Reverend John Dunbar 1887–1888 Reverend John Dunbar (1856–1925): His father was John Dunbar (born 1820 in Ireland), a bootmaker employing one person in 1861. His mother was Susan Smith (born 1819 in Bolton), working in the manufacture of buckets and hose in the same year, when they were living at 26 Blair Street,
Toxteth Park, Liverpool. They married in 1842 in West Derby. John, the youngest of five siblings, was born in
Liverpool in 1856. The 1871 Census finds the family at the same address, with only two of John's siblings present: a pupil teacher and an apprentice watchmaker. He graduated from
St Aidan's College, Durham 1878. He was ordained
deacon 1880, and
priest 1881 by the
Bishop of Chester. He was curate of
St Peter's Church, Rock Ferry,
Birkenhead 1880–1884. The 1881 Census finds him still single at age 23 years, as a boarder at 132 Conway Street, Birkenhead. He married Annie Dean (1853–1891) in the
Wirral in 1883. He was curate of
St Peter's Church, Huddersfield 1884–1887. In 1887 the vicar of St Peter's, Rev. J.W. Bardsley, said that Dunbar's work at the Mission Church, Huddersfield, had been "most prosperous." He said that Dunbar preached "thorough, simple, faithful, gospel sermons, was a first rate parish priest, understood something of the feeling of the brotherhood of man, gave a good grip of the hand, and had a habit of getting round people in a very remarkable way." From Wednesday 7 November to Saturday 10 November 1888, a bazaar was held in the Town Hall. It raised gross receipts of £1,400 towards the endowment of the church. It was well-attended, with a final auction of remaining goods on the last day. The bazaar was one of the last contributions of John Dunbar while vicar of St Mark's. He transferred to St Stephen,
Rashcliffe, and served there from November 1888 until at least 1911. Annie died, possibly in childbirth, around February 1891, In 1901 he was 44, still living at St Stephen's vicarage in Victoria Road, Rashcliffe, Huddersfield, with the children now aged ten to 16, and two sisters-in-law with surname Dean. In 1911 at age 53 he was still vicar of Rashcliffe and still at the 12-room vicarage. He was living with his medical student son Leslie aged 23, his two sisters-in-law, a niece and two servants. His daughter Ursula had died in 1908, aged 17. He later became vicar of
Helme,
Meltham. He died at Helme vicarage on 30 January 1925 at Huddersfield, aged 68 years. There was a memorial service at Helme Church on 2 February 1925 followed by his funeral at Huddersfield Cemetery.
Canon Percy Holbrook 1888–1891 Canon Percy Holbrook MA (1859–1946): He was born in
Reading, Berkshire, England, the son of a silk mercer or
draper. He was vicar of the St Mark's 1888–1891, and
Holy Trinity Church, Trinity Square,
Nottingham 1892–1933, and was Hon. Canon of
Woodborough in
Southwark Cathedral from 1911. During his working life he chaired and supported numerous church and charitable organizations. The
Nottingham Post said of him that he "had original ideas and courage to express them," and that "he endeared himself to successive generations of parishioners and citizens ... He was an eloquent preacher, a wise and gentle counsellor, and an understanding friend."
Rev Thomas Killam-Killam 1891–1897 Reverend Thomas Killam-Killam MA (1860–1938): His father was William Parkin Killam (b.1831), a corn miller from Lincolnshire. His mother was Hannah Martin (b.1836). He was born the eldest of six children in
Cowick near
Hull. He attended Chancellor's School,
Lincoln, and
Pembroke College, Oxford. He was ordained deacon in 1883, and priest in 1885. In 1891 the Census listed him as a clerk in holy orders, boarding at 12 Victoria Road, Lockwood, Huddersfield. He was vicar of St Mark's 1892–1897, living at 6 George Street. In 1897 the Bishop of Wakefield offered him the benefice of the new parish of St Barnabas, Crosland Moor, Huddersfield. The church was not completed and consecrated until 1902. He was vicar of Crosland Moor 1897 to 1934 when he retired having completed 50 years as a priest in the Wakefield diocese. The 1911 Census finds him single at age 52, living with his housekeeper at the six-room
Crosland Moor vicarage, Huddersfield. At the age of 70, he married Mary Morse Davies (1879–1945) in Huddersfield in 1928, when Mary was about 49 years old. Her father was the Rev. J. Davies, vicar of Newsome. He died at his home in Grasmere Road, Huddersfield aged 80 on Wednesday 31 August 1938. He was buried at Lockwood on Saturday 3 September after a service at St Barnabas. The vicar Rev. C.F. Welsh and Canon H.F.T. Barter, Rural Dean, officiated at the service. At the graveside were Killam's brother-in-law Rev. J.C. Davies of Copthorne, Worcestershire, and Archdeacon Albert Baines. The choir acted as bearers. A number of relatives attended as mourners, including his widow, brother and sister. His wife Mary died aged 64 in 1945 in Huddersfield.
