Dickinson, William (1863-1920)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1917
Primitive Methodist Magazine 1920
Primitive Methodist Magazine 1917

Early years

William was born on 27 May 1863 at Barrow in Furness, Lancashire. to parents John and Catherine (Kate). John worked as a labourer. His brothers, Thomas and James were also PM Ministers.

Soon after his conversion, in a Bible Class on 1 July 1877, William became a valued Band of Hope and Sunday School worker. His gifts for public speaking were quickly recognised, so he was made a local preacher.

Ministry

William served as District Orphanage Secretary and District Missionary Secretary.

His obituary records that William was a diligent student, a methodical worker, always well abreast of his work, both in the study and circuit, thoroughly attentive to every detail of his office, with a high conception of the ministry and its claims; most painstaking and elaborate in his preparations for the pulpit, and always had an interesting and arresting message for his people.

He was evangelical in his preaching, his aim being ever to profit rather than to please, and the fact that he stayed in his circuits considerably beyond the average term, and was always welcomed back on return visits for specials, was evidence of his solid, successful work.

Family

William married Elizabeth Croft (1869-1940) in the spring 1892 at Ilkley, Yorkshire. Census returns identify two children.

  • Gladys (b1895)
  • William Croft (b1897)

William died on 16 July 1920 at Scarborough, Yorkshire.

Circuits

  • Hartley
  • 1886 Halifax I
  • 1887 Halifax III
  • 1888 Barrowford
  • 1892 Bury
  • 1896 Leicester I
  • 1901 Doncaster
  • 1904 Walsden
  • 1908 Halifax
  • 1913 Silsden
  • 1918 Scarborough

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1917/594; 1920/875

PM Minutes 1921/255

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

 

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