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MODERN ROMAN CATHOLICS.
RT. REV. R. W. WILLSON, (1794-1866), was the founder of the Roman Catholic Church in Nottingham, and the episcopal founder of that Church in Tasmania— So says the Bishop Ullathorne in the "Memoir of Bishop Willson." He was born in Lincoln in 1794, his father being a builder, and he was placed as a pupil on a. farm in Nottinghamshire, where he acquired business habits, and experience of common things. He was about twenty when a spiritual crisis came, and he felt that God claimed his whole heart and life, and he determined to become a priest, and went to Old Oscott College for study. In 1824 he was sent to Nottingham, where there were a few Catholics under the care of an aged French emigrant priest. Within a year his congregation doubled, and he built a church (St. John's, George Street) in 1828. He was active in his visits to the Workhouse, the House of Correction, the two prisons, the Asylum, and the General Hospital. In the cholera epidemic of 1832 he went from house to house, and many persons owed their lives to his treatment. He co-operated with Samuel Fox, the benevolent Quaker, in obtaining an Act for the General Cemetery. Samuel Fox had given the town a field, known as Fox's Cholera Burial Ground, for a cemetery; when it was consecrated by the Archbishop of York it was found that it had thereby become Church property. Dr. Willson bought 6,000 yards of land on Derby Road at 12/- per yard for the front land for a Church, and 4,000 for a Convent. The cost was £20,000 towards which the Earl of Shrewsbury gave £7,000, and the Rev. R. W. Sibthorpe £2,000. The plans of the Church were furnished by the celebrated Pugin. Before the Church was completed the Pope decided to make Dr. Willson Bishop of Tasmania, and his last act in Nottingham was in 1844 to ascend the spire of St. Barnabas, and bless the cross planted on its summit. Strong efforts were made by the Nottingham magistrates, and the Boards of Management on which Bishop Willson had served, to retain his continuance in Nottingham, and the documents signed were forwarded to the Pope, but the decision was adhered to. The Consecration was in 1842, two visits were then made to Rome, and in 1844 the Bishop sailed to Van Dieman's Land, ninety-four days being occupied in the voyage. In a pamphlet published by the Bishop in 1860 the free population of Tasmania it is stated numbered 30,000 souls, and the convicts an equal number, and to the latter class the Bishop gave his special attention. The men were locked up at nights in wooden huts, each containing from twenty to fifty men, sleeping on shelves, one above another, in a bad atmosphere, and often without a light and with convict overseers. He determined to go to Norfolk Island, a voyage of fourteen hundred miles, where there were nineteen hundred convicts in a horrible condition, such as, men while working carrying their chains of fourteen pounds to thirty-six pounds weight. Of 270 convicts who attended a service the Bishop held, only fifty-two were without chains. There were various systems of torture punishments for offences of discipline. In 1847 he came to England to lay the state of affairs before a Committee of the House of Lords. He returned to his work, and continued his labours for the amending of the convict class, until his final departure. He had severe conflicts for the reform of the lunacy hospitals in New South Wales. In 1865 he left the Colony, and when off Cape Horn he was struck by paralysis. He returned to Nottingham, where he calmly expired, aged seventy-two, and he was buried in the crypt of St. Barnabas' Cathedral.
RT. REV. MONSIGNOR JOHN HARNETT, (d. 1909, aged seventy) Provost and Missionary Rector, was priest in charge of the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady and St. Patrick, London Road, Nottingham. In 1867 he was given charge of a mission on Leen Side, which was opened in a small factory or workshop, the temporary chapel being on the ground floor, and a day school conducted in an upper room. The school with larger premises filled to overflowing, for about four hundred children are stated to have attended. It was placed under Government inspection, but the Education Act coming in force the buildings were in 1873 condemned.
The Corporation having widened Narrow Marsh, offered the site of the present church on which to build schools, and a minister's house, for £2,700, for which site a few weeks afterwards the Corporation were offered £5,000, but to their credit it may be stated that having made the offer they would not withdraw it, and it was accepted, and schools were built and opened in 1875.
A church and residence followed, and were completed in 1884, and a considerable part of the cost involved Provost Harnett begged from door to door. The schools were enlarged in 1903, for the accommodation of 615 children.
So for forty years Provost Harnett continued working, residing among his people. He served for several periods as a member of the School Board, and afterwards on the Education Committee. He exercised a greater influence in the district than any other man, and it was a pleasant sight to see him leading a procession of his people going to the railway station for an outing in the country, the fag end of the procession not being distinguished in regard to attire. For many years he never had a holiday. He was a well informed scholar, with great simplicity and earnestness of life, joined with a strong will, humility, and love for children, and sympathy with the poor. His monument is the buildings erected and the work done.
RT. REV. ROBERT BRINDLE, D.S.O., (1837-1916), Roman Catholic Bishop of Nottingham for thirteen years—but it was rather as an Army Chaplain than as a Bishop that he was distinguished, for he was sixty-five years of age when appointed to the diocese, and his life had been a strenuous one, full of changes. He was in association with Lord Kitchener's expedition to Khartoum, and placed in command of a gunboat, a most unusual position for a Chaplain, and he had his share in the great battles of Atbara and Omdurman, and for conspicuous bravery was made a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order. One instance of his devotion may be given. On Kitchener's victory a funeral service was held for Gordon in his Residency garden. The minute guns boomed—after the 21 guns salute to the flag, the Presbyterian Chaplain read the Psalms, the Anglican Chaplain the Lord's Prayer, Father Brindle (who died within a few weeks of Lord Kitchener) read a memorial prayer, bareheaded in the sun; the band played " Abide with me." It is said that tears stood in Kitchener's eyes as his Brigadiers stepped out and shook his hand. (Life of Kitchener, by E. S. Grew, p. 241). Bishop Brindle held many medals for services elsewhere in both the first and second Egyptian campaign. On retiring from the army he became an auxiliary Bishop to Cardinal Vaughan, and on the resignation of Bishop Bagshaw he was in 1902 made Bishop of Nottingham, where he was held in high esteem for his benevolence united with courtesy, his humility and simplicity of living, and the faithful way in which he administered the affairs of his church in the diocese, which embraces the five counties of Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Rutland, and Lincoln. His funeral was attended by Cardinal Bourne, and seven Bishops, and some hundreds of soldiers. His body was buried in the crypt of the Cathedral on July 4th, 1916.
In the sanctuary of the cathedral is the Bishop's throne, the canopy of which is richly carved. It was given by the present Queen of Spain in recognition of the services rendered to her by Bishop Brindle. He gave the altar, which is adorned with carvings representing our Lord dispensing the Blessed Sacrament.
PAROCHIAL CLERGY.
It is exceedingly difficult to get and give the names of men who have stood above their fellows in usefulness, as they are largely confined to their parochial boundaries, and so are comparatively unknown elsewhere. When Archbishop Seeker wanted to see his friend Butler, the famous author of the "Analogy of Religion," promoted, he spoke of him to Queen Caroline, who told another that she thought he had been dead. "No, madam, he is not dead, but he is buried," was the reply—referring to his parochial seclusion, but—that seclusion was the prelude to the great treatise. In the big towns many a good man is not "buried" but rather overwhelmed by the sins and sorrows and sufferings of the multitude; and on the other hand of efforts to benefit them.
REV. RICHARD BERNARD was in 1601 appointed Vicar of Worksop. He, in 1607-8 published a book entitled "The Isle of Man, or the Legall Proceeding in Manshire—against Sin," being an allegory of the contest in the spiritual life against all evil influences, the county town being "Soule's town," with four great streets named, Sense Street, Thought Street, Word Street, and Deed Street. This book was issued many years before Bunyan wrote ''The Holy War, or the Losing and Taking again of Mansoul," and in the "Epistle to the Reader" Bernard anticipates the work of John Howard, the prison philanthropist (1726-1790), in that he pleads for a reform of prison discipline, and compulsory labour, the prisons being then "a very picture of Hell." He also published another book "The Faithfull Shepherd; or the Shepeard's Faithfulnesse," being an appeal for an earnest ministry. He had great sympathy with efforts to raise the church to a higher spiritual state, and therefore decided to continue in it, while others separated from it. (Quoted from Rev. John Brown).
REV. WILLIAM DENMAN, (d. 1568), M.A., had a singular inscription put in Latin on his tombstone at Ordsall, of which parish he was Rector:
"My father was a squire, my mother was a knight's daughter, my name is Denman; by profession I was a Master of Arts; in reign of Queen Mary I was ejected from ministry in Ordsall, Queen Elizabeth restored me to my flock. I continued and have discharged it; Retford would reap the fruit if I persevere, if anyone desirous of religion Ordsall witnesses I have erected houses for the poor. At length being dead I lie under this heap—Dead! Ah! Mistake!—I have a blessed life; the earth has my carcase; my Spirit inhabits Heaven." (E. Wilmshurst).
REV. WILLIAM HOLDER, (1616-1698), was born in Nottinghamshire, but where is unknown, educated at Cambridge, and given D.D. by Oxford. He became of special use by the study of deafness, and published several articles thereon. He also became eminent in music. He was made a Prebendary of St. Paul's Cathedral, and a Canon in residence; Sub-Dean of the Chapel Royal, and Sub-Almoner to the King. He married a sister of Sir Christopher Wren, whose education he aided. He was ejected from his living for nonconformity. (Wylie).
REV. JOHN WHITLOCK, M.A., (d. 1708, aged 83), REV. WILLIAM REYNOLDS, M.A., (d. 1697, aged 77), must be named together, for in fifty years of life-work they were inseparable, the former from 1651 occupying the office of Vicar of St. Mary's, Nottingham, invited by the Elders, approved by the people, and presented by the Patron, the Duke of Kingston, for the Presbyterian form of church government was then in vogue, and Mr. Reynolds acted as Assistant, called Lecturer. They appear to have secured entire appreciation for edification of the people, but when the Act of Uniformity came in force in 1662 they refused to conform, and were ejected, as also was the Rev. John Barratt, of St. Peter's, and the three were invited by Sir John Musters to reside at Colwick Hall, and he refused to accept any payment for his hospitality. The Act of 1666 coming into force forbad any such ministers to reside within five miles of any place where they had been vicar, parson, or curate, they went to live at Shirebrook, and afterwards at Mansfield, but they visited their adherents by stealth, and met them in rock cellars, or malt rooms, or in private houses, or, as tradition says, in the wood now called Woodthorpe—by night, and they sent over the notes of sermons to be read to or by their people. Upon the proclamation by James II of liberty of conscience, the ministers returned to Nottingham, and in 1687 a congregation assembled in a house in St. Mary's Gate, and in 1690 the High Pavement Chapel was built, supported by some of the principal families in the town,—as the Earls of Clare, Meath and Kingston, the Pierreponts, Plumptres, Sherwins, etc., the doctrines then preached being thoroughly evangelical. When Mr, Whitlock died a pleasing act of large-heartedness occurred, for he was buried in the chancel of St. Mary's Church, which he had loved so well.
As tending to show the extent of the support Mr. Whitlock's ministry received, it may be mentioned that an account taken nine years after his death shows that the congregation had then fourteen hundred adherents, three hundred and thirty-five of whom were voters. (W. H. Burgess).
REV. WILLIAM SAMPSON was Rector of Clayworth from 1672 to 1702, and died there the year following. The old Roman road from Doncaster to Lincoln passes through the village. Mr. Sampson kept a book, called "The Rector's Book," and in that book he chronicled the leading national events of the time, but more particularly the events in the village, the weather, the crops, prices of produce; the rectorial income and expenses; church matters, number of communicants, offerings, accidents, remarkable instances of God's providence in the parish, and a multitude of other items, giving a vivid picture of a country village at the end of the seventeenth century. He intended the register to be continued by succeeding rectors, and it would have been a valuable record had they done so.
Messrs. Harry Gill and E. L. Guilford, M.A., in 1910 had the records transcribed, with illustrations, and published by Mr. H. B. Saxton.
(See also p. 105 in " Bequesting Benefactors.")
REV. JOHN DISNEY, M.A., (1677-1730), was born at Lincoln, and entered the Middle Temple, not with a view to practising as a barrister, but that he might the better be able to discharge his duties as a magistrate, in which office he acted with great discretion and impartiality. When forty-two years of age he had a strong desire to enter Holy Orders, was duly ordained, and became Vicar of Croft and Kirkby, in Lincolnshire, and in 1722-3 he became Vicar of St. Mary's, Nottingham. He was distinguished for his stern rebuke to magisterial misconduct, "hitting straight from the shoulder," it was called; and when a huge flagon of ale, with pipes and glasses, were brought into the vestry at St. Mary's on the request of an archbishop, after a confirmation, he peremptorily forbad their entry or use. He was a very humble-minded man, and on his gravestone only "J.D." is inscribed.
