he contracted a cold, which terminated in diptherite. He went from home for a short time in the winter, in the hope that a change of air would prove beneficial; but so anxious was he to take part in the Christmas-day services in his own church at Bishopstone, that he returned home for that purpose. With his accustomed resolution he continued to discharge his public duties. In Easter week, 1863, he delivered an able speech at the Annual Meeting of the Hereford Diocesan Church Building Society. On the day following he preached at the re-opening of Stoke Prior Church, and on the next he took part in the re-opening of Helenswick Church. In the succeeding week he delivered his charge, and with his usual hospitality, entertained the Clergy at luncheon in the College Hall. On Ascension Day he endeavoured to preach in the cathedral, but was unable to fulfil his intention. He was present, however, at the re-opening of the cathedral, June 30th, 1863, both morning and evening, though still suffering severely from the effects of his malady, which never left him. The last public act of his life was one which testifies to the kindliness and geniality of his nature. It was to officiate, in spite of the illness which was wearing him down, at the marriage of his young relative and friend J. A. Clutton Brock, Esq., to the daughter of the Rev. H. T. Hill, of Felton, Rural Dean. Ere this the irritation of the spine had completely upset the nervous system, the weakness of the throat after diphtherite was a salient point, and the powers of deglutition were almost destroyed; the stomach became paralyzed, the powers of attrition at a stand-still. Gradually, but surely, the enemy advanced, the body wasted, and at last the lungs succumbed; consumption completed the task of destruction, and the end of his honourable and useful life was a quiet death in the rectory of Bishopstone, on Tuesday, August 11th, 1863, in the spot to which he was fondly attached during life, and from which, as he wished, he was not separated in death. The Archdeacon had some years before his decease written a desire to be buried as privately and as unostentatiously as possible; to lie in a common open grave, and to have the parish pall to cover him. These orders were obeyed, but it was impossible to refuse the urgent request of the clergy of the diocese to attend; and the influx of the clergy and laity, not only from the immediate neighbourhood, but from distant parts of the country, was so great, that long ere the mournful cortege had left that paradise of an earthly home with the remains of the revered and beloved, the parishioners, joined by a vast concourse of people of all grades, thronged the churchyard, and gazed with tearful eyes into the long, humble, and narrow grave that was soon to close on him who was the life and soul of healthful recreation, the wise counsellor, the liberal patron, the sincere friend, and the kind pastor. As the mournful procession streamed, like a dark line, over the fair and lawn-like expanse of meadow between the rectory and the quaint and beautiful little church the good Archdeacon had during his life-time studied to beautify and adorn with a hand as liberal as his taste was lofty, the bell tolled, the organ pealed out one of the sublime compositions of Handel, and the eyes of many were dim with tears, whilst others sobbed audibly. At the entrance of the grave-yard the officiating priest, the Rev. Rowland Hill, the Archdeacon's Sexton carrying the archidiaconal mitre enveloped in crape, and the choristers of Bishopstone habited in white surplices, advanced to meet the remains about to be committed to their last and sad resting place. Here the procession into the church took the following order : The Rev. ROWLAND HILL, reading the Burial Service. The Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of the Diocese, Dr. Renn Hampden, D.D. The Very Rev. the Dean of Hereford, Richard Dawes, D.D. The Rev. Canon W. E. Evans. The Rev. Prebendary Archer Clive. The Rev. Prebendary W. P. Hopton, Bishop's Froome. The Rev. Prebendary Jebb, D.D., Peterstow. The Rev. Prebendary Custance, Colwall. The Rev. Prebendary Johnson, Byford. The Rev. Prebendary Poole, Hentland. The Rev. Prebendary Hayward Cox, Eaton Bishop. Rev. H. Arkwright, Vicar of Bodenham. Rev. A. W. Chatfield. Rev. J. F. Crouch, Rector of Pembridge. Rev. M. W. Brigstocke. Rev. D. J. George, Treville. Rev. J. Dudley, Sarnesfield. Rev. H. C. Cooper, Rector of Stoke Príor. Rev. L. Clint, Hereford. Rev. J. Tourney Parsons, Rector of Dewchurch. Rev. R. H. Evans. Rev. J. Westropp, Thruxton. Rev. H. W. Phillott, Rector of Staunton-upon-Wye. |