Archbishop visits Wateringbury (1884)
Post date: Mar 25, 2012 3:18:57 PM
Extract from Parish Magazine of November 1884:
During the past month we were favoured by a visit from the Archbishop of Canterbury. His Grace had been visiting some of the Churches in the neighbourhood, and on Wednesday, October 22nd came to us. The first to greet him on his arrival were the National School Children who were all assembled in their play ground as his carriage drove past. He very kindly ordered the carriage to be stopped and addressed a few hearty words to the Boys and Girls, wishing them God's blessing and expressing his regret that he could not stop to hear them sing. Three hearty cheers were given as he drove off.
On arriving at the Church, he was received by the Rev. Spencer W. Phillips, Vicar, and the Rev W. W. Sedgwick, Curate, Mr. Fremlin (Churchwarden), and Messrs. Goodwin, Clemitson, and W. Dray (Sidesmen). His Grace made a minute inspection of the Church, the famous dumb borsholder, and other objects of interest. He expressed himself much gratified with all he saw, and before leaving the Church he asked those present to kneel down while he offered up a prayer for God's blessing on our Parish and People. He afterwords spent a few minutes at the Vicarage, whence after partaking of tea he drove off to East Farleigh. His Grace was accompanied by the Rev. Montague Fowler, his domestic Chaplain.
The Archbishop was Edward Benson. The Church alterations had been completed in April 1884 after a closure of 10 months.
Edward Benson (source Wikipedia)