Rollason, James Henry (1872-1950)

Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference

JAMES HENRY ROLLASON: born into a Christian home at Lye, Worcestershire, in 1872. For that environment and all its enriching influences he was ever thankful, as he was for parents who laboured faithfully and lovingly in the Church. After training in Hartley College he entered the Primitive Methodist Ministry in 1896, and for forty years was devotedly and actively engaged in the service of his Lord. Most of his service was rendered in Lancashire. 

In all his circuits he laboured unceasingly to win souls. He was a man of quiet and humble disposition whose kindness and sympathy evoked an answering love in his people, who ever turned to him in confidence and friendship. His unswerving loyalty and earnestness were touched by the sunshine of kindly humour. 

Retiring fourteen years ago, he continued to serve the Kingdom in the Canterbury circuit, where the rich qualities of his life came with lasting blessing to many. The suffering which overtook his later days was borne with fortitude and triumph, and he passed Home on the 2nd November 1950, at the age of seventy-eight, after a useful and beautiful life. He lived to serve.

Family

James was born on 29 July 1872 at Lye, Worcestershire, to parents Thomas Rollason, a sheet iron worker (1891), and Hannah Richards.

Before entering the ministry James was a draper’s apprentice (1891).

He married Jessie Podmore (1875-1965)  in the summer of 1900 at Warrington, Cheshire. Birth records identify one child.

• Norman (1914-1998) – a radio engineer (1939)

James died on 2 November 1950 at Canterbury, Kent.

Circuits

• Hartley
• 1896 Dalton in Furness
• 1898 Supply
• 1899 St Ives
• 1900 Liverpool III
• 1901 Burnley II
• 1904 Earlstown
• 1907 Kingsley
• 1911 Preston III
• 1915 Hindley
• 1928 Lowton
• 1933 Canterbury
• 1936 Canterbury (S)

References

Methodist Minutes 1951/130

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers