Of the early records of the old Congregational Church (which contained The Needlemakers Graveyard) only some have been preserved but fortunately one interesting entry has been traced - the baptism on October 28th 1828 of Ellen, daughter of William and Elizabeth Webb (father's occupation - fish hook maker). Perhaps he was married at the Congregational Church, which is, after all, in Evesham Street where we know he was living. Another possibility is that his wife was Elizabeth Long, who married a William Webb at St Philips, Birmingham in the spring of 1828. The witness was a James Webb, so this is a good "match" (!) of date, church and names. Their married life in Redditch was of only short duration - Ellen was buried there only 19 months later, and the following year (July 1831) we find - Burial, Elizabeth Webb, aged 33 years, wife of William Webb of Redditch, fish hook maker.

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THE HISTORY OF REDDITCH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

In 1822 a group of needlemakers met with their employer Thomas Williams to discuss religious matters which were of great concern to them. They sought a freedom of worship which was not to be found in Redditch at the time. Williams had been converted by preachers of the Wesleyan traditional, but he and his workers sought a fuller type of non-conformity. Williams decide to offer a site of some two acres next to his factory in Evesham Street, and the foundation stone for the new church was laid in July 1825. Sadly, Williams died in September of that year, but from his considerable fortune he left money to build the church, with bequests also to the British and Foreign Bible Society, and to the London Missionary Society.

In June 1828 the covenant was formed for "The Independent and Congregational Church" and some members of the Webb family were part of the congregation at the start. Unfortunately only a few of the records of the church have survived, but we know of the baptism of William Webb's daughter, and of the burial of this daughter, and of his first wife (see above). The list of members from 1830 shows a James Webb, who is noted to have left (but when?). Two daughters of a James and Elizabeth Webb (he a needle finisher) were christened at the church - Eleanor in February 1845 and Elizabeth Ann in February 1848.

The church buildings were completed in phases - first the chapel and the vestries, then a school hall in 1889, and a suite of ten rooms in 1910 (this built on the site of the Littleworth orchard). The church served the needs of the populace of Redditch not only in the spiritual sense but also in the field of education and leisure. Long before the 1870 Education Act churches such as the Congregational church ran Sunday Schools, which offered to both adults and children the opportunity to learn to read and write. The classes were held on a Sunday, the only day of leisure for the workers. Clubs and societies were run from the rooms, often with the aim of offering an alternative to sitting drinking in the pub. A tennis court and a bowling green were later added.

interior, 1960s

The church continued to thrive until it was threatened by the New Town Development plans which were revealed in 1964, and the church building was scheduled for demolition (the congregation was offered alternative accommodation within the Ecumenical Centre). Of course a church is more than a building, it is above all a community of believers, but the loss of the building was a severe blow and much lamented by the town. By a curious twist of history, descendants of the original Webbs had been worshipping at the Congregational church in Redditch from the late 1940s onwards, but ignorant of the previous connection. When the remains of those buried in the small burial ground, known as the Needlemakers' Graveyard, had to be re interred, they were asked if they wished to be present, as the names of Ellen Webb and Elizabeth Webb appeared in the burial records. Regrettably we did not then know who they were, but can, through this account, put the records straight.
We would also like to put on record our gratitude to everyone at the Congregational Church who were the dear friends of Jessie, Rosemary and Alice throughout the 1950s and 60s when we were privileged to attend the Old Congo.

John Hickley was a noteable and valued citizen of the town of Aldershot - he is highly spoken of in his obituary of 1898. He was a member of the first School Board in Aldershot, a Freemason, and staunch churchman. He later developed a coal business taking in his nephew, a Mr Alderton.
That he was public spirited may be assessed by the plans for new WCs in St George's Square, Aldershot (7th August 1895) - owner (of the land?) - J. S. Hickley.

John and Emily moved to Upton House, Hale, near Farnham, but he continued his interest in the coal trade, a business which had also attracted the attention of his brother-in-law Thomas Edward Webb, who lived in Aldershot for a time, and may have been a partner in the firm.
In 1895 the firm was called J S Hickley & Co, coal merchants, with an entry in Kellys Directory for the area as late as 1920, but it is also referred to as Hickley & Co Ltd, coal and builders merchants, and ironmongers in 1907.It is not known whether Thomas Edward remained a partner, but it is said that nephew Alderton squandered the profits of the business.

