Early Life
Pitt was born in Exeter, England. His father, Thomas, was a grocer of some standing in his local community. In 1861 the family was moderately well-off to the extent that they employed a servant and also a governess for William, who was 5 years old at the time.
He chose to become an Anglican Clergyman rather than a grocer as his father had suggested to him, and he attended the London College of Divinity in 1879. He was ordained as a Deacon of the Church of England in 1879 with his first role being that of Curate of Christchurch, Swindon. Lodgings in the town were provided in Bellevue Road by Frederick Osman, a grocer and business associate of his father.
Pitt, 23 years old at this point, moved into a parish in turbulent times with the Swindon Advertiser reporting on 29 March 1879 "The circumstances attending the leaving of curate after curate are too vividly remembered in the town to need recapitulation".
In the same article; Dr Charles Ellicot, the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol, regarded Christchurch as "the one black spot" in his Diocese. The reason for this was that the Vicar of Christchurch, Henry Bailly, was an outspoken figure who frequently denounced powerful figures in the community. Amongst the Vicar's enemies were Member of Parliament and Lord of the Manor Ambrose Goddard and the editor of the Swindon Advertiser, William Morris.
Pitt quickly settled into his new parish and established a good working relationship with Bailly and became a popular figure in the town. This was especially so amongst the younger members of the church through his involvement with the YMCA.
Read more about this topic: William Baker Pitt
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