Parlow, Samuel (1871-1953)

Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference

SAMUEL PARLOW: born at West Bromwich in 1871. His mother’s family was one of the first to be identified with Primitive Methodism in that town. Responding to the call to the ministry, he entered Hartley College and began a distinguished ministry at Thetford in 1898. In all his circuits the work of God prospered under his devoted leadership. These were West Bromwich, Talke, Chester, Tunstall (where he was superintendent and had charge of the famous Jubilee Chapel for six years), Stalybridge, Manchester, Haslingden, Bolton, and Ellesmere Port. 

A man of strong convictions, he was a fearless advocate for what he believed, both in the Church and outside; but he was always kind and gracious in spirit. His rich experience of the saving grace of Jesus Christ was expressed in his emphasis upon the great evangelical doctrines in preaching, discussion, and conversation. His spiritual strength grew out of his deep devotional life. His prayers were always a benediction. His greatest joy and desire was to preach the Gospel, and his cultured, well-stored mind, together with the fervour and forthright sincerity of his evangelical faith, made him a preacher of great power. 

He was a beloved pastor and a lover of his people. There was nothing prosaic about him; everything suggested vigour and vitality. All his circuit administration was executed with great care and efficiency, and his sound judgement was always to be acknowledged. He was twice elected Chairman of the Primitive Methodist District Synod, and he served on a number of Connexional committees for many years. Fulfilling one of his cherished desires, he preached to the end of his ministry. 

He was called Home suddenly on 31st August 1953, in the eighty-second year of his age and the fifty-fifth of his ministry.

Family

Samuel was born on 23 February 1871 at West Bromwich, Staffordshire, to parents Thomas, a warehouseman (1881), and Phoebe. He was baptised on 12 February 1875 at Christ Church, West Bromwich.

Before entering the ministry Samuel worked as a wire netting maker (1891).

He married Ellen Bunn (1881-1977) in the summer of 1903 at Thetford, Norfolk. Census returns identify one child.

• Dorothy Nellie (1910-1976) – a school teacher (1939)               

Samuel died on 31 August 1953 at Chester, Cheshire.

Circuits

• Hartley
• 1898 Thetford
• 1900 West Bromwich II
• 1903 Talke
• 1906 Chester I
• 1912 Tunstall
• 1918 Stalybridge
• 1922 Manchester IV
• 1927 Haslingden
• 1930 Bolton I
• 1934 Ellesmere Port
• 1937 Chester (Sup)

References

Methodist Minutes 1954/119

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers