Turner, William (1866-1941)

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Primitive Methodist Magazine 1924

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Primitive Methodist Magazine 1924

Early years

William was born in 1866 at Pontypool, Montgomeryshire.

William became associated with the PM Church at Bamby, in the Howden (East Yorkshire) circuit. And largely under the influence of George Grassby, of Goole, consecrated himself to Christ and his service. He became a teacher and local preacher, and threw himself heartily into the work in his own and adjoining circuits, often conducting mission services in the villages with marked success.

In 1894, he relinquished a good position, as a signalman, with the railway to respond to the call of the Missionary Committee and was sent as supply to the Driffield circuit, and there, under the able guidance of Rev Robert Harrison, prepared for the ministry.

Ministry

William’s preaching gifts were of the highest order and revealed wide reading, close thinking and evangelical passion, and on most of his circuits he had the joy of seeing increased membership.

William’s obituary records that he was a ‘man’s man’, of rugged personality, of forceful manner, of speech and ways uncompromising and direct. By the new birth he was ‘God’s man’, a son of thunder with the wistful mind and the tender heart of a child. He was a most capable man of affairs and in various secretariats served his Church with distinction. Moving to Cornwall in 1930, he was invaluable in solving problems of local union.

Family

William married Emma Wayne (b abt 1861) before 1891.

William died on 23 December 1941 at St Ives, Cornwall.

Circuits

• 1896 Dover & Deal
• 1899 Cheltenham
• 1901 Alford
• 1904 Scunthorpe
• 1911 Hull III
• 1913 Bridlington
• 1918 Scarborough II
• 1924 Goole
• 1928 Coleford
• 1930 St Day & Truro
• 1932 St Ives
• 1941 St Ives (Sup)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1924/669

Methodist Minutes 1942/144

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers