The Rev. Henry Williams, St. Matthew's Church, St. Albans, was born in Bristol, England, in 1841, and is the eldest son of Mr. Mark Castle Williams of that city. He was educated for the Congregational ministry at the Bristol College. His first charge was at Cockfield, Suffolk. During his pastorate a minister's residence, day school, and commodores stables were erected, and opened free of debt. In 1871 he became pastor of the Independent Chapel, Grove Street, Boston, Lincolnshire. While he was there, some £1500 was raised for the interior renovation of the chapel, and the alteration of school buildings. Mr. Williams came to New Zealand in December, 1879, and succeeded the late Rev. James Habens, B.A. (who had been appointed Inspector-General of State Schools) at pastor of Trinity Congregational Church, Christchurch. He was chairman of the Congregational Union in 1883. After a pastorate of four years Mr. Williams entered the ministry of the Church of England, and was ordained deacon by Bishop Harper in Christchurch Cathedral, in March, 1884. His first appointment was as assistant curate at Summer and Woolston. The following year he became vicar of Oxford, a position he held till 1891, when he accepted nomination to the parish of St. Matthew's, St. Albans. Mr. Williams was appointed in 1898, by the Bishop of Christchurch, editor of the “New Zealand Church News.” He is author of “The Church's Ministry to the Nation's Youth,” “The Poetry of the Bible,” “The Influence of Maurice on Theology,” “A Witness for the Holy Ghost,” “Lessons for Sunday School Teachers,” “Help for Sunday School Teachers,” “Sunday School Buildings,” “The Sunday School an Integral Part of the Church,” Tracts for the Liberation Society and Text Book Association, and also of many newspaper and magazine articles.