South Yorkshire Times, January 3rd 1902
The Rectorship of Barnburgh.
The Rev. W. R. Hartley, who has been presented by the Lord Chancellor to the Rectory of Barnburgh, was ordained deacon in September, 1885, by Bishop Lightfoot, at Barnard Castle and priest in the following year at Durham Cathedral by his Lordship.
He was licensed to the curacy at Christ Church, Felling-on-Tyne, which is separated by the river Tyne from the city of Newcastle. He remained in this poor and populous parish, the inhabitants of which were chiefly coal miners and operatives in chemical works, until Christmas, 1587.
A change had become desirable on the grounds of health, and. Mr. Hartley accepted an assistant curacy with Canon Addison, of Holy Trinity, Ossett-cum-Gawthorpe, in the diocese of Wakefield. In this parish his work was much appreciated by the population which is in a great degree working-class, and composed of coal miners and factory operatives.
In 1892 the Earl of Halsbury, who was then likewise Lord Chancellor, offered to him the benefice of Rookhope, and here Mr. Hartley as laboured indefatigably against strenuous opposition, among six inhabitants, was chiefly led miners.
He is a licentiate in theology, and Master of Arts of Hatfield Hall, Durham. The living is rectory valued at £680