William Sinclair (archdeacon of London)

William Macdonald Sinclair FRGS (1850–1917) was an eminent Anglican priest and author in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Birth and education

He was born into an ecclesiastical family on 3 June 1850, his father was the Rev. William Sinclair, Prebendary of Chichester, 5th son of Sir John Sinclair, 1st Baronet.^[1] and educated at Repton School and Balliol College, Oxford.

Career

Sinclair was ordained in 1876. His first post was as assistant minister at the Quebec Chapel, Marylebone after which he was resident chaplain to the Bishop of London. He was appointed vicar of St Stephen's, Westminster in 1880 and Archdeacon of London in 1889.^[2] In 1892 he succeeded Walter Purton as editor of the Churchman, filling the post until 1901, when he was succeeded by Augustus Robert Buckland.^[3]

He was elected to the London School Board as one of the representatives of the Westminster Division in 1885.^[4]

He was appointed acting chaplain to the 21st Middlesex Rifle Volunteer Corps on 31 January 1900, and was commissioned as a fourth class chaplain (ranking as a captain) when the Territorial Force (TF) was formed on 1 April 1908.^[5]^[6] He became chaplain to the City of London Yeomanry (Rough Riders) in the TF on 31 January 1910, as Third Class Chaplain (ranking as a Major).^[7]

His last clerical appointment was as rector of Shermanbury (1911–1915).^[8] An Honorary Chaplain to the King, he died on 4 December 1917.

Private life

He was a keen Freemason and was appointed in 1894 to the senior position of Grand Chaplain in the United Grand Lodge of England.^[9]

Works

His published works include:^[10]

The Psalms: The Authorised Version in the Original Rhythm, 1879;
Lessons on the Gospel of St John, 1882;
The Servant of Christ, 1891;
Words to the Laity, 1895;
Simplicity in Christ, 1896;
Difficulties of our Day, 1905 and
Memorials of St Paul’s Cathedral; The Chapels Royal, 1912

References

^ "Sinclair, Ven. William Macdonald". Who's Who. A & C Black. 1 December 2007. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ The Archdeaconry Of London The Times Wednesday, 15 May 1889; pg. 9; Issue 32699; col C
^ "The First Century of The Churchman" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
^ "The London School Board. Result of the Polls". The Morning Post. 4 November 1885. p. 5.
^ "No. 27159". The London Gazette. 30 January 1900. p. 605.
^ "No. 28273". The London Gazette. 23 July 1909. p. 5627.
^ Monthly Army List.
^ "The Clergy List" London Kelly’s, 1913
^ Horsley (The Rev'd Canon), JW (1906). "Notes on the Grand Chaplains of England". Ars Quatuor Coronatorum. Vol. 19. London: Quatuor Coronati Correspondence Circle Ltd. p. 194.
^ British Library web site accessed 13:08 GMT Friday 30 July 2010

Church of England titles
Preceded by Edwin Hamilton Gifford	Archdeacon of London 1889 – 1911	Succeeded by Ernest Edward Holmes

[1] "Sinclair, Ven. William Macdonald". Who's Who. A & C Black. 1 December 2007. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[2] The Archdeaconry Of London The Times Wednesday, 15 May 1889; pg. 9; Issue 32699; col C

[3] "The First Century of The Churchman" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013.

[1885results-4] "The London School Board. Result of the Polls". The Morning Post. 4 November 1885. p. 5.

[5] "No. 27159". The London Gazette. 30 January 1900. p. 605.

[6] "No. 28273". The London Gazette. 23 July 1909. p. 5627.

[7] Monthly Army List.

[8] "The Clergy List" London Kelly’s, 1913

[QC19-9] Horsley (The Rev'd Canon), JW (1906). "Notes on the Grand Chaplains of England". Ars Quatuor Coronatorum. Vol. 19. London: Quatuor Coronati Correspondence Circle Ltd. p. 194.

[10] British Library web site accessed 13:08 GMT Friday 30 July 2010

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v t e Archdeacons of London and of Charing Cross
High Medieval	Edward Reinger William de Beaumis Hugh de Mareni Nicholas Peter de Waltham Alard de Burnham Peter of Blois Walter Gilbert de Plesseto William of Sainte-Mère-Église Geoffrey de Lucy William de Rising Peter de Newport John Chishull William Passemer Geoffrey de Mortuo Mari Richard Swinefield Robert de Ros Richard de Gravesend
Late Medieval	John de Bedford John de Sancto Claro Peter de Dene Bego de Cavomonte Reginald de Sancto Albano Hélie de Talleyrand-Périgord Richard de Aston Pontius de Podio Barzaco Itherius de Concoreto Edmund Howard John of Thoresby Richard Kilvington Peter Cardinal du Cros James de Beaufort John Barnet Fortanerius Vassalli, Patriarch of Grado Adam de Hertington Thomas Baketon Thomas Stowe Reginald Kentwood John Snell Richard Moresby William Fallan Richard Martyn John de Gigliis John Forster Pedro de Ayala William Horsey John Young, suffragan bishop Geoffrey Wharton William Cliffe Thomas Bedyll Richard Gwent
Early modern	Edward Moylle John Wymmesley John Harpsfield John Mullins Theophilus Aylmer Thomas Paske John Dolben Thomas Lamplugh Edward Stillingfleet Thomas Tenison William Stanley Robert Tyrwhit Edward Cobden John Jortin Anthony Hamilton Richard Beadon William Bingham Joseph Pott William Hale
Late modern	Piers Claughton Edwin Gifford William Sinclair Ernest Holmes Ernest Sharpe Oswin Gibbs-Smith George Appleton Martin Sullivan Sam Woodhouse Frank Harvey George Cassidy Peter Delaney David Meara Nick Mercer Luke Miller
Charing Cross	John Klyberg Bill Jacob Rosemary Lain-Priestley, Archdeacon for the Two Cities Adam Atkinson Katherine Hedderly

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