Noad, Frank (1896-1975)

Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference

FRANK NOAD: born at St. Helens, Lancashire, on 4th September 1896. Receiving his training at Hartley College he entered the Primitive Methodist Ministry in 1919, serving in the following circuits: Derby II, Newbury, Bury J, Manchester (Great Western Street), Leicester (Hinckley Road), Leicester (Claremont Street), Oldham (Henshaw Street), Hinckley (Albert Road), and Derby (Derwent). He retired in 1960 to live in Hinckley, where he continued a ministry of preaching and visitation until failing health restricted his activity. He maintained a lively interest in church affairs, regularly attending Sunday worship and he was in his usual pew on the last Sunday of his life. 

He was a man with deep convictions, firm opinions and strong feelings, always prepared to speak out for what he believed to be the truth. In circuit and synod he proved himself an efficient administrator, and made a valuable contribution to the Connexional Committee responsible for planning the Rural Travel Scheme. He loved Methodism and served with devotion and diligence. Throughout his ministry he was an effective preacher, his clear articulation adding point and power to the Gospel he proclaimed. He was keenly interested in people, fulfilling faithfully the responsibilities of a circuit minister, while his service to the wider community was notable. His chief concern and delight were his people and his great joy was to visit them in their homes. His keen sense of humour, cheery disposition and tireless devotion won the affection and gratitude of many. 

In the latter years of retirement, considerably restricted in his activity, he looked back with much happiness on friendships made and sustained during the years of his ministry, a ministry that owed much to the unfailing support of his gracious wife. He died on 3rd January 1975 in the seventy-ninth year of his age and the fifty-sixth year of his ministry.

Family

Frank was born on 4 September 1895 at St Helens, Lancashire, to parents James Noad, a foreman at sanitary pipe works (1911), and Mary Ann Pickersgill.

The 1911 census return records Frank as a clerk.

He married May Barker (1893-1979) in the summer of 1923 at St Helens, Lancashire. Birth records identify one child.

• Vida (1925-2014) – married William F Baron in 1947

Frank died on 3 January 1975 at Hinckley, Leicestershire..

Circuits

• Hartley
• 1921 Derby II
• 1923 Newbury
• 1926 Bury I
• 1931 Manchester VI
• 1936 Leicester Hinckley
• 1939 Leicester Claremont St
• 1945 Oldham Henshaw St
• 1948 Hinckley Albert Rd
• 1956 Derby Derwent
• 1960 Hinckley (S)

References

Methodist Minutes 1975/184

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

Note: His birth record identifies Frank was born in 1895, not 1896 at stated in the obituary.