Thomas John Dennis - Chronology

1. Beginnings, family and training

Sussex

Thomas John Dennis was born in 1869 and grew up in the County of Sussex on the south coast of England. The area had been largely rural but in the middle of the 19th century railways were constructed from London and new seaside resorts like Eastbourne and St. Leonard’s (which adjoined Hastings) were rapidly built up. The inland villages remained quiet farming communities but the coastal towns provided new markets and employment. The places where the Dennis family lived are marked on the map on page 359.

Ancestry

The Dennis family had been Sussex farmers for generations. They claimed descent from Huguenot refugees who escaped from France when Protestants were persecuted (ND p13). In the 1851 census Tom Dennis’s grandfather, John, then aged 38, was living with his wife Frances, aged 40, and children William (10), Edward (6), John Ellis (4) and twins Martha & Mary (2) in the Post Office in the village of Folkington, six miles from Eastbourne. The 'Post Office' was little more than a desk where stamps were sold in a corner of the cottage. John looked after a prize herd of black cattle for his landlord (information from Rosalie Howard). The family had been in Folkington for at least the previous two generations. When Dennis was later in Freetown, Sierra Leone, he described the burial ground there as 'quite as rough as Folkington churchyard' (LH p.46). On another occasion he wrote about his father being tired after a day amongst the hills about Folkington (LH 25 May 1901).

further notes on marriages of ancestors (by Rosalie Howard)

Thomas Dennis - Jane Waymarke 26 Sept 1706

Thomas Dennis - Barbara Earle 17 April 1750

William Dennis - Hannah Feers 6 Nov 1775

Edward Dennis - Mille1811/12 Ml Folkington Churchyard

John Dennis - Frances Ellis Feb 1837 at Hailsham where Frances's father was a skilled blacksmith. At some point John and Frances may have moved to Hollington between Battle and St Leonard’s as they are buried in the churchyard there.

Dennis’s father's elder brother, William, born 1840, farmed at Westham. In the 1880s he ran St. Matthew's nursery (for plants, not children) in St. Leonard’s and described himself as a florist (census 1881,1891).

Dennis's mother came originally from Sunderland in the North East of England (census 1891). Her father, Hall Robson, had been a master mariner. She had memories of some voyages to distant places made with her father (ND p 13).

Dennis's parents, Edward Dennis, born 1844, a farmer in Westham, and Margaret Ann Robson married in her home parish of Hollington near St Leonard’s on 8th October 1868. On the marriage certificate Edward’s father was then described as a gardener.

Thomas John Dennis was born on 17 September 1869 at Langney, then in the countryside between the growing town of Eastbourne and the village of Westham. He was their first child.

Childhood

Soon after Dennis was born the family moved to farm at Bolney House, Cuckfield, near Haywards Heath in Sussex, They did not own the farm but rented it. His father invested heavily in stocking it. At Cuckfield more children were born -

Elizabeth (Lizzie) in ?1871,

Ellen (Nellie) on 20 October 1872(LH 20 act 1898),

Frances Mary (Fanny) on 15 April 1874,

and Edward (Eddie or Ted) on 23 October 1875.

Dennis would have attended the church elementary school in Cuckfield village. However, the farm suffered several adverse seasons (EH 2 Oct 1922). They could not afford to continue so when Dennis was about eight the family moved.

William (Bill), the next child, was born at Guestling near Hastings.

The family then settled in Silverhill a growing housing development in St Leonard’s near the Robson family at Hollington.

Margaret Ann was born there and baptised in the parish church of St Matthew on l August 1880.

At the time of the 1881 census the family was living at 13 Silver Hill Terrace (68 3G 23). In 1882 a dynamic young clergyman, Francis E Newton, was appointed to St Matthew’s parish. He raised funds to replace the existing church building with a much larger one in 1885. The church had a strong evangelical tradition, which would have been a vital influence on young Dennis and family.

Dennis's father worked as a gardener in the town, which meant the children, grew up in comparative poverty though this trained the family to endure hardship (ND p 13). However, his mother may have inherited some money because in a letter Dennis wrote to his father fifteen years later he refers to 'Your little farm and mother's houses' (LH 4 June 1896). The farm was probably a market garden growing vegetables. The houses would have been let for income, though members of the family occupied different properties in the area at various times. (Lizzie and her young family were in 9 Wellington Street according to (LH 24 April 1895).

On 17 August 1883 another child, Henry, was born. He was baptised at St Matthew's on 7th October but died soon afterwards (ND p13). The family was then living in Wellington Street in Silver Hill (Baptismal Register). The 1887 Kelly's Directory records Dennis's father as a shopkeeper at 10 Wellington Road, (the names of Wellington Road, Street and Terrace were later changed to Duke Road, Street and Terrace to avoid confusion with similar names in Hastings). In 1891 the Census records the family living at Wellington Terrace - father Edward is a gardener and mother Margaret a grocer. By then Dennis had left home. His younger brothers, Edward and William were apprentice gardeners and Margaret still at school (766 31).

Youth

As the eldest in a large family Dennis would have shared the responsibility of caring for his younger brothers and sisters. Their poverty meant that he must make a financial contribution as soon as possible. Dennis had to leave school at an early age though his schoolmaster protested that he was losing his most promising pupil. He had a great desire for knowledge and after leaving school it was his custom to get up before anyone else was astir to continue his studies. In after years he attributed much blessing to the faithful, patient teaching received at a Sunday afternoon Bible class (EH 2 Oct 1922). In particular he referred to a Miss Oaks to whom he owed more than anyone except his parents. 'Should I ever have been where I am now if it had not been for her prayers and influence? At any rate she was the instrument God used for my conversion and for my dedication to the missionary work' (LH 5 Sep & 7 Nov 1898).

Dennis also kept abreast of political issues. Newspapers would be read at meals and he spent much time discussing different views with his father (LH 3 Apr 1895). Working together provided further opportunity. He later wrote to his father ‘You carefully educated me in the Silverlands garden’ (LH 2 Sept 1895). Writing home 15 years later Dennis referred to their poor abode ‘with horses and carts and absence of pavements and noisy neighbours’ but went on to say: "Don't think that I am in the slightest bit ashamed of you or the old house … it will ever be a dear plot to me, hallowed with all kinds of pleasant memories. It was there that I became a child of God, there that I have talked over with you the thousand things that interested us in common" (LH 3 June 1896).

When Dennis was about 16 he left home to live with relatives who had a prosperous fishmongers business in London and considerable prospects were held out to him. It was while in London that he had a deep experience of salvation and yielded his life wholeheartedly to Christ. But he then faced a hard choice. He could not approve certain business practices and after discussion with the owner and with the approval of his parents he returned home (EH 2 Oct 1922 & LH 3 June 1896). Like his father he then worked as a gardener (C/A Tm 5/4 no.77).

However, Dennis must have wondered whether God did not want him to do something more. The Rev CF Childe, who had been principal of the CMSTrainingCollege in Islington 1839-1858 had retired to St. Leonard’s in 1884. Childe encouraged Dennis to consider missionary service and became his guide. Dennis spent time with him in study. There was much he could do immediately to prepare himself. While continuing his gardening he taught in Sunday School, helped with the YMCA and did some open air preaching (EH 22 Oct 1922).

Training

Dennis offered to CMS on 17 September 1889, his 20th birthday, with Childe as his first reference (C/A Tm 5/4 number 77). In the Register of Candidates (C/A Tm 5/4 no.77) his address is given as 10 Wellington Street, Silver Hill, St Leonard’s and occupation as gardener. His other referees were Rev F E Newton, the Rector at his home parish and Rev AVU Carden, the newly appointed vicar of St. Andrew's, Hastings. Dennis was seen by the Candidates Committee on 29th October. Because he had not been able to complete his schooling, he was recommended for training at the CMS Institution in Clapham, London where the less academic were sent. Dennis started there on 5th November (LH 9 Nov 1904).

