Oliver Holden was Verger and Parish Clerk at St Botolph's for fifty years. He took part in the celebrations, in September 1923, of the Golden Jubilee of St Botolph's Church also his Jubilee Year.
He was a skilful Carpenter and Joiner and made the vestry furniture, the Litany desk and the alms boxes.
He also laid out the Cemetery, where he was buried on 20th March 1928, and where he had assisted at over 1100 funerals. He served under three Rectors, Rev. Henry McLeod Beckles, Rev. Edgar Lambert and Rev. J P Fallowes.
He boasted that he had never missed, or been late for a service, except for two short intervals when he was confined to his bed through illness'. He retired in October 1923 and was presented with a handsome timepiece.
He was born in Salvington, then a Parish of West Tarring, son of John and Frances Holden. John, who was also born in West Tarring, was a Shoemaker and Oliver was the eldest of five children. In 1861 Oliver was an Apprentice Coachbuilder and Mother Frances a General Shopkeeper.
He married Caroline, born in London, in Worthing in 1869 and she died in 1890, aged 46. She is also buried in the Cemetery.
In 1881 Oliver, Caroline and four children were living at Station Street, Broadwater, and he was a Carpenter. By 1891, Oliver, now widowed, was still in Station St., but by then a Master Builder and Employer. His eldest child, Edward, was a Florist.
He started in business on his own account as a Builder and erected over 100 houses in different parts of the town, but mainly in Tarring Road 31 on the north side and 21 on the south and in Station Rd., Ashdown Rd. and Lyndhurst Rd..
By 1901 Oliver was a Fruit Grower, living at Brooklands, Tarring Road, with daughter Clara as his Housekeeper.
In a 1905 Street Directory his home, Villa St Botolph, was next door to Elm Grove Nurseries.
In 1911 he was living at Villa St Botolph with wife Mary Ann (nee Reeves), 20 years his junior. They were married in 1910. Clara was still single and living with them.
Mary Ann Reeves was previously a Servant in the household of the Rev Beckles' widow and family in St Botolphs Lodge.
Oliver was living at Villa St Botolph when he died. He was described in an obituary in the local paper as one of the oldest members of the Victoria Lodge of Oddfellows.
His funeral was conducted by the Rector, the Rev J P Fallowes, assisted by the Rev L S Bull.
Oliver and Caroline's son, Edward, was a Gardener and Nurseryman, living with wife Sarah, who was born in Liss, at 34 the Drive, West Worthing in 1901 and in 1911.
1922 - Oliver Holden entered his 50th year as verger of St Botolphs. He could remember when the parish consisted chiefly of meadows and market gardens. Heene Terrace had been built, but with the exception of the manor house and a few thatched cottages here and there, the district west of Park Crescent to Goring was entirely devoid of houses. Heene Road was a narrow country lane lined with hedges and ditches on either side, leading up from the sea to Tarring Road. Mr Holden, a wheelwright, was also a skilled carpenter who made the vestry furniture, litany desk and almsboxes when St Botolphs was built. He laid out Heene Cemetery and, as sexton, attended 1100 funerals plus 576 weddings.
Edward died in 1929, Sarah in 1928, and they are buried with Oliver and Caroline in Heene Cemetery.