William Baldwin Bonaker (c1786-1869), whilst Curate of Weston and Vicar of Church Honeybourne, conducted a total of 11 services at Badsey during the absence of the Curate.
William Baldwin Bonaker was born at Evesham, the son of William Bonaker, a surgeon, and his wife, Elizabeth. He matriculated at Wadham College, Oxford, on 28th April 1803, aged 17, gaining his BA in 1807 and MA in 1810. He was ordained a priest by the Bishop of Gloucester on 5th August 1810 and was appointed Curate at Weston-sub-Edge. During his time as Curate at Weston, he conducted one burial at Badsey in 1814.
Reverend Bonaker was appointed Vicar of Church Honeybourne on 6th March 1817, a position which he held until his death in 1869. Between 1821 and 1828, he conducted seven baptisms, one burial and two marriages at either Badsey or Wickhamford.
However, Reverend Bonaker was notorious for being non-resident in Church Honeybourne, preferring to live at Prussia House, Greenhill, Evesham. The full story of the neglect of his duties in Church Honeybourne may be found in William Bonaker: Honeybourne’s notorious non-resident vicar, published in the January 2016 edition of Honeybourne Village News.
William married a widow, Louisa Geary (née Smith) on 5th February 1838 at All Souls, Marylebone, London. They had no children. Louisa died at Prussia House, Evesham, on 11th March 1854 and William died at Prussia House, Evesham, on 1st July 1869. Memorial windows to The Reverend William Baldwin Bonaker may be found in All Saints, Evesham.