Revd. Richard Coad-Pryor Read about Revd. Coad-Pryor

The Revd. R. Coad-Pryor, M.A. was the fourth incumbent at St. James’s and began communicating with the parish a few months prior to his institution by writing letters in the magazine, similar to those of his predecessor. The January 1914 magazine reported that he said: “It is with no small diffidence that I venture on the task of taking up the reins so long and so wisely and lovingly held by Mr. Job. …….. I am glad that I shall have the kind co-operation of Mr. Goldie, who has consented to remain with us.” He was instituted in February 1914 by the Bishop of London and the Archdeacon of Middlesex inducted him to the living in March.

Services
Revd. Coad-Pryor instituted some further changes to services. In 1914 celebration of the Holy Communion on Saints' Days was changed to 08.00 instead of at 11.00. The local Battalion of the National Reserves attended the regular Men's Service in 1914 and the Good Friday Three hours Service was started in 1915. Also during 1915, 11.00 did not seem to be a convenient hour for the daily service so evensong was introduced at 17.30 daily, except on Wednesdays, with Litany on Wednesdays and Fridays at 12.00 and Holy Communion on Thursdays at that time.

It was felt that a scheme of Bible Reading was needed in the parish, apart from the portions set by the Church to be read at Morning and Evening Prayer. So in December 1915 Revd. Coad-Pryor arranged for the supply of cards of the Communicants Bible Readers' Society. There was also a children's branch, which was adopted by the Sunday Schools.

In 1916 a children’s prayer service was held at 10.15 on Saturday mornings in the church. “Parents who can spare their children for half-an-hour are asked to allow them to attend.” Also in 1916 an ‘All day Intercession’, once a month, was adopted in the parish on behalf of the war. In 1920, the infants’ Sunday School started their own little service in the church room instead of going to the 11.00. service in the church. A daily celebration of Holy Communion at 07.30 was initiated in July 1921. Also at that time, it was hoped that every branch of church work would have its own day of intercession at which someone connected with that work would be present.

When war was declared in August, 1914, it was decided that, until the war ended, the church bell would ring at noon every day to remind everyone to pray for “the King and all those in authority, our sailors, soldiers, the suffering, the anxious and the sorrowful”. All military cases of relief were dealt with in connection with the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families' Association, and the Local Aid Fund was used to assist those who were suffering indirectly through the war. For the first time in the history of the village, in October, 1915, the villagers were threatened in their own homes by attack from the air. There were many not prepared for such an attack, as we read that “during the Zeppelin raid it was surprising to see how very well illuminated were several of the houses in this vicinity”. In 1916, local residents opened a canteen at the FitzWygram Coffee Tavern for the benefit of wounded Canadian soldiers from the hospital which had been set up in Upper Lodge, Bushy Park. In response to many requests Revd. Coad-Pryor preached sermons dealing with different aspects of the war and made daily intercessions for those fighting or being trained. A Roll of Honour was included in the magazine and fund-raising events were held to raise funds for sending comforts to the local soldiers at the front. Thanksgiving and Memorial Services were held in church after the war. Read the article The War

Running the Church
After fourteen years of service as curate Revd. Phillips moved to Devonshire and Mr. F. St. Clair Goldie, who was a B.A. of the University of Wales, took his place being ordained at the Lenten Ordination in 1914. Revd. Goldie left in 1916 during the war and nobody replaced him. The “necessary work cannot be properly carried out without such assistance” so in 1920 the Finance Committee unanimously decided to restart the subscription list for the Assistant Clergy Fund. The Revd. F. G. Nelson accepted the post and stayed until 1922 when the Revd. J. F. Laughton became ‘part-time’ curate until the Revd. N. C. R. Campbell took over the post. The first Parochial Church Council was formed in 1920 (see below).

A new successful scheme for church cleaning used the voluntary help of lady members of the congregation. There was also an annual cleaning of the walls, floors, etc. of the interior of the church. From then onwards there were frequent requests for more people to volunteer to do church work, especially in district visiting and the Sunday Schools. The November 1920 magazine reported: “IMPORTANT. Will all those who are responsible for Church work please send a full report to the Vicar by the 20th of each month, by so doing it will not only be of great interest to our readers, but greatly forward the work of the Church.”

After the war, an Enabling Bill, passed by a 300 majority in the House of Commons, gave the Church powers of self-government. Consequently in 1920 a meeting of the Church Electors (those on the electoral roll) took place to elect members to form a Parochial Church Council, and also three members of the Ruridecanal Conference (a meeting of clergy and lay people under the chairmanship of their rural dean to consider a wide range of church matters). The first meeting was held on Tuesday, June 22nd and during this and the following meeting the PCC formed the finance committee and also provided the sidesmen. It was proposed that an inventory of church property for use at meetings, etc., should be made, and periodic inspections of it held. Financial statements were made about the church offertories for church expenses, and the Curate, Free-will Offerings and Parish Magazine funds. The vicar called the attention of the council to the approaching jumble sale and sale of work for missions, and asked the members for their full support. A sub-committee was chosen to make enquiries respecting the possibility of erecting a much needed parish room. The vicar was asked to make enquiries about a ‘Bier’ for use at funerals. Read the article The Formation of the First PCC.

The February 1922 magazine reported: “We shall soon be revising our lists of ‘Church Voters’ in connection with St. James's Church. Perhaps it is not known as generally as it might be, that not only Church people living in the Parish, but those who are regular members of the Congregation are eligible for enrolment here. Papers giving particulars will be placed in the porch during February. Many and important duties are now placed in the hand of the Parochial Church Council, and it is essential that that body should be as representative as possible.”

Finance
Church finances were considered early on in Revd. Coad-Pryor's incumbency. The magazine of April 1914 reported: “Though not a very full meeting, it was a very unanimous one, which took place on March 16th in connection with the Finance Scheme. The amount allocated to this parish is £55, and the freewill offering method has been adopted, which enables everybody to take a share in the work of the Church…..” People were regularly encouraged to join this Freewill Offering Scheme and those who did received a supply of envelopes and could pay by weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annual contributions to raise this money for the essential needs of the diocese instead of having separate appeals and collections in church for “those parochial funds specially needing help”. The church expenses fund was paid for through the offertories, and again, more was always needed. However, by 1920 the church and other accounts were in credit.

A new arrangement for providing funds to meet the various parochial needs started in January 1923. The two principal sources of income were the new Assessment Scheme and the offertories. The latter were added to the church fund. The January 1923 magazine reported: “Those who assessed themselves have promised about £400 a year, so that…… there will be no need for any appeals for parochial funds. The envelopes should be placed in the offertory bags, or in the Free-will Offering box.”

‘I am the Resurrection and the Life’ and ‘Melchizedek’, the latter meaning ‘king of righteousness’. "To the Glory of God in memory of Edward Charles Butler Brevet Lt Colonel 36th Foot who died at Peshawar May 21st 1868 aged 50 years and of Frances Guadaloupe Felipe Maria Butler born April 19th 1825 who passed in her sleep October 1913 aged 88 at Hampton Hill where she resided for 44 years given by their youngest child ACB R.I.P."

The Church Building
Although the Great War overshadowed this period, further work was carried out on the church premises, mainly in the form of memorials. Those to the former vicar, Revd. Job, and to Mrs. and Lieut. Colonel Butler, were in the form of windows. The former was in addition to a tablet of a black cross on a stone background which was erected on the wall of the south aisle in his memory. The latter was given by their daughter, Miss Alice Butler, and was unveiled in April 1914 with a ceremony which included an organ recital. The windows, situated in the north aisle were ‘I am the Resurrection and the Life’ and ‘Melchizedek’, the latter meaning ‘king of righteousness’. A painted stone plaque was placed on the wall of the south aisle in 1915 to commemorate Mr. Cremer, a sidesman for twenty-six years. It was dedicated by the children of the parish as he was known as ‘The Children’s Friend’.

In 1921 it was decided to put a stained glass window of ‘St. John the Evangelist’ in the chancel in memory of the late vicar, Revd. Job. “To the Glory of God and in the Memory of Charles Robert Job, Priest, Vicar of this Parish. AD 1893-1914. Erected by Parishioners and Friends”.

Around this time many gifts were given to the church, including a set of beautifully worked offertory bags, a new book marker for the lectern and an oak box for greatly needed donations for the churchyard fund. A grant of £20 was obtained from the Kingston Trust and spent on the renewal of some of the cassocks and surplices, prayer and hymn books, some psalters for the choir and a hand made linen covering for the credence table, beautifully edged with lace. The Roll of Honour of deaths of villagers in the war grew longer and in 1916 Mrs. Bligh gave a most beautifully illuminated Roll, which was framed. Then in 1919 ”A very useful anthracite stove has been presented to the Church, placed in the Vestry, and has turned an ice-house into a very comfortable room. This gift is much appreciated, not least by the organist and choir and myself.” Two hundred cups, saucers, etc. were given for use at “Parochial gatherings”. Money was given in 1922 to buy a hundred new hassocks for the free pews in the south aisle. “It would add greatly to the appearance of the Church if those who have sittings would see that their hassocks were kept in good condition.”

The external fabric of the church underwent various repairs and redecoration at considerable expense in 1920. Parts of the tower also needed re-pointing. A church repair fund was set up to pay for this. In 1921 Mr. Jakeman invented and erected, at his own cost, an apparatus by which the bell on week-days could be rung from the baptistry, instead of from the belfry.