REV. JOHN BERRIDGE, (1716-1793), the son of a farmer at Kingston-on-Soar, was trained to be a farmer, but becoming very devout and thoughtful, he was sent to Cambridge University, and after being ordained, he became curate at Stapleford, near Cambridge, continuing his work at the University. He in 1755 became Vicar of Everton, where he continued thirty-eight years. He was a man of earnest convictions and great energy. At College he studied fifteen hours a day, and so, became inferior to few in his knowledge of literature and science. Broad in his sympathies, a fund of wit and humour ran through his discourses, but with his active spirit he could not be confined to one parish, so he made numerous itineraries of half a dozen counties, preaching ten or twelve sermons a week, and riding a hundred miles, and this he continued for twenty years. He was very generous and gave largely. He published a book. "The Christian World Unmasked."
REV. ROBERT LOWE, M.A., (d. 1845), was appointed Rector of Bingham in 1810, and found a vicious system of Poor Law relief prevailing in the parish and district, and he determined to make an effort to remedy it. The Justices were accustomed to issue orders to the Overseers to find work for labourers who applied, or to give them the current rate of wages, which instead of relieving destitution gave the impression that every able-bodied person had the right to have work found. The overseers then arranged with a farmer, who engaged a labourer, that they would pay the farmer 6s. a week, and he paid the labourer the sum received and 3s. more, i.e., 9s. for a week's work, and of course little work was done, and crime abounded. Mr. Lowe's system abolished indiscriminate outdoor relief, offered admission to the workhouse, with what we should regard as harsh and scanty fare, but the effect was that the labourers' wages in the district were increased from 9s. to 12s., the number of inmates in the workhouse, and idleness, and crime, all decreased; the secret evidently being personal, careful, persistent service by those in charge. "Whate'er is best administered is best."
REV. J. T. BECHER, M.A., (1770-1848), Vicar of Southwell, was also Vicar-General, his authority extending over twenty-eight parishes forming the Peculiar of Southwell, over which episcopal authority (except ordination and confirmation) was exercised, and with which was joined the Barony, or Liberty, of Southwell and Scrooby, and thus his time would be largely occupied in the administration of justice (see Dickinson). Mr. Becher published in 1806, "A Report concerning the House of Correction at Southwell," in which he gave an account of the awful state of the prisoners, who often on admission had vermin, which was thus introduced into the prison. Fettered at night, "without moral instruction, without laborious industry, pinched with hunger, and generally more than half naked, he dragged about his chains in all the squalid wretchedness of abject penury until the day of trial arrived, or the term of his sentence expired." A dozen, or more men would be confined in a room of eighteen feet square, and obliged to use the same apartment for every purpose. Many furfher extracts are quoted in "English Prisoners under Local Government," by S. & B. Webb, (London, Longman's). It is satisfactory to learn that through Mr. Becher's exertions and influence the magistrates were induced to build a new prison, with provision for six different classes of prisoners, "with a system of employment for the encouragement of industrious habits, and giving intellectual and religious instruction; with books and discipline, extending to a relief of the mind, and not merely to safe custody of the person. It was evidently a long time before John Howard's labours were responded to by effectual results.
Mr. Becher appears to have been intimate with Lord Byron when his mother resided at the Burgage Manor House, (1804-7) and exercised sufficient influence over him to suppress the first printed copies of his poems, owing to the tone of one of them.
He, in 1806, proposed, and saw carried out, the erection of a Workhouse at Southwell, constructed and governed upon the principles of inspection, classification, and seclusion.
He was a believer in self-help, and published "A Compendious and Practical System for Savings Banks." His "Constitution of Friendly Societies upon legal and scientific principles, with a system of book-keeping for such institutions," went to many editions, and he further aided them by printing "The expense of providing management and medical attendance for Friendly Societies;" and still further he issued "A system of Endowments for the Provident Classes in every walk in life."
He co-operated with Mr., afterwards Sir George Nicholls, in Poor Law administration reform, and that gentleman's figures were certified by Mr. Becher, and in 1833-4 he re-published a pamphlet "The Anti-pauper system, exemplifying the positive and practical good realized by the relievers and the relieved, under the frugal, beneficent, and lawful administration of the Poor Laws prevailing at Southwell." He then described himself as "Chairman of the Quarter Sessions for the Newark Division of the County of Nottingham, and for the Liberty of Southwell and Scrooby."
He, in 1823, convened a meeting of the Poor Law representatives of every parish, within ten miles of Southwell to assemble at the Saracen's Head, and he talked to them for three hours so effectually that they were convinced and converted, and agreed to adopt the scheme submitted.
REV. ROBERT WHITE ALMOND, (1786-1853), M.A., F.R.S.L., was Rector of St. Peter's, Nottingham, from 1814 until his death; but he was more than a parish rector, as we shall see. In the "Homes and Haunts of Henry Kirke White," the name of Mr. Almond frequently appears as fellow student and helpful friend. When in 1822 Plumptre Hospital, on London Road, had to be re-built, being in a ruinous state, an act of parliament had for some reason to be obtained for the purpose, and the three building commissioners appointed in the act were Alderman Barber (then, and thrice, mayor), Alderman Wilson (four times mayor) and the Rev. R. W. Almond, although the Hospital was not in his parish; here we see the business man. He was one of the original Committee of the Bromley House Library, and was its President for thirty-four years (1819-1853) during which he gained the esteem and goodwill of all who knew him, for to the poor he was a true friend and an unfailing participator with the afflicted in their distress, as for many years he rendered valuable and unremitting service to the General Hospital.
REV. WILLIAM GOODACRE, (1783-1859), for thirty-nine years was Perpetual Curate of Sutton-in-Ashfield, and at the same time attended to the spiritual needs of Skegby and Mansfield Woodhouse. He, in 1825, wrote an amusing "poem," showing how he spent a Sunday. Leaving home at Sutton on his white pony at 8.30, he went to Sunday School at Mansfield Woodhouse, then to Church service and preached, and "churched a woman." Left at 12.30 for Skegby, visited, and gave the Holy Eucharist to a sick woman. In the afternoon service prayed and preached; reached Sutton at 3. Baptised two children; prayed and preached; christened two children; attended a Teachers' Meeting for ten minutes; went off to a funeral at Mansfield Woodhouse; a fourth time prayed and preached; ''named'' two children; made a sick visit; had dinner or supper, arrived home, and wrote:—
"the hour of twelve Brings my day's labour to a close." From the " Mansfield Reporter."
REV. FRANCIS MORSE, M.A., (1818-1886), was one of the most useful Vicars St. Mary's, Nottingham, has had. During his Vicariate (1864-1886) the preaching was more vigorous, and the singing livelier; the church was largely restored; the high pews and gallery removed; windows with coloured glass illustrating an immense number of subjects were fixed; and much church building in the town sustained by his influence. He took an active part in public affairs. Bronze doors were put up in St. Mary's "in loving memory" of him, "Father, Pastor, Friend," with symbolic representations.
REV. THE HON. O. W. W. FORESTER, M.A., (1813-94) was from 1867 to 1887 Rector of Gedling. On the death of his brother he became Lord Forester. His first wife was a daughter of Richard Norman, Esq., and Lady Elizabeth Manners; and his second wife a daughter of W. Tollermache, Esq., and Lady A. M. St. Maur, daughter of the Duke of Somerset. He was Canon and Chancellor of York. During his rectorship great developments took place in parochial church matters, to which the Rector contributed largely out of his own purse. The parish church was restored, Mission Churches at Carlton and Netherfield were provided; and Schools built at Carlton, Netherfield, and Stoke. A Working Men's Hall and Institute at Carlton, and Institutes at Gedling and Netherfield were built; the Rector paying the whole cost of building the Carlton Institute, and the Mission Room, School and club rooms at Netherfield.
The Gedling Parish Magazine for June, 1883 says in connection with the presentation by the parishioners at Carlton and Netherfield of a piece of silver plate to Canon Forester:—"See what the Rector of Gedling has done to provide for the spiritual need of this rapidly increasing population; he has made each of them a separate Rectory and has endowed each with £10,000. This arrangement will shortly take effect." (Gerring's "History of Gedling," 209).
A Temperance Hall was built at Carlton at the joint cost of the Rector and Samuel Morley, Esq.
In the last year of his Rectorship the Glebe Farm, consisting of 122½ acres, was sold for £13,821, to be paid for over a series of years, and it became the Porchester Garden Estate, being divided into 832 allotments.
He was a man of earnest energetic zeal, and wide sympathies.
Two personal instances may here be given:—
When the railway tunnel was cut through the Plains Hill, and a number of wooden huts were built at the top for navvies to reside in, he induced the contractors to put up a good-sized wooden hall, in which the children could be taught, and religious services be held on Sundays. He arranged to conduct such services on alternate Sundays, or to be responsible for them, and for Mr. Robert Mellors, who then resided on Arnold Plains, to be responsible for the alternate Sundays. "You must find or grind," was his remark, and this arrangement, without interference, was duly carried out for over two years while the navvies stayed.
Another sample of his attitude may be given. He had a weekly Mission service in the School-room at Gedling, at which he occasionally invited laymen to speak. Here on one occasion, addressing the Curate he said, "You give out the hymn, (Sankey's) I will offer prayer, and then I will call on Mr. Mellors to preach."
REV. T. M. MACDONALD, M.A., (1820-1904), was the second vicar of Holy Trinity Church, Nottingham; he succeeded the Rev. T. H. Davies, M.A. The church was built in 1840-1, being the first of a church building era in Nottingham, for in the fifty years previously only two churches had been built in the town, and two rebuilt in the extended borough district, but in the fifty years following twenty-six churches were erected, in addition to many school rooms and mission halls. Mr. Macdonald came in 1851. He had been a Wesleyan minister, and had learned how to preach. He was fluent, with an intense earnestness that gripped and held the hearers for forty minutes. He knew his Bible, and loved its teaching; had a message of infinite importance; he must give, and you must hear it. He never said to his people, "Go!" It was always, "Come on!" He was an unwearied worker, and set everybody suitable to work. The church, with its huge galleries, was filled. Parochial schools were built, and enlarged; and the promoters were not satisfied with the then ordinary elementary instruction, but must have classes for tuition by duly qualified teachers, in science with a laboratory, French, etc., into which work Richard Thurlow threw his energies with ardour, and later John Pierrepont (1878). A Ragged School in Newcastle Street followed, with Sunday and week night meetings. A Mission Church (St. Stephen's) on Bunker's Hill; School Rooms in Colville Street; Parochial Rooms in Shakespeare Street, were built and worked with vigour.
REV. J. D. LEWIS, M.A., (d. 1905), after being a curate at St. Mary's Church, Nottingham, became second Vicar of St. Ann's, and so remained thirty years (1871-1901) the church being during his incumbency enlarged five times, and the school rooms thirteen times —so the printed parochial records state. Now we are concerned not so much with the work of the stonemason and builder as with the man who was the moving spirit in the work. His was a great sympathy with sin and suffering, causing him to go anywhere to render help, and to fulfil his engagements he literally ran to meet them, and so became known as "the running parson." He cared more about meeting the needs of the people than for ecclesiastical bonds. His sympathies were stretched out like the arms of God, and so he surrounded himself with many willing workers, and with co-operation they brought not only effort, but money also. St.. Jude's at Mapperley (a Chapel of Ease) was in his parish as were also the Coppice Asylum, and the huge City Asylum, of both of which he was Chaplain, and a dense mass of people on both sides of St. Ann's Well Road, 22,000 people, had to be ministered to by the vicar and his curates and helpers. To all this he added the work of the School Board, and he in three contested elections was in one of them, at the head of fifteen candidates elected, in another the second, and in another third. At one period he was the Vice-Chairman. He well deserved the canonry that was bestowed upon him, and the Canon Lewis Memorial Hall, on Coppice Road, shows the regard of a grateful people.
After nearly thirty years of incessant toil he resigned and went to Trowell, where in its great house and large rectory grounds he regained strength, but soon sighed for more work than the parish required. The accommodation at the church was frequently too small for the attendance, and the men were as numerous as the women, for the colliers and ironworkers realized that in the parson they had a friend.
REV. GEORGE EDGCOME, M.A., (d. 1906), was a man greatly beloved, for he had a wide sympathy and his affections and efforts went out especially to all who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity and truth. He did not confine his labours to his own parish, but went about doing good wherever he could do so. He was much attached to work among the young, whether in Sunday Schools or Bands of Hope. For many years he conducted a devotional meeting of Teachers at 9.30 on Sunday mornings, previous to the opening of the School, and after the close of the afternoon Session he again would ask them to join him in prayer and praise. He knew both teachers and scholars. He took the senior girls' bible class, and any class when a teacher could not attend. His courtesy, humility, and plodding work produced affection and respect among all classes.
