Thomas Albert Chalker

• Last Name: Chalker
• First Name: Thomas Albert
• Date of Birth: 1850
• Place of Birth: Keinton Mandeville, Somerset, England
• Parents – Father: John Chalker
• Parents – Mother: Ellen Moodie
• Name of Spouse: Sarah Anne
• Marriage Date:
• Marriage Place:
• Date of Death: 21 Jan 1899 age 48
• Place of Death: Shawbury, Cape

Notes: DN 630/1899. 1851 Census of Keinton Mandeville, Somerset. Children, all minors:

• John Robert Evelyn Chalker
  
• Annie Margaret Ellen
  
• Agatha Elizabeth
  
• Victoria Alberta
  

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Thomas Albert Chalker, who was born in 1851, at Keinton, Mandeville in the Glastonbury Circuit. Like Timothy, the faith, which dwelt in him, dwelt first in his grandmother, and his mother to a remarkable degree. His father was for over half a century a Local Preacher, and for 40 years a Class Leader. Mr CHALKER was the child of many prayers, and dedicated to God from his infancy, hence, it is not surprising to learn that he always had a reverence for Religion. When about 14 years of age; and before he left the home of his childhood to engage in business, he yielded himself up to the service of God. In this important event his mother was the chief human agent.

He preached his first sermon in 1868, being then 17 years old; and became in due course a duly qualified and highly esteemed Local Preacher.

When the call of God came for him to devote himself wholly to the work of the Ministry; it was not hastily responded to, as many and seemingly insurmountable difficulties were in the way. He and his Godly parents, however, gave themselves to prayer, and in His own time, God opened the way, and he was accepted as a candidate for the Wesleyan Methodist Ministry in 1874, and being designated for Foreign work was sent to Richmond College, where he spent two happy years.

He was one of the party of Preachers who came to South Africa in the “Windsor Castle” which was wrecked on Dassen Island. From the day he landed he threw himself heartily into the work of his life, of which work he had a high ideal. He boldly faced the problems the Church in this land had to solve, and not only made himself familiar with them, but on many of them he had clear and strong convictions. He understood and loved Methodist Discipline, and administrated it with ability and faithfulness. He had the pen of a ready writer, and some of the best columns of the South African Methodist papers were from his hand.

By those who were privileged to be his Colleagues, he was greatly respected and beloved, and none but those who had come into heart contact with him really knew him. A certain restraint of manner, hid from many the great deeps which lay behind; depths of affection, of meekness, of humanity, undreamt of by those who saw the outside only. He possessed a mind of no ordinary power. He was a good preacher and had great business ability which he used ungrudgingly in the service of the Church.

His end was Peace. He literally “ceased at one to work and live”. At the close of the Synod of which he had been the efficient Secretary, having completed the Minutes, he had a short time of friendly intercourse with his brethren. Seized by pain he retired to his room, in which shortly afterwards, in spite of all that loving care could do, he quietly breathed his last in the Mission House at Shawbury on Saturday evening, Jan 21st, 1899, in the 48th year of his age, and the 25th of his Ministry.

From Minutes of the Seventeenth Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of South Africa. 1899, Pages 11 & 12 http://www.britishonlinearchives.co.uk/page.php?did=72092msc1899&pa...

became a local preacher and an earnest worker in Cape Coast Circuit In 1885 ... in charge Gold Coast District Book Room remained years In 1893 received a Candidate our Ministry and sent to Training Institution year By diligent study prepared duties Ministry and at Conference 1894 accepted Preacher on Trial laboured years in Cape Coast Circuit and at Synod 1897 appointed to charge Chama Circuit laboured devotion and earnestness a preacher acceptable and useful sermons carefully pre pared and delivered great fervour lived God and God modesty and humility remarkable ministerial career brief marked by faithfulness and devotion preparing annual District Synod suddenly attacked by palpitation heart and weeks illness in spite skilful medical aid passed on January 1899 conflicts time to triumphs eternity in thirty fourth year age and fifth ministry THOMAS ALBERT CHALKER born in 1851 at Keinton Mandeville in Glastonbury Circuit child prayers and dedicated to God infancy a reverence religion and about fourteen years age yielded to service God In important event mother chief human agent preached first sermon in 1868 being seventeen years old and became a highly esteemed local preacher accepted a Candidate Ministry in 1874 and spent happy years at Richmond College party preachers sailed to South Africa in Windsor Castle wrecked on Dassen Island day arrival threw heartily into work life a high ideal boldly