Newman, George (1844-1913)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1901
primitive Methodist Magazine 1913

Early years

George was born in 1844 at Stafford to parents John and Jane. John was a shoemaker. Both parents were local preachers and class leaders. The family home was regarded as a home for visiting ministers and preachers.

Geoff was fortunate to receive a grammar school education. He became a Primitive Methodist member at the age of fourteen, a local preacher at sixteen and travelling preacher at twenty.

Ministry

During his time in Belfast, George was associated with the Melbourne Street Church. George renovated the chapel, dealt with the debt and left amidst signs of prosperity.

In his last appointment at Sheffield George undertook a significant building scheme. Whilst successful the strain brought on a nervous breakdown necessitating his superannuation.

As a preacher he was no flash in the pan, no flying meteor, but thoughtful, solid and instructive. His sermons were carefully prepared, intelligently worked out, logically arranged and forcibly applied. His style was flowing and tended toward what would be sometimes called flowery. He made preaching and sermonising his chief study.

Family

George married Elizabeth Jane Probert (1847-1916) in the summer of 1869 at Hereford. Census returns identify eight of nine children.

  • Gertrude Clara (b1871)
  • Howard Probert (b1872)
  • Selina Edith (1874-1944)
  • Harry Livingstone (1876-1944)
  • George Herbert (b1877) – assistant of Excise (1901)
  • Reginald John (1879-1894)
  • Archibald William (1882-1952) – an accountant
  • Muriel Jane (1884-1960) – a teacher; married Richard Medlicott

George died on 22 June 1913 at Sheffield, Yorkshire.

Circuits

  • 1865 Macclesfield
  • 1867 Cwm
  • 1869 Wrockwardinewood
  • 1870 Darlaston
  • 1872 W Bromwich
  • 1873 Nantwich
  • 1875 Cheadle
  • 1878 Prees Green
  • 1879 Talke
  • 1882 Paisley
  • 1885 Belfast
  • 1892 Leeds IV
  • 1895 Selby
  • 1898 Sheffield VI
  • 1902 Sheffield IV
  • 1906 Sheffield (S)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1901/882; 1913/910

PM Minutes 1914/36

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

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