October 1935

Seagoe Parish Magazine

OCTOBER, 1935.

CLERGY :

Rev. Chancellor Archer, B .D ., The Rectory,

Seagoe.

Rev. W. F. Hayes, B .A ., The Bungalow, Lower

Seagoe, Portadown.

CHURCHWARDENS :

Rector’s------Mr. H . MURRAY GIBSON.

People’s—Mr. THOMAS MARTIN.

Harvest Thanksgiving Services.

The annual Services of Thanksgiving for the

Blessings of Harvest will (D .V .) be held in the

Parish Church on Thursday, October 24th. at

8 p.m ., and on the following Sunday, October

27th, at 11.30 a.m ., and 7 p.m . Special music

has been arranged for the Services. The Rev.

G. C. Johnston, M.A., Rector of Magherally,

will preach at the Service on Thursday, and the

offerings will be given to Foreign Missions. On

Sunday, at the 11.30 a.m . Service the preacher

will be the Very Rev. E . A. Myles, M.A., Dean

of Dromore, Rector of Tullylish. At Evening

Prayer the Rev. Thomas P arr, M.A.. Rector of

Seapatrick, will preach. The offerings a t the

Services on Sunday will be on behalf of the

Parochial Fund for the upkeep of the Church and

its services.

District Harvest Services.

District Harvest Services will be held on the

following dates: —

Levaghery— Sunday, Oct. 6th. at 3.30.

Monday, Oct. 7th, a t 8.

Drumgor—Sunday, Oct. 13th, at 3.30.

Monday, Oct. 14th, at 8.

Carne— Sunday, Oct. 20th, a t 3.30.

Monday, Oct. 21st, a t 8.

Edenderry— Sunday, Nov. 3rd, at 3.30.

Monday, Nov. 4th. at 8.

The collections a t these Services on the Sun­days will be given to the local Sunday School

Fund, and on the Mondays to Foreign Missions.

The Rev. B. de G. Lougheed, B .A ., Curate of

Seapatrick, will preach in Levaghery on Sunday,

October 6th, and on Monday evening the Rev.

E. Burns, M.A., Rector of Aghaderg, Loughbrickland, will be the preacher.

Bocombra Harvest Services.

The first of the district Harvest Services was

held in the Bocombra Church Hall on Sunday,

September 22nd, a t 3.30. The Hall was very

nicely decorated with splendid samples of flowers,

fruit and vegetables. The preacher was the Rev.

F. McCullogh, Curate of Shankill. Lurgan.

There was a very large congregation, who joined

heartily in the Service. Miss Hilda Walker pre­sided at the organ, and a solo was sung by Miss

Clara Kirby. On the following Monday evening

the Service was continued. The Rev. J . G.

Sandford, Curate of Ballinderry, was the

preacher. The offerings were on behalf of For­eign Missions.

Harvest at Hacknahay.

Harvest Thanksgiving Services were held in

Hacknahay on Sunday, September 29th, at 3.30,

and on the following Monday at 8 p.m . The

School was very prettily decorated. The large

congregations at both Services joined heartily in

the singing and in answering the responses. Mr.

T. H . Wilson, organist of Seagoe, presided at

the harmonium and arranged the musical part

of the Service. The Rev. J . Hamilton, B.A.,

Curate of Donaghcloney, Waringstown was the

preacher on Sunday afternoon. On Monday

evening the Rev. Canon Orr, L L .D ., Rector of

Gilford, preached. The offerings were on behalf

of Foreign Missions.

The Mothers’ Union.

A meeting of the M others’ Union was held in

Seagoe School on Tuesday evening, September

10th, at 7.30. I t was the first meeting of the

year. There was a very large gathering. The

Rev. Canon Taylor, Rector of Lisburn, addressed

the m others. The Rev. W. H . Ruddock, Rector of Broomhedge, was also present. Canon

Taylor expressed regret at the Rector’s illness

and deep gratitude on the recovery which he

was making. In the course of a very practical

and stirring address based on the faithfulness of

Naomi and Ruth, Canon Taylor stressed the

great privileges and responsibilities which are

shared by the members of the organisation. He

emphasised their need for the continual deep­ening of their spiritual lives, both privately and

in the public worship of their Church. Espec­ially he urged that they should not neglect the

Church’s great Service of Witness, the Holy

Communion. After tea, Mrs. J . H . Twinem, the

President, thanked Canon Taylor for so kindly

coming to speak to the members. The

Rev. W. F. H ayes also thanked him on be­half of the Rector. The next meeting of the

Mothers’ Union will be held in Seagoe School

on Tuesday, October 8th, a t 7.30. An address

will be given by Mrs. A. G. Hannon, Shankill

Rectory, Lurgan.

