The Life of Rev. Joseph Henry Thornley

Thornley Chapel

In some of the posts to come I will be introducing to you the founding fathers of Ocean Grove, who
they were, what they did and their importance to our history. I've noticed there is a lot of information made known about the founding mothers of Ocean Grove, but not a whole lot is known about the other half of the story. Who were these men and what was their vision and hope for this little town of Ocean Grove?

It was as a young child I began attending the little chapel in Ocean Grove called Thornley Chapel. Some of my fondest memories were going to Thornley Chapel's children's program on summer mornings at 9am. Being the inquisitive child that I was, I became curious about why the chapel was called Thornley Chapel. "What was a Thornley?" I came to find out that it wasn't a 'what,' it was a 'who.'

Rev. Joseph Henry Thornley

Rev. Joseph Henry Thornley was born August 3rd, 1827 in County Fermanagh, Ireland. His parent's names were James & Ann Thornley. The Protestant Episcopal Church was the home of his childhood. In 1842 at age 14, he experienced a true conversion and started attending the Wesleyan Methodist Church and it became the place of his choice. At the age of 16, Joseph was entered as a clerk with a Mr. Wood, one of the leading businessmen of Enniskillen in his dry goods business. At his church he was a devoted student in his Sunday school and he soon became an itinerant class leader, going with other young men into the surrounding country on Sunday mornings. They would hold meetings and encourage the people, returning in time for church and Sunday school in the town where they lived.

In the year 1883, Joseph Thornley returned to Ireland and made a pilgrimage to the spot where he was converted. This is his account in his own words... “Yesterday, in company with an old friend, made a pilgrimage to the spot where, in my 14th year, I was blessedly converted to God. I found in the venerable occupant of the house the same old lady who lived there at the time, more than forty years before. It was at a time of revival. The house was filled and crowds were on the outside listening to the singing. I remember to this day the opening hymn:

“O, disclose thy lovely face. 

Quicken all my drooping powers,

 Gasps my fainting soul for grace,

 As a thirsty land for showers, 

Haste, my Lord, no more delay,

 Come, my Saviour, come away.” 

“I entered the room, telling the lady the object of my visit. I want to fall down upon my knees here and give thanks to Almighty God, who more then 40 years ago, when a little school boy, saved me in this very room. We all knelt and sung, “O happy day that fixed my choice,” &c. After the stanza, “Tis done, the great transaction’s done,” I poured out my heart’s warmest thanksgiving, amid sobs and tears, and while still on our knees, I sang the doxology and pronounced the apostolic benediction. “As we arose we all felt the presence of the Triune Deity, for it was God’s house and the gate of heaven. “Taking the hand of the aged widowed saint, amid flowing tears, I bade her an affectionate adjeu, until “On zion we stand having reached the blessed shore, with harps in our hands, we praise Him evermore.”  

Ocean Grove Record 2/23/1889

The Cruise of Life

It was in 1850 that Joseph Thornley came to the United States at the age of 22. He arrived in Philadelphia on July 4th. He entered as clerk in the dry goods store of A. McElroy. It was on his way over on the ship that he met the woman who would become his wife, Maria Deering. They were married some months after his arrival to the United States. It was in 1851 that Joseph Thornley formed a partnership with a person of the name of Chism, a fellow clerk, in the house of L. J. Levy & Co. Thornley and Chism opened a dry goods business on Spring Garden Street, above 8th. A few years later the health of Mr. Chism declined, so that he had to retire, leaving Thornley sole proprietor.

There isn't much known about Thornley for a number of years after this. It was about 1861

( exact year unknown in this research,) we pick up the fact that he became superintendent of the Central Church Philadelphia Sunday School. It was in 1864, while in his mid thirties, that Thornley received his local preacher's license. This is an account which was found that gives us more information. It was from a letter written to Rev. A. Wallace, D. D. owner of the Ocean Grove Record by Rev. D. F. Price. :

"It becomes me to write of Bro. Thornley, because it was once my privilege to be his pastor, and our intercourse in these relations for two years were of the most pleasant character. It was during the eventful period of our civil war. I was pastor of Central Church, Philadelphia. It will not be out of place to say, while I was an anti slavery man and patriotic in my zeal for the Union cause, I was not ultra, but strictly Methodistic in my views, and being a Peninsula man, I was suspected by some of being in sympathy with the rebellion. Bro. Thornley had heard of it; he was unacquainted with me, perhaps he had never seen me. On my first visit to Central Church, the Sabbath morning after Conference, I went to the Sunday school, of which Brother Thornley was superintendent, to whom I was introduced by Brother John Celesbury, who accompanied me. Brother Thornley introduced me to the school as a body and to each teacher and class, and, as he told me after, to use his own language, “I made up my mind that one poor sinner (meaning himself) would be your friend.” And I am glad and grateful to testify, true to his resolve, he was my cordial and steadfast friend. O, how pleasant and joyous was our personal, social and Christian fellowship! He was one of the pillars of Central Church, one of the heroes of the Lord’s hosts, and one of the true and faithful of the saints. Liberal with his means, wise with his counsel, modest in his zeal, and untiring in his devotion to the interests of the church. Although soon by a change of residence to remove his membership to Spring Garden Street Church, he gave a thousand dollars to pay off a mortgage on Central. He abounded in “every good word and work.” It was my privilege to bring his name before the Quarterly Conference of the charge for local preacher’s license, which was given him by Dr. Castle. My intercourse with Brother Thornley in private and public during my ministry at Central forms one of the richest pictures in the gallery of memory."

By REV. D.F. Price, Ocean Grove Record 3/9/1889

It was in July of 1869, that Joseph Thornley and his wife, Maria, came to what would become Ocean Grove for the first time. Nine other families gathered together along with them for rest and religious fellowship. They set up camp in what is now Founder's Park. A few days later, on the evening of July 31st, the first religious service in Ocean Grove was held at the urging of Mrs. Thornley, in the Thornley tent. Some months later, on December 22nd, the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association of the Methodist Episcopal Church was formed. This took place at the Trinity Church in Trenton, New Jersey. Joseph Thornley became a charter member at this time and also part of its executive committee.

The Devotional Hour

Joseph Thornley was the founder of the Ocean Grove Sunday schools and was their first superintendent. It began with only a handful of students who gathered in two or three tents on a straw floor. It wasn't long before it grew to very large proportions and became known throughout the country. It was comprised of 3 departments, the Primary Department, the Intermediate Department and the Adult Bible Class. The peak attendance for all three departments on one particular Sunday in 1887 was 5,877. This was the highest on record during his administration. It was said of Thornley that he was a man of the highest integrity and at the same time of the most genial and joyous temperament. From the beginning of the organization until the end of his life he held the office of superintendent of the summer Sunday school and there wasn't a child who didn't adore him. He was never too busy or too involved in other matters, to take the time to give a smile or a word of encouragement to the children.

In 1881, Joseph Thornley retired from the dry goods business, after having been in active business life for more than 30 years. It was on October 26th, 1882, that Joseph Thornley lost his wife, Maria, after a lengthy illness. President E. H. Stokes commented on Thornley's loss in the fourteenth annual report of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association as follows:

"One of our number, Joseph H. Thornley, Esq., has been called to mourn the loss of his excellent, and long invalid wife, in whose tent, July 31st, 1869, the first little meeting was held upon these grounds; who after living a devoted Christian life, for many years, ascended, a few weeks after our last annual meeting, to be forever with her Lord. She leaves a trail of light, in which, we walking, hope to meet her in the skies at last." 

 14th Annual Report of the President of the OGCMA

It was on the 22nd of September in 1883, after the death of Maria, that Joseph Thornley boarded a steamship to Ireland to visit the home of his youth. President Stokes later joined him to travel to other locations throughout Europe. They returned on April 15th, 1884.

It was on June 4th, 1884, at the age of 56, that Joseph Thornley married his 2nd wife, Mary R. Dickson, age 26. She was the daughter of Rev. George N. A. Dickson, of London, Canada.

"Wedding Bells.

Our excellent director of the Summer Sunday-school at Ocean Grove, Bro. Joseph H Thornley, accompanied by his bride, formerly Miss Mary R. Dickson, arrived at the Grove and took possession of their Ocean Pathway Cottage last week. They were married June 4th, at the Wesleyan Parsonage, Ontario Canada, Rev. J. N. A. Dickson father of the bride, officiating on the auspicious occasion. The lady spent part of last Summer at the Grove, and is not, therefore, an entire stranger. She is, moreover, an active Christian worker, and in this, as well as other respects, is very highly appreciated and most heartily welcome."

Ocean Grove Record 6/28/1884

J. H. Thornley Cottages, Ocean Pathway Near The Sea.

It was on June 7th, 1885, that Thornley's first child, Fanny Bertha Thornley was born. In the following year, on July 15th, 1886, a son was born to complete the family... Joseph Henry Thornley.

It was in 1888 that Rev. Joseph Thornley's health began to decline. Here is the account from the Ocean Grove record:

"Many of our readers are aware of the fact that for a number of months the health of Rev. J. H. Thornley, so well and favorably known to all who visit Ocean Grove, has been declining. Three weeks ago, by advice of his physician and some of his friends, he went to the former home of Mrs. Thornley, at London, Ontario, Canada, in the hope that change might be helpful. The latest intelligence is not as hopeful as we could desire. His wife was summoned on Tuesday. It is a great satisfaction, however, that while the earth side is not as cheerful as we could wish, the heavenly is all brightness, joy and hope."

Ocean Grove Record 2/9/1889

The following words are a testimony to the faith of Joseph H. Thornley, an inspiration to all:

"How beautiful his last testimony, in the February number of the Guide to Holiness, edited by Bro. Hughes. He says: 'Jesus is very precious. He keeps me in perfect peace. I am not so well physically, but the joy of the Lord is my strength. My supporting motto for the coming days is: The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.'"

Ocean Grove Record 2/23/1889

"The bloody Cross precedes the rocky tomb,
The rocky tomb, the resurrection morn;
The golden light follows the midnight gloom,
The smiles of God, the fiercest earthly scorn;
The Lord Christ suffered all His pathways, through,
Courage, O Saint, He triumphed, so shall you."

    -18th Annual Report of the President of the OGCMA

On February 12th, 1889, at the age of 61, Joseph H. Thornley went home to be with his Lord and Savior. This is what was written in the 20th annual report of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association by President Elwood H. Stokes D. D. in a memorial to Thornley.

"A great bereavement, has come to us all, in the removal from us to the climes of the blessed, at a time when we seemed most to need him, the glad-hearted, sunny-faced genial, devoted, useful and beloved Joseph H. Thornley. White-robed and washed in the blood of the Lamb, he ascended from London, Ontario, Canada, February 12th, 1889, to be forever with the Lord. It was in his tent, at the suggestion of his wife, that the first little informal meeting was held upon these grounds, July 31st, 1869. For nearly twenty years he never wearied in his attention to any duty, secular or sacred, connected with the interests of this place, and counted it his highest joy, in season and out of season, to give his time and strength to promote its welfare. He was a man without reproach, loved by all, diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord."

It was after Thornley's death, that the Association decided to create a Memorial Chapel in his memory. They took an existing building from Pitman Avenue and moved it to an empty lot at the corner of Pilgrim Pathway and Mt. Tabor Way (where the chapel stands today.) It had been Joseph Thornley's desire to have a building at this site for smaller meetings. The following is the account which was written in the 20th Annual report of the President ,Dr. Elwood H. Stokes, of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association.

"Thornley Chapel.

For more than a year before Mr. Thornley's death, he, with the rest of us, felt the need of a place
suitable for the smaller meetings. We talked about it almost every time we met. It was among the last things he thought of before going away for the last time. But the time to accomplish the object did not seem to have come.  After his decease, the thought of carrying out the last cherished desire of his heart, in the form of a Memorial Chapel, occurred. The plan was approved, and as a building just the size we talked of was on our hands, the Association, at its Semi-Annual Meeting, in May, 1889, granted the said building, to be remodeled, and the lot at the N. W. corner of Pilgrim Pathway and Mt. Tabor Way, for it to rest on, provided the work of transformation could be made without cost to the general treasury. The President, Vice-President, Secretary, Dr. Alday, and Rev. W. H. Wardell, were appointed to carry out the plan. The work was completed June 29th, 1889, and the house ready for opening on Sabbath, June 30th.
The cost of the improvements, with furniture, organ, and all it contains, is $1,299.58, every cent of which has been raised and paid, so that the Committee has the great privilege and pleasure of presenting it to the Association, at this meeting, free of debt. It is a great satisfaction also to the Committee to add, that the whole sum was cheerfully and promptly raised by the many friends of our saintly and ascended brother"

20th Annual Report of the President of the OGCMA

This little chapel in memory of the inspirational man, Joseph H. Thornley, still stands today. It has been cherished by many throughout the years, as a meeting place where hearts and lives have been touched and changed, by the same Lord and Savior who transformed the life of Joseph H. Thornley. I would invite you to share in the comment section your fond memories of attending meetings and programs held at Thornley Chapel. Until next time... Justin Truth