William Bridges (preacher)
| William Bridges | |
|---|---|
| Born |
William Bridges 1802 Woodbridge, Suffolk |
| Died | 9 October 1874 (aged 71–72) Lambeth |
| Resting place | West Norwood Cemetery London |
| Nationality | British |
| Known for | Peculiar People |
| Spouse(s) | Ann Siggers (m. 1824; his death 1874) |
| Children | 5 |
William Bridges (1802 – 1874) was a Methodist local preacher, hat block maker and founder of the Plumstead Peculiar People.
William Bridges was born in Woodbridge, Suffolk to John Bridges (1761 - 1841), and Mary Block (1761 - ), he was baptised at St Mary, Woodbridge on the 8 May 1802. His father is listed as a Wheelwright on the 1841 census, aged 80, and still living in Suffolk. Little else is known about Bridges very early years. By 1824 at the time of his marriage to Ann Siggers (1800 - 1882) he was living in South London, at 8 Gravel Lane Southwark, working as a hat block turner (lathe worker). Bridges remained a hat block maker for over 50 years; it was a trade that required considerable woodworking skills, perhaps learnt from his father. The area of Southwark St Saviour near the Thames close to Blackfriars Bridge had been the traditional home of hat making since the days of Queen Elizabeth, so he was well placed to make a living. At some point during the early 1830's Bridges became a Methodist local preacher.
In 1837 Bridges witnessed the fiery ex-Anglican Robert Aitken preaching at White's Row Chapel in Shoreditch which proved to be a crucial turning point in his life. Bridges was inspired to begin his own mission and installed a tiny chapel in an upper room at Gravel Lane. In 1838 Bridges visited his sister at Rochford and it was here he met James Banyard. Subsequently Banyard visited Bridges in Southwark and was also deeply moved by Aitken's evangelism. Banyard was "born again" at Gravel Lane and returned to Essex a changed man. He went on to found the Peculiar People of Essex.
Bridges was closely involved in the sect's early years in Rochford, and helped Banyard found his first chapel there in 1842. In the late 1840's Bridges inspired John Sirgood who went on to found his own rural sect the Society of Dependents aka 'The Cokelers' in Sussex. Banyard and Bridges believed in Faith Healing and strictly forbade the use of doctors; this would later lead to trials and imprisonment for some members of their congregation when they came into conflict with the authorities. Banyard was later estranged from his own movement in 1855, due to a change of heart over the calling in of a Doctor for his own sick child.
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