Robert LAMPLOUGH was born in Derby, May 1833. His parents were devout and active Methodists and he was reared in an invigorating Christian atmosphere. Several years of his early life, spent in acquiring a practical knowledge of banking business, gave him that experience in financial matters which has since proved so valuable to the Church.

Converted as a lad, he began to preach at seventeen years of age and was accepted by the Conference of 1855, being sent forthwith to this country. His early educational advantages qualified him for immediate service. He spent the first six years at Grahamstown, where his Ministry opened with special manifestations of his Divine call, and for many years, both in European and Native Circuits, he was much honoured of God with Evangelistic success. He was privileged to start the Native Institution at Heald Town in 1867, the beginning of the Training of our Native Ministry. His Kaffir name “Vuindhla”- “the way opener”- expresses in word the Native estimate of his service and of his whole Missionary career.

In 1878 he paid his first and only return visit to his native land, and in less than a year he was back again in South Africa to labour until death. Appointed Chairman and General Superintendent of the Queenstown District, he showed in his discharge of his wider pastoral duties the same fatherly interest in all the Ministers of his District which he had already taken in the Probationers and younger Ministers of his various Circuits. They were members of his larger family.

It was in Queenstown that his much cherished scheme for a South African Book-Room became an accomplished fact, and it flourished there until removed to Cape Town in 1900, where it has become an even greater success.

He fulfilled the onerous position of Secretary to the Triennial Meetings from their start in 1873, and in 1883 became the Secretary of the first South African Conference. From its formation in 1887 until his death he was the Treasurer of the Missionary Society of our Church, and also rendered exceptional service in the institution of other Funds incidental to our Connexional economy.

In all these positions his great executive ability found full scope, yet withal he ever remained the gracious, simple-hearted friend and counsellor to his brethren old and young.

In the list of Presidents of the South African Conference his name appears twice – Kimberley 1887, Kimberley 1902. Thus did his bretheren pay tribute to him whom they delighted to honour.

His business abilities and the many and varied demands upon his time and energy were not permitted to lessen his sense of the importance of things Spiritual, and it was ever with him an unfailing duty and joy to maintain the life of the soul by reading the choicest devotional literature and by communion with his God. At the Conference of 1905 he received permission to become a Supernumerary, but ere the Connexional year had closed, he passed at dawn on June 8th to the higher service, in the 73rd year of his age and the 50th of his Ministry.

From: Minutes of Wesleyan Methodist Conference 1906 pages7 & 8