Normandale, John William (1847-1931)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1906
Primitive Methodist Magazine 1931

Early years

John was born on 6 April 1847 at Keighley, Yorkshire the eldest son of parents George Normandale and Mary Ann Oldroyd. George was a PM Minister. Mary Ann was brought up within the Society of Friends.

John was converted on 25 March 1858 and soon started to give public witness for Jesus. He was given a note to preach in September 1862, became an exhorter in April 1863 and was fully accredited in July 1864. John prepared for the ministry at Elmfield College in 1867 under the mentorship of John Petty.

Ministry

The 1906 biography in the Primitive Methodist Magazine describes him as a plodding, unpretentious minister; his real qualities were not on the surface. He had no ambition for official life, although he represented his district at Conference and was Secretary of the District Meeting for a while.

John’s greatest success was at Minsterley where at one place 120 professed conversion and some 10-12 went on to became local preachers.

John was a lifelong teetotaller and champion of the Temperance Movement.

After superannuating, John moved to Liverpool. When his second wife died, his daughter Mary, who had spent many years in the United States, returned to look after him.

Family

John married Emma Rebekah Rous (1852-1880) on 14 August 1872 at Cambridge. Emma was the daughter of Rev Thomas W. Rous. Census returns identify four children.

  • Catherine Emma (b1873) – a nurse domestic in 1901
  • Mary Rebekah (1874-1958) – a nurse
  • John George (1875-1909) – a chemist’s assistant (1901)
  • Thomas William (1877-1920) – an engine room artificer (1911)

John married Emma Rotherford (1848-1917) in the summer of 1880 at York. Census returns identify five children.

  • Margaret Rotherford (1882-1951) – married Joseph Walters, a PM Minister
  • John Rotherford (1884-1962) – a bank clerk (1911)
  • Alice Grace (1886-1939) – married Ernest John Fairbrass, a butcher
  • Alfred Tenant (1889-1932) – a bank clerk (1911)
  • Mark Harold (1892-1950) – a clerk (1911)

John died on 10 April 1931 at Liverpool, Lancashire.

Circuits

  • Attended Elmfield College
  • 1868 Silchester
  • 1869 Hastings
  • 1870 Spalding & Holbeach
  • 1871 Cambridge
  • 1872 Wisbech
  • 1874 Wangford
  • 1876 Swaffham
  • 1877 Thetford
  • 1879 Fakenham
  • 1881 E Dereham
  • 1882 Maldon
  • 1884 Tamworth
  • 1886 Minsterley
  • 1889 Llanymynech
  • 1891 Stafford
  • 1893 St Austell
  • 1895 Hay
  • 1897 Knighton
  • 1899 Saffron Walden
  • 1902 Berkhampstead
  • 1904 Canterbury
  • 1906 Ely
  • 1909 Liverpool (S)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1880/373 (Emma); 1906/339; 1917/876 (2nd wife); 1931/495

PM Minutes 1931/309

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

 

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