John PENMAN

PENMAN, JOHN (b. Rosewall, near Edinburgh, Scotland, 1849; d. Homebush, NSW, 12 June 1929). Primitive Methodist minister.

John Penman arrived in New South Wales with his parents on 20 Aug 1857 and settled in Newcastle. Invited to attend a Primitive Methodist service at Waratah he there experienced conversion. After studying at Theobald's Academy, he entered the ministry in 1872. He exercised a powerful and beneficial ministry in Primitive Methodist circuits and (after 1902) in Methodist circuits. An able preacher and an outstanding administrator he was elected president of the Primitive Methodist Assembly in 1888 and again in 1889, and president of the Methodist Conference in 1907.

Penman combined evangelical fervour and social witness in his ministry. His catholicity of spirit won him many friends in other churches and in the community. He was generous and hospitable to a fault, and large numbers of indigent people received succour from him. He took an active part in negotiations which led to Methodist Union.

Methodist, 12 June 1929

ERIC G CLANCY