Mission - Conference Minutes in Preston, England, 15 April 1840 [M-13]

At a general conference of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints held in the Temperance Hall Preston, Lincashire, England,
on the fifteenth day of April Eighteen hundred & forty—E^r Kimball was
called to preside & Elder W^m Clayton chosen as clerk— It being the tenth
day of the first month of the eleventh year of the church.

The meeting was opened by singing & prayer by E^r Kimball

Elder Kimball then called upon the Elders to represent the
different branches of the church—When—

E^r Jos^h Fielding represented the church in Preston consisting of
about 300 Members 7 Elders 8 Priests 6 Teachers & 2 Deacons.

E^r Peter Melling represented the church in Penwortham consisting
of 73 Members, 3 Elders, 1 Priest, 2 Teachers & 1 Deacon.

E^r W^m Garner represented the church at Loughton, consisting of
51 Members generally in good standing— 2 Elders, 4 Priests, & 2 Teachers.

T^r Jos^h Jackson rep^d the church at Sourthport—20 M, 1 P, 1 T^r.

E^r Jno Moon rep^d the church at Daubers Lane & neighbourhood consisting
of 54 members generally in good standing, 1 E^r 2 P, 3 T^rs.

Rich^d Benson rep^d the church at Hunters Hill & neighbourhood
consisting of 17 Members, 1 E^r 1 P, 1 T^r.

E^r Amos Fielding rep^d the church at Heskin— 3 M, 1 E^r
E^r Amos Fielding rep^d the church at Bolton— 60 M, 1 E^r 2 P, 2 T^rs.
E^r Amos Fielding rep^d the church at Ratcliff 10 M.
E^r Withenale rep^d the church at Whittle 18 M, 1 E^r, 4 P.
E^r Francis Clark rep^d the church at Ribchester 25 M, 2 E^rs 1 T^r.
E^r Tho^s Richardson rep^d the church at Burnley consisting of 24 Members
only 15 in good standing, 1 P, 1 T^r.
E^r Francis Moon rep^d the church at Blackburn 15 M, 1 P.
E^r James Smithies rep^d the church at Chaighley & Thornley 29 M 2 E^rs 1 P, 1 T^r 1 D
T^r Jno Ellison rep^d the church at Waddington— 50 M, 2 P, 2 T^r, 1 D
E^r Tho^s Smith rep^d the church at Clithero— 27 M, 1 E^r, 3 P.
E^r Tho^s Smith rep^d the church at Chatburn 84 M, 1 E^r, 2 P, T^rs 1 D
E^r Tho^s Smith rep^d the church at Downham 20 M, 1 T^r, 1 D.
E^r Tho^s Smith rep^d the church at Grindleton consisting of 5 M.

E^r W^m Clayton rep^d the church at Manchester— 240 M, 2 E^rs 5 P, 4 T^rs, 1 D

E^r W^m Clayton rep^d the church at Stockport 40 M, 1 P, 2 T^rs, 1 D

E^r W^m Clayton rep^d the church at Dukinfield— 30 M, 1 P,

E^r W^m Clayton rep^d the church at Altrincham 8 M, 1 P, 1 T^r

E^r W^m Clayton rep^d the church at Peover & Macclesfield 30 M, 3 P.

E^r W^m Clayton rep^d the church at Middlewich— 6 M.

E^r David Wilding rep^d the church at Bury & Elton 12 M.

E^r W^d Woodruff rep^d the church in the Potteries 101 M, 1 E^r, 2 P, 4 T^rs, 1 D

E^r W^d Woodruff rep^d the church in Herefordshire 160 M, 1 E^r, 2 P, about
40 of them were Methodist preachers ^of the society called the united Brethren^ & there is 42 licensed preaching places

E^r Jn Taylor rep^d the church at Liverpool 28 M

E^r Jos^h Fielding rep^d the church at Alston- Cumb^d 40 M, 2 E^rs, 2 P, 2 T^rs

E^r W^d Richards rep^d the church at Brampton 30 M, 1 E^r, 1 P

E^r W^d Richards rep^d the church at Bedford— 40 M, 1 E^r,, 1 P.

E^r W^d Richards rep^d the church in Scotland— 21 M, 3 E^rs

The meeting was then adjourned for 1 hour.
The conference again assembled a little after 1/2 pt 1 o clock and
business commenced.

E^r Jno Moon rep^d the church at Leyland Moss— 6 M, 1 T^r

Elder Richards having previously been ordained into the Quorum
of the Twelve according to Revelation— It was moved by E^r. Young
& Sec^d. by E^r Taylor that E^r Hirum Clark be appointed as councillor
to E^r Fielding in the place of E^r Richards. Car^d unanimously

Moved by E^r Fielding & Sec^d by E^r Young that a Hymn
Book shall be published. Car^d

Moved & Sec^d that the publishing of the Hymn Book
shall be done by the direction of the Twelve. Car^d.

Moved & Sec^d that a monthly periodical shall be published
under the superintendance & direction of the Twelve for the
benifit & information of the church, as soon as a sufficient
number of subscribers shall be obtained. Car^d.

Moved & Sec^d that bro Jno Bleazard of Sawlesbury be ordained
to the office of a Priest. Car^d.

Moved & sec^d that bro James Corbridge of Thornley be ordained
to the office of a Priest. Car^d.

E^r Kimball then laid before the conference the importance
and propriety of ordaining a Patriarch— to bestow Patriarchal
blessings on the fatherless &c— Referred to the Twelve whose
business it is to select & ordain him according to the directions
of the spirit.

After various remarks & addresses being given by the Elders
Pres^t Fielding & his councillors proceeded to ordain bro's Bleazard
& Corbridge to their office as stated above.

E^r Kimball then called upon the clerk to read over the
minutes which being done they were recieved by the unanimous
voice of the conference.

Moved by E^r Young & Sec^d by E^r P. P. Pratt— "That this
conference be adjourned till the 6^th day of July next— To be
held in Preston at 10 o clock A. M. Car^d

The meeting then adjourned

Heber C. Kimball, Pres^t
Will^m Clayton Clerk

Will^d. Woodruff

Minutes of a conference
held in Preston, Lancashire
England, April 15, 1840