Clulow, William (1843-1929)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1905

Early years

William was born on 29 August 1843 at Leek, Staffordshire to parents James and Mary. James was for many years a very acceptable local preacher. James worked as a rural post messenger at the time of the 1861 census.

William was converted at the age of fifteen and became a member of the Wesleyan Church. Two years later, and without his knowledge, his name appeared on the plan as an exhorter. After four years as a local preacher, circumstances led him to join the Primitive Methodist Society at Leek.

He had shrunk from the responsibility of the ministry feeling he had little education, but on being pressed, and in answer to prayer, on 31 December 1867 he presented himself before the examiners, one of them being Thomas Bateman (that year the President of Conference), and within three weeks he commenced his ministry in Cheltenham.

Ministry

William was an extempore preacher of no mean order, and was always listened to with great attention and interest. His discourses were models of logical arrangement, saturated with theology, deep in thought, convincing in argument and full of force and fire.

In politics, William was a staunch Liberal; he was a thorough going Temperance advocate and an anti-tobacconist to boot.

Family

William married Susan Hester Stephens (1842-1889) in the summer of 1872 at Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Census returns identify three children.

William died on 20 June 1929 at Bradford, Yorkshire. He was interred at Wolverhampton Cemetery, Staffordshire.

Circuits

  • 1868 Gloucester & Cheltenham
  • 1869 Plymouth
  • 1870 Cardiff
  • 1871 Newport
  • 1872 Exeter
  • 1873 Liskeard
  • 1875 Newtown
  • 1876 Peaton Strand
  • 1878 Kidderminster
  • 1881 Rhosmedre
  • 1883 Leominster & Weobly
  • 1885 Dover & Deal
  • 1886 Hastings
  • 1888 Wangford
  • 1889 Wolverhampton
  • 1890 Tamworth
  • 1891 Louth
  • 1893 Ludlow
  • 1895 Kidderminster
  • 1897 Stoke Newington
  • 1898 Donington
  • 1899 Cambridge I
  • 1902 Leintwardine
  • 1907 Tredegar
  • 1910 Bournemouth (S)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1892/372 (Susan); 1905/171; 1930/492

PM Minutes 1903/269

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

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