Humble Servants Of Chicklade Church

From Chicklade And Pertwood, A Short Parish History by E.R. Barty, M.A., Chicklade, Old Rectory, first published December 1955:

Among those to whom the Church and Parish owe so much we must not forget those who served in a humbler capacity.

Lavinia Russell became a cleaner of the church in 1873 and was appointed annually for many years but only on condition of good behaviour. We have to report that she was dismissed in 1892. Known as “Vinie” she must have been a village “character”; she lived in a cottage that was little more than a mud hovel, and the most conspicuous article of her attire was a thick net bonnet.

John Hayward, Clerk and Sexton, resigned in 1884 after having served from 1852, a long period of 32 years.

To the names of those who from time to time have been mentioned as churchwardens must be added Dr. Blythe of Southridge House. He succeeded Miss Godolphin Osborne in 1897, in 1900 he was sole churchwarden and he continued in office till 1909.

Mr. Garland Senr. was in office 1894-1902; Sexton in 1899.

In 1909 Mr. Halliday proposed and Mr. Garland Senr. Seconded the appointment of Charles T.J. Clarke as churchwarden.

After the union of the ecclesiastical parishes of Chicklade and Hindon in 1921 there is a hiatus in the church records. No minutes of Vestry meetings at Chicklade are recorded for a period of 17 years but it is known that Mr. Garland served as churchwarden from 1909 until 1947, a period of 38 years, which constitutes a record in our annals. Charles Clarke Garland died in 1947 – “a man greatly beloved.”

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