Woodward, Harold Henry M.C. (1878-1949)

Transcription of Obituary in Minutes of Methodist Conference

Born at York in 1878. He entered the Primitive Methodist Ministry in 1908 after two years at Hartley College. As a boy he served four years before the mast, and was shipwrecked in the North Sea. At the age of twenty, under the influence of Joseph Odell, he became a local preacher and served four years as an Evangelist, after which he was accepted as a ‘ Special Case ‘ for college by Conference.

In 1915 he joined the army as a private, but was soon appointed a chaplain, serving with great distinction.

He was three times wounded, and on the testimony of his comrades (for he insisted on going ‘ over the top ‘ with his men), he was awarded the Military Cross.

In 1920 he was invalided out of the Forces. Small wonder that the physical fabric disintegrated and superannuation became imperative in 1942, after but thirty-four years of ministerial service.

Toils and hardships, gas and wounds demanded settlement of their accounts.

For the last seven years of his life he was a frail but radiant invalid, undergoing several operations and suffering great pain.

On 17th October 1949, he was summoned by the King of kings for his supreme and final decoration. He was a fearless, faithful, and selfless warrior, both for his country and for Christ—a tender shepherd, a generous and staunch friend, an ardent evangelist and a Christ-like gentleman.

©Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes 1950

Family

Harold was born on 24 October 1878 at York, to parents George, an Inland Revenue Officer, and Charlotte. He was baptised on 17 November 1878 at St Thomas, York.

He married Margaret Anne Kermeen (1879-1951) in 1912 at Douglas, Isle of Man. Birth records identify one child.

  • Margaret Kermeen (1914-1995) – married Harry Cunnington in 1942

Harold died on 17 October 1949 at Westcliffe on Sea, Essex.

Circuits

  • Hartley
  • 1908 Bath II
  • 1910 Crowle
  • 1912 Lynn
  • 1915 Wisbech
  • 1916 Chaplain, H.M. Forces Aldershot
  • 1921 Howden
  • 1924 North Cave
  • 1927 Wolverton
  • 1933 Wirksworth
  • 1942 Matlock (Sup)

References

Methodist Minutes 1950/126

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

 

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