BILLY BRAY

Cornish Miner, Dancing Preacher

BILLY BRAY was born in 1794 in the Cornish village of Twelveheads, halfway between Truro and Redruth. At the age of seven, tragedy strikes the family. Billy's’ father dies. Billy goes to live with his Methodist grandfather who, Billy says, “could not read a letter in the book.” But Billy’s grandfather had been converted at one of Wesley’s meetings, and had helped build the Methodist chapel at Twelveheads.

Leaving home for Devon at the age of 17 to be a tin and copper miner, Billy kicks over the traces and turns to drink. He lives what he later calls, “a bad life.” In 1818 Billy returns to Cornwall, and in 1821 marries local girl Joey. Joey is not just marrying a drunkard, she has drifted from her Christian faith. This is hardly a promising start, and many times Billy wastes his whole week’s wages on ale. Then one day he finds a book by John Bunyan, and his life is changed.

In his Journal, written in 1864, Billy tells the story of his conversion, and the reaction of his workmates with whom he had spent many nights drinking and being the chief teller of dirty jokes. Within a year Billy is preaching in the local Bible Christian chapels!

Billy writes about the three chapels he built while still working in the mines, sometimes working twenty hours a day. The best known of these chapels is Three Eyes at Kerley Downs, which is still in use and can be visited during the day.

When Billy started preaching, his clothes were poor as he had spent all his money on drink. Billy writes about the generosity of the Quakers, and one Quaker who gave him the coat off his back. Read about the woman whose daughter was converted in a chapel service, and had to be held back by Billy from beating her daughter. And read what happened the next night when the mother was converted too.

Read about the whirlwind at St Neot when Billy was looking after fifty boys and girls doing surface work. Discover how the Rev William Haslam of neighbouring Baldhu found his religion seriously at odds with Billy’s, and find out how they came to see eye to eye.

© 2008 Chris Wright

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