St. Lawrence's, Asheldham - now 'The Asheldham Centre'
The History: Church Records 1893-1947 and St Lawrence's Asheldham as it was in (about) the 1940's
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We have copies of the Register of Services between October 8th 1893 and April 4th 1947. They make very interesting reading - if you can decipher the handwriting! The weather seemed to be of significance to most of the vicars - especially in the 1800's and early 1900's. Maybe inclement weather really did limit the number in the congregation; in winter we'd expect there to be fewer people worshipping, but throughout the average year the weather was the one constant which added - or not - to the numbers walking through the door. Some notable comments we found:
1893 Nov. 19th.....'Stormy, snowy morning'
1894 Aug. 12th.....'70 people in the congregation'. Imagine getting 70 people in the Main Hall at Asheldham today.
1895 Census.....'There are 170 people living in the Parish of Asheldham'. 154 today (2015)
1896 Jan. 17th.....'Bad weather. Very snowy.'
1896 Jan. 31st.....'Very bad roads - snow.'
1898 Feb. .....6th., 13th., 27th., very wet, very wet, very wet!
1917 Apr. 6th ....."Very heavy snow - no-one [in the church] but me". Rev. Atkinson, Rector.
1927 Jan 16th ....."Very wet underfoot. Much illness about."
1927 Oct. 16th .....'Harvest. Full church. Food offerings to Maldon Infirmary.
1927 Oct. 23rd .....'Bishop of Chelmsford visits St. Lawrence's Asheldham.'
1927 Nov. 13th .....'Fires lit in church for first time this winter.'
1928 June 3rd .....'80 present in congregation.'
1929 from before Feb 10th 'til after Fe. 13th ..... 'Coldest weather for many a year. Sharp ESE wind and snow.'
1929 March 31st .....It is still winter.
1929 July 7th .....'Special Service of Thanksgiving for the recovery of our most Gracious Sovereign from his severe illness.
1930 Apr. 18th .....'Coldest Good Friday & Easter for 50 years. [plus] very wet Easter Day.
1931 Feb. 19th .....'Bishop of Chelmsford visits St. Lawrence's, Asheldham.'
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St. Lawrence's Asheldham Register of Services January 1st - February 12th 1894
[colour highlights courtesy of Asheldham Team]
Believe it or not.......this is the view taken looking down the nave - the same 'view' as the black & white photo at the top of the page.