A brief history of the Parish of Rumboldswyke - Part 2: 1902-1945

By Ken Green

Continued from previous page.
In 1904, on the death of Charles Farthing the patronage of the living was passed to the Bishop. In 1909 he appointed Dr. Ernest A. Glover. During his 25 years at Whyke Father Glover was responsible for the completion of the Church by the addition of the Vestry in 1909 and later the porches. He established the Catholic tradition of worship in St. George's using St. Mary's for services just four times a year and for funerals.

In 1914 Dr Glover founded the Society of the Sacred Cross. A number of lay women began by joining together for church work and sharing a house in nearby Lyndhurst Road. From this some of them went on to form themselves into a regular community living under vows.

They established themselves in Tymawr, a house near Monmouth in the Tintern Valley. In 1960 there were 19 of them with two founding members, Sister Guenvrede [for 30 years until May 1953 Reverend Mother] and Sister Monica still living there. The community still exists and is devoted principally to prayer although the sisters did run a farm involving them in heavy physical work. Once professed the sisters do not leave the Convent and keep some hours of silence daily, however it is a friendly place that welcomes visitors. In March 2000 a visit of members of the church, together with the Rector and the Parish Deacon took place.

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Taken from the Chichester Observer April 1915
ENGLAND'S OLDEST CHURCH WARDEN: MR. JOHN McKAY'S INTERESTING CAREER.

The city has lost a remarkable personality with the death, on Saturday, of Mr John Mckay, for many years church warden of St George's, Rumboldswhyke. Mr McKay passed his 95th birthday just two days before his death. He had had an interesting career. He was born in Edinburgh on March 29th 1812 of pure Highland blood, being the only son of Win. Mckay of the parish of Reay, Caithness. His father, a soldier, died when he was very young, and before he was 13 Mr Mckay also joined the Army. He served under George IV., through the reign of William IV., and the first part of the reign of Queen Victoria. Mr McKay was one of the troops who lined the route of Queen Victoria's coronation procession. He went to South Africa, where many years of his life were passed, and he took part in the earlier fighting with the Zulus and other native tribes. He was among the first body of British troops who crossed the Orange River. In Africa he had many adventures, which he remembered well, and could recall in a very interesting way. On one occasion he had been on a very long joumey, and on his return to the settlement where he lived, found the place in the hands of the Zulus and all the inhabitants massacred. He acquired property in South Africa, and became closely aquainted with many of the leading Boor pioneers. Among them were the Bothas, and Mr McKay, who had a good education, was asked to act as tutor to the boy who afterwards became famous as General Louis Botha. He taught Louis Botha, and when the latter was over in England as part of the Boer deputation at the time of the war, he stayed in Chichester with his old tutor. Feeling ran high in the country at that time, and the visit, so natural in the circumstances, was the subject of much comment locally. Mr Mckay spent the last 40 years of his life in Chichester, where he and his family were highly respected. The funeral took place yesterday (Wednesday). Mr McKay's maternal grandmother lived to the age of 103, and Mr Mckay himself was in possession of all his faculties to the last and only took to his bed on the Wednesday before his death. With the exception of an illness from which he suffered about a year ago, he hardly knew what ill-health was.

THE LATE MR JOHN McKAY. FUNERAL AT CHICHESTER.

In the presence of a numerous congregation of relatives and friends the remains of the late Mr. John McKay, who was believed to have been the oldest Churchwarden in England when he passed away on Saturday, at the great age of 94 years, were laid to rest yesterday in the Churchyard of the old Rumboldswhyke Church at Chichester. The service was read by the Rector, the Rev.C.M. Saunders,and the deceased's son, the Rev. Harold McKay, of Aldershot, the latter reciting the committal prayers.

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Confirmation at St. George's Church Rumboldswhyke.
Extract from the Chichester Observer, dated 16th June 1915

The Lord Bishop of Lewes visited Chichester on Monday evening and held a confirmation at St.George's, Chichester, where twenty-seven candidates were presented, twenty-one from Rumboldswhyke and six from Bosham.
The Bishop, who wore a richly embroidered cope and mitre, delivered two admirable addresses, which were listened to with great attention by the fairly large congregation present. The clergy in attendance were the Rev. Dr. Glover (Rector of Rumboldswhyke), the Rev. K. H. Macdermott (Vicar of Bosham), the Rev. H. Crawford Hunter (Curate of Whyke) and the Rev .A. J. Fryer (Organizing Secretary of the S. P .G.). The Hymns sung were "Come Holy Ghost, our Souls inspire", "Thine forever" and "Now thank we all our God". Mr. Harold Stone presided at the organ and Mr. E. H. Thompson, one of the churchwardens, superintended the seating arrangements.

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Dr. Ernest A. Glover DD DL - Rector of Saint George's 1909-1936.


Saint George's Choir - 1920.
Back Row: E.H. Thompson (Churchwarden), Mr. Sheir, ??, W. Ellis, D. Triggs, Mr. Norgate (Server), Rev. J.F.M. Duncan (Asst. Priest), Mr. Riley (Server), R. Triggs (Server), F. Arthur, D. Rasell, Mr. Upperton, W. Duke Rasell (Churchwarden)

Middle Row: V. H. Vick, A. Mackay, M. Clark, W. Lumley (Choir Master), Dr. Glover (Rector), Mr. Selsby (Organist), Mr. Whittington, J. Mackay, Mr. Price
Front Row: 5th Boy - Bernard Vick, 8th boy - Geoffrey Vick.


Cecil F. D. Trimming - Rector of Saint George's, 1936-1945.

Continued on the next page.