James Banyard
Grave of James Banyard
M Sipple
A Very Peculiar Preacher
This bad boy of Rochford was a shoemaker by trade, and a smuggler, poacher and troublemaker by inclination, who spent his freetime in bawdy pubs jeering and scoffing at religion and generally causing mayhem.
His wife eventually took him in hand and insisted he reform and go to church. He reformed to such an extent that he eventually became a preacher at the Methodist Church but, in 1837, due to a difference of opinion, James and his friend William Bridges set up their own church in an old workhouse building.
This became his first Chapel. They later moved to James' cottage in Workhouse Lane. The group called themselves "The Peculiar People", 'peculiar' meaning 'special'. James was an ugly but charismatic man with a voice like thunder. The sect grew rapidly and people flocked from miles around to hear James preach. In time, chapels were set up all over Essex.
The sect had strict rules; they believed in spiritual healing and many followers were conscientious objectors. They denounced doctors, many of them believing in miracle cures, which led to the deaths of several children.
When James' own child became very ill James, despite his convictions, sent for a doctor. This led to him not being allowed to be a Bishop but just a regular preacher.
During the 1950s, the Peculiars, or Banyardites, changed the name from the Peculiar People’s Chapels to Evangelical Chapels.
Banyard is buried in the St Andrew’s Church, Rochford.