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THE BUSHLEY, L O N G D O N , Q U E E N H I L L , & HOLDFAST

ALMMACK 1 YEAR-BOOK,FOR 1887.

OUR FRONTISPIECE.

THE VILLAGE CROSS, RIPPLE.

S time goes on it becomes difficult to find within our three parishes anobject of interest to all our readers for our FRONTISPIECE that hasnot already appeared there. But as we have occasionally gonebeyond the strict boundaries of our Parishes for this purpose, we

_ have ventured to do so again this year, and go as far as Ripple forthe exceedingly pretty and picturesque view of the VILLAGE CROSS that adorns ourfirst page; and indeed it can hardly be said to be going over our borders at all, foruntil the death of the late Rector of Ripple in 1880, the hamlets of Queenhill andHoldfast formed part of the parish of Ripple, but it is enough for our purpose to say—that our picture is one which all will recognise as both interesting as a relic ofantiquity, and also beautiful in itself and its surroundings.

There was formerly a Cross in almost every village and market town. It was eitherin the churchyard or at the point where several roads met, or in some other con-spicuous situation, where meetings were held and proclamations made. Many stillremain, but sadly defaced, the Cross itself being almost always destroyed and some-times replaced by a sun dial.

It is sad that in a Christian country, the sign of our salvation should have been sodishonoured. May we not hope that the faith and love shown in the revival ofreligion in our day may yet set to work to restore those Crosses, and the " carvedwork thereof," which our forefathers, in their fanaticism, " broke down with axes andhammers."

THE BUSHLEY CHURCH CHOIR.

JfKT has long been our intention to give a sketch of the history of our Church Choir^"jK in this publication. Such a history we hope would be interesting to us as aParish, for the Choir is quite an institution among us, and one that we are proud of.It will be interesting also to us as Churchmen to recognise the fact that our littlecountry parish was in the very first front of the movement for the improvement of ourChurch services. Thirty years ago, while profane mobs were rioting in S. Barnabas'Church, Pimlico, and S. George's in the East, because the Psalms were sung, and thechoristers were vested in surplices, we had a surpliced choir here at Bushley, as theyhad also at Kcmerton on the one side of us, and Eastnor on the other; anil we have

1922 IH'SHLEV.

the satisfaction of knowing that our example has been approved and followed until achoral service is the rule all over England. Then again a history of the Choir will beinteresting to us as individuals, for there is hardly a family in the parish^ that has nothad one or more of its members in its service.

When the Rev. C. Allen (who had been Curate of the parish under Rev. W.Prosser), became the Incumbent in 1847, he at once began the improvement of themusical part of the services in Bushley Church. He found in the old Squire one whohad learnt to love the choral services of Westminster Abbey and the Temple Church,and whose desire was to see in his Village Church at home, a service of the samekind (though not so grand and elaborate), as in those noble churches. The Parsonand the Squire worked together in this matter—they were quite sure that thething might be done, and were determined to do it.

But' that we may know what an undertaking it was, we must try to realizewhat the musical arrangements were in the old days. In the old Church therehad been a band of musicians, and among them the late Mr. W. Creese, ofYendley, played the bassoon. Mr. W. Smith, and James Starling, played theclarionet, as did George Walker also, but so energetically, that it was thought tohave hastened his death,—not, however, before he had made for himself a bassviol, which he learnt to play; and Mr. Webb, the gardener, played the " octaveflute" and conducted.

Miss Ann Clay and her brother Thomas, and Edmund George, the schoolmaster,were among the singers, together with Mr. Selman and Benj. Dyer.

But the old Church was pulled down, and the old musicians never played in thenew church, which was finished in 1844.

But our younger readers must know that the new Church was not always aswe have it now. When newly built, there was no chancel, but only a smallrecess (called an apse) at the east end of the church, just large enough to hold thealtar. The reading desk was on the south side, and the pulpit on the north, andwhile the north transept was the vestry, the south one was the Squire's family pew,raised about 2 feet from the floor, and enclosed with a screen. It was carpeted, andhad a table in the middle, and there was a nice fire-place, so that it was a very com-•fortable little room.

In those days the singers were placed in a gallery at the west end of the church,and the singing was done chiefly by the school children, old Mr. Jones, the school-master, leading them with a pitch pipe, which is still in the writer's possession.

But in or about the year 1848, an organ was erected in the gallery. It was a barrelorgan which might be played by turning a handle, but it was also provided with akey-board, in case an organist could be found to play it. Very soon, however, thebarrel was done away with, and the organ much enlarged and improved, and Mrs.Dowdeswell, of Pull Court, was the organist, with Mr. Jones as her deputy, whilethe school girls sat on one side of her, and the boys on the other. Amongst thegirls at this time, Mary Bevan (now Mrs. Cuthbert), and Ann Hawlings (now Mrs.Payne), were leaders, together with Eliza Stone, Emma Nicholls, and Emma Thomas,and Mr. Matty from Tewkesbury, sung bass.

Mr. Allen was a real lover of music, and devoted much time and money toincreasing the power and tone of the organ. In 1851 it had cost ^175, and it wasthen determined to remove it from the gallery to the North Transept, and bencheswere erected in front of the organ, and in front of the Pull Court pew, for the singers,while Mr. Cupper, then schoolmaster, took the place of organist.

Soon after the removal of the organ from the gallery, a regular choir was formed,of men and boys, namely, Mr. Matty, sen., and his nephew, William Matty, whosung bass. Matthew Collins sung alto, and the two Coxes and G. Cooke, tenor;together with two hoys, one named Collins, and the other Jones or Goddard, whosung treble with a young lady named Miss Musson, and Mr. Holder and hisdaughter came over occasionally to play for them, and conduct the weekly practice.

