Entwistle, Thomas (1880-1961)

Obituary from Minutes of the Methodist Conference

Born in Bolton in 1880. Hearing the call of God to the Ministry and receiving a providential gift towards his training, he entered Ranmoor College in the United Methodist Church.

From 1905 he served for 41 years in circuits in Lancashire and the West Riding of Yorkshire : Stockport, Manchester, Blackpool, Batley, Huddersfield, Bradford, Halifax, Hurst and Hyde.

On becoming a supernumerary he first lived in Audenshaw and then moved to Ainsdale in 1954.

His last years were lived under the constant burden of pain.

He spoke of himself as a weak man, but those who had been near to him marvelled at his strength and courage.

The clarity of his mind was unaffected by all that hampered his body, and he was often discussing the deepest problems of life and death.

During his active work he was noted in his circuits and districts for a directness that was expressed in every part of his ministry. He would not tolerate what was trivial and petty. He sought only the regard of his Lord.

Those to whom he ministered remembered especially his compassion in times of distress and the help that he brought. His humble and thankful spirit was revealed in the gratitude he used to express for the slightest service he received.

He was a modest man who served his Lord with great devotion.

He died on 18 July 1961, in the eighty-second year of his age and the fifty-sixth of his ministry.

©Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes 1962

Family

Thomas was born in Bolton in June 1880, to James and Rose Hannah Entwistle. He was baptised in the St. George’s Road MNC chapel on 7th July 1880. His father was a power loom weaver, and Thomas was also employed as a cotton weaver before entering the ministry.

He married Eunice Speight during the 3rd quarter of 1922 in Dewsbury. They three children

• Donald S. (1923- )
• George H. (1926- )
• Dorothy M. (1930- )

Thomas  died on 18th July 1961 in Ainsdale, Lancashire.

Circuits

• 1903 Ranmoor College
• 1905 Stockport
• 1907 Manchester South (received into Full Connexion 1909)
• 1911   Blackpool Springfield Road
• 1915  Batley
• 1917  Burnley
• 1922  Huddersfield Hillhouse
• 1926  Bradford South East
• 1932  Halifax Brunswick
• 1934  Halifax West
• 1941  Ashton under Lyne
• 1946 Ashton under Lyne (supernumerary)
• 1954 Southport South (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 p189