Rowland Allen Webbe Newman, BA, Vicar of St. Petrocks, 1940-1946
Title
Rowland Allen Webbe Newman, BA, Vicar of St. Petrocks, 1940-1946
Subject
Description
The Rev. Rowland Allen Webbe Newman, the Vicar of St. Petrock's for the bulk of World War II, came from a long line of church ministers. He, his father, his great uncle and his great great grandfather all served, one after the other, as the Vicars of Hawkridge and Withypool in West Somerset. Below the photograph of Newman, likely taken around the time of his arrival at St. Petrock's, are the two churches where he and his predecessors served. The centre photograph depicts the 12th century Church of St. Giles located in Hawkridge and below it is the early medieval Church of St. Andrew at Withypool (1).
Newman's great great grandfather, Rev. George Jekyll (1776-1843) became the vicar of these churches on 11 November 1834, coming to them directly from the rectory in West Coker, Somerset (2). Shortly after George's death, his son, the Rev. Joseph Jekyll (1810-1880) became vicar on 22 July 1843, serving 37 years. At Joseph Jekyll's passing, his nephew, Rev. Rowland Newman (born in 1845, the son of Jekyll's sister, Charlotte and her husband, Edwin Newman), succeeded him. At Rowland Newman's death in 1919, his son, Rowland Allen Webbe Newman (but known as "Rowie"), became the vicar, ending his service on the 7th of September 1932, after almost 98 years of family incumbency (3).
The younger Rowland was born in Lufton, Somerset on the 24th of October 1877 (4), where his father was serving as Rector. He was the eldest child, followed by Claude, Violet, Katherine (known as "Kitty") and Reginald. Rowland was three-years-old when the family relocated to Exmoor and moved into the Hawkridge Rectory (5). At the age of 23, Rowie worked as a Clerk in Tiverton (6) but ten years later he was listed as "Clergyman", living in the Vicarage at 113 Wells Street, Camberwell, London, having achieved his BA from Trinity College (7). On the 24th of August 1912, Rowie married Fanny Isabel Ashton at St. George in Camberwell (8). On the 2nd of July 1919, four months after his father had died, Rowland Allen Webb Newman became Vicar of Hawkridge and Withypool (9).
As stated, Newman left in 1932 and by 1939 was the Chaplain at St. Audries School for Girls in Williton (10). It is not clear why he left the churches that the other men in his family stayed at for their lifetimes. Of course, his reasons and interests could have been many--indeed, in April 1932 he had travelled extensively to Yokohama, Shanghai and Singapore (11). Also though, ill health may have been a factor, perhaps in his case and perhaps in the case of his wife. Fanny Newman was born in 1874 at Allahabad, India where her father, Lieutenant Colonel William Ashton served as a Brigade Surgeon for the Royal Army (12). On returning to England, the Ashton family eventually settled in Cheltenham (13). By May 1939, Fanny and Rowland Newman were staying at the Cleeve Hill Hotel and on the 28th of that month, she died at Winchcombe Hospital, both just outside of Cheltenham (14).
When her husband became ill is not clear, but Rowland had tuberculosis which caused his left arm to be amputated and he was confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. This occurred at some point before his arrival at Timberscombe. He also came with a new wife. Rowland was attended by a nurse, Maureen Graham (15) and she and the minister married at Greenwich, London in May 1939 (16).
Rev. Rowland A. W. Newman and Maureen Newman came to St. Petrock's Church after its current vicar, Philip Isidore Lach-Szyrma died unexpectedly on 4 July 1940. He had been at Timberscombe since 1936. As the new vicar, Rev. Newman first signed the Timberscombe School's Minute Book on 9 October 1940, arriving at a truly busy time (17). Children who were wartime evacuees from London had first arrived at Timberscombe in September 1939, with others coming from various locations throughout the following year, soon totalling over 50 new pupils at a time, all of whom had to be integrated into Timberscombe's school and church schedules. Originally the evacuees were taught in Timberscombe's Reading Room but just two days before Newman first signed the Minutes Book, all the evacuees and local children were instructed to merge at Timberscombe School, with classes split into morning and afternoon sessions. By the 18th of November, the school's Log Book recorded "The Vicar R. Newman began attending on Wed. mornings 9-9:40 to instruct the Senior group (11+)" in religious teachings (18).
The question of health hovers over Rev. Newman's tenure. It is probable he was adjusting to his disabilities as he adjusted to a new position. As a small child, Barbara Bond, whose parents ran the village post office, asked him why his arm was missing and he replied "A dog bit it off"(19). Barbara also recalled at some point the Vicarage became empty as she and other children played in it. It is possible that in a wheelchair, it was not suitable for him and Mrs. Newman--although Newman still chaired meetings of Timberscombe School's Board of Governors at the Vicarage at least until 10 April 1946 (20).
Unlike other vicars, Rev. Newman is not greatly evident in the Log Book. On the 1st of February 1942, he informed the Head Teacher, Kathleen A. Willis, he could not continue his Wednesday class until "after Easter" (21), but Mrs. Willis never wrote of the class again. On 5 March 1943, both Rev. Newman and Mrs. Newman served as Invigilators when Free Place Examinations were given to select students--the result being David Woolgrove being awarded a Special Place at the Minehead County School (22). Rev. Newman continued to chair and record the minutes of the meetings of the school's Board of Governors until 12 April 1945 when he was not able to attend, "owing to illness" and Lady Constance Ryder was asked to take over the chair. Rowland Newman did attend the next two meetings and at the last one he made an announcement which cannot be understood now--it must be said, his writing is very difficult to read. Newman was not present for the next five meetings, with Lady Ryder continuing to chair---until the 13th of November 1946 when the Rev. David John Cockle had taken over as vicar (23). Unusually and perhaps sadly, there is no mention of Rev. Rowland actually leaving in either the Log Book or the Minutes Book.
Rev. Newman did continue to serve at other churches. He had a nephew, John Allen Sandys Newman, a son of his younger brother, Claude (24). Newman's last christening was of John's daughter, Susan in 1957. In 2002, John Newman participated in producing a Newman Family Tree and cited his Uncle Rowie as "my main informant", adding that in the late 40's and 50's, Rowland "moved a number of times to ever more remote parishes". In 1952, he lived at Goathurst Rectory in Bridgwater (25) and by 1954 Rowland Allen Webbe Newman and Maureen Newman were at the Old Vicarage at Broomfield, in the Sedgemoor District of Somerset. Here is where he died on 3 April 1958 and was buried at St. Mary and All Saints Churchyard (26).
Newman's great great grandfather, Rev. George Jekyll (1776-1843) became the vicar of these churches on 11 November 1834, coming to them directly from the rectory in West Coker, Somerset (2). Shortly after George's death, his son, the Rev. Joseph Jekyll (1810-1880) became vicar on 22 July 1843, serving 37 years. At Joseph Jekyll's passing, his nephew, Rev. Rowland Newman (born in 1845, the son of Jekyll's sister, Charlotte and her husband, Edwin Newman), succeeded him. At Rowland Newman's death in 1919, his son, Rowland Allen Webbe Newman (but known as "Rowie"), became the vicar, ending his service on the 7th of September 1932, after almost 98 years of family incumbency (3).
The younger Rowland was born in Lufton, Somerset on the 24th of October 1877 (4), where his father was serving as Rector. He was the eldest child, followed by Claude, Violet, Katherine (known as "Kitty") and Reginald. Rowland was three-years-old when the family relocated to Exmoor and moved into the Hawkridge Rectory (5). At the age of 23, Rowie worked as a Clerk in Tiverton (6) but ten years later he was listed as "Clergyman", living in the Vicarage at 113 Wells Street, Camberwell, London, having achieved his BA from Trinity College (7). On the 24th of August 1912, Rowie married Fanny Isabel Ashton at St. George in Camberwell (8). On the 2nd of July 1919, four months after his father had died, Rowland Allen Webb Newman became Vicar of Hawkridge and Withypool (9).