The Church Room
A parish room was considered during 1914 with the August edition of the magazine reporting “The Vicar, Churchwardens and Sidesmen have recently had under consideration the question of providing a Parish Room, large enough for parochial meetings and gatherings of various kinds. Fortunately they have secured, at a reasonable price, a convenient site near the Schools, and have been consulting with those able to give expert advice as to probable style of building and cost etc. These matters are still being thought out, and a Meeting of Church people will be held early in the Autumn, when full details of any proposed scheme will be laid before them." This meeting was postponed due to the outbreak of war. In 1918 “as a measure of economy” it was decided to discontinue the use of the mission room in Cross Street for parochial purposes, as it was felt that, until the new parish hall was built, the church room in St. James's Road met all requirements.

Twelve Canadian War Graves are situated in the peaceful churchyard at St. James’s. Several full-scale military funerals were held during the war when some of the Canadian soldiers were buried. These graves are maintained to a very high standard by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

The Churchyard
During Revd. Coad-Pryor’s incumbency the churchyard was kept in good condition and in order to continue this, a churchyard fund was initiated around 1917. Some of the soldiers who were hospitalised in Upper Lodge, Bushy Park, were buried in twelve Canadian war graves in the churchyard. There are also five British war graves. After the war the Vestry ordered that no artificial wreaths under glass should be placed on the graves. So it was decided to erect a memorial to all those parishioners who had lost their lives during the war. The memorial bears the following inscription: “Their name liveth for ever more. These died the death of honour for God, King and Country.” The July 1920 magazine reported: “May 26th, will long live in the memories of those who took part in the impressive service of unveiling the War Memorial; the Bishop's address, the singing, the quiet sad thankfulness of the occasion all contributed to make it a real ‘Red Letter’ day in the Parish. The arrangements were carried out with a restful reverence which we must all have felt. There was careful preparation of the ‘Form of Service’, containing the names of those whose death of honour we were commemorating.” Read the article War Memorial.

The War Memorial, designed by P. M. Andrews, was built and eventually unveiled on May 26th, 1920. This has a prominent place in the older part of the churchyard and features the Roll of Honour of the two World Wars during which one hundred and fifty one men and two women from Hampton Hill lost their lives. Later in the year a low fence of sixteen short posts of Clipsham Stone and an ornamental iron chain was erected to protect the grass and flowers and add to the beauty and dignity of the memorial.

Sunday School
An appeal went out to the Parishioners for help in the Sunday Schools in 1914 as classes had to be joined together through lack of teachers. The annual prize giving in 1917 consisted of prizes and certificates, numbering 210, to the boys, girls and infants attending the Sunday School with the February 1917 magazine reporting: “There was a large gathering of parents and friends. After the distribution a short Lantern Entertainment was given, and each child on leaving the room was presented with a bun and orange.” There were courses of lectures to Sunday School Teachers. "Teachers are recommended to bring note-books and pencils, and to be in their places in good time."

The January 1921 magazine reported: “The Boys' Sunday School grows bigger and bigger, but the number of teachers does not increase; there is no more important work for God and His Church than this. I want two or three men to volunteer for this work. The Girls' Sunday School is, at present, so Miss Lush tells me, fully staffed, but she cannot afford to lend any of her teachers.”

Schools
During the 1920s there was a long tussle between the managers of the church schools and the Middlesex Education Committee. The schools were doing well, as the reports of the Inspectors showed, and scholarships had been won to Twickenham County and Hampton Grammar Schools, but the buildings were old and it became more and more difficult to keep up with the Council Schools. In 1920 the Middlesex County Council gave notice that it proposed to build a new boys’ school to accommodate four hundred. The managers made no objection to this, and they decided to take no action on the suggestion to unite the girls and infants under one head teacher.

Witness/Mission
The amount distributed in the parish in 1915 through the Provident Club reached its "high-water mark" of £648. The Annual Sale for Foreign Missions continued. Read the article Sale of Work for Foreign Missions. The proceeds from the carol singing parties enabled the district visitors to distribute fifty tickets for groceries.

Groups
The church continued to support affiliated groups particularly following the end of hostilities. These included the Men's Bible Class, Mothers Union, C.E.M.S., Band of Hope, Girls' Friendly Society, Church of England Temperance Society, Scripture Readers’ Association, Church of England Waifs' and Strays' Society, Church Lads' Brigade, The Communicants' Guild, Married Women's Club, Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, Church Missionary Society, Church of England Mens’ Society, Colonial and Continental Society. A Lads Institute was established in the church room to provide recreation, games and so on for boys over fourteen.

