From the Parish magazine dated December
1871.
“
On December 14th, a meeting of the seat-holders of the Parish Church, was
held in the National School Room, to consider the want of accommodation of
the poor in the Parish Church. Besides the Vicar and Churchwardens, there
were present the Rev. T.H. Michell, Messrs Dunn, Astley. Alexander, Barker,
Beard, Barrow, Crook, Godwin, Low, Osmond, Platt, Walton. Wooldridge and
Wren. The Vicar briefly stated the object of the Meeting and invited discussion.
He took occasion to observe that while he did not think it desirable that
the seats in the Parish Church should be generally unappropriated, he should
be very glad to se the seats on each side of the middle aisle thrown open
if those to whom they have been allotted would consent to accept pews in
other parts of the Church instead of them. This however was an arrangement
which could not immediately be carried into effect, and in the meantime he
suggested that a Service should be held on Sunday afternoons, at which the
seats should be open to all. In order to meet the expense of this extra Service,
the Rev. T.H. Michell had kindly offered an annual contribution of £25.00.
After some conversation the following resolution was proposed by Mr J.P.
Crook, and seconded by Mr Walker, and carried unanimously. “Resolved,
that it is expedient that an Afternoon Sunday Service be held at the Parish
Church, at which pews in the Church should be free and open to Parishioners
generally.””
It was suggested that some more room may be gained if the pulpit was put
further back and the Desk placed on the other side of the Chancel. This seemed
to recommend itself to the meeting, and the Vicar expressed his willingness
to bear the expense of the alterations”.
“
Soup Kitchen—A certain quantity of Soup etc. is conveyed from the Kintbury
Soup Kitchen every day by the kind arrangement of Mrs Dunn, for the benefit
of the Hungerford poor."
Monday, Soup 1d a pint.
Tuesday, Rice Pudding 1d a pound.
Wednesday, Meat 8d a pound,
Thursday, Soup 1d a pint.
Friday, Plum Pudding 2d a pound,
Saturday, Meat 8d a pound.
Tickets can be obtained every Monday Morning at 9.30 at the Vicarage. The distribution of Soup etc. is daily at 12.30, in the Old Corn Exchange by kind permission of Mr Hoskings”.
More from the past next issue. Fred Bailey