Hall, Renal Bingley (1890-1970)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1920

Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference

RENE BiNGLEY HALL: born in Sheffield on 30 August 1890. Raised in the Primitive Methodist tradition and a son of the manse he offered for the ministry in 1912 and was trained at Hartley College. He exercised a gracious and influential pastoral and preaching ministry in Crowle, Scotter, Hull II, Manchester V, Cleethorpes, Hull I, Hull (Waltham St), Scarborough (St Sepulchre St), Manchester (Stretford), Castleford (Bradley St). He spent the war years in Scarborough and his decision to retire there in 1954 was received with pleasure. 

He gathered to himself circles of friends in all the circuits he served but he was nowhere more loved than in ‘Priceholme’, the Scarborough branch of the Methodist Homes for the Aged where he spent the later part of his retirement. But ‘retirement’ was a misnomer; he preached regularly and always willingly. Catholic in his allegiances, much in demand in the vacant pulpits of other denominations, his messages came from the depths of a well stored mind. 

During his active ministry he was a member of many connexional committees and for some years he was associated with the Primitive Methodist Ministers’ Friendly Society. At the time of his death he had no ‘next of kin’ but it would be true to say that everyone was his kin because he loved people sincerely and affectionately. He had a great sense of humour and a fund of stories which he turned to good use on every occasion. He had no peer in the proposing of a vote of thanks or a word of welcome and his mirth-provoking anecdotes would be noted by his brethren for future use, sometimes with acknowledgements. 

He was meticulous in demeanour but he indulged in certain sartorial eccentricities in which the colours of socks, waistcoats and ties were often at variance, giving the impression of studied forgetfulness. But there was nothing superficial in his make-up; he could be grave as well as gay and there are many who will testify to his sympathetic understanding which was always and immediately available to those in need. He had old-world courtesy and charm but he was never old fashioned. He had a modern approach to problems and his contributions to a discussion were consistently well informed. He was an excellent administrator, a fine preacher, a loyal friend, and ever a Christian gentleman. He was preaching literally up to the time of his death; having conducted two services in one of his old churches on the Sunday he made his way next morning to make a typical sympathetic gesture of calling on a sick member. He died on the way to the house, on 15 June, 1970, in the eightieth year of his age and the fifty-eighth of his ministry.

Family

Renal was born on 30 August 1890 at Sheffield, Yorkshire, to parents John Hall, a PM minister, and Mary Bingley.

Renal died on 15 June 1970 at Scarborough, Yorkshire.

Circuits

  • Hartley
  • 1912 Crowle
  • 1915 Scotter
  • 1919 Hull II
  • 1922 Manchester V
  • 1926 Cleethorpes
  • 1932 Hull I
  • 1935 Hull Waltham Str
  • 1939 Scarborough Sepulchre St
  • 1946 Manchester Stretford
  • 1951 Castleford Bradley St
  • 1954 Scarborough (S)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1920/386

Methodist Minutes 1971/158

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

Note: Leary and the obituary spell the first name as Rene. Birth and Death records spell the first name as Renal.

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