Ashton, Albert Henry (1893-1946)

Transcription of Obituary published in the Minutes of Conference

ALBERT HENRY ASHTON: born at Middlesbrough in 1893. He was educated at Guildhall School, Bury St. Edmunds; his training at Hartley College was interrupted by the 1914-18 war, when he was selected by the College Committee for special work amongst the troops. His circuits were few – Aberavon, Eston, and then, in 1928, for the rest of his ministry he was called to take charge of the new venture at Alfreton, where the beautiful Watchorn Memorial Church and Estate owe much to him and with which his name will always be associated. He had the qualities which were needed there – initiative, business acumen, organizing ability and the power of application, together with vision and devoted zeal which made him effective as a pastor and preacher. During his eighteen years at Alfreton he exercised a rich Christian ministry in many directions, particularly in educational work, and in the Derby District from the time of Methodist Union to 1942 he was the District Home Mission Secretary. From 1942 to his death, as the Chairman of the District, he proved to be a wise, capable, and loved leader, the friend and helper of all. He loved to preach the Word, and was kind, generous, and unwearying in all his work for the Kingdom of God. Suddenly, on 12th March 1946, God called him to the Homeland, in the twenty-ninth year of his gifted and devoted ministry, at the age of fifty-three.

Family

Albert was born on 2 February 1893 at Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, to parents Albert Henry, a railway porter (1911), and Anna.

The 1911 census return records Albert working as a seed merchant’s clerk.

He married Annie Hayton (1895-1965), daughter of Rev. William Hayton, in the summer of 1921 at Worksop, Nottinghamshire. Birth records identify one child.

• Eric Hayton (1926-1985) – reader in primate anatomy, Birmingham University (1965)

Albert died on 12 March 1946 in the Belper Registration District, Derbyshire.

Circuits

• 1917 Scotton (Chaplain)
• 1919 Hartley
• 1921 Aberavon
• 1923 Eston
• 1928 Alfreton
• 1942 Chairman

References

Methodist Minutes 1946/141

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers