The Reverend William Humberstone Maddock Lth (Licentiate in Theology) was rector of East Worlington Parish between 1942 and 1960.
His life and career prior to his appointment to the Parish of East Worlington provided him with varied experiences that shaped his character and approach to the role of rector.
Wiiliam was born in Cardiff, Wales on 10th August 1888S. His father’s occupation was Brewer’s Traveller which resulted in living in different locations in his early life, often moving house.
In 1910 he was ordained into the Anglican Church at the age of 22. Presumably he studied in Nottingham as in the 1911 population survey he was listed as a student living with his brother in Mapperley, Nottingham.
In 1916 he went to China with the Church Commission Society where he stayed until his enforced return to England in 1920 due to ill health.
On 2nd October 1919 he was married to Marie Leah Friedlewoka in Foochow, China. On his marriage certificate his occupation was recorded as Clerk in Holy Orders,
In 1921 at the age of 32 he was living at 24 Mountfort House, Bethnal Green, London, Middlesex, England where his occupation was still listed as Clerk in Holy Orders.
William and his wife Marie had three sons, Veron (born 1920), Geoffrey (born 1922) and Clement (born 1927). Geoffrey became a Flight Officer and died in action on 24th March 1945.
By 1927 he had taken up a position as curate at the Church of St. Clement in Toxteth, Liverpool where he stayed for five years, before moving to St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church, Liverpool, and was at that church for 10 years. In 1941the church was hit by enemy bombing resulting in it becoming unusable. When the church was closed, he went to work among the Chinese people of Liverpool, before accepting his final post in the Parish of East Worlington, Devon.
His institution and induction into his role as Curate of the Parish was quite an affair. There was a large attendance at the West Church including the Bishop Crediton who instituted the new incumbent, and the Archdeacon of Barnstaple who took responsibility for the induction. The ceremony of induction involved the four Wardens Messrs R Adams, E L Parish, W G Troake, and F J Webber accompanying the new Rector to the various parts of the Church in turn with prayers being said at each place by the Bishop. After the service the clergy and visitors were entertained at the Rectory with the Church Council inviting members of the congregation to tea which was served by the wives of the four Wardens.
William retired in 1960 to Worthing where he died on 5th April 1976 at the age of 87.