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Bushell, Robert

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an English Methodist minister, was born. at Chipping Norton, April 30, 1827. His parents were Wesleyans; and he had a godly training. As a Methodist Sunday-school scholar, he was noted for punctuality, regularity, and diligence-habits which never left him. At the age of thirteen a severe illness brought him near to death, and the effects of it made breathing difficult ever after. 'He gave his heart to God as a lad, soon after his recovery, and joined the Methodist Society. In 1848 he came to London, and became a local preacher under the Rev. Dr. Beaumont. In 1849, when three ministers were unjustly expelled from the Methodist Conference, Mr. Bushell joined himself to the Reformers, who adhered to the expelled ministers. In 1851 he became the minister of the Society of Methodist Reformers at Wisbeach, and remained there for seven happy and prosperous years. He afterwards travelled for five years each in two of the London circuits, and four years in Sheffield. No less than twelve hundred members were added to those three societies during his ministry. In 1869 he was appointed connectional secretary of the United Methodists (the union having taken place in 1857), and, filling that office for two years, the conference in 1871 unanimously elected him general missionary secretary, which position he filled with marked ability till 1881, when, through excessive labors and journeys on behalf of missions, his health gave way, and he was obliged to resign his office. He died in peace at Sheffield, Nov. 22, 1881. He was in labors most abundant.