Edward Cook PRITCHARD

PRITCHARD, EDWARD COOK (b. Newport, Shropshire, England, 1833; d. Braintree, Essex, England, 11 June 1918). Primitive Methodist minister.

Son of a Primitive Methodist local preacher, Edward Pritchard entered the Primitive Methodist ministry in 1856 and was appointed to the Plymouth (Devon) circuit. His evangelistic ministry there set the pattern for his future work in Australia. Appointed to labour in Australia, Pritchard arrived in Hobart on the Irene in 1860. Three years later he was transferred to NSW. He served in the Newtown, Newcastle, and Sydney (Crown Street) circuits, after which he returned to England. There he laboured in three circuits, after which he returned to NSW in 1882. He then again served in the Newtown and Newcastle circuits until 1888, when once more he returned to England.

A noted evangelist, under his ministry many people experienced conversion, and church membership grew considerably. Many of these became leading Christian workers. Pritchard spoke at a large number of camp meetings where attendances were as high as 800. He regularly ascribed glory to God for the success of his missions. While at Newcastle, in 1868 he helped a number of local laymen establish the Primitive Methodist Church on the Macleay River. He was in constant demand as preacher at the opening of new churches. In 1886 he was elected president of the Primitive Methodist Assembly of NSW. While residing as a supernumerary in England he published his experiences in Tasmania and NSW, Under the Southern Cross.

ERIC G CLANCY