Lawson, John, 1909-

Methodist minister and educator.

John Lawson was born in Leeds, England, July 16, 1909. He was the fifth John Lawson and was born into a family which had been Methodist since the time of Wesley. He was raised and educated in the city of Nottingham. Lawson attended Midland Agricultural College and received the B.S. degree in 1929. Shortly thereafter he was called to the ministry, and the Methodist Church then sent him to Cambridge University, where he completed the M.A. in 1935 and the B.D. in 1946. From 1935 to 1955, he served in the pastoral ministry, mainly in the agricultural counties of eastern England. In 1955, he was invited to teach at the Candler School of Theology. Lawson spent 21 years, from 1955 to 1976, teaching Church History, Historical Theology, Wesleyan History and Wesleyan Theology. During his tenure at Candler, he maintained his permanent residence in England. In 1976 he retired from teaching and returned to England. Lawson died in September of 2003.