The Old Vicarage B&B, Little Ouse

The Vicarage and church of ST. John the Evangelist, Little Ouse, stands in a remote position on the Cambridge/Norfolk boundary, 2 miles from the Littleport-Mildenhall road. It was erected in 1869 at the cost of Canon E. B. Sparke, Rector of Feltwell and son of Bishop Sparke. It appears though he may have visited, he never lived in Little Ouse. Being the rector of St. Mary’s, Feltwell from 1831 to his death in 1879.

It is a building of flint with stone dressings and slate roof, consisting of chancel with north vestry and organ chamber, nave, and north-west tower with clock (not functioning) and pyramidal slated roof. The ground stage of the tower forms a porch. The weather vane is in the form of a dragon. The tower contains three bells (now removed). The registers begin in 1867. The parish was formed the previous year from Littleport and the following Norfolk parishes- Feltwell St. Mary, Feltwell St. Nicholas, Hilgay, and Southery.

Vicars of Little Ouse

1860?

• _{The earliest entry in the baptism register is 2nd December 1860.}
  • _{https://www.engcam.org/index.php/ancestors/34-barritts-of-the-fenlands/12-st-john-little-ouse-and-brandon-bank}
  • _{It would be good to identify where this register is and find out by whom and where the the service was performed as this predates the new flint church and also the accepted start of the registers which is usually shown as 1867?}

1867 – 1877 – Rev.d Charles Sumpter Harris

• The Bishop of Ely celebrated the first mass at St John’s altar on Wednesday, May 6th 1869.
  • _{With the Rev.d Harris being listed in the Littleport notebook as 1867 – 1877, we. can assume that he started off his parochial duties at the old Anglican mission and School House in Little Ouse.}
• 6th, January 1872 – Baptism Record – Alice Maud Harris, Father – Charles Sumpter Harris (Vicar), Mother’s given name – Emily.
  • _{http://tinstaafl.co.uk/nbp/Church_Pages/ouse_lt.htm#:~:text=A%20single%20standard%20800%2Dentry%20register,it%20was%20viewed%20as%20is.}
    • _{It looks as if the Rev.d Charles Sumpter Harris may have been the first vicar of the new church at St John’s Little Ouse.}
    • _{Newton, William Fretwell
      Adm. pens. at Caius, Feb. 9, 1852. S. of Christopher, Wesleyan minister. B. Sept. 19, 1827, at Wirksworth, Derbs. Schools Clitheroe and Stafford. Matric. Michs. 1852; B.A. 1856; M.A. 1860. Ord. deacon (Chester) 1856; priest 1857; C. of St Bride’s, Liverpool, 1856-7. C. of St Mary’s, Bury St Edmunds, 1857-62. C. of Histon, Cambs., 1864-5. C. of Littleport, Cambs., 1865-76. V. of St Mark’s, Preston, Lancs., 1876-88. R. of Wambrook, Dorset, 1888-94. Died Sept. 19, 1894. Father of Herbert F. (1885). (Venn, II. 307; Crockford.) [Married, 20 Nov. 1862,at Histon, Cambridgeshire,, Sophia, dau. of the late C.P. Harris, of Newnham, Cambridge,, [Cambridgeshire [-co]] [-co]; she was a sister of Charles Sumpter Harris (1853) and a niece of William Smithies Beevor (1818) (P.J. Bamwell)]}
      • _{https://prestonhistory.com/sources-2/prestons-cambridge-alumni-n-p/}

1877 – 1882 Henry Brown

• 15th April 1877 – Baptism Record – Isobel Kirkwood Brown, Father – Henry Brown (Clerk in Holy Orders). Mother’s given name – Sarah Susannah
  • _{http://tinstaafl.co.uk/nbp/Church_Pages/ouse_lt.htm#:~:text=A%20single%20standard%20800%2Dentry%20register,it%20was%20viewed%20as%20is.}
  • _{The Littleport notebook gives the date of 1877 – 1882. Need to get the baptism record to see who performed the baptism on the 15th of April.}

1882 – 1889 Rev.d John Frederick Taylor Morse, BA Corpus Christi College, Cambridge

• _{(born 1839) – 43 when took post at Little Ouse – Kelly’s Directory 1892}
• _{The Littlebook notebook shows him as being Vicar 1877 – 1882. In Kelly’s Directory in 1892 they show him as still being Vicar and his Curate being Rev.d Evans? This needs validating.}

1882 – Rev.d John Evan Jones (Curate)

• _{Kelly’s Directory 1892}
• _{1887, March 4th, Friday – Letter to the vicar St George’s, Littleport from the vicar of Little Ouse, mentioning publication of banns and discouragement of civil marriages.}
  • _{https://calm.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=KP109%2f1%2f40&pos=59}
  • _{CalmRefNo KP109/1/40 – Reference number P109/1/40 – Repository. Cambridgeshire Archives}

1889 – 1901 C C Tucker MA

• _{The Littlebook notebook shows him as being Vicar 1889 – 1901}

1893 – Rev. Frank Harold Surridge has been curate-in-charge since 1893

1901 – 1925 Rev.d Henry James Hall, MA University of Edinburgh

• _{Kelly’s Directory 1904} – _{shows Rev.d Hall being Vicar from 1901.}
• _{Littleport notebook shows Rev.d Hall being Vicar 1901 – 1925}.
• _{1917, May – In the May 1917 issue of the Southery Parish Magazine it was reported that a stained glass window in memory of John Luddington Peacock had been unveiled in the Church of England Church at Little Ouse, Littleport (the Church where his father was a churchwarden).  The window comprised two lights with St Michael on the right side and St George on the left side.  The window bore the inscription: ‘To the Glory of God and in loving memory of John Luddington Peacock, Lieutenant RE, the youngest son of John Luddington and Mary G. Peacock who laid down his life for his country in France on 1 July 1916.  RIP’.}
• _{1920, Little Ouse Church – A brass tablet was erected under the chancel arch to the memory of the men of the parish who fell in the Great War, 1914-18.}
  • _{https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/NFK/Ouse_Little/Kelly1933#:~:text=LITTLE%20OUSE.,Brandon%20crk%20*%20Clarke%20Fredk.}
  • _{This tablet was removed when the church was decommissioned in 1976 and moved to St George’s, Littleport.}
• _{1924, December 15th, Monday – Barbers Almanac 1925 – Presentation by School children to Rev. H. J. Hall on his retirement as Vicar of S. John, Little Ouse}

