Two years after his conversion he began to preach and for eleven years he rendered great service as a local preacher. During this time invitations came from at least a dozen circuits to enter the ministry but he reluctantly refused them, feeling that his mother needed his help until the younger members of the family could take his place. In his twenty-ninth year there came upon the Dale one of those revivals of religion which stirs a whole community to its depths. Such wonderful conversions took place that the most sceptical were forced to believe in the reality of the wonders wrought in the lives of their fellow-dalesmen. There was a deepened interest in all matters pertaining to religion, a general desire for an additional minister in the circuit, and that the man to fill that position should be my Father. The call from outside sources became so insistent and the inward urge was so overwhelming that, in spite of the many difficulties in the way, he felt he would be doing wrong not to yield to the pressure brought to bear upon him. After coming to this decision the obstacles which had seemed so insuperable were cleared away, and in 1862 he accepted the call of his home circuit and became its third minister, the superintendent Minister being the Rev. Henry Phillips, and the second the Rev. E. Rust.

It was typical both of himself and of the Dales people that during his ministry a certain outward show of respect sprang up between them. Although the most affectionate relationship existed between pastor and people the formal "Mr. Watson" was used by old and young alike. Many years later when he returned home after terms of service in Africa and Australia the people lovingly returned to the familiar "John". He felt that he was fortunate in having such an able man as his "superintendent". Mr Phillips was a man of distinguished appearance and had had a considerable amount of success in his ministry in the Dale. He was a keen student, an able preacher, and during the period of spiritual revival which was then beginning, he showed great powers of winning men and women into the Kingdom. Such a man counted for much in the life of a young man entering into the ministry, and my Father often acknowledged the debt he owed to Mr Phillips. At this time John formed the acquaintance of Miss Phillips who afterwards became his wife.

In 1863 the Rev. Peter Clark succeeded the Rev. Henry Phillips as superintendent minister. The spiritual awakening now broke out into a flame and many still recall the great revival which swept through the Dale. The three ministers held nightly services for several months and hundreds were converted and added to the church. The Wearhead Church benefited greatly, 170 people being added to that society alone. Rev. T. Elliott of Northallerton recently said "It was then we felt the power of your Father's preaching. In those days he was full of passion, not wild, but deep and strong, guided by a clear intellect and a finely cultured mind."

My Father had the unusual experience of spending the whole of his probation in his native place. At its close in 1866 he removed to Sunderland where he was under the superintendency of the Rev. Thomas Greenfield. Mr Phillips was then at Gateshead and his home became the gathering ground of many young ministers. John, along with the Revs. Hugh Gilmore, John Hallam and William Gelley was a frequent visitor. John and Miss Phillips found that their interests and aims in life were similar. Before long their friendship deepened into love, they were engaged and their marriage took place in 1868. Rev. William Gelley, to whom I am indebted for much information concerning this early period of my Father's life, writes, "Miss Phillips was one of the sweetest spirits I have met in my long life". Their time together was brief; in a little over a year under tragic circumstances she was removed from his side. To my Father and also to my Mother, who had had the privilege of her friendship, her young life was as a sweet fragrance which the passing of many years never destroyed.