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Page 2 of 2 David Marsden-Jones
Ernest Stafford Young
D H Ashford-Smith The patron, The Honourable Godfrey Locker-Lampson had to telegraph his being unable to be present at the Institution and Induction of the Reverend D H Ashford-Smith on the 17 February 1921, as at the last minute his parliamentary duties prevented him from being there as he had planned. Mrs Locker Lampson represented the Patron. The Bishop of Chichester arrived from Three Bridges by motor, and gave an inspiring address on the Patience of God(!). The Reverend H F Waller, Rector of Worth acted as Bishop's Chaplain, and the Rural Dean, the Reverend W W Yonnard acted as Archdeacon. William GristArriving part way through the Great War, from being curate of St Emmanuel Wimbledon, the Reverend William Grist saw that the Peace at the end of the war did not go unmarked, and we have the chime of bells in particular to thank him for. Walter ScottDuring the time of The Reverend Walter Scott, the Great War started. In 1916, he undertook the work of a military chaplain for a period of one year. During this time, the services and the work of the parish were in the hands of Rev A H Abigail. After serving Copthorne for 11 years, The Reverend Walter R. Scott went on to be Rector of St. Cuthbert's, Bedford. J J Dumbrell
Winfield CooperThe Reverend Winfield Cooper had a clearly vital role in the setting up of the new parish. He was also in Copthorne as Vicar for a long time - almost twenty years when the four years as curate-in-charge are added. He died in 1896, aged 52 years. Full History
1881 · Winfield Cooper (Curate-in-charge 77-81; Vicar from 81) |
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The rapid changes really started in the 1960s, and the Reverend David Marsden-Jones, one of the youngest to be appointed to Copthorne, had the impetus to take the Church on into new areas. The population of the village more than doubled in his time, and the parish was fortunate to have this young, broad-minded and energetic parish priest to help tackle the problems of new organisations and new administrations. A great deal was achieved during this time, but as history records, change is not always popular with everyone. Mr Marsden-Jones was also Rural Dean of East Grinstead for 4 years whilst Vicar in Copthorne. In 1970, he was appointed Vicar of Bosham, near Chichester.
The longest serving clergyman at Copthorne was the Reverend Ernest Stafford-Young. From his arrival in 1928, to his death in post some 28 years later, Stafford-Young proved to be popular. He was probably the last of the old-style vicars in an old style village. The Parish magazine records: "He was born in 1877 and after graduating at Cambridge University was ordained Deacon in 1904 and Priest in 1906. Having held curacies at Horncastle and later at Walmer, he became Vicar of Christ Church, Savernake, from 1912 to 1915. Thereafter he was successively Incumbent of East Grafton from 1915 to 1920, and of Maughold, Isle of Man, from 1920 to 1928. During his incumbency of East Grafton he was also classical Master at Marlborough. On 7th March, 1928, he came to Copthorne to take up his appointment as Vicar of our Parish which he held until his death nearly 28 years later.
One of the early influences of the Reverend John Dumbrell was the establishing of the Parish Magazine in January of 1897. There has not been one consistently from that time to the present, but when there has been, it has been an important journal for church members and villagers alike. The Magazine also mentions the Borers Arms Mission, and includes a menu that has coffee tea and cocoa for 1/2d and 1d; and bread and butter for 1/2d per slice, ham 3d a plateful. Bagatelle and other games appear to have been permitted. He saw the Church through the end of the Century and then left and went to Capetown, South Africa, where he died very shortly afterwards, on April 6 1901. He was also clearly much loved; there is plaque from the parishioners in his memory in the Chancel of the church.