Sutcliffe, Alfred (1865-1943)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1918
Primitive Methodist Magazine 1918

Early years

Alfred was born in 1865 at Walsden, Lancashire to parents John and Lucy. John worked at a cotton mill.

When a youth, Alfred became a Sunday school teacher and secretary. He then became a local preacher. He was recommended for the ministry and after examination placed on the reserve list. In January 1887, he received a call from the General Committee to supply the superintendency of the Droxford Branch of the Winchester circuit. He went at once from his duties as an assistant master of the British School at Heywood.

Ministry

Alfred’s obituary records that his administrative qualities as superintendent and chairman were of a high order, his preaching was always vigorous and challenging, but it is as a pastor that he was particularly remembered. Despite deep sorrow and loss in his family life, which he felt very keenly, he maintained to the end a cheerful and happy faith.

Family

Alfred married Rose Priscilla C Coleman (1871-1937) in the summer of 1892 at Marylebone, London. Census returns identify three children.

  • Elsie Elaine S  (1897-1937) – married William C Whitbread in 1922
  • Cissie (1900-1978) – married Walter Reynolds Foulger, an insurance agent, in 1927
  • John Osborne (1904-1933)

Alfred died on 29 December 1943 at Headington, Oxfordshire.

Circuits

  • 1887 Grays & Romford
  • 1889 Woburn Sands
  • 1890 Biggleswade
  • 1892 Hounslow
  • 1895 Tottenham
  • 1899 Berkhamstead
  • 1902 Dunstable
  • 1905 Harwich
  • 1910 Camden Town
  • 1914 Bristol II
  • 1916 Bristol IV
  • 1919 Bournemouth
  • 1923 Sherringham
  • 1927 Newport, Isle of Wight
  • 1932 Bournemouth (S)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1918/634

Methodist Minutes 1944/129

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

Comments about this page

  • Alfred Sutcliffe’s mother was called Susy (nee Crossley).  Some census returns wrongly interpret the hand writing as “Lucy”.

    By Susan Harris (13/05/2017)
  • Alfred had a brother, Crossley Sutcliffe, who was also a Primitive Methodist itinerant preacher. 

    By Jill Barber (04/05/2017)

Add a comment about this page

Your email address will not be published.