Douglas Bay, Isle of ManBy Neil Howard, via Flickr

Rev John Willis

Born 7 September 1864 on the Isle of Man, eighth child and first surviving child of John Willis and Elizabeth his wife. Residing with his parents in the 1871 and 1881 censuses, and at Oxford in 1891. Educated at Douglas Grammar School, and matriculated at Queen's College, Oxford, 27 October 1891 (aged 28). B.A. 1895; M.A. 1899. Curate of Holy Trinity, Rusholme, Manchester 1896-99; of Christ Church, Didsbury, 1899-1901; St. Mary, Eccles, 1901-06; Rector of St. Michael's, Hulme, Manchester, 1906-10; Vicar of Burlingham and Defford in Worcestershire 1910-1930, and then of Elmbridge with Rushock, Worcestershire. Died 14 July 1936 at Elmbridge Vicarage, Worcestershire.

S. MATTHEW'S – The preacher at S. Matthew's next Sunday will be the Rev John Willis, M.A., of Manchester. This young clergymen will be known to many in this town, where his father so long resided and where he was born and grew up to manhood. Educated at the Douglas Grammar School, Mr Willis served his apprenticeship as chemist with Mr Young's predecessor, in the Market-place. Thence he removed to England, where he prospered in business, devoting a large part of his time to the social and moral welfare of his parish. In the Church of England Temperance Society, especially, he took a warm interest, became a ready and persuasive speaker, and often spoke from its platforms. Conscious of a certain call to the Sacred Ministry of the Church, he determined to qualify himself for the work, and, after spending several years as a successful student at Queen's College, Oxford, where he graduated, he received Holy Orders from the Right Rev Dr Moorhouse, of Manchester. In his parish he has become a power for good, a painstaking conscientious and laborious pastor, and a popular preacher. Manx Sun, 7 May 1898

REV. J. WILLIS - Death Of Former Vicar Of Defford - The death took place at Elmbridge Vicarage on Tuesday of the Rev. J. Willis, vicar of Elmbridge with Rushock since 1930. Mr. Willis, who was 71, had been ill some time; he had been in bed since February last. He leaves a widow and five daughters. Mr. Willis was ordained in 1896, and first held a curacy at Rusholme, Lancs., 1896-99. Then he went to Christ Church, Didsbury, until 1901, and from there to Eccles, then to Hulme, and in 1910 he became vicar of Defford, which he held until 1929. In November that year he was appointed vicar of Elmbridge, which had just been joined with the rector of Rushock. He was very popular as vicar of Defford, where he showed devotion in the work of looking after parishioners and the church. Some idea of the part he filled in Defford and Besford may be gathered from the remarks of the chairman at a meeting at which a presentation was made to him on leaving. "It was the vicar's job," he said, "to 'marry 'em and bury 'em,' but it was not every vicar who laid himself out as Mr. Willis had done, to be a family doctor, a lawyer, a wireless expert, and a dozen other things combined. It was in those hundred and one little kindnesses he had done for them that they would miss him terribly."
That properly described the versatility of Mr. Willis. It did not matter how trivial the service he was asked to perform for anyone, he did it with gladness. The parishioners gave him as a farewell gift a study chair and £25, and to Mrs. Willis a Worcester china service.
For some years Mr. Willis did service in a wider sphere by acting as hon. secretary to the Worcestershire Archaeological Society. In that office he discharged much energy and resource. He organised day excursions of research, visits to churches and interesting places, lectures for evening meetings, and on several occasions gave lectures himself and illustrated them with slides he had prepared.
The funeral will take place on Friday. There will be a service at Elmbridge at two o'clock, and the interment will be Defford. Gloucestershire Echo, Thursday 16 July 1936

Married at Eccles 1 June 1904 to Hilda Mary Cremer, daughter of Frederic Daustini Cremer, the Vicar there. She was born ca. 1879 at St. Petersburg, Russia, and died in 1971.

Issue four (or five?) daughters:

  1. Mary Hilda Willis, born ca. 1905. Married at Fairview, Alberta, Canada, on 16 December 1944, to Henry Adams Taylor The Times, 8 Jan 1945, and died 7 December 2008 in Chilliwack, Canada.

    Mary Hilda TAYLOR (Sunday, 07 Dec 2008 ) (nee Willis) Mary died peacefully in her 104th year at Chilliwack General Hospital. Her long and adventurous life spanned continents and over a century of changes yet her adaptable inquisitive spirit never diminished. Born in Eccles, Manchester, England to Rev. John and Mary Willis, she was the eldest of four daughters. She was educated at Alice Ottley School with which she maintained a lifelong association. Excelling academically, she qualified for Oxford University with plans to study medicine but sadly, finances prevented this. Undefeated, she moved to London, training and finding work as a stenographer. Her adventurous spirit brought her to Canada several years after hearing that she could emigrate for £20 with the help of the Society for the Overseas Settlement of British Women. Montreal was her first home and a special time but she headed west to Edmonton to pursue her interest in medicine. She achieved her RN degree with Gold Medal Honours at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in 1941. Her exciting career began as a solo pioneer nurse in Peace River Alberta. Mary met and married Bob Taylor in 1944 and added farming to her set of skills. Later moving to Chilliwack, they farmed while Mary also worked for many satisfying years in the radiology lab. Bob died in 1977. Mary's many diversified interests and talents filled her decades of retirement. Her friends, both local and distant, and family in England, were dear to her, as was classical music, photography, reading, gardening, exploring nature and camping in her beloved yellow VW Van. A year ago, Mary's failing sight forced her to move to the Bradley Centre Care Facility. In true Mary style, she soon made dear new friends amongst staff and residents who became part of her extended family. She so much appreciated all their special care and attention. All who knew and loved Mary will miss her inspirational presence but her spirit will remain with us forever. No service at Mary's request. Donations in her memory would be gratefully accepted by the CNIB The Chilliwack Progress

  2. Amy Dorothea Willis, born 1907

  3. Elizabeth Mona Willis, born 29 April 1908, and baptised at St. Michael, Hulme, 14 June 1908. Married at Singapore, 5 Apr 1947, to Donald Kenion Wroe, and died in 1978.

  4. Vera Joan Willis, born about 1912 in Worcestershire. Married at Compton, near Winchester, on August 24th 1939 to Herbert Arthur Hodges. He was born 4 January 1905 at Sheffield, and died 2 July 1976 at Reading, and was for many years Professor of Philosophy at Reading University.

    PROFESSOR H. A. HODGES MARRIED - Bride A Graduate Of Reading University - Dr. Herbert Arthur Hodges, Professor of Philosophy at Reading University, was married at All Saints’ Church, Compton, near Winchester, to Miss Vera Joan Willis, youngest daughter of Mrs. Willis, of The Links, Shawford, Hants, and the late Rev. John Willis, of Defford and Elmbridge, Worcestershire. It was in 1928 that Professor Hodges was appointed to Reading University as lecturer in philosophy. He is a native of Yorkshire, and was educated at Sheffield, and Balliol and Magdalen Colleges, Oxford. Prior to coming to Reading he was a lecturer in philosophy at New College, Oxford. Miss Willis held a teaching appointment on the East Coast after graduating at Reading University. The best man at the wedding was the Rev. G. R. Webster, priest-in-charge of St. Saviour’s, Reading. Reading Mercury, Saturday 02 September 1939