BAUMBER, WILLIAM (1852-1932) was born at Spilsby, Lincolnshire. Educated at Spilsby Grammar School, he was accepted by the British Methodist conference and sent for training to Didsbury College, Manchester. In 1876 he began a ministry of power and distinction. He came to New Zealand by the Opawa and began his New Zealand ministry at Lawrence (1877). He filled important charges at Christchurch, Wellington, Dunedin, Napier, Nelson and Timaru. Never robust in health, his self-forgetting zeal triumphed over a frail physique. By untiring industry he gathered large stores of knowledge and brought a penetrating and appreciative mind to the great things in life and literature. He had a consuming passion for preaching; was tender in heart, yet outspoken in utterance; tolerant in opinion yet firm in his own convictions; abreast of modern thought yet ever loyal to the central verities of the Christian faith. As a pastor he had a rare capacity for sympathy. His church gave him membership of many important committees, made him treasurer of the contingent fund and of the children's fund, called him to the chair of the synod districts of Otago, Wellington and Nelson, and made him chairman of the supernumerary fund board. On seven occasions he represented New Zealand at the general conference of the Methodist Church of Australasia, and he was appointed to represent that conference at the British Wesleyan conference of 1904. In 1896 he was president of the New Zealand conference. In 1884 Baumber married Laura Garland (who died on 11 Oct 1931). He retired from the active ministry in 1918. One memorial of the zeal of his later years is the Methodist Church on Cashmere Hills, erected through his capable leadership. He died on 8 Sep 1932.

M.A.R.P.; Cycl. N.Z., iii.

Reference: Volume 1, page 41

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