Minister in Sutton and Kirkby Circuit
One of the other Ministers in the Sutton and Kirkby District when Rev George Kendall was there was the Rev Gwynne Hodder.
Speaker at Bourne Chapel
As the Minister based at Bourne Chapel, Rev Hall spoke there frequently. Dates noted by mum included 27 January1946, 24 February 1946, 31 March 1946 (Mothering Sunday), 21 April 1946, 5 May 1946, 16 June 1946, 18 June 1946, 14 July 1946, 28 July 1946 and 25 August 1946. Mum also noted a leaders’ meeting with Rev Hodder on 27 May 1946.
Reception at Newstead
Grandad noted in his diary that mum and grandma went by train to Newstead on 4 September 1943 to attend Rev Hodder’s reception. Edith Searson attended that meeting and noted it in her memoir “I Remember” saying “after the usual welcome speeches the new minister rose and replied, commencing with the words “You have heard of being odd, well I am Hodder!”
Borrowed Money
There are two entries in grandad’s diary concerning Rev Hodder borrowing money from him. On 26 January 1945, Rev Hodder borrowed £12 from grandad. Grandad seemed concerned as he noted that he did not give him an acknowledgement. Nevertheless, this did not stop him lending Rev Hodder a further £5 on 26 February 1945. The money was paid back by cheque post-dated to 5 March 1945.
Barrie Smith’s Books
J Barrie Smith was a Methodist local preacher and historian. He died in August 2024 aged 93. I was privileged to be able to attend his thanksgiving service. Two of his books list Ministers in the Sutton and Kirkby circuit. These are “Strangely Warmed in Ashfield” and “Noah’s Ark – A Century Before and After“. Both refer to Rev G Hodder.
Rev Hodder’s Ministry
Rev Gwynne Hodder was relatively unusual in that he was a former Wesleyan Minister rather than being from the Primitive Methodists. Whilst Methodist union had occurred in 1932, Sutton and Kirkby circuit was a former Primitive Methodist and this only merged with former Wesleyan and United Methodist circuits in 1959 when the Ashfield circuit was formed. One consequence of this is that information about Rev Hodder is on the My Wesleyan Methodists website. In general, this has less information than for the Primitive Methodist equivalent. Based on information on that website, Rev Hodder was born in Tupton, Staffordshire in 1889. He entered the Wesleyan Ministry in 1915. He died in Dolgellau on 5 March 1965.
However, I have not been able to find a Tupton in Staffordshire although there is one in Derbyshire. I checked and his birth was registered in Dudley, Staffordshire. So, I wonder if he was in fact born in Tipton.
From Newspaper Articles
I have managed to piece together some elements of his ministry from newspaper articles.
Wolverhampton
In 1917, he was appointed to Willenhall in Wolverhampton.
North Shields
On Sunday 8 July 1923, he was the evening speaker at the Wesleyan Memorial Church in North Shields. Other dates he spoke there included 11 February 1921, 25 February 1923, 30 September 1923 and others It seems he may have been based in North Shields from 1921 to at least 1924. In February 1921, he was decribed as a newly-appointed Minister to the Circuit.
Cornwall, Hull and Staffordshire
In July 1925, he was appointed as vice-Minister to Camborne in Cornwall. However, in 1927, it appears he was based in Hull.
In 1931, he was living in Evesham in Staffordshire as that was where his father Rev Henry Hodder died.
Loughborough
In July 1934, Rev Gwynne Hodder was transferred from Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire to Loughborough. On 4 September 1934, notice was given of his appointment as minister in Chappel-en-le-Frith in the Loughborough circuit. In January 1937, I found a notice of his departure from Sparrow Hill in Loughborough but, at that time, a new appointment was pending. In June 1937, it seems he was going to Wath-on-Dearne in Rotherham.
Wombwell, South Yorkshire
On 12 September 1937, he was the preacher at Christ Church, Hoyland Common in South Yorkshire. Then, on 17 September 1937, he was appointed Ministerial secretary for Overseas Missions. On 27 March 1938, he visited Princess Street Methodist Church, West Melton, Rotherham, to distribute prizes to those who had collected for the Juvenile Missionary Association. In April 1939, he was described as the Minister of Park Street Methodist Church in Wombwell. It seems he took up that role in September 1937. He used the same “I am Hodder” line that Edith Searson would later recall from the reception at Newstead.
I found a more detailed account of what he said at that welcome event. He used a number of maxims/slogans including “good listening makes for better preaching“, “love begts love” and “if you are satisfied, tell others, if you are not satisfied, tell us“. Perhpas more controversially, he said that “although the days of distinction were passing” he still preferred the term “Wesleyan Methodist“. He criticised forms of Methodism which were concerned with organisation, finance and such matters. Also, he was critical of churches where cliques exist. He told those present that he knew he had done the right thing by coming and that he would do his best.
North Yorkshire
In July 1940, notice was given that Rev Gwynne Hodder of Wombwell, South Yorkshire had been appointed to Sherburn, North Yorkshire as superintendent minister.
Sheffield and Hebden Bridge
In June 1953, Rev Hodder was described as an active supernumerary of Sheffield. He was invited to become the Minister at Cross Lanes Church in Hebden Bridge. He was there until at least 1954.
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