Hosier, William Thomas (1876-1929)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1929
Primitive Methodist Magazine 1929

Early years

William was born in 1876 at Witney, Oxfordshire, to parents Thomas and Rebecca. Thomas was a woollen weaver.

William attended the Witney PM Sunday School and was converted at the age of sixteen. He was speedily requisitioned for Christian work. In a comparatively short time, he was called to take up the work of a local preacher in the Witney circuit. William was barely out of his teens when he was employed by the Home Missionary Committee as a Mission Van Evangelist. Subsequently he served as Lay Agent in Leicester and Shipley.

Recommended for the ministry, he passed his examinations and attended Hartley College. Whilst at Hartley, William shared in the great Simultaneous Evangelistic Mission at Failsworth and Oldham, where he witnessed hundreds of conversions.

Ministry

Williams obituary describes him as studious and thoughtful, not only a diligent reader, but possessing a well-informed mind; and his literary gifts were above the average. As a preacher, he was distinctly evangelical, and sincerity always characterised the expression of his convictions.

In all his circuits, William endeared himself to all classes of people as a student, preacher, pastor and administrator. He put his conscience into all his work, nothing was left to chance, but every duty was done loyally and faithfully. He had no love for the limelight, but was content to perform his allotted task from day to day with wholehearted devotion.

William began to suffer with pulmonary tuberculosis whilst at Peterborough and was forced to seek superannuation.

Family

William married Ellen Hale (1877-1974) in the summer of 1905 at Witney, Oxfordshire. Census returns identify two children.

  • Constance Winifred (b1906)
  • Christabel Eva Pearl (1908-1994) – married Dudley J Truin in 1936

William died on 26 September 1929 at Everdon, nr Daventry, Northamptonshire.

Circuits

  • Hartley
  • 1901 Southwark
  • 1905 Chorley
  • 1908 Heywood
  • 1912 Long Eaton
  • 1918 Nottingham III
  • 1919 Holloway
  • 1924 Peterborough
  • 1929 Northampton (Sup)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1929/188; 1930/123

PM Minutes 1930/285

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

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Comments about this page

  • This page was modified on 21 March 2016 to add the sketch in the Christian Messenger 1922.

    By Geoff Dickinson (21/03/2016)

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