Bryant, William Arthur (1874-1950)
Early years
William was born in 1874 at Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, to parents Robert Bryant and Sarah Susannah Thomason. Robert was a PM Minister.
William began his education at the National School at Church Gresley, and at twelve years of age entered Bourne College at Quinton.
William became a local preacher at eighteen, and while engaged in the scholastic profession at Yarmouth and East Bridgeford, began his studies for the ministry.
Ministry
At Cambourne, William laboured as Honorary Secretary to the Mining Division Relief Committee, which raised and administered some £75,000 to relieve the distress caused by the unfortunate mining situation in the Cambourne area. He also served on the local Board of Guardians and on the Urban District Council.
He served the Devon and Cornwall District as Missionary Secretary and was a member of the Connexional Missionary Committee.
During his retirement in St Ives, William took great interest in local affairs and was at one time a member of St Ives Town Council.
As a preacher of the Gospel, he had unusual pulpit gifts and was always listened to with interest and profit. He was a fearless exponent of the truth as he saw it and an ardent advocate of social reform.
Family
William married Gertrude Annie Smith (1881-1968) in the summer of 1901 at Chesterfield, Derbyshire. Census returns identify one child.
- Kathleen Gertrude (1905-1970)
William died on 24 July 1950 at St Ives, Cornwall.
Circuits
- 1897 Clay Cross
- 1901 Tipton
- 1903 Doncaster II
- 1905 Wirksworth
- 1908 Wellingborough
- 1910 Coxhoe
- 1912 St Austell
- 1915 Blaenavon
- 1916 Camborne
- 1927 St Ives
- 1932 Falmouth
- 1934 Northampton
- 1935 Falmouth (S)
References
Primitive Methodist Magazine 1925/407
Methodist Minutes 1950/159
W Leary, Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits, 1990
Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers
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