Badsey (with
Aldington) and Wickhamford
Parochial Magazine
1905
JANUARY
The Churchwardens of Badsey have just supplied a long-felt want in providing a new stove
for the church. The old stove had never been a really satisfactory one. Even in its early days
very considerable humouring was required to induce it to 'keep in' all night, and in its declining
years no amount of coaxing could prevail over its deeply-rooted aversion to 'long hours.' The
result was, the weekly business of fire-lighting had to be deferred until Sunday morning, when one
generally found the temperature of the church suggestive of the fire-less days
of, say, four hundred years ago ; whilst thanks to twentieth-century methods of encouraging
combustion in place, of the cloud of sweet-smelling frankincense, so familiar to the Badsey congregation in those far-off times, one has not unfrequently had to
contend with the very-far-from-edifying odour of petroleum fumes. Better things, however, are in
store for us, and we may in future expect to find a moderately well-aired church, even at the
early services. The new stove is to cost about £14, and, as it is quite clear that it cannot be paid for out of
the general fund for church expenses, the wardens will be compelled to make a special appeal. We
trust they will be encouraged in their efforts to secure the comfort and health of all, by a willing
and liberal response on the part of parishioners.
APRIL
The Vicar gave his annual supper to churchworkers, at the Vicarage, on Wednesday, March 2nd, when about thirty-six, including churchwardens, clerk, sidesmen, singing-men, ringers and chimers, responded to his invitation. After supper speeches were made and songs were sung, the most successful effort of all being that of Mr. J. Perkins, with his 'One O,' which quite 'brought down the house.' So pleasantly did the time slip by that the night really still seemed young when the party broke up at a few minutes to twelve.
On Sunday, March 19th, after the usual Children's Service, the Teachers and Scholars
assembled in the Old School for the Annual Distribution of Prizes. The Vicar addressed a few words to the children and then distributed the
prizes in the following order :-
Teachers' Prize (given by the Vicar), Miss Hands.
Girls. Class I—Winnie Keen, Edith Keen.
Special Prize (given by Miss E. N. Sladden), Catharine Enstone.
Class II—Mary Jelfs, Maud Moisey.
Boys. Class I—Cecil Crane, George Marshall.
Class II—Harry Crisp, Francis Jelfs.
Class III—Cecil Keen, William Barnard.
Infants—Eva Stanford, Maggie Perkins, Dorothy Agg, Edmund Jelfs, George Nightingale,
Cecil Agg, Willie Moisey, Edward Evans, Martin Agg.
MAY
There was a large attendance at the Badsey Easter Vestry which was held at the Vicarage on Easter Tuesday. The subject of appropriated seats was introduced. The Vicar explained that when the owners of pews in Badsey Church allowed those pews to be removed in 1885 they thereby resigned all rights to any particular seats. The seating of the congregation was a matter for the churchwardens—a matter, that is, for their discretion. He did not consider that any circumstances, short of unseemly behaviour, could ever possibly justify the turning of a person out of a seat in church, and he intended to use every legitimate means to bring about the disappropriating of seats in the Parish Church. There was a very powerful lever ready to hand in the Vicar's right to elect one churchwarden, and he had made up his mind never to ask any gentleman to serve as Vicar's warden until that gentleman had pledged himself to support the free and unappropriated system. He was happy to say that Mr. Sladden had given him such a pledge, in fact Mr. Sladden had informed him that he had always been strongly opposed to the allotting of seats, and, being people's warden when the church was re-opened after restoration, he had boldly championed the cause of unappropriated seats, but was over-ruled by the Vicar (Rev. T, H. Hunt) and the Vicar's warden (Mr. Savory). The Vicar went on to say that Badsey people were not so boorish as to take a seat merely to irritate the usual occupant of it; worshippers would, as a rule, occupy their old seats, but, if a stranger through ignorance, or a parishioner by accident took a chair usually occupied by another he would not be subjected to the indignity of being turned out of it. Mr. Sladden explained that it was only a sense of duty to the allottees of seats that had ever impelled him to remove or approve the removal of worshipper. After same free expressions of opinion it was proposed by Mr. McDonald, seconded by Mr. H. Johns, and carried unanimously that "it is desirable that all seats in the Parish Church be declared 'free and unappropriated.'"
SEPTEMBER
On Wednesday, July 26th, all those children who had made two-thirds of the maximum number
of attendances at Sunday School were entertained to tea by the Vicar on the Vicarage Lawn. After
tea an adjournment was made to the House Ground for games and sports. We subjoin a list
of the prize-winners :-
Race for Boys over 12—R. Keen
Race for Boys under 12—J. Perkins
Race for Girls over 10—1st Lena Crisp 2nd Kate Nightingale
Race for Girls under 10—1st Mary Jelfs 2nd Esther Smith
Race for Boys in Infants' Class—1st John Perkins 2nd Edward Evans .
