William O’Bryan
Encyclopedia
William O’Bryan aka William Bryant (1778 - 1868) was a Methodist preacher and founder of the Bible Christian movement.
He was born at Gunwen, Luxulyan
, Cornwall
. In 1815 he changed his surname to O'Bryan, wishing to adopt Irish ancestry, and the branch became known as "Bryanites". His movement spread mainly through North Cornwall
, Padstow
and Bude
, Launcells
etc. Between 1831 and 1862 Bryant (now O'Bryan) crossed the Atlantic 13 times, spreading Bible Christians to North America.
The first Bible Christian chapel was built in Shebbear
, Devon
in 1817.
He was born at Gunwen, Luxulyan
Luxulyan
Luxulyan , also spelled Luxullian or Luxulian, is a village and civil parish in central Cornwall, United Kingdom. The village lies four miles northeast of St Austell and six miles south of Bodmin...
, 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...
. In 1815 he changed his surname to O'Bryan, wishing to adopt Irish ancestry, and the branch became known as "Bryanites". His movement spread mainly through North 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...
, Padstow
Padstow
Padstow is a town, civil parish and fishing port on the north coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The town is situated on the west bank of the River Camel estuary approximately five miles northwest of Wadebridge, ten miles northwest of Bodmin and ten miles northeast of Newquay...
and Bude
Bude
Bude is a small seaside resort town in North Cornwall, England, at the mouth of the River Neet . It lies just south of Flexbury, north of Widemouth Bay and west of Stratton and is located along the A3073 road off the A39. Bude is twinned with Ergué-Gabéric in Brittany, France...
, Launcells
Launcells
Launcells is a hamlet and civil parish in north-east Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is located three miles east of Bude.The civil parish contains other settlements of Red Post and Grimscott...
etc. Between 1831 and 1862 Bryant (now O'Bryan) crossed the Atlantic 13 times, spreading Bible Christians to North America.
The first Bible Christian chapel was built in Shebbear
Shebbear
Shebbear is associated with placename articles:* Shebbear, Devon, a village and civil parish in Devon, England* Shebbear, a previous name for Terowie, South AustraliaShebbear is associated with UK schools article:...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
in 1817.
Reading
- Harmon, Nolan B., general ed. (1974) Encyclopedia of World Methodism
- Lewis, Donald M., ed. (1995) Dictionary of Evangelical Biography 1739-1860
- Shaw, Thomas (1965) The Bible Christians 1815-1907. London: Epworth Press
- Shaw, Thomas (1967) A History of Cornish Methodism. Truro: Bradford Barton; pp. 88-92