Stephen Ernest Mowforth 1875-1952

Stephen Ernest Mowforth was born in Hull in 1875, the son of William and Susan Mowforth.

Having been a Bread van driver in the 1891 census, in the 1901 Census, Stephen was living in Shipley, Yorkshire when his employment is described as Primitive Methodist Lay Preacher. From this, Mowforth entered the PM ministry later that year.

Stephen married Charlotte Grace Morris in 1908 who died early 1946. Later the same year, Stephen married Dorothy E Squirrell who survived him.

After enlisting in the Royal Army Chaplain’s Department, Mowforth’s service included time in Iraq, other parts of the Middle East and India. The Evening Telegraph of 10 April 1937 reported that Stephen Mowforth had travelled from Thorpe Bay to talk in Dundee about his time in the middle east and ‘places connected with Bible history’.

At the time of his death, Stephen Mowforth was living in Thorpe Bay, Essex. He died on 25 November 1952.

Stephen Mowforth served in the following Circuits:

• 1901 Swaffham
• 1905 Soham
• 1908 Reading
• 1912 Bedford II (Cauldwell Street)
• 1915 Bournemouth
• 1917 Chaplain H.M. Forces Aldershot
• 1923 Ceased

Sources:

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

Census return, National Probate Calendar, Freebmd

British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Card and UK Military Campaign Medal and Award Rolls

Evening Telegraph 10 April 1937