PASTOR FROM FLORIDA RETURNS TO POTTERIES

A FORMER local coal  merchant and haulage contractor who gave up his business to enter a full-time gospel ministry has returned to North Staffordshire after more than 13 years in the United States.

The Rev. Charles H. Harthern and his wife will be taking charge of the Assembly of  God Community Church in Franklin Road. Penkhull. They plan to build a new auditorium when sufficient funds are available.  During their time in America, Mr. and Mrs. Harthern were pastors of Churches in Tallahassee. Florida, and helped build a new church in Norfolk. Virginia, costing over 80,000 dollars.

In their last church at Port St. Joe, Florida, they raised a company of Christian Cadets - boys and girls aged from five to 12 - who appeared on television and radio and in many churches.

Their campaigns

Mr. and Mrs. Harthern traveled thousands of miles throughout the United States, holding revivals in Florida, Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri , North and South Carolina, Alabama and New York. as well as in Canada and the Bahamas.

The couple have two sons who are pastors in the U.S. - the Rev. Roy A. Harthern, a former pupil of Newcastle High School, of the Calvary Assembly of God Church. West Palm and the Rev. Paul H. Harthern, of Pinedale Assembly of God Church Clanton, Alabama.

Mr. Harthern was founder and proprietor of Mason’s Coal Service and Haulage Contractors, and ran the business for 30 years before giving it up to enter the ministry.

He received his Doctorate of Divinity from the Clarksville School of Theology, Nashville, Tennessee.

His travels have taken him to Norway, France, Switzerland. Greece, Egypt, Jordania and Israel where he attended the trial of Adolph Eichmann.

Mr. and Mrs. Harthern are residing temporarily at 8, Manor-court, Penkhull.  

Staffordshire Evening Sentinel newspaper - April 1964