William Baker, who died at his home in Colchester on March 30, was born in Dublin in 1858, the seventh child of Samuel and Margaret (O'Brien) Baker. He and his brother Samuel (of Hoshangabad) were educated at Newtown, Waterford, and Bootham at York.

He was a man of a retiring nature, very faithful in the discharge of his varied duties, never too busy to help or counsel those who came to him, a keen Bible student, and essentially a man of prayer. He began his evangelistic work at Strand Street, Dublin, whilst at business at Edmundsons, and when he came to England he found useful service first at Byrom Street, Manchester, and later at Bunhill Fields, London. He was recorded a minister by Devonshire House Monthly Meeting about 1891.

In 1893 he married Mary, elder daughter of Edward Ransome Allen, of Stoke Newington, and became Superintendent of Friends' Missionary Home, Chester House, Clapton, the gift of John Horniman. Whilst there he was made Assistant Clerk to Devonshire House Monthly Meeting, Assistant Secretary to Friends' Syrian Mission, and Secretary of Friends' Bulgarian Mission.

In 1900 he joined the Friends' Home Mission, and for 17 years worked in Kent.

He held many tent and other missions in Meeting Houses and mission halls all over England, and travelled several times in Ireland with Minutes from his Monthly Meetings in Kent, Surrey and Essex.

In 1925 he went to Colchester to help George A. Fox with the Friends Evangelistic Band.

[Nick Baker]