William Emery

Rev. Canon William Emery (2 February 1825 – 14 December 1910) was an Anglican priest in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, who has been labelled the 'father' of Church Congress. He was ordained in 1849 and was Fellow, Dean, Bursar and Tutor of his old college until 1865.

In his efforts of the 1850s to revive Convocation, Emery had an ally in the lay activist and banker Henry Hoare (1807–1866).

From 1864 until 1907 he was Archdeacon of Ely, marrying Fanny Maria, daughter of Sir Antonio Brady in 1865. Emery had been present at the first meeting of the Church Congress in 1861, where he spoke on free church seats, diocesan associations for increasing benefices for the endowment of poor benefices, and church rates. In 1869 he was appointed permanent Secretary of the Congress, and by 1907 had been present at every one of the first 47 Congresses.

Works Church organization and efficient ministry : the primary charge, 1866 New burial act and church legislation : warnings and encouragements: a charge, 1880 Free Education Act, 1891 : full text of the act, with a popular explanation of its bearings upon our voluntary schools, 1891