Richmond, Joseph Henry (1893-1974)

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Service Sheet for his Welcome Service at Barrowford in 1933.

Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference

JOSEPH HENRY RICHMOND: born on 6th September 1893 at Wilford in Nottingham into a farming family. The family later moved to Papplewick in Leicestershire, and after leaving school he worked in the gardens at Cole Orton Hall, near Ashby-de-la-Zouch. It was as a member of a young men’s class that he heard the call to the Primitive Methodist ministry. After two years at ***, he went to Hartley College. 

He travelled in the following circuits: Burslem, Bournemouth J, Leigh, Bolton I, Woodley, Barrowford, Nelson (Lancs.), Blackpool (North), Blackburn (Clayton Street), Clitheroe (Wesley), and Glossop, before retiring in 1957 to Cleveleys, whence he removed in 1964 to Lytham St. Annes. 

In all his circuits the people won his affection and he their respect. A fine preacher, with a magnificent voice, a conscientious pastor with a particular gift for work amongst men, it was in administration that he excelled. He had considerable skill in business affairs and many a bereaved family was grateful for the help in this field that he was able to offer. To the end his concern for the ministry and for preaching was maintained. 

In retirement he was secretary of a retired ministers’ fraternal and shortly before his death took the trouble to encourage a young preacher on trial. His early training was used to advantage for at every manse he left for those who followed a beautiful garden and in retirement some of his neighbours identified him as ‘the vicar with the lovely garden’. 

He died on the 21st July 1974 in the eighty-first year of his age and the fifty-seventh of his ministry.

Family

Joseph was born on 6 September 1893 at Wilford, Nottinghamshire, to parents Herbert Richmond, a stockman on farm (1901) and farm bailiff (1911), and Alice Mary Parnham. He was baptised on 1 October 1893 at St John of Beverley, Whatton, Nottinghamshire.

Before entering the ministry Joseph worked as a domestic gardener (1911).

He married Edith M Allen (b1886) in the spring of 1922 in the Warrington Registration District, Lancashire. Birth records identify one child.

• Joan (b1926)   

Joseph died on 21 July 1974 at Lytham St Annes, Lancashire.

Circuits

• Hartley
• 1917 Burslem
• 1919 Bournemouth I
• 1921 Leigh
• 1924 Bolton I
• 1927 Woodley
• 1933 Barrowford
• 1935 Nelson
• 1938 Blackpool North
•             Blackburn Clayton St
• 1947 Clitheroe Wesley
• 1952 Glossop
• 1957 Cleveleys (S)

References

Methodist Minutes 1975/187

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

*** place not decipherable on the copy of the obituary I had access to.