Real memorial obituaries – Combe Down, Monkton Combe, Midford

In memoriam et celebrationem

In memorial and celebration

FUNERAL OF CAPTAIN RIVINGTON, R.N.
SERVICE AT COMBE DOWN CHURCH: INTERMENTAT MONKTON COMBE

The funeral of Capt. George Rivington, Royal Navy, who died last week at his residence. Claremont Villa, Combe Down took place on Monday at Monkton Combe Churchyard.

The body, was taken into Holy Trinity Church, Combe Down, where the first portion of the Burial Office was read. The coffin was covered with the Union Jack.

During the whole of his 18 years residents on Combe Down Captain Rivington took the keenest interest in all matters connected with the church, and for some years served the office of churchwarden at Combe Down Church.

The mourners were as follows: Mrs. Rivington (widow), Mr. G. S. Rivington (on), Mr. H. S. Rivington (son), Mrs. H. S. Rivington (daughter-in-law), Mrs. Holme (daughter), Mr. T. W. Holme son-in-law), Miss Grace Rivington (daughter), Mr. John Rivington (sen), and the Rev. S. Benson (son-in- law), and formerly Vicar of Combe Down.

Ill-health prevented Mrs. Benson from attending, while Lieut. Gordon S. Rivington, of the Sherwood Foresters, is lying wounded in a London hospital, and Dr. C. S. Rivington is away in China a medical missionary, and does not return home until the autumn.

The body had rested in the chapel of the church all night. There was a large congregation at the service, and among those present were the church wardens Mrs, E. P. Page and J. Biddle), Mr. E. Dudley and Miss Dudley, Mrs. Bryan, Mia Gore, the Rev. Humphrey Hirst, the Rev. F. E. Cheney (Clitheroe), (ne Sties Hen- ley, Mi Galindo, Mr. E. Eastertfield, Miss Moir, Miss Grims, Mr. and Mrs. Shelford, Mr. Ainsworth, the I Wratislaw, Mr. H. H. Collins
(schoolmaster, Church of England School), Mr. F. G. Fisher, Mr. J. Bending. Mr. and Mrs. William Miles, Jun.. Mr. Johnson, Miss Brennard, Mr. H. J, Stickland (Chairman of the Combe Down Parish Council), Mr. E. H. Biand, Mrs. Fisher, Mr. Y. J. Hobbs, Mr. 2. Hell
(repre senting the Bath Colporteur Society), Mrs. Page, Miss Quinton, Mr. G. Carter, Mrs. and Miss Cay Adam Mis Morris, Mr. W. Williams, Mr. and Mrs. C. Morris, Mrs, Wherrett, sen., Mr. W Miles, sen, Mr. and Mrs, Wherrett, jun., Mrs. Warren, Mr. Noad, Mr. Sawyer, Mr. and Mrs. Willie, Mrs Wiltshire, Mrs. Williams, the maids at Claremont Villa, etc

The opening sentences of the Burial Office were read by the Vicar of Combe Down (the Rev. Dr. Sweetapple), and the lesson was read by the deceased's son-in-law, the Rev. S. B. Henson, Vicar of St. Clement's, Nechells, Birmingham. The Rev. H. C. Haker, curate of Combe Down, was also present.

The hymns sung were" Jesu, lover of my son and On the resurrection mourning. Psalm xc. and the Nunc Dimittis were chanted. At the end of the service "O Rest in the Lord" was played on the organ.

The interment was afterwards made at Monkton Combe Churchyard.

The senders of flowers were: His wife and children (Grace, Gordon and John); Harry and Alice (Mr. and Mrs. Harry Rivington); George and Emily; Nellie and Brownlow (the Rev. S. B and Mrs. Benson); Bath and Waiter (Mr. and Mrs. Holme); the Misses Sangster: Mr. E. Dudley and Margaret Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Blockett and family Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Shelford: Mr. and Mrs. Spear and family; the Misses Henley; the Miss Wratislaw: headmaster and staff of Combs Down Church of England School; the Vicar (the Rev. Dr.
Sweetapple), wardens and choir of Combe Down Church: Mrs. Pudsey Nurse Penhaligon and Nurse Trotter, Miss Wakelin: Ethel (Miss E. Stott); and all at Horsecombe Nursery.

The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr. E. H. Wherrett, of Combe Down.

TRIBUTE BY VICAR OF COMBE DOWN.

At the morning service at Holy Trinity. Church, Combe Down, on Sunday, the Vicar, the Rev. H. D. Sweetapple, D.D., referred in his sermon to the death on Thursday of Captain Rivington, R.N., for many years resident in that parish.

There was a large congregation.

The Vicar took for his text the sixth chapter of St. John's Gospel, verse 21: Then they willingly received Him into the ship, and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went. The Sea of Galileo, he said, was associated with the manifestation of two distinct aspects of Christ's character. In His work of healing in the towns and villages on its coasts, He showed
Himself the Christ of Pity. But other attributes even than pity, and its kindred virtues of love and mercy, were needed in a Being whom men were to worship, and in He mirage on the Sea of Galilee our Lord revealed Himself as the Christ of Power, the Lord of Life and its difficulties, of death and its mysteries, and of the hereafter. The Jews feared the seen. To the
Greek and the Briton the sea had no terrors; but the Jew regarded the sea with alarm, although a journey across the desert did not disconcert him. It was therefore all the more appropriate that our Lord should have given proofs of His Divine power by con trolling the sea. To the disciples who saw Him walking on the waves He at first appeared to be a
spectre, the messenger of death; and their joy was great when they recognised the Master
they loved and served,

Proceeding, the preacher said that when death visited a community, as it had their own parish last week, when one who was known, respected and loved there passed away, the tendency was to ask the question What is the good of this mystery of, death?" It was a
question which was not always present in the mind, because no normal person wanted to die, It was not natural that a healthy person should want or did want to die. But the Christian who welcomed Christ into his ship at the end of his voyage found not death, bat life; and he would ask them, in thinking of him who had passed away. to remember how heartily he had
always interested himself in the church and parish, It was difficult, for a practical stranger like himself, who had only known Captain Rivington for a few months, and had met him principally in that solemn service of the, Communion of the sick, to speak of his services to that parish. But there were others who knew him as he was when he had retired from his active service. These friends knew how he had helped in the parish, whether in the church where for ten years he was one of the wardens, or as manager of the schools.

They knew, too, that his interest was not bounded by the activities of that parish, but that he was deeply
interested in the Church Missionary Society and in the extension of God's work throughout the world. And this was not all, for he could tell them how that parish had been enriched and blessed, not only by Captain Rivington. but by his family. He thought it was a great and a happy thing for those whom their friend had left behind to know that the members of the choir and of that church joined with them in their sorrow. And this, was the message that he had to give to the mourners that day; that this was not death, but the beginning of a freer life, in which every difficulty was overcome."

The concluding hymn was “For all the saints) who from their labours rest.”