BUSHLEY.

The writer well remembers that Miss Musson kept a clean pair of shoes andstockings under the seat in the Squire's pew, where (tradition says) she would changethem after a dirty walk from Tewkesbury.

These were all professional singers, who received regular payment, and wereprovided with a dinner each Sunday at Mr. Selman's, at the expense of Rev. C. Allen.Under Miss Musson's leadership were 4 Bushley boys, the nucleus of our present choir—namely, John Bloxham, who served in it, man and boy, six-and-twenty years, tillhis death in 1875, Henry Nicholls, Reuben Woodward, who went to sea in 1854,and is believed to have been lost; and Fred Stone, now living in Queen-hill.

Up to this time the organ had been played by various professional players, Mr.Alder and Mr. Woodward, from Cheltenham, and Mr. Rogers, from Worcester, &c.,until Mr. Uglow undertook the duties, and brought with him two of his sons, whosang treble in the choir—one of them, named Conrad, died while yet a boy, and to hismemory Mr. Allen erected a stone in our churchyard (though he was not buried there),bearing in relief the figures of three choristers singing the Te Deum. And we mustnot omit the names of Mr. Nat White, Mr. Gilman, Mr. Horniblow, and Mr. JabezJones, who frequently gave us the benefit of their skill as organists, and joined in thesinging.

It was not, however, till 1852, that the Bushley Choir can be said to have been trulya Parish choir. In that year, Mr. John Cheese came among us, whose memory,among those who knew him, will never fade'. He was quite a young man, fresh fromcollege, full of zeal, with a natural talent for music, and the happy knack of gettingpeople to work with him and share his enthusiasm. He told Mr. Allen soonafter his arrival that he would never be content until he had a choir made up entirelyof Bushley men and boys, and asked to be allowed twelve months to do it in.

The first Bushley men to join the choir were Mr. William Bruorton, in June, 1852,Daniel Wilkes in September, and Joe Bromage about the same time, while the nextlot of boys to join were W. Phillips, Henry Starling, Ned Starling, and AlfredNicholls (who afterwards went as a clerk on the L.N.W. Railway, and is since dead).William Matty still remained, as did the two Coxes and G. Cooke, for some timelonger, but George Nicholls, Walter Bruorton (who died in 1870), and WilliamPenn (Mr. Allen's groom), were added to the men from the parish; while RobertLane, and a gardener named Timms, also sung with the choir occasionally. Duringthis time there were singing as boys, John Bloxham, H. Nicholls, Edmund George,Fred Stone, Bob Stone, R. Woodward, Edwin Andrews, William Andrews, JohnJones, H. Starling, Edward Starling, and Giles Bloxham. This must have beenbetween 1853-60.

After this, John Bloxham, Henry Nicholls, and Edmund George, were promotedto rank with the men, and the two brothers Robins (from Massey) joined them ; andthe following additions were made to the boys: J. Turberville, Henry Bevan, Joe andBen Woodward, J. Stokes, William Bloxham (now in Tewkesbury), Jem Botterell,Jem Stone, and Master Charlie Allen (now a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy).Soen after this, the names of Matty, Bromage, and Cox disappear, and the choirbecame—as Mr. Cheese had promised—entirely parochial. In those early days, menand boys alike caught the spirit of their young choir-master, and thought nothing ofgoing to practice three or four times a week, and the real success of Mr. Allen andMr. Cheese is seen in this, the best of all tests, that they made their pupils lovethen: work. This was proved in after-days when Mr. Allen had left the parish, andMr. Cheese also had married and gone away; the choir stuck together in spite of somedifficulties, and are with us still.

In the year 1854-5 the new chancel was built by Mr. Dowdeswell, and ample pro-vision made for a choir of 12 boys and 8 men; and at the same time an organchamber was built for the organ which was greatly enlarged, and had already cost£270. It was removed to its new chamber in 1856, and the choir men and boys werenow vested in surplices. The boys also on Sundays wore a black cloth tunic with ared necktie, and a college cap,

E 2

I QA4 BUSHLEY.

Mr. Cheese left us in August, 1861, and was succeeded in 1862, by Mr. Rusling asschoolmaster and organist. He like his predecessor came to us as a very young man,full of zeal for his work and an excellent musician. He picked up Mr. Cheese's workwhere he had left it, and has carried it on with devotion and ability to this day.During the interval of a few months between Mr. Cheese's departure and Mr.Rusling's coming, Mr. Joseph Hoare played the organ, and for some years remainedattached to Bushley choir and band. Charles Creese also seems to have joined thechoir for a short time about this date (1863), and Joe Thomas, from Queen, hill, as aboy, and to the list of boys were added Chris. Andrews, Ch. Stone (deceased), C.Nicholls, H. Turberville, and Alf. Bloxham (now in Malvern).

In 1864 (November), the following is the list of the men, viz,, John Jones (alto),D. Wilkes, H. Nicholls, Edmund George, Walter Bruorton (tenors), John Bloxham,"W. Bruorton, Frank Creese, H. Starling, and William Andrews (bass). Theboys included, C. Nicholls, H. Turberville, William Bloxham and his brotherAlfred, C. Awford, William Nicholls, G. Andrews, Ch. Stone, John Botterell,B. Woodward, J. Stokes, W. Stone, and William George.

The Rev. C. W. Grove took charge of the Parish on Mr. Allen's leaving it. Hislove of music made him take great interest in the Choir and its services. GeorgeTaylor, the blacksmith, joined in 1865, and William Clay about the same time sangas an alto, having before sung as a boy.

