Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference by R Dalton
GEORGE HELLAWELL was born at Huddersfield in 1845, and died at Penrith, January 19th, 1896, at the age of 50 years.
Early in life he was converted, and at once began to work in the church. His enthusiasm took him into the streets, and he was wont to stand on a chair at the street corners and preach to the people passing by. Presently he became a hired local preacher in the Peterborough circuit, and in 1867 he entered the ministry and was pledged by his native circuit, Huddersfield. He subsequently laboured in Plymouth, North Bow, Ryde and Ventnor, Richmond, (Yorks) (twice), Penrith (twice), Grassington, Spilsby, Buckingham, Pillawell, Forest of Dean, Bristol 4th, Chippenham, and Chertsey.
On all these stations he did much good honest work. He was indeed a hard worker. The following extract from his journal is characteristic— ‘During this quarter I have preached 74 sermons, attended and spoken at seven missionary meetings, travelled 774 miles, attended 39 prayer meetings, 40 classes, visited 757 families, and best of all, seen 13 conversions.’ He was an earnest all-round worker, and many of his circuits rose considerably in finances and numbers under his labours.
His ministry was practical, warmhearted, and helpful. He was happy in his work, loving it and delighting in it. He was spiritually minded, and very brotherly and affectionate. He was also an ardent temperance worker and held high offices in the I.0.G.T. Many expressions of esteem and appreciation were received by the family on the event of his death from the various temperance organisations. In all connexional matters he was deeply interested, attending the committees of his district and never shirking any work that might fall to his share.
In the autumn of 1895 his health began to fail, and although his friends thought at times he was going to ‘pick up,’ yet on the whole he continued to lose ground, and on January the 19th, 1896, he passed to his reward, having laboured in the ministry for 30 years. He is mourned by a widow, a son, and two daughters. His funeral was a very large one. The service in the chapel was conducted by the Rev. W.R. Widdowson, the Rev. C. Longstaff gave an address, several ministers of the district taking part. The Rev. J. Elliott spoke a few words at the grave side, and all turned away feeling that one had entered
‘The life of perfect love—the rest of immortality.’
Family
George was born in 1845 at Blakeley Wood, Huddersfield, Yorkshire.
He married Sarah Jane Lowis (1852-1928) in the summer of 1872 at Penrith. Census returns and birth records identify four children.
- Jane Ethel May (b1876) – married Nathan Granville Sharpe, an inspector of branches for credit drapers, clothiers (1911), in 1900; married William Roper in 1916
- George Henry Lowis (1878-1945) – a cloth finisher at print works (1911)
- Violet Maud M ( abt1883-1883)
- Hilda Muriel Irene Daisy (1889-1970) – married William Hibbert in 1917
George died on 19 January 1896 at Penrith, Cumberland.
Circuits
- 1867 Ryde & Ventnor
- 1869 Tottenham
- 1870 London III
- 1871 Penrith
- 1873 Richmond
- 1874 Grassington
- 1878 Spilsby
- 1881 Buckingham
- 1883 Pillowell
- 1886 Mangotsfield
- 1888 Monmouth
- 1889 Chippenham
- 1892 Chertsey
- 1893 Penrith
References
PM Minutes 1896/21
W Leary, Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits, 1990
Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers
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