Parish People - Reverend John Fletcher

John Fletcher was born in 1729 in Nyon near Lake Geneva, Switzerland. He was born to a wealthy family who were related to the Dukes of Savoy.

Fletcher migrated to England in 1750. In 1752 he moved to Shropshire as tutor to the Hill family at Tern Hall. The first mention of John Fletcher in Madeley was when he was invited as a guest preacher. Fletcher had been offered a valuable stipend in another parish, but was determined to become vicar of Madeley. He offered the then incumbent vicar the opportunity to exchange positions.

Ordination

John Fletcher was ordained in 1757 by the Bishop of Bangor. The following day he was licensed as curate in the parish of Madeley. He was instituted to the vicarage of Madeley in 1760. His original name was anglicised to help him be accepted by those he was called to shepherd and preach to.

Personal Qualities

He quickly made an impact with the poor. The farmers and respectable tradesmen suspected that he was a Methodist or Baptist. His style of preaching was not well received and did not attract support from the clergy or the wealthy. Eventually, by his good works, personal qualities and preaching skills he won them over.

Religious Societies

By April 1761 the church, then a small medieval building, could scarcely contain those who wished to attend services. Early in his ministry he formed two religious societies in the parish. Such societies met in many parishes in the mid-eighteenth century. In 1764 John Wesley paid the first of many visits to Madeley. Fletcher was a great friend and confident of both John and Charles Wesley. The three united not just as friends but also as, crusaders of faith.

Disappointment

In 1770 Fletcher went to Italy and France for five months, and between 1777 and 1781 was again abroad. He returned to find that the ministry of his curate, Alexander Greaves, had been disappointing. In November 1781 he married Mary Bosanquet, a woman he had known for many years. He hoped that she would help him to revive the religious societies in the parish. He was very ill at the time of his speech to the Wesleyan Conference in 1784. He expressed the hope that after his death Madeley would remain part of a Methodist circuit.

Recuperation

Fletcher contracted tuberculosis and went to a warmer climate for recuperation. He never fully recovered and died on 14 August 1785 aged 56. His cast iron tomb lays in St Michael's churchyard.