Coombes, William James

Coombes, William James an English Congregational minister, was born in 1844. He was apprenticed to a printer at Hertford, in his boyhood; experienced religion at the age of eighteen, and soon distinguished himself for piety, intelligence, and Christian usefulness. In 1866 he entered Cheshunt College, and in 1869 began his ministry at St. Ives, Cornwall. Here he labored beyond his strength, and in 1871, being obliged to quit his charge, sailed to Australia, was much invigorated by the voyage, and soon after his arrival accepted the pastorate at Hawthorn, where he died, August 2, 1873. See (Lond.) Cong. Year-book, 1874, page 319.