From that time to this there have been only three additions to the men of theChoir, namely, George Taylor, admitted to the Choir 1865, Samuel Sage, who joinedin 1875, an<l ̂ r- A. E. Nash, who succeeded Mr. Rusling as schoolmaster in March,1878, and also undertook with readiness and ability, the onerous duty of teaching theboys of the choir, in preparation for the general practice once a week. This he hasdone with great patience, tact, and success.

There has of course been a continual stream of boys coming into and passingthrough the Choir, some of them leaving when their voices broke, others singingwith the men for a while till they left the parish for work elsewhere.

Between 1865 and 1870 John Davis, Jack Nicholls, Will Sparrow (deceased),W. Woodward, Fred. Darling, Arthur Bruorton, Frank Bloxham, and WilliamBroadstock were among the boys, and when the present incumbent came to takecharge of the parish in 1870, some of these were still in the Choir. In 1871 thefollowing were the Choir Boys :—W. Stokes, M. Witts, Joe Wilkes, W. Bloxham,C. E. Thomas, Arthur Bruorton, M. Turberville, H. Bloxham, H. Cooke, A. Bruorton,and Harry Jordan. On Dec. 21, 1873, T. Pendrey, W. Williams, C. Bloxham, andHarry Wilkes were admitted to the Choir with a special form of prayer, which hasalways been used since then on similar occasions. The next batch of boys willinclude H. Weaver, C. W. Rusling, W. Andrews, and the Davises, Tom and Bob,and Willie Lane, who were all in the Choir in 1874. After them would comeFrank Bullock and George Rusling, H. Jones, Tom Sage, Corn. Briggs, George andFred Davis, and Will Terry, who were with us in 1879. Ant. Cole, W. Parsons,Alfred Sage, Jem Bloxham, Jack Jones, and Alf Nicholls would come next, andTeddy George, George Terry, and Edward Sage were admitted in 1881. Harry Stoneand his brother George, Willie Sage, Sam James, Willie Fowler, Frank George,and Willie Cole bring us down to the present time.

Thus have we seen how our Choir was first formed and how it has grown, not onlyin numbers and skill, but also in the affections of its members. Of those who joinedit as men in 1852 (35 years ago), William Bruorton and Dan Wilkes still remain.Of those who joined even earlier as boys, John Bloxham and John Jones grew upin its ranks to be men, and stayed with us till they died, while Henry Starling andHenry Nicholls are with us still, and they have all seen their sons singing under themas Choir boys, and we hope may live to see their grandsons following in their steps.

Let us pray that those who have sung GOD'S praises together here on earth, maytogether join the Heavenly Choirs and praise Him eternally.

BUSHI/BY.

Oct. 19.—The Old Squire's 8ist birth-day was kept on this day. A number ofthe oldest of the parishioners went to teaat the Court in honour of the occasion.His increasing age and infirmities havecaused great anxiety for him during thewhole year, but he has been spared tosee another birthday in 1886, which atone time was hardly to be expected.

CHURCH DEFENCE. — A meeting o.the parishioners was held on Wednesdayevening, Nov. n., at the School-room,to consider what steps Churchmen ought

property andThe meeting

was composed entirely of men, and nearlyevery house in the parish was represented.It was agreed to form a branch of theChurch Defence Institution for the parish,and a committee was nominated includingMr. Weston, Mr. Rusling, Mr. G. Taylor,and Mr. H. Cole, with Mr. Vaughan, ofthe Oxhey, as Secretary. Two or more ofthis committee were to attend a meetingat Upton-on-Se\ern on Nov. 19, asdelegates from the Bushley Branch. The

to take to defend" theposition of the Church.

circulationhistory of

of sound information on thethe National Church and its

Endowments, is one ofobjects of the movement.

the priricipalAs the result

of this meeting, our active secretary, Mr.Vaughan, ably supported by the Committee,has enrolled 59 members, and a greatnumber of leaflets have been distributed.—In May, 1886, a meeting of the Associa-tion was held, at which Mr. Nash wasappointed as the delegate from this Branchto the Committee at Upton. The namesof Mr. W. Creese and Mr. F. Walkeiwere added to the Committee.—On Oct.19, a meeting was held for the purposeof issuing the very handsome card ofmembership which has been designed forthe diocese of Worcester. A capitaladdress on the nature and origin of tithes,was given by W. II. Mason, Esq., of,Morton Hall, which was received withgreat attention. It was determined tosend up £2 los. from the funds of ourBranch to the Parent Society in London.The meetings have been exceedingly wellattended.

Nov. 12—30.—The Bushley Branch ofthe Bloemfontein Mission Association wasaddressed on Nov. 12, by Rev. FatherDouglas, who is the Superior of theMissionary Brotherhood of S. Augustine,in the Diocese of Bloemfontein. Hishearers were deeply interested in hisaccount of the work, and stirred by hisearnestness and devotion. The Branchmet for their Annual Festival on S.Andrew's Day. It includes about 40members. The working party has metonce every month. Their box of workfor 1885 was estimated at ^29. Of thisamount, however, goods to the value of£3 153. we

i forwanwere sold in England, and the

ded to Rev. T. A. Meyer, ofFicksberg, to whom the box was given.When all expenses wereable to send £2 175. 4d.

paid we wereto the work of^

the Sisterhood7and ^14 to the generalfund of the Diocese.

