The funeral of the late Mr. Thomas Surridge, the well-known Rushden local preacher, who passed away at his home at 26, Brookfield Road, Rushden. On Wednesday week at the age of 77 years, took place on Saturday.

A service was held at the Mission Church, with which the deceased gentleman had been connected for so many years, and was attended by many of his associates during his long active and Christian life.

The service was conducted by the Rev. E. E. Bromage (pastor) and the graveside service by the Rev. J. Sinfield (circuit minister).

The hymns “Give me the wings of faith to rise,” and “Peace, Perfect Peace,” were sung, and the Psalm 90 was read.

In a moving address, the Rev. E. E. Bromage said: “A great Christian heart has gone to its reward, a faithful servant has been transplanted to the field of higher service, a leader of mken has gone to serve the leader of all men.”

A resume of his life had of necessity to be brief, for packed closely into Mr. Surridge’s life were many things that could not be told; that could only be revealed at the great revealing day of all.

Mr. Surridge, he said was born 77 years ago, and very early in life he experienced the joy of having sins forgiven. He attended the church at Bozeat, and over 50 years ago attended his first quarterly meeting of the circuit, maintaining for over half a century the closest possible working with that circuit.

"I would have preached there –"

“Only last Saturday afternoon, about this time, he was discussing the future of this circuit,” said Mr. Bromage.

About 50 years ago he began to preach and in 1884 was received as a fully qualified local preacher in the Circuit.

He had heard him say that he had preached to every denomination and in nearly every church in the district, with the exception of one – the Roman Catholic- and he had heard him say “I should have preached there, if they had let me; for I had a great and glorious message to give.”

Appropriately enough, for his last appointment was at Bozeat, but he never attended, preferring to do a kindly service to some friends. The last service he took was at Riseley.

“Over 40 years ago he came to Rushden to commence his life-long service with the present church. First at the High-street and then later, with Mr. John Clark and others, he founded a branch church from High-street first at the Moor-road Schools then in Station-road, and then in the present Wellingborough-road building.

Many Activities

“He was for some time secretary of the church, leader of the class, and 16 or 17 years ago was elected circuit steward in succession to Mr. James Jaques. Further, upon the death of Mr. John Clark, he was elected president of the church. Mr. Surridge was also on the general committee of the Reform Union, vice-president of the Mission Christian Endeavour Organisation.

“Outside, his activities were equally splendid. For many years he was president of the Adult School, a former president of the Free Church Council, and also engaged in visiting work in connection with the Tuberculosis After-Care Committee. He had his sorrows, sorrows that had been borne with true Christian fortitude, and he was a man of strict principle.”

The family mourners were: Mr. J.Surridge and Mrs. Surridge (son and widow), Mr. C. Surridge and Mrs. T. H. Surridge (grandson and daughter-in-law), Mr. A.Surrudge and Mrs. J. Surridge (grandson and daughter-in-law), Mr. J. Craxton and Mrs. S. Craxton (nephew and niece), Mr. A. Willis and Miss B. Drage (nephew and niece), Miss A. Drage and Mrs. M. Wallis (nieces), Mrs. M. Bayes and Mrs. A. Warner (nieces), Mrs. J. Craxton (niece), and Mr. Northrop (friend), and Mr. and Mrs. Dunkley (nephew and niece).

Many Representatives

Representing the Wellingborough-road Mission Church and organizations were: Councillor John Spencer J.P. (Sunday School Superintendant and Society Steward), Mr. I. Twelftree (church steward), Mr. D. Young (church secretary), Mr. J. S. Clipson (church treasurer), Mr. A. Robinson (Christian Endeavour), Messrs. A. Young and C. Panter (band), Mr. E. C. Bandey (Sunday School), Mr. J. Pogson (choir), Mrs. J. Clark (Women’s Auxiliary).

Other representatives were: High-street Independent Wesleyan Church, Messrs. W. Lack, W. Gutteridge, and E. Wrighton; Park-road Wesleyan Church, Alderman C. W. Horrell and Mr. E. Miller; Rushden Free Church Council, Messrs. S. Hunt, E. Harris and G. S. Green; Wellingborough Circuit of the Wesleyan Reform Union, Mr. A. Clapham; Higham Ferrers Wesleyan Methodist Circuit, Rev. F. G. Gray; Rushden Salvation Army, Ensign H. Pankhurst; Congregational Church, Rev. W. R. Leaton and Mrs. J. Newell; Bozeat Independent Wesleyan Church, Mr. E. Wallace (church trustee), Mr. G. Lubbock (choir), Mr. and Mrs. Colclough (Sunday School and Church) and Miss A. Wallace; Wymington Chapel, Mr. C. Dickerson; Wellingborough Alma-street Church, Mesdames E. Wills and G. Sinfield, Miss E. H. Bromage and Messrs H. Clapham, and W. G. Lack; Wellingborough Dickens’ Memorial Hall, Mesdames E. Sargent, E. Cook, and Mr. Dickens and Mr. S. James; Wellingborough Wesleyan Church Mr. W. Ough; Wellingborough Victoria Congregational Church, Mr. W. T. Busby; and Raunds Primitive Methodist Church, Mr. G. W. Parker.

Local organizations represented were; the Rushden Adult School, Messrs C. H. Blunsom and E. A. Harlow (school trustees), Mr. F. Noble (choir), Messrs. F. H. Beesley, W. T. Bettles and C. W. Geary (school) and Mr. G. Parker (social club); Rushden Tuberculosis After-Care Committee, Messrs. J. Greaves and W. Brawn; Morning Star Tent of the Independent Order of Rechabites Messrs. J. T. Mackness and J. Shipman.

The Wreaths

The floral tributes were: In ever loving memory of my dear Husband, from his sorrowing wife; In ever loving memory of dear Granpy, from Emmie, Cliff, Arnie and Doris; In loving memory of dear dad, from John and Nell; With deepest sympathy, from Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Dunkley; We revere his memory, from the Young People’s Circle of Service; With deepest sympathy from the Christian Endeavour; In loving remembrance, from May and Dennis; With deepest Sympathy, from Miss Wykes, Poddington; In ever loving memory of our esteemed president, from the Wellingborough-road Mission Church; With love from Mr. and Mrs. Northrop; In remembrance from Mr. and Mrs. Tassell, senr. and junr; With loving remembrance from all at the Dickens’ Memorial Hall; In ever loving memory of our dear uncle, from John, Flo, Amy, Selina and Ann; With deepest sympathy from members at the Bozeat Church; In ever loving memory, from Mr. and Mrs. Dunkley, Northampton; With deepest sympathy, from his nieces at Olney-road, Bozeat; In loving memory from the Alma-street Church; In remembrance, from Mr. Forman; With deepest sympathy, from the Neighbours; With deepest sympathy from the Rushden Adult School; With deepest sympathy, from T. Whitby and family.