George Sydney Dunbar, curate 1894–1896 Reverend George Sydney Dunbar (1871–1947): His father was George Samuel Dunbar (1846–1897), born in Liverpool. Between 1869 and 1883, George Samuel was curate of
Slaidburn,
Pontefract and
Marske-by-the-Sea, then vicar of
Eastrington. George Sydney's mother was Elizabeth Mellor Storey (born Liverpool 1847). George Samuel and Elizabeth married in the Wirral in 1870. George Sydney was born the eldest of five children in 1871 in
Slaidburn, Lancashire. Like his father he studied at
St Bees Theological College,
Cumberland and graduated in 1893. He achieved a 1st class prelim T.E. in 1894. He was ordained deacon in 1894, and was ordained priest at
Wakefield Cathedral by the
Bishop of Wakefield on 1 March 1896. He was curate of St Mark's Huddersfield 1894–1896. He was curate of
St Stephen Birmingham 1896–1900, and
St Anne's Church, Derby 1900–1905. The 1901 Census finds him living with his wife and family at 92 Kedlestone Road,
Derby. 1919–1922; St Peter
Acton Green, London from 1927 to at least 1932. He died aged 75 in 1947 in
Kensington.
Reverend Robert Alfred Humble 1897–1901 Reverend Robert Alfred Humble BA (1864–1929) was an Anglican priest, born in
Heathery Cleugh,
Weardale, Durham, England. His father was Reverend Emerson Humble (1837–1901). His career was marked with much pastoral work, including organising local fundraising events and meals for the elderly. He contributed to the work of committees, and joined in local social events, being a member of his church's cricket team. It is in this context of sociability and regular work among his congregation that the events surrounding the delayed discovery of his death, mentioned in several newspapers, remain a puzzle. Having suffered a seizure, he apparently lay openly on a flower bed in his vicarage garden on a dark February night, while his congregation spent 11 hours searching for him on the adjacent moorland. He was vicar of St Mark's 1897–1901. Abraham and Sarah married in Norwich in 1847. He was born in
Norwich in 1855. He graduated from St Bees 1882, ordained deacon in 1884 and priest 1885 by the Bishop of Liverpool. He was made curate of St Silas, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, 1884–1886; St Andrew Liverpool 1886–1888; St Paul Old Ford Middlesex 1888–1890. In Honiton in 1888 he married Minnie Hook (1861–1900). The 1891 Census finds James and Minnie living alone with a servant at 18 Parker's Road, Sheffield. He was vicar of Christ Church,
Silloth,
Cumbria 1890–1901. He was the Associate Secretary for CCCS for the north-east district 1890–1899. In Huddersfield in 1904 he married Martha Elizabeth Storry (1855–1942). In 1905 he became rector of
Steeple Gidding, and was there at least until 1908. James died aged 62 of heart failure following an operation, on 24 August 1917 at
Brighton. His wife Martha died in 1942 in
Bournemouth, aged 87.
Reverend Jonas Pilling 1905–1921 Reverend Jonas Pilling (1855–1926) was vicar of St Mark's from 1905 to 1921. He was the notorious subject of many newspaper articles about the 14-year dispute between Pilling and his congregation, the absence of churchwardens, other officials and choir, the dwindling of his congregation and the dereliction of the church building. This occurred in an industrial environment of great poverty, where there was "plenty of scope for church work."
Reverend Joseph Miller 1929–1931 Reverend Joseph Miller
BD (b.1874) was a
Congregational minister, much in demand as an "eloquent preacher" for 14 years in the north of England. While in
Hamburg during his ministry he "rendered valuable assistance to his countrymen in distress" following a call from the
American Embassy there. However, in 1929 he "created a sensation" by becoming an
Anglican priest. His first Anglican
incumbency was as vicar of St Mark's Church, from 1929 to 1931. ==References==