Leigh, William Bramwell (1846-1870)

Ministry

A transcription of obituary published in the Primitive Methodist Magazine by George Shaw is attached. He quotes the Rev. R. Cheeseman, as Follows, “I believe him to have been a good young man in the fullest sense of the term. He had received a tolerably good education and laboured hard to acquire knowledge. Indeed, in this respect he was in advance of many of our young men when they come out to travel. He was a young man of deep and fervent piety; he carried his religion into everything, and avoided the least appearance of evil; neither would he allow sin to go unreproved in others. I have never known a young man who had such courage in rebuking the ungodly. . . He was an earnest and successful minister, and gave promise of great usefulness. Living the next door to me, I had an opportunity of observing him pretty closely, and I can bear testimony to the fact that often for hours together he was engaged in earnest prayer. I also found him to be a most kind and agreeable colleague, willing to do anything at any time to assist either his brethren or the Church. I cherished towards him the strongest affection, and was deeply affected when I heard of his sudden removal from amongst us. I doubt not he is now enjoying the fruit of his labours.”

Family

William was born in 1846 at Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire, to parents Harvey Leigh, a PM minister, and Mary Bennion.

Before entering the ministry William worked as a merchant’s clerk (1861).

William died on 6 August 1870 at Wakefield, Yorkshire.

Circuits

• 1867 Pocklington
• 1868 Tadcaster
• 1869 Retford
• 1870 Tetney

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1871/429

PM Minutes  1871/6

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers