Rev Thomas Thexton and Hilda Thexton photographs and scrolls
Photographs (in albums and loose) depicting mission life and work in the Methodist Missionary Society's South-West China District as well as buildings, lanscapes, local communities, etc, in area. With two scrolls commemorating the election of Rev Thexton as Chairman of the South-West China District.
| Date(s) of creation: |
c1935-1962 |
|---|---|
| Level: |
Sub-series |
| Format: | Archive |
| Main author: | Thexton; Thomas Leslie (1911-1986); ordained missionary |
| Other authors: | Thexton; Hilda Mary (1910-2003); née Rudkin, Deaconess, missionary wife |
| Summary: |
Photographs (in albums and loose) depicting mission life and work in the Methodist Missionary Society's South-West China District as well as buildings, lanscapes, local communities, etc, in area. With two scrolls commemorating the election of Rev Thexton as Chairman of the South-West China District. |
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|---|---|---|
| Main author: | Thexton; Thomas Leslie (1911-1986); ordained missionary | |
| Other authors: | Thexton; Hilda Mary (1910-2003); née Rudkin, Deaconess, missionary wife | |
| Extent: |
2 boxes |
|
| Admin history: | Thomas Leslie Thexton was born into a Methodist family in Pinner, Middlesex, on 25 March 1911. He was educated at Taunton School and Kingston Grammar School and then entered into the family business as a tailor's cutter. After four years ministerial training at Richmond College he was appointed by the Methodist Missionary Society to their South-west China District in 1936. His first posting was to the walled city of Hweitseh [Jinzhong] where he served with the Rev Fred Cottrell and his wife Margaret - the latter of whom Thexton assisted with her medical work. However, Thexton focus was evangelising within the city and in surrounding villages whilst all the while learning Chinese. After 18 months Thexton relocated to Chaotung [Zhaotong] which had a mission hospital, preacher's training institute and church. He spent some of his time tendering to the physical and spiritual needs of the local leper community. Thexton also had oversight from Chaotung [Zhaotong] of the mission to the Nosu [I-chia]. In 1938 Thexton moved to Weining, working with Rev Vernon Stones, which had a mission primary school, dispensary and residence. Both worked to increase the provision for education and evangelism. In Kunming on 2nd February 1939 Thexton married, without the permission of the missionary society, his colleague Hilda Rudkin (whom he had met in Chaotung [Zhaotong]). Hilda Rudkin was born in Bristol on 27 July 1910. She trained as a Wesleyan Deaconess and worked in Popular and Bow, London, in 1932 and afterwards for a time in Edinburgh. In 1934 she was accepted by the Women's Work department of the Methodist Missionary Society and began her studies at Kingsmead. After training she was selected as a candidate for the South-west China District and set sail in September 1936 for Chaotung [Zhaotong]. Her work there included organising a kindergarten, arranging and attending ladies' meetings, assisting with the Sunday school and visits to evangelise in the local homes and the hospital. On her marriage to Thomas Thexton she resigned from this work. The Thextons' work in Weining led to an expansion in education and health provision as well as greater evangelising amongst the Nosu [I-chia]. Whilst the area had not been invaded by the Japanese the impact of the Sino-Japanese war meant an expansion in the infrastructure (particular roads) in and around the city which lead to much more traffic through the area (including those escaping the war). The couple took a furlough in 1943 but because of the worsening situation with World War Two they did not return to China until August 1945. After initially being stationed in Weining they were relocated to Kunming. After some initial resistance to the mission, particularly amongst students, the mission began to expand with a strong body of Chinese evangelists. In the 1948 election for the chairman of the synod Thexton argued that this role should go to a Chinese candidate. None-the-less he was elected and despite his misgivings accepted the role. The Thextons' then moved back to Chaotung [Zhaotong] and oversaw the expansion of the Nosu [I-chia] mission between Yunnan and Tibet with the Yangtze River to the east. With the fall of the Nationalist Government and with control passing to the Communists the mission’s fortunes began to suffer. At this point Rev Thexton required medical treatment in Hong Kong and he and his wife were subsequently unable to return to China. On their return to England the Thextons worked in a number of Home circuits including in Birmingham and Yorkshire. In 1974 Rev Thexton became a supernumerary and they relocated to the South Petherton and Crewkerne circuit in Somerset where they were involved with the local community and Rev Thexton continued to preach. He died there on 20 April 1986 whilst his wife died at Poole, Dorset, on 16 June 2003. | Thomas Leslie Thexton was born into a Methodist family in Pinner, Middlesex, on 25 March 1911. He was educated at Taunton School and Kingston Grammar School and then entered into the family business as a tailor's cutter. After four years ministerial training at Richmond College he was appointed by the Methodist Missionary Society to their South-west China District in 1936. His first posting was to the walled city of Hweitseh [Jinzhong] where he served with the Rev Fred Cottrell and his wife Margaret - the latter of whom Thexton assisted w ... View more |
| Acquisition: |
Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Mr John Hollow, August 2003 |
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| Access status: |
Open |
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| Copyright: | Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes | |
| User restrictions: | For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance | |
| Language: | English Chinese |
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| Scripts: |
Latin |
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| Related material: | Also within the records of the Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for T L Thexton (MMS/China/Correspondence/FBN 15-16 and box 1292). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail the work of Thexton and his colleagues (MMS/China/Synod Minutes/FBN 5-6 and boxes 1287-1288). An overview by Thexton of his and his wife's work is also available (MMS/Special Series/Celebrate Together/Box 1207). Any extant correspondence by Hilda Rudkin whilst engaged in Women's Work will be in their South-west China District correspondence (MMS Box 1318). | Also within the records of the Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for T L Thexton (MMS/China/Correspondence/FBN 15-16 and box 1292). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail the work of Thexton and his colleagues (MMS/China/Synod Minutes/FBN 5-6 and boxes 1287-1288). An overview by Thexton of his and his wife's work is also available (MMS/Special Series/Celebrate Together/Box 1207). Any extant correspondence by Hilda Rudkin whilst engaged in Women's Work will be in their South-west China District corresponde ... |
| Format: | Archive |