1924 – 1936 Rev.d Fred Halliwell MA

• _{The Littleport Notebook shows the dates for Rev.d Halliwell as 1925 – 1936.}
• _{1924, November 7th, Friday – Barbers Almanac 1925 – Appointment by the Bishop of Ely of the Rev. F. Halliwell, of Rapid City Ruperts Land, Manitoba, as Vicar of Little Ouse.}
• _{1925, May 4th, Monday Barbers Almanac 1926 – Messrs. E. M. Rose and P. Clarke re­elected churchwardens for Little Ouse.}
• _{1925, June 7th, Sunday – Barbers Almanac 1926 – Egg Service at St. John’s, Little Ouse, and collection in aid of the British Legion.}
• _{1925, July 6th, Monday – Barbers Almanac 1926 – Tennis Tournament at Plantation House, in aid of S. John’s Church, Little Ouse. This was organized by Mr. E. M. Rose.}
• _{1925, July 18th, Saturday – Barbers Almanac 1926 – Garden Fete at Plantation House in aid of Little Ouse Parish Church Funds. The total proceeds amounted to about £100.}
• _{1925, November 3rd, Tuesday – Barbers Almanac 1926 – Rev. F. Halliwell addresses Mothers’ Union at the Vicarage.}
• _{1926, May 23rd, Sunday – Barbers Almanac 1927 – -Special Sermons for S.P.G. at the (Littleport) Parish Church. Rev. Halliwell preached.}
• _{1928, October 7th, Sunday – Barbers Almanac 1929 – Harvest Festival at St. John’s, Little Ouse.}
• _{1930, August 27th, Wednesday – Barbers Almanac 1931 – Outing of St. John’s, Little Ouse, Sunday School.}
• _{1930, September 28th, Sunday – Barbers Almanac 1931 – Harvest Festival at St. John’s Church, Little Ouse.}
• _{1931, September 13th, Sunday – Barbers Almanac 1932 – Rev F. Halliwell, M.A., Vicar of Little Ouse, preached at Parish Church (Littleport).}
• _{1931, September 17th, Thursday & 20th, Sunday – Barbers Almanac 1932 – Harvest Thanksgiving Services held at St. John’s Church, Little Ouse.}
• _{1932, July 1st, Friday – Barbers Almanac – Sunday School outing of scholars of St. John’s, Little Ouse.}
• _{1932, September 29th, Thursday – Barbers Almanac – Harvest Festival Services commenced at St. John’s Church, Little Ouse.}
• _{1932, October 2nd, Sunday – Barbers Almanac – Harvest Festival Services continued at St. John’s Church, Little Ouse.}
• _{1933, April 14th, Friday – Barbers Almanac 1934 – Lantern service held in St. John’s Church, Little Ouse.}
• _{1933, July 21st, Friday – Barbers Almanac 1934 – Outing of Little Ouse Sunday School children to Hunstanton.}
• _{1933, September 22­nd, Friday and 29th­­, Friday – Barbers Almanac 1934 – Harvest Festival Services held in St. John’s Church, Little Ouse.}
• _{1934, March 30th, Good Friday – Barbers Almanac – Lantern Service at St. John’s Church, Little Ouse. The Vicar (Rev. F. Halliwell) conducted the Service.}
• _{1934, April 29th, Sunday – Barbers Almanac – The Sunday evening service at St. John’s Church, Little Ouse, took the form of a memorial service to the late Mrs. E. Ward}.
• _{1934, May 20th, Sunday – Barbers Almanac – Rev. F. Halliwell, M.A., Vicar of Little Ouse, preached at Littleport Parish Church His subject was “The work of the S.P.G. in Canada.”}
• _{1934, August 26th, Sunday – Barbers Almanac – Rev. N. W. Shelton, Vicar of Littleport, took evening service at St. John’s Church, Little Ouse, and the Rev. F. Halliwell, Vicar of Little Ouse, preached at the evening service at Littleport Parish Church.}
• _{1934, September 21st, Friday – Barbers Almanac – Harvest Festival Services commenced at St. John’s Church, Little Ouse.}
• _{1934, September 23rd, Sunday – Barbers Almanac – Harvest Festival Service continued at St. John’s Church, Little Ouse.}
• _{1935, May 24th, Friday – Barbers Almanac – Sudden death, at Charing Cross Hospital, London, of Mr. George Theodore Halliwell, at the age of 19 years. He was the only remaining son of the Vicar of Little Ouse (Rev. P. Halliwell) and Mrs. Halliwell.}
• _{1935, October 4th, Friday – Barbers Almanac – Harvest festival services held at St. John’s Church, Little Ouse. The Vicar (Rev. F. Halliwell) conducted all services}.
• _{1935, November 5th, Tuesday – Barbers Almanac – Rev. P. Halliwell, Vicar of Little Ouse, appointed as Rector of Broughton with King’s Ripton, Hunts.}
• _{1935, December – Barbers Almanac – Parting presentation at Little Ouse to Rev. F. Halliwell, M.A., who had been appointed Rector of Broughton and King’s Ripton, Hunts., after eleven years’ splendid work in the Little Ouse Parish.}
• _{1936, August 9th – Barbers Almanac – Induction of Rev. F. Halliwell at King’s Ripton Church, Hunts. The Archdeacon of Huntingdon (the Ven. K. D. Knowles), conducted the ceremony}.
• _{1936, October 2nd, Friday – First annual dinner of Littleport Butchers Cricket Club. The guests included Rev. F. Halliwell (Rector of Broughton with King’s Ripton).}
• _{1955, January – Barbers Almanac – Death, at the Clarkson Hospital, Wisbech, at the age of 77, of the Rev. Fred Halliwell, Vicar of St. John the Baptist Church, Parson Drove. He was Vicar of Little Ouse from 1924 until 1936.}

1936 – 1938 Rev.d T. W. Coombe MA

• _{Littleport Notebook shows the Rev.d Coombe as being Vicar of Little Ouse from 1936 – 1938.}
• _{1937, September – Barbers Almanac – Harvest festival services began at (Littleport) Parish Church. Rev. T. W. Coombe (Vicar of Little Ouse) preached.}
• _{1937, December 31st, Friday – Barbers Almanac 1939 – Successful concert in aid of the Church Repair Fund held at Little Ouse.}
• _{1938, February 24th, Thursday – Barbers Almanac 1939 – Successful concert held at Little Ouse, organised by the Church entertainment committee.}
• _{1938, June 5th, Whit Monday – Barbers Almanac 1939 – Enjoyable dance held in the Church Room, Little Ouse.}

1938 – 1940 Rev.d Malcom P. Shipman MA

• _{1939, Census – People living at The Vicarage}
  • _{Daisy A Nicholas – Born 1897}
  • _{Gertrude Shipman – Born 1900}
  • _{Malcom Shipman – Born 1877}

