Henry Venn (1725 – 1797), Yelling

Holy Cross, Yelling

History of Holy Cross, Yelling

Listed Building

Parish church of which the north arcade c.1180-90 is the oldest surviving part. South aisle and arcade added in late C13, and chancel rebuilt. In late C14 clerestorey added to nave, west tower and south porch built, and walls of chancel altered and raised.

Henry Venn (1725 – 1797) Henry moved to the parish of  Yelling where his visitors included William Farris, Joseph Jowell, Thomas Robinson and Charles Simeon. He died in Clapham, London, where his son was the rector. He was a friend of John Wesley and visits by Wesley are recorded in Wesley’s Journal. (The History of methodism in Cambridge by Fred Tice, 1966.)

Henry’s brother Richard and second wife Katherine both died and were buried in Yelling.

His son John Venn (1759 – 1813) was one of the founder of the Church Missionary Society.

His grandson, Henry Venn (1796-1873) was honorary secretary of the Church Missionary Society.

A great grandson was the logician and philosopher John Venn (1834 – 1923), famous for the Venn diagram.