Challenger, Edward William (1871-1959)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1925
Primitive Methodist Magazine 1925

Early years

Edward was born in 1871 at Bucknall, Shropshire, to parents William and Elizabeth. Edward was baptised on 7 May 1871 at Bucknall. William worked as a railway carpenter (1881).

Edward joined the Church at the age of fourteen in Shrewsbury. As a youth he became a local preacher and the Shrewsbury circuit recommended him for ministry.

Edward worked as a carpenter before entering the ministry.

Ministry

Edward spent all his probation at Nottingham. He was then called to assist James Flanagan, who had just opened St George’s Hall as the head of the South East London Mission. It was a moving experience for a young minister, stimulating in him an emphasis which he never forgot, adding the note of fervour to his preaching and the quality of compassion to his pastoral work.

As a pastor he was sympathetic, understanding and faithful. As a preacher he was full of challenge.

Edward served for ten years as District Building Committee Secretary.

In retirement, Edward undertook a very successful term as an active supernumerary, building up the congregation that survived after the closing of Whitby’s historic Wesley Chapel.

Family

Edward married Dorothy Jane Latimer (1873-1946) in the summer of 1901 in Teesdale, Co Durham. Dorothy was a daughter of Rev Andrew Latimer. Census returns identify two children.

  • Margaret Doris (1902-1966) – a nurse
  • Andrew W Latimer (1907-1982) – a PM minister 1930-1933

Edward died on 6 August 1959 at Whitby, Yorkshire.

Circuits

  • Hartley
  • 1897 Nottingham V
  • 1900 Southwark
  • 1901 Stoke Newington
  • 1903 Whitby
  • 1907 York II
  • 1910 Pontefract
  • 1915 Burnley I
  • 1921 Jarrow
  • 1927 Wem
  • 1932 Crewe I
  • 1937 Whitby
  • 1942 Whitby (Sup)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1925/372

Methodist Minutes 1960/179

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

 

Downloads

Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference

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