An amazing celebration of Chilmark School’s 150th year with some lovely photos – SEARCH FOR TOPIC – Type in – School’s 150 year Celebration and then click on Heading.
Opening of the New School at Chilmark (1860)
This village on Saturday last, Sept 7th, was the scene of a very interesting and important event, viz., the opening of the new school buildings, which have been erected by subscription from plans prepared by W. Robson Esq., and carried out very efficiently, by the builder, Mr. F. Harvey, of Teffont; the chief contributors being the Earl of Pembroke, the late Lord Herbert, A. Morrison, Esq., the Rector, and others of the parishioners, aided by a grant of 831. from the Committee of Councils on Education.
The Bishop of the Diocese having kindly consented to open the new buildings on the above date, the ceremony was commenced by Morning Prayer in the church, followed by the adminsitration of the Holy Communion ‑ the Preces being Tallis, Cathedral use; the rest of the service Gregorian, according to Helmore’s notation, except the Introit and Kyrie, which were by Mr. J. E. Richardson, Assistant Organist of the Cathedral. The hymns were the 73rd and the 106th, Salisbury Hymn Book; tunes Perceval and St. Peter, Salisbury Hymn Tune Book. We never remember hearing a service rendered more devoutly earnest and effective, and were particularly struck by the soft and impressive manner in which the Nicene Creed and Gloria in Excelsis were sung. Mr. T. E. Spinney played with his usual ability and precision, and the parish choir was strengthened for the occasion by several members of the Shetborne choir, among whom we noticed Mr. E. Herbert, their talented organist, who took a tenor part. Mr. Lydford, the organist of Gillingham and the organist of Semley, also assisted.
At about 11 o’clock, the Bishop left the Rectory, preceded by the children of the school, carrying flags and banners bearing appropriate mottoes and ecclesiastical devices, and by the choir and clergy from the neighbourhood, and the Rector’s churchwarden, W. Bennett, Esq. The 84th Psalm was sung in harmony to the 8th Tone, 2nd Ending, on reaching the church gate. The prayers were intoned and the service chanted by the Rev. C. Tower, the Rector; the First Lesson was read by the Rev. Wynter Blathwayt, Curate of Langridge, Bath; the Second Lesson by the Rev. E. Harston, Vicar of Sherborne; the Epistle was read by the Rev. C. Bridges, and the Gospel by the Rev. Chancellor Lear. The sermon, which was an impressive comment, by the Bishop, on one of our Lord’s greatest miracles ‑ the cleansing of the leper ‑ was brought to bear on the occasion for which we were assembled together, and was taken from St. Matt. viii. 3, the second lesson for the day. The collection, which amounted to 121. 2s. 6d., was for the internal fittings of the school and renovation of the organ. After Holy Communion, the procession was reformed, the Bishop leading the way, with the clergy, through the file of school children, to the school‑room, which was duly opened with the Form of Service commended by the Bishop to the use of his diocese for that purpose. Both the church and the school‑room were tastefully decorated for the occasion.
The school children were afterwards regaled with cake and buns, and the choir with a good dinner, at which the Rector presided, and the afternoon was spent in various games, &c.
Among the company present who returned to the Rectory to luncheon, were the Lord Bishop, the Rev. Chancellor Lear, Revs. C. Bridges, E. Harston, R. B. Boume, J. C. Stafford, J. S. Stockwell, B. Bouchier, F. Bennett, W. C. Radcliffe, W. T. Blathwayt, S. B. Ward, J. H. Samler, H. Hall, E. Hill, J. W. Phelps, T. Carey, J. R. M’Dowell, F. E. Hutchinson, G. Glover, E. Reece, J. R. Wood, W. Dowding, C. F. Hyde; Mrs. And Miss Seymour, Mrs. Hony, Mrs. And Miss Locke, Mrs. Blathwayt, Mrs. Mair, Mrs. Edge, Mrs. W. Radcliffe, Mrs. And Miss Stockwell, Mrs. Ward, Henry Ward, Esq. and Mrs. H. Ward, W. Robson, Esq. and Miss Robson, Mrs. Hutchinson, Miss Glover, E. Bell, Esq. and Mrs. Bell, Mrs. Bennett, Mrs. W. Flower, Dr. and Miss Fussell, &c. &c.
We may not omit to mention, that the Bishop, in a short address which he gave in the school‑room to the parents and children, impressed on their minds the great obligation under which they are placed, especially to Lord Pembroke and the late Lord Herbert, for the excellent provision thus made for the instruction of the children of the parish, and while he alluded to the loss which the whole neighbourhood in particular had experienced by Lord Herbert’s death, whose name has been associated with almost every good work for many miles round, he spoke in terms of high commendation of Mr. Robson, who had not only designed this school, but had materially aided the clergy of other parishes of which Lord Pembroke was patron, in the building and enlargement of churches and schools, as well as roomy and commodious cottages.
