Micklethwaite, William Sykes (1873-1962)

Obituary from Minutes of the Methodist Conference

Born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, in 1873. He entered the United Methodist Ministry and was trained at Victoria Park College, Manchester.

In 1895 he sailed for Sierra Leone. He did pioneer work in the Mende country, and stayed for twenty-three months instead of the customary eighteen.

During this period he contracted black water fever, and it was some time before he was permitted to return to West Africa.

In 1920, however, he went back again, and until 1926 he was superintendent and had pastoral charge of churches in Freetown. His duties involved heavy responsibility, and the travelling made great demands upon his strength. This tour in a difficult climate further impaired his health.

Throughout his life he retained a lively interest in the affairs of West Africa, and he was always deeply committed to the missionary enterprise of the Church.

In between his two periods overseas he travelled in the following home circuits : Burnley, Hebden Bridge. New Mills, Manchester, Chorley, Ramsbottom and Burslem, and after returning from Sierra Leone in 1926 he served in Codnor, Jersey and the Isle of Wight.

The qualities of courage, determination, loyalty and efficiency which characterized his missionary service were also evident in his ministry at home. He had a graciousness and spirit of humility which were impressive.

In 1937 he superannuated, but he continued to preach in a number of circuits until he was well into his eighties.

During his last years he found peace and security in the home of his daughter in West Bridgford, Nottingham.

He died on 5 January 1962, in the eighty-ninth year of his age and the sixty-seventh year of his ministry.

©Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes 1962

Family

William was born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, in 1873, to William Micklethwaite, a United Methodist Free Churches minister, and his wife Ann.

Before going to Victoria Park College he was apprenticed to a printer and stationer (1891)

He married Florence Slack (1874-) during the 3rd quarter of 1899 in Basford Registration District. They had a daughter

• Doris  (1904-)

William  died on 5th January 1962 in West Bridgeford, Nottinghamshire.

Circuits

• 1893  Victoria Park College
• 1895  Tikonkoh, Sierra Leone
• 1898  Burnley
• 1899  Hebden Bridge (received into Full Connexion)
• 1902  New Mills
• 1906 Manchester IV/ Eccles New Road and Patricroft
• 1910  Chorley
• 1915  Ramsbottom
• 1919  Burslem Hilltop
• 1920  Freetown, Sierra Leone (General Superintendent)
• 1926  Codnor
• 1929  Jersey
• 1933 West Wight (Yarmouth and Totland Bay)
• 1937  Nottingham South (supernumerary)

He was Secretary of the Channel Islands District in 1932-1933

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

Missionary Echo of the United Methodist Church 1920

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

Minutes of the Methodist Conference 1962 p201