ALBERT FOXWELL (1882-1965)
Verger of Christ Church Epsom Common, (1942-65)
Albert’s memorial in Christ Church
Photograph by Roger Morgan © 2019
The metal plaque illustrated above is found in Christ Church Epsom Common, fixed to the south side of the archway between the Baptistry and Nave. (Nowadays, it is normally concealed from view behind one of the church’s portable notice boards.) It was erected in 1967 in memory of Christ Church’s longest-serving Verger – his 23 years in post just exceeding the 21 years of the church’s first Verger, James Holt. (At the time of writing, it is the last such memorial erected in Christ Church: all subsequent memorials have, like many previous ones, been in the form of practical items.)
Albert was born on 18 November 1882 in Otterford, Somerset, the second of three children born to John and Sarah Foxwell. The parents had married in Church Stanton, Devon on 10 February 1880. For both of them, this was a second marriage. John had first married Emma Salter on 31 May 1871 in Church Stanton, Devon, which is where she died in April 1878. Sarah, whose maiden name was Bussell, had first married John Henry Manning on 17 April 1862 in Pitminster, Somerset – and he died Q1 1878 registered in the Taunton District.
The 1881 Census records the new couple living in Hawksmoor Cottages in Otterford, about 6 miles south of Taunton. 33 year old John is listed as an “Agricultural Labourer”. As usual for the time, no occupation is shown for 40 year old Sarah, busy with children from their previous marriages.
By the time of the 1891 Census, the couple were living in the hamlet of Feltham in the parish of Pitminster about 3 miles south of Taunton. John is still listed as an “Agricultural Labourer”, and Sarah is now listed as a “Charwoman”. Among those living with them are their own three children – 10 year old Benjamin, 8 year old Albert and 5 year old Frederick – all listed as “Scholars”.
The 1901 Census records the family still at Pitminster but living at “Stoney Down”. 53 year old John is now listed as “Stockman on Farm” and all three children, now young men, working as “Domestic Gardeners”.
On 4 July 1905, Albert married Florence Sheppard in her parish church of St James, Taunton: they were both aged 22. Florence’s father, John Henry Sheppard, is listed in the record of that as a “Gardener” – like Albert – and it is probable that this shared occupation is how the couple first met. They made their home in Alcombe (on the southern outskirts of Minehead, Somerset) where their only child, Alexandra Maude, was born on 27 October 1907. The 1911 Census records the family living at 2 Meadow Terrace, Alcombe and John still working as a Gardener.
It seems highly likely that Albert saw WW1 service in France as Gunner 50209 in the Royal Field Artillery, during which he petitioned for and won a divorce from Florence. Albert was discharged from the Army on 28 November 1918 and apparently went into domestic service.
In due course, both Albert and his only child found their way (perhaps separately) to the Epsom area. In Q2 1933 and registered in the Epsom District, 25 year old Alexandra married Arthur J Thoburn. They had three children: Owen (whose Q2 1934 birth was registered in the local Surrey Mid Eastern District), Audrey and Graham (whose, respectively, Q2 1936 and Q4 1937 births were registered in the Surrey North Eastern District).
The September 1939 Register records the 31 year old Alexandra living at 12 Maltby Road, Chessington. The currently closed records doubtless conceal her children. Husband Arthur was not at home (and is not readily found elsewhere) but the other resident was the now 56 year old Albert Foxwell, listed as a “Chauffeur/Valet” and “Divorced”. Sadly, Alexandra’s marriage did not last either and, when Albert was appointed as Christ Church’s Verger in March 1943, Alexandra was appointed as his assistant (particularly as regards cleaning duties) for a joint wage of £4 15s (£4.75) a week. They and Alexandra’s young children moved into the newly-acquired Verger’s house at 36 West Hill and began work.
Albert’s route to the job was less than straightforward. “An extremely unpleasant affair” (in the words of the Church Council minutes of 16 March 1941) had led to the summary dismissal of the Verger who had been in post since 1927. An Albert Owen was quickly appointed to the job but resigned in May 1942 – about the mid-point of WW2 – “to take up work of more national importance”. In September 1942, a Mr Rush was appointed to the vacancy but, only three months later, was conscripted for industry. Yet another man was appointed, but he turned out to be so unsatisfactory that the Church Council minute of his early dismissal refers to him only as “Mr _________”.
Church officers trawled through previous applicants and, in early 1943, appointed a Mr Totman. The Church Council minutes of 17 March 1943 note that, for health reasons, he was unable to take up the post. It was on his recommendation that Albert Foxwell was approached – and there is a tangible sense of relief in the Church Council minutes when his appointment began. That relief turned into extreme contentment as Albert (assisted by Alexandra) grew into the job for which he seems to have been the perfect fit.
(The responsibilities of a Verger – normally a lay member of the parish – are the order and upkeep of a house of worship, including the care of the church buildings, its furnishings and sacred relics, together with preparations for services. In smaller churches, such as Christ Church, the duties generally also extend to care of the grounds: responsibilities which, in a larger church, would fall to a separate “Sexton” – particularly if, unlike Christ Church, there is a graveyard.)
Albert Foxwell, in his Verger’s gown,
lighting a candle on Christ Church’s High Altar
Photograph from the Christ Church archives © 2019
In late April 1965, Albert fell ill and was taken to the Epsom & Ewell Cottage Hospital where, aged 82, he died on 3 May. He was buried in Grave R323 of Epsom Cemetery (where there is no longer any visible grave marker) on 10 May 1965.
The esteem and affection felt for Albert is evident in the following extract from the address when his memorial was dedicated in late 1967.
“If sometimes you feel despondent and hopeless, take heart; and let us especially take heart tonight as we recall the life of Mr Foxwell. Mr Foxwell worked with us and for us, and lived among us here for a quarter of a century. I have spoken of the spirit of the community here, and I believe that for that quarter-century, he was the reference point for that spirit. It wasn’t just that practically every time you came to this building, he was the first and last person you saw – not just that, unfailingly, you were greeted by a man with a twinkle in his eye, and a warmth in his heart – it went far beyond that, and the more you knew him, the more you felt grateful for it. It was so persuasive and so enchanting, that just to see him walking over West Hill with his stick, or sitting in Kingswood House on the day of the Summer Fete, or to find a note in his handwriting on the door of the Hall, informing you that the radiators were lit – whatever it was, one felt a sense of security and happiness.”
In addition to the memorial plaque mentioned at the head of this article, the Christ Church congregation dedicated a new Lectern Bible in Albert’s memory – as illustrated below. (This Revised Standard Version was heavily used for some 40 years until eventually replaced by a New Revised Standard Version in memory of parishioners Dennis & Eden King.)
The Foxwell memorial Lectern Bible and its dedication page.
Photographs by Roger Morgan © 2019
While Albert was rich in spirit, he was not so in material things. The Probate record of administration of his estate being awarded to Alexandra (referred to as “feme sole” – Norman French for “single woman”, particularly used for a divorcee) valued his assets at £ 264.
Daughter Alexandra was not well-off either. 36 West Hill had also been her home for 23 years and the Church Council agreed that she could live there rent-free for at least three months while she found alternative accommodation. That search took far longer than anticipated and, with increasing tensions on both sides, it was not until April 1967 that (with the active involvement of church officers) the 60 year old Alexandra vacated 36 West Hill on moving to 22 Court Farm Gardens. Her death in Q4 1992 (when she was aged 87) was registered in the local Surrey Mid Eastern District.
Roger Morgan © 2019