Great Burstead Church Fete 1882

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This newspaper article tells of the very first Great Burstead Church Féte, held to raise money to carry out some desperately needed maintenance to the church. The original article is reproduced to the right and has been transcribed below:

GARDEN FETE AT BILLERICAY

GREAT BURSTEAD CHURCH RESTORATION

Yesterday Thursday, in aid of the restoration of Great Bursted parish church, a garden Féte and fancy bazaar was held at Burghsted Lodge, Billericay, under the patronage of the Lord Bishop of St. Albans and the Hon. Mrs. Claughton. Burghsted Lodge is the residence of Col. B.R. Branfill and the Bazaar was mainly promoted by Mrs. Branfill, assisted by other ladies in the district, to whom the Restoration Committee and all interested in the repair of the spire of the old parish Church of Great Burstead, which is now in a very dilapidated and dangerous condition, are much indebted.  The Féte was opened by the Hon. Mrs. Claughton, in the presence of a numerous company, which included the Lord Bishop of the diocese, the Hon. Mrs. Claughton, the Ven. Archdeacon of Essex, the Revds. J.H. Beresford Harris (Rural Dean), H. Hasted, P.L. Claughton, J.D. Hoysted, E.G. Derby, and E.P. Gibson; Capt. Carnegy; Dr. F. Carter; Messrs. A. Ward, E. Jones, Barnard, Jeffreies, &c.

Col. BRANFILL addressed the Bishop and the Hon. Mrs Claughton, thanked them on behalf of the ladies for their presence. Their object, he said, was to collect money for the restoration of the old church. A good beginning had been made, upwards of £300 having been collected, with which the roof, window, and wall of the south aisle had been restored. The spire and tower remained in a shocking state, and unless repaired soon must go to ruin, to the lasting disgrace of the whole neighbourhood. Voluntary contributions were alone available for the purpose, and the population of the parish was small, poor, and scattered. Now that the hamlet of Billericay had become a separate parish with the Church of its own, poor old Bursted Church was neglected and almost forsaken. In response therefore to the due necessities of the case they had, with the aid of nearly everyone in the place, got up this Féte, and the touching way in which all, especially the middle-class and poorer neighbours, had come forward with help and sympathy was most gratifying. It showed with what warm affection their old parish Church was generally regarded. To-day they appealed to the larger and wealthier public of the surrounding neighbourhood to crown their efforts with success. In proof of the affection of Billericay for its old mother Church, he might mention that “the Billericay Stall” was almost exclusively furnished by residents of that place; and the refreshment tents had been supplied graciously through the warm-hearted zeal and energy of the Hostess of the Red Lion Hotel (Mrs Sides), than whom no one had done more for the object they had in view.

The Rev. J.S. WINSLOW (Vicar) fully endorsed the observations made by the gallant Colonel, expressing his grateful acknowledgement to his Lordship and the Hon. Mrs Claughton, and to so many gracious sympathisers in the cause which he and they at their heart, for the assistance they had so freely rendered.

The Féte was gracefully opened by the Hon. Mrs CLAUGHTON; and the BISHOP thanked those who had been instrumental in getting together such a fine array of articles, and in organising such a pleasant gathering.

Col. Branfill was cordially thanks for the use of his grounds, and for the zeal he and Mrs. Branfill had displayed.

The sales then commenced, and were briskly carried on, and the anticipation being that the proceeds would be very gratifying.

Stalls were kept by the following ladies and gentlemen :-

Mrs. Spitty, assisted by the Misses Kemble, Miss Cutts and others. Miss Archer, assisted by Miss Avery and Miss Jones. Mrs. Brydges Branfill, assisted by Mrs. Younger, Miss Ind, Miss Heatley, Miss Clark, and others.
THE BILLERICAY STALL. – Mrs. John Jeffries, of Billericay assisted by Miss Spinks, miss K. Harris, Miss Rider, and others; Mrs. Barnard (Great Bursted), assisted by the Misses Stone and others (flowers, fruit, pottery, &c.).
THE DAIRY STALL.– Miss Boughtwood (Great Bursted), the Rev. J.S.  Winslow (Vicar) assisted by Misses Crofton, Mr. C. Boughtwood, and others (pictures and photographs, with parcels office).
REFRESHMENT STALL.—Mrs. Sides, assisted by Mrs. Monk, Miss Sides, and others.

Concerts, consisting of vocal and instrumental music, were given in a large marquee specially arranged for the occasion. These were carried out by Major and Mrs. Younger, Major Arkwright, Miss Claughton, Mrs. Branfill, the Rev. W. Shakespeare, Mr. Walter Gepp and others. The fish pond had been tastefully constructed by the Rev. F.M. Sparks, and was presided over by Mrs. Sparks, Miss Sparks, and Miss Carter. Conjuring performances were also given by the Rev. F.M. Sparks. An exhibition of living waxworks, with Mr Newburn as showman, was quite a novelty. The other attractions including a Gipsy’s donkey laden with trifles, which was led by Miss Lily Murray and Miss May Branfill, in costume; and fortune telling by Miss Murray, also in costume. Miss Blanche Branfill acted as the old woman who lived in a shoe, and sold her numerous children – otherwise dolls – with whom she didn’t know what to do; and Miss Daisy Hoysted was “Flower Girl.” The band of the 4th Essex Regiment (by permission of Col. Ruggles Brise C.B.) enlivened the proceedings with excellent music. Towards the close of the evening there were auction sales and dancing on the lawn.