REV. CANON J. W. BROOKS, M.A., (d. Feb. 15th 1882) after being Vicar of Clarborough, Retford, became in 1844 Vicar of St. Mary's, Nottingham, and so continued nineteen years. At the date named the church was closed for repairs, and was not re-opened until 1848. The central compartment of the great window in the North transept is filled with stained glass, given by Mr. Francis B. Gill "to commemorate the laborious and faithful services" of Mr. Brooks. He surrounded himself with a body of zealous churchmen just at the period when the town was extending, and a number of churches, schools, and sites for buildings, etc., were erected or secured. In his old age he retired to Great Ponton, a small parish in Lincolnshire, where he continued, until he was 92 years of age.
REV. R. H. WHITWORTH, (d. 1908), F.R.H.S., Vicar of Blidworth for forty-three years, Chaplain of Newstead, and a Vice-President of the Thoroton Society. He wrote a number of little booklets about Blidworth and its Church, and Newstead Priory and local historical events and Forest scenes, and he was fond of rhyming what he wanted the children to learn or remember, as in "The Ballad of Blidworth Rocking, for the Blidworth people, Feb. 2nd, 1902," which gave him the occasion of humorously referring to many items of historical interest for the benefit of the children in the National School, in which cause his heart was centred. He complied a book of all the events connected with the history of the Priory, and afterwards he, with the Rev. J. C. Cox, LL.D., F.S.A., jointly wrote an article in the "Victoria History" on the Forestry of the County (1906) in which much information is recorded.
He and his wife celebrated their golden wedding in 1901.
He died in the sixty-first year of his ministry.
REV. HENRY J. TEBBUTT, M.A., (d. 1915), was curate at St. Mary's, Nottingham; then first Vicar of St. Ann's (1866), which parish being divided, he promoted the building of St. Andrew's Church, and became its first Vicar (1872), and during his term of office, school buildings, a vicarage, and a parochial room were built. A portion of the parish of St. Andrew's was cut off, and he promoted the building of Emmanuel Church. He was the active promoter of the Nottingham Church Spiritual Aid and Church Mission Fund, for which £30,000 was raised. He was made a Prebendary or Honorary Canon of Lincoln, and afterwards had a similar rank at Southwell. On leaving in 1886 for Doncaster Parish Church, St. Andrew's congregation presented him with a purse of £250, and volumes of books, and there was also a presentation to Mrs. Tebbutt. His declining days were spent at Southwell.
REV. CANON NIGEL MADAN, (1840-1915), after being Vicar of Polesworth, became Hector of West Hallam for eighteen years; then at Doveridge, and later at Plumtree. He was helpful in arranging Quiet Days, but always active and cheerful. Among his parishioners his sympathy, geniality, and helpfulness in visiting, secured their affection and support. His wife was as active as himself. She was Diocesan President of the Girls' Friendly Society, which gave her a wide outlook, and with a keen sense of humour she gained much influence for good. She formed choirs, musical competitions, worked for missions with needle, pencil, and brush. She was "a delightful hostess, a reader, a gardener, a lover of flowers, and of all things beautiful." When in old age they retired, every householder in the parish signed an address:—
"You have by your sympathy, kindness, and unfailing courtesy, endeared yourselves to our hearts, and by your devotion to duty you have shown us an example to follow, which must always remain impressed on our memories."
Both of them died at Bleasby in 1915.
REV. A. M. Y. BAYLAY, M.A., (1842-1921), Vicar of Thurgarton and Hoveringham for forty-seven years. He was a scholar from love of learning, but being of a very retiring disposition he shrank from the public gaze, so that few publications bear his name. He was the author of a translation of the Breviary. Many consulted him upon matters Archaeological, Ecclesiastical, and concerning ancient music, and in knowledge of the old uses of the English Church he had no rival. He lived very largely in the past, but was always willing and pleased to impart his knowledge to others, and won the high esteem of his parishioners. He was a Vice-President of the Thoroton Society, and frequently read papers.
REV. F. A. WODEHOUSE, B.A., (1842-1921), for thirty-three years Rector of Gotham, and Vicar of Ratcliffe on Soar, was notable in that he regarded all men in the parish as a part of his flock, and went in and out among the nonconformists, making no difference. They would close their chapels and go to church on his anniversaries. He anticipated the Lambeth message for unity. He delighted in Sankey's hymns for common use among the people. He was active in parochial work, visiting the sick daily if desired.
His wife was well known as a speaker, a singer, and a temperance worker.