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[ transcription of Obituary Notice in the Year Book of the Congregational Union of England & Wales for 1943, page 441, from a copy in Dr Williams's Library, London ]
WATSON, CHARLES ERNEST, A.T.S., was born at Cleethorpes on October 28, 1869. He was brought up in the Church of England but became a convinced Congregationalist: he held to the end of his life a very clear spiritual ideal of the fellowship of the church. This ideal was at the base of all his pastoral work. He was trained at Lancashire College under Caleb Scott, and he obtained the diploma of the Senatus Academicus. His first pastorate was at Lymm, 1898-1903, and from there he went to Oakhill, 1903-09. In 1909 he entered on his long pastorate of thirty-three years, 1909-42, at Rodborough Tabernacle, Gloucestershire.
At Rodborough Mr Watson did his life's work, beloved by a faithful and loyal people and by his young folk who rallied round him and were one of the great joys of his ministry. In 1921 he was chairman of the Gloucester and Hereford Union, and from 1917-1935 the secretary of the Gloucester and Cheltenham district of that Union. He was also for many years the Free Church representative on the Gloucestershire County Council Education Committee. In the Stroud Valley he held, at one time and another, every position of honour which the Free Churches could confer upon him. His name will long be remembered in Gloucestershire; and on the Cotswolds he is likely to become a tradition as "Watson of Rodborough". His pastorate at the Tabernacle was one of very high distinction.
Mr Watson was great as a friend, and his personality had a wonderful charm. He was a man of very wide culture and of the most varied interests. He had a sound knowledge of liturgiology and was also a trained archaeologist. His "Rodborough Bede Book" is one of the best service books of recent years. But all these interests were only by the way; his real work was the ministry, and he died literally worn out in the service of Christ. He passed away August 1, 1942, and was buried in the Tabernacle burial ground. The funeral service was conducted by the Revd Robert Nott, of Ebley, and the Revd Alan Beesley, the assistant minister at the Tabernacle and now Mr Watson's successor in the pastorate.
Mr Watson is survived by his wife, one son, one daughter, three step-daughters, and one step-son.
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(The Rejoice & Sing Enchiridion:edited by David Goodall; last amended 19/5/03)