The address, which was
presented to the Vicar on the occcasion of the Dramatic Entertainmet,
on Tuesday, February 14th, by our good Churchwarden, Mr. W. C. B.
Hall, was as follows:
HAMPTON HILL, February 10th, 1893
Dear Sir, We, the undersigned panshioners of Hampton
Hill, or members of your congregation, having heard that you have
been offered a Living on the South Coast, which recommends itself
to you on account of its milder climate, desire to assure you that
we should view your departure from Hampton Hill with the greatest
possible regret.
During the period of more than eleven years that you have been amongst
us the whole system of parish organisation has worked smoothly and
efficiently; more than £2500 has been raised and expended upon
the fabric of the Church; the Organ has been greatly improved at an
expense of about £230; the School Teachers’ Houses have
been built, and the Schools have been maintained with increasing efficiency.
As President of the Hampton Total Abstinence Society you have co-operated
with many non-churchmen, thereby greatly advancing the cause of temperance
in our midst.
We should not wish our personal feelings or wishes to influence you
in coming to a decision, if you consider that sea air will be beneficial
to the health either of Mrs. Bligh or yourself; but on the other hand,
unless you are convinced that such a permanent change is really necessary,
we earnestly hope you will remain amongst us to continue the work
so successfully carried on by you here, and in which you have been
so greatly helped by the devotion and energy of Mrs. Bligh, and in
which in the future (as in the past) you will always have our hearty
assistance and sincere goodwill.
We are, dear Sir, your faithful Friends.
The Vicar’s Answer:
My very dear Friends, Forgive me for keeping you waiting so long for
a reply to the very kind address which you presented to me. I could
not answer it hastily. I will repeat the words which I used when our
good Churchwarden presented it to me. I thank you from my heart. I
am deeply touched by the affection and love which alone could have
prompted such an expression of your good feeling towards Mrs. Bligh
and myself. The good works which you have enumerated were carried
out by yourselves, and it has only been a pleasure and a privilege
to me to have been permitted to assist you in them. But there are
remembrances of personal intercourse and kindnesses which I have received
at your hands, of the spiritual work in which I have been engaged
with you, and above all the privilege of our united worship in God’s
House, which seems to bind me still more closely to you. You will
believe me when I say how exquisitely painful it has been to me to
consider a question which involved the possible severance of the ties
which have bound us so closely together; but I must tell you, that
after much careful and prayerful consideration, I cannot escape from
the conviction that we ought to leave you - I believe it is God’s
will. I believe He is pointing out the way in which He would have
us go. Mrs. Bligh’s health is at stake, and I am sure you share
with me the earnest wish that it may be restored. I cannot help hoping
that this change of climate is just the one thing which will give
her health and strength. But it will be a hard wrench to our feelings,
and a deep sorrow to our hearts to part from you. We shall not forget
you, nor cease to think of the happy days we have spent in your midst.
We shall always pray God to bless and keep you safe.
Yours most affectionately, Henry Bligh."
Source: The Hampton Hill Parish Magazine
- 1893 March
A few words from the Vicar
My dear Parishioners and Friends, I do not like to miss the opportunity
afforded to me by this the last issue, during my Vicariate, of the
Parish Magazine, to say a few words to you. I would once again assure
you of the heartfelt deep sorrow which it causes us that we have to
go. Only the conviction, that in God’s good Providence it is
for the best, could have decided that we should go. An opportunity
will be afforded me of saying a few parting words in Church, but there
are some matters of interest to us, about which, perhaps, I might
speak here. I allude to the material side of our parochial existence
and the life connected with it.
I think we may take somewhat a bright view of our present position.
Looking back upon the 12 years which it has been my privilege to minister
to you as Vicar of the Parish, there may be marked a steady growth
in many directions, and an amount of present vitality which is altogether
satisfactory. Our Parish Church built and greatly enlarged and beautified
in my predecessor’s time, has still further made progress, and
with its Baptistery, its Tower and Spire, and the Clock and Bells
which are shortly to be added, may be looked upon as fairly complete.
Our Schools, though not increased in size, have been adapted so as
to increase the amount of room which in great part has been filled
by a large accession of numbers. Our Working Men’s Institute
and Club, which when I came here was just taking possession of the
excellent room built for them by your former Vicar, though it has
passed through a period of trial, at the present moment flourishes.
Our Horticultural Society, notwithstanding a heavy but unavoidable
loss, is as strong as ever, and still doing its good work in cottage
and villa alike. Our Brass Band is now really first rate. Our Cricket
Club, with its ground and pavilion in Bushey Park, flourishes greatly,
and gives a good account of the proficiency of its members in the
many matches which it plays. Our Entertainment Committee has up to
the present been able to give fresh and fresh amusement and recreation
through the long evenings of winter. Our Lawn Tennis Club is stronger
than ever. Our Fire Brigade is very efficient; and our lately formed
Church Lads’ Brigade gives great promise of being a most useful
Institution and help to our growing lads.