As stated, Newman left in 1932 and by 1939 was the Chaplain at St. Audries School for Girls in Williton (10). It is not clear why he left the churches that the other men in his family stayed at for their lifetimes. Of course, his reasons and interests could have been many--indeed, in April 1932 he had travelled extensively to Yokohama, Shanghai and Singapore (11). Also though, ill health may have been a factor, perhaps in his case and perhaps in the case of his wife. Fanny Newman was born in 1874 at Allahabad, India where her father, Lieutenant Colonel William Ashton served as a Brigade Surgeon for the Royal Army (12). On returning to England, the Ashton family eventually settled in Cheltenham (13). By May 1939, Fanny and Rowland Newman were staying at the Cleeve Hill Hotel and on the 28th of that month, she died at Winchcombe Hospital, both just outside of Cheltenham (14).
When her husband became ill is not clear, but Rowland had tuberculosis which caused his left arm to be amputated and he was confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. This occurred at some point before his arrival at Timberscombe. He also came with a new wife. Rowland was attended by a nurse, Maureen Graham (15) and she and the minister married at Greenwich, London in May 1939 (16).
Rev. Rowland A. W. Newman and Maureen Newman came to St. Petrock's Church after its current vicar, Philip Isidore Lach-Szyrma died unexpectedly on 4 July 1940. He had been at Timberscombe since 1936. As the new vicar, Rev. Newman first signed the Timberscombe School's Minute Book on 9 October 1940, arriving at a truly busy time (17). Children who were wartime evacuees from London had first arrived at Timberscombe in September 1939, with others coming from various locations throughout the following year, soon totalling over 50 new pupils at a time, all of whom had to be integrated into Timberscombe's school and church schedules. Originally the evacuees were taught in Timberscombe's Reading Room but just two days before Newman first signed the Minutes Book, all the evacuees and local children were instructed to merge at Timberscombe School, with classes split into morning and afternoon sessions. By the 18th of November, the school's Log Book recorded "The Vicar R. Newman began attending on Wed. mornings 9-9:40 to instruct the Senior group (11+)" in religious teachings (18).
The question of health hovers over Rev. Newman's tenure. It is probable he was adjusting to his disabilities as he adjusted to a new position. As a small child, Barbara Bond, whose parents ran the village post office, asked him why his arm was missing and he replied "A dog bit it off"(19). Barbara also recalled at some point the Vicarage became empty as she and other children played in it. It is possible that in a wheelchair, it was not suitable for him and Mrs. Newman--although Newman still chaired meetings of Timberscombe School's Board of Governors at the Vicarage at least until 10 April 1946 (20).
Unlike other vicars, Rev. Newman is not greatly evident in the Log Book. On the 1st of February 1942, he informed the Head Teacher, Kathleen A. Willis, he could not continue his Wednesday class until "after Easter" (21), but Mrs. Willis never wrote of the class again. On 5 March 1943, both Rev. Newman and Mrs. Newman served as Invigilators when Free Place Examinations were given to select students--the result being David Woolgrove being awarded a Special Place at the Minehead County School (22). Rev. Newman continued to chair and record the minutes of the meetings of the school's Board of Governors until 12 April 1945 when he was not able to attend, "owing to illness" and Lady Constance Ryder was asked to take over the chair. Rowland Newman did attend the next two meetings and at the last one he made an announcement which cannot be understood now--it must be said, his writing is very difficult to read. Newman was not present for the next five meetings, with Lady Ryder continuing to chair---until the 13th of November 1946 when the Rev. David John Cockle had taken over as vicar (23). Unusually and perhaps sadly, there is no mention of Rev. Rowland actually leaving in either the Log Book or the Minutes Book.
Rev. Newman did continue to serve at other churches. He had a nephew, John Allen Sandys Newman, a son of his younger brother, Claude (24). Newman's last christening was of John's daughter, Susan in 1957. In 2002, John Newman participated in producing a Newman Family Tree and cited his Uncle Rowie as "my main informant", adding that in the late 40's and 50's, Rowland "moved a number of times to ever more remote parishes". In 1952, he lived at Goathurst Rectory in Bridgwater (25) and by 1954 Rowland Allen Webbe Newman and Maureen Newman were at the Old Vicarage at Broomfield, in the Sedgemoor District of Somerset. Here is where he died on 3 April 1958 and was buried at St. Mary and All Saints Churchyard (26).