Race for Girls in Infants' Class—1st Eva Stanford 2nd Maggie Heritage
Three-legged Race for Boys—B. Hartwell and Harry Cox
Three-legged Race for Girls—Florence Chamberlain and Daisy Pitman
Tug of War (Boys v. Girls)—Elsie Marshall's side
Teachers' Race—Miss Kelland
The afternoon's proceedings were brought to a close with a service in the Parish Church at 7
o'clock.
NOVEMBER
On Saturday, October 7th, the members of the Badsey Choir went to Stratford on-Avon for their annual outing.
The Vicar offered one prize to the boy sending in the best description of the day's proceedings, and
another to the senior member producing the best account in verse. There was no competition for the junior prize,
the smaller boys being apparently afraid of competing with the elder ones, and the elder ones evidently dreading a
beating at the hands of one of the little ones. There were two entries for the senior prize, which has been awarded to Mr.
Joseph Foster Agg, Parish Clerk and Organist, for the following verses of more than ordinary merit.
The Choristers of Badsey for their annual outing went
To Shakespeare's Town and Birthplace, on pleasure there intent;
Last season funds were larger and took us to the sea,
But our happy day at Stratford will long remembered be.
The journey, though a short one, was run upon the rail,
(10.50 was the station time the party left the Vale),
And though it was accomplished without a great mishap,
One enterprising juvenile got treated to a hat.
The old town teems with interest, and our programme soon began,
The Birthplace and Museum coming first upon the plan;
What hallowed memories seem to cling around that humble home,
Wherein the mighty genius first the light of day was shown!
Within the Birthplace naught was shown which did not interest a'l,
And, like the ancient monarch, we saw written on the wall
Some mystic signs, and well-known names too numerous to be numbered,
And a chair of large dimensions in which Falstaff might have slumbered.
The Museum also is replete with priceless treasures rare,
With books and pictures all arranged there with the greatest care,
And all we saw was worthy, and received true admiration,
And will no doubt receive the same from many a generation.
Our party then proceeded on their journey through the town,
And crossed the bridge erected by a Knight of some renown,
We found our wants provided with a dinner of the best,
Not in a crowded restaurant, but, in a sweet Swan's Nest.
The Avon rippling near us, and the weather being so grand,
Our Vicar then suggested that we should leave the land;
The motor launch was boarded and we started for a sail,
The lovely views and scenery were not far behind the Vale.
We landed on the Bancroft, and then pursued our way
And passed New Place where stood an older once upon a day;
We saw the Guild and Grammar School, admiring as we passed
A house where flowers and creepers lovely seemed to smile and bask.
Then a timbered individual saluted us with pleasure,
Which turned to disappointment when he found we'd brought no leather;
But, with so large a family, the Vicar quite forgot -
I hope he may remember him when visiting the Mop.
Our steps were now directed towards that ancient shrine,
So stately and so noble, so graceful and sublime ;
Not in the realm of England nor underneath the sky,
A spot more fitting could be found wherein the Bard should lie.
No wonder that the place is loved, no wonder that 'tis known
Across the seas, in other climes where Shakespeare's fame has flown;
So beautiful, so peaceful, is it not right that he
Safe in the Master's keeping within His courts should be?
Now once again the scene was changed, and Stratford, ever winning,
True athletic form displayed, and showed from the beginning
That Handsworth must their Rugby team improve in scrums and kicking,
If, when next they visit Stratford, they would leave without a licking.
The Singers of S. James's now proceeded on in quest
Of good things that were waiting within a white bird's nest.
And all agreed the tea sustained the dinner's reputation,
Regretting that their next advance must be towards the station
The Choristers of Badsey their hearty thanks now tender
To all good friends and patrons who their labours did remember,
And, if their breves and crochets are not always of the best,
They never in their efforts seem to get too long a rest.
DECEMBER
Whilst we all rejoice to know that Mrs. Stewart is now restored to something like her former health, many will regret to learn that she made her mind up to withdraw from the practice to which she has been engaged so long and so successfully. The district may congratulate itself, however, on securing the services of so highly qualified and genial a successor as Nurse Beesley, who, as will be seen from the advertisement section, has taken up her residence at the Manor House. There is no local fund for the support of a district nurse, so that Nurse Beesley will receive no renumeration for her work beyond the fees paid by patients, and her continuance amongst us must depend upon the extent of her practice. We trust the welcome extended to her will be of such a character as to retain her services to the parish and district.