Watkin, Thomas (1886-1970)

Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference

THOMAS WATKIN: born at West Moor, near Newcastle upon Tyne, on 26 November 1884. He became actively engaged in all the affairs of the local Primitive Methodist Church. From there he offered for the ministry and went to Hartley College. He then spent a long and useful ministry in various circuits: Kingstone, Eastleigh, Canterbury and Whitstable, Hexham, Haverhill, Scotter, Crewe II, Bolton II, Lowick, Allendale, Bellingham, Hull (St. Georges’ Rd.), Motherwell, Blyth and Seaton Delaval. 

Throughout his ministry he never failed to keep abreast of current trends of thought in theology and in science and was distinctly modern in his outlook. Yet, essentially, his one desire was to present to men the Saviour of all the ages. Plain and straightforward in his dealings and utterly sincere in his approach to people, he made many friends, both within and outside the Church. His geniality and good humour won the hearts of young and old alike. After his retirement to Brampton in Cumberland in 1948, he continued to preach until within a few months of his death and in many other ways he was ready to be of service wherever the need arose. 

He died suddenly on 19 February 1970, in the eighty-sixth year of his age and the fifty-eighth of his ministry.

Family

Thomas was born in 26 November 1886 at Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland.

He married Elizabeth Annie Philipson (1889-1984) in late 1916 in the Risbridge Registration District, Suffolk.

Thomas died on 19 February 1970 at Brampton, Cumberland.

Circuits

• Hartley
• 1912 Kingstone
• 1913 Eastleigh
• 1914 Canterbury
• 1915 Hexham
• 1916 Haverhill
• 1918 Scotter
• 1921 Crewe II
• 1923 Bolton II
• 1926 Lowick
• 1932 Allendale
• 1936 Bellington
• 1940 Hull St George
• 1942 Motherwell
• 1945 Blyth &c
• 1948 Brampton (Sup)

References

Methodist Minutes 1970/185

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers