Rev W G Kimber

Rev William Kimber
- a missionary from Basingstoke

William George Kimber was born in 1884 and grew up in Jubilee Road, Basingstoke. His father, a farrier with the Army Service Corps, served in Egypt and South Africa during the Zulu wars. William was baptised, confirmed, and took his first communion at St Michael’s Church. When All Saints Church was established in 1902, his family began worshipping there, and William joined them.

As a young man, William felt a strong calling to the Priesthood and dreamed of serving in a distant land. While working in the grocery trade in Horsham, he longed to dedicate his life to the ministry. He trained at St Boniface's Theological College in Warminster from 1907 to 1910. After completing his studies, he went to Georgetown in British Guiana (now Guyana), where he was ordained as a Deacon in 1910 and later as a Priest. He served at the cathedral and was in charge of a district church.

In May 1913, William was appointed priest-in-charge of the Demerara River district. His parish included several scattered stations, with headquarters at Wismar, 70 miles from Georgetown. The district had small churches, schools, and rest houses in places like Dalgin, Muritaro, Mallale, St. Augustine's, and the romantic mission of Kenaimapu. The area was inhabited by Bovianders, Indians, and other locals, many of whom were farmers or timber workers. They travelled long distances by boat to attend church, and William visited them in their homes.

The Bishop insisted that William maintain a boat to cover his wide district. His new home at the parsonage in Wismar was in poor condition, but since he was rarely home, it wasn't a major concern. His stipend was £250 per year, with additional allowances for travel and parsonage maintenance.

In 1913, at the end of his time in Georgetown, William was honoured at a parish tea with 700 attendees. He received a portable altar, candlesticks, vases, a cross, a solid silver chalice, a wafer box, a silver spoon, and linen from Sir Thomas Crossley-Rayner, the Chief Justice.

William held several important posts in Guyana and served as the domestic chaplain to the Bishop of Trinidad. In June 1918, the Basingstoke Parish Magazine reported that his former principal at St. Boniface's College had been appointed as the new bishop. William moved to Port of Spain, Trinidad, and later became the Rural Dean of Essequibo. During his furloughs in England, he worked for the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (SPG) and preached at St Michael's and All Saints in Basingstoke.

William married May Veecock, a teacher from the West Indies, but they had no children. In February 1934, he wrote to thank Miss Cannon, a member of All Saints' congregation, for a £5 gift. He described the severe floods that had devastated the colony, causing significant loss and damage. William and his wife waded through the water in bathing suits to provide relief, distributing food and clothing to those in need.

William passed away after a minor operation in 1934. His obituary praised his noble life and dedication to Christ's call. A memorial window in All Saints Church, dedicated on 19th February 1935, honours William and his parents. The window, given by his widow and family and reflects William’s Theological College training by featuring St Boniface, the Apostle of Friesland, who died a martyr after a successful ministry of 37 years. A plaque was later added in memory of William's sister, Lily May Kimber.

The source of the material from which these notes are adapted is not credited; the original draws on some information from a report in the 17th May 1913 edition of the Hampshire Observer.