Shropshire miner who became a top US preacher is to be honoured

Cadman was a boy miner who became a high-profile preacher, pioneering the use of radio to reach millions of listeners in the United States.

And now a blue plaque to commemorate his life and achievements is being unveiled at the chapel where he was baptised.

The project is being spearheaded by Shirley Bruneau and Viv Hulme and the first stage is the unveiling of the plaque at the old Ebenezer Primitive Methodist Chapel at Ketley Brook, which is these days the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

It is hoped the plaque, and the historic significance it represents, will bring US followers of Cadman to the town.

Shirley, who had previously managed Dawley Heritage Project, said: "We wanted recognition for this man who everybody has forgotten, but is an international figure. I feel Telford needs to recognise him. This is the first stage. He did what he called his Shropshire pilgrimage, and the second stage is to recreate that tour. The third step is that Viv has written a book on him.

"I believe it can bring a lot of interest from Americans in Shropshire and in Telford, which is one of the reasons we're doing it - to encourage tourism. It's a case of watch this space.

"We wanted to be able to put a plaque to him on the outside of a building which meant something in his history. Most other chapels that he was associated with are now privately owned and all the houses he lived in have been demolished. Hence our choice of the Ebenezer chapel. We are holding the service befittingly on the anniversary of his death."

The plaque will be unveiled at the commemoration service at the church on July 12 from 3pm to 4pm by Councillor Leon Murray on behalf of the funding organisation, the Grimmitt Trust. Private donations have also contributed to the cost.

Cadman was born at Ketley Brook on December 18, 1864. He started work as a boy miner but soon also became a Methodist lay preacher.

In 1890 he emigrated to the USA where he soon carved a very successful career first as a Methodist Minister in New York State, but later as a Minister of the Congregational Church in New York. He became very well known throughout the USA in the 1920s and 1930s as a pioneer of radio, giving weekly sermons to over 30 million listeners. In addition, he published many books on religion and had a daily column in the New York Herald Tribune which was syndicated to newspapers throughout the USA.

He visited Shropshire every year until his death, and was much in demand to give sermons at many of the Methodist chapels in the area as well as those in London. Huge crowds would gather wherever he preached. He showed great generosity to a number of chapels in the area and he was guest of honour to dedicate the Ketley Playing Field gates.

Shirley Bruneau and Vivienne Hulme say it has been their mission to get this important local figure commemorated in the town of his birth. Viv's family history research led her to become very interested in him in 2009 and she has been researching him ever since. She hopes to publish a book on his life next year to commemorate 150 years since his birth.

Shirley said: "We believe Samuel Parkes Cadman to have been born at 22 Ketley Sands where we know from the 1861 census his family was living. Cadman's later life in the USA is very well documented but facts on his early life have proved more difficult as many key documents such as his baptismal record and his birth certificate cannot be found.

"Later census documents for 1871 have him and his family living at Forge Row, Old Park, but then again in 1891 he and his family have moved back to 22 Ketley Sands. This house along with all the others in Ketley Sands and most in Ketley Brook were demolished by Telford Development Corporation in the 1970s."