W. E. (William Edward) Winks

Born in Leicester on January 28, 1842, William Edward Winks trained for the Baptist ministry at Chilwell College, Nottingham. He entered the ministry in 1865, served churches in Yorkshire and Cambridgeshire, and was later associated with Bethany Baptist Chapel in Cardiff. He died in Cardiff on December 21, 1926.

Winks wrote across a wide range of subjects. His best-known book today is Lives of Illustrious Shoemakers (1883), a lively collection of biographies that reflects his gift for turning overlooked corners of history into engaging reading. He also published devotional work, including Thoughts on Prayer and A Daily Textbook, and wrote History of Bethany Baptist Church, Cardiff.

Alongside his ministry and writing, Winks played a notable part in Cardiff’s cultural life. A local historical source identifies him as curator of Cardiff from 1876 to 1914, which helps explain the breadth of his interests and his feel for public history as well as religious writing.