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From: "David Lamb" <>
Subject: Re: PECULIAR PEOPLE religious Group
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2003 19:03:49 -0000
References: <009b01c2f446$27bb7580$8c0d7ad5@ecpm.com>


Hello,

One vital point here is that the term "Peculiar" did not mean "strange" or
"odd", as it does to day. Some of their beliefs and practices may seem
strange, but "peculiar" in the English of the Authorised Version ("King
James Version" to people in the US) of the Bible means a purchased
possession, a treasure, something special. Later versions translate the
phrase by "God's own special people".

The "Peculiar People" did believe that it was wrong to invoke medical help,
as the following paragraph (from the "Cyclopaedia of Biblical, Theological
and Ecclesiastical Literature", a 19th century work by James Strong & John
McClintock) shows:

" If one lack anything, it is to be looked for by asking of God. Hence it is
a prime article of faith of this denomination never, under any
circumstances, to call in a doctor. They believe only in anointing with oil
and prayer as a means of restoring the sick. The English* government has
therefore interfered with them in recent times, and several trials of
members of this sect have occurred. Thus, at Plumstead, a little girl of an
elder of the Peculiar People had the smallpox. The elders prayed over her;
they laid hands on her; they anointed her; and, generally speaking, "put
their trust in God." In eleven days, without the administration of any
medicine, with only a little arrow-root and wine to nourish the body, the
poor thing died. Of course the Peculiar People are consistent enough to
believe neither in vaccination nor contagion. In this case a jury returned a
verdict of "manslaughter" against the father."

(*I think that should be "British government".)

I have forwarded the whole article to Kerry.

Stanway Evangelical Church, near Colchester, was known from its beginnings
in 1878 until 14th December 1955, when its name was officially changed from
"The Peculiar People's Chapel" to "The Stanway Evangelical Church." I have
a booklet by Fred Spugeon (I don't know if his family was related to Charles
Haddon SPURGEON) outlining the first hundred years of the Stanway church. In
its introduction, it says, "(The denomination) originated as an evangelical
denomination in 1838 in consequence of a deep spiritual experience by two
Wesleyan preachers, William Bridges of London, and James Banyard of
Rochford, Essex."

Surnames mentioned in the Stanway booklet include: TRACEY, JOHNSON, MEAD,
GOODEY, WHYBREW, SMITH, PRIOR, HOCKLEY, MILLER, ROOTKIN, BRAZIER, THORN,
PERRY, THEOBALD, PERCIVAL, HEDDLE, SPURGEON, WHALE, WIGGINS, MARRIAGE, ISOM,
PILLING. If anyone thinks they might have a connection with any of these, I
will gladly copy out the relevant portion(s). Just contact me off list.

Regards,
David Lamb (Paignton, Devon, UK)
Interests (Essex): BAXTER, BERRY, EREY, GOLDSTONE, LAMB, MOTT, PARTRIDGE,
SARGENT, TICHBORNE, WEBB, WILLSHER
(Suffolk): BRYNGLOVE, CRISPE, FINCH, PARTRIDGE, PORTER, PRATT
----- Original Message -----
From: "kerry Prentice" <>
To: <>
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2003 9:49 AM
Subject: PECULIAR PEOPLE religious Group


> Hi I'm looking for anyone who perhaps had ancestors that belonged to this
> religious group. They now go by the name of The Union of Evangelical
> Churches.
>
> This religious group started out in 1837 , in Rochford Essex by James
> Banyard , and spread to London by the mid 1850's.........having 2 meeting
> houses in Woolwich/Plumpstead and Canning Town. There were about 1900
> overall followers by the 1880's.
>
> The main belief for which the Particulars became known was the refusal of
> ANY medical intervention , including vaccination for small pox and measles
> and other disease of the time,.causing several child deaths that were
> perhaps viewed by others outside this group as un necessary. The peculiars
> had found themselves in court on many occasions due to these deaths ,
> however only once was a member charged with manslaughter on the grounds of
> causing a death by not obtaining medical help. (I believe that this is no
> longer a pre requisite to becoming a member)
>
> Has anyone found that a child had died and an inquest was called for
?.many
> inquest reports were destroyed , however they were often reported by
local
> newspapers (from where I found a report on the inquest my gg aunt age 2
yrs,
> giving info regarding her parents belonging to this "Sect").
>
> Perhaps the parents of your ancestor whose death called for an inquest was
> part of the religious group ?.
>
> Anyone finding a connection to this group would be very much appreciate as
I
> cannot find the birth of this childs father ..........perhaps his parents
> were members too......as I can't find a baptism either ( they only
baptised
> adults ).
> Any help would be very much appreciated
> Regards
> Kerry Prentice
> For people researching the Surname KENT see.......
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kentsurnameuk/
>
>
> ______________________________

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