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St Mary's - Anglicanism in Broomfleet A St Mary's Centenary Souvenir booklet was published in 1961 and is one of the sources for this chapter. The booklet gives a very good account of the first one hundred years of St Mary's Church and also of the history of the earlier churches in Broomfleet. Although this chapter is mainly concerned with the years from 1900 it also touches on the history of the earlier churches and the building of St Mary's.
Whilst it is not practical to include details of all church events that took place each year, a selection have been included to give an indication of the types of activities associated with the church and of the people involved in them.
The late 19th century - establishment and growth Mrs Elizabeth Barnard of South Cave Castle, Lady of the Manor of Broomfleet, made land available in a field called Ducker's Garth for the site of the church. She employed a young East Yorkshire architect, Mr J. L. Pearson, to carry out the design (he also designed churches at Ellerker, Elloughton and Ferriby) and Mr Thomas Goodwill of South Cave to build the church and vicarage at a cost of £1,400.
The church was built in 1861 and is in the Gothic style. Constructed of stone and with a slate roof it has seating for 200. It consists of a chancel, nave, north porch and a north-western tower topped by a spirelet, with the belfry containing one bell. There is a beautiful stained glass east window. Dr Charles Thomas Longley, the Archbishop of York, consecrated the church on Friday 1st November 1861.
The Reverend E W Stillingfleet, Vicar of South Cave and a friend of the Barnard family, presented a number of items of Church Silver to St Mary's Church on the 1st Nov 1861: a chalice; a platen; a plate with pedestal, and a flagon.
On the 5th September 1862 an ecclesiastical parish was formed between Broomfleet and Faxfleet. It was stated as being in the "Howdenshire division of the Riding, Hunsley Beacon division of Harthill wapentake, petty sessional division of South Hunsley Beacon, county court district of Goole, rural district and rural deanery of Howden, archdeaconry of the East Riding and diocese of York."
The Church Day School was built next to the church in 1856, again through the generosity of the Lady of the Manor, Mrs Elizabeth Barnard. It is often later referred to as the Sunday School Room or the Institute Room. Page 48 |
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The first vicar was John Hearne Popplewell M.A., who held the post for five years up to 1866. He made a report in 1865 that the church had a choir, with twenty children attending Sunday School and a further forty children in the Day School (which must have been held in the Sunday School Room at that time). His report also stated that the state of the roads around the village prevented anyone stirring at night.
He was succeeded by Joshua Waltham M.A. (1866 to 1874). In one of his reports Reverend Waltham stated that there were twenty scholars in the Sunday School and sixty in the Day School in the winter. However, he noted that the number of Day School scholars reduced to forty in the summer. "Warming apparatus" had recently been installed and this had increased the numbers of the afternoon congregations.
William Glegge M.A. took over as vicar in 1874 and remained until his death in 1903. He was much involved in the early years of the Broomfleet School (see the chapter "Education"). A scholar and a keen astronomer, he owned a fine telescope that he used in the vicarage garden to survey the sky. His wife had a "vigorous" personality and was noted for training the choir, keeping fantail pigeons and wearing fashionable hats. It is said that she would walk or ride to Blacktoft once every week to catch the boat to Hull (a popular means of transport in those days). After the Reverend Glegge's death, an oak Manx Lectern was put into the church, inscribed: In Memory of the Reverend W Glegge, Vicar of the Parish for 29 years, presented by loving friends of Broomfleet Parish.
1903 - 1922: Financial headaches and new ideas Arnold John Holmes was the vicar from 1903 to 1922. He had three sons: Whittaker, Noel and George, and four daughters, two of whom died whilst still children. Monica and Grace survived into adulthood. Whilst at Broomfleet he instigated events such as an annual open-air service, held in the Chapel Garth, and the Harvest Field service.
On February 16th 1903, a brass alms basin, inscribed " To the Glory of God and to the Dear Memory of a Good Mother " was removed from Faxfleet Mission Hall when it was closed and was presented to St Mary's by Miss Shaw of Faxfleet Hall. Around this time there was an advertisement circulating for pipes for smoking tobacco, which carried the recommendation of the vicar. (see copy on appendix page).
From 1903 to 1916 the total income of the church averaged only £60 per year, with £28 of this coming from the collections made weekly in the services. In Page 49 | |
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1906 the "Faxfleet Endowment Fund " added a capital sum of £1,200 to the permanent endowment of the benefice, of which £200 was raised locally. The interest from this was to augment the benefice income. Reverend Holmes put a lot of effort into improving the finances of the church; the debt to the vicar and churchwardens in 1903 was £6 12s. 8d, but by 1908 this was down to 7s 2 1\2 d. This was a great effort as it was the first time since its establishment that the church had raised sufficient money each year to pay its expenses. In addition, £2 10s 0d was paid to foreign missions and charities each year. A special effort was made in 1911 to raise money to pay for new heating apparatus for the church.
In 1909 the living was a vicarage with a net yearly value of £126, the gift of Mrs Barnard of Cave Castle. In 1913, by the will of that lady, the living was passed to the Church Pastoral Society.
In 1914 Mr William Leaper bequeathed £60 per year, for the permanent endowment of the Benefice. This year saw the start of the First World War and once again the financial situation of the church was at a low. The parishioners put in a lot of effort with concerts, whist drives and other fund-raising events. Envelopes were circulated around the village and people were asked if possible to put something into them if they could not manage to attend the church services. However, it was the vicar's `Guinea Fund' (donations collected from outside the parish) that raised £55 in the three years from 1914 to 1916 and enabled the church to stay out of debt.
In 1916, Arnold Holmes arranged the first Annual Parochial Church Meeting which replaced the Vestry Meetings that had been held previously.
