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©National Portrait Gallery, London
William James McKain (my 2nd cousin 4 times removed) was born in 1854 at East Stonehouse, Devon, the son of William Fergus McKain and Catherine Anne (nee Dobbin).
Before embarking on his ecclesiastical career, William James spent some years in Africa where he was Acting Headmaster of Durban High School, Private Secretary to the Governor of Natal and served in the 1st Zulu War (from "The MacIains of Ardnamurchan" by C.A.Mackain).
In 1884 William James married Helen Clifford Morecroft at St. George's, Hanover Square, London They had 3 children, James, Clifford and Irene, all born in Sussex.
William James McKain's Ecclesiastical Career
(based mainly on entries in Crockfords Clerical Directory for 1897,1908 and 1932)
1878-81 Formerly in the Education Dept., Natal Civil Service
1884 - Chichester Theological College
1886 - Deacon at Chichester
1887 - Priest at Chichester
1886-88 - Curate of Battle, Sussex
1889 - Curate of Midhurst, Sussex
1890-92 - Incumbent of North Stoke, Sussex
1891-94 - Org. Secretary for Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge for Diocese of Chichester
1890-1904 - Rector of Parham, Sussex
1895-96 - Vicar designate of St. Matthew, Southsea, Hampshire (he resigned over a dispute about the site for the permanent church, and was succeeded by Bruce Cornford).
Address in 1897: Heathfield, St. Andrew's Road, Southsea, Hants.
1895-98 - Licensed Preacher for the Diocese of Winchester
1899-1904 - Licensed Preacher for the Diocese of Bristol
1900-04 - Licensed Preacher for the Diocese of Bath and West
1904-08 - Licensed Preacher for the Diocese of Edinburgh
Address in 1908: 28 Palmerston Place, Edinburgh & Constitutional Club, S.W.
1908-10 - Licensed Preacher for the Diocese of Ripon
Address in 1910: Claremont, Queen's Road, Harrogate.
1910-13 - Vicar of Little Waldingfield, Suffolk
1913-15 - Vicar of Poslingford, Suffolk
1915 - Licensed Preacher for the Diocese of Southwark
1916 - T.C. Royal Navy (He served in the Great War as Chaplain R.N. in H.M. Hospital Ship "Garth Castle").
1920 - Commission Falkland Islands
1926> - Hon. Canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Stanley, Falkland Islands
1928> - Perm. to Offic. Diocesan Chichester & Rochester
Address in 1932: Mingary Lodge, Claremont Road, Tunbridge Wells & C/O Royal Empire Society, Northumberland Avenue, W.C.2
In 1905,William James, by then living in Edinburgh, Scotland, applied for and was granted Private Arms by the Court of the Lord Lyon, viz:- Or, a lymphad, sails furled, oars in action Sable, flagged Gules, an eagle displayed of the Last, beaked and membered of the second and a buckle of the third, in the dexter and sinister fess points.
In 1906, William James became a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, Scotland.
Extracts from the Minute Book of the Clan Donald Society of Edinburgh (formed 24th April 1891)
12th February 1907 - At a Council meeting, William Fergus McKain, son of the Rev. W.J. McKain was acknowledged as Chief of Ardnamurchan, on the recommendation of the Rev. A.J.MacDonald, Minister of Killearnan, Clan Historian. Note:- William Fergus was in fact the father of the Rev. W.J. not the son.
6th April 1911 - At a Council meeting, a letter was read from the Rev. WJ McKain (of Ardnamurchan) accepting nomination as Honorary Vice-President.2nd December 1913 - At a Council meeting, the Rev. WJ McKain was recognised by the Society as Chief of Clan Iain of Ardnamurchan.
27th March 1926 - The Society considered a letter from Miss M.E.M. Donaldson, requesting assistance to defray the expense of a stone over the grave of the famous bard of Clanranald, Alasdair MacMhaighstir Alasdair: a donation of £5 was to be sent. The monument was to take the form of re-erecting a bronze tablet to the bard in Arisaig, to be unveiled by the Very Rev. Canon W.J. McKain of Ardnamurchan. The Society approved the design and representatives attended the ceremony on 8th October 1927.
June 1931 - The Society had a meeting with Father Andrew MacDonell, leader of the migration to Western Canada and in October an "At Home" was held in honour of the Very Rev. Canon William James McKain of Ardnamurchan, who became a Life member: the Lord Lyon was present at this function.
1959.The Clan suffered the loss of two Chiefs in 1959: Sir Somerled Macdonald of Sleat and C. A. MacKain* (MacIan of Ardnamurchan). * Son of the Rev. W.J.McKain
William James died on 25th March, 1936 (see his Last Will & Testament) and his wife Helen on 13th January, 1938. They are both buried in the family grave at Ipswich, Suffolk.
