Colley, Leonard Podmore (1877-1962)

Obituary from the Minutes of the Methodist Conference

Born in Longton, Staffs., in 1877. He entered the Methodist New Connexion Ministry in 1902 and travelled in the following circuits : Thorne, Torquay, Penzance, Mossley, Ashton-under-Lyne, Oldham, Batley, Huddersfield, Dudley, Sheffield, Stalybridge, Bristol and Dewsbury.

He superannuated in 1942, living first in Torquay and later in Sheffield. He experienced much personal sorrow in his life, but in spite of this his faith remained firm.

He possessed a great sense of humour and is remembered by many for his wit and seemingly inexhaustible fund of stories.

Though he entered circuit life without the benefit of college training he was a keen student, reading widely, with a special interest in the classics, an interest which he maintained until his eyesight began to fail in old age.

As a preacher he was noted for his forthright and courageous sermons on the great moral issues of the day.

He was a beloved pastor, entering fully into the lives of his people, remembering and being remembered by them long after he had removed to other circuits.

In every way he was a faithful, methodical and efficient circuit minister.

The later years of his retirement were marked by an increasing weakness, with failing hearing and sight. but he remained cheerful and uncomplaining to the end.

He died on 25 May 1962, in the eighty-fifth year of his life and the sixtieth of his ministry.

©Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes 1962

Family

Leonard was born on 7th July 1877 in Florence, Staffordshire, the son of Charles  and Louisa Colley. His parents both died when he was young. He was apprenticed to a printer in 1891, and by 1901 was a Letter press printer and a Local Preacher.

He married Elizabeth Maguerite Davies (b 1880) in the 3rd quarter of  1901 in Stoke-on-Trent. They appear to have had two children

• Marjorie Evelyn (1905-1916)
• Edith Janet (b1911)

Leonard died on 25 May 1962 in Sheffield.

Circuits

• 1902 Thorne
• 1903 Torquay
• 1905 Penzance
• 1907 Mossley (received into Full Connexion 1908)
• 1909 Ashton under Lyne
• 1910 Oldham Union Street
• 1914 Batley
• 1918 Huddersfield High Street
• 1919 Dudley
• 1924 Sheffield South Street
• 1930 Stalybridge
• 1932 Bristol South
• 1934 Bristol Kingswood
• 1935 Bristol King Street
• 1937 Dewsbury
• 1942 Torquay  (supernumerary)
•             Sheffield (supernumerary)

References

Oliver A Beckerlegge, United Methodist ministers and their circuits: Being an arrangement in alphabetical order of the stations of ministers of the Methodist New … and the United Methodist Church, 1797-1932

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

Minutes of the Methodist Conference 1962, page 216