James Thorne (1795–1872), was an English Methodist preacher, leader of the Arminian Bible Christian Church and editor of the Bible Christian Magazine.

Biography

James Thorne was born at North Furze Farm, Shebbear, Devonshire, on 21 September 1795. He was the son of John Thorne, a farmer, and Mary Ley, daughter of a farmer in the neighbouring parish of Bradford. On 9 October 1815, the Society of Bible Christians was formed by William O'Bryan. Among its members were John and Mary Thorne, with their five children.^[1]

James, who was known among his companions as "a lad o' pairts", rapidly acquired a position of pre-eminence among his associates. He almost immediately began preaching, and for four years continued to journey throughout the various parts of Devonshire. When he began preaching, the Bible Christians numbered twenty-two; after four years, they had become numerous in many parts of Devonshire.^[1]

In 1820, Thorne visited Kent, where he aided in founding several congregations of "Arminian Bible Christians". In 1824 he was sent to London, where he placed the congregation in a prosperous condition, and in 1825, he revisited Kent as a missionary.^[1]

From 1817 onward, Thorne founded chapels for his co-religionists in both Devonshire and Kent. The first chapel was finished at Shebbear in 1818, and three more were built by his exertions in Kent by 1821. From 1827 to 1829, he was superintendent preacher of the Shebbear circuit, from 1830 to 1831, he filled the same office in Kilkhampton, and in 1831, he presided over the general conference of Bible Christians.^[1]

From this time until 1844, Thorne was chiefly occupied in journeying through Southern England, organising the society, and forming local congregations in various districts. ^[1]

On 23 September 1823, he married Catherine Reed of Holwell, by whom he had six children.^[1]

After William O' Bryan's resignation in September 1828, Thorne assumed the role of editor of the Bible Christian Magazine, continuing in that office until 1866, when he was succeeded by F. W. Bourne.^[1]

In 1844, he settled at Shebbear, and confined himself more to local work, though still undertaking frequent mission tours. In 1870, failing health compelled him to relinquish his "connexional duties" and to restrict himself to preaching. He removed to Plymouth, where he died on 28 January 1872, and was buried at Shebbear.^[1]

Notes and references

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Thorne, James (1795-1872)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.

Further reading

• Bourne's Centenary Life of James Thorne, 1895
• Memoirs of James Thorne by his Son, 1873