Revrd. William Pennefather, BA, vicar. Born Dublin, the youngest son in a well-established family. Came to England c.1848. He and his wife Catherine were transferred to St. Jude's Church, Mildmay Park in 1864.
From St Jude's: "William Pennyfather was appointed vicar of St Jude’s in 1864. In his nine years he seems to have been a man of great energy. His response to the cholera epidemic of 1866 was to found a medical mission in Bethnal Green. He also founded a Deaconess Institution offering full-time careers for mission to young women. These initiatives eventually became the Mildmay Mission Hospital well-known for its pioneering rehabilitation work with AIDS victims. The Mildmay Conference Hall {demolished 1940s} on Mildmay Park was built in 1869 capable of seating some 3000 people; it was used for educational and evangelistic meeting. It was finally demolished in the 1940’s. ... There is also a memorial to him in the church. He died in 1873 but his hymn “Jesus stand among us in thy risen power” lives on."
