The Webb family’s 100+ years of service

Thank you to Norman Powers for this contribution about a wonderful East Woodhay family:

In 1920 Leonard Webb took on the role of Clerk and Sexton of St Martin’s Church at an annual salary of £20. This was ratified at the Easter 1921 vestry meeting. Len worked at Sungrove and lived with his wife Ellen in Sungrove Cottage with a growing family: Leonard (Jim), Desmond, Marion, Cicely and Kate from 1923 until 1942.

The church was a part time job which entailed cutting the grass in the churchyard with a scythe, trimming the hedges, digging the graves and winding the clock twice a week. There were three weights, the heaviest being 5cwt (254Kilos). He was Captain of the Tower which entailed maintaining the bells and recruiting a team of ringers. He taught local youngsters and his own family as they became early teenagers.

The heating system was installed in 1930 and was fired with anthracite so the boiler had to be lit and stoked before the services in the winter to ensure a warm church for the service. Electricity was not installed until 1946. Ellen cleaned the inside of the church and played the organ for the Sunday School which the children attended. As they became older, they sang in the choir.  Marion played the organ when the regular organist had an extended break. Kate was a Churchwarden from 2004 for six years. During the summer months Len would finish work and after tea go up the church and work until it was dark. At the weekends all the family used to go up and join him.

Sadly, Len died in 1956 at the early age of 62 and his older son Jim took over the role. Ellen retired from her cleaning role and Jim’s wife Doris took over. Jim carried on much as his father but I believe by this time a motor mower was used to cut the grass and in the mid-1960s the heating system was converted to become oil fired which must have lightened his workload considerably. However, one of his tasks was daunting:  the lighting had been secured under the roof beams and Jim climbed up a long wooden ladder to change the bulbs when required. Health and safety would have a fit today. Jim also took on the tower captain’s responsibilities and at one time there were members of the family ringing four of the six bells; my father and Jack Crocker the local chimney sweep rang the other two. They now listen to our efforts today from the churchyard. Jim sadly died in 1989 aged 66 and his son Bill took over the tower captain job and was eventually assisted in the clock winding duties by two of the bell ringers. The clock has now been fitted with automatic winders.

A benefactor gave money towards the upkeep of the churchyard and this is now carried out by an outside contractor. Graves are dug by a mechanical digger. Doris continued cleaning the church aided by her daughter Margaret until 2013 and she passed away in October 2017 aged 96. Bill continued his tower captain duties until he died in June 2024. Margaret also continued to ring the bells until her sudden death in March 2023.

This is a remarkable length of service by three generations of one family who have served seven Rectors over this period - a remarkable feat which I am sure will never be repeated. This outstanding service should be an inspiration to us all