Marjoram, Albert Edward (1887-1971)

Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference

ALBERT EDWARD MARJORAM: born at Lowestoft in 1887. After training at Hartley College he had a wide and varied ministry. His first appointment was at Middlesbrough II and he then went on to serve with great acceptance in Alston, Keighley I, Rotherham, Paisley (St James St), Huddersfield (Hillhouse), St Ives (Bedford Rd), Pontypool (Eastern Valley), Bolton (Farnworth). 

His retirement was spent first at Cheltenham where he became a chaplain to two of the hospitals in the town exercising a gracious ministry to both staff and patients alike. In 1964 he returned to Yorkshire and occupied one of the flats at ‘Lyndhurst’ in the South Craven Circuit. Here for the last seven years he found great delight in regular Sunday worship in our local church at Crosshills and attended his last service on Easter Sunday morning, a matter of hours before his final illness. 

A man of strong physique he loved walking and gardening; when well into his seventies he spent many happy hours working in the grounds at ‘Lyndhurst’. His preaching and thinking were marked by strong convictions and a refreshing independence of mind. He was a pacifist from the days of the First World War, and the cause of world peace was always close to his heart. Through wide reading he kept abreast of current affairs and was concerned about the relevance of the Gospel to the present age. Strength of conviction was mixed with gentleness and humility. All in need found him a ready listener, an understanding friend and a practical helper; he had no other ambition in life than to be a faithful minister and pastor. His lively sense of humour lit up many a conversation while his deep serenity of spirit enriched all who knew him. 

He died on 22 April 1971, in the eighty-fourth year of his age and the fifty-third of his ministry.

Family

Albert was born on 9 July 1887 at Lowestoft, Suffolk, to parents Charles, a general labourer (1891), and Eliza.

The 1901 census return describes Albert as a coachbuilder.

He married Ethel Pledger (1895-1974)  in the spring of 1922 at Ipswich, Suffolk. Birth Records identify two children.

• Rosalie Jean (1924-2006) – married Thomas Brown in 1967
• Ian Paul (b abt1929)

Albert died on 22 April 1971 in the Worth Valley Registration District, Yorkshire.

Circuits

• Hartley
• 1920 Middlesbrough
• 1925 Alston
• 1930 Keighley
• 1934 Rotherham
• 1939 Paisley
• 1946 Huddersfield Hillhouse
• 1949 St Ives, Bedford Rd
• 1952 Pontypool EV
• 1956 Bolton Farn
• 1958 Cheltenham (S)

References

Methodist Minutes 1971/187

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers