Spedding, Douglas William (1900-1947)

A Tale That is Told . . . Souvenir Handbook of Primitive Methodism in the Forest Hill Circuit 1882-1932

Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference

DOUGLAS WiLLIAM SPEDDING: born at Blackburn in 1900. He was educated at Leeds Central High School. Following in the footsteps of his honoured father, he was accepted as a candidate for the Ministry of the Primitive Methodist Church in 1920, and after one year as a non-collegiate in the Brighton Circuit he entered Hartley College. On leaving college he was appointed to Haltwhistle as President’s Assistant, and afterwards laboured in circuits in the North, South, and Midlands. In 1944 he was appointed Secretary of the Synod of the Sunderland and Durham District. 

He was a choice spirit, a radiant personality, and his capacity for friendship and kindly good humour won him a place in the affectionate regard of his brethren. He was richly endowed with natural gifts, and these were consecrated to his life work. Specially interested in young people, he quickly gained their confidence and was the means of leading many into Christian fellowship and service. Ruled by a high sense of duty, he was competent and methodical in circuit and District administration and enjoyed the esteem and confidence of his colleagues.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ dwelt richly in his heart, and revealed itself in his winsome preaching, his personal humility, and in his generous expenditure of all the powers of his mind and spirit. Everywhere he fulfilled a permanently fruitful ministry, leaving behind him many cherished memories in the circuits in which he laboured. 

On Sunday, 23rd February 1947, after a short illness, he passed to his triumph over death in the forty-seventh year of his life and the twenty-fifth of his ministry.

Family

Douglas was born on 30 April 1900 at Blackburn, Lancashire, to parents William Spedding and Mary Jane Kewley.

Douglas died on 23 February 1947 at the Royal Infirmary, Sunderland, Co. Durham.

Circuits

  • 1920 Brighton
  • 1921 Hartley
  • 1923 Haltwhistle
  • 1924 N Shields
  • 1925 Redditch
  • 1926 Penrith
  • 1929 Forest Hill
  • 1933 Church Gresley
  • 1938 Leeds Armley
  • 1942 Hetton

References

Methodist Minutes 1947/144

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

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