William Pennefather

William Pennefather (1816-1873) was an Irish Anglican cleric who spent most of his adult life in England, and was celebrated for his hymns and sermons, and also for his missionary activity.

He was born in Dublin, youngest son of the immensely respected judge Richard Pennefather, and his wife Jane Bennet. He went to school first in Dublin, then to a private school at Westbury on Trym near Bristol, where he was nicknamed "the saintly boy". Due to his chronic ill-health he was then placed with a private tutor, Mr Stephens, at Levens, near Kendal. He entered Trinity College, Dublin in 1834 but due to his constant health problems he did not matriculate until 1840.

Career

He entered holy orders in 1842. He became curate of Ballymacash, near Lisburn, in 1843 and of Mellifont the following year. During the Great Irish Famine he was noted for his charity to all those who lived in his parish, regardless of whether they were Catholics or Protestants.

In 1848 he was appointed vicar of Holy Trinity, Walton, near Aylesbury. This was a very difficult parish to work in as he had no vicarage and the income was small, but he is said to have gained the trust and respect of his parishioners. In 1852 he was transferred to Christ Church, Barnet, where he rapidly built up a considerable influence. His house in Barnet became a meeting place for evangelicals of all social classes and walks of life "from noblemen to farmers", and he began a famous series of conferences on missionary work. In 1864 he was transferred to St. Jude's Church, Mildmay Park, Islington, where he continued to hold conferences on missionary work until his sudden death on 30 April 1873. The conference hall at Mildmay which he founded became the centre for several missionary organisations.

Christ Church, Barnet- William was vicar here from 1852 to 1864.

He was remembered as one of the most influential mission preachers of his time. He was the author of numerous hymns, of which probably the best-known is "Jesus, Stand Among Us", and also published several books of sermons.

Catherine King Pennefather

William married in 1847 Catherine King, daughter of Rear-Admiral James William King ( younger son of Robert King, 2nd Earl of Kingston) and his wife Caroline Cleaver; on her mother's side Catherine was a grand-daughter of Euseby Cleaver, Archbishop of Dublin from 1809 to 1819. She survived William by many years, and died in 1893. She participated fully in her husband's work and was regarded as an organiser and administrator no less capable than he. She also wrote several hymns. They had no children.

References

• Buckland, Augustus Richard "William Pennefather" Dictionary of National Biography 1885-1900 Vol. 44 p. 327
• Ball, F. Elrington The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921 London John Murray 1926