Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference
RALPH STREET: born at North Canes, near Cannock, Staffs, in 1883, offered for the Primitive Methodist ministry in 1907 and received his theological training at Hartley College. He began his active ministry in the Gloucester circuit in 1910, and in his three years there, forged links of friendship that were maintained throughout his life. During the First World War he served in the Ely Valley, Ludlow, Newport (Salop) and Bloxwich circuits, before being appointed a Chaplain to the Forces in 1918, and serving for two years at Aldershot. In 1920 he began a stay of eight years at Skegness, which he regarded as the most satisfying and happiest period of his ministry.
Subsequently, he served in the Nottingham II, Leamington Spa (Warwick Street), Normanton, Sileby and Rugby circuits. On his retirement to Loughborough in 1952, he served as an active supernumerary, doing much in one village to bring together three societies, which now form a lively, united church.
His wife died, after a long illness, in 1958, and in his last years he was cared for by a faithful and devoted housekeeper from his first circuit at Gloucester.
He was known and loved in all his circuits as an effective preacher, but will be remembered above all else as a gracious and loving pastor. He helped people to discover the meaning of goodness, by being himself a good and kind man. Right until the end of his life, he had an alert and questing mind, especially interested in sport and politics. He had been a regular writer to both the secular and religious press, and always remained intensely interested in the world about him and especially in people.
In the last three years of his life, he had become too frail to maintain his beloved preaching ministry, and had gradually become confined to his home, where he was always eager to receive visitors with whom he could discuss his many interests. Early in March, he suffered a heart attack, and spent his last few weeks in a Nursing Home, where he died on 4th April, 1973, in the eighty-ninth year of his age and the sixty-third year of his ministry.
Family
Ralph was born on 27 January 1884 at North Canes, Staffordshire, to parents William, a draper & post office (1891), and Sarah.
He married Margaret Hughes (1893-1958) in early 1916 at Norton Canes, Staffordshire.
Ralph died on 4 April 1973 at Loughborough, Leicestershire.
Circuits
- Hartley
- 1910 Gloucester
- 1913 Ely Valley
- 1914 Ludlow
- 1915 Newport Salop
- 1917 Bloxwich
- 1918 Chaplain H.M. Forces, Aldershot
- 1920 Skegness
- 1928 Nottingham II
- 1932 Leamington Spa
- 1936 Normanton
- 1941 Sileby
- 1948 Rugby
- 1952 Loughborough
References
Methodist Minutes 1973/157
W Leary, Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits, 1990
Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers
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