Carter, Antonio Bezaleel (1845-1897)

Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference by W.R. de Winton

ANTONIO B. CARTER was born at Illingworth, near Halifax, in the year 1845. He came of excellent parentage. At an early age he removed with the family to Newbiggin, in the Brough circuit, where in youthhood he joined the Primitive Methodist church. His gifts and piety were soon recognised as fitting him for the work of preaching the gospel. Commercial relationship, however, caused him to return to Halifax, where his father’s business presented to him most lucrative prospects. But the call of the spirit was upon him, and these prospects he freely sacrificed, and gave himself to the ministry of the church. After having laboured for a short time as a hired local preacher he entered the Elmfield College, where he passed two happy and helpful years under the sainted John Petty, in preparation for the regular ministry. 

This he began at Great Horton, Bradford, where his ministry is still fresh in the hearts of the people. He subsequently travelled in the following circuits—Horbury, Middleham, Harrogate, Sowerby Bridge, Beaddle, Ripon, Brough, Skipton, Pudsey and Stanningley, and Dent. 

His ministry throughout was characterised by much success, but especially so in the Bradford Second, Harrogate, Beadle, and Skipton circuits, which covered a period of sixteen years. His life ambition was to be a successful circuit minister, and this, it may be safely said, he had the joy of realising. He had a passion for soul-saving and led many hundreds to Christ. He took a deep and passionate interest in young men and many to-day testify to the benefits they derived from his genial friendship and wise counsel. It is noteworthy that while many of these are found serving our own ‘Church’ as lay or itinerant preachers, some are occupying distinguished pulpits of other churches. As a pastor he simply excelled. Never have we known a more faithful and untiring family visitor. Nothing except sickness was ever allowed to interfere with the systematic execution of his pastoral work.

The interests of his circuit were ever his first consideration, and there is no doubt that the immense energy he invariably threw into his labours was one factor in the bringing about, at a comparatively early age, the termination of his ministry. Moreover, the loss of his wife—by universal consent a woman of extraordinary kindness of soul and richness of service—entered deeply into his life. It was a trial that overshadowed the whole of his remaining years, and he was never quite the same man afterwards.

But during the last two years of his life his health rapidly declined. He, however, continued his work almost regularly until within seven weeks of his death, which occurred on Monday, June 7th, 1897. He was 52 years of age and had travelled 29 years. He was interred in the family vault at Illingworth. Rev. W.J. Fryer officiated and delivered a very touching address.

Family

Antonio was born in early 1844 at Illingworth, Yorkshire, to parents John, a butter factor (1851), and Betty.

He married Margaret Scarr (1841-1887) in the summer of 1875 in the Aysgarth Registration District, Yorkshire. Census returns identify one child.

• Letitia Bell (1876-1921) – married Thomas Peel, an aerated water manufacturer (1901), in 1897

Antonio died on 7 June 1897 at Sedbergh, Yorkshire.

Circuits

• 1868 Bradford II
• 1870 Horbury
• 1871 Middleham
• 1874 Knaresborough
• 1875 Harrogate
• 1878 Sowerby Bridge
• 1880 Bedale
• 1884 Ripon
• 1886 Brough
• 1889 Skipton
• 1894 Pudsey & Stanningley
• 1895 Dent

References

PM Minutes 1897/40

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers