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Wednesday March 21 1928
Fifty Years a Verger - Death of Mr Oliver Holden
The death occurred yesterday afternoon at his West Worthing residence, Villa St. Botolph, in his 85th year, of Mr. Oliver Holden, who for half a century held the position of Verger and Parish Clerk at St Botolph's Church.
A native of Salvington, Mr Holden had known Worthing from its earliest days. Originally apprenticed to a wheelwright, he made himself a very efficient carpenter, and when Heene Church was built he made all the vestry furniture, Litany desk, and almsboxes.
Starting in business on his own account as a builder he erected over 100 houses in different parts of the borough, chiefly in Tarring Road (31 on the north side and 21 on the south) Station Road, Ashdown Road, and Lyndhurst Road. In more recent years he showed his adaptability by joining the ranks of the local market growers.
A Remarkable Record - During the fifty years that he held the post of Verger at Heene he served under three Rectors, the late Rev. Henry Mc.Leod Beckles, who died in 1892; the Rev. Edgar Lambert, who held the living for just over two years, and the present Rector, the Rev. J.P. Fallowes, and it was his proud boast that, with the exception of two short intervals when he was confined to bed by accidents, he had never missed or been late for a service.
On his retirement in October 1923, he was presented with a handsome timepiece.
Mr Oliver Holden - Buried in Heene Cemetery which he laid out.
The funeral of Mr Oliver Holden, for 50 years verger at St Botolph's Church, Heene, and on of the oldest members of the "Victoria" Lodge of Oddfellows, took place on Saturday afternoon, the internment being in Heene Cemetery, which he personally laid out 55 years ago and where he had officiated as verger at more than 1,100 funerals during the half century that he was officially connected with the church.
Th first part of the burial service took place at St. Botolph's, and was conducted by the Rector (the Rev. J.P. Fallowes), assisted by the Rev. L.S. Bull; and as the coffin was carried from the Church the Organist (Mr. A. Boyce) played Mendelssohn's "O Rest in the Lord."
Census and miscellaneous information
Salvington Village, Sussex
John aged 29, shoemaker. Frances aged 40. Oliver aged 7. William aged 4. Thomas aged 3. Thomas Johnson aged 22, lodger, ag lab. James Johnson aged 20, lodger, ag lab. Joseph Johnson aged 16, lodger, ag lab.
Salvington Village, Sussex.
John aged 39, shoemaker. Frances aged 50, general shopkeeper. Oliver aged 17, apprentice coach builder. William aged 14, errand boy. Thomas aged 12. Fanny aged 8. Anna aged 6.
5 Station Road, Broadwater, Worthing.
Oliver aged 27, carpenter. Caroline aged 27. Caroline aged 1.
72 Station Street, Broadwater, Worthing.
Oliver aged 37, carpenter. Caroline aged 37. Caroline aged 11. Edward aged 8. Clara aged 5. Ellen aged 3.
72 Station Road, Worthing.
Oliver aged 47, widower, master builder. Caroline aged 21. Edward aged 18, florist. Clara aged 15. Ellen aged 13. Mary Holden aged 6, niece.
"Brooklands" Tarring Road, Worthing.
Oliver aged 57, widower, fruit grower. Clara aged 25, housekeeper. Ellen aged 23, housekeeper.
Villa St Botolph, Elm Grove, Worthing.
Oliver aged 67, fruit grower. Mary Ann aged 45. Clara aged 35.
Villa, St Botolph's, Elm Grove, Worthing, Sussex
First name(s) | Last name | Relationship to head | Sex | Birth year | Age | Birth place | Occupation | Employer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Oliver | Holden | Head | Male | 1843 | 77 | Salvington, Sussex, England | Fruit Grower | - |
Mary Ann | Holden | Wife | Female | 1866 | 55 | East Dean, Sussex, England | Home Duties | - |
Clara | Holden | Daughter | Female | 1875 | 45 | Worthing, Sussex, England | Home Duties | - |
Worthing Gazette 1910
"Let's talk of graves!" was the cheery invitation of that passionate and impulsive Monarch, Richard the Second; and if there is any man locally who is qualified, next to Mr John Stoner, to discourse upon that enlivening topic, it is assuredly Mr. Oliver Holden.
For nearly seven and thirty years, dating from the day of consecration of St. Botolph's Church, on the 29th September, 1873, he has occupied the position of Clerk and Sexton, and he officiated this Saturday at the six hundred and thirty seventh internment in the Heene Burial Ground - a place of sepulture that is so limited in extent that the greatest care has to be exercised in the apportionment of space, and none but the wealthiest outside the parochial boundaries can afford to be buried there, inasmuch as a fee of £20 is charged in the case of non-parishioners.