John Eyre

John Eyre (January 1754 – 28/29 March 1803) was an English evangelical clergyman. He helped in establishing some of the major national evangelical institutions.

Early life The son of John Eyre of Bodmin, he was born there in January 1754, and baptised on 25 February. He was educated in classics by the Rev. John Fisher, master of Bodmin grammar school, and in mathematics by the Rev. Joseph Thorpe, rector of Forrabury and Trevalga, Cornwall, in his private school at Forrabury. When fifteen years old he was apprenticed to Mr. Oliver, a clothier of Tavistock; and soon afterwards began preaching in the town. At the end of his apprenticeship he returned to his father's business at Bodmin, and preached in the town hall.

Eyre's father did not agree with his religious work and expelled him from home. Eyre also opened a school at Well Street, Hackney. Robert Aspland was one of his pupils, and Daniel Wilson another.

The Evangelical Magazine was planned by Eyre, and he edited and contributed to its early volumes; profits were used to support ministers’ widows. It was a joint venture of Church of England and dissenting ministers, with the first number appearing in July 1793. He was one of the founders of the London Missionary Society (1794–5).

Death After a long illness Eyre died on 28 or 29 March 1803, and was buried in a vault on the south side of the communion-table in Homerton Chapel, 5 April. His funeral sermon was preached by Rowland Hill. In November 1785 he had married Mary Keene, from near Reading; she died at Well Street, Hackney, 20 June 1827, aged 69, and was buried by her husband's side on 29 June.

Eyre's sermon at the opening of Cheshunt College was published, with related documents, in 1792. A memoir of Eyre by George Collison appeared in the Evangelical Magazine for June and July 1803.

Publications

Union and friendly intercourse recommended among such of the various denominations of Calvinists, and the members of the late Mr. Wesley's societies, as agree in the essential truths of the Gospel (1798)