The Newtown bee., 1896-01-17
Litchfield County News.
WASHINGTON.
REV WILLIAM G. SPENCER, D D.

REV WILLIAM G, SPENCER, D D.
 and yet but comparatively few will go back to the tine when the Church News first made it's appearance before the church public. It had been for some time q matter of anxiety with Bishop Robertson, that paper should be is- sued of moderate size, having to do sim ply with the interests of ;he diocese and containing news connected with the work going on wiChi0 it's limits; and such prospective efforts as it's needs were continually pressing upon the attention of it's clergy and laity. Come Jed with this, also, was thesnecessity of an able and earnest editor, to arrange, digest and present the facts and notes of his tory in such form as might serve to ex- cite the interest and call forth the efforts If the church men of the diocese. It was not to be simply dry statement of statistics, but the working up, and pre- .entipg them, in O dress that a live church might take hold of and act upon them. For such purpose the bishop needed CO., worker.
 It was question with all especially interested who this cO-worker should be. It must necessarily be one of the city clergy, and pressed as one and all were with their parochial duties, it required a spirit of self sacrifice, and devotedness to the church's interest, for one of them to offer himself for such work. It was under such circumstances, that the subject of this notice, with no spirit of self sulliciency, but under the pressure of conscientious sense of duty, consent ed to assume the possibility, Dr Spencer was there in the prime of his manhood, and gave himself to the enter prise with hearty devotion. He was the first editor of the Church News. Nor did he ever cease to lose his interest in it's struggles and growing prosperity.
 Dr Spencer was born in Manchester, England, and came to this country when boy of l3 years of age. From all we can gather, there were many struggles to encounter in his early years, and in gaining the education which was to fit him for his life work. He completed his education and was graduated at Trinity college, ,EHartfOrd. Immediately after or dination instead of looking about for some easy parish in Connecticut, he re- cognized the claims of the great and growing west and found his first field of labor in the diocese of Indiana. How long he remained there we are not in- formed, but with no longing desire for speedy return to the East, he accepted call to St Johns parish in this city Here he labored for years with success, and with an earnestness and devotion that commended him to the love and con- fdence of his people. Here he buried the wife of his bosom, lovely and ami able helpmate, who by her refined and modest bearings and Christian zeal, won among his parishioners host of friends.
 After leaving St Louis the greater part of his labor was in two parishes in Con- necticut, in both of which he was a most acceptable and honored pastor. He had been eight years in the parish where he died. The vestry say in their obituary notice of him. During the eight years that pr Spencer has been rector of this parish, he has by his faithful and effici- ent services enhanced it's prosperity, and by his tenderness and sympathy on all occasions, won for himself the reverence and love of his people as rector and pas- tor; and also by his consistent liberal Christianity the sincere respect and es- teem of the whole community"
 Dr Spencer was man of more than ordinary intellect; a close student, a pro- found thinker, and a strong and impress sive preacher. There was none of the clap of sensationalism about him, nor even in any degree, a departure from the dignity and solemnity that characterize the utterances of the pull pit. He was an old conservative church. man, true to his convictions, not lack ing in love for the church or in zeal for Christ.
 May he rest in peace and light perpetual shine upon him."
 NJ. s., in the Church News, the offic- ial paper of the Diocese of Missouri.