John Bennet

John Bennet (1714–1759) was an early Methodist Evangelist, regarded as being "one of Wesley’s most responsible helpers in Yorkshire, Lancashire and Derbyshire". Life Born at Whitehaugh, near Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire, he was the youngest son of William Bennet, a yeoman, and his wife Ann, who were members of the local Dissenting Chapel of Dr James Clegg. Having received a good education at the school at Chapel-en-le-Frith and at the hands of private tutors, at the age of about seventeen Bennet attended Findern Academy, near Derby, to study for the Ministry. However, for unknown reasons, Bennet later commenced work as a Justice's Clerk, and then as an independent packman transporting goods across the moors, from Sheffield to Macclesfield. While working as a packman, Bennet met the itinerant preacher, David Taylor, a former butler of Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon, and became his travelling companion. In January 1741, Bennet had an evangelical conversion experience at Hayfield, Derbyshire. In the spring of the following year, he met Benjamin Ingham the Moravian, and became his associate. In the Summer of 1742, Bennet first met John Wesley and, impressed by his preaching, and became connected with the Methodist movement. As a Methodist preacher, Bennet soon established a circuit of religious societies scattered throughout the north of England, later known as "John Bennet’s Round". Usually on horseback, Bennet would follow a route from his home at Chinley which took him throughout the northern counties. While serving as a Methodist preacher, Bennet not only served as an itinerant preacher but he was, as Frank Baker remarked; "one of the architects of early Methodist connexionalism". Bennet was highly influential in the introduction of the first annual Methodist conference, not only providing the idea for such a conference, providing a detailed account of that meeting. Bennet was also credited with establishing the first Methodist Circuit Quarterly Meeting which took place "at Major Marshall’s at Todmorden Edge on Tuesday 18th October, 1748". Under Bennet's supervision, such Quarterly Meetings were introduced elsewhere and became a key feature of Methodist organization.