Tag: Morris Street

Rev George Hunter – Primitive Methodist Minister

George Hunter was born in 1834 in South Cave, Yorkshire. At just 9 years of age he was working as an agricultural labourer to help support his widowed mother. At the age of 17 he converted to Primitive Methodism and spent the rest of his long life in God’s service.

George was described as ‘a splendid visitor, and a true friend and practical helper in cases of distress’ who ‘in the pulpit was earnest, simple, practical and good. He aimed not at display. He preached not to please the ear and tickle the fancy, but to touch the heart and reach the soul. His sole ambition was to save souls.’

He married Mary Thompson and the couple had two daughters, Rosanna born 1868 and Edith Mary born 1870.

In his retirement he made his home in Swindon with his younger daughter Edith where he continued to assist with the work of the Primitive Methodist church. He lived at 75 Morris Street, Rodbourne, where he died in 1916. A long obituary was published in the North Wilts Herald of which the following is an extract.

George Hunter

Death of the Rev G. Hunter

55 Years in the Primitive Methodist Ministry

The Rev. George Hunter, who was for 55 years a Primitive Methodist minister, died at his home, 75 Morris Street, Swindon, on Sunday. He was born in Yorkshire in 1834 and was 82 years of age. The greater part of his ministry was spent in the South of England, and when he retired from active service five years ago he came to reside at Swindon, and for some time continued to assist in Church work.

The funeral took place on Wednesday afternoon. The first portion of the service was conducted at the Primitive Methodist Church, Regent Street, by the Rev. S.A. Barron, who also committed the body to the earth at the Cemetery.

The Funeral Address was delivered by his old friend the Rev. J.H. Cotton …

As a pastor George Hunter had few equals. He knew his people, sympathised with them in their sorrows, advised them in their difficulties, comforted them in their sickness, and encouraged them as they drew near the eve of the great change. In the sick room nothing was more striking than his beautiful sympathy and tender handling of stricken souls. He could not refuse to help in a case of need, and often had made the widow’s heart dance with joy. Twenty years ago he heard friends talking about Mr Hunter’s kindness to the aged poor. In many circuits he would long be held in affectionate remembrance, though the majority of those who benefited from his ministry preceded him into the Great Beyond.

The great sorrow of Mr Hunter’s life was the passing away of the devoted wife who for over 35 years had lovingly shared his ministry. That was in 1900, during his second term at Stewkley. His elder daughter had to look after an aged aunt at Exeter; but the younger, since her mother’s death, had devoted herself to her father beyond all praise. During the coming years it would give to her deep and abiding satisfaction to know that she gave herself so lovingly to bring joy and comfort into her father’s life during his declining years. To these ladies in their intense bereavement and sorrow their sympathy went that day.

Advancing years ripened and mellowed Mr Hunter’s character, and considerably broadened his views. He was not sure that he was a man of the eventide after all. He often felt while in contact with him that he was a man of the morning. He passed away, after a brief illness, in the full confidence that death would be to him the gateway to a deeper, richer, and fuller life. To him, indeed, there was no death.

The Rev. W.L. Taylor said he knew Mr Hunter for a very long time. He often met him in the Brinkworth District and other circuits in which he laboured. He had that day seen some documents relating to his coming into this part of the country in 1861; and the people who had known Mr Hunter were thankful to the Hull Conference that day for having sent him. His work was a great success in the agricultural districts and his labours were equally successful in the industrial circuit in South Wales in which he spent a short period of his ministry. He asked the daughters of Mr Hunter to accept, in the sorrow which had overtaken them, the sympathy of the circuit he represented.

Extracts from the North Wilts Herald, Friday, June 16, 1916.

Rev George Hunter died aged 82 years at his home, 75 Morris Street. His funeral took place on June 14, 1916 when he was buried in grave plot C2016.

You can read more about the Rev Hunter and his family here:-

Charles Edward Hall of 75 Morris Street

Charles Edward Hall of 75 Morris Street, Rodbourne.

The re-imagined story …

When I was a child I used to think Mr Hall was just an old man who tottered about in front of his house in Morris Street before turning round and going back inside. I used to wonder what the point of this all was as he went nowhere and saw nothing new. Occasionally someone would pass by and stop to talk to him, but that was about it.

How pointless, I thought as I kicked my football on the way to the Rec. Or sped past on an errand up the Lane for my mother, keen to get it done and to be off with my mates. Always in a hurry, well kids are, aren’t they? Mr Hall was just another old man who tottered about in front of his house. As children we give little thought to the old people we see shuffling about the streets, or the life they might have lived.

Now I’m an old man who totters about in front of my house. Of course, Morris Street is a bit different these days, but someone usually stops and has a few words with me. Helps pass the day. I suppose that’s what it was all about for Mr Hall.

The facts …

Swindon J.P. Dead

Mr C.E. Hall’s Services to Methodism

Former Councillor

Mr Charles Edward Hall, J.P., of 75 Morris street, Swindon, died early on Friday morning, aged 75 years.

Heart trouble had confined him to his home for the past eight years, and except for an occasional walk outside his home, Mr Hall had never been out in the town during this time. He had been bedridden for the past few months.

Many years ago Mr Hall took an active interest in the affairs of Swindon, and among other things was a town councillor. He only served for three years, however, and did not seek re-election, as the council work interfered with his church activities.

He was an ardent Methodist, and took a prominent part in the affairs of the Regent street Clifton street and Butterworth street churches. He had been a steward on the Swindon circuit, while he was twice elected president of the Swindon and district Sunday School Union.

50 Years with the GWR

He was appointed a J.P. to the Borough bench in 1912.

A native of Hook, Mr Hall came to Swindon in his youth, and worked in the Great Western Railway factory as a boilermaker. At the time of his retirement 12 years ago, he was a foreman, and had completed 50 continuous years of service. He was an enthusiastic trade unionist, and became a member of the Boilermakers’ Iron and Steel Ship Building Society in 1880.

In his younger days Mr Hall took a keen interest in politics, and was a staunch worker for the Liberal cause.

He leaves a widow and one son.

The Funeral

The funeral took place at Radnor street Cemetery on Monday afternoon. The service at the house and the committal at the grave were conducted by the Rev. Allison Brown. There were no flowers by special request.

The chief mourners included Mrs C.E. Hall (widow), Captain and Mrs. A.E. Hall, Mrs Rees, Mrs Barrett, Mrs Richardson, Mrs Winter, Mr H.W. Watkins Mr W. Watkins, Mr A.W. Head, and Mr Turk.

The funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs. A.E. Smith and Son, 24 Gordon road, Swindon.

Magisterial Tribute

When the Swindon Borough police court magistrates met on Monday afternoon the chairman (Mr. A.W. Haynes), addressing the court, said that within the last few days the magistrates had lost a colleague in the person of Mr C.E. Hall better known as “Charlie.” He had been ill for a very long period but previous to his illness he was a regular attendant at the court.

“I have known him personally for a long period and he was very active in former days in many ways of life. He was very conscientious in everything he did and very much respected by all who met him. The Justices and their Clerk deeply sympathise with the widow and family in their bereavement,” said Mr. Haynes.

North Wilts Herald, Friday, 8 March, 1935

Charles Edward Hall was buried in Radnor Street Cemetery on March 4, 1935 in plot D951 which he shares with his first wife Emma Jane.

Photographs published courtesy of Cathy Moseley and the Hall Family Tree, Ancestry.