1940 – 1953 Rev.d I. A. Reynolds AKC

• _{Source, Fenland History on Facebook, Sarah’s Post – see comment below on bombing 31st August 1940, while a wedding being held in the Church.}
• _{1947, October – Barbers Almanac – Recent harvest thanksgiving sale held at St. John, Little Ouse, realised over £15 for the fund for paying for repairs to the church roof.}
• _{1947, October – barbers Almanac – members of the Prickwillow branch of the Mothers’ Union made a pilgrimage to the Church of St. John, Little Ouse}
• _{1948, March – Barbers Almanac – Rev. I. A. Reynolds (Vicar of Little Ouse), cycled the 29 miles to Wisbech to attend the funeral of a former Vicar of Little Ouse, the Rev. M. P. Shipman, M.A.}
  • What years were these?
• _{1948, March – Barbers Almanac – A resolution urging the Minister of Health to sanction the building of more houses in Littleport was passed at the annual assembly of the parish in the Town Hall. Following a strong appeal by the Vicar of Little Ouse (Rev. I. A. Reynolds) a further resolution was carried asking Ely R.D.C, to include that parish in their building programme}
• _{1949, October – Barbers Almanac – Services of harvest thanksgiving were held at the Church of St. John, Little Ouse.}
• _{1950, February – Barbers Almanac – Candlemass services held at St. John’s Church, Little Ouse. At the main service candles were blessed and distributed to all present.}
• _{1953, October – Barbers Almanac – Tragic death of the Rev. I. A. Reynolds, Vicar of Little Ouse. He was killed when his motor­cycle collided with an American seven­ ton truck at the junction of the Mildenhall and White House Roads.}
• _{1954, April – Barbers Almanac – Mrs Reynolds, wife of the late Vicar of Little Ouse, the Rev I.A.Reynolds, and her daughter Kathleen, left Little Ouse to take up residence in Ipswich.}
• _{1962, February – Barbers Almanac – Engagement announced between Mr. Ernest Reynolds, only son of the late Rev. I. A. Reynolds and the late Mrs. Reynolds, formerly of the Vicarage, Little Ouse, and Miss Janet Wiggins, of Ipswich.}

1954 – Vacant (No Priest)

• _{The Littleport notebook states that there was no priest in residence for Little Ouse in 1954.}

1955 – 1963 – Captain G.H. Robbins

• _{The Littleport Notebook lists GH Robbins start date as 1955, but gives no end date and is the last entry for Little Ouse clergy.}
• _{1955, September – Barbers Almanac – At a special service held in St. John’s Church, Little Ouse, Captain G. H. Robbins, of the Church Army, was licensed by the Bishop of Ely as evangelist­-in-charge of that parish.}
• _{1955, October – Barbers Almanac – Captain Robbins, evangelist-­in-­charge at Little Ouse, took his first service at Black Horse Drove. It was held in the Community Centre.}
• _{1956, April – Barbers Almanac – Following a fall from his auto­cycle, Captain G. H. Robbins, Evangelist­ in­ charge at St. John’s, Little Ouse, was admitted to the R.A.F. Hospital, Ely. The accident occurred on the Black Horse Drove Road.}
• _{1956, September – Barbers Almanac – A successful sale of work in aid of the Church lighting fund was held in the Vicarage garden, St. John, Little Ouse. It was opened by Mrs. Flanders Morton.}
• _{1956, November – Barbers Almanac – Remembrance Day—A large congregation of all denominations filled the Parish Church to capacity. The special preacher was the Rev R E. Tosteven, Bishop’s Chaplain and padre to the R A F Hospital, Ely. Services were also held at Black Horse Drove, Little Ouse, and St. Matthew’s.}
• _{1957, September – Barbers Almanac – To mark the end of the second year of the ministry of the evangelist in charge (Capt. G. H. Robbins) a special family service was held in St. John’s Church, Little Ouse.}
• _{1958, October – Barbers Almanac – Captain G. H. Robbins, of Little Ouse, conducted Burnt Fen Women’s Institute’s harvest festival.}
• _{1959, September – Barbers Almanac – Annual garden party in aid of St. John’s Church, Little Ouse, was opened by Mrs. Luther Gilbert. About £90 was raised.}
• _{1959, September – Barbers Almanac – Captain G. H. Robbins, of Little Ouse, conducted a harvest thanks­giving service at a meeting of Burnt Fen Women’s Institute.}
• _{1959, December – Barbers Almanac – The choir of St. John’s Church, Little Ouse, wore their new robes for the first time. The occasion was the annual carol service.}
• _{1960, April – Barbers Almanac – Captain G. H. Robbins of Little Ouse gave the last of his sermons on “The Fruits of the Spirit’· at the Parish Church.}
• _{1960, October – Barbers Almanac – Little Ouse and Brandon Bank Women’s Institute’s monthly meeting included a harvest service conducted by Mr. E. Youngs, of Littleport, and Capt. G. H. Robbins.}
• _{1961, March – Barbers Almanac – The Rev. V. H. E. Ritson, of Ely, preached at a Mothering Sunday Service held in St. John’s Church, Little Ouse.}
• _{1961, April – Barbers Almanac – Captain G. H. Robbins, of Little Ouse, was the speaker at the monthly meeting of the Mothers’ Union (Littleport).}
• _{1961, September – Barbers Almanac – Mrs. T. B Gordon opened the Little Ouse Church Garden Fete Over £80 was raised.}
• _{1962, January – Barbers Almanac – A nativity play entitled “On Christmas Day in the Morning” was presented at St. John’s Church, Little Ouse. It was produced, by Capt. G. H. Robbins.}
• _{1962, November – Barbers Almanac – Meeting of St. John’s, Little Ouse, Parochial Church Council. A presentation was made to the Rev. Sydney Chambers, now retired. Apart from being Vicar of St. Matthew’s, he was for seven years Priest­ in­ Charge of St. John’s.}
  • What years were these?
• _{1963, February – Barbers Almanac – St. John’s, Little Ouse, Parochial Church Council Meeting. Captain G. H. Robbins. Evangelist­ in­ Charge gave notice of his impending departure.}
• _{1963, June – Barbers Almanac – Meeting of Little Ouse and Brandon Bank Women’s Institute. A presentation was made to Mrs. G. H, Robbins on behalf of members in appreciation of the help she had given to the Institute during her stay at Little Ouse, Captain and Mrs. Robbins were shortly leaving for Nuneaton.}
• _{1963, June – Barbers Almanac – Captain G. H. Robbins preached his farewell address to the congregation at Black Horse Drove.}
• _{1963, June – Barbers Almanac – Captain G. H. Robbins, Church Army Evangelist, preached his farewell sermon at St. John’s Church, Little Ouse, and thanked his parishioners for their farewell gift of £25. Captain and Mrs. Robbins were leaving for duties at Nuneaton.}

