THE POWER OF THE INTERNET!

In the Easter 2016 issue of our magazine there was an article about a Baptismal hymn written by Rev Jim Stringfellow. Then at the end of August this year we received an email from his nephew, Nick Hearnshaw, as follows -

Apologies if this comes out of the blue (and about 5 years late) but in looking into a bit of my family history, I was guided to your above magazine where a Veronica Frost asks if anyone knows anything about the Rev Jim Stringfellow, the writer of a Baptismal hymn.

James Edwin Stringfellow: Born in Bolsover, Derbyshire on 10 February 1927. The hard times of ‘the Depression’ were the backdrop to childhood. The eldest of three children of Methodist parents possessed of a proud faith. A scholarship to Chesterfield Grammar School led him into a wider world, but not before he was called up as a ‘Bevin Boy’ in the same pit as his father and uncles. He knew his call to the ministry at nine years and decided to follow Christ at fifteen and was a preacher at sixteen. He spent a pre-collegiate year at Chatham Central Hall and trained at Richmond College. He served in the following Circuits: Richmond, Berwick-on-Tweed, Adadia Eastern Nigeria, Derby (East), Harrogate, Doncaster, London (Hammersmith and Fulham) and Blaydon. While in London, he served part time as Secretary for Further Training. A nine year courtship with his childhood sweetheart Brenda led to marriage, and nine fruitful years in Nigeria, the joy of four daughters being born and the sadness of a son who did not make it. He was a one off, an original, an enigma, a reformer, and a mystic. He found his niche in developing further training courses and sabbaticals and was responsible for a range of new initiatives including a non-residential MA course and a farm project for budding artists. Jim’s gentle and perceptive approach was compelling and the seemingly impossible could be attempted. His style was reflective and his metier was a genuine meeting at depth. In his last circuit his beloved Brenda died. On the eve of retirement he was knocked down and badly injured; a long recovery ensued. He made contact with Jill Bowden, a past colleague, and they married in 1995. In 1996 they responded to an appeal for two ministers to help in Nevis and in Montserrat and also the Leeward Islands, devastated by volcanoes. Jim led bible studies in shelters, preached and travelled the island tracing the displaced and letting folk know they were not forgotten. He died on 26 April 2017 in the ninety first year of his age and the sixty-sixth year of his ministry.

With blessings to your congregation

Nick Hearnshaw

Note - Rev Jim Stringfellow was at the Methodist Church in Harrogate at the same time as Revd Michael Wearing, a former minister at Fulwood, from 1974 to 1981.