Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference
THOMAS MCLOUGHLIN: born in Annfield Plain, County Durham on 11th September 1897 into a deeply religious Primitive Methodist family from which four sons entered the ministry and one became a lay pastor. From an early age he was determined upon the Christian ministry, and although he had successfully undertaken a course of study of mining surveying, he offered for the ministry, and after a probationary year at Aldershot he entered Hartley College for training.
He then served in the following circuits: Abergavenny, Newport (Salop), Whitchurch, Blackburn III, Burnley (Wesley), Marple, Goole (North Street), Alfreton and South Normanton, Cradley Heath (Christ Church) and Ilkeston. He was the Superintendent minister of the last five mentioned circuits. From Ilkeston he and his wife (whom he had met in the Abergavenny Circuit) retired to Heswall, and for seven years he served the Merseyside pulpits until his health broke down. He and his wife then moved to Manor Court, Barrow on Trent, to be near their daughter.
He was a man who disciplined himself, rising early and often working late into the night. He was meticulous in preparation and had exceptional preaching ability. He had great command of the English language, and a fine singing voice. He was a good administrator and colleague. He was at times somewhat reticent, and yet always willing to offer others his friendship. Above all, he was a Christian gentleman, often being able to command difficult situations by means of his grace, charity and wisdom. His last years were marked by increasing weakness, but he maintained his faith and quiet cheerfulness to the end.
He died at his daughter’s home on 24th July 1978 in the eighty-first year of his age and the fifty-seventh year of his ministry.
Family
Thomas was born on 11 September 1897 at Annfield Plain, Co. Durham, to parents John, a coal miner, and Sarah Ann. His brother, John, was also a PM minister.
He married Mary Baynham (b1896) in the summer of 1925 in the Pontypool Registration District, Monmouthshire.
Thomas died on 24 July 1978 at Barrow on Trent, Derbyshire.
Circuits
- 1919 Aldershot
- 1920 Hartley
- 1922 Abergavenny
- 1925 Newport
- 1928 Whitchurch
- 1932 Blackburn III
- 1933 Gt Harwood
- 1939 Burnley Wes
- 1944 Marple
- 1948 Goole North Srt
- 1949 Alfreton &c
- 1954 Cradley Heath Christ Chuch
- 1959 Ilkeston
- 1962 Haswall (Sup)
References
Methodist Minutes 1979/80
W Leary, Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits, 1990
Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers
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