William Benham (priest)

Born on 15 January 1831 at West Meon in Hampshire, where his father James Benham was postmaster, he was educated at the village school.

Its founder, the rector Henry Vincent Bayley, made him his secretary, taught him Greek and Latin, and at his death left instructions that the boy's education should be continued.

With the support of Bayley's family he was able to attend the theological department of King's College, London, where his religious position was influenced by F. D.

In 1880 Tait made him vicar of Marden and in 1882 he was appointed rector of St. Edmund the King with St. Nicholas Acons, Lombard Street, a post he held for life.

In 1888 Archbishop Edward White Benson made him honorary canon of Canterbury, and in 1898 Hartford University, U.S.A., granted him the degree of D.D.

Lombard Street in Lent (1894), addresses by various preachers, presented the kind of sermon which he thought a City church should supply to attract businessmen in their lunch hour.