William Townsend Coopland STORRS

STORRS, WILLIAM TOWNSEND COOPLAND (b. England, 29 Oct 1862; d. Surrey Hills, Vic, 31 Aug 1953). Anglican clergyman.

Storrs was educated at Bradford Grammar School and Cambridge (BA 1885, MA 1889). Ordained deacon 1886, and priest 1887, he ministered at Silloth in Cumberland, Hampstead Heath and Guildford in Surrey. Arriving in Vic in 1893 he was curate of St Stephen's, Richmond 1893-5, incumbent of St Matthew's, Prahran 1895-1926, and of St John's, Heidelberg 1926-35, when he retired. Storrs gave much of his time and energy forwarding the work of the CMA/CMS. He was on CMS committees for more than 50 years, being a founding member of the first CMA Committee from 1892 and a member of the first CMS Federal Council in 1916. He was also a founding member of Ridley College in 1910. Storr's father had been a strong, autocratic Christian, and a CMS missionary in India, who had a very strong influence on him. His marriage to Adelaide Laura (née Propsting) was tremendously good and helpful. She was wise, big-minded, and gentle but firm. His long career at St Matthew's Prahran, was the most outstanding ministry of his life. For 14 years he was Chairman of the Katoomba Convention. He was a deeply convinced evangelical with warm ecumenical relationships, but absolutely loyal to the Church of England. He was a good and earnest preacher and a number of people went out for CMS mission service from St Matthew's during his ministry, including his daughter Christabel, who was married to the Rev L J Bakewell (q.v.).

Information supplied by his daughter, Mrs C Bakewell; Keith Cole, A History of the Church Missionary Society of Australia (1971)

KEITH COLE