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THE NEWBURY WEEKLY NEWS.
HALF-A- CENTURY of CHURCH WORK A REMARKABLE RECORD.
The death of Mrs. John Stillman, which took place at Church House, West Mllls, on Thursday morning, after several days of unconsciousness from an attack of cerebral haemorrhage removes one who has been prominently identified with Newbury Parish Church for upwards of half a century. and the record of her long life of eighty-four years is a remarkable one.
She was born in London, but came to Newbury in 1841 as the wife of Mr. John Redford Stillman, whose father, Mr. George Stillman was then Parish Clerk. This was in the days of Dr. Blaney, before the restoration of the Church, when parson and clerk were the prominent leaders in the services, and the singing was lead by a choir and instrumentalists stationed in the gallery.
The sonorous responses of the Old parish are still remembered by older members of the congregation . He died 1864 and was succeeded by his son John who held the office for 17 years his death taking place in January 1881. He was in turn succeeded by his son Edgar who has continued in the office until now. Mrs Stillman has therefore being daughter in law wife and mother of three successive generations of parish clerks during the whole time she was actively identified with all departments of church life and was a familiar figure at Most ecclesiastical Functions. In her time she knew and was known by four Bishops of Oxford, four Rectors of Newbury, Dr. Binney, Dr Randall (the Present Bishop of Reading), The Late Reverend E. I. Gardiner, and the Rev. Lionel Majendie. She was also brought into association with some forty curates in whom she took great interest, and they frequently went to her for counsel and advice. Throughout her life she was full of energy and zeal for anything connected with church work. Fortunate indeed was the candidate for an almshouse who secured her advocacy, for she spared no effort to ensure success. She took special interest in the quiet work of the Church, and was always anxious to secure ministrations for the sick and infirm. Cases of need enlisted her zealous sympathy , and a few were found to resist her appeals for their help of a family or individuals in distress. At christenings and weddings she was indispensable, relieving many a young mother of the responsibilities of a fractious infant, and acting as mother or bridesmaid to wedding couples not blessed with a super abundance of relatives. There used to be a tradition that on Shrove Tuesday when the “Shriving Bell” rang out Pancakes were tossed from the tower of the Parish Church. Whatever may have been the origin of the belief, it was profoundly believed in for many years by many poor youngsters who were generally on hand with their baskets to secure the descending dainties. And they were not sent empty away, for whilst the bell was sounding, the parish clerk and his wife were preparing pancakes which were shared out amongst the grateful juveniles. Mrs. Stillman’s maiden name was Larkin, she being a sister of Mr. John Larkin, at one time head of the firm of Sweeting and Co., the well known fish merchants of Cheapside and Billingsgate. In this Connection it may be recalled that for many years the supply of Kennett crayfish, so popular with the patrons of the Fish Luncheon-bars came from Newbury. Mr John Stillman made it a regular business to obtain supplies of these delicious crustaceans, feed them into prime condition in boxes kept in the millstream opposite, and then forward them in thousands to London. The display of these freshwater lobsters on Messrs. Sweetings Slabs used to attract much attention, and they pleased the palates of customers who have since lamented the lack of them, which was caused by their mysterious disappearance from the Kennet and its tributary streams. In recent years Mrs. Stillman has taken a less active part in church affairs, about her energy remained unabated. She was a storehouse of information, and was full of reminiscences of bishops, rectors, curates, organists, church wardens, sidesmen, in fact, all who worked or attended at the church. Her knowledge of parochial genealogies was co-extensive with the registers themselves, and the visitor to the church who secured her as a guide came away brim-full of local history of the past as well as the present. The old lady had a bright pleasant manner, and on ceremonial occasions had a dignity all her own. Bishop Wilberforce, himself the personification of good manners, always greeted the Parish Clerk’s wife with a genial smile and a courtly bow. On the occasion of the visit of the Duke of Cambridge, nobody made more loyal obeisance, or received more gracious acknowledgement than did she. A great lover of animals, Mrs stillman ever kept a watchful eye on their treatment, and many Aman who has been caught in an act of cruelty, has been read a lecture on his inconsiderate conduct. A favourite dog had been the faithful companion of the old Lady in her declining years.
On Monday afternoon the body of the deceased was born into the old church she had loved and tended so well, and here the first part of the burial service was read by the Rev, Clifford Frend, the Rector being away from home. The mourners were Mrs. Peerless (daughter), Mr, Edgar Stillman (son), Miss Mary Stillman (sister in law), Mr. F. H. Stillman (nephew). There was a large attendance of old friends and neighbours in church and at the graveside in the cemetery, including the Church-wardens, Messrs. H. J, Davis and S. Knight, Mr. Alderman Long, Mr. Walter Money, F. S. A., Mr. Councillor Edmonds, Mr. G. Withers, Mr. C. Hawker, Mrs. Arthur Stillman, Mrs. F. H. Stillman, Mrs. Adrian Hawker, Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. E. L. Staples, Miss Randall, Miss Barnes, Mrs. Frend, Mrs> Albert Church, Mrs. H. J. Booth, Mrs. H. Smith, Mrs. Matthews, Mrs. W. G. Adey, Miss Carnell, Mr. and Mrs. George Taylor, Mrs. Stilwell, Mr. John Parker, Mr. T. W. Turner, Mr. and Mrs. Beames, Mr. L. and the Misses Boyer, Mr. A. Bailey, Mrs. Canning, Mr. and Mrs. Titchener, Messrs. J. Hussey, R. Head, W. Lipscomb, L. Cleeves etc. The internment was in the grave where her husband was buried 24 years before, and her eldest son fourteen years ago. Upon the coffin were placed beautiful wreaths from the Churchwardens and Sidesmen of St. Nicholas , the Lady Workers of the parish, Mr. Harry Parsons (Stoke Newington), Mr. and Mrs. Walter Money, Mr. and Mrs. A. Church, Mr. and Mrs. Booth and others.
The coffin was inscribed-
SARAH STILLMAN
Died Jan. 19, 1905,
Aged 84,
At rest.
Muffled peals were rung before the funeral and a half-muffled peal afterwards, the ringers then paying their tribute to a fellow servant of the Church and the people.
The Funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs. Adey and Co. |
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