Didcock, Henry Richard (1869-1957)

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Christian Messenger 1908

Early years

Henry was born in 1869 at Wootton, Berkshire, to parents Richard and Rebecca. Richard was a baker.

The 1891 census identifies Henry worked as an evangelist at Dalziel, Lanarkshire before entering Hartley College.

Ministry

Henry served seven days in Wakefield Gaol in March/April 1905 for non payment of rates to Batley Borough – he was a Passive Resistor.

Henry spent his later years as a highly respected resident in the Hathersage branch of the Homes for the Aged. Throughout that period he rendered devoted service to the Peak and Bradwell Circuit. Right to the end he was astonishingly alert in mind and vigorous in spirit, insisting on planned appointments, and preaching with great acceptance to his hearers. His discourses were seasoned with a dry humour and lighted up with apt scientific comparisons. For over half a century he had been a faithful observer of the heavens – he was a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society – and in his reading always kept abreast of the times, even to interesting himself in the problems of inter-planetary flight.

Family

Henry married Isabel Housby (1868-1909) in the summer of 1898 at Altrincham, Cheshire. Census returns identify three children.

• Alexander (1999-1918) – died in WW1 (RNVR)
• Beryl (b1901)
• Dorothy (b1905)

Henry married Emily Wilson (1880-1945) in early 1910 at Sturminster Newton. Census returns identify one child.

• Edith May Rebecca (b1910)

Henry died on 11 January 1957 at Hathersage, Derbyshire.

Circuits

• Hartley
• 1892 Preston Brook
• 1895 Dalton & Millom
• 1896 Watton
• 1898 Wells
• 1901 Batley
• 1904 Kingsley
• 1907 Gainsborough
• 1909 Sturminster Newton
• 1911 Lynn
• 1912 E Dereham
• 1916 Martham
• 1918 Bournemouth
• 1920 Hungerford
• 1923 Bradfield
• 1925 Brandon
• 1926 Weobley
• 1927 Ely
• 1932 Newport & Cowes
• 1934 Bournemouth (S)

References

Methodist Minutes 1957/201

W Leary, Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits, 1990

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers