Henry Hayes Vowles

Henry Hayes Vowles (born 26 June 1843 in Bath, England and died 13 November 1905 in Gloucester, England) was an author, theologian and a Wesleyan Minister. He also published religious poetry.

Parents

He was the son of Henry Vowles (born c1816) of bath and Mary Yeoman Harding (1812 - 1886) of Wanstrow.

Henry Hayes Vowles' father, Henry, is recorded as being employed in a number of roles. In 1838, he is noted as a "yeoman" on a wedding certificate. This piece of evidence is particularly interesting as the whole document, including witnesses' signatures, is completed in the same hand as the Rector. All of the men on the certificate are described as yeomen. [Marriage certificate of Henry Vowles and Mary Yeoman Harding, Wanstrow, Frome, 18th October 1838.] In 1851, his occupation was described as a "Carrier's Agent". [the source of this information is Gordon Beavington's 1851 transcription (presumably the 1851 census): Vowles Henry 36 Carriers Agent Bath, Som. Mary 35 At Home Bath, Som. James 12 Scholar Bath, Som. Henry 8 Scholar Bath, Som. Amy 6 At Home Bath, Som.] In 1871, his occupation was recorded as "farmer" [marriage certificate of Henry Hayes Vowles and Hannah Elizabeth Thistle at Whitby date August 29th 1871. Hannah's father Thomas Thistle is listed as a "gentleman"] It is interesting to note, however, that a Reverend H.H. Vowles was working at Brierley in 1847 and 1852. [ [http://www.brierley59.freeserve.co.uk/brierley-methodist-church.htm brierley-methodist-church ] ] It is not known if he was related to Jamaica missionary James Vowles who also came from Bath.

Mary Harding's brother was Joseph Harding [Royal, Nicholas John. Harding Family. A Short History and Narrative Pedigree. From 1480 to the Present day. Published Privately 1970] who standardized the production of modern Cheddar Cheese. The Harding family had originally come from Pewsey, Wiltshire.

Early life

In 1841 his parents were resident at Park Farm, Marlborough Street, Walcot, Lansdown, Bath with their one year old son James. [1841 Census: Vowles Henry 20 M Y Farmer Park Farm Marlborough Bath Lansdown Walcot; Vowles Mary 25 F Y Park Farm Marlborough Bath Lansdown Walcot; Vowles James 1 M Y Park Farm Marlborough Bath Lansdown Walcot ] In 1851 Vowles was resident at Kingsmead Terrace, Bath aged 8 and described as a scholar. [Gordon Beavington's 1851 transcription. The complete description is: VOWLES Henry 36 Carriers Agent Bath, Som.Mary 35 At Home Bath, Som.James 12 Scholar Bath, Som.Henry 8 Scholar Bath, Som.Amy 6 At Home Bath, Som.] He did not attend Kingswood school [Kingswood School Archives]

Later life

Henry Hayes Vowles was ordained in 1867.

During his lifetime, he also ministered in the following circuits: Faversham, Nelson, Blackpool, Birmingham, Pembroke, Stockton-on-Tees, Southwark, Gateshead and Barnsley. He was also based at Southwark [The evangelist and pastor: autobiography and reminiscences By Joseph Whitehead, 1879, page 126]

He went to work in Gloucester in 1895 as Superintendent of the Gloucester Wesleyan Circuit, which post he held for three years. He then went to Guernsey as Chairman of the Channel Islands District. In 1901, he returned to Gloucester as Supernumerary Minister. He was an accomplished Hebrew and Greek scholar and published at least two of his sermons. He served on the Gloucester City Education Committee.

In 1901, he was resident at St Peter Port, Guernsey.

Marriage and Children

He married Hannah Elizabeth Thistle (1842 - 1902) at Whitby in 1871. Hannah Elizabeth Thistle was the daughter of Thomas Thistle (1813-1892) and Alice Smith (1876-1893). She was the sister of Thomas Thistle headmaster of Hereford Cathedral School [http://www.kinderlibrary.ac.nz/Files/Clergy%20Tagalad%20to%20Tye.htm] In 1881 he was resident at Thornaby, Yorkshire.

He had seven children: Thomas Hubert Harding Vowles J.P., A.R.I.B.A. (1872-1946) (educated at King Edward's School, Birmingham and became an Architect in Gloucester and Beningbrough, York [Who's Who in Yorkshire (North and East Ridings) 1935, page 250.] ), Alice Thistle Vowles (1874-1928), Mary Yeoman Vowles (born 1875), Henry Hayes Vowles (1878-1955) who was a solicitor in Gloucester and a Captain in the Gloucestershire Regiment in the first world war, Brenley Mabel Vowles (born c1879) keeper of the Cottage Tea Room, Caterham, Guy Vowles (1883 - 1936) and Hugh Pembroke Vowles (1885 - 1951).

His brother James Harding Vowles son emigrated to Ontario, Canada and died there soon after.

Publications (Books)

*"For Ever and Ever: A Popular Study in Hebrew, Greek and English Words" published by Swan Sonnenschein & Co (London), 1898. [http://catalogue.bl.uk/F/JS8F16EDLXQA8MUI1MB576LBNHQK8TB4K1GD8C74YD7XSHBVP7-55459?func=full-set-set&set_number=008976&set_entry=000031&format=999]

*"Two Sermons. I. King David and Queen Victoria. II. King Lemuel and King Edward" published by C. H. Kelly: London, 1901. [http://catalogue.bl.uk/F/JS8F16EDLXQA8MUI1MB576LBNHQK8TB4K1GD8C74YD7XSHBVP7-24290?func=full-set-set&set_number=009142&set_entry=000002&format=999]

Publications (Poetry)

*Poem published in 1889 in the "Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine: Being a Continuation of the Arminian Or Methodist Magazine"

*Poem entitled "An Advent Sonnet" published in the "Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine: Being a Continuation of the Arminian Or Methodist Magazine". Date uncertain.

*Poem entitled "Sinai" published in the "Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine: Being a Continuation of the Arminian Or Methodist Magazine". Date uncertain.

Death and Obituaries

*A number of obituaries were published at the time of his death, in local Gloucester papers and Methodist publications. The following is repeated here verbatim:

"Henry H. Vowles: was born at Bath, June 26th, 1843, and entered the Ministry in 1867. His first appointment was to Faversham, and he laboured in the active ministry until the Conference of 1901. He was an able preacher, a vigorous thinker, and a man of scholarly attainments. His freshness of thought and his power of lucid exposition made his sermons attractive and profitable. His sympathy with the young, his sound judgment, and his varied attainments won for him the confidence and affection of our people. He was cheerful and patient during his painful and prolonged illness, and his faith in his Lord and Saviour was expressed in the words of the Psalm which he had chosen to be read on the day of his burial: "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?". Much more might be said of his character and ministry; but it was his earnest request that as little as possible might be written about him. He died at Gloucester, November 13 1905 in his sixty-third year and in the thirty-eighth of his ministry." [Methodist Archives and Research Centre, John Rylands University Library, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PP]

References

*Most of the information above has come from a copy of an obituary in an unknown newspaper, presumably from Gloucester

External links

*The book For Ever and Ever is available on the following link: http://www.archive.org/details/foreverandever00vowluoft