Hebblethwaite, Albert B.D. (1840-1914)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1899
Primitive Methodist Magazine 1915

Early years

Albert was born on 26 June 1840 at Wooldale, nr Huddersfield, Yorkshire, to parents John and Ruth. John was a lime and coal agent in 1861.

Albert worked as a woollen warper before entering the ministry.

Albert became a follower of Jesus early in life and was a most acceptable local preacher before his seventeenth birthday. Though much pressed, he did not obey the call to ministry until he was twenty-three.

Ministry

It often fell to Albert to provide for the needy poor. Whilst at Workington there was a stoppage at the Iron works. During his last twenty-eight weeks there, William provided 20,000 free meals and distributed large sums of money. He also played a large part in the relief of hundreds of families of miners in the Wigan circuit during a coal stoppage. Whilst at Wells next Sea, there was a terrible lifeboat disaster and Albert again led the way in raising funds for those who were left destitute.

His wide reading made him an interesting preacher, vivacious, forceful and attractive. He always saw the bright side of life, and easily brushed aside difficulties that would have discouraged other men.

Albert cared little for the business side of church life. Committees and detailed administration were irksome to him; but he liked the pen and loved the arena of controversy and debate.

Albert received the degree of B.D. from the University of St Louis (USA) in 1880 in recognition of his aptitude for writing.

Literature

Albert authored the following.

The tongue is the worst and best of everything

The importance of little things

A reply to Mr. Robert Blatchford’s ‘What I believe’

Albert also authored upwards of forty pamphlets.

Family

Albert married Annie Battye (1839-1924) in the summer of 1868 at Wooldale, nr Huddersfield. Census returns identify four of six children.

  • Ada Ellen (b1872)
  • Pollie Battye (1874-1966) – married Barclay Wiggins, a surgeon
  • Lily (b1877) – an artist
  • Kate Emma (b1879) – a teacher; married Frederick R S Wright

Albert died on 26 December 1914 at Heacham, Norfolk.

Circuits

  • 1865 Shipley
  • 1867 Malton
  • 1869 Wakefield
  • 1871 Bradford I
  • 1874 Leeds I
  • 1875 Hoyland
  • 1877 Barrowford
  • 1880 Yarmouth
  • 1883 Cheltenham
  • 1886 Redruth
  • 1887 Hasbury
  • 1890 Workington
  • 1895 Manchester IX
  • 1898 Stowmarket
  • 1901 E Dereham
  • 1903 Wells next Sea
  • 1905 Wells next Sea (S)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1899/643; 1915/322

PM Minutes 1915/22

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

 

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