Sheffield Independent – Wednesday 18 June 1930

Rev. George Hadfield.

A Tribute.

The passing of the Rev George Hadfield at the age of 81 removes from our presence a gracious spirit that it was always pleasure come into contact with.

He used to remind many of the Rev Mr. Lyon, the Congregational minister, who played such prominent part, his story of Felix Halt. Indeed. Mr.Hadfield perhaps belonged more to that period than the later days of his own.

He was through and through through nonconformist and Liberal, and I suspect had not too much sympathy with the later development of Labour in the political world, though I am sure that he ever retained his sympathy with their aspirations for fuller life, and was very conscious of their sufferings.

He was proud of his position, when living in Wombwell, of being president of the Barnsley Liberal Association, and not least of the association it brought him with the then president, Lord Crew, for whoso political sagacity and firm adhesion to the Liberal faith he had great admiration, and not less for his unfailing courtesy and his personal charm. The pleasure must have been mutual one, springing from that appreciation manliness characteristic to both.

I am afraid the later days of his retirement, politically, must have been barren to one who had borne such a part in the light, of militant Nonconformity for its foothold in the State and municipality.

On several occasions when I have visited his church I have been able appreciate the wideness and the depth of his personal influence in Wombwell, his one and only pastorate.

He told me that one of his earliest teachers was my father, when a scholar he attended Howard street Chapel, and it was a pleasure to hear his words of appreciation of the influence he had over his early aspirations, both for the ministry and for public life.

The work thus begun was developed at the Rotherham Independent College, and where he finished his equipment for his life’s work among men.

W G. WELLS