A History of Horncastle, from the earliest period to the present timeWalter, J. Conway (James Conway)
History
A History of Horncastle, from the earliest period to the present time
Walter, J. Conway (James Conway)
Horncastle (England) -- History
An upright stone, the head forming an inverted overhanging arch,
ornamented with dog-tooth pattern (copied from a panel in the church
pulpit), has the inscription: “W. H. Milner, Vicar of Horncastle, died
October 3rd, 1868, aged 64.” Within the arch is a Calvary Cross, on the
steps of which are these words “He that believeth in Me hath everlasting
life.” On the base of the stone is a quotation from the Burial Service,
“Blessed are the dead, which die in the Lord, &c.” Near this a massive
decorated cross bears the inscription: “Robert Giles, Vicar of
Horncastle, died July 12th, 1872. Jesu, Mercy.” This is an exact
reproduction of a granite cross in Willoughby churchyard, erected to the
memory of the late Archdeacon Giles, the vicar’s brother.
A grass grave, surrounded by a kerb, has resting upon it a full-length
plain Latin cross, along the arms of which is inscribed “Jesu Mercy.”
Surrounding the kerb is the inscription “Arthur Scrivenor, M.A., Vicar of
Horncastle, born January 13th, 1831, died August 27th, 1882.” “Never
resting, never tiring, in the endless work of God;” the latter words
being a quotation from Dr. Mansel’s _Life of Bishop Wilberforce of Oxford
and Winchester_.
Very near the last tomb is the grave of the wife of the late Vicar of
Horncastle, Prebendary E. F. Quarrington, now Rector of Welby, near
Grantham; the plain slab bears the inscription “At rest, Nov. 25, 1888.”
The following biographical notes may not be without interest. The Rev.
T. J. Clarke was a remarkable man; born in this neighbourhood, in a
humble rank of life (his widowed mother occupying a cottage in Woodhall,
where, to his honour, he frequently visited her, and supported her,
during his vicariate), he was apprenticed as a boy to a tradesman in
Leeds. A lady upon whom he attended, as she made purchases in the shop,
noticed his intelligence; the result being that she sent him, at her own
expense, to be educated at a good school, and, in due time, assisted him
to enter at St. John’s College, Cambridge, where he took Double Honours,
and obtained a Fellowship. He was afterwards appointed to the Vicarage
of Penrith, Cumberland, thus coming under the notice of the Bishop of
Carlisle, who, as Patron, presented him to the Vicarage of Horncastle, on
the death of Dr. Madely in 1845. With Mr. Clarke’s arrival in Horncastle
it was felt that a new era in church life had begun. He threw himself
with characteristic energy into every kind of work, and at one time had 3
curates. To him was due the erection of Holy Trinity Church, and a great
multiplication of Church services. The old vicarage, a poor house close
to St. Mary’s churchyard, was pulled down, and he rented the house in
South Street, with extensive gardens, which afterwards became the
residence of Major Armstrong and now occupied by Mrs. Howland.
Notwithstanding his heavy parochial work Mr. Clarke (as the present
writer can testify) kept up his classical and mathematical studies. He
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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