Dec. 2. - The twelve months includedin this year's almanac are remarkable forhaving seen two general elections. Theelection in November was the first afterthe passing of the New Reform Bill, bywhich the franchise in the counties wasassimilated to that in the boroughs. Onenecessary part of the new system was aredistribution of seats', by which many ofthe smaller boroughs lost their right ofreturning a member to Parliament. Tew-kesbury was one of these. The first mem.bers for Tewkesbury were Sir DudleyDigges and Mr. Edward Ferrers, who wereelected in 1609. Mr. Richard Dowdes-

ell, of Pull Court, was elected in 1660,with Mr. Henry Capel, and with a fewintervals the town has been representedby a member of the Dowdeswell familyFrom that date until 1866, when Mr. W. E.Dowdeswell vacated Tewkesbury to beelected as one of the Knights of theShires for West Worcestershire. Mr. J.Keginald Yorke, who had been one of themembers for Gloucestershire for 14 years,was elected to represent the new Northernor Tewkesbury Division of Gloucestershirein the Conservative interest, and SirRichard Temple, Bart., for the EveshamDivision of Worcestershire, which includesour parishes. Mr. Gladstone appealedto the country after Easter, on his Irishpolicy. Mr. Yorke determined not to seek

BUSHLEY.

re-election, and at a meeting of the partyat Gloucester on June 17, the followingresolution was proposed by Mr. A. C.Dowdeswell and unanimously carried:—" That this meeting greatly regrets theloss of Mr. Yorke as Member for theTewkesbury Division, and desires unani-mously to tender him its best and gratefulthanks for his consistent and patrioticservices during the time he has been theMember for the Eastern Division andTewkesbury Division." At this generalelection, Sir John Dorington, Bart., waselected for the Tewkesbury Division, andSir Richard Temple, Bart., re-elected forEvesham. Mr. A. C. Dowdeswell, Chair-man of the Tewkesbury Polling District,invited the officers of the Parochial Con-servative Associations to meet him atdinner at the Swan Hotel on May 26.

Dec. 28-30.—The boys of the choir wentround the parish singing carols and gather-ing alms from the householders for theorphan girls at St. Alban's Home, Wor-cester, which amounted to £2 6s. 7d.

Dec. 31.—New Year's Eve. The schoolchildren had their usual Christmas treat atPull Court, and were shown the magiclantern.—The midnight service, which hadbeen held each year for something like 20years, was discontinued on this occasion.

1886.Jan. 5 & 14.—The boys of the Choir

came to tea at the Parsonage, and spent amerry evening. The choirmen, bell-ringersand others engaged in the work of theChurch had supper with Rev. E. R. Dow-deswell as usual on his birthday, Jan. 14.

Jan. 6.—A heavy fall of snow fell onthis day and remained on the ground forten days.

Feb. 4.— The Diocesan Inspector ofReligious Knowledge examined our schooland reported it to be " excellent." Threeof the children were thought good enoughto go in for the Prize Scheme Examinationat Worcester, of whom two, Harry Mouldand John Perkes, passed in the thirdclass, and obtained a certificate of merit.

Feb. 6.—Emily Ellen Wilkes, the eldestdaughter of our neighbour, Mr. D. Wilkes,was married on this day to Fung-Yee, theprincipal secretary of the Chinese Legationin London. The bride has been known tous all from her childhood. For some years

past she had devoted herself to the pro-fession of nursing the sick, and it was tothat capacity that she was sent for to theChinese Embassy, and met her futurebusband. Mr. Fung-Yee is a native ofPekin, in China, At the age of 6 yearslie was placed by his parents under thecare of Dr. Burton, Bishopof North China,who became his tutor and by whom he wasDaptized. Mr. Fung-Yee showed greattalent and special aptitude for learningforeign languages. He came to this coun-try as secretary and interpreter to theChinese Legation some 12 years ago, andis now one of the most important officialsrepresenting China in England. Thedearly congratulations and good wishes ofher old friends in Bushley will follow Mrs.Fung-Yee in her new life.

Feb. 8.—Mrs. Mary Ann Selman, thewife of Mr. John Selman, died at theirhouse in Kemerton, aged 76 years, andwas buried in Bushley Churchyard on Feb.13. Mrs. Selman, as an old parishionerof Bushley, has very many friends amongstus, who loved and respected her, and sin-cerely mourn her loss.

Feb. 26.—Bushley people will be inte-rested in a case which was tried at theWandsworth Police Court, in February,when Alice Amelia Thorley, aged 22, wascharged with attempting to poison Mrs.Rose Hannah Darling, who was stavingwith her son-in-law, Dr. Horace Bayfield.Mrs. Darling comes of the old Bushleyfamily of the Clays, and was niece to MissAnn Clay, the last of the name in thisparish. The prisoner, who was the house-maid, had brought Mrs. Darling a cupof tea, which was very bitter and hadthe effect of making Mrs. Darling ill.Emily Vase, the kitchenmaid, took someof this tea to her mistress, Mrs. Bayfield,who said it smelt of laudanum. It wasafterwards proved that the tea and themilk contained laudanum and chloroform,and that 5 or 6 ounces of opium and 3 or 4ounces of chloroform had been taken bysome one from the dispensary in the house.The prisoner bore an excellent character,and as no evidence was forthcoming toinculpate her she was discharged. Somemonths afterwards, however, Emily Vase,the kitchenmaid, gave herself up to thepolice, confessing that she had put the

poison ill the tea—not, however, from anymalice towards Mrs. Darling, but to spiteher fellow servant. She was accordinglycharged with the crime and convicted, andsentenced to three months' imprisonmentwith hard labour in October last.

April 13.—The Government Inspectorof Schools paid his annual visit. He againhas accorded to Mr. and Mrs. Nash thevery highest Report possible in so small aschool. Out of 37 children presented forexamination only 5 failed in arithmetic,only 3 in writing (which includes spelling),and none at all in reading.

April 23.—On Good Friday, after even-song, scenes from the Passion of ourSaviour were shown in church by magiclantern. The beautiful pictures were re-ceived with great reverence, and no doubtgreatly helped the large congregation torealize those solemn scenes.

