Rev. William Corrin

Reverend William Corrin (July 27, 1795 - September 4, 1859) was a Reverand and vicar on the Isle of Man in the 19th century. He served as the parish vicar in Rushen from 1825 until his death in 1859.
==Early life and education==
William Corrin was born on July 27, 1795, in Arbory, Rushen, Isle of Man, to parents John Corrin of Arbory and Catherine Harrison of Ballamoar. He was educated at the Academic School, Castletown by Rev. Thomas Castley. After Catley's death, his education was continued under Rev. Joseph Brown, where he became an excellent classical scholar.
He was ordained by Bishop Murray in 1816 and eventually was appointed Vicar of Rushen in 1825.
==Ministry==
In 1824, Corrin started church services in a local farmhouse, named St. Peter's Church at Cregneish and continued until the villagers felt that they would like a church of their own in 1878.https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMV4V9_St_Peters_Church_Cregneish_Isle_of_Man
In 1832, during the Cholera Epidemic of 1832-33, a breakout of Cholera affected the Manx citizens of that year. According to Manx Worthies, Or, Biographies of Notable Manx Men and Women by author Arthur William Moore, "Corrin never neglected any duty, it will be seen how hard a worker he was. In 1832, during the terrible outbreak of cholera, when, till he was himself attacked by it, he was constantly among the sick and dying"http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/fulltext/worthies/index.htm. He eventually survived.
On 28 December, 1852, the Brig Lily, was shipwrecked off Kitterland. Among the victims were a 13-man crew, which were bound for Ambazonia in southwest Africa from Liverpool carrying a general cargo of cotton, cloth, rum, cannon, firearms, and gunpowder. On the evening of 27 December, 1852, fierce winds blew the 160-ton brig into the Sound (between the Isle of Man and the Calf of Man) and wrecked her on the Island of Kitterland.https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/149539595/brig_lily_disaster The wind from the fire blew unto the locals on the Island. In total, this disaster killed 29 men. With the disaster being in his parish, Corrin tended to the wounded men in his church, giving them sanctuary. 
According to Manx Worthies, "The dreadful catastrophe of the explosion of the brig "Lily," on Kitterland, in his parish, gave him the care of a number of poor wounded men".
Later in life, he dedicated much of his activities to evangelicalism and preaching. In 1847, he was offered the Rectory of Bride, and much better living, but he refused. Rev. Corrin confessed that he was too much attached to his parishioners to leave them in Arbory, and desired the phrase "He never left nor wished to leave the place" to be implemented on his tombstone. He was considered "a strong evangelical", as was much of the other clergymen in the 19th century.
==Personal life and death==
Rev. Corrin married Margaret Amelia Watterson of Malew on June 26, 1828, in Rushen. Together, they had three children: 
* Thomas "Tom" Corrin (c. 1830 - 1912)
* George Corrin (1831 - 1852)
* Charlotte Jane Corrin (unknown)
Corrin was a total abstainer, and is considered to be one of the originators of the movement on the island. An earnest and able preacher, both in English and Manx Gaelic, he exemplified in his own life what he preached to others. Corrin died in Arbory in 1859 at the age of 64.
==Legacy==
Rev. William Corrin was mentioned in the book "Manx Worthies" (1901) by author Arthur William Moore, a book of biographical summaries of notable Manx men and women. The life of Rev. Corrin served as the prototype of "Pazon Gale," in "Betsy Lee" by T.E. Brown. A passage from the poem follows:
Now the grandest old pazon, I'll be bail,
Tha' ever was, was ould Pazon Gale.
Aw, of all the kind and the good and the true
Ann'. the aisy and free, ....
And runny a time he'd come out and try
A line, and the keen he was and the spry!
. . . .
He was a simple pazon, and lovin' and wise
That's what he was and quiet uncommon,
And never said much to man or woman
Only the little he said was meat
For a hungry heart, and soft and sweet
Aye, many a time I've seen his face
All slushed with tears and him tellin' of grace
And mercy and that, and his v'ice so low.
But trimblin'-aw, but we liked him, though.
Category:1795 births
Category:Manx people
Category:Vicars
Category:Isle of Man
Category:1859 deaths