William A. Chilcott

The sad news of our brother’s homecall on August 22nd reached us too late for us to give more than the barest details in the September/October issue.

His close and valued connection with this Magazine; and his manifold labours in the Gospel brought him into contact with such, a large proportion of our readers that we feel we must supplement our earlier notice “with an appreciation penned by one who knew him from childhood.

“Immediately after his conversion at the age of 17, William Chilcott sought to proclaim the Gospel which had set him free and he became an outstanding figure in the ranks of those who have been called to this work.

What distinguished him particularly was his manliness. He was fearless but with his courage combined a great tenderness for the weak.

One who served with him in France during the 1914/15 war says: ‘He was the leader in all kinds of Gospel work. When we came into contact with other nationalities, including Egyptians, Chinese and Zulus, he would send to the Scripture Gift Mission for Gospels in these languages for distribution.’

When eventually he was sent to work in the forests on the Spanish border he began to study Spanish so as to reach the Spaniards employed there.

It was here he felt the tall of God to go into Spain with the Gospel and on his return to England he at once began preparation for this. With the commendation of the Assembly at Bamstaple he went to the friends in Vigo for six mouths to perfect himself in the language.

Whilst there he met his future wife, Miss Roberts, who was in the Lord’s Work in Arez with Mr. and Mrs. Ginnings. They were married not long after but within two years Mrs. Chilcott was taken ill and they had to return to this country.

The Doctors would not allow Mrs. Chilcott to return and as doors kept opening in all parts of the British Isles Mr. Chilcott felt he must carry on with the work the Lord was giving him to do.

So he began a work which became increasingly fruitful in blessing as the years went by,

Pray for the widow and the two sons.”