Rev. William Gilbert Marsh

REV. WILLIAM GILBERT MARSH, was born on 28th February 1841 in Hingham, now a suburb of Boston, Massachusetts, USA..

He was the fifth of eight children born to Samuel White Marsh and his wife Susannah and one of four sons..

William was educated at the local grammar school, and later at Derby Academy..

As a young man, William was a keen member of the Providence, Rhode Island Y.M.C.A., and it was because of this association that he was converted to the church in 1865. At this time William was employed as head mason at Woonsocket Print Works, Rhode Island..

In 1867 William started honorary work in connection with the "Church of the Redeemer" in Providence, Rhode Island..

Eighteen months later, in December 1868, he and his close friend Horace Wilcox came to Australia and settled in Melbourne. They remained lifelong friends, Horace going on to become secretary to the old Melbourne Tramway & Omnibus Co. for many years..

Both William & Horace were keen members of the Y.M.C.A.,and in 1872 William was appointed as first general secretary of the Australian Y.M.C.A. During the first six months of his term of office, the membership roll increased from 143 to 390..

It was during this time that he met Emily Ann Newing, and they were married in Melbourne on 3 April 1875. She was born in England but came to Australia with her parents when she was about two..

Just nine months later their first son was born, on 26 January 1876. They named him Henri Horace, and one can assume that he was named after his father's best friend Horace Wilcox..

In 1879 William was chosen to be the delegate from Australasia to Y.M.C.A. and Christian Endeavour Conventions in the U.S.A. In 1885 he visited the Boston Y.M.C.A. with his wife and daughter Mabel Elizabeth. On his return, William retired from the Y.M.C.A. and was ordained deacon in St. Peters Church, Melbourne..

The following year he was priest in Christ Church pro-Cathedral, Ballarat, and for five years conducted successful missions in all the chief cities and towns in Victoria. In 1890, owing to failing strength after the great strain these labours entailed, the Bishop of Melbourne, Dr. Goe, suggested a change and rest in some quiet and healthy parish. A living at Lara, near Geelong was found him, and for two years he 'rested' there..

In 1892 the Bishop offered him the position of organising chaplain for the Bishop of Melbourne Fund, and this position he held until 1896. It was while holding this office that he organised the great diocesan festival which was so popular for many years. He was offered the position at St. Albans, Armadale, and after four months of most successful and courageous work in 1896, a call came from St. Luke's Church, Whitmore Square, Adelaide. After much anxious thought and the rending of many ties he accepted and was duly inducted by the Bishop of Adelaide as rector of the Parish..

In 1901 William was appointed sole representative for Australia and New Zealand in connection with the jubilee celebrations of American and Canadian Y.M.C.A.'s at Boston, and sole delegate to the International Christian Endeavour Convention held in Cincinnati. William left St. Lukes Church in 1905, and I have no idea of his movements until 1921 when he took his last trip to America. At this time he was said to have been still "wonderfully active" at the age of 80..

From "The Builders' & Contractors' Weekly Gazette" from June 1921 to December 1928, detailing the Architectural Practice of F. Kenneth Milne & Evans" we read "August 14 1922, Vol. 1, No. 62 Building Residence at Mitcham for Rev. W.G. Marsh." This was at 1 Barnard Street, Lower Mitcham, and the name of the house was Hingham, after his birthplace. On 1st June 1928, William was presented with a large medallion by the Duke of Leinster Lodge I.C., one of a number of such medallions in the posession of my father Mortimer Marsh. Later the same year he died..

The trip to America in 1921 was recorded in a diary by his daughter, Mabel.[1]