Ingham, Frederick Arthur (1866-1949)

Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference

FREDERICK ARTHUR INGHAM: born at New Mills, Derbyshire, in 1866. He became a schoolmaster, first at New Mills and later at Buxton. His call to the Ministry came in 1891, but he went first for a year to Birkenhead Circuit as a ‘hired local preacher’. He held various District offices, but was always a devoted circuit minister.

Retiring in 1935, he resided at Northborough. For five years he took charge of four village churches, and continued preaching till within a few months of his death. He had then completed fifty-six years in the ministry.

He was an excellent preacher and pastor. His people remember with gratitude his wise counsel and kindly humour. They speak yet of his sermons. His presence in the home brought even greater blessing, for he radiated good cheer and comfort wherever he went. On the practical side, he was keenly interested in the careers of young people, and many men and women owe to him their opportunity for work which might otherwise have been impossible. He would go to endless trouble in these cases, pleading their cause, interviewing employers, and winning influential support for his protégés.

He passed peacefully into the Homeland on 5th November 1949. As the news spread, ‘He was a good man!’ was said many times by many people. What finer tribute can be given? He followed in the footsteps of Him who ‘went about doing good’.

Family

Frederick was born on 19 December 1866 at New Mills, Derbyshire, to parents Mark, a draper and local preacher, and Ann.

Before entering the ministry Frederick was a school teacher (1911).

He married Rachel Beswick (1875-1951) in the summer of 1899 in the Stoke on Trent Registration District, Staffordshire. Census returns and birth records identify four children.

Madge (1902-1972) – a chemist; married Lawrence H Hill, an electrical engineer, in 1935; member of St John’s ambulance (1939)
Robert Beswick (1904-1971) – a pottery manager director (1939)
Arthur (1906-1985) – a medical practitioner (1939)
Frederick Philip (1916-1973) – a pharmaceutical student (1939)

Frederick died on 5 November 1949 at Peterborough, Cambridgeshire.