Available onlineNineteenth Century
(page 13 of 13)
St Michael’s Church in the Nineteenth Century
Rev. George Wingate Pearse and his family
Rev. George Wingate Pearse (1824-1899), Walton’s longest serving incumbent, was Rector of Walton for almost half a century and lived with his family at the Old Rectory (now a children’s nursery) during this time. He was born in Harlington near Woburn, the son of a land proprietor. He was educated at Bedford then at Oxford University where he gained a degree and later a Fellowship at Corpus Christi College.
In 1851 George married Charlotte Smith (1829-1893) at Aspley Guise. Charlotte was from Atherstone in Warwickshire. At the time of his marriage George was Curate of Harlington, but the couple soon moved to Walton where George became Rector for the next 48 years. By 1861 George and Charlotte were living at the Rectory in Walton with their six children and several house servants including a governess. The family remained at the Rectory and during the first twenty two years of their marriage the Reverend Pearse and Charlotte had a total of 13 children – 8 sons and 5 daughters. Two of the Pearse’s sons, Charles Bryant and Henry Thomas, died abroad in the 1870s. There is a headstone to them situated close to the south wall of St Michael’s Church - shown on this page - although it is unlikely their bodies were repatriated at the time.
The first brother to die was 20 year old Charles Bryant Pearse (1854-1875) who passed away in Rio de Janeiro after contracting Yellow Fever. Although we have no documented evidence to explain why Charles was in South America, it is possible that he was working as a Missionary. There is evidence that Charles’ father was a supporter (and possibly member) of The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts (SPG) which was a Church of England missionary organisation active in the British Atlantic world in the 18th and 19th centuries. Founded in 1701 it sent Anglican clergymen and religious literature to Britain’s colonies, supported schoolmasters and the establishment of new churches, and lobbied for a more expansive place for the Church of England in Britain’s burgeoning empire.
In an article about a meeting of the SPG in 1897, Rev. George W Pearse, who was in attendance, gave an address which was reported in the Buckinghamshire Advertiser newspaper: “The Rev George Wingate Pearse gave the next address, briefly, but appropriately, dwelling on the responsibility which rested on the Christian Church at home to send the gospel to foreign lands, and thus to step into the place which Providence had assigned to us as a Christian nation.”
The second of the Pearse sons to die far from home was Henry Thomas Pearse (1857-1879). He was killed in The Battle of Isandhlwana in South Africa on 22 January 1879, when he was 21 years old. The battle was the first major encounter in the Anglo-Zulu War between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom. Despite a vast disadvantage in weapons technology, the Zulus ultimately overwhelmed the British invasion, killing over 1,300 troops. The Battle of Isandhlwana was portrayed in the 1979 film ‘Zulu Dawn’.
The Bucks Herald edition of Saturday 15 March 1879 included this short piece about Charles Bryant Pearse and the Battle of Isandlwana: “The slain at Isandula(sic) - Four youths belonging to this neighbourhood have, it is reported, fallen in this disastrous engagement, among them being, we regret to hear, a son of the Rev. G. W. Pearse, of Walton Rectory. He was about 21 years of age, and had only recently joined the Natal Mounted Police, who it will be remembered volunteered to go to the front. The deceased belonged to the Fenny Stratford Rifle Volunteers up to the time of his departure to Africa. He was much respected, and his end fate is deeply deplored. General sympathy is felt and expressed towards those who have thus suddenly been bereaved”
The inscription on the Pearse brothers’ headstone reads: “In Memory of Charles Bryant. Born July 28th, 1854. Died of Yellow Fever at Rio Janeiro South America, March 6th, 1875 and of Henry Thomas. Born August 9th, 1857. Killed at Isandhlwana, S.A. Janry 22, 1879. Sons of G. W. Pearse, Rector of this Church, and Charlotte his wife. Jesu, Mercy.”
Charlotte Pearse died on 8 January 1893 aged 64 years and was buried at Walton. George Wingate Pearse died on Boxing Day in 1899 aged 75 years. A photograph of their grave is shown on this page. The verse on their headstone is from Revelation 21:4 and reads: “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
Rev Pearse's obituary in the Bedfordshire Times & Independent was published on Friday 5 January 1900 and part of it is printed below:
“His loss will be deeply felt by the clergy and laity of this neighbourhood. Mr Pearse was always ready to help anyone, and willing to walk long distances at night to preach or lecture in a neighbouring town or village. His words of wisdom, kindly manner, and tall presence made him ‘persona gratissima’ wherever he went. Such an example of simple faith, and persevering devotion, and of a consistently good country parson, should be an encouragement to all. The funeral took place at the Walton Parish Church on Saturday afternoon. There was a large gathering of parishioners and others from the surrounding villages to witness the burial of their dear friend... Numerous wreaths were sent by relatives and friends, and references were made from several pulpits on Sunday to the loss the church had sustained.”
