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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 70

Past and Present. — The Late Prebendary Havergal, D.D

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Past and Present.

The Late Prebendary Havergal, D.D.

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TTHe Rev. Dr. Francis Tebbs Havergal was the second son and fifth child of the Rev, William Henry Havergal, M.A., Hon. Canon of Worcester Cathedral, and Rector of Astley, near Stourport, at which place he was born on August the 7th, 1829.

The orthography of his unique surname has varied from Heavergill (which signifies the rising of the brook or gill) to Havergill, Havergall or Havergal.

At nine years of age he entered New College, Oxford, as a chorister, which position he retained for five years, At eighteen he obtained a bible clerkship at New, matriculating at this college in 1848. He graduated B.A, in 1852, M.A. 1856, B.D. and D.D. 1888. He was made a Deacon in 1852, and a Priest in 1853, by Dr, Hampden, Bishop of Hereford, whose diocese he always remained in. In the last named year he was appointed one of the Minor Canons of Hereford Cathedral; in 1861 he accepted the Vicarage of Pipe-cum-Lyde, which he held with his minor-canonry. Here page 53 he built a model vicarage, and commenced restoring the ancient church of S. Peter, In 1866 the Archdeacon of Hereford, Lord Saye and Sele, made him Sub-Treasurer of the cathedral for life; in 1873 Bishop Atlay appointed him his domestic chaplain in recognition of his services in connection with the raising of funds for the Pastoral Staff, presented to his Lordship by the diocese in 1873. In 1874 the Dean and Chapter of Hereford presented him to the living of Upton Bishop, near Ross. His severance with the Cathedral, however, was not of long duration, for in 1877 the Bishop Conferred upon him the Prebendal Stall of Col wall. In 1886 the Chancellorship of the Choir was offered him, but this post he declined.

Dr. Havergal was intimately connected with music and literature. His father will long be remembered by all lovers of sound ecclesiastical music, as it was through his exertions that a proper form of this art came into general use in this country. His reputation as a musician fifty years ago was such that he might have been Professor of Music at Oxford, had he not declined the honour on account of failing sight, The sister of the subject of our present notice was Miss Frances Ridley Havergal, the well known hymnologist whose writings in prose and verse are so widely known and whose Memorials have obtained an almost unprecedented circulation. Her poems find a place in every hymnal of note, while her name is always eagerly sought for on the Christmas and other cards.

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Dr. Havergal was no mean musician, for, like his brother, the Rev, H. E. Havergal, Vicar of Copie, in Bedfordshire, he built his own church organ which for many years he played at all the services himself. As an author his name will not be forgotten. His first principal literary production was a "Visitor's Hand Guide to Hereford Cathedral," published first in 1863. This work extended over five editions, the last appearing in 1882. He was editor of the Hereford Diocesan Calendar from 1864 to 1874. His chief work of importance was "Fasti Herfordensis," published in quarto form 1869. This work has now become very valuable, and can hardly be procured at a sale under £5. His next effort was the "Mappa Mundi," a lithograph of the celebrated old map in the Cathedral, In 1881 he published "Monumental Inscriptions" in the Cathedral, a work which took twenty-five years to complete, owing to the tedious nature of such a task. In 1883 he published "Records of Upton Bishop," also a full illustration of the ancient glass in Credenhill Church; in 1886 appeared an account of the ancient glass at Brinsop Church, and in 1887 a large collection of words entitled "Herefordshire Words and Phrases." In 1889 he completed his last book, "Memorials of the Rev. Sir F. Ouseley, Bart.," his life-long friend, who died in 1888. He contributed many interesting papers to the Woolhope Field Club, of which he was a most valuable member; his knowledge of local antiquities was very extensive, and few members of that page 55 club had a deeper insight into ancient lore and knowledge pertaining to mediaeval customs and manners.

The Hereford Mercury writing on his death, remarked "We may say he was essentially at home in the Cathedral, either brightening and taking part in its services or exploring and diving into its history and the antiquarian relics and remains with which it abounds. Here, so to speak, was the magnet to which all his attention was drawn, for he truly loved to write and speak of this grand old pile. . . . His researches present the idea of untiring exertion and never wearying penetration into what the world in general would call 'musty details,' but which form a valuable aid to students of history. His works are sufficient to make his name celebrated and honoured everywhere, and to mark his scholarly refinement, his deep learning, his love of ancient lore, and his desire to enrich our libraries, to extend our knowledge and to attract our minds into a channel where our thoughts are not too often found. He had a profound knowledge of ancient Latin, and was, speaking broadly, a man of very wide culture. By the lamented death of the Vicar of Upton Bishop, Herefordshire has lost one of her most representative men."

A notable instance of his true antiquarian spirit was shewn in 1867. The church of St. Mary Somerset, in London, was about to be demolished, and all the bodies in the vaults were to have been consigned to a common pit elsewhere. Amongst them lay the page 56 remains of Gilbert Ironside, D.D., seventy-ninth bishop of Hereford, who died in 1701. The Dean and Chapter having no funds at their disposal, Dr. Havergal set on foot a subscription throughout the diocese for the purpose of bringing the body of the bishop from London for interment in his Cathedral Church. His efforts were successful, and the episcopal remains were reverently laid in a specially prepared vault within the cathedral; a brass plate recording the date of the re-interment was fixed on an adjoining wall.

Dr. Havergal was Local Secretary for South Herefordshire for the London Society of Antiquaries. In politics he was a Conservative, and his ecclesiastical views were those of an earnest High Churchman. For many years he was Vice-President of the Herefordshire Branch of the English Church Union. In 1860 he was married at Hereford Cathedral to Isabel Susan, only surviving child of the late Colonel Martin of the East India Company, by whom he leaves two sons and three daughters. For the greater part of his life he had but indifferent health, which makes his remarkable energies all the more astonishing. He passed away peaceably after leading an honourable and consistent life, on Sunday July 27th, 1890, aged 60 years.

It is the intention of his widow and children to place, very shortly, at the head of his grave at Upton, a very beautiful churchyard cross, an erection he always much desired to see carried out. The design page 57 will be an exact copy of the original cross, a portion of which remains and is carefully preserved inside the church. This will form a fitting memorial to one who did so much for the Church of England, especially for that portion which lies in the County and Diocese of Hereford.