Lockhart, James (1861-1943)

Early years

James was born in 1861 at Stewartstown, Tyrone, Ireland, to parents James and Joan. The family moved to Sheffield when James was quite young. James, senior, worked as a provisions dealer (1871). The family became attached to the Petre Street PM Church and circuit.

James was converted at eighteen during a revival. James description of his conversion in the PM magazine of 1918 recalls how things that had no appeal before conversion – Sunday, the Bible and the Church – became magnetic centres to which he hastened when liberated and around which he lived. Preaching, teaching, missioning, studying and communing claimed his leisure.

Before entering the ministry, James was engaged in the teaching profession at Sheffield, Yorkshire.

Ministry

James was called to be Hartley College Principal during the years of WW1 and after. This was a time of difficult problems associated with the reconstruction required after the war.

James was President of Conference in 1925. He was president of the Free Church Council in 1932.

His obituary records that blessed with a robust constitution, a naturally virile mind sparkling with humour, and a generous disposition, James dedicated all to the cause of Christ and the Church. He was pre-eminently a preacher. For the pulpit he spent himself sacrificially. His presence in any home or company was pervading, he immediately filled it with a stimulating, benign and gracious influence.

Family

James married Elizabeth Ann Ramsdale (abt1869-1915) in the spring of 1891 at Cardiff, Glamorgan. Census returns identify two children.

  • Charles Ramsdale (1892-1954) – a civil servant (foreign service); died in Kenya
  • Frederick Ramsdale (1897-1983) – a general practitioner following colonial medical service in east Africa

James sister and her friend Miss Wharmby acted as James’ hostesses during his presidential year.

James died on 14 March 1943 at Cheadle Royal, Cheadle, Cheshire.

Circuits

  • Hartley
  • 1884 Paisley
  • 1886 Pontypridd
  • 1888 Cardiff II
  • 1891 Derby I
  • 1893 Chesterfield I
  • 1898 Birmingham
  • 1903 Luton I
  • 1908 Leicester IV
  • 1912 Manchester VI
  • 1918 College Principal
  • 1923 Birmingham
  • 1927 Manchester VI (S)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1918/540; 1926/2

Methodist Minutes 1943/131

B A Barber, A Methodist Pageant, 1932, p220

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

British Medical Journal, vol 287, 3 September 1983

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