Rev Henry George Downing LIVEING [447]

  General Notes:

Births.
Liveing. On the 10th inst, the wife of Edward Liveing, Esq., M. B., of 52, Queen Anne Street, Cavendish Square, of a son.
Ref: The Morning Chronicle 14th March 1861

Birth Ref Jun Qtr 1861 Marylebone 1a 423 BDM

Liveing: Rev Henry George Downing 2s Edward of London, Gent., St Edmund Hall, matric., 5 Feb 1879 aged 17 B.A. 1882.
Alumni Oxonienses 1715-1886 NZSOG

Crockfords 1888 Henry George Downing Liveing - 52 Queen Anne St W-St. Edin Hall Oxford BA 1882; 1884 Win. Priest 1886 by Bishop Cramer Roberts for Win,Curate of Selbourne Dio. Win 1886; Curate of Westcott SRY 1884 - 87; Crockfords 1895 - Selbourne Hants. 1886 - 88; Gillingham Dorset 1889 - 90; Bramley SRY 1890 - 92.

Ecclesiastical Intelligence.
Licences To Curacies.
By the Bishop of Salisbury.
Dorset - Henry George Downing Liveing, B. A. to Gillingham.
Ref: Ipswich Journal 21 May 1888.

Romsey Hampshire.
Private Residents.
Liveing Rev H.G. The Abbey
Warrens Winchester Directory 1895.

Benevolent Institutions
Refuge. North Walls
. . . . . Cmtte. . . . . . Rev H.G. Liveing. . . . .
Warrens Winchester Directory 1900.

1919 Edward is registered as a shareholder in the Gt Western Railway

Rumour has it he a Husseyite (Moravian Church)?

When Henry was Curate of Polstead, he lived at the "Cottage" at Stoke by Nayland.

Henry was a published author.
Liveing, Henry George Downing
Records of Romsey Abbey : an account of the Benedictine house of nuns with notes on the parish church and town (A.D. 907-1558) : compiled from manuscript and printed records
Published Winchester : Warren and Son 1906
Available at GUILDHALL LIBRARY.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Physical Description: xxiii, 342 p., (34) leaves of plates : ill., maps, geneal. table ; 23 cm

Liveing, Henry George Downing, St Edm. Hall, Ox. BA 1882, MA 1888. d 1884 Win. p 1886 Bp Cramer Roberts for Win. C. Of Westcott 1884 - 86; Selborne 1886 - 88; Gillingham, Dorset, 1888 - 90; Bramley 1890 - 92; Romsey 1892 - 98; V of St Bart. Win. 1898 - 1912; Combrook w Compton Verney 1912 - 19; Rothersthorpe, Dio. Pet. from 1919. (P, P. Phillips Esq; Eccles, Comm. 133L; o.s.3L; Gross Inc 137L and Ho; Pop 239) Rothersthorpe Vicarage, Northampton.
Ref: Crockford's Clerical Directory

Parish Gifts to Rector.
Retirement of the Rev H. G. Liveing.
At the parochial tea, held in the Memorial Hall, at Rothersthorpe, gifts were made to the rector, the Rev H.G. Liveing, who is retiring, and to Mrs Liveing.
Mrs Smith, on behalf of the parish, presented a wallet of notes and expressed the appreciation of the parish of the rector's 14 years of faithful service. Three of the oldest scholars, Derek Green, Betty Wyne and Vera Smith, acting on behalf of the schoolchildren, presented a smoker's compendium and cigarettes to the rector and a work basket and stand to Mrs Liveing, and two of the youngest scholars, Sheila Smith and Winifred Byson, handed Mrs Liveing a bouquet.
Replying, Mr Liveing said he regretted leaving Rothersthorpe and recalled many happy gatherings. He wished to thank all who had contributed to the presents and especially thanked the churchwardens and officials, with all the helpers, who had worked with him for so long, and Mrs Robinson, who had arranged the tea.
A concert which was thoroughly enjoyed by a large audience, was presided over by Mr S Smith and the following contributed to the programme: Mr A Paul, Mr A Clifton, Mr R Botterill, and Mr A Byson. Miss E M Wilson, the school mistress, who arranged the concert, produced the sketches, and was assisted by Miss McInnerley, the assistant school mistress, who also acted as pianist.
Tea was served by Mr and Mrs Crowder, Mrs J Smith, Mrs H Haynes, Miss Dunbabbin, Miss I Cook, Miss F Jeffry, Mrs Manning and Mrs Bester, who were assisted by Mrs J Smith, H Manning, W Paul, and H Hayes.
Ref: Northampton Mercury Friday, 27 October 1933.

