Richardson, George Bryson (1877-1946)

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Primitive Methodist Magazine 1914

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Primitive Methodist Magazine 1932

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Mary Makin Gladdle

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1920

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Elizabeth Mary Cummings

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1932

Early years

George was born in 1877 at Blackhill, Co. Durham, to parents Francis and Mary Ann. Francis was an iron worker.

After receiving his education at the National school, George secured a business training at the Consett Iron Company.

George recalled that he owed much to Mr A.S. Coates of Consett, who led a theological class that George belonged to. Following a clear call to the ministry, George secured a place on the Reserve List in the Candidates Examination and went straight into circuit ministry at the Belfast Mission.

Ministry

Wherever he went, George was a public leader, particularly in the Temperance cause. He was Secretary of the Temperance Party in Middlesbrough and the leader of the party in Durham City. He was successful on many occasions in opposing the granting of new licences. At Durham, George was a member of City Education Committee and the first Free Church Chaplain to the Poor Law Union.

George served as District Secretary of the Temperance, Sunday School and Mission Committees.

The Newcastle May Missionary Meetings were largely his responsibility for many years, and his enthusiastic leadership accounted for a great measure of the success achieved.

On retirement George settled in Bishop Auckland and speedily won for himself high place in the regard of local Methodists.

The secret of his success as a circuit minister lay in the strength of his faith and his passionate devotion to the Lord whose call he most gladly obeyed.

Family

George married Mary Makin Gladdle (1882-1919) in the summer of 1907 at Belfast, Ireland.

• Annie Mary (Molly) (b1908)– a teacher
• George Bryson (1911-1987) – at Sheffield University in 1932; a teacher

George married Elizabeth Mary Cummings (1887-1962) in late 1926 at Durham, Co Durham.

George died on 16 December 1946 at Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham.

Circuits

• 1902 Belfast
• 1906 Kettering
• 1907 Leicester
• 1909 Middlesbrough
• 1914 Brandon
• 1918 St Helens Auckland
• 1922 Durham
• 1928 Gateshead II
• 1934 Carlisle
• 1940 Houghton le Spring
• 1944 Bishop Auckland (S)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1914/436; 1920/365; 1932/192

Methodist Minutes 1947/136

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers