War wedding (1915)

Post date: May 08, 2014 3:47:1 PM

Extract from Kent Messenger of 6th November 1915

WEDDING AT WATERINGBURY

A wedding which excited the greatest interest at Wateringbury, East Peckham, and the neighbouring parishes, took place at the Church of St. John the Baptist, Wateringbury, on Thursday afternoon, when the Rev. Geof­frey Charles Edward Ryley, M.A., Vicar of East Peckham, eldest son of the late Rev. Edward Ryley, Rector of Sarratt, Herts., and Mrs. Ryley, of Sarratt Rectory, was married to Miss Esmay Frances Maitland, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Keith Maitland, and great-niece of General Sir George B. Wolseley, G.C.B., K.C.B., of Thatched Cottage, Wateringbury.

The chancel was, prettily adorned with groups of palms, maiden hair ferns, white and yellow chrysanthemums, etc., and as the congregation assembled Mr. Edgar Smith, the organist, played “Chart Triomphant” (A. C. Gray), “ Pastorale ” (Fauikes), and “Mignon Gavotte.” The Bishop of Dover, to whom the bridegroom is Chaplain, officiated, assisted by the Rev. W . H. McK. Caldwell (uncle of the bride, and Rector of East Ilsley, Berks), and the Vicar, the Rev. Canon Livett.

The bride, who was conducted to the church and given away by General Sir George Wolseley, was attired in white satin covered with ninon, trimmed with lace which belonged to her grandmother, orange blossom and white heather. In her hair was a wreath of orange blossom and white heather, covered with a veil of Point d ’Angleterre lace. When the bride arrived at the chancel steps, where the bridegroom and his brother, Mr. J. Percy Ryley (as best man), were in waiting, the service commenced with the hymn “Lead us Heavenly Father, lead us.”

Mr. Caldwell took the service with, the ex­ception of the actual marriage ceremony, which was carried out by the Bishop of Dover, who gave an exceedingly appropriate address. in the course of which he expressed a hope that the lives now united would be lives of usefulness to others and very prosperous and bright. The Psalm, commencing “God be merciful unto us,” was chanted, and the hymn “ O God of Bethel, by Whose hand,” was sung. When the register had been signed, the “ Marche Jubilante,” a pleasing composition of the bridegroom, was played as the bridal party left, the church. Mean­while the bells rang out a merry peal, the ringers having come over from St. Michael’s East Peckham, to do honour to their Vicar and his bride. They were assisted by Mrs. Gatehouse, wife of the Vicar of Headcorn, who since she became a campanologist some two and a half years ago, has rung in no less than sixty churches.

There was no reception, and during the afternoon the Rev. Godffrey and Mrs. Ryley left for their honeymoon. The bride travelled in a brown silk dress, with body of brown chiffon over orange; brown silk hat, and brown overcoat with fitch collar.There was a large and handsome collection of wedding presents, as follows

[too extensive to transcribe]