Six months later the Committee interviewed him again. They were obviously impressed by the ability he had shown and recommended him for their more advanced TrainingCollege at Islington, London, run by Rev F Drury (who became principal of Ridley Hall in 1900). There had been a great surge of people offering for missionary service and there were many able students, including Cambridge graduates, at Islington in Dennis's time. An average of forty a year were being trained (Stock History of CMS vol III p353). Many students took the Oxford and Cambridge Preliminary Theological examination, which had been instituted in 1875. Islington gained more first class honours in this than any other college - 50 between 1884 & 1896 (Stock History of CMS vol III p 703). Dennis worked hard. 'I never got less than 80% in an Islington exam' (LH 30 Jan 1895). He gained a first himself in 1893 (Crockford). Three years later he wrote: 'I came across the results . . . as they were sent to me . . . the other day . . . What a lot we used to think and talk about the marks in those days, as if making marks were the only object in life! I look on things somewhat differently now, but no doubt I should still go in for the top place if I was sitting again’ (LH 9 Sept 1896). It was customary for some students to return during their first furlough and take the Durham BA. Dennis must have looked forward to doing this - though it was to be ten years before he had the opportunity.

Among his fellow students Charlie Hughesden, who was to go to India, became a particular friend. After their Lent term ended in 1892 they walked together from London to Folkestone via Maidstone, Canterbury and Dover (over 80 miles), and then took a train to Dennis's home at St Leonard’s on Easter Eve (LH 14 Apr 1895).

Ordination

Dennis was ordained by Bishop Frederick Temple in St Paul's Cathedral, London, on Trinity Sunday 1893. There were usually several candidates from Islington at the Trinity ordination and one of them was often given the honour of reading the Gospel. Dennis had hoped to be chosen and was greatly disappointed when someone quite unexpected was picked (LH p88 & 16 July 1895) Dennis then served for some months as an assistant curate in the parish of St. Mary, Islington.

Dennis was assigned to the Niger on 6 June 1893 but it was agreed on 12 Sept 1893 that he should go to Sierra Leone first.

Brothers and Sisters

No fewer than four of Dennis’s younger brothers and sisters were to follow him as missionaries overseas. Some further details of his siblings are given below:

Elizabeth. She was known as Lizzie and married a Mr Charles Lavender. They had children Nellie and Daisy (LH 11 Aug 1896 & 8 Jan 1901).

Ellen. She was known as Nellie and went to Nigeria in 1896. She was invalided home in 1915 and died that year on 19 Dec (LH 26 Jan 1916).

Frances Mary. She was known as Fanny. She went to Nigeria in 1898. She worked for a time with her brother, Tom. She later married a clergyman, Stephen Hensley, Rector of Parkham, near Bideford in Devon. She was to have married his brother Geoffrey but he died of malaria on their wedding eve in Sierra Leone. She wrote books Niger Dawn and A fight for life about her missionary experiences.

Edward. He was known as Eddie and as Ted, and also worked in Nigeria, 1899-1911. He was ordained in 1908 and married a cousin, Winnie, in 1909. He then returned to England and worked in village parishes around Aylsham, Norfolk till his retirement in 1953. He became Vicar of Tuttingham in 1912 and Rector of Banningham in 1922 where there is a memorial window to him in the church.

William. He was known as Bill, married Florence, and carried on his uncle’s nursery business in St Leonard’s.

Margaret Ann. She was known as Meg, married the Rev Will Stephens, a missionary in India and Ceylon. She sailed to wed him there in 1905 (LH 19 & 25 Feb & 30 Mar 1905). He died of malaria at the beginning of 1917 (LH 18 Feb 1917) leaving her with two small children.

Family Progress

In 1895 the business at 10 Wellington Street was 'not very flourishing' (LH 7 Jan 1895), but the following year the financial position of the family must have improved. Dennis asked his father to 'think of moving from the shop to some small private house, Would it not be possible to buy such a house in Silverhill? A house with about 6 rooms and a washhouse with a small garden before and behind is what is wanted . . . I cannot help feeling that Lizzie and Charlie find it exceedingly hard in spite of your help to make both ends meet. I think they would gladly take the shop or if the burden is too much for Lillie let Meggie go and help her . . . from your little farm and mother's houses you should be able to clear at least £25 a year' (LH 3 June 1896). The parents did eventually move to a grander house. Dennis wrote to his father in 1898: 'All that you and mother tell me about house and business arrangements is most welcome, I am sure the change will be for the best, though it will seem strange at first not to come back to the old place which has been home for 16-17 years at least' (LH 16 Jun 1898). But then the parents seemed to have second thoughts. Dennis wrote three months later: 'I hope you don't mean to bury yourself at 9 Wellington Street. If you have finally made up your mind never on any account to go to Clive Vale there will be nothing for it but for Mattie and me to lodge with you at number 9 when we come on furlough' (LH 5 Sept 1898). However, the move was eventually made that year. They settled at 'The Acacias', 18 Clive Avenue, Hastings, where their children and grandchildren would often stay with them. When father, Edward, died of a stroke in June 1905 he was described as a master grocer (information from Rosalie Howard). But all that is in the future.

2. Sierra Leone

Background

Although Dennis was destined for the Niger he spent his first months as a missionary in Sierra Leone. It is necessary to say a little about Sierra Leone and also how the mission was organised.

Sierra Leone was the name given by Portuguese seamen to a rocky promontory on the generally low lying West African coast, which sheltered a fine natural harbour. Some freed slaves from London, Nova Scotia and Jamaica moved there at the end of the 18th century and it was declared a British crown colony in 1808. Their settlement was called Freetown.

When the British Government outlawed the slave trade from Africa to the Americas in 1807 measures were needed to stop it. Naval ships patrolled the African coast to intercept vessels carrying slaves. When a slave ship was arrested the slaves were landed at Freetown to begin a new life. Over 50 years more than 60,000 of these 'recaptives' were landed there. Many were from what is now Nigeria.

CMS worked to educate and convert these displaced people who developed their own ‘Creole’ culture. Freetown became known as the 'Athens of West Africa'. Some of these recaptives played the key role as missionaries to the homelands from which they had been taken. Outstanding among them was Samuel Crowther who took part in expeditions up the Niger in 1841 and 1857 and was made bishop of the Niger territories in 1864.

In 1883 Freetown had 23 African clergy - 16 serving in parishes, 3 as government chaplains, 2 in education and 2 working in the interior. There were 5,000 children in schools and about 20,000 Christians in several denominations (Stock History of CMS vol 3 p.376). The highest educational establishment was Fourah Bay College, founded in Freetown in 1827. It was affiliated to the University of Durham in 1876, so its students, while remaining in Sierra Leone, could take their Licentiate in Theology and if able enough study for a BA. Those graduating were few. There were just 27 BAs gained by 1891 - but the College had a vital role as the only centre for higher education in West Africa (Stock, vol 3 p. 377).

Mission organisation

There were some bishops in West Africa at the end of the 19th century but diocesan structures had not yet developed and the main power lay with the Mission organisation. In 1893 CMS had Mission Secretaries serving Sierra Leone, Lagos & Yorubaland, and the Niger, all appointed by the Society in London. They would chair the local Mission Executive Committees - which might be no more than one or two clergy colleagues meeting with the Secretary once a year. The Mission Secretaries and Executives were answerable to the Parent Committee in London. It was the CMS Parent Committee that was ultimately responsible for employment and payment of all mission agents - not just Europeans but Africans and West Indians who might be serving away from their homelands, and not just clergy, catechists and teachers but tradesmen, canoeists, labourers and watchmen. It was the PC that had to sanction all items of expenditure. With poor communications this led to much delay and frustration. It might be several months before those on the spot knew whether something was sanctioned and longer again if the PC had to ask for more information before making a decision. It was difficult for Mission Secretaries to respond to immediate needs and to care for and discipline those employed by the Society.