William John Townsend Explained

William John Townsend (20 January 1835 – 7 March 1915) was a British minister of the Methodist New Connexion.^[1] He wrote on theology and the history of Methodism, writing biographies of Robert Morrison and Alexander Kilham. He also wrote a book on scholastic philosophy.

Life

William John Townsend was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the son of Joseph and Mary Townsend. He was educated at Percy Street Academy in Newcastle.^[1] He worked in business for several years,^[2] before studying at Ranmoor College in Sheffield and becoming a minister of the Methodist New Connexion in 1860. He was President of the Methodist New Connexion Conference in 1886, and edited the Methodist New Connexion from 1893 to 1897.^{[1] [3]}

The Great Schoolmen of the Middle Ages (1881) tried to provide "a fairer and higher estimate of the great Schoolmen" than as "solemn triflers [...] or as mere metaphysical gymnasts", and sketch a "rationale of Scholasticism":

Works

• Madagascar: its missionaries and martyrs, 1880.
• The great schoolmen of the middle ages. An account of their lives, and the services they rendered to the church and the world, 1881.
• Robert Morrison: the pioneer of Chinese missions, 1888.
• Alexander Kilham: the first Methodist reformer, 1889.
• James Stacey, D.D.: reminiscences and memorials, 1891.
• A handbook of Christian doctrine, 1897.
• A handbook for the Methodist New Connexion containing information of its doctrines, ministers, churches, institutions, legal relations, &c, 1899.
• Life of Oliver Cromwell: Tercentenary celebration, 1900.
• The great symbols, 1901.
• 'Sketch of the history of popular education in England and Wales', in The Free churchman's guide to the Education Act by Edmund C. Rawlings, 1902.
• As a king ready to the battle, 1904.
• The story of Methodist Union, 1905.
• (with H. B. Workman and G. Eayrs) A new history of Methodism, 1909.

Notes and References

1. Who Was Who 1897-1916, 1920
2. Book: W. J.. Mander. Alan P. F.. Sell. The dictionary of nineteenth-century British philosophers. 2002. Thoemmes. 978-1-85506-955-8. Gabriele De Anna. Townsend, William John (1835-1915). 1125–6.
3. The Methodist Who's Who, 1915.