Amer, Matthew (1869-1958)

1895-97, Hull
c1909, Church Stretton
Matthew and Elizabeth Ann Amer, with their daughter Elizabeth Patience, Bromsgrove, c1927
Inscription in Bible presented to Matthew Amer on his ordination, 1899
Presentation from Women's Own, Bromsgrove

A keen footballer

Matthew Amer was born on 6 July 1869, in Thornton in Fylde, near Fleetwood, Lancashire. In his early years he was a keen footballer and played for Blackpool. He resisted strong pressure to become a professional footballer, instead feeling called to become a Primitive Methodist minister, but his interest in sport continued throughout his life.

He trained for the ministry at Hartley College from 1893-95, before serving in 14 different circuits.

Circuits

1895 Hull II
1897 Doncaster I
1898 New Brompton
1901 Northfleet
1903 Knighton
1906 Cardiff
1908 Church Stretton
1910 Oldbury
1913 Bromsgrove
1916 Sandbach
1919 Littleborough
1921 Ramsgate
1923 Bromsgrove
1927 Market Drayton
1929 Brynmawr (Sup)
1930 Pillowell and Cinderford (Ac)
1932 Brynmawr (Sup)

Bishop of the Tin Cathedral

Matthew Amer served first in Hull, but he was transferred for health reasons to Gillingham, Kent, where he finished his probation. He was the first married minister to take charge of the church, a humble corrugated iron structure, which ministered to the needs of a great variety of people, notably men of the Royal Navy from the base at Chatham. He was lovingly known as ‘The Bishop of the Tin Cathedral’.

Scourge of Sickness

From here they moved across the Medway to Gravesend and Northfleet, where they had a very difficult time. There was a smallpox epidemic in London, coupled with typhoid. Some of the cases were isolated on boats in the river and the infection spread. Matthew Amer constantly visited the sick – sometimes he had to bury a whole family together.

Welsh revival

He took up his ministry in Knighton, Radnorshire, at a time when the Welsh were afire with the burning spirit of revival. They sang their hymns as they had never sung them before, led by their minister, and often went over the last verse several times.

This was also the time of the Passive Resistance movement, when many Methodists refused to pay their rates in protest against the use of their money to support religious education in church schools.

After his ministry at Market Drayton, Matthew Amer was sent to Brynmawr following a breakdown in his health, from the nervous and physical energy he had expended on his work. After 12 months convalescence he was well enough to spend two years in the Pillowell circuit, before returning to Brynmawr for three years. In 1932 he superannuated after 36 years service to Methodism. He would have continued longer but his health was against him and he retired to Yorkley.

Family

He married Elizabeth Ann Shadbolt on 1 July 1899 at Fleetwood, Lancashire. She was born on 14 September 1869 at Waterbeach in Cambridgeshire, and died at Hillside on 25 September 1959.

They had one daughter, Elizabeth Patience, who married W H James. They were staunch members of Pillowell Methodist Church.

Character

He was ‘a helpful preacher and a faithful pastor, always eager too serve his Lord.’ He was ‘a man of quiet qualities, humble of mind and serene of heart’.

He died on 19 October 1958 at Hillside, Yorkley, Gloucestershire, in his 89th year, and the 58th of his ministry.

Sources

W Leary, Directory of PM Ministers and their Circuits

PM Mins 1959, p182

Newspaper report of Golden Wedding, 1949

 

No Comments

Start the ball rolling by posting a comment on this page!

Add a comment about this page

Your email address will not be published.