In 1920 the church had a debt of £9 1s. 7d, forcing a great increase in the church charges. A Church Council meeting was held in the Church Institute (Sunday School Room) and presided over by the vicar. It was decided to ask the diocesan registrar to approve that the fees for a marriage after publication of banns be increased from 8s 6d to 15s, and burial fees from 8s to 15s.
The church funds must have been very low, as the income for 1920 was only £45 and when an audit of the accounts was made by Mr James Crake of Hull it was found that the vicar was owed £25.15s.8d .
The wives of the churchwardens, Mrs Freeman and Mrs Consitt, formed a committee with Mrs Asa Kitching and other ladies of the village. Mrs A. B. Hodgson of Broomfleet and Hull acted as treasurer. Their purpose was to organise fund-raising events such as "a social gathering on the vicarage lawn, with the sale of Page 50 |
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cakes, sweets, dairy products and other items, and some form of amusements during the afternoon".
Monies were also owed for organ repairs, which the ladies would try to pay off. An "American Tea" was held at Brough in aid of the Broomfleet church funds, which raised £31 17s. 3d. This included stalls selling fancy goods, cakes, sweets and dairy products, a Bran Tub, and a tea stall. In addition, Miss Lloyd and others gave a concert at Westfield Park School.
Despite money worries, the church in Broomfleet was very active at this time, as the Bishop of Hull confirmed twelve people at St Mary's.
The Sunday School outing in 1920 was arranged by Mrs Holmes and Mrs T Consitt. It was attended by 60 children and parents who went to Withernsea, arriving there at 10 a.m. and getting back to the village at 10 p.m.
The Reverend Holmes was taken ill during 1921 and the Reverend Nankerville from Ellerker and Reverend Graham from South Cave helped out at St Mary's. The Annual Sunday School Anniversary and Open Air Service of 1921 were held on a Sunday in Mr W Martin's field with a large number of the scholars attending, as well as people from neighbouring villages. The Reverend A. E. Berry (vicar of Drypool, Hull) officiated, giving an address on the theme " Give me children or I will die ". A further service was held in the evening with Reverend Holmes officiating and Mrs Holmes on the organ. All the proceeds from that day went towards the cost of the Sunday School excursion.
On his return from a visit to Llandudno the vicar went on the Sunday School excursion in July to Withernsea. A total of approximately 100 made up the party, which included teachers, parents and children. He also took the Church choir on an outing this year to the pantomime in Hull.
A musical party from the RAF Base at Howden gave a concert in the garden of the vicarage in August, which raised £30. A bazaar held at Brough raised £9 15s and this paid off the debt owing to the vicar.
Reverend Holmes became ill again in March 1922 and Reverend J E Farrar, late of Beverley, took over the running of the church. On the 28th April the Reverend A J Holmes died. He was 58 years old and had been vicar at Broomfleet for 19 years. Page 51 | |
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1922-1956: A busy part of village life Charles Job Reader (M.A.) became the vicar of St Mary's when he accepted the living in June 1922, but was not installed until September. The ceremony was conducted by the Bishop of Hull, and the Curate in charge of Ellerker, Reverend Nankerville, was present.
Reverend Reader came from Birmingham where he had been living since 1901. He had two sons, Basil and Bernard, and a daughter named Eleanor (who was the author of the excellent history on Broomfleet and Faxfleet). He was a keen gardener and a very good one - during his time at the vicarage the lawns, flowerbeds and orchard were all well cared for. He also had a vegetable garden and it was not unusual for him to be working in there at 6 o'clock in the morning. He worked hard to put the church on a sound financial basis and made appeals for the churchyard extension, heating apparatus, electric lights in the church, repairs to the roof and for the oak pulpit. His wife was actively involved with the church, playing the organ at all the services.
In 1922, 80 children and teachers attended The Sunday School "Treat". They had tea in the Church Institute served by Mrs Holmes, Mrs Consitt, Miss Brighton and Miss Holmes. Mr J Underwood donated oranges and prizes were distributed.
General renovation of the church was carried out in 1923. The Sunday School went on an outing to Bridlington in July, and the Broomfleet branch of the Mother's Union was formed in this year with Mrs Reader as the enrolling member. The church accounts had a balance of 15s. 6d.
In the following year Mr H Davis of Scunthorpe decorated the interior at a cost of £50. A total of 150 children, parents and teachers went on a Sunday School outing to Withernsea.
Reverend Graham Score and the Reverend C J Reader officiated at the dedication of a memorial tablet to the Reverend A J Holmes in October 1925.
In May 1926, 13 people were confirmed at St Mary's. The Reverend Reader made several exchange visits with other churches during the year, one of which was with the Reverend M Leffer, the vicar of Welwick & Holmpton. The Sunday School outing to Bridlington proved very popular as 130 children, parents and teachers went in seven coaches. The church finances were again precarious, as the deficiency for the year was 10s 4d.
A concert by the North Ferriby Choral Society was held in the school in June Page 52 |
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1928. A Memorial Cross to the Reverend A J Holmes was erected in the churchyard in August. In December a Children's Service was held in the church, with a musical programme by The Eastrington Glee Party.
Mrs Reader became the secretary of the Parochial Church Council in 1929.
In 1931, a new oak pulpit was dedicated in the church by Archbishop Temple. It carried the inscription " This pulpit was erected to mark the 70th Anniversary of the Consecration of the Church and dedicated by His Grace the Archbishop of York. "
In 1933 Miss Elizabeth Mathews bequeathed £280 for the up keep of the Church and Churchyard.
July 1936 was a busy month. Sermons on behalf of the Church Missionary Society were preached at St Mary's one Sunday, with the preacher in the morning service being Mr F. Dennis and in the afternoon Reverend L. O. Hamer, the organising secretary of the C.M.S.
The vicar, his wife and several parish church councillors drove to Elloughton to attend the annual lawn meeting on a Monday in July. The speaker was Reverend C. L. Richards M.A., a C.M.S. missionary to India.
The Annual Open Air Service for the Sunday School was held once again on a Sunday in July.
Finally, it was reported that " A bus load " of people went on a trip to Scarborough on a Saturday in July. This was most likely a Sunday School outing.
In 1937 it was recorded that there were 466 persons in the ecclesiastical parish (this would include Faxfleet), and that the " living " was a vicarage, net yearly value £300 with the gift of the Church Pastoral Aid Society, held by the Reverend Charles Job Reader.
In January of 1938 there was the Sunday School Treat in the Church Institute with a tea and games. Mr & Miss Kirk provided oranges and Mrs Harper gave stamp albums. These were presented by Mrs Reader, the vicars wife, to both the girls (who were E. Spence, B Kirk, J Harrison, C Brighton, D Proctor, B Earle, D Earle, E Milbourne, B. Gelder, J Speck, M Freer, M Williamson, L Emanuel, K Holtby and H Holtby) and the boys (N Emanuel, B Wilson, E Holtby, K Holtby, G Hall, J Williamson, D Scott, R Sellers, G. Speck, B. Tribick and S Williamson). Page 53 | |
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In March 1938 the Annual Shrove Tuesday gathering was held in the church room with Miss Wilson and Mr Hall the schoolmaster assisting, raising £4 for church funds. Games, songs and competitions were held, and refreshments were supplied by Mrs B Emanuel, Mrs Tomlinson, Mrs Winn and Mrs Longfield. The Mothers Union was active this year with talks in the church room by Mrs Booth of Hull on the " Life of a country woman in Australia", by the Reverend H E Ellgood on his visit to the Holy Land and by Mrs Boreham, the wife of the vicar of Holy Trinity Hull.
A Weekly Sewing Meeting was held in the church room by the ladies committee of the Village Hall, to get items ready for the sale of work to raise funds for the building of the village hall. A "Rummage" sale was held in the church room in April, arranged by Mrs Reader assisted by Miss Reader, Miss Wilson, and Miss Spence and £8 was raised for the church funds.
Bishop Emblin confirmed nine candidates at St Mary's Church. St Mary's presented £1 2s 6d at the Woman's Offering Service at the York Minster in June.
Due to bad weather July's Annual Open Air Service in was held in the church with the Reverend H Firby taking the service.
This year's outing was to Bridlington, and the ladies of the village decorated the church when the Reverend G Foster of Hotham preached at the Harvest Festival, in October.
Modern facilities were arriving at Broomfleet and the church had electricity installed in January 1939, at a cost of £38. The discarded paraffin hanging lamps from the church were given to local people, and were still in use at the home of Mr & Mrs Gelder (at the Landing) for a good number of years.
There was a lantern lecture in the church in February given by the Reverend A Speak, the subject being "The Healing Church".
The Shrove Tuesday meeting was entertained with songs by Miss N Carr and recitations by Mrs R Emanuel of Newport. Mrs Reader and Miss R Nicholls played the accompaniments.
Sixty people were in the congregation for an Egg and Flower Easter service in April. The eggs brought to the church, mainly by the children, were donated to the Hull Children's Hospital and the Deaf & Dumb Institute. Page 54 |
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A Jumble Sale was held in the church room in April which raised £8. The annual PCC meeting was held in the church room and the accounts showed an income of £80 18s 5d.
Three other special services took place in this year. The Archbishop Messengers held an open-air service on an evening in May, a large congregation attended the Harvest Festival in October taken by Reverend T. Bottomley of Newport, and in November the officers and men of the Territorial Army held a church parade.
The Sunday School Party held in the church room in January 1940 had the usual format with games and singing. The oranges were donated by Mr J. Kirk and the helpers were Messrs Winn, Emanuel, Longfield, Harper, Misses Donkin, Spencer, Gelder and the Reverend Reader and his wife.
Once again at the Easter Service the children brought eggs to send to the Children's Hospital and Deaf & Dumb Institute in Hull. The gift of a suitcase was presented to Mrs. Reader, who from 1922 had played the organ at services and had also been the choirmaster. The Mothers Union arranged a talk in May by Miss Baxter who spoke on Life in China with reference to the domestic side of life. From October, the Sunday evening services were held in the afternoon, due to the wartime blackout restrictions.
At the Sunday School party held in January 1941 oranges were donated as usual by Mr J. Kirk, but an anonymous donor gave three pence to each child.
The church bells were rung again in 1943.
There was an Archbishops appeal in October 1946 and a Sale & Social was organised in the Council Schoolroom by Mrs G Harper to raise funds for the church. A special service of rededication was held by the Mother's Union in April which was taken by the Rural Dean, the Reverend T. Bottomley.
The Reverend H. S. P. Coster of Hotham made a visit to Broomfleet in 1947 and took the Harvest Festival Service.
The Mothers Union made a visit to Elloughton that year to listen to an address by a Miss Russell Wells, and afterwards they had tea in the Elloughton church hall. In the following year the Mother's Union returned the compliment and entertained the Elloughton cum Brough Branch to tea at Broomfleet. There was a large congregation, including members of the Parish Council and Page 55 | |
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Howden R.D.C., at the special service that was held in June 1951 to mark the Festival of Britain.
The Reverend C. J. Reader completed 50 years in ministry in November and was presented with an easy chair and his wife was presented with a reading lamp and a box of chocolates. The presentations were made by Mr Winn, Mr P. Nicholls, Miss M. Brighton and Master A. Holtby. The vicar was now the senior clergyman in the Howden Deanery and had been at St Mary's Broomfleet for 29 years. He had been ordained at Worcester in 1901, served 6 years at St Chryostom's, Birmingham, and then served at St Bede's, Greet, before coming to Broomfleet. Members of the South Cave Branch of the British Legion attended the Remembrance Service in November. The last post and Reveille were sounded and wreaths were laid by Mr W. Levick and Mr G. Stones.
