Rev William Kendall Gale

There is a memorial plaque to Kendall Gale inside the church at Mount Hermon Wesleyan Reform Church Chapel, Addingham

and also a ‘Blue Plaque’ outside, placed there by the local council.

The following extracts from the chapel records have been provided by Edgar Clarkson;

Women’s Auxiliary Meeting, August 28th 1935

During the devotional meeting a portion was read from St John’s Gospel Ch 16 and extracts given from a booklet just published by the London Missionary Society on the Life and Work of the Rev William Kendall Gale of Madagascar, sent for our perusal by his mother Mrs Gale of Nessfield, Ilkley.

Women’s Auxiliary Meeting, September 11th 1935

Booklets on Mr Gale’s life and work in Madagascar had been purchased and were sold to the members.   It was arranged to obtain a further supply as there were other enquiries.

Women’s Auxiliary Meeting, October 29th 1935

During the meeting a circular letter from Mrs Gale was read in which she described Mr Gale’s passing and the scenes of distress among his Malagasy people after his death.

Women’s Auxiliary Meeting, March 18th 1936

Reference was made to a letter appearing  in  a recent issue of “Christian Words” from the Rev Alfred Mappin in Madagascar.   A letter from Mrs W. Kendall Gale who was at Singapore  on a visit to her son was read.   Mrs Gale thanked us for our expression of sympathy on the death of her husband the late Rev Kendall Gale of Madagascar.

Church Meeting, January 8th 1946

It was decided to have the Harvest Festival Thanksgiving Services on 13th October proposed by Mr Brear and seconded and to invite Dr Godfrey Gale of China (young son of the late Rev W. Kendall Gale of Madagascar one time Minister of our Church) to conduct our service.   Dr G. L. Gale who has promised to visit us during his stay in England after internment by the Japanese during the war in the Far East was to be invited on a convenient Sunday during 1946 should he be unable to come on October 13th.

Special Meeting, May 26th 1946

The secretary mentioned the placing of a tablet (Bronze) on the wall of the Chapel in memory of the late Rev William Kendall Gale of Madagascar who was at one time Pastor at Mount Hermon.   As his son Dr Godfrey Gale of China was appointed to preach at our Harvest Thanksgiving Service on October 13th it would be appropriate for him to unveil the tablet.   The members were favourable though when prices were given it was deemed too expensive a project at present.

Centenary of Kendall’s baptism

From the Ilkley Gazette 20th July 1973:

A large congregation attended the united service held at Mount Hermon Wesleyan Reform Church, Addingham on Sunday to commemorate a baptism which took place on 13th July 1873-that of William Kendall Gale who was later to become a pioneer missionary in Madagascar. The Rev A G Mappin of Ross-shire, Scotland conducted the service which was attended by the congregation of the Ilkley United Reform(sic) Church, Addingham St Peter’s Church and Wesley Place Methodist Church, Addingham as well as that of the host church. He gave an inspiring address about Rev Kendall Gale’s work as a missionary from 1908 to 1935. the service was attended by Kendall Gale’s daughter Mrs Carol Nesbitt of Leeds.The Wharfedale Singers conducted by Mr John Posnett gave a fine rendition of “Brother James Air” “Sing the Good News” a selection of gospel songs and “God so Loved the World”. Mr Ian Horsman was at the organ. A collection in aid of the Congregational Church for World Mission raised the sum of £28.87. At the end of the service refreshments were served by ladies and friends of Mount Hermon.

Further information

You can click on the linked documents below to read two of Kendall Gale’s ‘Circular Letters’ from Madagascar and also an article about his life from The Dalesman magazine. We are grateful to The Dalesman for granting us permission to reproduce this article.