| [This page contains two articles, one relating to Mission Work in the Parish and one entitled: The Website and the Rev Bell by Anne and Robin Rumbles.] |
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Henley in Arden Parish Church is geared up for mission. Our Millennium Window shows Jesus in Henley High Street, surrounded by people. This reminds us that we are to take the Gospel out to the people. We have glass panelled doors to help us look outwards as well as encouraging people to look in. The services are broadcast outside the church doors as well as inside! But most importantly, through encouragement and regular teaching, and by providing confidence boosting church life, we hope that every member will assist the church in spreading the Gospel.
We strongly believe in the importance of religion (seasons, rites and rituals) to give us a framework in which we can explore and develop our relationship with God. We, therefore, have confidence that by drawing people into the life of the church, they will draw closer to God and be strengthened in their faith.
We are particularly concerned about Christian work amongst younger residents. We support the local work of ‘The Forest of Arden Youth For Christ’, and the Rector acts as Secretary for this set up.
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The Church’s Website is well in to its second year and has recently gone through a major overhaul. So if you haven’t had a look for a while, then why not log onto www.henley-in-arden-parish-church.org.uk
When we first set up the site we included an option where people could send us an email requesting information about the church. We thought that people may want to ask about life in our church, or had lost a copy of one of John’s sermons. But most of the emails have come from people wanting to find some information on their old friends or relatives. Sadly we can’t really help them as all the old church records are held in Warwickshire’s County Records Office.
However late last year we had an email from an Australian, Steve Bell, requesting information about his great-grandfather, The Reverend George Bell who was vicar of Henley from 1876 to 1914. We undertook some research on Steve’s behalf and found out quite a bit about his great grandfather and some of the family.
George Bell was the son of a wealthy Hull ship owner, whaling and ship owning having been in the family for at least three generations. He was born at Sutton Place, near Hull, but this large house has since been demolished. He went to a school called Morden Hall in London, travelling down by coach from Hull.
When he had grown up, having heard tales of gold mining he sailed to Australia. He took a hundred shirts with him and threw them overboard when they were dirty, as he could not wash them!! When he returned his father had died and Sutton Place had been sold. Some of the contents were in the Hull museum including a picture of the whaler ‘Good Ship Harmony’. He then went to Oxford University and was later ordained.
He became a curate in Princes Risborough in Buckinghamshire and met his wife, Mary Sophia, there. Her father, Dr. Warren was described as ‘a hard-riding, hard-drinking’ country doctor. They married in 1865 and produced 4 sons and 8 daughters.
Katherine Bell, the Rev’s third child married George Green, the Member of Parliament for Kimberley in South Africa, who was also General Editor of the Argus Group of newspapers. Their son, Lawrence, was born during the siege of Kimberley. He came to England at the age of 17 and joined the Royal Flying Corps during the 1st World War. He later explored much of Africa and his books on the subject sold over 300,000 copies.
The Rev’s fourth child, Robert (Bob) S Warren Bell, started a magazine for boys called The Captain, around the start of the last century, one of the contributors being P G Wodehouse. Bob also wrote boys stories.
The Rev’s sixth child, John Keble Bell, who wrote under the name, Keble Howard, went to Worcester College, Oxford, in 1895. He became a schoolmaster in 1897, but gave it up after his report of the Henley Church Bazaar was published. (Rob, beware, it’s not too late!!!) He wrote articles for magazines and became Editor of The Sketch and drama critic of the Daily Mail. He was also a well known novelist and playwright.
If you look above the door leading into the choir vestry you’ll see a screen erected in memory of John Keble Bell by his wife. This gives his dates as June 8th 1875 to March 29th 1928. He died in a nursing home in Bournemouth and his ashes were buried in St. John’s near the War Memorial. They’re covered by a stone with his name and dates on but this is no longer visible. As far as we are aware he is the only member of the family buried in Henley. The Rev Bell and his wife are buried in Merstham, Surrey.
The Rev Bell’s eighth child, Monica, married Orlando Wagner, who taught at Arden House School. They subsequently opened a school together and their son, Sir Anthony Wagner became the Garter King of Arms of England.
Steve Bell’s grandfather was also called Stephen, the fifth child of George and Mary, went to South Africa when he was 23 and joined the Natal Mounted Police. After three years he joined the Imperial Light Horse until the end of Boer War.
According to Cooper’s history of Henley in Arden first published in 1946, the Rev Bell was the first vicar to put the choir in cassocks in 1881. This caused a good deal of bad feeling as it was felt to be a Roman Catholic practice. He was known for his generosity towards his parishioners and travellers who past through Henley.
The Bells resurrected the idea of having a bazaar (in aid if the Church Restoration Fund – what’s changed there!!!). The first one was held in 1899 and was opened by a famous novelist from Stratford, Marie Corelli.
As you enter church have a look at the window on the right hand side of the porch. This is dedicated to George and his wife. They finally left the parish in 1914, Mary Sophia died in 1917 and George died in 1924, aged 91.
Much of the information in this article comes from a book written by Monica Wagner which was given to Charles Welham by Ron Brown, who is a grandson of George and Mary, together with Coopers history of Henley. A special thanks goes to Charles himself.
We have been swapping emails and photos of Henley with Steve. He has a number of old photos that he’s collected over the years, including one that shows the pulpit on the groom’s side, rather than the bride’s side as it now is.
I know that Steve wants to find out as much as possible about his great grandfather, so if anyone else has any further information about George and his family, we’d be only too please to hear it and we’ll pass it onto Steve.
Anne and Robin Rumbles
