Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference
FRANK EWART BOWYER: born at Oswestry on 15th July, 1903. He became actively engaged in all the affairs of the local Primitive Methodist Church and circuit. From there he offered for the ministry in 1924. After acceptance he served for two years as a pre-collegiate at Docking, Norfolk, before entering Hartley College where he received his training. There then followed a most effective ministry in various circuits. South Wales Mission, Minsterly, Everton Road (Liverpool), Downham Market, Chatteris, Dudley, Ellesmere, Northwich, Warrington, Batley.
He was a man of true faith and humility. The only distinction which he coveted was to be known and remembered as a faithful circuit minister. The secret of his effectiveness was threefold: his deep faith in God, his transparent goodness and his disciplined way of life. Those committed to his care knew that he loved them for he translated his love into deeds. As a preacher he fed the hungry with living bread and as a pastor he was counsellor and guide and friend to all. Above all he was a servant for Jesus’ sake.
He never lost his love for Oswestry and, when he retired from the active work, he and his wife chose to settle there. A very severe blow for him was the death of his wife in 1975. His own health began to fail, yet he continued to serve and to find great joy in preaching. When he could no longer live alone he went to live with his daughter at Callow End, Worcester, where he died peacefully on 17th September, 1984 in the eighty-second year of his age and the fifty-eighth year of his ministry.
Family
Frank was born on 15 July 1903 at Oswestry, Shropshire, to parents Abraham, a wood sawyer (1911), and Ann.
He married Phyllis Mary Groves (1906-1975) in the summer of 1930 at Oswestry, Shropshire. Records identify one child.
- Barbara Ann (b1933) – married Terence Plant in 1956
Frank died on 17 September 1984 at Callow End, Worcester..
Circuits
- 1924 Docking
- 1926 Hartley
- 1928 S Wales Mission
- 1930 Minsterley
- 1934 Liverpool Everton Rd
- 1937 Downham Market
- 1941 Chatteris
- 1945 Dudley
- 1949 Ellesmere
- 1955 Northwich
- 1959 Warrington
- 1962 Batley
- 1966 Oswestry (S)
References
Methodist Minutes 1985/61
W Leary, Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits, 1990
Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers
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