Spreadbury, Frederick Thomas (1888-1972)

Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference

FREDERICK THOMAS SPREADBURY: born in Bishop’s Waltham, Hampshire in 1888. While still a young boy he felt called to be a preacher. He was trained at Hartley College, and began his ministry at Nantwich in 1916. He also served in the following circuits: Hay, Oldbury, Scotter, Quarry Bank, Burton-on-Trent, Tetney, Sheffield (Bethany), Nottingham (Hockley), Rhondda (Ely Valley), Clay Cross, Huddersfield, Shildon (Church Street) and Clayton West. In 1954 he retired to Torquay where, for a while, he was an active supernumerary. 

In 1935 he was involved in a very serious motor-cycle accident in which his skull was fractured. This resulted in an enforced superannuation which lasted ten years. After his return to the active ministry he suffered permanent head pains, though he refused to allow this to interfere with his work. In later years his head injuries became an increasing burden to him and he began to avoid social contact. His increasing weakness and ill-health concerned close friends, who managed to get him into a home where he received the utmost kindness. The comfort and security he had enabled him to face visitors again, and he enjoyed being able to reminisce about his life and ministry. In doing so he revealed his humour and his love for his friends. 

He remained unmarried but had a wide circle of friends. The value of his pastoral ministry can be judged by the number of people who still corresponded with him until his death. He was a great lover of animals and claimed that he had never knowingly hurt an animal or bird in his lifetime. He was fascinated by the study of astronomy. An ardent socialist and pacifist, he had a keen interest in the Trade Union movement. His ministry was marked by the belief that the Christ who had called him to this work would enable him to fulfil it. The family who looked after him at the last cared for him as though he had been their father. His last days were days of comfort and peace. 

He died on the 5th October, 1972 in the eighty-fourth year of his age and the fifty-seventh year of his ministry.

Family

Frederick was born on 9 December 1888 at Bishop’s Waltham, Hampshire, to parents Frederick, a quarryman (1901), and Alice Sarah.

Before entering the ministry Frederick was a carpenter (1911).

Frederick died on 5 October 1972 at Torquay, Devon.

Circuits

• Hartley
• 1916 Nantwich &c
• 1919 Hay
• 1920 Oldbury
• 1921 Scotter
• 1924 Quarry Bank
• 1927 Burton on Trent
• 1932 Tetney
• 1933 Sheffield Beth
• 1934 Nottingham Hock
• 1935 supernum
• 1945 Rhondda Ely
• 1946 Clay Cross
• 1948 Huddersfield N’land
• 1950 Sheldon Church St
• 1952 Clayton West
• 1954 Torquay (Sup)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 

PM Minutes 

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers