Laidler, Ralph (1872-1952)

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Christian Messenger 1908

Early years

Ralph was born in 1872 at New Herrington, Co. Durham, to parents James and Ann Maria. James was a coal miner.

Ralph worked as a coal miner before entering the ministry.

Ministry

His obituary records that in all his circuits, Ralph left a worthy record and a gracious memory. A shrewd judge of character and wise in the handling of men, gifted also with sound business aptitude, he was destined to take a full share in District administration. For some years, before union, he served with devotion and efficiency as District Secretary, and held other offices, but the preacher and pastor were never lost in the administrator. It was in the spoken utterance that his power was realised. His fine address, his clear incisive speech, his devout deportment and forceful appeal made him the effective medium in cultured evangelism. He was an inveterate optimist; at the age of seventy he had all the idealism of thirty. Possessed of a rich fund of humour, he allowed it full play in the social circle, but his strokes were always tempered by deft kindly touches that left no rankling feelings.

On retirement to Middlesbrough, he was an active supernumerary for five years, and for a still longer period he served and lived among the people to whom he had endeared himself.

Family

Ralph married Louisa (b abt 1873) at the end of his ministerial probation. Census returns identify one child.

Lorna (1903-1976) – married John M Blenkin in 1928

Ralph died on 6 January 1952.

Circuits

• Hartley
• 1896 Whitehaven
• 1900 Sheffield II
• 1903 Mexborough
• 1906 N Shields
• 1911 St Helens Auckland
• 1918 Bishop Auckland
• 1924 Shildon
• 1929 Hartlepool
• 1934 Stockton
• 1937 Middlesbrough (S)

References

Methodist Minutes 1952/136

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

Note: I have been unable to find marriage and death records for Ralph in the England and Wales Marriage and Death Registers. Can anyone point me in the right direction?