Lee, Harry (1902-1969)

Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference

HARRY LEE: born in Sheffield in 1902, he was accepted for the Primitive Methodist ministry in 1924. After two years as a pre-collegiate at Horncastle he entered Hartley College. He served in a wide variety of circuits (thirty years of his ministry being spent in Lancashire), travelling in the following circuits: Market Rasen, Leake, Skegness, Grimsby (Central), Cleethorpes, Bury, Walkden, Manchester (Cheetham Hill), Nelson, Lancs., Padiham, Earlestown, Haslingden. On retirement he went to live at Cleveleys in the Fleetwood Circuit, where he continued to preach regularly and share in the life of the churches. 

His ministry was marked by a sincere and earnest diligence in whatever responsibility he was called to fulfil. As a preacher his sermons were most carefully prepared and he kept abreast of modern thought. As a lover of people he showed a deep compassion that is recognized in the abiding influence he left upon his churches, and the affection of those who were under his pastoral care. A man of strong personality, yet gracious and tolerant of others, while hoiding firm convictions, he always showed kindly understanding of the opinions of others. 

He filled with distinction and efficiency a number of District Offices, including those of Chapel Secretary and Christian Citizenship Secretary. For some years, as the Secretary of the North-West Lancashire District Ecumenical Committee, he helped to foster a spirit of understanding and confidence and to create a spirit of tolerance and mutual respect. He was a loyal and trusted colleague and reliable friend to his fellow ministers. 

He died suddenly on 1 October 1969, in the sixty-seventh year of his age and the forty-fifth of his ministry.

Family

Harry was born on 1 November 1902 at Sheffield, Yorkshire, to parents Walter, an insurance superintendent (1911), and Sarah Jane.

He married Jennie Broadbent (1903-1982) in the summer of 1930 in the Ecclesall Bierlow Registration District, Yorkshire. Birth records identify three children.

• Peter (1931-1932)
• David (b abt1934)
• Robin (b1940)

Harry died on 1 October 1969 at Blackpool, Lancashire.

Circuits

• 1924 Supply
• 1925 Horncastle
• 1926 Hartley
• 1928 Market Rasen
• 1930 Leake
• 1933 Skegness &c
• 1934 Grimsby Cen
• 1936 Grimsby C & Clee
• 1937 Bury &c
• 1941 Walkden
• 1945 Manchester Cheet
• 1949 Nelson, Lancs
• 1953 Padiham
• 1957 Earlstown &c
• 1962 Haslingden
• 1967 Blackpool (S)

References

Methodist Minutes 1970/174

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers