Reavley, Joseph (1853-1945)

zoom

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1913

Early years

Joseph was born in 1853 at Carville, Co Durham, to parents, John, a coal miner, and Mary. His older brother, Matthew, was also a PM minister.

Ministry

Joseph’s obituary records that he was a man of outstanding intellectual ability. His lectires on astronomy and other scientific and philosophical subjects were greatly appreciated in the North of England where the large part of his ministry was spent.

His preaching was always fresh and arresting. He had rare gifts as a Bible expositor. He was a very gracious spirit, kind, tender and sympathetic with a fine gift of humour and sparkling wit.

When he retired in 1917, Joseph became the chaplain and secretary of Elmfield College, York, roles he fulfilled for ten years.

Family

Joseph married Everil Ann Wandless (1859-1899) in the summer of 1881 at Darlington

• Everil Underwood (1882-1973) – married Robert W Dixon in 1915
• Joseph Edgar (1884-1940) – a PM Minister

Joseph died on 30 April 1945 at Darlington, Co Durham.

Circuits

• 1877 Motherwell
• 1878 Darlington
• 1881 Castleford
• 1882 Leeds I
• 1885 Thirsk
• 1886 S Shields
• 1890 Leeds I
• 1892 Keighley
• 1895 Redruth
• 1900 Hereford
• 1903 Southport II
• 1906 Scarborough I
• 1910 York I
• 1916 S Shields
• 1917 York (S)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1913/546

Methodist Minutes 1945/137

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers