WITTER, Thomas 1877 - 1962

 Born in Christleton, near Chester, in 1877. He was the son of a farmer and had few educational opportunities in his youth.

His parents were Anglicans, but he was converted in a Methodist mission, and ever afterwards he was a keen evangelist.

A year at Cliff College brought him under the lasting influence of the Rev. Thomas Champness. After being accepted for the Wesleyan Ministry, he had a pre-collegiate year at Buckingham, before his training in Handsworth College.

In a ministry marked with great evangelical power he served the circuits of Wrexham, Whitchurch, Reeth, Stoke-on-Trent, Market Rasen, Kingstonon- Thames, Shotley Bridge, Houghton-le-Spring, Llandrindod Wells, Bradford and Bedale ; he also served for two terms as a missionary on the Gold Coast.

In 1942 he became a supernumerary in the Gosport and Fareham Circuit, preaching regularly until the end of his life. He lived at Lee-on-Solent where he was the trust treasurer.

His hobbies were bee-keeping and gardening, and at both he was an expert, but his mind was kept fresh and alert in his study. He shared in the devotional meetings of the society and the business meetings of the circuit. Though a man of very firm convictions, he was full of kindness and courtesy.

His preaching was powerful and convincing, and continued until a fortnight before his death.

He died on 7 January 1962, in the eighty-fourth year of his age and the fifty-seventh year of his ministry.

©Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes 1962