• 1963, December – Barbers Almanac – Children of Little Ouse Primary School and the Coronation School, Black Horse Drove, provided the background of a Carol Service held in St. John’s Church, Little Ouse.

06/01/1972 – Rev.d Charles Sumpter Harris

• _{Source, LittlePort Gazette}
• _{1974, June 15th, Saturday – The last entry in the marriage register for St John’s, Little Ouse.}
  • _{https://www.engcam.org/index.php/ancestors/34-barritts-of-the-fenlands/12-st-john-little-ouse-and-brandon-bank}
• The Church of St John’s Little Ouse and the Vicarage are closed (decommissioned) in 1976 and the war memorial moved shortly after to St George’s Littleport.

15/04/1977 – Henry Brown (Clerk in Holy Orders)

• _{Source, LittlePort Gazette}

1977, December 15th – Rev. John Hunter Martin

• _{Barbers Almanac – The Bishop of Ely has announced that the Rev. John Hunter Martin, at present Vicar of St. Anne’s, Bermondsey, will become Priest in charge of Littleport St. George, St. Matthews and Little Ouse}
• _{1978, April 13th – Barbers Almanac – On Friday 7th, the Rev. John Hunter Martin was welcomed to the diocese, when he was licensed Priest in charge at St. George’s, St. Matthews and St. Johns by the Bishop of Ely at a service in St. George’s Church.}
• _{1979, May 18th – Barbers Almanac – A Church Party, a completely new venture in Littleport, attracted over one hundred and twenty people of all ages to the Village College on Saturday evening. The occasion came within twenty­-four hours of the institution and induction of the Rev. John Martin as Vicar of St. George’s, Littleport and St. John’s, Little Ouse.}
• _{1982, November 29th – A statutory declaration to the Church Commissioners by the last Churchwarden of St John’s Little Ouse. Mr P Cousins, Black Horse Farm Cottages, Lynn Road, Littleport.}

1983, January 28th – The church is sold and becomes the former Parish Church of Little Ouse St John in the County of Cambridge.

• _{Later it is converted into two dwellings, known as “The Church” and “The Chancel”.}
• _{The Chancel was last sold in 2016 and is currently configured as a six bedroom house.}

1983, September 5th – The Vicarage is sold and becomes a private dwelling, The Old Vicarage.

• _{2015, July 7th, The Old Vicarage is sold and undergoes a renovation and modernisation.}

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