Eyre, William Alfred (1851-1930)
Early years
William was born on 6 July 1851 at York. His widowed mother, Mary, was an innkeeper at the time of the 1861 census.
Prior to entering the ministry, William spent two and a half years as a master at Elmfield College.
Ministry
William was Sunday School Secretary in the Leeds and York District. He also served as District Orphanage and District Christian Endeavour Secretary.
William was prominently identified with the work of the Free Church Council and held the role of President of the Free Church Council in the Isle of Man, at St Helens and at Crowle.
His obituary records that his sermons were well prepared; original in their conception; replete with choice and apposite illustration, and possessed much literary charm. Christ was always central in his theme.
Family
William married Mary Swales (1851-1926) on 6 July 1876 at Pickering, Yorkshire. Census returns identify five children.
- Wilfred John Swales (b1877) – a master mariner
- Beatrice Annie (1880-1942)
- Gertrude Mary (1881-1944) – a draper’s assistant (1901); married Alfred Twinning
- Ellen Harrison (1884-1921) – a head-teacher (1911)
- Sarah Louise Elizabeth (b1889)
William died on 17 July 1930 at Whitby, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire.
Circuits
- 1872 Leeds II
- 1874 Pateley Bridge
- 1875 Halifax
- 1876 Otley
- 1879 Bradford II
- 1883 Bradford I
- 1886 Silsden
- 1889 Heckmondwike
- 1892 Huddersfield
- 1894 Barrowford
- 1895 Skipton
- 1897 Laxey
- 1900 Runcorn
- 1903 St Helens
- 1907 Crowle
- 1910 Stafford
- 1913 Laxey
- 1915 Whitby (Sup)
- 1921 Preston Brook
References
Primitive Methodist Magazine 1908/633; 1927/590 (Mary); 1930/681
PM Minutes 1931/295
W Leary, Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits , 1990
Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers
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