Southall, John (1877-1962)
Early years
John was born in 1877 at Sidemoor, Bromsgrove, to parents Walter and Lucy. Walter was a local preacher. He had worked as a nail maker in Sidemoor and then in the printing industry in Stockport.
The family moved to Stockport in 1882. John started work as a ‘half-timer’ in a cotton mill and continued his education at evening technical school.
Under the ministry of Rev William Harris, John received a note to preach when he was eighteen, accompanying his Sunday School teacher, Mr J.A. Cheetham, to his appointments. In due course, John was recommended for the ministry and, after twelve months on the Dover and Deal station, entered Hartley College. During his time at Hartley, John was an outstanding student and athlete.
Ministry
John served as Secretary of the District meeting, and as district secretary of the Christian Endeavour, Temperance, Furnishing Fund and Building Committees
His obituary records that John was a devout and faithful servant of God, fervent and forthright in proclaiming the Gospel, often in the open-air, a man of “the Book”, a lover of his Lord and a warm-hearted pastor of the flock. He rejoiced in having inspired others to offer for the ministry.
From 1948 he resided in Leeds, endearing himself to all by his faithfulness in worship, his love of people and his willingness to serve.
Family
John married Gertrude Annie Parker (1883-1972) in the summer of 1906 at Lincoln, Lincolnshire.
- Gaius Alexander (1907-1993)
- Elsie R (b1913)
- George Stanley (1915-2002)
- Francis A (b1918)
John died on 7 October 1962 at Leeds, Yorkshire.
Circuits
- Hartley
- 1902 Lincoln I
- 1904 Manchester V
- 1906 Upton Park
- 1908 Littleborough
- 1911 Grays & Romford
- 1913 Crowle
- 1918 Mexborough
- 1922 Yarmouth I
- 1927 Norwich II
- 1931 Liverpool III
- 1935 Leeds Bramley
- 1940 Halifax N
- 1945 Motherwell
- 1948 Leeds (Sup)
References
Primitive Methodist Magazine 1931/684
Methodist Minutes 1963/184
R Newman Wycherley, The Pageantry of Methodist Union, 1932,p347
W Leary, Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits, 1990
Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers
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