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Name: LOW, Walter Percival OBE (Ven. Archdeacon)

Nee: youngest son of Francis Low, banker of Dublin

Birth Date: 29 Aug 1876 Stillorgan, Co. Dublin

Death Date: 12 July 1960 Sabatia

Nationality: Irish

First Date: 1911

Profession: Worked for many years in various up-country chaplaincies

Area: Especially well known at Nakuru and Naivasha. HBEA 1912 - Kiambu, Kaimosi

Married: In Uckfield 1 July 1908 Ellen Mary 'Nellie' Cobham b. 3 June 1882 Waterloo, Lancs., d. 22 Dec 1971 Naivasha

Children: Harold Percival (1909 Crowborough-23 Nov 1936 Nairobi); Patrick Walter (5 May 1910 Bitterne-1988); Frances Mairo (Hopcraft) (1915 Kiambu-2001 Loldia, Naivasha); George Michael (20.8.1917 Nairobi-5 Jan 1984 Nairobi); John (7 May 1913-24 Mar 1914 Kiambu)

Book Reference: Who's Who, Gillett, HBEA, O&C, Irish, Joelson, Cara, Red 25, Hut, Red 22, Kiambu Scrapbook, O&C, Alumni, Foster, Rift Valley, Barnes, Red 19

School: South Eastern College Ramsgate and Shrewsbury and Christ's College Cambridge 1895-98 and 1901; BA (Cantab)

General Information:

Irish - Became President of the EA Irish Society in 1941. ......... He had served as an army Chaplain in WW1 and again served in WW2 becoming Major Archdeacon Low. His military duties combined with his normal duties made him a very busy man.
Joelson - 1928 - Kaimosi  .... Archdeacon W.P. Low, who had been the first European to acquire a property in 1912, took Mr L.S. Drayton into partnership in 1919, and it is from that year that development must really be reckoned.
Cara - 1920 - Last Sunday we had Mr Low, our new parson, for the night; the first service for a year was held in Lumbwa, and it was all very nice, 19 in all were there - all but 6 young men between 18 and 30. (....... service held in second class bar at the station! Resolution to build a church)
Red 22 - Member Education Board, Kenya
Kiambu Scrapbook - The first resident chaplain was Archdeacon Low. He was responsible for services at Limuru, St. Cuthbert's Limuru, and Ruiru. In the churchyard there is a small cross, made by the Archdeacon, to mark the grave of one of his children who died at Kiambu.
Alumni - Ord. deacon (Exeter) 1901; priest (Bath and Wells) 1902; C. of Walcot, Somerset 1901-03. CMS Missionary at Girku, N. Nigeria 1903-5; of Kuta 1905-9. C. of Bitterne, Hants 1909-11. Chaplain at Kiambu, Kenya 1911-19. Served in the Great War 1914-19 (Chaplain RACD 1914-15; lance-corporal E. Africa medical services 1915-16; Temp CF 1916-18). Chaplain at Nakuru 1920-5. R. of Elmley Lovett, Worcs. 1925-6. R. of Bentham, Yorks 1926-30. Chaplain Nyanza District 1930-8; at Nakuru 1932-8. Archdeacon of Nairobi 1921-5 and 1931-44. Member of Highlands Board 1939. Served as CF in WW2 (in E. Africa; OBE 1942; Staff Chaplain HQ E. Africa Command 1943-4). Of Kuta, Nairobi in 1946.
Foster - Member of MRA
Rift Valley - Sep 1924 - Suggest carrying rail to end of verandah & placing board along top for seating accommodation'
Gazette - 12/11/1919 - Register of Voters - Lake Area - Walter P. Low - Farmer - Kaimosi and Mrs Ellen Low - Married - Kaimosi
Barnes - Nakuru North Cemetery - Nell Low, 1882-1972, beloved wife of Archdeacon W.P. Low
Red Book 1919 - Chaplain of Mombasa - Kiambu
HBEA 1912 - Chaplain at Kiambu who holds services at Limoru, Escarpment, Kyambu, Machakos Majadi Railway. President of the Oxford & Cambridge Society - 1941
Gazette 20 Sep 1960 probate

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