THE REV. G. WALLIS
The deceased who for 39 years had been in the active ministry of the Primitive Methodist Connexion, and for 24 years a supernumerary, died on Monday morning, at his residence in Priory-road, at the advanced age of 84.

Sixty three years ago, when a young man of twenty-one, he was sent from Wiltshire to assist in the newly-opened mission in Berkshire and Hampshire. In the latter county he was subjected to brutal treatment from infuriated mobs for no other offence than that of preaching of the gospel He lived however to see the hostility shown in this infant community, entirely cease, while the devoted labours of himself and his colleagues have been so blessed that the Primitive Methodist chapels and preaching places in the county are probably more numerous than of any other Nonconformist body. Mr Wallis has been laid aside for several years, through increasing physical and mental infirmity.

The funeral takes place tomorrow (Friday), a memorial service will be held at the Primitive Methodist Church at 2.45.

Mrs P Page 37   53A   (missing years and half page missing from accounts)

GEORGE WALLIS A PIONEER OF PRIMITIVE METHODISM

THE LATE REV. G. WALLIS

A memorial service in connection with the funeral of the Rev. George Wallis, of the Priory Road, Newbury, who died on the previous Monday, took place on Friday afternoon at the Primitive Methodist Church. Commencing with the hymn "How blest the righteous when he dies," the scripture was read by the Rev. G.H. Birch, and prayer offered by the Rev. T. Kench, of Oxford. An address was next given by the Rev. D. Harding. As the organ pealed forth the Dead March in Saul the body was removed from the church and conveyed to the Cemetery, the mourners being the Revs., Theo. And Fredk. Wallis (sons), Mrs. Reeve (daughter), Mrs. Theo Wallis, and Rev. T. Reeves and Mr. Spinney (sons-in-law), and Mrs. Preston. In addition a large number surrounded the grave, and prayer was offered by the Rev. Levi Norris, of Leeds, and Rev. J. T. Stead, and the benediction was pronounced by the Rev. H. Burson (Weslyan). Before separating the hymn was sung "Give me the wings of faith to rise."
The death of Mr. Wallis was improved on Sunday evening by the Rev. D. Harding, who stated that the deceased was born at Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire. In 1824, when he was 14 years of age, a Primitive Methodist preacher, of the name of Samuel Heath, came from Shropshire, preaching in the towns and villages on his way. He appears to have halted at Brinkworth, a village four miles from Wootton Bassett. It was remarkable that Mr. Heath had previously known nothing about Brinkworth, nor did the people in Wiltshire know anything of him. He seems to have been led here by God's directing hand. John Cennick, the apostle of North Wilts, had done a grand work in and around Brinkworth, about the middle of the previous century, where an old chapel built by him, and in which the seraphic Whitfield had preached, was still in existence. That work, however, had largely died out, but it was brought to remembrance and revived by the sudden appearance of this strange preacher in their midst. His first visit to Wootton Bassett was one afternoon, the time was chosen in the absence of the men at work, as their hostility to evangelical truth was known. The congregation consisted largely of women and children, and they appear to have been favourably influenced. Shortly after, Mr. Heath again appeared at Wootton Bassett, and boldly took his stand before a crowd who had assembled in the main street to witness back-swording contests. The text was "Marvel not at this; for the hour is coming in this which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth...."

......Among the early converts was George Wallis. He became a local preacher, and in 1831, at the age of 21 entered the Primitive Methodist ministry and was sent to Shefford, the headquarters of the Berkshire mission, which one year earlier had been commenced. He was full of enthusiasm for his Lord and Master, and devoted himself unreservedly to the work of breaking up fallow ground, and in so doing laid the 2 foundations of many societies in Berkshire. It is still remembered that in building the first chapel at Peasemore, he did the bricklaying by day and pursued his preaching in the villages by night, treading in the steps of the apostle of the Gentiles- the tentmaker. In those days the infant community encountered great opposition, while friends were few, and homes scarce. Standing between Cold Ash and Long Lane is a farm house, which was then occupied by a Mr. Simon Goddard, who espoused the cause of the missionaries, and threw open his home to them. One evening Mr. Wallis, who had been preaching at a distant village, made for this hospitable house, but reached it to find the inmates had all retired to rest. Not willing to disturb them, he looked around, and saw a heap of straw, into which he crept, for the purpose of passing the night. An hour or two later came along Mr. Russell, another missionary, who had been unable to find shelter elsewhere. Nor were these experiences altogether exceptional for in the prosecution of their work they often has to submit to exposure and hunger. Mr. Wallis' next appointment was to assist in opening a mission in Hampshire. He held the first service in Andover amidst a scene of great disturbance. On the following Sunday a gang of godless men broke up the service, knocked the preacher down and pelted him with rotten eggs. The following Sunday when Mr Wallis' colleague, a Mr. Wiltshire (also a Wootton Bassett man) attempted to preach, the persecution was appalling, the beadle and constable dragged him through the streets, the mob struck him with besoms, and his coat was torn from his back. The circuit books show the record of a grant of money to the Hampshire missionaries for new clothing to replace that ruined by the mobs.
Several more pages on the experiences of the missionaries, Mr Wallis in particular and others in general.  See Photos below of the pages for full details
Newbury Weekly News 22 March 1894