The first of the three Harvest Festivals held in the Parish took place at the Firs Mission Room on Thursday September 27. At 5.30 a capital number of the congregation with other friends sat down to tea, served in the open air, as the day was warm and fine. After tea the little room soon became crowded for the service; some however obtained seats in the vestry, while others had to stand outside. The service was choral. The Rev. P. W. Bond read the prayers, and the Vicar preached, taking for his text Psalm ciii., verses 1,2. The collection given to the Mission Fund, amounted to 9s 8 1/2d. The decorations were pretty and appropriate.
In reference to the proposed memorial at Bream Church to
the late Miss Alice Davies, who had done so much for the parish,
perhaps the following quotations from the Rev, H, G, Nicholl's book "The
Personalities of the Forest of Dean" will be found interesting.
Speaking of the life and labours of the Rev. Henry Poole, the
late Vicar of Parkend, the writer says-
"Mr Poole attended with marked assiduity to his ministerial duties at Coleford
and Bream." (to which he had been appointed in August 1818). "The Episcopal
Chapels at both places were mean, out of repair, and too small, especially that
of Coleford, when compared with the extent and character of the town. It was
soon determined to rebuild it, and Mr. Poole was requested to conduct the work.
He compiled and found the knowledge of architecture, which he had acquired in
early life, most useful. The design, planned by himself, made provision for eight
hundred persons. For its execution, between £2,700 and £3,000 was
considered to be wanted, and for this large sum he found it necessary to become
answerable. Had each and every contribution been paid according to promise, all
expenses would have been met without difficulty. But, ere the Church was finished,
some friends had died or left the town, others were no longer able to assist,
or had changed their minds, occasioning him grievous perplexity. Simultaneously
with these heavy anxieties, he had the building of the Church at Parkend to overlook
and provide for. As a structure, it was hardly less impressive than than that
at Coleford, yet it was completed by May 1822. The tower of Christ Church, Berry
Hill, was also built by his design and supervision. His eye and hand were likewise
requisition for improving the little chapel at Bream, for rebuilding which the
first load of stone was hauled the same day that his Church at Parkend was consecrated. The
former structure had windows of the Stuart period, and a chancel arch of a much
earlier date. The interior arrangements were very primitive. The schools
were erected in 1830 for 65 children. Both buildings have since been remodelled,
and adapted to the growing wants of an important district, by the able exertions
of the incumbent, the Rev. C. Witherby, and the considerable gifts of Miss Davies."
W.T. Allen Esq., architect, London, the son of the Vicar of S. Briavels, has
been asked to draw plans for the new vestry, the proposed memorial to Miss
Davies.
The annual meeting on behalf of the Foreign Mission work of the
Church will be held at the Schools, on Thursday 4th, at 7.30; and
at Yorkley Wood, on Friday the 5th at 7, when the Rev. A.A. Maclaren
from Newcastle, Australia will act as deputation. We hope the meetings
will be well attended.
Tuesday, October 16, is the Commemoration Day of the death of the Death of
the late Vicar of the Parish.
BAPTISMS
September 9, Cornelius, son of William and Thirsa Jones, Yorkley Wood, collier
(private).
September 9, Gwendoline Ames, daughter of Albert John and Henrietta Mary Batten,
Bream, clerk.
September 16, Robert Hayes, son of Henry Thomas and Mary Ann Jones, Yorkley
Wood, collier.
BURIALS
September 5, Sophia Kear, Bream, 81.
September 28, Elizabeth Mehetabel Jones, Bream's Eaves, 5 months.
Courtesy of: . Uploaded:
The magazines were loaned by:
Melville Watts O.B.E., Ruth Hirst, Jennifer Hancocks, Tony Preest, Paul Morgan, Carole Butt, Joan Davis, Phil Horsley, Joyce Phipps, Peter Richards, Dianne
O'Dell, Edith Pitcher and Roy Haviland.
The magazines were transcribed by Geoff Davis and Malcolm Norris of Bream.
All content © 2010 G.K. Davis, Bream.
If you wish to comment on this photo or can supply names of people please click
here 
WANTED: Old photos, old postcards, ephemera and memories of the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. U.K.