Bell, Jabez (1858-1941)

B.A. Barber, 1932

Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference

JABEZ BELL: born at Leicester in 1858. In 1879 he began a ministry which lasted till 1930, including twelve years given to West Africa, where he did yeoman service. At home, too, his memory will long be cherished in the circuits which had the privilege of his ministry. 

Jabez Bell was cast in a mould of his own. He had strong religious and social convictions which he never hesitated to express, but even those who sometimes felt bound to differ from him were disarmed by the deep sincerity of the man and by the pawky humour which lighted up everything he said. Moreover, his kindliness of disposition and his unsparing devotion to his work won for him both the admiration and affection of all who knew him. His years of retirement were saddened by the passing of his devoted wife and of his two lovely and gifted daughters. His soul, though sorely stricken, kept the radiance of its faith. He passed on to the homeland on September 26, 1941, after a life nobly lived and work faithfully done.

Family

Jabez was born on 15 October 1858 at Leicester, Leicestershire, to parents Henry, a bricklayer and grocer, and Catherine.

He married Annie Elizabeth Smedley (1869-1933). They had two daughters.

  • Dorothy (abt1896-1935) – married George Leslie Meacham, a doctor, in 1927
  • Catherine (abt1898-1935) – married Cyril Royle, a doctor, in 1926

Jabez died on 26 September 1941 at Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire.

Circuits

  • 1878 Supply
  • 1879 Clay Cross
  • 1880 Horncastle
  • 1882 Sheffield IV
  • 1884 Boston
  • 1885 Ashby de la Zouch
  • 1887 Birmingham
  • 1888 St Isabel
  • 1890 Bonni
  • 1895 on furlough
  • 1896 St Ives, Hunts
  • 1897 Northampton I
  • 1901 Huddersfield
  • 1903 Easingwold
  • 1909 Morecambe
  • 1910 West Africa
  • 1913 Manchester XI
  • 1920 Belper
  • 1922 Manchester I
  • 1930 Manchester I (Sup)

References

Methodist Minutes 1942/138

B A Barber, A Methodist Pageant, 1932, p183

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

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