Price, Sydney Austin (1896-1957)

Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference 

SYDNEY AUSTIN PRICE: born at Old Hill, Staffs, in 1896. His intention was to become a teacher, and he entered Dudley Training College. While there he felt the call to the Methodist ministry and offered himself to the Church as a candidate. He received his training at Hartley College and spent his ministry in the following circuits: Bristol, Plymouth, Huddersfield, Newbury, Wirksworth and Winster, Oakengates, Chesterfield, Retford, Rhosymedre and Chirk, Chester, and Wigan. 

He will be remembered by those who knew him, chiefly as a man of the most kindly disposition. He was always ready and eager to come to the help of those in trouble. He was wise and tender in the aid and counsel which he gave without stint to all who needed him. He was diligent and faithful in the discharge of all his duties. He was a true shepherd of Christ’s flock and unremitting in the ‘cure of souls’. 

He collapsed and died while waiting for a bus on his way to minister to the most needy of his churches. In the eyes of his friends this was a fitting end to the ministry of a devoted man whose delight was to serve, in his Master’s name, those who needed him most. He died on 18th February 1957, in the sixty-first year of his life and the thirty-seventh of his ministry.

Family

Sydney was born on 20 April 1896 at Old Hill, Staffordshire, to parents Thomas, a chain maker (1911), and Daisy. His brother, Wesley, was also a PM minister.

He married Elsie Walker (1896-1987) in early 1936 in the Ashbourne Registration District, Derbyshire.

Sydney died on 18 February 1957 at Wigan, Lancashire.

Circuits

• 1920 Plymouth
• 1922 Hartley
• 1924 Coleford
• 1925 Huddersfield
• 1926 Newbury
• 1928 Wirksworth
• 1933 Wrockwardinewood
• 1936 Oakengates
• 1937 Chesterfield Holy
• 1940 Retford, Carol
• 1946 Rhosymedre & Chirk
• 1951 Chester Marvin
• 1955 Wigan

References

Methodist Minutes 1957/205

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers