Blanshard, Thomas
1775-1824; e.m. 1795

Born in Pocklington, Yorkshire, Blanshard entered the ministry in 1795 and served in several circuits before appointment in 1808 as the Book Steward for the Wesleyan Connexion. Over the next fifteen years he oversaw the relocation of the Book Room from the City Road chapel to 14 City Road, acquired premises for book sales at 66 Paternoster Row, at the heart of the London book trade, and launched new publications, like the Youth's Instructor and Guardian (1817). He also navigated tensions between the Book Committee and authors like Daniel Isaac, who wanted the Connexion to promote their works. He held other administrative roles, including the secretaryship of the Committee of Privileges. A fire close to the Book Room in February 1820 caused the death, through shock, of Blanshard's wife, Susanna (1764-1820); this sudden bereavement affected Blanshard's own health, and he returned to circuit work in 1823, with his second wife, the former Elizabeth Massey. He died on 20 February 1824.

Sources
  • Frank Cumbers, The Book Room (London, 1956);
  • George J. Stevenson, City Road Chapel and its Associations (London, 1872).

Entry written by: DHR
Category: Person
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