Methodist lay preacher & antiquarian: George West of Swinefleet
Goole History > Goole People & Families > George West
From the Goole Weekly Times, Friday, January 13th 1893:
DEATH OF MR GEORGE WEST OF SWINEFLEET
Pulpit References
The Funeral Service and Panegyrics
We record, with great regret, the death of Mr George West of The
Field, Swinefleet, which took place at his residence last Friday
morning at half-past nine. The deceased gentleman was apparently
in his usual state of health on the previous Sunday, and on New
Year's Eve conducted the watch-night service at the Wesleyan Chapel
at Swinefleet. On Sunday afternoon he led a love-feast at Swinefleet,
and in the evening preached at Reedness. It will be remembered that
much snow fell on that day and the weather was very severe. Mr West
appears to have caught a chill, and on the Monday morning Dr Blair
of Goole was called in, but notwithstanding the unremitting attention
bestowed by this gentleman upon his patient, Mr West succumbed as
above stated, the cause of death being congestion of the lungs.
The deceased gentleman was the son of Mr Robert West, shoemaker,
of Swinefleet, and was born in that village on the 24th Sept., 1828.
He was, therefore, in his 65th year. He received an admirable training
from his parents, who were very highly respected. His parents attended
the Wesleyan Chapel and their son had been a consistent member of
the Wesleyan Methodist Society for more than half a century. There
are but two who were older members in the Society who survive him,
namely Mrs Thompson and Mrs Margaret Burkill. Mr West's death will
be an irreparable loss to local Methodism, in which cause he was
a most indefatigable and successful worker. He had held at various
times every position of trust and responsibility in the circuit
open to laymen, and was a local preacher of far more than average
ability, and at one time frequently occupied the pulpit of other
chapels than those for which he was planned.
In the year 1851 he married Miss Mary Ann Taylor of Swinefleet,
who now survives him. There was no issue of the marriage. In the
year 1850 he was appointed a class leader, and for over forty years
had been the leader of the Tuesday night class. His first sermon
was preached at Reedness in 1860, from the text "This man receiveth
sinners," and by a strange coincidence his last sermon was
also preached in the same place of worship, his text on this occasion
being "For ye have not gone this way before" (Joshua iii.,
4.). In 1857, on the death of Mr W. Lavarack, Mr West was appointed
chapel steward at Swinefleet. There was then a debt of £750
upon the chapel and schools. He succeeded, however, not only in
getting this debt extinguished but in having the chapel rebuilt
at a cost of upwards of £900, and at the present time there
remains only a debt of a little more than £100. Few villages
of the same size as Swinefleet have such a fine chapel, and his
devoted work in this direction is not likely to be forgotten.
The deceased gentleman was also the secretary of all the chapels
in the circuit and had all the financial matters relating thereto
to attend to. He had also been circuit steward two or three times,
and was chosen as district representative to conferences and district
meetings on several occasions. Mr West had not latterly taken much
active part in general public matters, but he was at one time a
member and vice-chairman of the Swinefleet School Board, a guardian
for Swinefleet, one of the feoffees of the local charities, and
held several other minor offices.
He succeeded to the business of his father, but retired from business
some fifteen years ago. From childhood he was a great reader and
very fond of books, and was a man of considerable literary ability.
He was also an antiquarian of acknowledged authority, and a member
of the Yorkshire Antiquarian Society. He had in the course of a
lifetime collected an admirable library, one of the very best in
the district. For twenty years he was a contributor to the Goole
Weekly Times under the nom-de-plume of "William de Swinflete,"
the name of a literary monk who sprang from Swinefleet in early
times. It was to his kindness that the editor of this journal was
indebted for the original of the first copy of the Goole Times
which we issued as a supplement last Friday - the day of his death.
Mr West also contributed to the Methodist journals and to Notes
and Queries. He was the author of "Methodism in Marshland,"
and of a pamphlet dealing with Marshland families in olden times,
being a reprint of a lecture delivered at the Wesleyan school-room
at Goole.
He had a severe attack of influenza some two years ago, from which
he never thoroughly recovered, and no doubt this accounted largely
for the speedy termination of his fatal illness. He was a most hospitable
as well as a most cultured gentleman, and had led a blameless and
irreproachable life, and as befitting such a life, passed away most
peacefully. The sad occasion has called forth expressions of sorrow
and of sympathy with his widow on every side, in which we sincerely
join.
...
The Interment at Swinefleet
Impressive Ceremony
The remains of the late Mr George West, of The Field, Swinefleet,
were interred on Tuesday afternoon in the parish churchyard at Swinefleet
amid tokens of profoundest respect and sympathy. The fact that the
deceased gentleman had long been intimately connected with Wesleyan
Methodism in the district, and that he was also known for sterling
abilities, naturally excited considerable sorrowful interest in
the proceedings. Large numbers of people travelled from the surrounding
districts to take part in the last earthly rite to be administered
and many gentlemen at Goole associated with Wesleyan Methodism attended
to show their respects. It was arranged that a memorial service
should be held in the Swinefleet Wesleyan Chapel at 2.30 in the
afternoon, but long before this time many people had assembled in
Low Street, while others had taken up a position in the sacred edifice.
The pulpit was deeply draped in black and the Communion table was
hidden by a black cover.
The cortège left the residence of the deceased gentleman shortly after half past two, and on its arrival at the chapel the place was filled by all sections of people. As the coffin was born into the building on the shoulders of a number of stalwart men, the impressive music of "The Vital Spark" was played on the organ by Miss Thornton. The coffin was placed on the Communion table at the front of the pulpit, and on top of it was laid a beautiful wreath which had been sent by Mr and Mrs Gledhill, of Snaith. When the bereaved widow and the relatives and friends had taken up their positions in the chapel, the Rev. J. M. Browne and the Rev. A. H. Hopper ascended the pulpit for the purpose of conducting the service [etc.].
The congregation then joined in singing "Oh God our help in
ages past, our hope in years to come," and then the corpse
was carried from the chapel, and in the course of its exit Miss
Thornton played the "Dead March" in Saul. A very large
concourse of people had assembled in Low Street to witness the progress
of the procession to the church, and on every hand there were signs
of mourning. The cortège was headed by the Vicar (the Rev.
W. F. DeCobain), the Rev. J. M. Browne, and the Rev. A. H. Hopper,
and then followed a number of local preachers and officials in the
circuit. Then came the hearse with carriage attached, the latter
containing Mrs West (the widow), Mr T. L. Taylor, Mr Ella Taylor
and Mr Taylor and family. Following immediately behind the hearse
was Mr J. A. Barratt, of Snaith (a life-long friend of the deceased),
and Mrs Gledhill, and a number of females and males who were members
of the late Mr West's class.
...
Among those present at the funeral we noticed the Rev. F. J. Morgan
(Primitive Methodist minister, Swinefleet), the Rev. J. Graham (Primitive
Methodist minister, Goole), Dr Blair (Goole), Dr Gunn (Swinefleet),
Mr S. Peet (Leeds), Colonel Thompson, Mr W. Smith (Potter Grange,
Goole); Mr H. Hobson, Mr R. Andrew, Mr Lillyman, Mr G. Dunn, Mr
G. Denby, and Mr Dennis Pepper, feoffees of Swinefleet [...]
which Mr West had for many years been a member; Mr A. Lamb, Mr R.
Dodd, Mr E. W. Greenwood, Mr G. W. Townend, Mr J. W. Bentley, Mr
A. Blyth, Mr P. Rowe, Mr F. Chambers, Mr B. W. Roulston, Mr W. Armitage,
Mr J. Armitage, Mr I. Jackson, Mr W. Thomson, Mr R. Haldenby, Mr
Hodgson, Mr T. C. Turton, Mr T. Hasselby, Mr W. Methley, Mr G. Thornton,
Mr L. Holmes, Mr Shearsmith, Mr S. Poole, Mr T. Settle, Mr Watson
Cowling, Mr T. Wild, Mr G. Brewins, Mr G. Wild, Mr Pindar, Mr F.
Kay, Mr T. Mell, Mr N. Mell, Mr Cowling, Mr H. Wilson, Mr Butterwick,
Mr T. Fielder, &c.
The corpse was conveyed into the Parish Church, where a short service
was conducted by the Vicar, which was choral and of a most interesting
character. As the company left the church the "Dead March"
in Saul was played on the harmonium by Mrs DeCobain, the wife of
the Vicar. The remains of the deceased gentleman were then conveyed
to the rear of the church where the grave had been prepared. The
large number assembled listened with painful silence to the solemn
ceremony, which was conducted by the Vicar, and the Rev. J. M. Browne
and the Rev. A. H. Hopper. Many were the expressions of sorrow by
those present, and it was felt that on retiring from God's Acre
that a dearly loved friend was being left behind. A wreath was deposited
on the coffin by Mrs Fish, of Swinefleet. The funeral arrangements
were in the hands of Mr T. Wombell, undertaker, of Swinefleet, who
conducted them orderly and with decorum. We are asked to state that
on Sunday morning, the Rev. W. F. Decobain, the Vicar, will make
reference to the demise of Mr West, and in the evening at the Wesleyan
Chapel a memorial service will be held, which will be conducted
by Mr J.A. Barratt, of Snaith.
...
Another article, from the Publishers' Circular,
January 1893
We regret to record the death, on the 6th inst. at his residence
at Swinefleet near Goole, of Mr George West, from congestion of
the lungs. Mr West was an industrious antiquarian, and had for many
years been engaged in topographical researches, as opportunity offered,
at the British Museum and elsewhere, with a view of publishing a
history of that district of Yorkshire mentioned by Camden* as "Ditch-marshe
and Marshland, little Mersh Countries, or River Islands rather,"
and situated on the bank of the river Ouse at the south-eastern
boundary of the great county. His "Methodism in Marshland"
(Wesleyan Conference Office), which was published in 1886, was an
interesting account of the rise and growth of Wesleyanism in a district
frequently visited by John Wesley, being close to the great reformer's
birthplace (Epworth).
Mr West was a frequent contributor to the Yorkshire press under the nom de plume of "Wm de Swinflete," he having for literary purposes adopted the name of a monk of mediaeval times who sprang from that village. He passed through almost every office his neighbours could bestow upon him, in his capacity as a ratepayer (though far from being a wealthy man) or a member of the Wesleyan body, in the ranks of which he was known as an earnest, able local preacher. He was formerly a shoemaker by trade, and, though not rising to world-wide fame, yet fully deserves to be numbered amongst the celebrated members of that trade who have by their own industry, self-denial, and abilities thrown lustre on this occupation. Mr West was in his 65th year.
*William Camden (1551 - 1623): antiquary and historian, author
of 'Britannica', the first comprehensive topographical survey of
England [See D.N.B.].