DEATH OF CANON WEBB

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1026, 20 October 1903, Page 2

DEATH OF CANON WEBB

(Per Press Association.) Napier, last night. News was received in town this evening of the death at Ormondville of Canon A. S. Webb, who has been Anglican minister of the Ormondville parish for many years, and who was also for a time stationed at Gisborne. Deceased will be accorded a military funeral.

The Rev. Canon Webb was well known in this district, having for many years been vicar of Holy Trinity Church, from which position ho resigned about two years ago. He was born at Portsmouth, England, and was a Master of Arts of St. John’s College, Cambridge. He was ordained deacon in 1861 by the Bishop of Winchester, and priest in the following year. After serving in curacies at Portsmouth, Bath, Ripley, Surrey, and Birmingham, he was appointed vicar of Stockingford, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, in 1871. In July 1881 Canon Webb lauded in New Zealand, and commenced his colonial ministry in the Seventy-mile Bush, where ho had charge of the townships of Ormondville, Makotuku, Norsewood, Matamau, and Kopua. During his charge of that district the Church of St. Saviour’s, Makotuku, was built, and the Church of the Epiphany, Ormondville, was re built and greatly enlarged. In 1892 Canon Webb was appointed vicar of Gisborne, which office he held for many years. An ardent and conscientious churchman, ho made many friends in this district, and before he resigned from the Holy Trinity Church he had the pleasure of seeing it free of debt. From Gisborne he returned to Ormondvillo, wliero ho had previously ministered. Canon Webb took a leading part in the several prohibition campaigns fought in this district, and was for many years President of the Waiapu Prohibition League. In the cause of temperance he worked unceasingly, but always fairly, and in a manner that won for him the admiration of even those who were opposed to him. We feel sure that the public of Gisboruo will hear with deep regret of his demise, and the sympathy of all will be extended Mrs Webb and family in their sad bereavement.