Joseph Hocking
Encyclopedia
Joseph Hocking was a Cornish
novelist and Methodist
minister. He was born at St Stephen-in-Brannel
, Cornwall
, to James Hocking, part owner of a tin mine, and his wife Elizabeth.
In 1884, he was ordained as a minister. Working in different parts of England over the next few years, he wrote his first novel, Harry Penhale - The Trial of his Faith, while in London
in 1887. He regarded fiction as a highly effective medium for conveying his Christian message to the public, and combined his writing with his church duties, until ill health forced him to resign from the ministry in 1909. His last stationing was at the large and important United Free Church at Woodford
Essex, which he was instrumental in having rebuilt by the advanced arts and crafts architect, Charles Harrison Townsend
.
On his recovery, he found himself a much sought-after preacher across Britain, and he travelled extensively in the Middle East
.
He continued to write, and over the course of his career, he was the author of nearly 100 books. Although largely forgotten now, he was tremendously popular in his day.
He died in St Ives
, Cornwall
, and was survived by his wife, Annie, who he had married in 1887, and four daughters, three of whom become published novelists in their own right. A son, Cuthert, was killed in World War I
.
Through his mother he was related to the biblical scholar John Kitto
. His brother was Silas Hocking
(1850–1935), also a novelist and Methodist minister, and his sister, Salome (1859-1927), was also a novelist.
Hocking features as one of the main characters in the 2009 play Surfing Tommies by Cornish playwright, Alan M. Kent
.
Joseph Hocking's ashes were buried in the churchyard of St Stephen-in-Brannel
.
Cornish people
The Cornish are a people associated with Cornwall, a county and Duchy in the south-west of the United Kingdom that is seen in some respects as distinct from England, having more in common with the other Celtic parts of the United Kingdom such as Wales, as well as with other Celtic nations in Europe...
novelist and Methodist
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
minister. He was born at St Stephen-in-Brannel
St Stephen-in-Brannel
St Stephen-in-Brannel is a civil parish and village in central Cornwall, United Kingdom. St Stephen village is four miles west of St Austell on the southern edge of Cornwall's china clay district.In medieval times the parish lay within the royal manor of Brannel...
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, to James Hocking, part owner of a tin mine, and his wife Elizabeth.
In 1884, he was ordained as a minister. Working in different parts of England over the next few years, he wrote his first novel, Harry Penhale - The Trial of his Faith, while in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1887. He regarded fiction as a highly effective medium for conveying his Christian message to the public, and combined his writing with his church duties, until ill health forced him to resign from the ministry in 1909. His last stationing was at the large and important United Free Church at Woodford
Woodford
Woodford is a large suburban town in northeast London, England, occupying the north-western part of the London Borough of Redbridge. It is located approximately northeast of Charing Cross and is divided into the neighbourhoods of Woodford Green, Woodford Bridge and South Woodford...
Essex, which he was instrumental in having rebuilt by the advanced arts and crafts architect, Charles Harrison Townsend
Charles Harrison Townsend
Charles Harrison Townsend was an English architect. He was born in Birkenhead, educated at Birkenhead School and articled to the Liverpool architect Walter Scott in 1870. He moved to London with his family in 1880 and entered partnership with the London architect Thomas Lewis Banks in 1884...
.
On his recovery, he found himself a much sought-after preacher across Britain, and he travelled extensively in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
.
He continued to write, and over the course of his career, he was the author of nearly 100 books. Although largely forgotten now, he was tremendously popular in his day.
He died in St Ives
St Ives, Cornwall
St Ives is a seaside town, civil parish and port in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The town lies north of Penzance and west of Camborne on the coast of the Celtic Sea. In former times it was commercially dependent on fishing. The decline in fishing, however, caused a shift in commercial...
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, and was survived by his wife, Annie, who he had married in 1887, and four daughters, three of whom become published novelists in their own right. A son, Cuthert, was killed in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Through his mother he was related to the biblical scholar John Kitto
John Kitto
John Kitto was an English biblical scholar of Cornish descent.-Biography:Born in Plymouth, John Kitto was a sickly child, son of a Cornish stonemason. The drunkenness of his father and the poverty of his family meant that much of his childhood was spent in the workhouse. He had no more than three...
. His brother was Silas Hocking
Silas Hocking
Silas Kitto Hocking was an Cornish novelist and Methodist preacher. He was born at St Stephen-in-Brannel, Cornwall, to James Hocking, part owner of a tin mine, and his wife Elizabeth. In 1870 he was ordained as a minister...
(1850–1935), also a novelist and Methodist minister, and his sister, Salome (1859-1927), was also a novelist.
Hocking features as one of the main characters in the 2009 play Surfing Tommies by Cornish playwright, Alan M. Kent
Alan M. Kent
Alan M. Kent is a Cornish poet, novelist, dramatist, author and editor of a number of works on Cornish and Anglo-Cornish literature.-Creative writing:* Proper Job, Charlie Curnow!* Electric Pastyland...
.
Joseph Hocking's ashes were buried in the churchyard of St Stephen-in-Brannel
St Stephen-in-Brannel
St Stephen-in-Brannel is a civil parish and village in central Cornwall, United Kingdom. St Stephen village is four miles west of St Austell on the southern edge of Cornwall's china clay district.In medieval times the parish lay within the royal manor of Brannel...
.
Selected works
- Harry Penhale : The Trial of his Faith (1887)
- Jabez Easterbrook (1890)
- The Birthright (1897)
- Lest We Forget (1901)
- The Bells of St Ia (1911)
- The Spirit of the West (1913)
- All Men are Liars (1914)
- The Girl who Defied the World (1922)
- Not One in Ten (1933)
- Davey's Ambition (1936)
Source
- Alan M. Kent, "Pulp Methodism. The Lives & Literature of Silas, Joseph & Salome Hocking", Cornish Hillside Publications, 2002.