Reference
Z1487/1
Title
Scrap book kept by Rev. Edward Norman Coles
Date free text
1850-1886
Production date
From: 1850 To: 1886
Scope and Content
Scrap book kept by Rev. Edward Norman Coles, Vicar of Pottesgrove from 1857 to 1888. The book was originally intended to be a catalogue of his books and some pages are still dedicated to this purpose, they are back to front and upside down compared with the rest of the volume. Many pages are blank and some have obviously been cut out. The remaining pages with content are as follows:
- 1-2: press cutting headed: “The Ramsgate Life Boat and its Doings in December 1863”;
- 2: A card reading: “Revd. E. Norman Coles, Thorley Vicarage, care of Mr. Sivier, Hotel, Ryde, Isle of Wight to be forwarded with dispatch. Carriage paid to Portsmouth”;
- 3: newspaper cutting from The Church Times of 28th February 1864 about a “shameful hoax” in Nottinghamshire. Another cutting entitled “Rare Coincidence in the Church Service” and a notice reading: “On the 8th inst, at Pottesgrove Rectory, the wife of the Rev. E. Norman Coles, rector of Battlesden-with-Pottesgrove, Beds, of a son”;
- 5: A letter to Rev. Coles from his son Charlie written whilst a child: “My Dear Papa. I hope Floy will get on with her dolls chemise. We are going to Tulse Hill on Monday and you must come there too. Have you really the birch rods. Has Polly hurt my garden? My love to all. Goodbye dearest Papa”;
- 8-9: notice regarding the opening of the new organ at Saint John’s School-Church in Sheep Lane, Potsgrove on 17th June 1866; “The School is greatly in need of Funds”;
- 10-11: notice of a harvest thanksgiving service at Battlesden church on 28th September 1865, “The Collection will be given towards the Harmonium Fund”;
- 12: notice for a harvest thanksgiving service for the fourth anniversary of the opening of Saint John’s School-Church, Sheep Lane on 2nd October 1866 and Sunday services on 67th October;
- 13: notice for opening of the new organ at saint John’s School-Church on 17th June 1866 as on pages 8 and 9;
- 14-15: notice for Saint John’s School-Church, Sheep Lane services during Holy Week 1866;
- 16-17: notice of special services in Lent and Holy Week 1867 held in Saint John’s School-Church;
- 25: notice of harvest thanksgiving services on 16th September 1884 at Potsgrove and Battlesden;
- 26-27: notice of Holy Week services 1879 at Battlesden, Potsgrove and Saint John’s School-Church, Sheep Lane;
- 28-29: notice Lent and Holy Week services 1880 at Battlesden church, Battlesden school room and saint John’s School-Church;
- 30-31: notice of harvest thanksgiving and dedication festival at Potsgrove church, 16th October 1881;
- 32-33: notice of Holy Week 1881 services at Battlesden, Potsgrove and Saint John’s;
- 34: notice of Holy Week 1884 services at Battlesden, Potsgrove and Saint John’s;
- 35: notice of Holy Week services 1885 at Battlesden. Potsgrove and Saint John’s;
- 36-37: notice of Holy week services 1882 at Battlesden, Potsgrove and Saint John’s;
- 38: books W-V;
- 39: notice of the last services in Potsgrove church before its restoration, 12 October 1879;
- 40: books T;
- 41: notice of harvest thanksgiving at Potsgrove 10th September 1885;
- 42-43: notice of Lent and Holy Week 1886 services at Battlesden and Saint John’s;
- 44: books R;
- 48: books P;
- 52: books N;
- 54: books M;
- 56: books L;
- 60: Notice of Lent 1862 services to be held in the schoolroom in Sheep Lane;
- 61: circular letter by E. Norman Coles, April 1862: “May I be allowed to call your attention to the following charitable Appeal”.
“That part of my parish called Sheeplane is well known to all who reside in the Southern part of the County of Bedford. It is removed from the Parish Church a considerable distance, and the bulk of the population belonging to POTTESGROVE reside there”.
“Nearly four years ago I commenced building a Schoolhouse and a Residence for the Mistress, in this hitherto neglected spot. I completed the work, and have used the Room not only for the Instruction of the Poor Children but also for the purposes of Divine Worship”.
“The Religious Services have been fully appreciated by the people, all of whom are Agricultural Labourers, insomuch that I am now obliged to enlarge the Building, in order that it may hold those who wish to worship there”.
Z1487/1 “My plan is to add eight or ten feet to the Room, and to build a small Apse or Chancel to contain the Communion table, which will be shut off from the rest of the building by folding doors during School hours”.
“The cost of this undertaking will be nearly £150, and when it is completed, the Room will in its appearance and fittings be suited for the Holy Services which are celebrated there”.
“In order to raise the sum and carry out the work, the importance of which cannot be over estimated, I am compelled to ask the charity not only of my friends, but of many who are personally strangers to me”.
“A Post-office Order made payable to me at the Woburn Office, will be most thankfully received and acknowledged”.
“The Room is used by me under the Licence of the Bishop of the Diocese”.
- 62: notice regarding the opening of Saint John’s School-Chapel, 2nd October 1862 “the Clergy are requested to meet at Mr. Odell’s Cottage nearly opposite the School-Chapel”;
- 63-64: psalm, prayers and hymns to be used at the opening service of Saint John’s;
- 65: notice of Advent 1859 services held at Saint John’s;
- 66-67: notice of additional services in lent and Holy Week 1863 held at Saint John’s;
- 68: notice regarding opening of the organ at Saint John’s, 16th June 1863 and notice regarding the first anniversary of the opening of Saint John’s, 2nd October 1863;
- 69: circular letter from E. Norman Coles regarding holding a special New Year service in Saint John’s on 31st December 1863;
- 70-71: notice of services for Lent and Holy Week 1864 services at Saint John’s;
- 72: list of preachers at Lent 1865 services at Saint John’s;
- 73: notice regarding a service to re-open Saint John’s, 17th August 1865 “Collections will be made at the Services to defray the debt remaining on the New Part of the Building”;
- 75: “Retrospects” by G. W. E. Russell on his love of Catholic ceremonial.
Level of description
item