When he left France, with Herbert Watney, he led a group of 800 people emigrating from the London slums to western Canada.
 He became a curate at the Parish of St. Giles in Norwich in England, and after four years accepted an offer to preach in New York for four months.
 In 1878, he took a position at St. James's Cathedral in Toronto.

In May 1882, the vestry of St. George's Church, which included J. Pierpont Morgan, offered the post of rector to Rainsford; several members of the vestry had heard Rainsford preach when he was in New York.
 The church was under some stress, because of changes in the local population and a substantial debt of $35,000.
 After some negotiations he accepted.
 Rainsford is reported to have said that after a month of his sermons seven of the fourteen families still attending the church had left, but after that point the church's membership grew.
When he left France, with Herbert Watney, he led a group of 800 people emigrating from the London slums to western Canada.  He became a curate at the Parish of St. Giles in Norwich in England, and after four years accepted an offer to preach in New York for four months.  In 1878, he took a position at St. James's Cathedral in Toronto.
In May 1882, the vestry of St. George's Church, which included J. Pierpont Morgan, offered the post of rector to Rainsford; several members of the vestry had heard Rainsford preach when he was in New York.  The church was under some stress, because of changes in the local population and a substantial debt of $35,000.  After some negotiations he accepted.  Rainsford is reported to have said that after a month of his sermons seven of the fourteen families still attending the church had left, but after that point the church's membership grew.
William S. Rainsford