Humphrey, John Frederick M.A., B.D. (1898-1971)

Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference

JOHN FREDERICK HUMPHREY, M.A., B.D.: born in 1900 in Stockworth, Lincolnshire and was trained for the ministry at Hartley College. He travelled in the following circuits, Stoke and Longton, Eston (South Bank), Middlesbrough, Darlington (North), Leicester (Hinckley Road) and Leicester (West), Leeds (Chapel Allerton) and Melton Mowbray. 

He was a scholar of no mean ability and a graduate of three universities, his chief work being a thesis on Ezekiel. In the pulpit he was a sure prophet and a wise interpreter; as a theologian he was open-minded yet always loyal to the essentials. He was deeply imbued with a sense of the sacredness of his high calling and never failed to win the confidence and affection of his people. The sincerity of his faith was always expressed in a radiant countenance and a cheerfulness of disposition. He saw the best in people, bore malice to no-one and turned the other cheek to those who crossed him. The whole of his life and ministry was one of complete devotion in small and great things alike. 

He was unable to preach in his retirement because of ill-health but his presence in serving at the Lord’s Table was a benediction in itself. He retired in 1965 and spent the remaining years of his ministry in the Melton Mowbray Circuit where he died on 28th September, 1971 in the seventy-second year of his age and the forty-sixth year of his ministry.

Family

John was born on 15 December 1898 at East Stockwith, Lincolnshire, to parents Frederick A Humphrey, a cottage farmer (1911), and Lavinia Warrener.

He married Effie Brown (1891-1985) in late 1828 in the Gainsborough Registration District, Lincolnshire.

The 1933 Methodist Who’s Who records they had one daughter.

John died on 28 September 1971 at Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.

Circuits

• Hartley
• 1926 Stoke & Longton
• 1928 Eston S Bank
• 1934 Middlesbrough
• 1937 Darlington N
• 1948 Leicester Hinckley
• 1952 Leicester W
• 1956 Leeds Chapel Allerton
• 1961 Melton Mowbray
• 1965 Melton Mowbray (Sup)

References

Methodist Minutes 1972/186

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers