Page 202 - Reading Mercury

made by the Dean of Salisbury with regard to the restoration of the chancel of the
parish church, and to determine what course ought to be adopted for repairing the
fabric, and in order to obtain a more adequate provision for the cure of the parish. The
meeting was called as a vestry one, but, being formally opened at the church, was
immediately adjourned to the Town-hall, as affording the necessary accommodation
for the unusually large attendance of the parishioners.
The Rev. T. Morres, perpetual curate of Wokingham, was called to the chair.
Mr. Soames, the town churchwarden, stated the object of the meeting. He
commenced by referring to a previous meeting, at which the parish had voted their
entire concurrence in the measures hitherto adopted by himself and his colleagues,
and he trusted that by their subsequent conduct they had done nothing to forfeit that
confidence. (Hear, hear). They had called the meeting today to consider what further
steps it was expedient to take with regard to the repair of the church, as well as to
determine whether it would not be possible to obtain a more adequate provision for
the cure of the parish. It was the desire of the churchwardens, in bringing forward
these questions, to avoid, as far as possible, anything calculated to give offence to, or
wound the feelings of, any living being—they had no intention to attack the Dean of
Salisbury unfairly, or to reflect unnecessarily on any individual connected with the
parish. He would now proceed to read the resolution passed at their last meeting.
“That this meeting entirely coincides with the views of the churchwardens, as
expressed in the correspondence which has taken place with respect to the restoration
of the Parish Church, and cordially approves of their conduct, and the manner in
which Mr. Soames has conducted the correspondence.”
“That the course adopted by the Very Rev. the Dean of Salisbury and his Lessee, is
regarded by the meeting with feelings of the deepest regret, and it is feared will give
rise to much excitement and discontent among the parishioners.”
“That a copy of the foregoing resolutions, together with a copy of Dr. Addams’s
opinion and of the reports made to the Churchwardens by Mr. Strange and Mr. Hollis,
with regard to the state of the Chancel, be forwarded by the Churchwardens to the
very Rev. the Dean of Salisbury.“
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On the 15 of March those resolutions and reports were forwarded to the Dean of
Salisbury, accompanied by a letter from the churchwardens, offering in addition a
copy of the case submitted to Dr. Addams.
Some correspondence had since passed between the Dean’s Agent and the
Churchwardens, which had terminated in a letter from the Dean to the Rev. Thomas
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Morres, dated 12 May instant, alleging that, from a statement made in writing by Mr.
Money, of Newbury. It appeared “that the church was substantially in repair, and that
an outlay of about £40 would render it entirely so. That Mr. Jacob was ready at any
moment to carry into effect the repairs of the Chancel as pointed out by Mr. Money,
or if it should be so finally deemed expedient he was willing to contribute £100
towards another chancel, on the understanding that he was to be relieved from future
charge. He (the Dean) was also willing to contribute £50 towards the same object,
reserving his right as ordinary to refuse a faculty for taking down the present church,
except upon shewing satisfactory cause for the necessity of that measure.”
Mr. Soames continued. Before proceeding any further, he would red some letters he
had received from various influential persons with reference to this subject. Mr.
Soames then read letters from Lord Normanby, Lord Burrington, M.P., Mr. Sergeant
Murphy, M.P., Mr. Clive, and Mr. Leveson Gower, the two latter strongly concurring
in the measures adopted by the churchwardens. Copies of the letters of Lord
Normanby and Mr. Sergeant Murphy, M.P., are subjoined

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