James Banyard (14 November 1800 – 1863) was a Wesleyan Local Preacher, founder of The Peculiar People, farmer and shoemaker.
Early life
James Banyard was born in the market town of Rochford, Essex. His father, Robert Banyard (1776 - 1815), worked at Rochford Hall as a ploughman; James also became an agricultural labourer but spent most of his free time carousing in local pubs. Described as "an ugly man" with a loud booming voice, James was charismatic and became a popular local figure thanks to a talent for conjuring tricks, mimicry and topical rhyme. He composed comedy songs called "glees" (unaccompanied songs for men's voices in three or more parts, popular c.1750–1830) and one called "The Syren Wrecked on The West Knock" was still remembered 25 years after his death. He had no time for religion and indulged in heavy alcohol consumption. He was also a poacher for which he was eventually jailed. Whilst in prison he learnt the craft of shoemaking which became his livelihood upon his release. He married Susan Garnish (1802–1844) in around 1826 but continued to lead a dissoloute and argumentative life. By his early thirties his wife began to despair of his drunken behaviour. Following a visit to a local fair she "insisted he reform" and made him promise to attend the local Wesleyan Methodist chapel. The preacher's words had a dramatic effect on Banyard and "a change came over him". He became a strict teetotaller and began going to church regularly. Banyard became a respected member of the Rochford Methodist community and eventually became a preacher at the local chapel himself.
Influence of Rev. Robert Aitken and meeting William Bridges
The Scottish-born Anglican cleric Robert Aitken had left the Church of England in 1834 having been overcome by "the spirit of the Lord". He became an evangelical revivalist and founded his own Christian Society. Between the years 1837 and 1839 the teetotaller Aitken was in London preaching "in the open air" in Lambeth and at Whites Row Chapel in Spitalfields. It was in Spitalfields that a Methodist local preacher and hat block maker from Southwark William Bridges, heard Aitken evangelize on the text Enoch walked with God. Bridges became "a changed man" and in 1837 founded his own tiny religious sect called the Plumstead Peculiars. That same year Bridges visited one of his sisters in Rochford and struck up a friendship with Banyard, swapping ideas and discussing "religious topics". Bridges invited Banyard to stay with him in London and at some point led him to Aitken. Banyard instinctively realised that Aitken and Bridges had "something more than he" and before leaving Bridges' home at 8 Gravel Lane Southwark, is said to have gone to an upstairs room, fallen to his knees and been 'born again'. Bridges would later have a similar influence on the leader of another rural sect, John Sirgood.
The Banyardites, and The Peculiar People
Banyard returned to Rochford and began preaching "Right of Liberty"; believing there was no sin in Christians once they accepted the Holy Spirit in Christianity, he asserted "for to know our sins are forgiven is the first step in religion". Quite soon there was a "dispute" with the Rochford Wesleyan church and Banyard was ejected for refusing to obey instructions. He began open air preaching in Rochford Square and held prayer meetings at his cottage. Banyard was often "drenched with pails of water" and had "filth of all sorts" thrown at him; including "rotten eggs and dead cats"; one of the worst tormentors amongst the intolerant and irreligious was Banyard's embittered former friend, Layzell. In spite of this early opposition his message began to catch on. At first the sect were known simply as The Banyardites. As the congregation grew Banyard and Bridges took over the lease of an old workhouse building known as The Barracks in Rochford circa 1838 and set up their own chapel at Union Lane (near the Marlborough Head Inn).