Massey, William (1849-1926)

Christian Messenger 1912

Transcription of ‘Sketch’ In the Christian Messenger

WILLIAM MASSEY is our oldest Class leader at Broad Street Church, Pendleton, in the Manchester III Circuit, and at sixty-two years of age is still, we rejoice to record, in active service. His very presence in the meetings is an aid to devotion and worship. His life is lived in such close touch with God that he always prays and speaks with power. Earnestly believing in the Class meeting as a means of grace and as an indispensable aid to the spiritual life of the Church, he has ever striven to be faithful and true to all the duties of leadership. His class consists largely of the senior members of the Church, the Christian Endeavour Society providing chiefly for the younger people, but our brother’s sympathies are very wide and his heart is young, so that he is revered and honoured by all.

For over twenty years he has been the Senior Superintendent of the Sunday school, where he exerts a gracious influence for good, and just recently the officers and teachers have expressed their admiration for his long and faithful service by presenting him with a valuable timepiece. Regular in his attendance at public worship as far as his health will permit, he is an attentive and responsive listener, and the spiritual tone of many a service has been heightened by his presence. Earnest and zealous in good works, undaunted by discouragement and difficulties, he has been a source of inspiration through the years, and the fervent prayer of all who know him is that he may long remain with us to give counsel and strength in the work that is so dear. So long as we can multiply such officials as Mr. Massey all will be well with our church.

H. L. HEROD.

Family and other information

William was born abt 1849 at Pendleton, Lancashire, to parents Francis and Mary. Francis was a soap boiler (1851) and later, a brickmaker (1861).

Census returns identify the following occupations for William.

  • 1861 cotton weaver
  • 1871 cotton weaver
  • 1881 stoker in cotton mill
  • 1891 belt weaver
  • 1901 belt weaver (canvas)

William married Sarah (abt1847-1920). Census returns identify one child.

  • Mary (1870-1955) – a cotton weaver; married Richard John Sampson, a coach painter (1911), in 1896

William died on 25 September 1926 at Pendleton, Lancashire.

References

Christian Messenger 1912/123

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

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