April 25.—Easter Day fell on the verylatest day it can ever be on. It fell onApril 24 in 1859 ; but it has not been solate as this year since 1736, and only ontwo other occasions for the last 350 years,viz. 1546 and 1641, and should the presentorder of things last so long, it will occuronce again in 1943. The earliest day itcan happen on is March 22, which occurredin 1573, 1668, and 1818. At the Eastervestry the Rev. E. R. Dowdeswell ap-pointed Mr. G. Creese of Yendley as hisChurchwarden.

THE ORDNANCK SURVEY.—A new mapof the parish on the scale of 6 inches tothe mile was presented to the overseersby the Rev. E. R. Dowdeswell for the useof the parish officers, to be in the chargeof the assistant overseer. Mr. Dowdeswel]said that he had found some importantmistakes in the map, which however theDirector General of the Ordnance Surveyhad undertaken to correct in future edi-tions.

May 15. — THE HIGH FLOOD. — OnFriday night the water was rising veryrapidly, and it became clear that the floodwould be a high one. Soon after mid-night the water had entered John Jones'shouse and John Edwards's also, and itkept on rising till mid-day on Saturday ;by that time it was standing 2ft. gin. inJones's kitchen, and just 3ft. in Edwards'sback kitchen and 9 inches in his front room.

The water was within 2 inches of the sillof Mr. Rusling's dairy, and covered hiskitchen garden. It filled the cellar atMr. Weston's and Mr. Nash's, and cameup to the door of Mr. Vaughan's house atthe Oxhey. The road at the east end ofthe church was covered entirely in oneplace, which has never happened before.This road and the houses of Mr. Edwardsand John Jones were raised some feet in1852, just after the great flood of that year,so that there are few land marks left bywhich to compare the height of this floodwith that one. The following is an extractfrom the Parish Register, dated Novem-ber 18,1770:—"There was the highestflood that ever was known or rememberedfor many ages, by whatever can be learntfrom our forefathers, it being almost up tothe lower porch at our churchyard, so thata coal barge was brought up to the churchporch to unload coals." A brick knockedout of the wall in Mr. Edwards' cottageis said to be the high water-mark on thatoccasion. If this tradition is correct, theflood of i / ~ o was nearly 18 inches higherthan this with which we have just beenvisited. Still the flood of 1886 is thehighest known to the experience of any-one now living.

May 24.—On this day the followingpersons from this parish were presented tothe Bishop of Worcester for confirmationin the parish church of Upton-on-Severn,viz.:—Thomas Amold 16, John Jones 15,Edmund George 14, George Terry 14,Alfred Nicholls 14, William Cole 14,Harry Storn 13, William Attwood 12,Sarah Saunders 26, Alice Cook 19, AdaStarling 16, Kate Andrews 15, LizzieJames 14, Mary George 12. Twelve ofthese made their first Communion onTrinity Sunday, June 20.

June 10.—The Bushley Choir joined inthe fifth general Festival of Choirs in theCathedral in which 63 choirs and about1700 voices took part. It was a gloriousservice, and the day was beautiful. Thetrip to Worcester was made in a steam-boat with the Upton choir and was muchenjoyed.

June 13.—Owing to the ill health of theold Squire, the children's summer treatwas put off till this day, and then held atthe Moss Green. Everything was done,

8 BUSHLEY.

however, to make it us happy a day forthe little ones as possible.

June 24.—BLOEMFONTEIN MISSIONARYASSOCIATION.- - On Thursday, June 24th,a meeting was held in the school-room towelcome a visit from the newly consecratedbishop of Bloemfontein. There were present(besides the regular Associates) a numberof the clergy and other friends of (he mis-sion, among whom were the Rev. K. H. M.Stone, of Queenhill, Rev. C. Walters,Forthampton, Rev. H. D. Thomas, Long-don, Rev. E. S. Lowndes, Little Com-berton, Rev. F. R. Carbonell,Tewkesbury,Rev. H. Williams, Ashleworth, and theRev, E. R. Dowdeswell in the chair. Theroom was quite full. After prayers thechairman read a short address of welcometo the Bishop. His Lordship then spokeof the work which he had undertaken, andasked for help to enable him to extend thework so ably gi ounded by his predecessorin the see, and push this missionary enter-prise northwards, through Bcchuana landtowards the Zambesi River, with the hopeof some day joining hands with the Uni-versities Mission in Central Africa. Avote of thanks to the Bishop for his visit,was proposed by Rev. E. S. Lowndes, andseconded by Rev. E. H. M. Stone. Themeeting then adjourned to the church,where the Bishop admitted some newmembers to the Association, and the Officeof the Association was said. A collectionwas made amounting to ̂ 5 2s., which theBishop desired to be paid to the generalfund of the diocese.

Aug. 12.—The sudden death of CharlesNicholls, aged 43, leaving a widow andfive little children, called for the sympathyof his many friends in Bushley. He wasliving and working at Eastington when hedied, but was brought home to Bushlcy tobe buried. He was a Godfearing honestgood man, and a good husband and father.

Aug. 22.—John Taylor Jones, aged 43,died this day from the effects of epilepsy,a tendency to which he probably inheritedfrom his father. As a boy Jack Joneswas a general favourite. He was one ofthe first boys to join our choir, and manand boy he must have sung in it for 30years. He was bright and happy in hismanner, and thoroughly good and trustyas a lad, so that he became the favourite

companion of Mr. Arthur Dowdcswefi.when they were boys together. He wasforemost in manly games, and when theband was formed he became one of theleading cornets. But troubles came uponhim in middle life, and he had notstrength of character enough to meet andovercome them. Those who knew himin his youth and prime have mournedfor him most sincerely. The whole choirattended at his funeral, and sung thebeautiful service in the Church that hehad served so long. God grant him mercyand peace in that day. His loss leaves agap in the choir which it will be hard tofill. His stall was draped with mourningfor a week after his death.

