Barker, Joseph Herbert (1885-1960)
Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference
JOSEPH HERBERT BARKER: born in 1885 at Birkenhead. He abandoned the prospects of a successful business career in response to a call to offer for the Primitive Methodist Ministry. After being trained at Hartley College, he spent the whole of his probation at Kennington. Afterwards, at Stoke Newington, Howden, Sheffield, Mexborough, Leicester, Blackburn, Coalville, Mansfield, Wigan, and Chester, he exercised an increasingly fruitful ministry. He retired in 1952 and attached himself to the St. John Street Church, Chester, where his keen participation in the Church’s activities and his constant readiness to help were greatly appreciated.
He was a man of wide reading, deep culture, and many gifts. His business training left a permanent mark upon his ministry, and his administrative gifts were recognised by his appointment in the formative years after union as assistant-secretary to the newly-formed North Lancashire District. He was a keen student who brought to his pulpit ministrations the fruit of a mature mind. In his pastoral work he excelled, and both young and old found it easy to confide in him. Beneath his outward reserve he possessed a warm sympathetic nature which was quick to respond to his people’s needs. He was a saint who was honoured among all the Churches and during the years of his retirement he was an acceptable preacher in the pulpits of all denominations. He took an active interest in the work of the Chester Free Church Council, and a few years ago he occupied its Presidential Chair with distinction. He died on 26 December 1960, in the seventy-fifth year of his age and the fiftieth of his ministry.
Family
Joseph was born on 2 September 1885 at Birkenhead, Cheshire, to parents Joseph, a stonecutter, and Elizabeth.
Joseph worked as a shipping clerk before entering the ministry.
He married Alice Mabel Coston (1885-1965), a dressmaker, in the summer of 1915 at Birkenhead, Cheshire.
Joseph died on 26 December 1960 at Chester, Cheshire..
Circuits
- Hartley
- 1910 Kensington
- 1912 Stoke Newington
- 1915 Howden
- 1918 Sheffield III
- 1922 Mexborough
- 1926 Leicester II
- 1931 Blackburn
- 1934 Coalville
- 1937 Mexborough
- 1941 Mansfield
- 1944 Wigan
- 1946 Chester Hunter
- 1952 Chester Hunter (S)
References
Primitive Methodist Magazine 1921/465
Methodist Minutes 1961/211
W Leary, Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits, 1990
Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers
No Comments
Add a comment about this page