The Life And Ministry Of Harold Emanuel Griffiths Part 12 - His Passing

If this is the first post you are reading about Harold Griffiths, or if you want to remind yourself about his life and ministry up to and through World War 2, then please take the time to read these older blogs. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10 and Part 11.
An earlier post also provides a music sheet for hymn music he re-wrote and published.
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The first we read of Harold in 1967 occurs in July.

Harold Griffiths is the man in the middle of the picture at the very back.

The article(1) is about a new church opening in Prestatyn. Harold was one of the guest speakers they invited. The pertinent information about Harold is fairly simple:

"H. Griffiths retired pastor read Psalm 134."

Psalm 134 reads:

"Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord
who minister by night in the house of the Lord.

2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary
and praise the Lord.

3 May the Lord bless you from Zion,
he who is the Maker of heaven and earth." (New International Version.) 

It's a fairly common Psalm to read at church dedications. Short and to the point, encouraging praise and Thanksgiving.

Before moving on, I will also point out that there was a telegram sent by D. Griffiths (Harold's son) from Umtali where he was working as a missionary.

Later in the year there's a simple thanks printed by Harold and his wife Anne.(2)

"Our elder brother, H.E. Griffiths, retired minister, wishes to thank all friends who have prayed for him and his dear wife through their time of illness. Both are now much stronger and praising God for His goodness."

It's the first sign that all was not fully well with the family. Despite them being better at the time of publishing their death is announced only a few months later. Before that announcement, there was one more found in the Redemption Tidings Magazines.(3)

It merely states he was one of the officiating ministers for the funeral of one Cecil Allen on October 6th 1967. This man died within the district that Harold was once Superintendent for. Doubtless, he knew him well. 

Little would he have known that only a month or so later he himself would pass away. (4)

"HAROLD GRIFFITHS WITH THE LORD

Verteran Minister Harold Griffiths died at his home in Stoke-on-Trent on December 7th, after a brief illness. He was 73 years of age. A well-known figure in Pentecostal circles in the Potteries, he was particularly prominent in the Edward Jeffreys revival in the early thirties as pianist and singer. He pioneered Milton Assembly and was its pastor for many years. Our sympathies are with Mrs. Griffiths and the family in their bereavement."

I have a couple of observations to make from this.

Firstly, as of the time of writing this blog I do not possess a death certificate for Harold Griffiths. It's on my list to apply for but right now this blog and the word of his daughter will have to do for attesting to the date of his passing.

Secondly, this has his age as 73, which would make his birth 1894. This confirms the 1911 census record and as far as I can figure out also confirms that the age is wrong on their marriage certificate, though I can't figure out why that would be the case. 

It's not until 1968 that we see tributes for Harold appearing in the Redemption Tidings magazine, but those are for part 13 of this series which will be a tribute to his life, and the final piece I write for now.

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(1) Redemption Tidings Vol 43, July 1967
(2) Redemption Tidings Vol 43, Sept 1967
(3) Redemption Tidings Vol 43, Nov 1967
(4) Redemption Tidings Vol 43, Dec 1967