Sept.—A serious outbreak of diphtheriacaused much anxiety in the Parish, andresulted fatally in the case of two of thechildren of Edmund George and his wife—a little boy, William, aged 5, a greatfavourite, and their only girl, Mary, aged12, whose loss was most keenly felt by thebereaved parents. The epidemic made itsappearance in several places in the parish,at a distance one from the other, and withno special cause assignable in any of them.

On Sept. 12, the Communicants' Guildheld their annual festival. After the usualSunday services, the members met for theannual tea at the Parsonage at 5 p.m.The Office of the Guild was said in churchat 6 p.m., with a short address by theWarden, and a very pleasant evening spentafterwards in the school-room with a newseries of magic lantern pictures, whichwere much admired.

Sept. 23.—The Bushley Choir again hadthe privilege of joining the TewkesburyAbbey Festival. The arrangements onthese occasions are always admirablyplanned and carried out, to the great en-joyment of all present.

Sept. 27.—The Harvest Festival wascelebrated on this day. There was achoral celebration of the Holy Eucharistat 8 a.m., and evensong at 3 p.m., whenthe sermon was preached by Rev. H. D.Thomas, Vicar of Longdon. Although itrained steadily all the afternoon, theharvest men and their employers came innumbers to the service, so that the churchwas quite full. The church was decoratedwith the usual beauty and good taste.

BUSHLEV.

Sir. t)ovvdcswL'll entertained a l l who hadtaken part in the harvest on hiis lanns atsupper, and a happy evening of rationalenjoyment was spent.

Sept. 30.—Miss Hannah Spilman diedat the house of Eliza Starling and hertoother William, aged 62. She was adescendant of an old Bushley familyalthough her parents lived and died inLongdon. She had been for many yearsthe trusted servant of the late Miss Graham,and was universally beloved and respected.She was buried here on Oct. 4.

EXTRACTS FEOM

1885. BAPTISMS.November 8.— Miriam Mary, daughter of Charles

and Mary Ann Roberts.Hoveutber 29.— Ellen Elizabeth, daughter of

James and Emma Tyler.1886.

February 7.— Fanny Beatrice, daughter of Johnand Sarah Ann Edwards.

February 28.— William Frederick, son of Frodk.aud Mary Ann Allen, of Forthamptort.

June 27.— William, son of Waller and AnnVinch, of Fortha.mpt.on.

July 11.— Charles James, son of James and ElizaStone.

September 26.— Louisa, daughter of Henry andBoseanna Starling.

September 26.— William Henry, son of AllredErnest and Mary Ann Nash.

October 10.— Harry Jamos, son of Albert andEllen Jane Kayer.

October 17.— Florence, daughter of Jamos andSarah Elizabeth Pendrey.

1886. MARRIAGES.March 9.— Charles Taylor, farmer, of Misperlon,

and Emma Ftokes, daughter of the late Mr.William Stokes, of Payne's Place.

February 6.— At S. Mark's Church, BattorseaRise, by the Rev. A. C. Wodehouse, Vicar,Fang Yee, of Peldn, China, Secretary of theChinese Legation to the Court of S. James',London, to Emily Kl l rn , daughter of Mr.Daniel Wilkes, of this parish.

m/RiM.s.20. Faiiuy 1'endiey, aged 3 months.

1886.January 14.—Mary Ann Westbury, aged 27yrs.February 13.—Mary Ann Selrnau, late of this

parish, aged 76 years.February 19.—Leonard llorman Westbury, aged

8 months.August 12.—Charles Nicholls, aged 48 years.August 26.—John T ylor Jones, aeed 43 years.August 31.— William Dyer, aged 79 years.September 3.—William George, aged 6 years.September 16.—Mary George, aged 13 years.October 4.— Hannah Spillman, aged 62 years.

1'foNov. 1st, 1885-Oct 30th, 1886.

£ s. d.lloceivod through the Offertory ... 60 5 6

Expended : —For [foreign Missions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 2 1

Homo Missions ........................... 4 6 10S. Paul's Church, Worcester ......... 6 1 6Church of England Working Men's

Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 4Diocesan Education Society ......... 316 oiConfraternity of Blessed Sacrament 0 6 5.|Communicants' Guild ................. 0 11 4Tewhenbury Run'1 Hospital ......... 8 16 6jKick and Poor Li Bushley ............ 27 0 4,̂

£60 6 6

The Poor's Koney from land in Eldersfield,£3 a year, ha-s not been given away for threeyears, there will therefore be £9 for distributionto the poor of the parish a,t Christinas, 1886.

CHUKCH REPAIRS.Four shafts for bringing fresh air into the

body of the church, have been added during theyear, to the great improvement of the ventilation.

The Churchyard paths have also been newlyset out and gravelled.

The stove and piping have been renewed, byorder tf the churchwardens.

A new Altar Frontal of white plush, forFestivals, embroidered by Mrs. Dowdeswell,Mra. W. E. Dowdeswell, and Miss Anderson, waspresented to the church at Easter, together witha new crimson velvet super frontal, and somelace, the latter being the work of Mrs. Grant..

LONDON.Ctofs watt tyt phlitaticrw of fyt Ini

Dec. zgth, 1885.—The Parish Tea was held. The schoolroom was as full aspossible. Everyone gave kind and willing help; and after the tea a good concertwas given.

Dec. jist, 1885.—The old year was rung out as usual, and after mid-night, thenew year rung in.

Jan. 6th, 1886.—The Vicar was married to Miss Ethel Madeline Tennant, atUpton-on-Severn: in the evening the bell-ringers and the choir-men had supper atthe Plough Inn, in honour of the event.

Jan. 12th.—The School was inspected by the Diocesan Inspector, the examinerof religious instruction.

Feb. 6th.—The school children had their winter treat and tea in the schoolroom.Mar. 2nd.—A concert was held in the schoolroom, which was capitally attended,

notwithstanding the coldness of the weather.Mar. i8th.—The school was inspected by the Government Inspector, whose

Report was favourable.April 29th.—A meeting was held in the schoolroom, for the purpose of forming

a parish cricket club; and of forming a parish Association for Church Defence, inview of the wrongful and stealthy work which is at all times being done by theLiberationists to try as soon as possible to disestablish and disendow the Churchof England by Act of Parliament, which would have the certain effect of closingvery many country churches.

May 5th.—A concert was held in the schoolroom, which was very fairlyattended.

May 24th.—Twenty-two candidates from Longdon, 10 males and 12 females,were confirmed at Upton-on-Severn.

June 5th.—A cricket match was played, at Longdon, with an eleven from CorseLawn, and the home eleven won by four wickets.

June l6th.—A cricket match was played, at Welland, between Welland and"Longdon, and Welland won.

June igth.—The Sunday and Day School children had their annual treat at theMoss Green.

June 28th.—The choir went out for their annual treat to Malvern, and hadcapital weather and a very pleasant day.

June 2gth.—The Girls' Friendly Fete was held at Ripple : there was service at2.30 in the church (no sermon), and soon afterwards tea and awarding of prizes,etc., and then the girls were addressed by Mrs. Wigley, of Cheltenham.

July 22nd.—The Sunday School children had their annual tea at the Vicarage,uly 27th.—The infants, who do not go to Moss Green, had tea and spent the

evening at the Vicarage.Aug. 23rd.—There was an out-of-door meeting of the Additional Curates'

Society, at Chambers' Court ; and on the afternoon of the next day but one, theschool children, to the number of nearly 60, had a tea and treat in the grounds ofthe Court.

Aug. 25th.—A return cricket match was played between Longdon and Welland,in which Longdon was successful.

Sept. l6th.—The Harvest Festival was held. There was a very good congregationin the church, the sermon was preached by the Rev. E. W. Isaac, of HanleyCastle, and the collection for the Tewkesbury Rural Hospital (taking in the offertoryof the Sunday following), amounted to ^"3 133. od. A Church Defence meeting, at7.30, in the schoolroom, was called together.

LONGDOk. It

Nov. 4th.—The first mothers' meeting was held in the Rampings; on theThursday following the first mothers' meeting was held in the Vicarage. Eachmeeting is held, regularly, once a fortnight.

Nov. zoth.—A night-school for older boys and young men, was commenced atthe Vicarage.

Dec. I.—The first special Advent Service was held in the church at 7.15.It may interest the parishioners of Longdon to hear that the legend or inscription,

on the only one of the church bells that has a legend, is,—" I call to prayer,

The living to combine ;The dead must hear

A louder sound than mine."

EXTRACTS FROMKMDON PARISH KEGISTEES.

BAPTISMS.Of

1886. MiJJBUGES.

Oct. 25th.—William John Morgan and Annie„ ,. . „Sarah Ann HareK>

Dec. 27th.—Fanny Catherine, daughterThomas and Emily Ann Clara Musto.

Dee. 30th.—Beatrice Annie, daughter of William!-n , T . „.. f - , MO»-O tinihv ^iand Eliza Bartlett. Dec. 1.—John Witts and Ann Maria Holbrook.

1.TBli?a!ietli?ricS' ,NoT' l8^7J?^ Dancocl£

marrieaa K '

1886.Jin. 81st. -Thomas, son of William and Martha 1885. BtmiAia.

Dec. 21th.—William Clarke, aged 76 years.Clwke.Feb. llth.—Herbert Pearce, son of Henry 1886.

Arthur and Caroline Ann Ellis. | Jan. 20th.—Sarah Tombs, aged 47 years.M«r. 28th.—Beatrice Hilda, danehter of Mark1 Feb. 19t.h.—George Beale, aged 35 years.

Henry and Elizabeth Hannah Twnbs. | Feb. 24th.—George Davis, aged 41 years.April 85th.—Frank Christopher, son of John and. Mar. 12th.—William Finch, aged 71 years.

Charlotte Witts. | Mar. 23rd.—Emma Handle, aged 62 years.•»TSnd.—George, Bon of George and Matilda "" - --

Pratt.July 20th.—George, son of Kicliard and Mary

Ann Williams.J»ly S7th.—Raymond, son of Henry Bateman

•nd Elizabeth Anne Guilding. IBep. ISth.-George, eon of Charles and Annie

I*ne.Sep. Z6th.—George William, son of Mark and

Emma Bullock.Bep. 26th—John William, son of Frederick and

Rose'Tombs.Sep. 26th.—Ernest George, son of George and

Aljoe Holbrook.HOT. 28th.—Elizabeth, daughter of Mark and

£Uen Lane.

May 4th.—Mary Crees, aged 81 years.June 10th.—John Panting, aged 85 years.Aug. 12th.—Charles Nicholls, buried atBushley.Aug. 28th.—Sarah Need, aged 80 years.

CONFIRMATIONS.

ny24th AtUpton-on-Severn. Harry ButlerGeorge Bayliss, Arthur Bayliss, George Clarke,George Dobbins, Albert Hemming, RalphHealing, Christopher Newman, George Peters,John Williams; Mary Ann Bayliss, EmmaBarnes, Mien F. E. Colwell, Mary Compton,Bessie Davis, Elizabeth Herman, AliceOsborne, Annie Phillips, Flora Rumsey, AliceSmith, Annie White, Thirza Jonce.

