Anderson, George J.P. (1885-1970)

Transcription of Obituary published in the Minutes of Conference.

GEORGE ANDERSON: born at Dudley, Northumberland, in 1885. After training at Hartley College he entered the Primitive Methodist ministry in 1911, beginning at Bilston, Staffs. Then he travelled in Pillowell, West Bromwich I, Sheffield (John St), Blackburn II, Kidderminster, Stratford-on-Avon, where from 1938 he served throughout the war. He was one of the few Methodist ministers who have been chosen as magistrates. He became a J.P. for Gloucester in his early ministry, an acknowledgement of his vigorous witness and public service. He was admired by many people outside the Church for his strong character and friendliness. His enthusiasm for the Gospel of his Lord and Master was in all his preaching and in his conversation. He exhausted himself, keeping nothing back in his service for the Church. An example of this was his long, and as it proved, his final ministry in Stratford-on-Avon. His first task was the uniting of two circuits and the two Methodist congregations in Stratford. He also organized a canteen for the many soldiers and airmen stationed in the neighbourhood, making the church a centre with the friendly atmosphere he created. Meanwhile he endured constant anxiety through the serious illness of his wife. His strenuous ministry ended suddenly in physical breakdown in 1946 from which he never completely recovered, and he was compelled to retire in 1947. When he settled in retirement at Stratford-on-Avon he found an ideal form of service as Hospital Chaplain. He was respected there by staff and patients alike, and he received evidence of their esteem when he was compelled to leave them. When his sight failed he was cut off from so much he loved, people, scenery, activity, books. Later, in extreme weakness he was taken to hospital one week before he died on 11 December 1970, in the eighty-sixth year of his age and the sixtieth of his ministry.

Family

George was born on 18 August 1885 at Dudley, Northumberland, to partents George, a coal miner, and Ellen.

George worked as a coal miner before entering the ministry.

He married Elsie Martha Yardley (1890-1948) – in the summer of 1915 at Stourbridge, Worcestershire. Birth records identify one child.

  • Dorothy E (b1917) – married Kenneth P Grail, a school teacher, in 1938

George died on 11 December 1970 at Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire.

Circuits

  • Hartley
  • 1911 Bilston
  • 1915 Pillowell
  • 1922 W Bromwich I
  • 1926 Sheffield V
  • 1927 Blackburn II
  • 1933 Kidderminster
  • 1938 Stratford
  • 1947 Sussex Mis (S)

References

Methodist MinutesĀ 1971/172

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

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