To revert to those portions of the parochial work which are especially
connected with the Vicar: the Choir has all these years made steady
progress, and I think we may say that our Church Services are rendered
most efficiently with reverence and devotion. Our Provident Club still
continues a great help to thrift and comfort amongst a large proportion
of the parishioners. We have an excellent band of District Visitors,
through whose instrumentality a large amount of parochial work is
carried out. We have a good staff of Sunday School Teachers, and the
Sunday School and our Bible Classes are well attended. Our Temperance
Association, our Library our Married Women’s Club, and our Mothers’
Meetings all flourish. We may thank God that He has blessed us so
greatly, and pray Him to continue His care of you for the time to
come.
My special object in addressing these words to you is to call your
attention to the future. It has been my privilege to work with you
for a considerable time, but if under God’s hand our work has
succeeded and has borne considerable fruit, it is mainly due to the
fact that you have worked so well with me, that we have been able
to work hand to hand together. You see the results of your own work.
What I want to say to you is, continue that good work. Do not allow
the mere fact of my removal to slacken your efforts. It is with true
gratitude that I can allude to the appointment of my successor, and
promise you that in him you will find one ready to throw himself heart
and soul into all that concerns your temporal as well as spiritual
welfare. Let me ask you not only to welcome him when he comes amongst
you, but to be prepared to work with him, and prosper your work. And
now let me commit you to God’s loving care. We shall be separated
from you, but we shall not cease to think of you, and to pray for
you that you may be kept safe through all the vicissitudes of this
life, even unto the end.
Yours most affectionately,
HENRY BLIGH.
Source: The Hampton Hill Parish Magazine - 1893 June
Presentation to the Vicar and Mrs.
Bligh, and Mr. deRitchie
On Saturday, the children of the Sunday School who were too little
to go to the Crystal Palace, or were left behind for some other cause,
came to tea in the Vicarage Field. Advantage was taken of the occasion
to gather together the good people og Hampton Hill who were kindly
anxious to bid good bye in person to Mr. and Mrs. Bligh, and also,
as we shall presently narrate, give substantial and lasting evidence
of their good will. Although the events of the afternoon have already
been well reported in our excellent local paper, it seems but fitting
that there should be a still more permanent record of the kindness
then shown, in the pages of the Parish Magazine.
Shortly after tea there was a gathering upon the lawn, and unmistakable
evidence that some event was near at hand. First the teachers of the
Sunday School presented to Mrs. Bligh a very beautiful copy of Tennyson’s
Poems. Then there was a present by both Boys’ and Girls’
Schools (in each case including the teachers as well as children)
to the Vicar and Mrs. Bligh. These were vases for table decorations,
and an ornamental earthenware umbrella stand. Willie Dobson, Mrs.
Bligh’s godson, gave her a pretty basket of flowers. Then Mr.
de Ritchie received a testimonial from the teachers of the Boys’
and Girls' Schools, respectively, an inkstand from the former, and
a copy of Hymns Ancient and Modern from the latter. The assembled
company then moved into the field, where a platform had been evrected
and a strange looking building behind, formed of the tops tfhe Parish
Tea tables draped with some of the Vicarage window curtains. This
building sheltered a very precious and most handsome “Grandfather
Clock,” the kind present of the whole parish to the Vicar and
Mrs. Bligh. We never saw a more handsome clock, nor do we believe
one could be found. Throughout the afternoon there was a continual
gathering round the platform of parishioners admiring the beauty of
their present, and listening to the chimes which were made to strike
the quarters, in quick succession, on Harrington Tubes.
At seven a large number assembled round the enclosure, and the presentation
was made by Mr. H. Bowling-Trevanion, in behalf of the Committee and
all the 290 subscribers. The Vicar endeavoured to express his gratitude
for the kindness and love evinced by this memento of his parishioners’
good feeling, and also for the memorial signed some time since, begging
him to reconsider his decision to leave Hampton Hill. He assured them
of his love for them, and that neither he or Mrs Bligh could ever
forget them, or the time which they had spent amongst them. One more
present was given by the Organist and the Choir, consisting of two
photographs, beautifully mounted and framed, of the interior of S.
James’ Church. A testimonial in the shape of a purse of money
from the parishioners was then made to Mr. cle Ritchie, who has just
completed his third year as Curate of Hampton Hill. The inscription
on the brass plate on the clock was as follows: — “Presented
by his old parishioners and friends to the Hon. & Rev. Henry Bligh,
on his leaving the parish, after being nearly twelve years vicar of
Hampton Hill, as a mark of affectionate regard to himself and the
Hon. Mrs. Bligh, June 3rd, 1893.
Source: The Hampton Hill Parish
Magazine - 1893 July