HOLDFAST.EXTRACTS FROM THE REGISTERS.

BAPTISMS.n. 31.— Edward Charles, son at David and Harriet Mason.

Feb. 28. — Annie Eva, daughter of Mark and Annie Witts.March 28.— "Walter, son of James and Elizabeth Tandy.

May ().— William George, son ot Frank and Maria Harris.June «.— Edith Annie GeorRina, daughter of George and Harriet Mould.

27.— Francis, daughter of Walter and Anne Elizabeth lloaley.Sep. 6.— Francis Elizabeth, daughter of James and Caroline Prossor.

Nov. 14.— Charlotte, daughter of Frederick and Harriet Ellery.MARRIAGE.

May 26.— John Wake, Newtown, Cardiff, to Ellen Holden, Holdfast.DEATHS.

March 6.— William Conn, aged 61 years.Sep. 13.— Fanny Walker, aged 28 years.

Oct. 7.— Ann Mueto, aged 71 years.

202LIST OF F A I R S

GLOUCESTEKSHIEE.TEWKESBtJRY.—Fairs for the sale of stock, &c., are held in Tewkesbury on the

Second and Fourth Wednesday in every month. A Pleasure Fair is held on October10th and the mops as heretofore. — Barton Regis, Gloucester, Sept. 28.—Berkeley,May 14.—Bisley, May 4, Nov. 12.—Blakeney, May 12, Nov. 12.—Bristol, March 1,Sept. 1.—Cambridge, First Tuesday in October.—-Campden, Ash Wednesday, April 23,Aug. 5. Dec. 10.—Cheltenham, 2nd Thursday in April, Aug. 5, Holy Thursday, 2ndThursday in Sept., December 7 and 18.—Cirencester, Easter Monday, Nov. 8.—Forsheep, 1st Monday in August, September and October.—Mop, Monday before and afterOld Michaelmas.—Coleford, June 20, Friday before July 20, November 24, December17.—Great Market, Friday, before August 30.—Dursley, May 6, December 4.—Fair-ford, May 14, Nov. 12.—Frampton, Feb. 14.—Gloucester, April 5, July 5, September28, November 28.—Mops three Mondays following September 28.—Hampton, TrinityMonday, October 29.—Iron Acton, April 25, September 13.—Lechlade. Aug. 6, and 21,Sept. 9.—Leonard Stanley, July 20.—Liduey, May 5, Nov. 8.—Littledean, WhitMonday, Nov. 26.—Marstield, May 24, October 24.—Mitcheldean, Easter Monday, Oct.10.—Moreton-in-Marsh, April 5, October 10.—Newent, Wednesday before Easter, Wed-nesday before Whit Sunday, August 12, Friday after Sept. 18.—Newnham, June 11,Oct. 18.—Northleach, Wednesday before May 4, last Wednesday in May, Wednesdaybefore October 10.—Painswick, Whit Tuesday, Sept, 19.—Sodbury, May 23, June 24,—Stonehouse, May 1, Dec. 29.—Stow, last Thursday in March, May 12, July 25,October 24.—Stroud, May 12, August 21.—Tetbury, Ash Wednesday, Wednesdaybefore and after April 5, July 22.—Thornbury, Easter Monday, Aug. 15, Monday beforeDec. 21.—Tockington, May 9, Dec. 6.—Westbury-on-Severn, Whit Thursday, Fridaybefore Old Michaelmas.—Wickwar, April 5, July 2.—Winchcomb, last Saturday inMarch, May 16, July 28.—Winterboum, June 29, Oct. 18.—Wotton-under-Edge,Sept. 25.

WOBCESTEESHIRE.Alvechurch, May 3, Aug. 10.—Bewdley, April 23, Monday before July 26, Dec. 10>

and 11.—Blockley, Tuesday after Easter week, Mop, Oct. 10.—Brouisgrove, June 24,Oct. 1.—Droitwich, Friday in Easter week, June 18, Sept. 22, December 21—Mop,Sept. 23.—Dudley, May 8, Aug. 5, Oct. 2.—Evesham, Candlemas Day, Monday afterEaster Week, Whit Monday, Sept. 21, 1st Monday in July and Nov., 2nd Monday inDecember.—Feckenham, March 26, Sept. 30.—Kidderminster, Palm Monday, HolyThursday, June 20, Sept. 4.—Pcrshore, Easter Tuesday, June 26, Tuesday beforeKov. 1.—Redditch, 1st Monday in Aug.— Chipstone, 3rd Tuesday in April.—Stour-bridge, January 8, March 29, Sept. 8.—Stourport, Euster Monday, Sept. 13.—Ten-bury, April 23, July 18, Sept. 26.—Upton, 1st Thursday after Mid-lent, WhitThursday, July 10, Thursday before September 21.—Worcester, Saturday before PalmSunday, Saturday in Easter week, August 15, Sept. 19, 1st Monday in December,3rd Monday in February, 1st Monday in May, June, July and November. The lastfive are toll-free.

HEREFOEDSHIEE.Bromyard, Thursday before March 25, May 3, Whit Monday, Thursday before July

25, Thursday before Oct. 29.—Hereford, Tuesday after February 2, Wednesday inEaster week, May 19, July 1, October 29.—GreatMarket, Wednesday after St. Andrew'sday.—Kington, Wednesday before Easter, Whit Monday, Aug. 2, September 4.—•Ledbury, on the 2nd Tuesday in each month. —Leominster, Feb. 13, Tuesday afterMid-Lent Sunday, May 14, July .10, Sept. 4, Nov. 8.—Ross, Holy Thursday, CorpusChristi, July 20, Thursday after Oct. 10, Dec. U.—Great Market, 1st Thursday afterMarch 10.