1939 Register.
19 Oaklands Avenue , Esher U.D., Surrey, England
Henry GLiveing10 Mar 1861Clerk In Holy Orders Pensioned & Private MeansMarried
Margaret Liveing17 May 1859Incapacitated Married
Frances D Liveing 19 Jun 1898 Unpaid Domestic Duties Single

Liveing Rev H G.D. Roxana 19 Oaklands Ave Esher Emberbrk 1566
Ancestry: London Phone Book 1934/35/36/37/38/39

Liveing Rev Henry G. D. Copt Gilders Alcocks Ln Burgh H 2805
Ancestry: London Phone Books 1943/45/46/47

Henry was aged 86 at death.
Ref Table 1A Byegone Days.

Liveing the Rev Henry George Downing of Copt Gilders Alcocks Lane Burgh Heath Banstead Surrey died 17 April 1947 Probate London 16 July to Marjorie Downing Liveing spinster and Edward George Downing Liveing general manager.
Effects L7154 11s 4d
Ref: National Probate Calendar.

  Research Notes:

Elizabeth Hallett, Historian for Romsey Abbey, Hampshire writes 2016:
Between 1892-1898 Rev Henry George Downing Liveing, M.A. was an Assistant Curate at Romsey Abbey.

He wrote The Records of Romsey Abbey, having done extensive research of the period 907 to 1558, a book which has been invaluable to Abbey historians ever since.

By the 1890s the parish consisted of the large Romanesque Abbey Church, three small Victorian daughter churches in outlying hamlets at Crampmoor, Lee and Ridge, sometimes called mission churches. Crampmoor and Ridge had been built as schools during the week, conveting to become churches on Sundays. There was also a Mission Room in Middlebridge Street in the town, and the Union Workhouse. The Vicar during Henry Liveing's curacy was the Revd James Cooke-Yarborough.

Mrs Liveing put an advertisement in the Church Times on 19th August 1892: WANTED in a clergyman's family Romsey Hampshire, a young girl as NURSE for one child 13 months old. Must be well recommended. State wages. Apply to Mrs Liveing 42 Newland, Northampton. This child was a daughter, Marjorie, born at Bramley.

March 1893, Henry Liveing gave a lecture in the Temperance Hall Romsey in connection with the Higher Religious Education Society. It dealt with the scenes, places, monasteries, abbeys etc which have been the subject of the Rev C Smith's lectures this winter in connection witht he Reformation, on behalf of the Society in Romsey. He was present at the unveiling of a peal board in the ringing chamber March 1893. A number of other parochial duties mentioned in local paper.

In June 1893 the Church Times carried an advertisement: LOC. TENENCY wanted for several Sundays in July or August in South Wiltshire, South Hants or Dorset. Seaside preferred. Rev H Liveing, The Abbey, Romsey, Hants.

Together with R. A. Sidebottom, he was on the committee organising a Sunday School Fete at Broadlands with 641 children present - these came from the Abbey, Lee, Ridge and Crampmoor chapels, Bible classes etc. Easter 1898 Henry was mentioned in reports of the Easter services, together with the Revs Hampson, Sidebottom and Yarnall. and he also returned in March 1899 to attend the funeral of Mr Charles Holloway, sexton and choir member for 52 years.