C. L. B.

A very enjoyable social was held in the Paro­chial H all, Edenderry, on Thursday, September

5th, a t 7.30 p.m . Twenty-eight members of the

Training Corps were present. The tables were

laden with a very plentiful supply of tea and

cake which quickly disappeared. After tea, the

boys joined vigorously in community singing.

Games were conducted by Lieut. W . Currie,

Sergeant-Major Allen and Mr. H . Hynes. A

most amusing football sketch was rendered by

Privates Kenneth Pentland and Alan Jennett.

An O’Grady drill down was conducted by Capt.

Mitchell. At the close Rev. W. F . H ayes

spoke to the Lads and said the Brigade Prayer.

Congratulations

We offer our hearty congratulations to Mr.

and Mrs. George McNeill, of Ballymacrandle, on

the occasion of their Silver Wedding. We wish

that they may continue to enjoy many years of

happiness.

Service in Edenderry

A Service will be held in the Parochial Hall,

Edenderry, a t 8 p .m . on Wednesday, October

9th . T hat Service will be held on each Wednesday throughout the winter months.

The Paro­chial Hall is within easy reach of those residing

in the populous townlands of Edenderry, Levaghery, Killicomaine and Seagoe. It is hoped

that many will avail themselves of this midweek privilege of joining in these bright services.

Resolutions of Sympathy.

At the last meeting of the Mothers' Union and

of the Select Vestry resolutions of sympathy

were passed with Mrs. Blacker on the sad death

of her husband, Lieut.-Col. S. W. W. Blacker.

Edenderry Paroohia! Hall

Very necessary improvements have been carried out in the Parochial Hall. Edenderry. The

heating installation has been thoroughly over­looked and renovated. A new brick structure

has taken the place of the outworn sheet iron

casing that enclosed the coil of the pipes in the

heating chamber. Other improvements are to

be made in the near future. As there is no spe­cial fund to meet this necessary expenditure the

H all Committee are asking for subscriptions to

defray this outlay. The following list of subscriptions have been received up to the 2nd

October:—William Sherman, 10s; Miss Calvert,

10s; Jam es Lewie, 10s; Mrs. Vance, 10s; Hugh

Stoops, 5s; George Gracey, 5s; W. A. Casev,

5s; David Bock. 5s; Mrs. Waters, 2s 6d; W.

Metcalf, 2s 6d; R. Hoy, 2s; Mrs. Reid, 2s 6d;

Mrs. James Allen, 2s 6d; Mrs. Wolsey Atkinson,

10s; Miss G. E . Atkinson, 10s; James Twinem,

5s; James Sands, 5s; John Hoy, 5s; Miss

Atkinson, £1 ; Robert M ‘Clements, 10s; Mrs.

McClements, 5s; Miss McClements. 5s; W

M ‘Clements, 5s; Mrs. W. M 'Clements, 5s; A

Friend. 5s; Charles Montgomery, 10s; Miss

Nora K. Montgomery, 10s ; Miss Sarah Dawson,

10s; John H . Twinem, 5s; John R. Reid, 2s 6d;

James Wightm an, 5s; Rev. Chancellor Archer,

10s.

Parish Register for September.

Baptisms

The following were baptised in the Parish

Church on September 7th, 1935: —McNally—Brian, son of Richard and Margaret

McNally, of Edenderry. Sponsors — Elizabeth Milligan, Margaret

McNally.

Liggett—Martha Iris Gwyneth, daughter of Isaac and Josephine Liggett, of Edenderry.

Sponsors— Margaret McNally, Josephine Lig­gett.

Nesbitt—Kenneth Harold, son of Thomas and Susan Nesbitt, of Levaghery.

Sponsors—Edith McKeown, Susan Nesbitt.

Elliott—William Victor Chamberlain, son of William and Ellen Elliott, of Seagoe

Upper.

Sponsors—William Cox, William Elliott and

Maria Elizabeth Cox.

Marriage.

Craig and Livingston— September 21st. 1935,

Desmond Craig, of 3 Victoria Terrace, Portadown, to Irene Maud Livingston,

of Edenderry.

Silver Wedding.

McNeill and Fleming—July 8th, 1910, Samuel George McNeill, Edenderry, to Eliza­beth Anna Fleming, of Edenderry.

Death.

Blacker—September 6th, suddenly, at Seatown,

Dorset, Stewart W. W . Blacker, Lieutenant-

Colonel, of Carrick-Blacker and Woodbrook,

Co. Wexford, aged 70 years.

Burials.

Gillis—September 8th, 1935, James Gillis, of Edenderry, aged 66 years. Interred at Drumcree.

Ewing—September 11th, 1935, William Ewing, of Newry, aged 87 years.

Campbell— September 14th, 1935, Ellen Margaret Campbell, of Edenderry, aged 80 years.

Whiteside— September 15th, 1935, H arold Geo. Whiteside, of Edenderry, aged 6 years.

Dickey—September 18th, 1935, Thomas Dickey of Edenderry, aged 1 year 10 months.

Hearon— September 22nd, 1935, Ralph Hearon of Killicomaine, aged 68 years.

Simpson—September 23rd, 1935, Sarah Anne Simpson, of Ballinacor, aged 76 years.

Death of Lt.-Col Blacker.

We record with the deepest regret the death

of Lieut.-Col. Blacker, which occurred under

tragic circumstances at Seatown, Dorset, on Friday, Sept. 6tli. Lieut.-Col. Blacker had been

enjoying a bathe in company with some of his relatives, and Mrs. Blacker was seated in a tent

near-by. He had just come out of the water and was vigorously drying him self on the shore, when

he suddenly fell backward in a faint. When Mrs. Blacker and his relatives came to him he

was found to be actually beyond human aid. We express our deepest sympathy with Mrs. Blacker

and the members of her family in their tragic bereavement.

For many years Colonel Blacker resided in our midst, and in the strenuous times of the Volunteers

and the Great War he gave up all his time

and his attention to the service of his country.

“ Our loyalty is not for barter ,” were his great

and strenuous words when the War broke

out. We give here a description of his funeral,

taken from the columns of “ The Bridport

News” of Friday, September 13th.

“A deep sense of sadness overshadowed the

picturesque village of Chideock on Friday morn­ing when it became known that Lieut.-Colonel

Stewart William Ward Blacker, D .S.O ., D .L .,

I.P., of the Manor House, had passed away with

tragic suddenness.

In the early morning he had visited Brid­port and after shopping in the town returned to

the Manor in company with a friend, Major Pym ,

who was staying with the family. Later, with

Mrs. Blacker and his daughter, Miss Joan

Blacker, he proceeded to the beach at Seatown,

"here he took his customary bathe ' in the open sea.

He had only left the water a short time

when, to the horror of those present, Col.

Blacker was seen to collapse. A message was at

once sent summoning Dr. J . C. T. Sanctuary, of

Bridport, and stimulants were fetched, but in

the meantime death had supervened.

The body was afterwards removed to Bridport by motor ambulance and later in the day,

on the instruction of the Coroner for W est Dor­set (Mr. S. Edgar Howard) a post mortem examination was performed by Dr. Sanctuary,

This revealed that death was due to natural causes, and under the circumstances an inquest

deemed unnecessary.

During his residence at Chideock Manor,

covering a period of about five years, Col.

Blacker took a keen interest in the life of the village and was ever ready to support any good

cause. Previously he had resided at Shute Haye, Walditch, where he was also held in high esteem and respect.

At Chideock Parish Church on Sunday

morning the Vicar (Rev. C. F . Urquhart) pre­faced his sermon with a reference to Colonel

Blacker’s career and his life in the parish, and

at the close of the service the Dead March in

Saul was played by Mr. Leonard Hussey, deputising at the organ for Miss Mabel Hansford.

Villagers mingled with rank and distinction at the funeral, which took place at Chideock at

10 o ’clock on. Tuesday morning. The coffin, draped in the Union Jack, had been brought to

the ancient, ivy-clad Church the previous even­ing, and the funeral service followed a

celebration of Communion at 8 o ’clock.

During the service, which was impressively

conducted by the Vicar, assisted by the Rev. A.

J . Shields and the Rev. J . D. Macpherson, the

hymns “ Fight the Good Fight” and “ Soldiers of Christ Arise” were sung and Psalm 121

chanted, the surpliced choir leading the singing.

At its close the Nunc Dimittis was sung, and

the organist, Mr. H . Mearing, played Chopin’s

Marche Funebre. The flag on the Church tower

was at half-mast.

There was a poignant scene as following the

service the coffin, covered with flowers, was

placed in a motor hearse which proceeded to

Bristol Crematorium, where the body was cremated. Wearing his officer’s uniform, deceased’s

sailor son, Lieut. Blacker, was a grief-stricken

figure as the hearse moved slowly away. He

was accompanied by his brother-in-law, Lieut.-

Commander George Thring, who was also in uni­form.

The other principal mourners were Mr. A. T.

Bruen, Sir Robert Paul. Mr. H . R. Boileu,

Major D. Graham Shillington and Major C. E. Pym.

In the evening on Tuesday a muffled peal

was rung on the Church Bells.

The ‘Bridport News’ was informed by a

member of the family that after the cremation

the urn containing the ashes would be brought

to Chideock and finally interred at Woodbrook,

Enniscorthy, County W exford, Col. Blacker’s estate in Ireland .”

The remains were finally interred in Killane

Churchyard, near Woodbrook, on Wednesday, October 2nd.

