Dowson, Thomas (1866-1943)
Early years
Thomas was born in 1866 at Welton, nr Pickering, Yorkshire to parents Thomas and Jane. Thomas, senior, was a joiner, grocer and was a local preacher.
Thomas was converted when sixteen years of age. A passion for preaching soon developed, but Thomas shrank at first from the frequently expressed call to enter the ministry. He worked as a joiner and coachbuilder before entering the ministry.
Ministry
His obituary records that Thomas was always a fervent evangelist, and many were converted through his preaching. During his retirement it was to him a great trial that, owing to a throat affection, he was seldom able to preach. He was also a faithful and loving pastor.
Thomas served as District Secretary of the Orphan Homes Committee and District Secretary of the Bradford and Halifax District.
Thomas took a lively interest in all that pertained to social welfare, and during his ministry at Pateley Bridge was a member of the Rural District Council, heading the poll in 1919.
Family
Thomas married Sarah Jane Bowes (1869-1952) in the summer of 1895 at Kirby Moorside. Census returns identify two of three children.
- Evelyn Rhoda (1897-1984) – a French teacher; married James Stanley Gow, a PM Minister, in 1921
- Irene Mary (1899-1976) – married George Maurice Lumley, a railway clerk, in 1928
Thomas died on 29 April 1943 at Harrogate, Yorkshire.
Circuits
- 1892 York I
- 1893 Crowle
- 1895 Scotter
- 1898 Barnsley II
- 1902 Morecambe
- 1905 Otley
- 1909 Mirfield
- 1913 Heckmondwike
- 1916 Pateley Bridge
- 1923 Knaresborough
- 1924 Howden
- 1928 Pickering (S)
References
Primitive Methodist Magazine 1920/856
Methodist Minutes 1943/134
W Leary, Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits, 1990
Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers
Comments about this page
Thomas was born in Wrelton (not Welton)
Add a comment about this page