Coulson, John (1902-1970)

Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference

JOHN COULSON: born at Cramlington, Northumberland, in 1902. He was ever mindful of his debt to Christian parents; to Primitive Methodism that nurtured his childhood and youth; and for his training at Hartley College. His circuits were Northampton II, Kennington Park, Houghton-le-Spring, Sunderland (West), Thornley, Keighley, Stockport (Davenport), Liverpool (South), Manchester (Withington), Liverpool (North East). 

Throughout his ministry he was a zealous student. He was a skilful administrator. At Hartley he was College secretary, and for a number of years the Secretary of the Sunderland and Durham Synod. He had a high sense of a minister’s calling, and for him the ministry was a full-time vocation. Entirely free of selfish ambition, his chief desire was to see the churches under his care grow in spiritual power, and to help in equipping their members to make a Christian witness in the world. His sufficient reward was in the privilege of being a minister of the Gospel, and in the love and gratitude of his people—especially of those he led to know Jesus as Saviour and Lord. To his colleagues he was a stalwart friend, ever ready to rejoice in their success and to help in their need. 

His conduct of worship was impressive. His spiritual insight and his intimate knowledge of the needs of his congregation were shown in prayers clothed in simple and chaste language. His sermons were expository and contemporary, and earnest in delivery. He was devoted to the pastoral office. He radiated friendliness. Children and young people found him winsome. He shared their interests, knew their language, and had a youthful sense of fun. In recent years as Secretary of the Primitive Methodist Ministers’ Friendly Society, he gave unstinted service to help in improving the annuities of its supernumerary and widow members, and to many of them he gave wise counsel on problems that beset the aged. He had the virtue of courage in marked degree. Fearlessly he witnessed to Christian convictions, and took a lively interest in community life. With remarkable fortitude he faced physical affliction in his closing years and in carrying on his ministry with unabated enthusiasm. His death came suddenly on 8 September 1970, in the sixty-eighth year of his age and the forty-third of his ministry.

Family

John was born on 19 June 1902 at Cramlington, Northumberland, to parents Thomas Coulson, a colliery mason, and Janet Newton.

He married Annie Winifred Roberts (1904-1980) in the summer of 1931 in the Machynlleth Registration District, Montgomeryshire.

John died on 8 September 1970 in Liverpool, Lancashire.

Circuits

• Hartley
• 1927 Northampton II
• 1929 Kennington Park
• 1931 Houghton le Spring
• 1936 Sunderland W
• 1941 Thornley
• 1944 Keighley
• 1948 Stockport Davenport
• 1951 Southport S
• 1952 Liverpool S
• 1959 Manchester Withington
• 1964 Liverpool NE
• 1969 Liverpool S (Sup)

References

Methodist Minutes 1971/162

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers