Paulson, Winston Ernest (1907-1979)

Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference

WINSTON ERNEST PAULSON: born at Herne Bay on 13th June 1907, the eldest son of the Rev. W. Hodson Paulson. After working as an industrial chemist, he followed his father into the Primitive Methodist ministry and was trained at Hartley College. On the President’s list for three years, he filled temporary appointments ranging from Sheffield to Barnstaple. Then followed two years in the South Petherton Circuit where he met his wife, Adelaide Jeanes. 

From his next appointment in the Frome Circuit he went into the Army as a chaplain, until considerations of health brought him back to continue a fruitful ministry in a variety of circuits. He travelled in the Kings Lynn, Sheffield (North), Devon and Dorset Mission, Ringsash, Penzance (Central), Camborne, Chippenham and Wellington (Somerset) Circuits. His final seven years were spent in happy retirement at Chard. 

Winston Paulson was a great reader and his preaching reflected the breadth and depth of his study as well as his devotion to his Lord. Liberal in thought and in theology, he was quick to recognise and respond to open-mindedness and honest searching after truth. He fulfilled his pastoral office with compassion, understanding and great diligence, although this work did not come easily to him. He had no love of business meetings, but in administration he was thorough, and a new school hall at Station Road, Chippenham, bears witness to his practical gifts of planning and leadership. 

As long as he was able, he revelled in his gardening, and became something of a specialist in the cultivation of sweet peas. Although for a number of years he had been in indifferent health, he continued to serve on the circuit plan, and a week before his death preached a memorable sermon on miracles. 

He died peacefully at home on 4th June 1979 in the seventy-second year of his age and the forty-fifth year of his ministry.

Family

Winston was born on 13 June 1907 at Herne Bay, Kent, to parents William Hodson Paulson, a PM minister, and Mabel Bessie Reed.

He married Adelaide Victoria Jeanes (1910-1995) in the summer of 1939 in the Bridgewater Registration District, Somerset. Birth records identify one child.

• Michael E (b1942)

Winston died on 4 June 1979 at Chard, Somerset.

Circuits

• Hartley
• 1934 President’s List
• 1937 S Petherton
• 1939 Frome
• 1943 Kings Lynn
• 1946 Sheffield N
• 1949 Devon & Dorset Mission
• 1954 Ringsash
• 1957 Penzance Cen
• 1960 Camborne
• 1965 Chippenham
• 1969 Wellington
• 1972 Chard (Sup)

References

Methodist Minutes 1980/73

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers