W. R. Ward

He was born in Chesterfield, Derbyshire to Primitive Methodist parents. He studied at Oxford, where he met his future wife, Barbara. He taught at Ruskin College whilst working on his PhD.

Initially, Ward concentrated his studies on eighteenth century British history but the bulk of his work concerned religious history. He was one of the co-editors on the definitive, scholarly edition of John Wesley's works.

He was a Member of the Chetham Society, serving as a Member of Council (1964-2010), Secretary (1964–84), President (1984–92), and Vice-President (1993-2010). He was a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and British Academy and also President of the Ecclesiastical History Society (1970–71).