Creator
Anonymous /
Gary Mayo /
Gary Mayo
Gary Mayo /
Gary Mayo
Publisher
Timberscombe Parochial Church Council
Historic England Archive, ioeo1_03658_11, HistoricEngland.org.uk
Historic England Archive, ioe01_03660_08, HistoricEngland.org.uk
Historic England Archive, ioeo1_03658_11, HistoricEngland.org.uk
Historic England Archive, ioe01_03660_08, HistoricEngland.org.uk
Date
probably c. 1940
likely July 2001
12 July 2001
likely July 2001
12 July 2001
Contributor
Language
English
Identifier
Rev. Rowland Allen Webbe Newman, c. 1940 , Vicar of St. Petrock's Church, Timberscombe , 1940-1946 / Church of St. Gile, Hawkridge, Somerset / Church of St. Andrew, Withypool, Somerset
Acquisition Date
2022
2022
2022
2022
2022
Acquisition Method
Gift
Research
Research
Research
Research
Category
PEOPLE: Named / Timberscombe
PEOPLE: Occupations / Timberscombe
PLACES: Churches and Chapels / Timberscombe (and Hawkridge and Withypool)
PEOPLE: Occupations / Timberscombe
PLACES: Churches and Chapels / Timberscombe (and Hawkridge and Withypool)
Condition
Good
Condition Notes
entered by Tom Sperling
Condition Date
2002
Dimension Type
W X L
Dimension Units
cm
Dimension Value
12 X 8.5
9.5 X 14.5
9.5 X 14.5
8.5 X 9.5 (SP-223D, included in the archive)
9.5 X 14.5
9.5 X 14.5
8.5 X 9.5 (SP-223D, included in the archive)
Institution Name
St. Petrock's History Group
Notes
(1) both churches are photographed by Mr. Gary Mayo for the Historic England Archive, The Church of St Giles, ioe01_03660_08, 12 July 2001, The Church of St. Andrews, ioe01_03658_11, likely July 2001, Historic England.org.uk/images-books/photos, Historic Environment Record, Exmoor National Park, MSO11721 and HER, MSO8668 (2) UK Poll Books & Electoral Registers, 1538-1893 (3) Burkes Family Records (Indexed), www.newman-family-tree.net/rowland-newman.html and Somerset, England, Marriage Registers, Bonds and Allegations, 1754-1914 (4) 1939 England and Wales Register (5) England Censuses of 1881, 1891 and 1901 (6) 1901 England Census (7) London, England, City Directories, 1736-1915 (8) London, England, Church of England Marriages & Banns, 1754-1936 (9) www. newman-family-tree.net/rowland-newman.html (10) www.newman-family-tree/rowland-newman.html, Kelly's Directory of Somerset, 1939 and 1939 England and Wales Register (11) UK and Ireland, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960 (12) London, England, Church of England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1936 and 1901 England Census (13) England Censuses of 1881 and 1901 (14) England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1995 (15) newman-family-tree/rowland-newman.html and as recalled in Timberscombe (16) England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005 (17) Timberscombe School MINUTES BOOK, 3 April 1930- 4 June 1947, page 104 (18) Timberscombe School LOG BOOK, 4 April 1910-25 March 1947, as recorded by Kathleen A. Willis, pages 428-437 (19) as recalled in 2022 by Barbara (nee Bond) Watson and her younger sister, Jenny (nee Bond) Hansford (20) Timberscombe School MINUTES BOOK, pages 105 to 128 (21) Timberscombe School LOG BOOK, page 445 (22) Timberscombe School LOG BOOK, pages 458 and 463 (23) Timberscombe School MINUTES BOOK, pages 125 to 138 (24) deLucy Family Tree, ancestry.com, Tree Search by John deLucy (25) newman-family-tree/rowland-newman.html (26) England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1858-1995 and UK & Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300s-Current
Storage Location
St. Petrock's History Group Archive
Storage Date
2022
Storage Notes
St. Petrock's History Group PHOTOGRAPHS
Item Reference
SP-224
Technique
Copies
Citation
Anonymous /
Gary Mayo /
Gary Mayo, “Rowland Allen Webbe Newman, BA, Vicar of St. Petrocks, 1940-1946,” St. Petrock's History Group, accessed May 16, 2024, https://stpetrockshistorygroup.omeka.net/items/show/3495.
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