FROM THE ARCHIVES

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT - October 29th: The Rev Thomas Denys, Clerk, Vicar of Bourne in Lincolnshire, brother-in-law of Lady Charlotte Denys, appeared to claim his discharge. The insolvent, upon examination, denied that he had ever represented to any person that he had a living worth £300 a year, or that he made £200 hundred pounds a year more by "extra jobbing", though he admitted getting two or three guineas for "extra preaching". Mr Matthew's debt was for money lent. Mr Matthew, a shoemaker, objected to the discharge on the grounds of an intention to deceive in the insolvent. With a view to ruin witness, he had invited him to take wine at Mr Tabourdin's in the rules of the King's Bench, but really for the purpose of persuading him to lend £1,200 to "a young heir". The insolvent had also gone with witness to Watford, where he ate "three plates of toast, and three plates of bread and butter, at his breakfast, leaving Mr Matthew to pay for it, amounting together to between three and four shillings". - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 8th November 1822.

NOTE: The Rev Thomas Denys was a graduate of Magdalene Hall, Oxford, where he was awarded his M A in 1796 and was instituted Vicar of Bourne in 1807. He died at Wellington Terrace, St John's Wood, London, on 22nd January 1842. His wife, Elizabeth, died at St George Street, Stamford, on 23rd March 1831.

THE ARRIVAL OF A NEW VICAR: On Sunday morning last, the new Vicar, the Rev George Eyre Massey, went through the ceremony of what is termed "reading himself in", the Thirty-nine Articles being read instead of the sermon. In the evening, the Vicar took his text from the 41st verse of the 19th chapter of Luke: "And when he was come near he beheld the city, and wept over it." The rev. gentleman, in a short discourse, kept close to his text, in no way alluding to the circumstances of this being his initiatory sermon, but having finished the sermon and closed the book, he, in a few brief and appropriate remarks, referred to the commencement of his ministry amongst his parishioners, to whom he earnestly appealed for their co-operation, and affectionately asking their prayers for divine blessing to rest upon him in his humble efforts to promote their welfare.
- news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 2nd November 1877.

THE VICAR: On Wednesday, the 2nd ult., our new Vicar, the Rev Hugh McNeile Mansfield, rang himself in as Vicar of the parish and on Sunday morning last read the whole of the Thirty-nine Articles in the place of preaching the usual sermon and afterwards subscribed to the same.
- news item from the Grantham Journal, Saturday 6th August 1881.

The Rev Hugh McNeile Mansfield, of Bourne, for nearly 30 years Vicar of the parish, who died on 10th September last, aged 64 years, left estate valued at £4,049 9s. 6d. gross, of which £3,946 11s. 3d. is net personality and probate of his will has been granted to his widow, Mrs Rose Eliza Mansfield, of Bourne. - news item from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 18th November 1910.

CANON JOHN WARWICK 1984-2002

Canon John Michael Warwick was Vicar of Bourne for 18 years and conducted his last services at the Abbey Church on 19th May 2002. He was born in 1937 and educated at Fitzwilliam House, Cambridge, followed by Ely Theological College, being ordained deacon in 1960 and priest in 1961 during a ceremony at Peterborough Cathedral. He served first as a curate at Towcester, Leighton Buzzard and Boston before being appointed Vicar of Long Sutton, Lincolnshire, in 1974, moving to Bourne in 1984 and during his incumbency was also chaplain to the town's hospitals until they closed.

He was also chaplain to the local branches of the Royal British Legion and Disability Lincs, and a trustee of Bourne United Charities. He was appointed canon and prebendary of Lincoln Cathedral in 1989 and was Rural Dean of Aveland and Ness with Stamford from 1993-2000. He and his wife, Pamela, have two sons, Paul and Christopher, and during his time in the town he also served as a governor of Bourne Grammar School. On retirement, he moved to Twyford, near Reading, Berkshire, after an emotional farewell. "We are leaving Bourne with considerable reluctance", he said, "and we appreciate those who have given us support and shown such kindness and friendship." Councillor Don Fisher, who had been Mayor of Bourne when Canon Warwick was inducted in 1984, paid a glowing tribute to his period in office. "He has been a credit to his religion", he said, "always welcoming, polite and very caring. He is a real gentleman who fitted well into the life of the town while Pamela did much for charity. We are all sorry to see them go."