Buckley, Stanley (1871-1949)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1920.

Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference

STANLEY BUCKLEY: born at Oldham in 1871. As a lad he gave himself to the service of Christ, and at an early age he spent three years as a ‘hired local preacher’ in the Tredegar Circuit; there he offered himself as a candidate for the Primitive Methodist Ministry, and on being accepted continued to serve in the same circuit as a probationer for four years. 

Among various types of people, the miners of South Wales, the fishermen of Cornwall, in rural areas, and back in his native town of Oldham, he faithfully pursued a very active and effective ministry. His preaching was marked by evangelical fervour joined with kindly humour, and ‘the common people heard him gladly.’ As a pastor among his people he excelled, never sparing himself, and the secret of all was a heart aglow with the love of God. Young people looked to him as their friend and guide. Being very fond of children, he would arrange special meetings for their benefit, and he was always quick to notice them when he met them in the street. 

On his retirement in 1935 he remained in the country town of Gillingham, Dorset, and for the next fourteen years continued to exercise a much valued ministry, preaching as health permitted, but more especially visiting the homes of elderly people and those who were sick or in trouble. His cheerfulness and ready sympathy made him welcome everywhere. He passed to the Homeland on Tuesday, 17th May 1949, at the age of seventy-eight and in the fifty-fourth year of his ministry.

Family

Stanley was born on 22 January 1871 at Oldham, Lancashire, to parents Edwin, a tea dealer, and Alice.

Before entering the ministry, Stanley worked as an iron turner (1891).

He married Mary Beaver (b1876) in the summer of 1899 in the Clutton Registration District, Somerset. Census returns identify two children.

  • Stanley Elvet (1901-1965) – a teacher (1923); an assistant manager for educational publisher (1939)
  • Mary Alice (1903-2001) – married Edward F. Cowling, a gas works foreman (1939), in 1940

Stanley died on 17 May 1949 in the Stratton Registration District, Cornwall.

Circuits

  • 1896 Tredegar
  • 1899 Penzance
  • 1904 Bishop’s Castle
  • 1907 Melton Mowbray
  • 1911 Rhosymedre
  • 1916 Oldham IV
  • 1921 New Mills
  • 1926 Exmouth
  • 1930 Motcombe
  • 1933 Shaftsbury
  • 1935 Shaftsbury (S)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1920/244

Methodist Minutes 1949/145

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

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