Despite frequent poor health, John Hickley evidently couldn't resist getting involved in new enterprises. At the time of his death it was electricity which had taken his interest, his last illness being attributed "to the excitement occasioned by a scheme he was considering for the installation of electric light to his house, and to the fatigue consequent on a ride in his motor carriage at Easter to see the procession of motor cars on their way to Portsmouth"!

John and Emily Hickley had no children, but took a great liking to one of Thomas Edward's brood, and young Gertie was a frequent visitor, almost a permanent guest. By the 1901 census Ellen Hickley now a widow, had moved to Leamington, and is found there with her sister Emma Cranmore (also a widow) and Gertie.

John Cheer and his wife Ann had moved from Great Marlow to Bray, near Maidenhead, to Battle Farm at Edge Hill, from there to Harbury, Warwickshire, and then to Tookeys Farm at Feckenham, acquiring in the process six daughters who survived infancy (two who did not), and one son (who, as a young man, broke his apprenticeship and ran away, perhaps being scarred for life by such a dominant female presence in the family!).
It was said that John Cheer suffered from rheumatism, and continually moved his place of employment as farm bailiff in a search for the best conditions. He settled in Worcestershire, at Tookeys Farm, and in his retirement, at Mappleborough Green. John and Ann celebrated their Golden Wedding at Mappleborough Green in 1897, but the newspaper report is rather muddled in its attempt to account for John's movements over the years. He died at Mappleborough Green in 1901 (before the census date) at Rose Cottage.

John Cheer Tookeys Farm

A TRIPLE MARRIAGE
taken from the Bucks Free Press and Oxfordshire Gazette April 23rd 1873

"Marrying and giving in marriage" is an injunction - a promise- which meets with ready acquiescence. It is not often that we hear of three weddings in one day in a family; and the announcement that three charming daughters of a former townsman - Mr Cheer - were led to be willing sacrifices to the Hymeneal altar, created quite a new sensation; and, on Tuesday morning last, our streets assumed an appearance of life and bustle altogether unusual. Carriages, with the horses and coachmen adorned with white favours, were to be seen conveying the bridal party; whilst large numbers of persons hastened to the Parish Church, evidently anxious to witness the ceremony. It is only right to state that the ladies turned out in by far the greatest numbers; and among them the expectation, animation, and excitement arose to a great height: while the event of the day was discussed with womanly eloquence and warmth. Some ill-natured fellows even went so far as to remark that many a fair face looked with a feeling akin to envy on the happy brides, as they passed in triumph down the nave of the church. The brides with their attendant maids, were most becomingly and prettily attired; the predominant colours being red, white and blue.
The ceremony, which was witnessed by a great multitude, was impressively performed by the Vicar of the parish.
On the bridal party quitting the church, sweet flowers were strewn in their path by a bevy of pretty innocents from a neighbouring school. The wedding-breakfast, and the succeeding hours of the day, were in joyous keeping; the Misses Eagle doing the honours with all the liberality, which devoted love to their youthful relatives would suggest: and, on the departure of the happy pairs on their wedding-tours, three hearty "cheers" were given for "the red white and blue".
Note: Mr Cheer was bailiff to the Wethered family, and lived in Town Farm, West Marlow.
"Hymen" was the Greek god of marriage.
The Misses Eagle were the aunts of the brides.
There was a popular patriotic song at the time "Three Cheers for the red white and blue".

The eldest daughter, Mary Ann Lyford Cheer, married Henry Clark, a baker from Buckinghamshire. Charlotte married Charles Scriven, a draper from Studley, and 20 year-old Catharine married Thomas Edward Webb, a clerk from Redditch aged 32.
It is said that the three brides used their diamond (engagement) rings to scratch their names on the window pane, but there is some confusion as to where the commemorative graffiti was made.

The brides came from a robust line of Cheers, several of whom lived to a ripe old age.
John Cheer senior, their grandfather, was christened in Drayton in 1785, but was "farmer" in Great Marlow at the time of his son's marriage to Ann Eagle in 1847, ( this may have meant "farm bailiff"). He probably originated in Essex, and moved back on his retirement. We know that he was appointed bailiff to Messers Wethered of Marlow in 1827, and had married Mary Ann Lyford in 1819 or 1820. John Cheer senior died in Essex in 1871, and his wife Ann died at Greensted Lane, Cottage 2, Little Hallingbury, Essex in 1882, at the age of 91.