Irish missionary to India. His father was the Rev. Henry J F Ranson, born at Cootehilll, Co. Cavan on 24 September 1866, the son of a farmer, who entered the ministry in 1891 and died inLondonderry on 18 December 1947.
His son, Charles W. Ranson was born at Ballyclare, Co. Antrim on 15 June 1903. Educated at Methodist College, Belfast and Oriel College, Oxford, he went to India in 1929. He was secretary of the National Christian Council of India, Burma and Ceylon, 1943-1945, and of the International Missionary Council, 1946-1958, Director of the IMC's Theological Education Fund, 1958-1962, and professor, then Dean, at Drew University, NJ, 1962-1968. He was President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, 1961-1962. He wrote A City in Transit: Studies in the Social Life of Madras (1938) and The Christian Minister in India (1945). He died in Florida on 23 January 1988.