William KELYNACK

KELYNACK, WILLIAM (b. Penzance, Cornwall, England, 1831; d. Sydney, NSW, 1 Nov 1891). Methodist preacher.

Converted early, William Kelynack became a local preacher while still a youth, was accepted for the Wesleyan ministry in 1854 and came to NSW as one of the first band of young preachers sent out from England to aid the newly independent Australian Conference. He ministered in several of the larger country and city circuits, revelling in the hard work of travelling long distances on horseback to perform his pastoral and preaching duties, was president of the NSW Wesleyan Conference in 1880, secretary of the Wesleyan Missionary Society from 1882-7, president of Newington College from 1887 to his death and was also president of the General Conference at his death.

Kelynack was Methodism's 'silver-haired, silver tongued orator' and his sermons were noted for their 'graceful and telling' evangelism, supported by 'beautiful and appropriate illustrations'. A constant seeker after revival, he was possibly the finest preacher produced by NSW Methodism in the nineteenth century.

Minutes of NSW Conference of Wesleyan Methodist Church of Australia, 1892; Weekly Advocate,14 Nov 1891, article by John Watsford

DON WRIGHT