Roxby, Joseph (1873-1935)

Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference

JOSEPH ROXBY: born of godly parents at Hetton-le-Hole in 1873. He was converted when fourteen years of age. Four years later he began to preach, and after training at Hartley College, entered the Primitive Methodist Ministry in 1898, and for thirty-seven years gave himself with whole-hearted devotion to Christ and His Church. In the Darlington District, where he spent most of his ministry, he exerted a wide and helpful influence, and was made Chairman in 1924. 

He was a wise and tactful administrator, and the circuits prospered under his care. As a preacher he was thoughtful, choice in language, and earnestly evangelistic. He diligently shepherded the flock and delighted to carry the comfort and cheer of the Gospel into the homes of the people where, with sympathetic understanding, he shared their lives. His was a ministry of friendship, and everywhere he was greatly beloved. He was a man of saintly character, whose face bore testimony to his radiant faith. 

He preached on the Sunday before his death with remarkable earnestness and acceptance. Next day, when on an errand of comfort, he was taken ill, and two days later, on February 27, 1935, he passed into the light.

Family

Joseph was born in 1873 at Hetton le Hole, Co. Durham, to parents William Roxby, a plate layer, (1891), and Hannah Gardner.

He married Georgina Miller (abt1870-1919) in the summer of 1902 in the Gateshead Registration District, Co. Durham. Census returns identify one child.

• Muriel Marguerite (1904-2000) – an assistant school mistress (1939)

He married Mary Jane Allen Lowdon (1874-1953) in the summer of 1921 in the Lanchester Registration District, Co. Durham.

Joseph died on 27 February 1935 at Birmingham, Warwickshire. He was buried at Handsworth Cemetery, Birmingham.

Circuits

• Hartley
• 1898 Wigan
• 1900 Southport
• 1902 Halesowen
• 1903 Durham
• 1908 Stokesley
• 1919 Westgate
• 1924 Barnsley
• 1930 Howden

References

Methodist Minutes 1935/207

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers