Curate of Deopham 1845 – 1850
Contents
Biography
The Norfolk Chronicle and Norwich Gazette dated February 1st 1845 announced that the Rev. Henry Spencer had been licenced as Curate to the parish of Deopham.
An announcement of his appointment appeared in the Ecclesiastical Gazette, Vol VII (Feb 1845). He is also listed in the 1845 edition of White’s History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Norfolk, and the City and County of the City of Norwich.
He first appeared in the Deopham Burial Register on April 3rd 1845 where he signed himself “Henry Spencer, Curate”:
The Rev. Henry Spencer was instrumental in getting the project to build a village school off the ground. He wrote a number of letters to the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury, and organised the preparation of plans, estimates and a conveyance of the site. There is much more information on the founding of the first school here. This all occurred whilst the Rev. Richard Adams was vicar; Adams was based in Edingthorpe.
As a curate, the Rev. Henry Spencer was employed by the vicar, the Rev. Richard Adams. The curate had no job security whatsoever so would have been well aware that upon the death of his employer, the Rev. Richard Adams, he would be redundant. It is understandable therefore that with this cloud on the horizon he should explore the possibility of being appointed vicar of Deopham.
The Rev. Henry Spencer asked in letters to Canterbury a couple of times what he would need to do to get the Vicar’s job when he died, the second instance being on February 8th 1850 (only a month before the death of the Rev. Richard Adams):
Might I so far trespass upon your kindness as to ask what you would advise me to do. I am greatly censured by many of my friends for not making application to the Dean and Chapter for this Living after the decease of the present Vicar. Certainly it would be a very desirable thing for me could I obtain it. But what steps would it be best to take in order to attain so desirable an end I really do not know. I can only state to you my wishes upon the subject. Should you be inclined to assist me by pointing out the best course to be pursued, I should be deeply indebted to you.
Clearly his petitions were unsuccessful since he did not get the job.
It would appear that when the next vicar, the Rev. George Turner, was appointed at the end of 1850 he took the credit for the building of the school.
The Rev. Henry Spencer’s last burial in Deopham was on October 15th 1850 and his last baptism in Deopham was on September 1st 1850. The end of his time in Deopham occurred shortly after the death of his vicar, the non resident Rev. Richard Adams.
After Deopham
The 1861 Census recorded him as living in Bale, being Vicar of Field Dalling, aged 39, having been born in Carleton Forehoe. He was living with his wife, two daughters and a servant. He was still in this role at the time of the 1901 census, although shown as a widower.
Navigation
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| 26/10/24 | Links to letter of Feb 1850 and founding of church school |
| 18/8/24 | Additional detail about lack of security. |
| 17/4/24 | Announcement in the Norfolk Chronicle and Norwich Gazette. |
| 19/10/23 | Involvement with founding the school |
| 13/10/23 | More details on last services in Deopham |
| 14/8/23 | Comments based on Burials Register |
| 8/2/23 | Published |
Deopham History 