1. Tiverton Preedy was an English clergyman who worked in Yorkshire and London from 1887 until his death, where he was noted for his work with the poor.
20 Facts About Tiverton Preedy
1. 2.
Tiverton Preedy was particularly interested in the use of sport within ministry, and founded a church football team in Barnsley which became the modern Barnsley Football Club.
3.
Tiverton Preedy opened a boxing club at the mission and organised dances for local flower sellers.
4.
Tiverton Preedy died two years later and is buried in Islington Cemetery.
5.
Tiverton Preedy attended Bloxham School near Sleaford, Lincolnshire before entering Lincoln Theological College in 1885, where he trained to become a minister in the Church of England.
6.
Tiverton Preedy was engaged to assist the vicar, John Lloyd Brereton.
7.
Tiverton Preedy initially joined a rugby football club, but resigned in protest at the team's decision to play a match on Good Friday.
8.
Shortly after his split from the rugby club, Tiverton Preedy encountered by chance a group of young men discussing the idea of forming an association football club.
9.
Tiverton Preedy was taken with the idea, not least because football was seen in the area as the "poor man's sport" and his involvement would therefore bring him into greater contact with the poor people he wished to help through his ministry.
10.
Tiverton Preedy acted as principal fundraiser and organiser of the club, dubbed Barnsley St Peter's FC, and even played in its first match.
11.
Tiverton Preedy was responsible for securing the use of the land on which the Oakwell stadium still stands.
12.
In 1891 Tiverton Preedy was instrumental in the formation of the Barnsley Charity Football Association and the creation of the Barnsley Charity Cup.
13.
In 1893 Tiverton Preedy moved to London to become curate of St Clement's Church in Islington.
14.
Tiverton Preedy spent four years at St Clement's before being appointed to run a nearby mission in what was then an extremely deprived area of the city.
15.
At the time of his appointment the mission operated out of converted cowsheds and the house with which Tiverton Preedy was provided had no furniture.
16.
Tiverton Preedy endeavoured to use sport as part of his ministry and opened a boxing club at the mission.
17.
Tiverton Preedy organised dances for the girls who sold flowers on local streets.
18.
Tiverton Preedy remained in contact with the football club he had founded in Barnsley and was a guest of honour at the 1912 FA Cup Final, in which Barnsley defeated West Bromwich Albion to lift the trophy.
19.
In 1926 Tiverton Preedy was appointed a prebendary at St Pauls Cathedral, in recognition of his work in Islington.
20.
Tiverton Preedy's funeral was attended by several thousand mourners, and he was buried at Islington Cemetery in Finchley.