Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference
William Moralee: born in South Shields, County Durham, on 27th September 1906. The son of a Durham miner, and educated at the local grammar school, his early years were deeply influenced by the traditions of the Primitive Methodist Church. He began to preach at an early age and quickly responded to the call to the ministry, entering Hartley Victoria College in 1927. Thereafter he served in the following circuits: Horwich, Plymouth (Cobourg Street), Thornley (Shotley Bridge), Ashington, Bridlington Quay, Cardiff (Wesley), Guernsey (Victoria and Sark), Bishop’s Stortford, and Sittingbourne. He was for several years Chairman of the Channel Islands District.
The promise shown during his college career was amply fulfilled in his circuit ministry. He read widely and deeply, possessed a keen and retentive mind, and a particular gift for expression, and all these gifts were harnessed to the one end of proclaiming the Gospel. Meticulous in preparation and vibrant in execution, his preaching was of a very high order, and he broadcast on several occasions. He had a forceful personality and was a fine leader but he also had a pastoral heart, bringing love, compassion and tireless service to the care of his people.
He was interested in football, tennis and swimming, but nothing took the place in his life that was held by his work for Christ and his Church. He was troubled by arthritis during the latter years of his ministry and in 1972 he and his wife retired to Penarth. He continued to preach in the Cardiff area and his services were greatly appreciated in our circuits and in other denominations. Ill-health overtook him and for two years he bore painful illness with fortitude. His last weeks were spent in great weakness, but although his strength declined his faith was assured, and when he knew that he had not long to live he was content to rest upon the promises of Christ, which he characteristically referred to as ‘guarantees’, for what the Lord had promised was secure and sure.
He died on 5th March 1976 in the seventieth year of his age and the forty-sixth year of his ministry.
Family
William was born on 27 September 1906 at South Shields, Co. Durham, to parents William Moralee, a coal miner, and Edith Annie Douglas. William was baptised on 24 October 1906 at South Shields. His brother George was also a PM minister.
He married Florence M Morgan (1908-1982) in the summer of 1934 at South Shields, Co. Durham. Birth records identify three children.
- Alison M (b1939)
- Peter J (b1944)
- Anthony W (b1945)
William died on 5 March 1976 at Penarth, Glamorgan, Wales.
Circuits
- Hartley
- 1930 Horwich
- 1931 Plymouth
- 1934 Thornley
- 1936 Shotley Bridge
- 1941 Ashington
- 1944 Bridlington Quay
- 1948 Cardiff Wes
- 1954 Guernsey Viv &c
- 1962 Bishop Stortford
- 1968 Sittingbourne
- 1972 Penarth (sup)
References
Methodist Minutes 1976/79
W Leary, Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits, 1990
Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers
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