Raistrick, William (1854-1925)

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Primitive Methodist Magazine 1914

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Primitive Methodist Magazine 1914

Early years

William was born in 1854 at Loftus, Yorkshire, in a house next door to the old Primitive Methodist Chapel.

At the age of sixteen, William became a Sunday School teacher, and shortly afterwards, school secretary. He became a member of the Church at the age of seventeen. The delivery of an address to the Sunday School led to recognition of his gifts; and the Quarterly Meeting, without consulting the youth, authorised him to accompany Mr James Dack on his preaching appointments. William entered the Sunderland Institute to prepare for ministry in 1877.

Ministry

When William went to Reading in 1908, the circuit was confronting a very grave situation, but through courage, tact, and splendid patience, he consolidated the circuit and set if firmly on its feet. When he superannuated, William returned to live in Reading among the friends he had made.

His obituary records that his sermons, while rich in creative thought, were practical for the highest ends, for he never forgot that the chief end of all effective preaching was the bringing of man and God together in spiritual union and fellowship.

Family

William married Margaret Ann Ramsey (1860-1933) in the summer of 1882 in the Auckland Registration District. Census returns identify six of seven children.

• William Ramsey (1883-1957) – a bank clerk (1911)
• Blanche Eva (1885-1959) – a teacher (1911)
• Beatrice Annie (abt1886-1891)
• Arthur Thomas (abt1888-1942) – a Chemist’s assistant (1911)
• Margaret Elsie J (1889-1974)
• Mabel Annie (b1891) – married Arthur W Smith in 1918

William died on 8 February 1925 at Reading, Berkshire.

Circuits

• Sunderland
• 1878 Margate
• 1880 Redhill
• 1882 Market Rasen
• 1883 Driffield
• 1886 Thornley
• 1889 Barnard castle
• 1893 Shotley Bridge
• 1898 N Shields
• 1901 Louth
• 1905 Driffield
• 1908 Reading
• 1912 Carlisle
• 1915 Redruth
• 1919 Gloucester
• 1922 Reading (S)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1914/674

PM Minutes 1925/267

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers