William Gaul

Background

Gaul was born in 1850 in Derry, Ireland.

Education

He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin.

Career

Going to South Africa in 1874, Gaul went to the Diocese of where he served inter alia on the staff of the short-lived Street Cyprian"s Theological College in, was involved at the Good Shepherd "half-caste" school,, and presided at Street Patrick"s, Thaba North"chu. On 22 January 1878 William Thomas Gaul and Mary Ann Glover were married at Cathedral. In 1880 he was appointed to the Parish of All Saints, Dutoitspan (Beaconsfield), on the Diamond Fields.

In August 1884 the Vicar General of the Diocese of, Archdeacon Doctorate. G. Croghan, appointed Canon West. T. Gaul as Rector of Street Cyprian"s (taking his place at All Saints, as Rector of Beaconsfield, was the Revd Fr CF Tobias Bachelor of Laws).

In Gaul"s appointment, Croghan noted, Street Cyprian"s assumed first place amongst the Anglican parishes in Of Canon Gaul, Alpheus Williams says he was “small, gallant, imaginative, humorous, sporting and adventurous. When he came to in 1880 he soon became a force in the land – a vivid, straight-forward, amusing personality, beloved by rich and poor.” Many congregated to listen to his “clear ringing voice, preaching help for everyday life.

His voice was a carrying one, crisp and concise…he was a real shepherd of his flock and rounded them up systematically. In 1895 Archdeacon Gaul was elected to succeed the Rt Revd G.W.H. Knight-Bruce as Bishop of He was consecrated Bishop at Cathedral on the Feast of Street Mark (April 25) 1895.

Gaul retired from in 1907 and went to live in England.

But he returned to South Africa in 1912, settling in Cape Town, where he died on Ascension Day 1927.

Achievements

• He was friendly with all sects, Jew and Gentile.” Williams added that “he was solicitous for the betterment of the coloured people” – being the founder of the Perseverance School, “one of the most important institutions of its kind in the country”.