William Horace HILLARD

HILLARD, WILLIAM HORACE (b. South Yarra, Vic, 2 April 1887; d. 16 April 1951). Anglican missionary clergyman.

After education at the local state school, and theological training at the Theological Hall, Bendigo, Hillard graduated from Ridley College (ThL 1916), was made deacon the same year and priested in 1917. He then returned to the dio of Bendigo, being curate of Koondrook 1917-18, vicar of Golden Square, Bendigo 1918-19, vicar of Kerang 1920-24, rural dean from 1921-24, and rector of Malmsbury, 192425. He married Maud Dicker on 14 May 1925.

In 1925 Hillard and his wife became CMS missionaries and commenced their work in Kenya. For the first ten years they were stationed in Nairobi and the Central Province, and then for the next ten years at Mombasa on the coast. During these twenty years he was the 'Our Own Diocesan Missionary' of the dio of Bendigo, and an honorary canon of Bendigo Cathedral from 1930-46. Because of his outstanding service there with both African and European congregations he was appointed canon of Mombasa Cathedral from 1941-45.

On their retirement from Kenya in 1945 the Mombasa Times paid tribute to their ministry stating that the Canon's 'long ministry in Mombasa was rewarded by a tremendous growth in the African Church, whose roll of communicants now numbers more than 800. A real man of God in the old Evangelical tradition, he was a forceful preacher, a wise counsellor, and a friend of the underdog ... No less will Mrs Hillard he missed' and paid tribute to her work as hostess to the many missionaries and visitors arriving and departing by ship to and from Kenya.

Keith Cole, unpublished ThD MS 'The Growth of the Indigenous Church in Kenya' and refs

KEITH H COLE