CHURCH REFERENCE.

On Sunday, September 8th, a t Morning Prayer

in the Parish Church, the Rev. W. F. Hayes

read the following tribute to the memory of the

late Lieut.-Colonel Blacker, written by the Rector, who was unable to be present: —

I have been asked by the Rector to read to you

the following reference to the life and character

of Lieut.-Colonel S. W. W. Blacker, whose

tragic death occurred on Friday, September 6th,

and who was so well known to so many in this

Parish. He was a m ember of a family which

has had a connection for centuries with the

Parish of Seagoe. The history of the family and

the history of the Parish are most closely interwoven in past days. The present Church in

which we worship is the fruit of their generosity ;

and the ruins of the old Church in Old Seagoe

graveyard are the remains of a Parish Church

built by a member of the family in the 17th century. But we think to-day not so much of the

familv as of Lieut.-Colonel Blacker himself.

We recall his splendid leadership in the days of

the U lster Volunteers and in the more tragic

days of the Great War. His courage, his common sense, his appreciation of the things that

mattered most gave to us all a measure of con­fidence in most difficult days. Those who were

members of the Volunteers and who served under

him in the Great War know hew lie shared with

his men the dangers and trials of those tremendous days. We mourn his loss and wish to

express our deepest sympathy with his wife and

family. The Parish has lost a valued parishioner,

who had held from time to time every position

of parochial responsibility and whom the United

Dioceses honoured by election to the Diocesan

Council and to the membership of the General

Synod. His name will not soon be forgotten.

Sympathy.

We record this month a long list of those, both

young and old, who have been called from among

us to their Eternal Rest. James Gillis, of Edenderry, always a regular attender at the Parish

Church, passed away after a long, tedious ill­ness. His rem ains were interred in Drumcree

Churchyard. The Rev. F . J . Halahan, M.A.,

M.C., officiated a t the Service.

Mrs. Ellen Margaret Campbell, of Edenderry,

passed away at an advanced age. She was a

lifelong resident of the Parish, to which she was

always deeply attached. To the end she could

recall many links of the past in the days of Arch­deacon Saurin.

The death, with tragic suddenness, of Harold

George Whiteside, came as a great shock to his

parents and the people of the district. Only six

years of age, he was taken suddenly ill on re­turning from school and died within a few hours.

The funeral was a very touching one. The

children of Edenderry walked at each side of the

coffin, and were present at the Service in the

Church and at the graveside.

Thomas Dickey, only a year and ten months,

contracted pneumonia which proved fatal after a few days suffering.

Ralph Hearon, of Killicomaine, who had been

in failing health for some time, passed away after a short illness.

The death of Mrs. Simpson, of Ballinacor,

who had been in her usual health, came very

suddenly. Always cheerful, kind and affectionate, she will be much missed by all her neighbours.

To all those who have been bereaved we offer

our most sincere sympathy.

Death of Mr. William Ewing.

We record with regret the death of Mr

William Ewing, of Newry, at an advanced age

For many years he resided in Edenderry, Willie was well known and highly respected.

During the intervening years, while resident in

Newry, he maintained a close connection with

this Parish. His funeral, which was largely attended, took place in the Church ground at Seagoe

on W ednesday, September 11th. The Rev

R. A. Swanzy, Vicar of Newry, officiated.

Letter from Archdeacon Crichton

Blacker’s Gardens, Cathedral P.O.,

Madras, 11th September, 1935

My plan at present is to sail from Madras on

6th November, and to reach London about 6th

December. As there is nothing to do at Home

I shall not go overland from Marseilles. Probably we shall spend the Christmas holidays at

Littlehampton and then move about until

Easter. I do not want to take up a parish all at

once, but I must have a home for the summer

My girl has just gone to Cheltenham and the

boy to Marlborough. It is time for them to have

a home of their own.

If the address on this letter starts you thinking about “ Parish Notes,” you will be interested

to know that this house was built by General

Blacker, Quartermaster-General of the Madras

Army. The last members of the Blacker family

to own it were two sisters, who lived in Ireland

I am told that General Blacker died in Calcutta

in 1824. The present owner is an Indian.

Thanks very much for all the copies of the

Seagoe Magazine” which you have sent me

I still read the publication with much interest

It is as good, if not better, as ever it was. It is

extraordinary to think that it is almost 28 years

since I went to Seagoe. The years have passed

very quickly. Hoping that you are feeling quite

well again.—Yours very sincerely, W . R. Crichton.

ITEM S

Many of the fine trees in the Eden Hall

grounds opposite Windsor Lodge have been removed.

* * * *

A very extensive petrol station has been opened

in Lisniskey having pumps on both sides of the

road.

* * * *

The entrance to the Railway Station and the

lamp standards in the streets of Edenderry have

recently been painted and look very bright.