Wardle, William (1848-1919)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1910

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1928

Early years

William was born in 1848 at Westmoor, Benton, Newcastle to parents John Wardle and Mary Temple. John was a coal miner. William’s brother, Arthur Temple Wardle was also a PM Minister.

William was converted through his brother, Arthur, and was soon put on the plan. He worked as a coal miner before entering the ministry.

Ministry

At Leigh, during the time of the great coal strike, William organised relief agencies by which thousands of pounds were distributed among the distressed families. For some time he provided over one thousand dinners a day for the hungry.

His obituary records that William preached vital truths in a spirit of fervent devotion, and had many souls to his ministry.

Arthur was an intense Free Churchman, a Guardian of the Poor, and an ardent Temperance Worker.

His wife was one of the few lady delegates to Conference and the first lady member of the General Orphanage Committee.

Family

William married Harriett Cooper Lucas (abt1858-1928) in late 1881 at Mile End Old Town, London. Census returns identify one of two sons.

Leonard Charles Toulson (b1887) – an artist (1911); served in Royal Engineers in WW1

William died on 30 November 1918 at Gillingham, Kent.

Circuits

1873 Buriton
1874 Grays
1877 Southwark
1878 Kingstone
1880 Chelmsford
1891 Leigh
1895 Heywood
1898 Chatham
1908 Gillingham
1918 Gillingham (S)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1910/339; 1919/361; 1928/735 (Harriett)

PM Minutes 1919/291

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

Author

Geoff Dickinson

Keywords

Guardian (100)

Page added

24/03/2014

Comments about this page

William Wardle was minister in the Berkhampstead Circuit from 1884-1891. His farewell was recorded in the Bucks Herald on 18th July 1891 which says “The Rev W.M.Wardle has been Primitive Methodist Minister for Berkhampstead and district (which includes Tring, Crouchfield and Ley Hill) for the past seven years… Berkhampstead did not want Mr Wardle to leave , nor the Circuit… Leigh, to which Mr and Mrs Wardle were going…The Rev A.T.Wardle brother of the Rev W.M. Wardle, gave a concluding address..”
By Neil Rees (08/01/2016)