Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference
RAYMOND VENTURE HORN: born in Heighington, Co. Durham on 15th March 1905 into a Methodist family. He went to Bishop Auckland Grammar School. He preached his first sermon at the age of 16. At this time he felt the call to the ministry, and took a job as a railway clerk while he continued his studies. He entered Hartley College in 1927 where his increasing maturity in theology was matched by his prowess on the football field. His first three years as a probationer were spent in Newcastle West, and the fourth in Newcastle Central.
In 1934 he married Doris Belshaw, a school teacher of Co. Durham. After his marriage his first circuit was Amble, followed by West Auckland. The war years were spent at Whitley Bay in the North Shields Circuit, during which time he had the shattering experience of seeing his church completely destroyed by enemy action. He then moved to Gosforth in the Newcastle on Tyne Central and Sandyford Circuit and then in 1949 to Guernsey (Victoria) Circuit where he spent five of the happiest years of his ministry. In 1954 he went as Superintendent minister to war ravaged Swansea, where he built three churches and extended two more.
During this time he was a prison chaplain and also began the Methodist Society at the University College. From 1960 to 1967 he was superintendent of the Torquay and Paignton Circuit, where he had the great joy of building the church at Goodrington. On leaving Paignton he served on the Welsh borders for three years in the Leintwardine Circuit and was Home Mission Secretary for an area stretching from Oswestry in the north to Chepstow in the south. In 1970 he went into semi-retirement as an active supernumerary in the Tiverton Circuit at Cullompton, finally retiring in 1973 to live first at Newton Poppleford, near Exeter, then in Sidmouth.
He continued preaching powerful and telling sermons in all four circuits in this area until ill-health made this no longer possible. In the early 1940s he was elected district representative to the Connexional Christian Citizenship Committee, beginning an association with that committee which lasted without a break for over thirty years, and during the final years of which he acted as chairman of the Executive. In the last years of his life he took up painting as a therapy and produced some beautiful oil paintings. He gave unstinted service throughout his ministry and was totally dedicated. Though unable to preach in the last few years of his life, he greatly encouraged his brethren in the active ministry. His love, generosity of spirit and deep understanding of pastoral difficulties made him a tower of strength to all. Throughout his ministry he was helped and cared for by his loving wife, Doris.
After a few days in hospital he died on 19th April 1983 in the seventy-ninth year of his age and the fifty-third year of his ministry.
Family
Raymond was born on 15 March 1905 at Heighlington, Darlington, Co. Durham, to parents Aaron Horn, a labour (1911), and Annie Burton.
He married Elizabeth Doris Belshaw (1906-1998) on 2 August 1934 at Elvet Methodist Church, Durham, Co. Durham. Birth records identify one child.
- Raymond D W (b1942)
Raymond died on 19 April 1983 in the Honiton Registration District, Devon.
Circuits
- Hartley
- 1930 Newcastle II
- 1934 Amble
- 1936 W Auckland
- 1938 N Shields
- 1944 Newcastle Central
- 1949 Guernsey Victoria
- 1954 Swansea
- 1960 Torquay &c
- 1967 Leintwardine
- 1970 Tiverton (Sup)
References
Methodist Minutes 1983/66
W Leary, Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits, 1990
Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers
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