Lomas, Charles (1854-1930)
Early years
Charles was born on 4 May 1854 at Rochdale, Lancashire. His father died when Charles was very young and the family moved to Royton, nr Oldham. Charles attended Sunday School at Royton. He was converted during a revival in December 1870 and joined the Church. His power of speech showed itself in the class meeting, open-air services, and gatherings for prayer. Initially Charles resisted the call of the plan to continue to work in the Sunday School, but in December 1877 his name appeared on the plan. He entered the Sunderland Institute in July 1879 to prepare for wider ministry.
Charles worked in a cotton mill before entering the ministry.
Ministry
Charles built a chapel and school at Micheldever, and a chapel and school at Poole. At Petersfield he established a Society and built a chapel in the town. His obituary records that Charles was physically strong; mentally energetic; and possessing enthusiasm, he saw something done in all his circuits.
Charles served as District Building Committee and Equalisation Fund Committee Secretary
Family
Charles married Kate Elizabeth Greenfield (1862-1942) the summer of 1885 at Bognor, Sussex. Census returns identify four children.
- John Charles Rodney (b1886) – an assistant draper (1911)
- George Archibald Colin (1888-1916) – a schoolmaster; killed in action in WW1
- Rhona Gwendoline Isa (1891-1980) – married Ernest Henry Hunt in 1915
- Kate Rowena Greenfield (1897-1993) – married Arthur G Tutte in 1922
Charles died on 7 March 1930 at Gravesend, Kent
Circuits
- Sunderland
- 1880 Marlborough
- 1881 Chichester
- 1882 Maidstone
- 1883 Buckingham
- 1884 Wellingborough
- 1885 Lancaster
- 1886 Andover
- 1888 Micheldever
- 1893 Poole
- 1898 Buriton
- 1904 Swindon
- 1906 Banbury
- 1911 Silchester
- 1915 Church Stretton
- 1918 Gravesend
- 1922 Gravesend (S)
References
Primitive Methodist Magazine 1915/462
PM Minutes 1930/291
W Leary, Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits, 1990
Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers
Comments about this page
Just discovered this page.
Very interesting Rev Lomas was my Great Grandfather.
My Grandma was his daughter Kate whose sister was Rhona.
If Linda and Valerie ever read this it would be nice to get in touch to share memories.
Thank-you.
Ian Curwen.
Researching our family…Charles Lomas is our great grandfather, wonderful to read about him. First picture we have seen of our great grandmother Kate Lomas. Rhona was our grandmother
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