Henry Liveing's departure in early 1898 led to an advertisement in the Church Times in 18th February 1989: ROMSEY ABBEY - Assistant Curate wanted. Country town, huge number of poor. Daily celebrations. L150. Address Vicar, Romsey, Hants.

He became Vicar of St Bartholomew's, Hyde, Winchester in 1898, the appointment announced in the Church Times on 4th February 1898.

1912-1919 Vicar of Combrook, Compton Verney; and of Rothersthorpe in Diocese of Peterborough from 1919-1933. When he retired from Rothersthorpe, a parochial tea was held in the Memorial Hall, at Rothersthorpe, 'gifts were made to the rector, the Rev H.G. Liveing, who is retiring, and to Mrs Liveing. Mrs Smith, on behalf of the parish, presented a wallet of notes and expressed the appreciation of the parish of the rector's 14 years of faithful service. Three of the oldest scholars . . . acting on behalf of the schoolchildren, presented a smoker's compendium and cigarettes to the rector and a work basket and stand to Mrs Liveing, and two of the youngest scholars . . . handed Mrs Liveing a bouquet.
Replying, Mr Liveing said he regretted leaving Rothersthorpe and recalled many happy gatherings. He wished to thank all who had contributed to the presents and especially thanked the churchwardens and officials, with all the helpers, who had worked with him for so long, and Mrs Robinson, who had arranged the tea. A concert which was thoroughly enjoyed by a large audience.'

The Liveings moved firstly to 19 Oaklands Avenue, Esher Emberbrook and then to Copt Gilders, Alcocks Lane, Burgh Heath, Banstead, Surrey.

1893-1984 - A Snapshot of the Curates at Work at Romsey
The parish archive has a bound copy of the parish magazines for 1893 and 1894. These report a wide range of activities in the parish, and from them it is possible to get a picture of the life of the curates of the time. Listed in the parish accounts was a Curates Fund, which was to pay the stipends of the assistant clergy. They also received an Easter offering from the congregation, which in 1893 amounted to L14.5.1.

1893 started with the departure of the Rev Ernest Evans. The Vicar wrote: We all seem agreed that a third Curate is a necessity, and you will have heard with regret that we shall have to find a successor to the Revd E Evans, who leaves us to be Vicar of New Charlton. It seems quite necessary to re-open Ridge, and there is a fair congregation, but that means we have to supply clergy for no less than 9 services every Sunday and sometimes 10, while outside of Romsey there are 1200 people scattered over 10,000 acres to be visited from time to time. I do trust therefore that I may have your liberal help in raising the necessary L100 a year.

Henry Liveing became Secretary of a newly-established branch of the Higher Religious Education Society (HRES) which aimed to encourage the study of the Bible, Prayer book and Church history by means of regular lectures, instruction papers and a small lending library. During Lent Henry Liveing preached at Evensong on some 'Great Penitents', while the Catechisings during the children's afternoon service were taken by Thomas Hampson.

Thomas Hampson was involved with the Choir and was also very active as Vice-President of the Band of Hope, part of a great movement to encourage temperance. The new curate, the Rev Allan Gunn, had arrived by Lent, when he gave a course of Bible instruction on Thursday afternoons in the Side Chapel at 3pm and also preached each evening during Holy Week.

The Rev Arthur Corfe meanwhile, although involved chiefly with the Union Workhouse, was very active in arrangements for a major display put on by the Reading Society, and also a garden party at Broadlands in August in aid of SPG.

In September came the Sunday School treat when among the other activities was the Cocoa-nut stand which did a roaring trade and provided "200 cocoa-nuts to be bowled at and affording something like 1000 shots for the children and their friends at a net cost of some 10/- to the organisers of the treat. We have to thank Mr Liveing for introducing and managing this form of entertainment."

During Advent Henry Liveing preached each Sunday morning from the Prophet Isaiah
on God's Pleadings; God's Purity; God's Punishments and God's Promises. At the afternoon Catechising, Thomas Hampson preached on the Herald of the First Advent: His Office; His Earnestness; His Boldness and His Humility.

By the start of 1894 it was reported that Temperance work was now having some success, 'several meetings have been held and many consciences have been stirred, three pledges have been taken, the Band of Hope has been revised and with a roll of already 100, bids fair to be a great success. This branch of our work is more especially under the charge of the Revs H Liveing and T Hampson'. The Church of England Temperance Society (CETS) was also active in the parish and at an evening entertainment, Rev Allan Gunn 'kindly contributed the popular element in the comic line'.

In March a past Curate was invited back to Romsey - the Rev C M A Tower (1872-1873) preached at the Three Hours Service on Good Friday and also the Maundy Thursday address.. The Vicar wrote: 'This is a great gain to Romsey, as Mr Tower apart from the associations connected with his having been once a curate here, is undoubtedly a very good preacher, we trust that a blessing may come through his lips to many this Holy Week'.

Henry Liveing was Secretary of the Bell Ringers' Guild. The sale of work and fete for the schools at Broadlands was a major summer event and the Curates were kept busy and inside the house Rev H Liveing and his helpers conducted frequent parties round to see the pictures.

In September they had an unusual experience: there was a wedding of 'a lady and gentlemen, neither of whom were able to make the responses by word of mouth, being deaf and dumb. The Clergyman who ministers to those who are so afflicted in this Diocese was unable to be present, his place was supplied by two of the Assistant Clergy of the Abbey, who by means of writing, signs, and the dumb alphabet, tied up at the happy couple in a very effectual manner'.

In December Allan Gunn gave three Thursday night addresses which, the Vicar said, will be of an interesting character and intended for all classes, and we hope that those whose days are spent in toil will still surrender a part of the evening rest to the things that belong to their eternal peace.
Ref: E.C. Hallett, Historian Romsey Abbey Hampshire.

  Other Records

1. Henry George Downing Liveing: Images.
Henry in his dog collar, his signature, with family he is second from the right at the rear.

2. Census: England, 8 Apr 1861, 52 Queen Ann St Cavendish Sq Marylebone MDX. Henry is recorded as a son aged 1 mth born Marylebone MDX

3. Census: England, 2 Apr 1871, 1 Sussex Villas Cambridge CAM. Henry was described as a grandson and scholar aged 10 born London MDX

4. Census: England, 3 Apr 1881, 52 Queen Ann St Cavendish Sq Marylebone MDX. Henry was described as a son aged 20 an unmarried scholar born Marylebone LON

5. Census: England, 5 Apr 1891, Station Rd Bramley SRY. Henry is described as head of house married aged 30 Clerk in Holy Orders born Marylebone LON (Spelt Leveing in Ancestry)

6. Census: England, 2 Apr 1911, Hyde Vicarage Winchester. Henry is recorded as Head of a house of 12 rooms aged 50 married a clergyman born Marylebone LON. There was a cook and a housmaid also in the house

Henry married Margaret RANDS [448] [MRIN: 127], daughter of George RANDS [10859] and Julia WRIGHT [10860], on 27 Aug 1890 in St Sepulchre Northampton. (Margaret RANDS [448] was born on 17 May 1858 in St Sepulchre Northampton, baptised on 21 Jul 1858 in Northampton NTH and died on 18 Mar 1947 in Burgh Heath SRY.)

  Marriage Notes:

From the marriage certificate Henry is shown as 29 years old, a Clerk in Holy Orders from Gillingham Dorset, Margaret's age is not given, she is described as a spinster of Newlands and her father as George Rands, solicitor. Witnesses were George Rands, William R F Liveing, Sarah Eleanor Rands, Gertrude Rands and Julia Rands.