There was an intruder in the church in October 1951 who managed to open the safe but did not take anything. In the same month the Reverend C J Reader took his last Harvest Festival.
The Reverend Charles Job Reader died in 1953. A Litany Desk was donated to the church in his memory by parishioners and friends, inscribed " In Memory of Charles Job Reader, Vicar 1922-1953". This was dedicated in May 1953 by the Vicar of Eastrington, the Reverend M. Clarke, at a service attended by members of the Reader family. Miss Kathleen Henderson, Miss Maureen Henderson and Miss Eleanor Gibbons sang as a trio at the service.
In the early years of Reverend Reader's ministry, the average income of the church was £85, made up of £50 collected in church, £10 from social efforts and the remaining £25 from donations. Seven or eight special appeals raised approximately £60 each for various objectives. In the later years, from 1947, the yearly income had risen to £120, of which £100 was from collections in the church. A bequest of £200 was made by Mrs. Dennis for the upkeep of the churchyard in the year of Reverend Reader's death.
1953-1973: Towards the Joint Pastorate The Reverend Harold Young Burnett was inducted as vicar in October 1953 by the Bishop of Hull, the Rt. Reverend H. T. Vodden. The Rural Dean of Howden, the Reverend T. B. Kitching, was present along with the vicars of South Cave, North Cave, Eastrington and Hotham.
The new vicar's wife was called Gladys, and he had two sons named Gordon and John. In November Mrs. Burnett entertained the Mothers Union to tea at the Page 56 |
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vicarage. In his report for this year the vicar said that the choir and Sunday School with its teachers and scholars all helped in the church work, the Mothers Union held regular meetings and the Girls Club had been formed.
A number of gifts were presented to the church in 1954 :- a new pulpit desk frontal from Mr Moore, a runner for the alter from Mr & Mrs H Winn, and book markers for the prayer books from Mr & Mrs H Waudby. The Rural Dean dedicated the Mothers Union banner. Mrs Emanual carried the banner accompanied by Mrs Knight and Mrs G Speck, and after the dedication tea was taken in the church room.
In January 1955 the Sunday School had a party. Mr H Atkinson presented prizes and Mrs Eileen Kirk presented the children with oranges. The Children's Festive Open Air Service was held in June when the choir and the Mothers Union lead the congregation in procession from the church to the Chapel Croft field. The Mothers Union was again active this year, holding a Garden Party in June in the Vicarage garden at which they raised £12.15s for the church funds. In October they arranged a talk given by Mrs Shucksmith of Faxfleet Hall on her visit to New Zealand.
The Girls Club gave a concert in February 1956 in the church room and raised £15.15s. Mrs Burnett and Mrs Gibson were the accompanists with Mr J Atkinson the stage manager and Reverend Burnett the compare. Mr P Nicholls resigned as the vicar's warden in April due to ill health, having held that position for over 30 years. Mr H Atkinson succeeded him. Mr H Winn was the other warden at that time.
In July, the Mothers Union joined with members from Brantingham and Elloughton for an outing to Filey. They arranged a bazaar in December jointly with the P.C.C. It raised £42 and was opened by Mrs McKenzie, to whom Sandra Hall presented a bouquet. In August a Service of Music and Song was given by choirs from Broomfleet, South Cave and Ellerker, the organ being played by Mr Burnett and Mrs H Carr from South Cave. Also in that month, the Girls Club held a garden fete opened by Mrs Levick at the Vicarage to raise funds.
The Girls Club party was held in the village hall in January 1958. The Bishop of Hull the Rt. Reverend G F Townley visited the church that month and based his sermon on the railway notice that says "Stop, look and listen". The Reverend H Y Burnett moved away from St Mary's in 1959 and at the farewell Mr J Atkinson the Choir Master presented him with an inscribed wallet containing some treasury notes and his wife with a toaster. Page 57 | |
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In the same year Miss Mary Olive Nicholls bequeathed £50 for the upkeep of the family graves. Mr H Winn was presented with an inscribed walking stick to commemorate his 50 years service to the church. The vicar and the choir toured around the village singing carols and raised £6 for the church funds.
Canon W Banks from Fareham in Hampshire was originally offered the vacant benefice and came to visit the church by train. As he was getting off the train he slipped and fell, spraining his ankle severely. He reached his destination, which was the home of the warden, Mr H T Atkinson, at Provence Farm. As arranged, he stayed there, but during the night he became ill with pneumonia. He was taken to the hospital at Beverley and tragically died soon afterwards.
James Gilbert Blackett moved from Bristol to become the vicar at St Mary's in 1960, with his wife Joan and his daughter Elizabeth. The church income was £250, of which £170 was from collections in the church and £40 from fund raising events. £26 was given to missions and charities and the diocesan quota had increased to £26.
In 1961, Dr F D Coggan, the Archbishop of York, led the centenary celebration service and the girls in the choir wore their new caps and gowns in honour of the special occasion.
The church was very active in this period with a host of regular meetings. Sunday School was held in the Church Room, with Mrs N Gibson and Mr J Atkinson in charge of the Junior Department and Miss E Gibbons and Miss M Gordon of the Primary Department. Mothers Union meetings were held in the vicarage on the first Wednesday of the month, with Mrs J Blackett as the Enrolling Member and Mrs E Tomlinson the secretary. The Girls Club was held every Thursday in the Church Room, the leaders being Mrs N Gibson and Miss M Gordon. The Youth Club was held in the Village Hall on a Wednesday, with Miss N Bosman as secretary and Miss P Houseman as treasurer. Young Wives Group meetings were held at the vicarage on the third Thursday in the month.
