Reverend William Carlisle Sayer
(1837-1913)
30 April 1862

Volume 6, page 254, sitting number 7886.

William Carlisle Sayer (later Sayer-Milward) was born at Chigwell in Essex, the son of the Reverend Edward Sayer. Educated at Rugby and at Trinity College, Cambridge, he graduated BA in 1860 and MA in 1863. When he sat for this portrait in 1862, he was the Curate of Thaxted in Essex.

On 22 October 1889 at the parish church in Marlow he married Edith Collin Younghusband of Southsea, daughter of the late Thomas William Younghusband, a solicitor.

Reverend William Carlisle Sayer-Milward 'of Fairlight Place Fairlight Sussex and of Old Hastings' died on 24 September 1913, leaving an estate valued at £110,109.

'Many of those connected with the historic families of Hastings will have regret to hear of the death of the Rev. William Carlisle Sayer-Milward, which occurred at his residence, Fairlight Place, Fairlight, early on Wednesday morning. 

'The rev. gentleman, who was born on 7th August, 1837, [and] had attained the age of 76 years, had been in failing health for some time. Up to the break in his health he had continued to take an interest in Church matters in Hastings and St Leonards. He and Mrs Sayer-Milward identified themselves with the work of the Hastings Nursing Association, and with many of the charities in the Old Town. [...] Up till a few years ago the Rev. Sayer-Milward was also a prominent supporter of the Hastings Golf Club. He frequently preached in Hastings churches, and his discourses were marked by the scholarly qualities which distinguished the clergy of the older school. He was educated at Rugby School and Trinity College, Cambridge, and was ordained deacon. He became a priest in 1863 (Diocese of Rochester), and took his M.A. degree in 1863. From 1860 to 1867 he was Curate of Thaxted, Essex. He was Curate of Binfield, Berks, from 1868 to 1873, and from 1873 to 1891 he was Rector of St Leonard, Wallingford, Berkshire, in the Diocese of Oxford.

In 1890 the Rev. Sayer-Milward succeeded his brother, the late Mr Edward Henry Sayer-Milward, in the Hastings estates, and about 1892 he came to Hastings, and took up his residence at Old Hastings House, the charming and historic mansion at the top of the High-street, which was formerly occupied by Coventry Patmore, the poet. Latterly the rev. gentleman had lived at his country residence, Fairlight Place' (Hastings and St Leonards Observer, 27 September 1913).