Tillotson, Percy (1897-1967)

Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference

PERCY TILLOTSON: born at Swinton, Mexborough in 1897. He served in the 1914-18 War, and was accepted for the ministry in 1920. After a pre-collegiate year in the South Yorks Mission, he entered Hartley College. His first appointment was at Banbury, and he travelled thence in the following circuits : Wishaw, Scotland, Barnsley, Swindon, Cleethorpes, Huddersfield, Paisley, Hull and Pocklington.

During the fortieth year of his ministry, his health broke down, and he retired to Kegworth in the Castle Donington Circuit. He was a warm-hearted and gracious man, and in all his circuits he was held in great affection and respect as a true man of God. He had the right priorities—first things came first, and through the years in a caring ministry he has shared with others the deep things of his faith and experience. Work amongst young people was of special interest to him, and almost to the end of his ministry, he joined with them in their activities both indoors and outdoors. 

He had an unflagging enthusiasm for all kinds of sport and he was a keen gardener. He was a loyal friend and colleague, a sound preacher and a conscientious and hard-working pastor. He desired nothing higher than to be ‘a faithful servant of God. Although enduring increased weakness in the latter years of his life, he maintained his interest in every part of the church’s life, preaching whenever strength permitted. His last outing was to the September Synod in 1966. 

He died on 16 February 1967, in the seventieth year of his age and the forty-fourth of his ministry.

Family

Percy was born on 6 November 1897 at Swinton, Yorkshire, to parents Edmund Tillotson, a commercial clerk (1901), and Rachel Cooke.

He married Doris May Leeson (1902-1994) in the summer of 1926 in the Rotherham Registration District, Yorkshire.

Percy died on 16 February 1967 at Castle Donington, Leicestershire.

Circuits

• 1920 S Yorks Mission
• 1921 Hartley
• 1923 Banbury
• 1926 Wishaw
• 1931 Barnsley II
• 1933 Barnsley W
• 1937 Swindon Pros
• 1945 Cleethorpes Trinity
• 1949 Huddersfield Lindley
• 1954 Paisley St James
• 1957 Hull N
• 1958 Pocklington
• 1962 Castle Donington (Sup)

References

Methodist Minutes 1967/198

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers