Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference
FREDERICK GILBERT ARTHUR COOK: born at Bournemouth on 10th October 1903. He was influenced by an uncle, an ordained minister, to offer for the Primitive Methodist ministry. After training at Hartley College he served in the Dartmouth, Stoke and Longton and the Stoke-on-Trent Circuits.
In 1940 he became an army chaplain. His service took him to the Far and Middle East, to Europe and Home stations, culminating in the appointment as Staff Chaplain at Eastern Command. He found great fulfilment in this ministry, offering a kindly source of advice, encouragement and help to service personnel. In the eighteen years of ministry as an army chaplain he was able to enjoy his love of most sports, especially cricket.
He was allowed to retire early and with his wife, Doris, whom he had married in 1930, he went to live in Co!wall, near Malvern. There, for nearly thirty years, he exercised a ministry that extended beyond the Methodist church. He was invited, regularly, to preach in many local churches. For two local United Reformed Churches he was of great assistance during interregnums. He was thrilled to be a preacher. He was enthusiastic in proclaiming the Gospel. His deep understanding of English literature, especially poetry, was evident in his sermons.
He described the darkest period in his life as that following the death of his wife. He witnessed to the love of his daughter, Barbara, son-in-law, lan, and grandchildren, Mark and Anne, being the means of God’s blessing to lead him out of that darkness. He found great happiness in gardening, and it seemed right that on a beautiful, warm, sunny day he should die, peacefully, as he worked in his garden. He was a man with a strong, straightforward faith; a man with a good sense of humour; a man who served his Lord faithfully. He died at Colwall on 25th September 1987 in the eighty-fourth year of his life and the sixty-second year of his ministry.
Family
Frederick was born on 10 October 1903 at Bournemouth, Dorset.
He married Doris Kate Burridge (1901-1977) in the spring of 1930 at Bournemouth, Dorset. Birth records identify one child.
- Barbara H (b1933)
Frederick died on 25 September 1987 at Colwall, Herefordshire.
Circuits
- Hartley
- 1926 Dartmouth
- 1928 Stoke & Longton
- 1834 Stoke, Tunstall
- 1940 Chaplain H.M. Forces
- 1958 Supernum
References
Methodist Minutes 1988/27
W Leary, Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits, 1990
Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers
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