Mary Dunnell

Mary Dunnell (fl. 1807–1811) was a preacher who joined the early Primitive Methodists briefly leading "Mrs Dunnell's people" in Derbyshire.

Life Dunnell's life before 1807 is unknown apart from her being from Macclesfield Weeks later her followers had to arrange private meetings in someone's kitchen where she could preach as she was banned from the Tunstall pulpit. Hugh Bourne interceded, and he managed to get permission from the Bishop in Lichfield for her to speak on Friday evenings.

Bourne's supporters were known as 'Camp Meeting Methodists' and they were welcome inside the Methodists until 1811. After the Ramsor Camp on 3 June 1810 when Dunnell was one of the speakers, William Clowes was excluded from the Wesleyan Methodists.

In 1811, Bourne and his brother founded their first Chapel in Tunstall. Bourne visited Derbyshire where Dunnell was making good progress around Derby in Darley Moor and Rodsley near Ashbourne. Dunnell told him that she had a vision that their fellow preachers William Allcock and William Clowes had lost their faith and Bournes set off to see them. It is speculated that Dunnell invented the vision to leave herself in charge of what became known as "Mrs Dunnell's people". The Derbyshire followers were annoyed when Bourne returned later that year. He revealed that Dunnell was a bigamist as she had previously married three men. Dunnell was not heard of again and afterwards Bourne had to avoid Derbyshire for a couple of years.