Spooner, Charles (1850-1924)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1909
Primitive Methodist Magazine 1909

Early years

Charles was born on 18 August 1850 at Hadleigh, Suffolk to parents Charles and Sarah. Charles, senior, was a shoemaker and a local preacher.

Charles was converted when aged seventeen. Shortly after conversion his name appeared on the preachers’ plan. In 1872, Charles accepted a called from the Bedford circuit to work as a hired local preacher. The station called him into the ministry shortly afterwards.

The 1871 census identifies that Charles earned his living as a glazier, painter and plumber before entering the ministry.

Ministry

Charles was sent by the Missionary Committee to Fulham to undertake a ‘Forward’ movement. A church was built, towards which a thousand pounds was raised, the membership increased from forty-seven to one hundred and twelve and the income from £8 to £38 per quarter.

As a preacher Charles was eminently practical and belonged to the Evangelical school. His sermons were thoroughly prepared, and vigorously delivered, and gave evidence of a wide reading and careful study. There was no uncertainty in his message, but the ring of a man who spoke with the accent of deep and earnest conviction.

George served as Building Committee Secretary on the Missions District and later as Sunday School Secretary

His obituary records that in all his circuits Charles rendered fine, abiding, plodding work. He was a diligent pastor, feeding the flock over which he had oversight, always welcome in the homes of the people. He was diligent in business, careful and methodical, judicious and conciliatory.

Family

Charles married Elizabeth Godfrey (1849-1934) in late 1876 at Newbury, Berkshire. Census returns identify six of seven children.

  • Godfrey Charles (1877-1966) – a hospital clerk (1911)
  • William Ernest (1879-1960) – a solicitor’s clerk (1911)
  • Percival Alban (1883-1972) – an accountant (1911)
  • Frank Cecil (1884-1940) – a mercantile tailor’s clerk
  • Ewart Sidney (1887-1955) – a divinity student in 1911; became a Congregational Minister
  • Perrin James (1890-1968) – a divinity student in 1911; became a Congregational Minister

Charles died on 2 December 1924 at Haywards Heath, Sussex.

Circuits

  • 1872 Bedford
  • 1873 Maidenhead
  • 1876 Reading
  • 1877 Peterborough
  • 1880 Maidstone
  • 1882 St Albans
  • 1883 St Neots
  • 1886 Canning Town
  • 1889 Haywards Heath
  • 1891 Fulham
  • 1897 Worthing
  • 1899 Richmond
  • 1903 Hackney
  • 1906 Harrow
  • 1909 Leighton Buzzard
  • 1912 Hounslow
  • 1918 Haywards Heath (Sup)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1909/675

PM Minutes 1925/271

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

 

Comments about this page

  • Douglas Frank Spooner was briefly a Methodist local preacher and a peace activist before joining up in WW2. I Robert Francis Spooner his eldest son became a local preacher in the Ecclesall (Sheffield) Circuit and now am a Quaker. My son Michael and grandson Jake are both independant evangelical Christians.

    By Robert Francis Spooner (29/05/2021)
  • This is my great-great grandfather. My grandfather was Frank Cecil Spooner and my father was Douglas Frank Spooner (1913-2002), who was a mathematician and co-founder with my mother, Audrey Linda Spooner (nee Marchant), of the Intimate Opera Club, Eltham.

    By Andrew Martin Spooner (26/05/2021)

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