[The author is from the same part of Weardale as John Watson.]

[This appreciation exists only in typed form -- no manuscript.]

John Watson was born at Ireshope Burn, a small village in the higher part of Weardale in the County of Durham on the last day of the year 1832. The cottage in which he was born stands just off the main road close by the "burn", the Dale word for a small stream. The house is often pointed out and spoken of as "the little house in which John Watson was born". His father, Ralph Watson, belonged to a Wesleyan family who were often described as great "bookmen". On the testimony of the few remaining old people who remember him, Ralph Watson was a devout good man with a quiet retiring disposition. The mother, who long outlived the father, is still remembered by many people. In childhood she attended the Presbyterian day school at Ireshope Burn at which the grandmother of Rev. Thomas Elliott was the teacher. Mrs. Watson was a woman of fine distinctive qualities and fervent religious faith. John was the oldest of four sons and there were two daughters. The youngest son and one of the daughters were delicate children and died in early life.

The upper part of Weardale known as "up-bye" was then more than now "far from the madding crowd". Until the year 1895 the nearest railway station was eight miles distant. Twice a day the familiar stage coach passed up and down from Stanhope to Cowshill, and to watch the coach and see its passengers were experiences of constant interest and curiosity to the Dale children. To the north, south and west were high hills so that their own part of the Dale was to many children all the known world, for many of them never experienced the adventure of a visit to the railway terminus or to any of the neighbouring dales of the Tees, Nent or Tyne. In this there were disadvantages and advantages. To young people of unrestrained tendencies the opportunities were many to indulge in the wilder kind of sports such as wrestling, fighting and poaching, often leading to public house "revels". On the other hand, to those who were of the studious and devout turn of mind, there was little to allure them from their books and chapel. John Watson was always one of the latter. The writer has often heard from him most interesting accounts of the use that he made of the Sunday School libraries and the village library at Westgate. He rejoiced to tell that at that time the Westgate library contained the Encyclopaedia Britannica and many of the best classical books. From there he took at frequent intervals not separate volumes but "armfuls" of books. He was one who from boyhood days loved his book and quiet nook, and in this the boy was father to the man.

His only school training was received at the private school in Ireshope Burn of which his aunt - Miss Harrison - was the teacher. He attended the Wesleyan Sunday School in High House Chapel, the mother Methodist sanctuary in Weardale, and in which John Wesley was a fairly frequent preacher. Close beside this famous chapel is a tree from under the branches of which John Wesley preached at an open air service. When the new railway to Wearhead was planned in 1895 this tree was marked for destruction and the Dales people were greatly perturbed. A public appeal was made to the Directors, in response to which the plans were altered and the sacred tree was spared. In the old chapel the custom is continued of holding a Lovefeast on Good Friday afternoon and this has been held without break from the earliest days of Methodism. John became a member when quite young and afterwards appeared on the Wesleyan plan as a local preacher. The even peaceful course of Christian life and service was soon to be seriously disturbed by the agitation that arose over the Wesleyan Reform movement. The Watson family favoured the Reformers and as a result of doing so they were informed by the Wesleyan Minister that their names had been removed from the membership roll and John's from the plan. This severance from the church was a serious grief to them and was followed by long anxious suspense. Some of the family rejoined the Wesleyan Church - the father did not - and John with his mother at length decided to join the Primitive Methodist Church. In after years he stated publicly how he was led to become a Primitive Methodist.

For some time after his separation from the Wesleyan Church he remained very unsettled and uncertain as to what was his course of duty. Ultimately he did decide to attend another service at his old church and resolved that if asked to do so he would follow his brothers and rejoin High House Church. He went, no one spoke to him, and he decided at once to join the Wearhead Primitive Methodist Church. This step he believed to be the leading of Providence and he was confirmed in it by all subsequent experience.

The Westgate Circuit Quarterly Meeting of March 22nd, 1856 passed this Minute:- "That John Watson's name come on the plan as a local preacher, he having joined the Society". Little did any of that meeting anticipate what this was to mean to the future of Primitive Methodism. He was at once very well received; wherever and whenever he was planned the chapels were crowded. Rev. Thomas Elliott listened to many of his sermons at Wearhead and says, "John Watson had then a fine clear voice and spoke with much passion and earnestness but never in an unprepared manner. He could and did preach "black sermons" but he had many converts. He preached so often and so well that we wondered how he found time for so many such carefully prepared sermons." This appreciation is all the more significant coming from one who has since become one of the most wonderful preachers in the Primitive Methodist ministry. The method he employed in preparing his sermons was interesting and most unusual. In the first instance he would preach from carefully prepared notes, then, if the sermon pleased him on delivery, he would write it out fully. In the course of conversation Dr. Fort Newton informed the writer that this was the method he himself used invariably.

Mr. Watson was greatly esteemed for his friendliness and courtesy toward all in Weardale and yet he was always in some respects different from others. He was singular inasmuch as he never used the dialect like others in ordinary conversation. Both in private and public he was bent on using pure English and then as ever afterwards had a marked aversion to abbreviated words and names. Many a young minister has been gently chided by him for using the word "super". Weardale people are proud of their dialect with its close kinship to the Scotch of Crockett and Barrie and usually would regard very severely any young person who "put on airs", but John Watson was never so thought of. It was regarded as quite natural for him to talk correctly, and as a mark of respect no one would ever have thought of taking liberties with him; he was always John Watson or Mr. Watson.

Young local preachers coveted the distinction of being "on note" with him and the late George Race Junior was one of those to whom that honour came. The pleasure and the benefit must have been mutual for George Race was no ordinary man.

On March 19th 1859, the Quarterly Meeting, with William Lister as Chairman, passed another important resolution:- "That John Watson is eligible for entering the ministry". This was without doubt most welcome to Mr. Watson but after much thought and prayer he felt compelled to decline the "call", the one reason for doing so was that he was the only support of his mother and he was convinced that it was his duty to remain with her. Rev. Henry Phillips succeeded Mr. Lister as Superintendent in the following year, and very soon evidenced anxiety about securing Mr. Watson for the work of the ministry. By March 1862 the Circuit had prospered so much that it was decided to call out a third minister. On March 15th 1862, the following resolutions were passed:-

"That John Watson of this Circuit be requested to become our third travelling Preacher."

"That our Superintendent Henry Phillips attend to the matters necessary to the calling of John Watson to labour as a regular minister on the Station."

A "Special Case" was made out and sent forward to Conference. The Conference was reminded of the Circuit's action three years previously and that the one obstacle then in the way of Mr.Watson becoming a Minister was that his mother was dependent on him for financial support. It was pointed out that if he could be stationed as third minister on the Westgate Circuit he would be able to continue living with his mother and also be able to supplement his salary of £10. per quarter by using his spare time at his own trade as a shoemaker. The Conference response to this appeal was that Mr. Watson was stationed forthwith Third Preacher on the Westgate Circuit. We wonder whether there has ever been another instance of a local preacher being called directly to serve as minister on his home station or under such unique circumstances. Great was the joy throughout Weardale. He was then 29 years of age. This advanced age has also an important bearing upon our conceptions of his subsequent ministry characterised by such culture and efficiency. This again becomes the more significant when it is remembered that all his elementary school tuition was received in the small village school conducted by his aunt, who according to present day standards would not have been permitted to teach in an elementary school.

Probably the most potent personal influence over him at the time was that of Henry Phillips. It was he who suggested and prepared the way for the special circumstances, and who all the while had been directing Mr. Watson's studies. Mr. Phillips was also particularly renowned for his fine gentlemanly deportment and it was very natural for the younger man in whom there were the same native qualities, to find in his Superintendent both his ideal and his kindred spirit. Both were among God's true gentlemen.

Another great formative influence was that of Wearhead Church. In it were many strong characters who were real saints. They were distinguished by something that can only be described by the word "unction". Their prayers were suffused with this grace and the prayer meetings were wonderful. It was as when Moses and Elijah prayed - there was Power from on High. To learn to pray in those prayer meetings was likely to be a life-long blessing to any devout young person. To attend them and leave unconverted would be almost an impossibility. Much of this high quality remains to-day; there is no other Sunday evening prayer meeting that is quite like it. Though in his twenties, John Watson's character and ministry were bound to be markedly influenced during the six years that he was in membership at Wearhead.

There is a Providence that shapes our ends, and to all who know Wearhead and knew Mr. Watson, the impress was very evident. Saintliness and unction remained as distinct characteristics in him.

Revs. Peter Clark and E. Rust became Mr Watson's colleagues in 1863 and they were together until 1866, and the period was attended by a great revival in Weardale. Few Circuits, if any, have been blessed by so many really great revivals as has Westgate Circuit, but this was one of the most wonderful. The membership increased from 921 to 1137. All the three ministers were appointed to conduct revival services at the different places and Mr. Watson made his beginning at Frosterley. At most of the places the services were held night after night for several weeks with crowded congregations and increasing numbers of conversions. The writer has often heard Mr.Watson talk of those great experiences and has also conversed with many in Weardale who went day after day visiting with him and then assisted him at the services. Many long hours were spent on the roads after supper time, walking backward and forward in holy contemplation of the wonderful things that God was doing among them. Amongst those who attribute their conversions to Mr. Watson are the three sons of his old companion at High House Chapel, Mr. Featherstone Phillipson, viz:- Revs. E. and J. Phillipson and Mr. Thomas Phillipson.

Also in 1864 the September Quarterly Meeting recommended as Candidates for the ministry from Wearhead Church, John Elliott, John Featherstone, Featherstone Watson and John Charlton. It is also a notable fact that the same church has sent out at different times no less than seventeen ministers. All the four candidates of 1864 were under the direct influence of Mr. Watson. Those four years have left abiding marks upon the lives of many who have since travelled far from the Dale as well as many who remained to carry on the work and a few of whom survive to speak very glowingly of the days of Clark and Watson's great revival.

After four distinguished years of probation he left his native Dale with the highest possible esteem, not only of our own people but of the general public. Whenever he visited the Dale, as he did very frequently as a special preacher and lecturer, he attracted crowded congregations. All Weardale, including Wesleyan Methodism, rejoiced with exceeding great joy when he was appointed President of the Conference and Principal of the Manchester College.