Blackwell, John Harold (1907-1954)

John Harold Blackwell and fiancée Lily Cattell July 1934
provided by Jane Richardson
Ieft to right: Rev. Fred Jones and his fiancé Madge (Maggi) Forrester. Next lady with scarf unknown. Rev John Blackwell. Mrs Frances Blackwell (mother of Rev. Blackwell) Lily Cattell (Rev Blackwell’s fiancée) Elsie Forrester (headmistress of Cosby School where the photo was taken) Young boy Colin Bull (my father)
Supplied by Jane Richardson

Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference

JOHN HAROLD BLACKWELL: born at Wolverhampton in 1907, but soon afterwards his family removed to West Bromwich, and became members of the Queen Street Church there. He was educated at the Ryland Memorial School of Art, and after training at Hartley College, he commenced his active ministry in 1930 at Crewe. He also served at Blaenavon, Chelmsford, Brigg (seven years), Gainsborough, Sheffield Surrey St. (four years) and Ellesmere Port. 

In all his circuits he served his Lord and his church with an eager devotion. Wherever he laboured the work of God prospered under his leadership. He had a genius for friendship, and was always adding to the number, not only of acquaintances, but of friends. Old and young gave him their confidence, and he served young people with ability and success. He was a true pastor, for he visited his people, he was interested in all their activities, he shared their experiences, and ministered to them in spiritual things. He was careful in his preparation for the pulpit, and declared the word that was given to him with natural fervour. He was held in high esteem by those who were privileged to know him. He had to superannuate at the Conference of 1953 because of ill-health, and though he seemed to be recovering in the subsequent months, death came unexpectedly on 2nd July 1954, in the forty-seventh year of his life, and the twenty-fourth year of his ministry.

Family

John was born on 13 July 1907 at Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, to parents John Thomas Blackwell, a spinner for an enamelled hollowware manufacturer (1911), and Frances Flora Overton.

John died on 2 July 1954 at Ellesmere Port, Cheshire.

Circuits

  • Hartley
  • 1930 Crewe II
  • 1933 Blaenavon
  • 1935 Chelmsford
  • 1937 Brigg &c
  • 1944 Gainsborough
  • 1947 Sheffield Surrey St
  • 1951 Ellesmere Port

References

Methodist Minutes 1954/144

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

Comments about this page

  • Flora (Lorie) and I have been exchanging information about her father John Blackwell and my great uncle Fred Jones who were together at Hartley. It has been interesting (and moving) to speculate about those two young men in their student days nearly 100 years ago.
    Thank the Lord for the My Prim website, and thank you to those who keep it up and running. Without it we never would have been in touch.

    By Jane Richardson (18/04/2023)
  • I am the daughter of John Harold Blackwell and Lily Blackwell, Flora Sewell ( nee Blackwell) born in 1946. This is the first time I have seen an obituary of my father. I also have some photos which may be of interest. I would like my email address to be given to Jane Richardson so I can give her some more information about my parents and grandmother. Her own family would have known John and Lily and may have been present at my father’s ordination in Leicester.

    By Flora Sewell (06/03/2023)
  • John was ordained on July 31st 1934, at the Methodist Conference, St Paul’s Methodist Church, Leicester. At that time he was engaged to his fiancée Lily (née Maguire) They married in Warwickshire, and though the date is unknown it is likely that they married soon after his ordination. In 1939 he was living in Lincolnshire with his wife and his sister Frances Flora Blackwell.
    The photo of John and Lily was taken in Cosby near Leicester, where they stayed the night before the ordination service. I have a further photo of a family group which includes John’s mother, Frances, which I would be happy to share.

    By Jane Richardson (22/02/2023)

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