The 1st Hampton Hill Guides was formed in 1918, as were the Hampton Hill Brownies. “At seven p.m. on a Sunday evening in July, 1918, the 1st Hampton Hill Guides paraded for the first time, the Hampton contingent being present to encourage them”. Even though these two groups were not strictly church organisations they were connected with the church.

St. James's Church around 1921

Music
There were regular Sunday evening organ recitals but in 1917 Mr. Gilberthorpe resigned his position as organist after “offering his services to the Army as an Instructor in Musketry”. Mr. Russe, "F.R.C.O., &c.", was appointed as his replacement. Revd. Coad Pryor congratulated him and the choir in 1919 “for the excellent rendering of the ‘Crucifixion’ on Good Friday, and the musical portions of the Easter Services, it reflected great credit on the singers and their teacher. Again I would ask for more adult members for the choir, Mr. Russe is willing to train, free of cost, anyone likely to make a useful chorister.” Later in the same year “An innovation will soon take place in the Choir. For some considerable time there has been great difficulty in obtaining Alto voices, it has now been decided, and I very heartily concur, to ask half a dozen ladies to help. I believe Mr. Russe has already secured the services of four, and he will be glad to receive the names of any who are willing to help in this very important branch of the Church Services.”

In 1921 a report from the Organ Builders, Messrs. Hele and Co. stated that certain parts of the organ were in a deplorable condition. The vicar said “The music in the church is so good that it must not be handicapped by a faulty organ.” So the necessary work was done with future organ recitals paying the bill.

Social Events
The Church had a great influence over the social activities of the cottagers but after thirty years the situation gradually began to change. During Revd. Coad-Pryor’s incumbency social activities, like concerts, lantern lectures, demonstrations, conversaziones, missionary teas and school entertainments continued but were slimmed down during the war years. There was an annual sale on behalf of the Missions of the Church, and proceeds from the carol singing parties one year enabled the District Visitors to distribute 50 tickets for groceries. The usual St. James's festivities were not held in 1915 due to the war but successful whist drives were held to raise funds for sending comforts to local soldiers at the front. Social Gatherings, as they became known, picked up again after the war. There were subscription dances, garden fetes, dramatic entertainments, cafe chantants, dialogues and after refreshments there were competitions and a brief address.

Revd. Coad-Pryor's grave

Windows were erected in the baptistry by parishoners and friends after his death in 1923 in memory of Revd. Coad-Pryor: 'I am the Good Shepherd' and 'I am the Light of the World'.

The Magazine
Revd. Coad Pryor continued the vicar's letter in the parish magazine but addressed it to "My Dear People". This was followed by different "Parish Notices", offertories, church accounts and parish registers, with intercessions and parish news being added later. Advertisements appeared from time to time during 1917 and 1918 and became a regular feature during 1919. In 1920 the price was increased from 1d. to 2d. All this was due to the rise in printing costs. The inset was changed to 'Home Words for Heart and Hearth' in January 1916 and then back to 'The Church Monthly' in 1921. Intercessions and more “local matter” started to appear in the magazine to increase its “general interest”. Then in the March edition of the magazine Revd. Coad-Pryor started a Children’s Column, which consisted of a monthly letter starting "DEAR CHILDREN, Each month something of special interest to you will appear in this column, so please read it very carefully………..” and ending “Don’t forget to say your prayers in the morning as well as at night. Your affectionate friend, THE VICAR." Read the first Children's Column.

The End of Revd. Coad-Pryor's Incumbency
Revd. Coad-Pryor was often not in very good health and from 1919 onwards was frequently unable to do his work. On his sudden death in 1923 it was said of him that he was one who “had endeared himself to the whole congregation by his scholarly and helpful guidance which he always expressed in terms appropriate to the occasion and his listeners; whose ministrations to those in sickness or travail were always rendered promptly and with a full and sympathetic heart to all parishioners alike, quite irrespective of whether they were regular church people”.

A guard of honour, consisting of the Church Lad’s Brigade and the Girl Guides, lined the path from the vicarage to the church which was filled to overflowing for his funeral. Because of his keen interest in the young people of his parish large numbers of the school children were present. The service was very moving and at the graveside the Nunc Dimittis was sung and the ‘Last Post’ sounded. The February 1923 magazine reported: “The affectionate regard in which he was held by his parishioners, the village generally, and all sections of the Christian Church was strikingly exemplified at the funeral in the churchyard on 9th January. The church was filled to overflowing, with not only the members of his own flock but with members of the Wesleyan, Primitive, and Congregational and Roman Catholic Churches.” Read the article The Death of Revd. Coad-Pryor.

As the curate, Revd. Campbell, left at the same time to take up work elsewhere, the Revd. J. R. Laughton was again appointed Curate-in-charge, with the assistance of Revd. J. F. Matthews Duncan, until a new vicar was appointed.