Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference by Francis J. Morgan
SAMUEL THOMAS MEADOWS was born at Nottingham, in the year 1830. His mother died when he was twelve years old, but his father, who was a Wesleyan local preacher, trained him for God. He did not respond to such training at once, but joined himself to a number of careless youths. He was fond of reciting Shakespeare, and had a strong desire to join himself with a travelling theatre, but was saved from such degrading work by the operation of the Holy Spirit on» his soul.
Under the Word, in the Whittington. Moor Chapel, in the Chesterfield Circuit, he was fully convinced of his sinful state, and obtained pardon through believing. He was quickly placed on the circuit plan, and giving promise of usefulness, was called into the ministry by this circuit. He thence travelled in the Boston, Leicester Second, Grantham, Donnington, Burton-on-Trent, Belper, Nottingham Second, Winster, Sheffield First, Hinckley, Oakham, Nottingham Second, Stratford-on-Avon, Banbury, and Weymouth Circuits.
He had his share of the difficulties of the itinerancy, but he was the last man to complain of discomfort. Let him be fully engaged in his truly beloved work of preaching the Gospel and he was satisfied. His soul could be deeply stirred by his Divine themes, and he could rouse and keep the interest and attention of others. He was wishful to acquaint himself with the thought of the day, but the Bible was his favourite study. His sermons ever showed how hard he toiled to profit others as well as himself.’
Our acquaintance with him and his circuits enable us to know his life’s work was greatly blessed of God to the conversion and building-up of many souls, Bro. Meadows was a man of peace, was genial in his intercourse with the people, and is most kindly remembered in many of our homes. During the latter part of his time in the Banbury circuit his health failed very much, and he removed to Weymouth, with the hope of gaining strength. This, however, was not obtained, as soon after his arrival he was stricken with apoplexy, and could do no more work. He was superannuated by the Conference of 1886, and returned to Banbury very much altered and enfeebled. He rallied and went about amongst us for a while, but only four months after his superannuation he was again stricken down by apoplexy, and at the end of three days’ unconsciousness he went peacefully home to rest, on October 25th, 1886.
He was only able to preach once after his superannuation, but his constant attendance on the means of grace was generally remarked amongst us. He could truly say, ‘Lord, I have loved the habitation of Thy house, and the place where Thy honour dwelleth.’ We were deeply touched to learn from him, in his last week on earth, that he cherished the desire of again returning to active work. He was laid in the grave by faithful friends, and he knows now the blessedness of the rest from earthly labours.
Family
Samuel was born in 1830 at Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, to parents Samuel, a shoemaker (1841), and Mary. He was baptised on 14 April 1830 at St Peter, Nottingham.
Before entering the ministry, Samuel was a shoemaker (1851).
He married Ann Wilson (abt1837-1917) in the summer of 1862 in the Blaby Registration District, Leicestershire. Census returns identify three children.
- Samuel Wilson (1863-1946) – died at Winnipeg, Manitoba – suffered with learning difficulties
- Wilson John (1865-1941) – a carpenter & joiner (1901); emigrated to Canada in 1906; died in Vivian Manitoba
- Mary (1868-1950) – a dressmaker’s assistant (1891); died at Winnipeg, Manitoba
Samuel died on 25 October 1886 at Banbury, Oxfordshire.
Circuits
- 1857 Burton on Trent
- 1858 Boston
- 1859 Leicester II
- 1861 Grantham
- 1863 Donington
- 1866 Burton on Trent
- 1867 Belper
- 1868 Nottingham II
- 1870 Winster
- 1872 Sheffield I
- 1875 Hinckley
- 1878 Oakham
- 1879 Nottingham II
- 1881 Stratford
- 1882 Marlborough
- 1883 Banbury
- 1885 Weymouth
- 1886 Banbury
References
PM Minutes 1887/717
W Leary, Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits, 1990
Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers
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