give my heart to the Lord. From that time I commenced regularly attending the preaching among the Bible Christians at Burrington. I seldom went but I got good to my soul, and in the month of April I proved the Lord to be a God, `merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abundant in goodness and truth, pardoning iniquity, transgression, and sin.'” His conversion, which was thus brought about, was scriptural, clear, deep, and genuine; and led to the entire dedication of himself and his all to God. He not only possessed religion, but enjoyed it; to him Christ was “precious,” and by his influence in his heart, he was carried forward in the path of duty with diligence and delight.

In the year 1831, after having been a local preacher for five years, he was taken out to travel, and continued in the Itinerancy -about eighteen years; during which time he laboured on some of our principal stations, and filled some of the most important, responsible, and honourable offices in the Connexion; having been Superintendent of large Districts, Secretary of the Missionary Society, Secretary, and in the year 1844, President of the Conference.

As a Christian, he was remarkable for simplicity, plainness, modesty, candour, sincerity, straight-forwardness, firmness, diligence, perseverance, and open-hearted honesty; nor less so for his faith in Christ, and power in prayer. His piety was sincere, deep, warm, and influential; manifesting itself in entire devotedness to God, and concern for the salvation of mankind.

As a minister, he possessed much biblical and other useful knowledge; and although he was not remarkable for vivacity, when excited, he would speak with fluency, fervour, and much animation. He was an affectionate, faithful, diligent, laborious minister of Christ, who will long be beloved, and his memory revered, by those among whom he laboured.

The disease which removed him from his sphere of toil and usefulness was an affection of the heart, by which he was confined to his bed only a few days, during which he manifested great confidence in God, patience, composure, and assurance of eternal life. To Mrs. Reed he said, “Death, my dear, hath not found me unprepared, though it has come upon me a little sooner than I expected.” To the inquiry of Br. Gilbert, whether all were right, he unhesitatingly replied, “0 yes! it is all right, all is as clear as sunshine! I shall soon be in heaven.” And almost while exclaiming, “Jesus bids me come! – Jesus bids me come!” he passed away from toil and suffering, to heavenly rest and joy, April 19th, 1849.

Family

Henry’s parents were John and Ann Reed. As yet I have not found details of his marriage and any children, or an entry on the 1841 census. I would welcome any assistance with those details

Circuits

• 1831 Kikhampton
• 1832 Shebbear
• 1833 Chagford
• 1834 Ringsash
• 1835 Michaelstow
• 1837 St. Ervan
• 1839 London
• 1841 Portsea Mission
• 1842 Ringsash
• 1845 Gwennap
• 1847 St. Austell

He was Chapel Secretary in 1831,Mission Secretary 1842, Superintendent of Shebbear District 1843-1845, President of Conference in 1844, Superintendent of Falmouth District 1845-1847, Secretary of Conference in 1846, and Superintendent of Luxillian District 1847-1848

References

Minutes of the 31^st Annual Conference of the Ministers and Representatives of the People denominated Bible Christians. 1849 p5

O.A. Beckerlegge United Methodist ministers and their Circuits, 1968 p192