Proctor, Thomas (1802-1827)

Ministry

 A transcription of obituary published in the Primitive Methodist Magazine by W. Towler is attached.

Towler records that Thomas was brought up outside of church influences and “grew headstrong and profanely wicked; was dreadfully passionate, and a most horrid swearer and blasphemer; in short, it may be justly said, that he neither feared God nor regarded man.”

He records that Thomas was converted in 1823 and the change in his behaviour was astonishing to all who knew him. On entering the itinerant ministry, Thomas suffered extreme persecution in the early days of his ministry. 

Much of the obituary covers the period of time where both Thomas and Towler were stationed together and as young ministers provided each other with mutual support whilst they explored the concept of sanctification eventually realising that it was a ‘matter of faith’, not something that could be earned.

This part of Thomas’ ministry is also reported in Petty.

The second part of his obituary includes the rules upon which Thomas lived, based on those of John Wesley.

Family

Thomas was born on 28 February 1802 at Skipton, Yorkshire, to parents Richard and Ann. He was baptised on 28 March 1802 at Skipton..

Thomas died on 24 November 1827 in Yorkshire. He was buried on 27 November 1827 at Snowden, Otley, Yorkshire.

Circuits

• 1826 Cwm

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1829/263; 1829/295

J Petty, The History of the Primitive Methodist Connexion, 1880, p225ff

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

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