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| Edward Hewett |
Hewett
was born in Norfolk, England in 1819. A graduate of Stepney College, now Regent’s Park College, University of Oxford, England, Hewett was commissioned
a BMS missionary to Jamaica. He and his wife, Eliza, arrived in the country in
1842.
On arrival, Hewett was invited to serve in the so-called First Baptist Church in Montego Bay, the main church of Thomas Burchell. He declined the invitation and went instead to assume the pastorate of Jericho and Mt Hermon in the parish of St Catherine and St Thomas in the Vale.
Unfortunately, Mrs. Hewett passed away on June 9, 1846. This had an adverse effect on Hewett who, shortly after this loss, moved to Mt. Carey and commenced oversight of some of the churches once led by Burchell – Mt Carey, Bethel Town, Shortwood and Watford Hill.
On April 13, 1847, Hewett married a second time. His new bride was Miss Estrianna Louisa Burchell, the daughter of Thomas and Hannah Burchell. The spelling of her first name has been subject to the whims and fancies of users and has appeared in five variations.
Believing his pastoral charge was too extensive, Hewett took steps to effect a realignment of the churches under his care. He resigned the pastorate of Watford Hill which gained attachment to Second (now, Calvary) Baptist Church, Montego Bay. In 1862, he gave up the pastorate of Shortwood. These strategic actions enabled Hewett to avail himself of the opportunity to give some level of oversight to churches in Hanover and St Elizabeth that, from time to time, were without pastoral leadership.
In 1869, Mt Carey and Bethel Town were the principal churches for which Hewett had pastoral responsibility. Still, he found time to extend himself in service to the wider community. In 1854, Hewett was one of the members of the Managing Committee of Jamaica Baptist Missionary Society (JBMS). He became the third JBMS Secretary and, in 1868, he was the primary person responsible for convincing the Society to commence mission work in Panama. Hewett also influenced J. S. Sobey to commit to missionary work in Costa Rica.
Hewett offered leadership to the Christian Endeavour movement in western Jamaica, which remains one of the reasons why he is still remembered today. He also occupied the position of JBU Chairman, 1859-1860 and 1883-1884 and as JBU Secretary, 1898-1899.
A close friend of James Phillippo, he and Estrianna travelled to St Catherine to see the ailing man on May 9, 1879, during Phillippo’s last days. In an entry in his diary, Philippo stated that he enjoyed the presence of the Hewetts. For his part, Hewett wrote:
I
left him on the Friday afternoon, and he passed away quite suddenly and quietly
on Sabbath evening. When I left, he was cheerful and happy, calmly waiting for
the great change. His last words were: “Father, into Thy hands I commend my
spirit.” In his death we have lost the oldest missionary of any denomination in
the island. For more than fifty years he has been an earnest worker in the dear
Redeemer's cause, abundantly successful in gathering congregations, building of
chapels, and in converting sinners from the error of their ways. His life has
been a long scene of devotedness, consistency, and usefulness. What more than
this can be said to his praise and to the glory of God?
After spending 42 years in Jamaica, Hewett died at Carey Town (now, Mt Carey) in 1883, becoming, at that time, the fourth longest-serving BMS missionary to Jamaica. In his last will and testament, dated August 21, 1876, Hewett wrote simply, “I give my wife Estrianna Louisa Hewett all my estate.” He named Philip Williams of Bethel Town the executor of his will.
Because he was so highly respected and well loved, Hewett’s passing was mourned across the JBU constituency.
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