One of the earliest pioneers of Brighton has passed away in the person of the Rev. William Brickwood, M.A., who died at Rue de Bordeaux, Pyrenees, France, on December 12, 1901, in his 86th year.

From old records, it is apparent that Mr. Brickwood opened a school at St. Ninians in Brighton, in 1841, and though not then in orders, to him Brighton owes the commencement of its parochial life.

Owing to the bounty of the late Henry Dendy, a piece of land, bounded by New, St. Andrew, and Church Streets, was given for church purposes, and on it a schoolroom was built, and used for worship. Two years later the present area of 10 acres was given by Mr. Dendy, and under the fostering care of Mr. Brickwood, a stone church was built, which was subsequently re-built, and forms part of the present schoolroom.

Mr. Brickwood ministered to the welfare of the parishioners with affectionate zeal, and with the advent of Bishop Charles Perry, was ordained deacon in 1848, and priest the following year.

In 1850 he took part in the laying of the foundation stone of St. Andrew's, an amount of £7,000 having been subscribed.

In 1853 Mr. Brickwood was succeeded by the Rev. Samuel Taylor, and the subject of our sketch returned to England, where he graduated at Cambridge, and was appointed to the incumbency of Toddington, Bedfordshire, a position he filled till 1900.