Brazendale, Ellen (1775-1837)

MEMOIR OF ELLEN BRAZENDALE

(Late of Lymm – Partington Branch – Preston Brook circuit)

E. Brazendale was born in the year 1775, and continued a stranger to God till the year 1825; about which time the P. Methodists visited Lymm, and by the blessing of Almighty God, their labours were crowned with success.

Ellen, with a number more, went to hear; and the word was attended with Divine power.  She was convinced of sin, and made sensible that without a change of heart, she must perish eternally.  She sought the Lord in private and public; and in a few days he pardoned her sins, and she was enabled to rejoice in God her Saviour.

From this time to her death, her conduct was praiseworthy, and her character unblameable: her chief aim being to make her calling and election sure.

Her trials were great; her husband was taken from her by an unexpected stroke, and she was left with a large family, with but little prospect of supporting them.  But He, who has said, “Thy bread shall be given, and thy water shall be sure,” was her strength and shield, and provided for her and her family.

Her attendance on the means of grace was punctual; and her class-mates could say of her, “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile.”

Towards the close of life, through much bodily affliction, she was at times deprived of her reason.  Yet when it returned, she immediately ascribed thanksgiving to the Most High, and was exceedingly happy.

The rest which remains for the people of God, afforded her great consolation.

The last lovefeast she attended at Lymm, her soul was truly alive, and she clearly testified of her interest in the blood of Christ.  She spoke as though she had some presentiment of her latter end.

The sabbath previous to her leaving the world, being appointed at Lymm, I went to see her, and found her much afflicted.  On asking the state of her mind, she said, “Glory be to God, I am bound for the kingdom; I shall soon be in glory; I am waiting for my Jesus: my soul’s full of glory.  Glory be to God, I have no doubt of my acceptance, for I know I shall go to heaven.”

I prayed with her; and then she prayed for her family, and commended them to Him, who she believed would bring them to the knowledge of himself. *

The day before she departed, one of the members visited her, and by her request sung the following hymn:—

“When I can read my title clear
To mansions in the skies;
I bid farewell to every fear,
And wipe my weeping eyes,” &c.

On Tuesday, January 10, 1837, she fell asleep in the arms of Jesus, in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life, aged sixty-two years.

According to her request, Bro. Knowles, a local preacher of Lymm, preached her funeral sermon to a crowded congregation, and I trust good was done.

John Lawley

(Approved by the Circuit Committee)

Since her death, two of her sons have been converted.

 

Primitive Methodist Magazine, 1838.  Page 24.

 

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