Ellenor, Thomas William (1905-1982)

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Supplied by Janice Baird

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Thomas and Agnes taken whilst visiting New Zealand

Janice Baird

Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference

THOMAS WILLIAM ELLENOR: born at Langley Moor in County Durham on 19th June 1905. On leaving school he worked as a railway clerk at Shildon, but soon responded to the call to the ministry and entered Hartley College, before serving in the South Wales Mission, Seaton Delavel, Teignmouth, Tadcaster, Ripon, Scarborough (St. Sepulchre Street), Masham, Thirsk, Stokesley and Barnard Castle Circuits. He finally settled in Okehampton, where for the first three years he worked as an active supernumerary. When that work came to an end he continued to serve the churches around north Dartmoor, and was a welcome hospital visitor. 

With his wife Agnes he led the local pensioners’ Friendly Circle. His wide interests included, as well as periodic visits to his children, some of whom lived in Canada and New Zealand, a great love for the Yorkshire dales and a considerable sporting prowess. Throughout his ministry he was conscious of the importance of good administration, and to the end of his life he was known for his cheerful counselling and his helpful preaching, which was always illuminated by a joyous sense of humour. Returning one afternoon from a meeting of the retired peoples’ club, he suddenly collapsed and died on 3rd August 1982 in the seventy-eighth year of his age and the fifty-second year of his ministry.

Family

Thomas was born on 19 June 1905 at Langley Moor, Co. Durham, to parents James, an assurance superintendent (1911), and Mary Ellen.

He married Agnes H Atkinson (b1908) in the summer of 1934 at Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland. Birth Records identify four children.

• Leslie (b1935) – married Joan Sedgwick in 1970
• Lewis William (1937-1982) – married Anne Kidd in 1957
• Gwendolen M (b1939) – married James A Metcalfe in 1966
• Janice M (b1948) – married Robert Baird in 1970

Thomas died on 3 August 1982 at Okehampton, Devon.

Circuits

• Hartley
• 1930 S Wales Mission
• 1931 Seaton Delaval
• 1934 Teignmouth
• 1937 Tadcaster
• 1942 Ripon
• 1947 Scarborough St Sep
• 1950 Masham
• 1956 Thirsk
• 1960 Stokesley
• 1966 Barnard Castle
• 1970 Stokesley (S)

References

Methodist Minutes 1983/61

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers