The family was associated with Centenary WM Chapel, York from its opening in 1840. John Lyth (1777-1853), a seed merchant and Freeman of the city, married Mary Burdsall (1782-1860), daughter of the early WM preacher Richard Burdsall. Among their sons were Richard B. Lyth,Fiji missionary, and Dr John Lyth. A grandson, David Hill, and great-grandson, J. Kimber Hill (1867-1952; e.m. 1890), were both missionaries in China.