Fawcett, George (1874-1950)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1926
Christian Messenger 1907
George Fawcett's signature from Bramwell Hill's autograph book, 1917
Christopher Hill 2020

Early years

George was born in 1874 at Ellenborough, Maryport, Cumberland, to parents John Fawcett and Mary Ellen Smith.

Seven years of his young manhood were spent in a ship-owner’s office. It was whilst sitting at his desk on Easter Tuesday 1895 that a definite and unmistakable ‘call’ came to him to devote himself to the work of the ministry. He entered Hartley College in 1897.

Ministry

Whilst at Sunderland, George was appointed District Christian Endeavour Secretary. In 1915, George became Connexional C.E. Secretary.

While in Grimsby (1926-1933), George was associated with Sir James Blindell, M.P., in the erection of nine Methodist Homes for the Aged, which remained as a memorial to his sagacity and sympathy.

In retirement, George went initially to Gainsborough and later returned to Grimsby. There, he gave over six years to the local hospital as Free Church Chaplain.

His obituary records that George had great gifts of mind and spirit and very fine preaching ability. He was of a genial disposition, master of quiet humour, very courageous, and a great consoler. He was genuine through and through, a hater of shams and hypocrisy, and a fighter for the truth as he saw it. In his lifetime he may have had many opponents but no enemies.

Family

George married Mary Hall (1876-1947) in the summer of 1903 at Chester-le-Street, Co Durham. Records identify five children.

  • Fanny Enid (1905-1969) – married Thomas Frederick Smith in 1932
  • John (1907-1977) – a chartered accountant (1950)
  • Alice Mary (1910-1960)
  • Frederick Hall (1912-1989)
  • George Trevor (1918-1982)

George died on 14 March 1950 at Grimsby, Lincolnshire.

Circuits

  • Hartley
  • 1899 Chester le Street
  • 1903 Ashington
  • 1908 Gateshead I
  • 1911 Sunderland I
  • 1916 Birkenhead
  • 1920 Stockton
  • 1926 Grimsby I
  • 1933 S Shields
  • 1937 Gateshead W
  • 1940 Gainsborough (Sup)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1926/742

Methodist Minutes 1950/144

Christian Messenger 1907/12

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

Downloads

Transcription of obituary published in Minutes of Conference.

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