Memorials in St Andrews

February 16, 2022

As the College is shortly to embark upon the conversion of St Andrews into an inspirational teaching and learning space we take the opportunity look at some of the memorials around the building and how they chart the lives of those involved in the community and the history of St Andrew’s. Some of these memorials will remain in place in the new design, however some will be moved to make way for the adaptations taking place. The families of those whose memorials will be moved were engaged early by the Bradfield Capital Projects team and involved in the process.

The welcome message on the main door of the Church inside the porch area reminds us that St Andrew’s has always been a place of worship and pilgrimage and reads:

“You who chanced to come this way … Be welcome, enter in and pray. Your reverence give, your sins confess … Before the God of Holiness … Through Christ our Lord.”

This door and the front porch will remain much as it does today after the building work is finished and will become an emergency access from the newly refurbished building.

Key people and their families.

Influential people and their families throughout the history of Bradfield Church are also celebrated in St Andrew’s in the many plaques and memorials on both the walls and windows of the church, some of which are mentioned below.

Family name BLACKALL SIMONDS

The very first pupil at Bradfield was known as Blackall Simonds who arrived in Feb 1850 and left in June 1857.

Several memorials in the Church relate to the family of Blackall Simonds. While at College he was a Senior Prefect from 1855-57 and in the Cricket XI from 1852-57. After Bradfield he went to Kings College London. He became a Justice of the Peace, High Sherriff of Berkshire and Member of the Bradfield College Council as well as President of the Old Bradfield Boys Club until he died in 1905. His painting hangs outside the Headmaster’s office near Snake Door and is a memorial to him and his service to Bradfield College.

In the church, a marble plaque dedicated to his brother George reads:

“To the glory of God and in dear memory of George Blackall-Simonds born 6 Oct 1893 died 16 Dec 1929. The lighting of this church is dedicated by Gertrude his wife”.

George arrived at Bradfield as George Simonds and was the 19th pupil from Feb 1852 to June 1856. He became a Sculptor and Chairman of local company H and G Simonds Ltd in Reading in 1910. He later became known as George Blackall-Simonds by adopting part of his brother’s name.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Similarly, one of the stained-glass windows above the font area reads:

“To the Glory of GOD and in loving memory of George Prescott Blackall-Simonds Lieutenant First South Wales Borderers 24th Regiment. Killed whilst leading the attack in a quarry at Vendresse in France 26th Sept 1914.”

This dedication is to the son of George Blackall-Simonds who arrived at Bradfield in Sept 1891 and left in Dec 1897. He went on to RMC Sandhurst and joined the 2nd Battalion South Wales Borderers in 1900. He fought in the South African War before he retired in 1905. His additional service in the First World War and his death is commemorated in the stained-glass window near the font in St Andrew’s Church.

Family name STEVENS

Another family of great importance to Bradfield and St Andrew’s Church were the Stevens family to whom several memorials are dedicated around the church.

An early stone memorial tablet in the South Transept to the first Revd Thomas Stevens working in the Parish before the foundation of the College at Bradfield and interred in the church reads:

“Near this place are deposited the remains of the Revd Thomas Stevens MA, formerly fellow of All Soul’s College Oxford, Forty-Two years Rector of this Parish. He died July 5th 1800 aged 67 years. Also of Mary, his Widow, daughter of John Townesend Esq. of the City of Oxford. She died September 16th 1802 aged 67 years.”

Similarly, another more ornate stone memorial to the eldest daughter of the Revd Henry Stevens, also a Rector of the Parish reads:

“In a vault near this place are deposited the mortal remains of Mary, the much loved and much-lamented wife of the Revd John Frewen Moor MA and eldest daughter of the Revd Henry Stevens BCL, Rector of this Parish. She departed this life after an illness of a few days subsequent to the birth of her second child; October 12th 1823, aged 27 years.”

In the South Transept, which will be transformed into the main access to the College when the church opens to pupils, are 2 stained-glass windows dedicated to members of the Stevens family.

One reads “Henry only son of Thomas Stevens and Mary his wife was born 16 Sept 1766. He married 21 Jan 1791 Maria eldest daughter of Wm Tinney of Salisbury Esq. by whom he had issue Mary, Henry, Elizabeth, Anne &Thomas and died 17 Oct 1842. He was 42 years Rector of this Parish.”

The other beside it is dedicated to Henry’s first son above noting his date of death and reads: “Henry eldest son of Henry Stevens and Maria his wife died 18 August 1830.”

In sad testimony to the hardship of life in late 1900s, a brass plaque in the Chancel area is dedicated to the family of Thomas Stevens – the Founder of Bradfield College and reads:

“In memory of Susanna, wife of Rev. Thomas Stevens Rector of this Parish and daughter of the Rev Robert Marriott of Cotesbach in the County of Leicester who was married May 16th 1843 and died July 8th 1866 aged 43 years and of her children John, 4th son who died Sept 23rd 1858 aged six weeks, Elizabeth 4th daughter who died May 20th 1869 aged 13 years, these lie buried in the vault beneath and Caroline 2nd daughter, wife of Arthur Crofts Powell who died July 8th 1877 aged 31 years and lies buried in the church yard. Also in memory of Caroline, wife of this same Thomas Stevens, daughter of the Rev Edward Miller, Vicar of St John’s, Bognor, Sussex who was married August 11th 1868 and died May 26th 1881 aged 55 years and lies buried in the extra-mural Cemetery of Brighton, Sussex.”

Another very attractive memorial on the wall in the South Transept features the image of a lady and

remembers Caroline Octavia wife of Thomas Stevens, then of Keel in the County of Stafford Clerk youngest daughter of George Gollet of Betley Hall in the same County Esquire. She is buried in the Parish Church at Betley.

 

Bradfieldian Tim Darvall (G 67-71) has memorials to both his grandparents in St Andrew’s Church. Richard J Darvall was a Charterhouse boy who became the Bursar at Bradfield from 1947-60. Both he and his 2 wives are remembered on memorial plaques on a pillar in the Church, which are to be moved to the area around the font during the redevelopment of the building.

Tim shared a summary on his family connection to St Andrew’s Church;

“Richard John Darvall (Dick) arrived at Bradfield in 1947, having previously played a leading role in running Sudan Railways from its base in Atbara on the Nile, including its vital role in supplying the North Africa campaign during WW2 and beyond.  He had worked for Sudan Railways since leaving Cambridge in 1923 as an engineering graduate.  He subsequently re-qualified as an accountant and became its Chief Accountant.

As Bursar at Bradfield he immediately set to work with responsibility for all administration and finance at the College after the deprivations of the war. His lived in Great Oaks “up the Hill” where his wife Irene sadly died in 1956. He retired in 1960 and moved to Tutts Clump, Bradfield where he lived with his second wife Joyce until his death in 1977. Memorials to all 3 of them (designed by his son Peter) are to be found in St Andrews where they were members of the congregation.”

Memorials to a number of Rectors have been noted here and there is also one dedicated to Arthur Standidge. The memorial reads: “To the Glory of God and in loving memory of Arthur Standidge who died at Bradfield, February 7th 1909 aged 65 years for 21 years Rector of this Parish. This Tablet is erected in affectionate remembrance by his widow and family.”

Other family memorial tablets include those to the Blandy family during the 1700s and the Connop family who lived at Bradfield Hall in the late 1800s, recording generations of their worship and connection to St Andrew’s Church.

The final church service at St Andrew’s was held on 30 November 2014 – co-incidentally on St Andrew’s Day. The church notice board still holds the services notice and we have that recorded in the picture gallery below.

This information is by no means complete. There are other memorials in the Church which we hope to be able to research in more detail and will add this to the wealth of information we have during the renovation period.