Edwards, Frederick Huble (1877-1946)

Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference

FRED H. EDWARDS: born at Gloucester in 1877. He was educated at Elmfield College, York, and Mason’s University College, Birmingham, and entered the Primitive Methodist Ministry in 1902. He had a circuit career of unusual distinction, serving eight years at Bridlington, seven at Cleethorpes, six at Scarborough, and six at Northampton. He went to St. Ives (Cornwall) in 1945 with a reputation as pastor and preacher. Never was reputation better deserved. In all things great and small he fulfilled his ministry.

In any company of men he was a notable figure—stalwart, upright, unbending. His vigorous personality and strength of character gave weight and force to his preaching. His love of men and his love of his Lord made him a passionate evangelist. He was a born leader, a man of vision and wisdom, of persistent drive and unfailing courage. After his long years in other circuits he only stayed ten months in his last appointment, but in those brief months he made an indelible impression upon the little Cornish town. Though his final ministry was short the intensity of his spirit made it memorable. After a very brief illness he died on 30th June, 1946, in the sixty-ninth year of his age and the forty-fourth year of his faithful and glorious ministry.

Family

Frederick was born in 1877 at Gloucester, Gloucestershire, to parents George Edwards, a PM minister, and Emily Fisher.

He married Phillis Vardy Oliver (1884-1963) in the summer of 1906 at Hartlepool, Co. Durham. Census returns identify one child.

• Freda Elizabeth (1908-1997) – married George F Fox in 1942

Frederick died on 30 June 1946 at St Ives, Cornwall.

Circuits

• 1902 Sheerness
• 1904 Thetford
• 1906 Longton
• 1909 Talke
• 1913 Burslem
• 1918 Bridlington
• 1926 Cleethorpes
• 1933 Scarborough
• 1939 Northampton
• 1945 St Ives, Cornwall

References

Methodist Minutes 1946/148

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers