Source:
Bowral Free Press
Details:
Death of the Rev Kenny. A PIONEER METHODIST AND GREATLY LOVED PASTOR. Mr. Kenny was born at Portadown, County Mara, Ireland, on the 29tb May, 1833, so that had he lived for another week he would have attained to his 69th year. Up to his 18th year, he was educated at the national school in the town in which he was born, when he left home and went to England, where he obtained employment in some large chemical works at Louth, in Lincolnshire. During his residence in this part of England, he was brought into touch with some Methodist services, which resulted in his conversion, and, continuing with the Methodists, he developed a desire to enter the Ministry. Young Kenny gave great promise, and he went through the prescribed course of probation, and passed the necessary examinations, and was finally admitted into the ministry of the Primitive Methodist Church. He laboured for four months in England, and then returned to his, native town in, the North of Ireland. Then he was transferred to Glasgow and during his three years work there he married a Miss Landi). The Rev. Mr. Kenny came to Australia in 1839 or 1840, at a time when there were no more than seven ministers of the denomination here to extend him a welcome. His fame as a preacher and vigorous worker had preceded him, and he was welcomed with open arms. Among the few who took part in that welcome was the Rev. George James, now of Marrickville. This welcome took place in Kent-street Church, Sydney. Mr. Kenny at once came on to Parramatta , which was his first charge. He did not open up the work here, but he found several preaching places in the district, though no church. He entered vigorously into the work of building up. the church, and during his term the first Primitive Methodist church was built in Phillip-street, Parramatta. This church was the scene of a great revival during this period, and many were added to the church roll. In Paramatta Mr. Kenny did a great deal of out-door preaching, for which his robust frame and strong constitution eminently fitted him. After Parramatta he went to Camden then to Goulburn; then Wallsend in the Newcastle district. His next circuit was in Sydney, he having charge of Crown-street. After this he was appointed for a second term in Parramatta and stayed four years. Then he put in three years at Bowral, four years at Waterloo, two years at Lithgow, four years again at Wallsend, and he returned to Granville, where he completed his active ministerial work with a full term of three years.
