Joseph Hocking was a Cornish author and United Methodist Free Church priest. Hocking was born in St Stephen-in-Brannel, Cornwall, to James Hocking, a part-owner of a tin mine, and Elizabeth (Kitto) Hocking. In 1884, he was ordained a Methodist minister. Working in various regions of England over the next few years, he completed his first novel, Harry Penhale - The Trial of his Faith, while in London in 1887. He saw fiction as a highly successful method for communicating his Christian message to the public, and he combined writing with church obligations until illness caused him to leave from the ministry in 1909. His final pastoral charge was the huge and important United Free Church in Woodford, Essex, which he helped rebuild by the skilled arts and crafts architect Charles Harrison Townsend. He continued to write, and in his career, he published approximately 100 volumes. Although virtually forgotten today, he was extremely popular in his day. His final pastoral charge was the huge and important United Free Church in Woodford, Essex, which he helped rebuild by the skilled arts and crafts architect Charles Harrison Townsend. He continued to write, and in his career, he published approximately 100 volumes. Although virtually forgotten today, he was extremely popular in his day.
