Cheshire, Walter Benjamin (1852-1937)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1911
Mrs Alice Cheshire
Primitive Methodist Magazine 1911

Early years

Walter was born on 23 October 1852 at Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

Walter surrendered himself to Christ at the age of fourteen under the ministry of Rev Thomas Guttery. The Sunday School was his first sphere of labour. At the age of seventeen, Walter came under the influence of Dr Joseph Ferguson, and soon found himself on the preachers plan.

Walter worked as a printer before entering the ministry.

Ministry

Walter’s obituary records that his ministry revealed qualities of heart and mind which endeared him to all his congregations, and his sermons – intensely practical – had such a passionate urge that they awoke within many of his hearers a desire for consecrated service.

As a preacher he often reminded one of the Old Testament prophets; stern in his denunciation of wrong, fearless in his exposition of truth, he always declared for a full and free salvation.

Walter served for some time as a member of the Candidates’ Examining Committee.

After becoming a supernumerary in 1927, Walter served the Queen Street Circuit, West Bromwich, as long as health permitted.

Family

Walter married Alice Stagg (1857-1904) in July 1880 at Stourbridge, Worcestershire. Census returns identify three children.

  • Walter Stagg (1883-1930) – a timekeeper at naval construction works (1911)
  • John Sydney (1892-1916) – a student teacher (1911); member of Royal Engineers – died in WW1
  • Florence Edith (1895-1970) – married David George Davies in 1925

Walter died on 1 November 1937 at West Bromwich, Staffordshire.

Circuits

  • 1876 Brierley Hill
  • 1878 Redditch
  • 1880 Dudley
  • 1881 Derby I
  • 1884 Scarborough
  • 1888 Driffield
  • 1893 Hull II
  • 1897 Old Hill
  • 1900 Darlaston
  • 1906 Barrow in Furness
  • 1909 Crewe I
  • 1914 West Bromwich I
  • 1916 Hasbury
  • 1920 Brierley Hill
  • 1927 W Bromwich (Sup)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1905/826 (wife); 1911/969

PM Minutes 1938/184

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

Comments about this page

  • I am researching teachers and former pupils from Springfield Primary School, Rowley Regis who died in the Great War. John Sydney Cheshire was one of the teachers. I have already found a good deal of information about him and how he died which I would like to pass on to relatives of his sister Florence Edith if they still live locally-they would be the Davies family now of course, since she married David Davies in 1925. Can anyone help?

    By Jim Williams (12/05/2014)

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