Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Holmes, John Beck
HOLMES, JOHN BECK (1767–1843), Moravian bishop, was born at Copenhagen on 3 Nov. 1767. In 1780 he was sent to the academy at Uisky, and thence to the Moravian Theological Seminary at Barby. In 1791 he was appointed a teacher in Fulneck school, near Bradford, where he remained until 1799, in which year he entered on his duties as a pastor of the Moravian church at Wyke, Yorkshire. By 1818 he was pastor of the congregation in Dublin, whence he returned to Fulneck as bishop of the church there. He died on 3 Sept. 1843, and was buried at Fulneck (R. V. Taylor, Biographia Leodiensis, p. 401). Under the name of John Holmes he published: 1. ‘Historical Sketches of the Missions of the United Brethren for Propagating the Gospel among the Heathen, from their commencement to the present time,’ 8vo, Dublin, 1818. 2. ‘History of the Protestant Church of the United Brethren,’ 2 vols. 8vo, London, Bradford (printed), 1825–30, of which a trivial abridgment was issued in 1854.
[Holmes's Works.]