Ransome, Cyril Rowntree (1899-1982)

Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference

CYRIL ROWNTREE RANSOME: born at Scagglethorpe, near Malton, in the North Riding of Yorkshire on 8th July 1899. His father was a shepherd on the Wolds, and exerted a powerful influence on him all his life. He cherished his upbringing amongst the Primitive Methodists, both in the country and later, in the city of Leeds. Their values were his values. In a letter to some friends written shortly before his death, he described them as ‘a serious and merry people’. It was also an excellent description of his own personality. 

He spent a pre-collegiate year in the Colchester Circuit and after his training served for fourteen years in Nigeria. This was pioneering work, and was crowned with many conversions to Christ. On his return to this country he served in the Hexham, Bedale, Brownhills and Pelsall, and Ryedale Circuits. 

He was a meticulous administrator, and was proud to have been associated with a pilot scheme of Christian Stewardship in a rural circuit. He never failed to call his people to prayer, and both believed and excelled in preaching. He enjoyed Christian fellowship with a fine disregard for denomination. He possessed a tremendous sense of humour, with a matching laugh, and was a man of great warmth. 

He died on 6th July 1982 in the eighty-third year of his life and the fifty-seventh year of his ministry.

Family

Cyril was born on 8 July 1899 at Scagglethorpe, Malton, Yorkshire, to parents Charles, a coachman (1911), and Caroline Mary.

He married Mable Day (1898-1991) in the summer of 1928 at Leeds, Yorkshire. Birth records identify one child.

• Margaret Elizabeth (1930-2005) – married Gordon Darlington in 1953; married Kenneth Holling in 1967

Cyril died on 6 July 1982 at Leeds, Yorkshire.

Circuits

• 1923 Colchester
• 1924 Hartley
• 1926 E Nigeria
• 1940 Hexham
• 1948 Bedale
• 1956 Brownhills &c
• 1961 Ryedale
• 1964 Leeds (Sup)

References

Methodist Minutes 1983/77

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers