Church to close doors due to cost of upkeep

Dec 29 2008 by Katie Campling, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

He left to go on a travel assignment as a shorthand writer for American scientists Fowler and Wells, who he met while they were visiting Huddersfield on a lecture tour.

In 1859, he married Jane Norrie in Edinburgh and they had six children, three of which survived into adulthood.

Mr Roberts returned to the Examiner in 1861. While at the paper he was appointed Huddersfield correspondent for the Leeds Mercury, the Halifax Courier and the Manchester Examiner.

While in Huddersfield, Mr Roberts organised preaching events. He gave eight lectures in 1860 at the senior’s schoolroom in East Parade and then Spring Street Academy. On Sundays, he gave outdoor speeches in St George’s Square and Market Place.

In 1864 he moved to Birmingham to set up a reporting and advertising agency but the business failed and he went to work for the Birmingham Daily Post.

The next year, he became shorthand writer for the Birmingham Bankruptcy Court until 1870.

It was then that Dr John Thomas made him editor of the Christadelphian Magazine and paid him a salary.

Mr Roberts died on September 23, 1898.