An outing was arranged to a Dr Billy Graham crusade at Manchester in June 1961. Family and friends of the late Mr G H Winn presented silver plated cross two feet six inches in height to the church for the Holy Table in his memory. Mr Winn had served the church for 40 years as a Warden and Deputy Warden and had been a Church Official for 53 years.
The new organ, which was installed in 1964, cost of £450. It was dedicated at a service in May, at which the preacher was the Lord Bishop of Hull. The Mothers Page 58 |
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Union had an outing this year to a meeting in the City Hall at Hull and Bylands Abbey and Rosedale.
15 minutes before an evening service in September 1965, lightning stuck the church steeple. This occurred when Mr Dickinson the lock-keeper was on duty as the verger and he reported that slates had been ripped from the steeple and church roof. Also, the cast iron drainpipe that ran down the steeple was blown off, which resulted in the torrential rain pouring into the church. The lights in the church and all the houses in the village went out due to a power failure. The vicar reported that the main part of the church and roof was not damaged except for loss of slates and that the stonework and wooden framework of the spire was also safe and sound, but one of the nine main vertical beams had been split. The church had no lightening conductor but it was not considered that this would affect the insurance claim. The church was at that time insured to the value of £12,000, but the P.C.C. were informed by the insurance company that this was a very low value and it should be doubled. The final cost to carry out the repairs required was £561, including the lightning conductor, of which the insurance company paid £476.
The Girls Club put on a pantomime of Cinderella in the Village Hall for one night in November 1965 and repeated the performance for one night in Gilberdyke village hall. A musical evening was held in the village hall in December with the British Legion Silver Band providing the music.
The heating in the church was considered to be inadequate and an air pump to give forced draught to the boiler and another pump to improve the water circulation to the pipes around the church was installed.
At the start of 1966 the vicar reported that the church was again in financial difficulties, and he thought that they would not be able to pay the full quota. For the year ending at April the accounts show over £400 raised from collections and events and this had all been spent. The items of expenditure included: £12 vicar's stipend, £100 for modernisation of the vicarage, £8 insurance, £61 wages, £11 church and organ repairs, £12 electricity, £44 coal and coke. The Diocesan Quota of £58.12s.3d.was in fact paid, if a little late.
The Girls Club had an outing to the pantomime in Hull in January. A lightning conductor was finally fitted to the church tower at a cost of £58. The architect carrying out the five yearly survey commented on the damage to the walls due to rising damp. Mr Gilbert Baitson donated 40 flowering trees and shrubs and these were planted Page 59 | |
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on the south side of the old and new churchyards and in the vicarage garden. An electrically operated " roto-scythe " was obtained from parts donated and parishioners were warned that glass vases and jam jars would be in danger from the blades if they were placed on graves. Mr F Wilson volunteered to cut the grass around the church with this new machine. A Garden Fete in July raised £83 and there was a bus outing to York to an exhibition in the Minster.
In October the vicar made a request for gifts of fruit and vegetables for the Harvest Festival Service. He reminded everyone that they should not be tempted to give things that they did not want, such as "windfalls", but should give only items that had been grown or purchased specially for the occasion. The Girls Club Pantomime was again well supported and the show went "on the road" to Gilberdyke and Eastrington this year. The Hessle British Legion Brass Band gave a concert in the hall and carols were sung around the village on two evenings in December.
The Reverend J G Blackett moved to Ledsham in West Yorkshire in 1968. Whilst the vicar at St Mary's he had taken part time work outside of the village, thought to have been in some educational position. A drawing, "Broomfleet Town Street with Pigeoncote Farm" by the Reverend J G Blackett, was used as the cover for cards that were sold locally in that year.
Michael Barwick Darby moved from Ealing, London to succeed him. He was to be the last vicar of St Mary's who was not shared with other churches. With him came his wife, Dorothy, two daughters, Phillipa and Nicola, and son Andrew. Whilst the vicar at Broomfleet he also did part time work away from the village, again thought to be in the education sector.
The January 1970 issue of the Parish Magazine carried a letter from the vicar regarding "babies baptisms". In his letter he stated that he would only baptise children from outside the village if their parents or godparents were regular church attenders, and village children only if he was convinced that the child would receive both instruction in the Christian faith and an example of regular worship from a parent or godparent. The effect of this was a good deal of ill feeling in the village towards the church.
The Reverend J Greenald of the Latimer Memorial Congregational Church , Beverley was the preacher at a service on the 18th January. There were two talks given to the Women's Fellowship :- in February Mr Eade spoke on "Crime", and in March Mrs C Johnson spoke on "Furnishings". A sponsored walk from Page 60 |
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Broomfleet to Market Weighton undertaken by 25 walkers raised £81 in March. The eggs and flowers collected at the Easter service were donated to Gilberdyke House (a home for elderly people) this year.
Various improvements to the church were undertaken in the same year, with £389 being spent on woodworm eradication, repairs and materials. In addition, a new carpet was purchased for the church and Rodney Reed and Michael Gibbins carried out repairs to the church's internal plastering. The New English Bible was adopted by St Mary's and the church was equipped with 30 of these bibles, donated from trustees of Bishop Hall's Northfield Trust. Along with them came 11 music books for the choir, their first ever, (donated from A & M Proprietors and an unknown individual) and 50 prayer books (donated by the Society for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge).
In 1971, as the Mothers Union in Broomfleet had been growing weaker over the previous few years, it was decided to hold the meeting only every quarter in the village and for members to attend the South Cave meetings if they desired. Only four ladies attended the June meeting and it was decided that the Broomfleet branch should close if attendances did not improve.
There was a regular weekly Sunday School, Choir Practice and Girls Club. On 7th March the choir went to the Howden Minster and sang at the 8.30 p.m. service.
There was a sponsored walk to Saltmarshe in April to raise funds for the church. A barbecue-feast held in July raised £62. On the 18th of July, Dorothy Darby was the first female lay reader to take a service and preach in St Mary's church. The Girls Club gave a concert in the Village Hall in October arranged by Nelly Gibson, Dorothy Darby, Kathy Atkinson and Fred Wilson. Mr Fred G Wilson was presented with a television, television aerial and a television licence, purchased with donations from the people of Broomfleet, in recognition of his magnificent voluntary work in the churchyard and the village hall grounds.
A complete new Parochial Church Electoral Roll was made in 1972 with a new roll to be made every five years . Once again there was a sponsored walk to Saltmarshe in aid of the Sunday School. The usual barbecue, Autumn Fair and similar events were held to raise money for church funds that year.
The Reverend M.B. Darby moved away from the village in 1973 to take up the parish of St Andrews, Chelsea in London. At this point, St Mary's church was Page 61 | |
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amalgamated with the South Cave and Ellerker churches with the Reverend Harry Wood of South Cave then becoming the vicar for all three churches.
1974 - 1999: Forward to the Future Raymond Eveleigh, with his wife Brenda, moved to live in the Broomfleet Vicarage in 1974. Although he preached at St Mary's he was a "non-stipendiary priest" (that is, he was not paid for his work at the church). He was not ordained until 1976. Whilst at Broomfleet he had full time employment as a lecturer at Hull Technical College. Raymond Eveleigh moved away from the village in 1979 and Reverend Harry Wood took charge of St. Mary's.
Reverend Evleigh became the vicar at St Mary's church, Lowgate, Hull. He later moved to St Mark's church, Anlaby Common, Hull, and he is presently the vicar of the East Riding village of Langtoft . He is a keen musician and he still plays jazz music on the piano, recently playing in a concert at Sewerby Hall, near Bridlington.
Now that Broomfleet was without its own vicar, the vicarage was no longer required and was put up for sale in the mid-1980's being sold as a private house. Mrs Liza Tomlinson, who had lived at the church-owned "Glebe Cottage" for a good many years, moved to live at North Cave. The cottage was put up for sale by the church authorities in 1986 and sold at auction.
In 1981 the Reverend Robert Shimwell succeeded Harry Wood looking after all three churches leaving in 1986 to take up a position at Leigh Abbey.
The Reverend David Bailey became the vicar of South Cave, Ellerker and Broomfleet in 1987. Twenty of the congregation took part in a sponsored walk to Blacktoft and back in 1989, raising £250.
In 1990, Jeff and June Atkinson of Provence Farm had a marquee erected at their farm to hold the reception for their daughter's wedding. They allowed the use of the marquee for an Antiques Evening and Supper on the 31st May, with Mr Henry Sandon of television's Antiques Roadshow fame giving a talk and valuing items brought along by the audience. This function raised over £1200 for the church funds. The guest preacher at the Harvest Festival service this year was Mr Chris Holtby, a farmer from North Ferriby.
A number of other functions were arranged to raise funds for the church, including Page 62 |
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a coffee morning at the Hawthorns, a barn dance with The Sutherlands in the village hall, a Harvest Festival Supper in the Red Lion, a film show in the Village Hall by Mr T Ladlow from Ferriby, and a sponsored walk to Blacktoft. On 27th June 1992, Jeff and June Atkinson once again had a large marquee erected near to their farm, this time to be used for the reception of his daughter Sally's wedding. That year was also his family's 50th year of being at the farm, and appropriately the marquee was used on the following day, Sunday 28th June, for a special service of worship celebrating " Faith in the Countryside ". The Reverend Jeremy Martineau, the Archbishop's Rural Officer and the Church of England's leading expert on rural ministry, was the speaker. The Reverend David Bailey, the Rural Dean of Howden, and representatives from other churches in the area were present. The marquee was in use again the next evening for a concert given by the internationally renowned concert pianist John Briggs, which was held to raise money for the Church Restoration Fund. Liz Culling, the Deacon of the three churches, left the parish in December of this year and was presented with a framed painting of St Mary's Church by Rod Milne of Sancton.
Liz Culling was the first woman deacon and the first assistant curate in these parishes. She left to go and teach church history and pastoral studies at Crammer Hall, Durham, to men and woman training for the ordained ministry.
There were further fundraising events for the church in 1993 when a Victorian Afternoon Tea was held at Broomfleet House, the home of Mr & Mrs Baker, and a Summer Barbecue was held in the grounds of the Red Lion.
In December 1994 a group of carol singers went around the village and there was a Carol Service in the Red Lion to raise funds for St Mary's.
In 1995, Pat and Barbara Harper had a marquee erected in the field alongside their house, Holmefield, for the wedding of their daughter Joanna. This was left in place to be used for a fund raising event for St Mary's, "An Evening with Bob Rust" (the weatherman and TV personality), on Monday 3rd July 1995.
Mrs Carol McLaren had lived in the village for a number of years with her husband Ian and daughter Fiona at the bungalow named Northside. The family had moved to live in Africa, but returned to the village whilst on a visit to England. Whilst she was in Broomfleet, Mrs McLaren gave a talk in the Village Hall on "The McLarens in Africa" and the money raised at this event was donated to St Mary's. There was also a Quiz Evening in the Village Hall, with questions set by Mrs Harlington and the Reverend David Bailey. Later that year a "Songs of Praise" service was held in the church. Page 63 | |
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Church was very active in raising money for repairs that were required to
the church roof and other parts of the church, as can be seen from the details
that follow.
In 1996 there was an evening with the Bishop of Hull, the Rt. Reverend James S Jones, when he gave a talk in the Village Hall, "Faith in the Village". For the first time in over 20 years there was a confirmation service at St Mary's Church when three Broomfleet people, Carol Taylor, Philip Taylor and George Stones, were confirmed by the Bishop of Hull the Right Reverend James Jones.
1996 was a very busy year for fundraising. Some of the functions held were:
On the 8th June 1997, along with three others from South Cave, Mrs Barbara Harper and Mr Jeff Atkinson were re-elected as churchwardens.
The Atkinson family presented a new Lectern Bible to St Mary's in memory of Mr & Mrs H Atkinson. Mr H Atkinson had served as a churchwarden at St Mary's Church for 36 years. Mrs Good donated new pew bibles in memory of her mother Mrs Holmes, the wife of a past vicar of St Mary's.
The high level of fund raising events continued and included:
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· A Sponsored slim by Mrs Carol Taylor · And a Rock and Roll evening held at Brantingham Park, with the Oldsmobiles providing the music. Repairs were being carried out to the church floor, heating and the organ, so the Village Hall was used for services in the latter part of 1997. The vicar, the Reverend David Bailey, gave an illustrated talk in St Mary's church on his 1996 summer visit to South India.
Also in 1997 the Reverend David Bailey was appointed by the officials of the Crown, with the approval of the Queen and the Prime Minister, as the new vicar of Beverley Minster. He had served as vicar to South Cave, Ellerker and Broomfleet for nearly 10 years. Broomfleet marked the departure of David Bailey, his wife Kathryn, and children Andrew, Timothy and Jessica, with presentations to David of a caricature portrait of himself as a cricketer, and to Kathryn of a Royal Worcester dish.
The curate, Reverend Hilary Edgerton, moved to become the vicar of Eastrington and Laxton, and Broomfleet presented her with a painting of St Mary's Church, Broomfleet.
The Reverend Peter Faulkner was appointed as vicar in mid-May 1998 from a parish in Lincolnshire. He and his wife Janni held a meeting in the Village Hall on the evening of Wednesday 20th May to meet the people of the village. Sandra Ceely was appointed as the new curate in the same year.
Fund raising events continued with:
Mrs Peggy Cunningham, the regular organist at church services, fell and broke her wrist and was unable to play for a number of weeks. When an organist from outside the village was not available for some of the services, the hymn singing was accompanied by the vicar on his guitar. Page 65 | |
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St Mary's, like churches throughout the country, has a smaller attendance at services in recent years than it did at the turn of the twentieth century. However, functions arranged to raise funds are well supported, giving the feeling that there is still "faith in the countryside". In recent years other village churches have fallen by the wayside; due to a lack of support they have moved to opening for only a few services each year and then eventually closed completely. It is to be hoped that St Mary's church will enjoy the continued support of the village and survive and prosper into the coming century.
One Hundred Years of Service: A Snapshot of Continuity and Change at St. Mary's
Church Wardens: The church has been fortunate to have had some very loyal and dedicated wardens who have served for long periods, as can be seen from the following: Benjamin Patchett 1865-1869, William Underwood 1867-1877, Robert Tindle 1883-1893, Asa Kitching 1904-1913, Harry Longfield 1907-1922, P.O. Nicholls 1921-1957, George. H. Winn 1922-1961, Harold T Atkinson 1955-1970's, G. W. Levick 1957-1968 & 1973-1978, T Nurse 1968-1973. Jeffrey Atkinson and Barbara Harper, the present wardens, both commenced in the 1970's. Both had been involved with the church for years previous to becoming wardens.
Many other individuals have given a great part of their time to the service of the church over the years. Those detailed below are only a few, but serve as a reminder of the dedication of Broomfleet people to their church in the last 100 years.
The Sexton in 1909 was Harry Spencer.
Mr George Winn, who had been a sidesman from 1908 to 1922, held the position of churchwarden from 1923 to 1961.
In 1920, Mr G H Winn was the Deputy Vicar's Warden, Mr J G W Richardson Vicar's Warden and Mr H Longfield People's Warden. In the same year the P.C.C. members were: Mrs Holmes, Mrs Richardson, Mrs Longfield, Mrs Consett, Mrs H Longfield, Mr T G Johnson, Mr J G W Richardson, Mrs Dobson, Miss B Patchett (Faxfleet), Mrs T Henderson, Mr J Underwood, Mr Freeman, Mr Forvague, Mr Thompson, and the vicar and church wardens (M T Consitt, J Freeman and C Patchett). Page 66 |
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Mr C Reed was the Sexton in 1921.
In 1922 Mr G H Winn was elected Vice Chairman of the Parochial Church Council. In 1923 Mr G H Winn and Mr A B Hodgson were the Peoples Wardens.
In May 1926 13 people were confirmed at St Mary's: - Mr J T Coates, Mr C K Duffill, Mr F S Hutchinson, Mrs J Emanuel, Mrs K Jamison, Mrs E Houseman, Miss R May, Miss C Henderson, Miss M Tindle, Miss I Kitching, Miss V Houseman, Miss E Thompson, Miss Fleming.
At the P.C.C. held in May 1938, Mr P O Nicholls was elected vicar's warden and Mr H Winn the people's warden. All the previous council members were re-elected and Mrs F Purdon and Mrs Hall filled the vacancies.
At the P.C.C. meeting in April 1940, Mr F. Potter resigned and Mr F. Coultish was elected in his place, all the other members being re-elected. The church sidesmen were Messrs W. S. Hall, R. Emanuel, H. Kirk, and S. Waudby.
In 1960 Miss R Nicholls retired as secretary, and Mrs J Cook took over that post, with Mrs J Blackett treasurer, Mrs N Gibson organist, Mr J Atkinson choirmaster, Mr H Atkinson vicar's warden, and Mr Levick Peoples Warden. The Church Councillors: Mrs Blackett, Mrs Levick and Mr Potter representatives on Diocesan Conference. Remainder elected en bloc.
The officers for 1966 were Mr H T Atkinson (Vicars Warden), Mr T Nurse (Peoples Warden) and Mr Levick (Secretary to the Parochial Church Council). The Church Council consisted of: Mr Levick (Deputy Warden), Mrs Blackett (Diocesan Conference Rep.), Mr & Mrs J Atkinson (Ruri-Decanal Conference Rep.), Mrs H Atkinson, Mrs B Baitson, Mrs J Emanuel, Mrs N Gibson, Mrs W Kirk, Mrs G Levick, Mrs T Nurse, Mrs G Reed, Mrs H Waudby, and Mr Gibbons.
In 1970 membership of the Church Council was as follows: - Chairman - the Vicar, M B Darby. Vice Chairman, Warden and Deanery Synod Rep - T Nurse. Secretary - S Hall, Treasurer - F G Wilson and Fabric Treasurer - M Darby. Council Members: H Atkinson, B Baitson, J Emanuel, A E Gibson, G P Harper, W Kirk, and G Speck. Other officers were: Wardens - H & J Atkinson, Deputy Warden - G W Levick, Sidesmen - H T Atkinson, B Baitson, M Gibbons, G W Levick, F G Wilson, B Baitson, J Emanuel, G Speck. A presentation was made to Mr Harold Atkinson to commemorate his fifteen years of wardenship. Page 67 | |
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Methodism in Broomfleet There were two Methodist chapels in the village, the Wesleyan and the Primitive. Both were active in the early 1800's, but a number of the reports of that time only refer to the " Methodist Chapel " and do not distinguish them. Events are therefore recorded here on the basis of what is believed to be correct.
The Wesleyan Chapel The Chapel trustees in 1839 and for most of the 1840's were Joseph Purdon and John Baitson. The Wesleyan Chapel was built in 1842 at what was then the western most end of the village. Attendance at a service on 30th March 1851 was 44. The chapel was active through to the1930's.
In the 1920's there was a fortnightly Sunday service held in the Brickworks Recreation Hall at the Landing by the Howden Circuit. Congregations were said to be large. At a Sunday School treat in 1921 the helpers were Miss Smith, Miss M Baitson, Mrs W Baitson, Mrs Waudby, Mrs Tomlinson, Mrs Sellers, and Miss Baitson. In 1924 Miss Violet Baitson, Miss E Baitson, Miss M Baitson and Miss Smith made a collection for Missionary work that raised £6 13s. 7d.
Local recollections of the chapel include the following details. In 1938 there were services with the Reverend W Usher as the preacher. In 1939, Mrs J Waudby, Miss C Baitson and Mrs F Coultish decorated the chapel. The Sunday School held a party in 1940, and there was a sermon from the newly appointed Circuit Minister Reverend F P Pearce. Mr F Drake of Gilberdyke led the services in 1943, and the Minister, the Reverend S Thompson, took the Harvest Festival in October.
A collection on behalf of the Methodist chapel made by Mrs Coultish and Miss Brighton in 1949 raised £5.4s. 6d. At a " Christian Endeavour " led by the Reverend Skime of Willerby in May 1951, a tea and sports party was held in the Chapel Croft field which was attended by the following children: - M Capes, M Potter, J Winters, F Bosman, E Gibbons, N Bosman, R Potter, B Vessey, B Read, P Bosman, J Reed, J Sellers, M Brighton, A Robinson, V Stainforth, I Williamson, H Huetson, G Huetson.
The Chapel was broken into in October 1952 but it is not known if anything was stolen. At the Harvest Festival that year, led by M & D Platt of South Cave, Terry Gelder gave a recitation and Mrs Stainforth was the organist.
A "sale of work" held in 1953 was opened by Mrs Landamore of South Cave and Page 68 |
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raised £17.10s for the chapel funds. The Reverend H Haig led that year's Harvest Festival. Mrs Landamore of South Cave again opened the " Bazaar " held in 1954, which raised £15 towards the funds. In 1955 Mr J W Collinson led the Harvest Festival.
In 1956, Mrs Landamore of South Cave preached and Mrs D Butler of Newport was a soloist with the Reverend H T Cowx of North Cave taking the service. In this year the Bazaar was opened by Mrs G Baitson of South Cave, with Susan Tomlinson presenting a bouquet.
In 1957 a service was led by Mr D H Platt of South Cave.
The chapel became disused and derelict and was finally demolished in October 1971 to make way for council houses to be built.
The Primitive Methodist Chapels After years of having visiting Methodist ministers, when services would most likely have been held in farmhouses, a Methodist Chapel was built at Broomfleet in 1822.
There was a Primitive Methodist Chapel at the Landing on the west side of the canal which was "rebuilt " in 1850. This is thought to have been the small building on the western side of the canal at the bottom of the orchard of Clayfield House, the home of the Kitching family for generations. It was still standing in the 1960's, although it had been used as a storeshed at some time. It was demolished at the same time as Clayfield House, to make way for the heavy machinery that was required to dredge out the canal.
Records show that 11 people attended there on a wet Sunday on the 30th March 1851. John Kitching, who lived on the west side of the canal at the Landing (most probably at Clayfield House), would appear to have followed the scriptures closely. He called his sons Jabez, Joab, Daniel, Isaac, and Jacob.
A Primitive Chapel was built in the village in 1861, at a cost of £136, and was incorporated into the North Cave Circuit. This building is still standing at the end of the 20th century and is used by the Harper family of Holmefield House as a garage. A service of song was held there in 1923, given by friends of Reverend Graham Score. There was a new minister in 1924 the Reverend Woolard who preached to what was said to be a "good" congregation. Page 69 | |
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