Hudson Jermy, Evangelist (1870 - 1954)

The above postcard was purchased on eBay in 2009. It shows Hudson Jermy, Evangelist, standing at the back of his horse drawn "Gospel Mission Car" with an unidentified boy playing a portable piano. The card was published by E. Buck of Clitheroe. The reverse of the card is addressed to Mr J Brunskill of Rorkey Farm, Crosby Ganett, Kirkby Stephen, in what is now Cumbria. The message says With very kind regards to all and best wishes for a happy Xmas and New Year. It is signed by Mr H. Jermy. The card was posted on 23 December 1910.

A search of the 1911 census records March Jermy, aged 41, in his Gospel Mission car in Aldbrough, near Darlington, Yorkshire. He is listed as an Evangelist, with no other occupation, who was born in Wroxham, Norfolk. It would appear that his vehicle was parked outside the United Methodist Church in Aldbrough at the time of the census.

Fortunately, in my database of Jermy families, I have a record of a March Jermy who was born in Wroxham . He was the youngest child of William Jermy and Eleanor Hudson, who were married at St Mary, Wroxham on 14 September 1848. His father William was an agricultural labourer, who died in March 1870 shortly after March's birth. Most of his siblings were baptised at the Anglican church of St Mary, Wroxham, but his two closest siblings in age were baptised at the Lady Lane Wesleyan Chapel in Norwich, perhaps indicating a growing awareness of religious changes? March was brought up by his mother, who is listed as a washerwoman in subsequent census records. He is listed as a scholar in the 1881 census, when he is living with the rest of the family in Wroxham. His mother subsequently died in December 1894. It would appear that March combined his mother's maiden name with his own for his subsequent evangelical career.

The 1891 census shows him staying as a lodger with Mary Koyles, aged 64, and her daughter Laura, aged 26, in Magdalen Road, Norwich. Mother and daughter are listed as housekeeper and dressmaker, respectively, whilst March, aged 21, is listed as a gardener. In the 1901 census he is listed as March H Jermy, Evangelist, living in his Gospel Van in Arnside, Westmoreland, with another evangelist John Burring, aged 26. At the time of the 1921 census he is recorded as March Jermy, age 51, working as a Private Secretary in the house of Miss Rachel M Cowherd, Stoneydale, Grange over Sands, Lancashire. He is evidently still an evangelist though, as revealed by a similar postcard to the one above, that was sold on eBay in March 2021. This one was addressed to Mrs Ebdell, Great Asby, Appleby, Westmorland, and posted on 22 December 1909 at Crosthwaite, Kendal. The message says With very kind regards to both and best wishes for a happy Xmas. Mr H Jermy, Stoneydale Grange, The Sands, Lancs.

The 1939 Population Register lists him as living in "Wroxholme", Hillburne Road, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, as March Jermy, Private Secretary, Retired. His date of birth is given as 10th March 1870. Living with him is his elder sister Eliza, who is listed as a housekeeper. He died on 21 February 1954, aged 83, and according to his will he was living with friends Mr & Mrs Leeks of 8 Kenlam Road, Wisbech St Peter, Cambridgeshire. He left them the bulk of his estate, and £25 to his nephew Reginald Spinks Jermy, of Wroxham.

I was recently (December 2024) given a number of other photographs of Hudson Jermy's mission van, which form part of a much larger Gospel evangelism picture collection. They provide an excellent record of the changing message on the van, as well as the alterations to the van itself.

April 1905. The man standing with the bible is Mr T Preston.

c. 1905. The van is almost identical to the above photograph.

c. 1910. Identical wording on the side of the van as the original eBay postcard above, but using a different font.

The newspaper cuttings below provide snapshots of Hudson Jermy evangelising around the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales between 1897 and 1926. They may also reflect that his church affiliations changed with time. The 1897 articles refer to him giving talks about the Church Army (founded by Wilson Carlile in 1882), but by 1901 he seems to have become independent, with more emphasis on Gospel evangelism. The 1926 newspaper article records that he has spent over twenty years evangelising - in reality it was almost thirty years.

Herald & Lakes News. 24 September 1897. Page 8

The Lancaster Observer and Morecombe Chronicle. 15 October 1897. Page 3

Herald & Lakes News. 3 December 1897. Page 4

Soulby's Ulverston Advertiser. 19 September 1901. Page 5

Soulby's Ulverston Advertiser. 31 October 1901. Page 7

The Lancaster Guardian. 2 October 1909. Page 7

Mid Cumberland and North Westmoreland Herald. 29 December 1917. Page 1

The Penrith Observer. 21 December 1926. Page 5