Rev Gerald Dalton Debenham, St Stephen, Buckland

[hookleg]

Gerald Debenham was a distant relative. In 1902 he became vicar at St Stephen, Buckland. He was engaged in trying to reduce the parish debt of some £900 when he became ill with rheumatic fever. He died a few months after taking up the appointment on 23 May 1902. I know about his funeral and have various cuttings with his obituary. Can anyone tell me where the church is/was and if any photos of it are on the internet. I don't seem to be able to track it down. Thanks

[lizdb]

Well, he lived in Portsmouth -

Probate index entry :
Reverend Gerald Dalton Debenham of 34 Chichester Road Portsmouth clerk died 23 May 1902 Probate 13 th Aug 1902 to Amy Cobbold Debenham widow and Alfred Edward Debenham solicitor
Effects £13493 -3s

[hookleg]

Thanks for that useful piece of information. You don't happen to know where the church was?

[lizdb]

Like you, I am struggling to find anything about St Stephens.
Googling produces the odd reference to it, so it did exist!
But nothing more than just a name in a list.

The main Church seems to be St Marys, which has incorporated St Faiths and St Wilfreds.
If I were you Id contact that Church and ask if they know what happened to St Stephens!
http://www.portseaparish.co.uk/cmsms/index.php

Or getting a copy of his Will may prove interesting, he was a very wealthy man. Maybe he left something to the Church and the Will may give details? Lots of maybes, but just an idea.

[hookleg]

Many thanks for the suggestions. I will try getting in touch.
In another article I have got it says "He gladly accepted from the Bishop of Winchester the charge of the parish of St Stephen's, Portsea, a huge town Parish with a population of 120,000 souls and a debt of £900"............ He named his residence in Portsmouth 'Northwood', in affection for the parish on the IOW where he had been curate. This had been the happiest time of his life. (1894-99) His funeral service was conducted by the Bishop of Winchester. Others present were the Bishop of Southampton, Canon Blake of St Jude's, Southsea, Rev Bernard Wilson of Portsea, S G Scott, Rector of Havant, W C Hawkseley, vicar of All Saints, Portsea, Rev C B Lloyd vicar of Hook with Warsash. Dr Emmett and Mr Blackadar, churchwardens etc etc. He must have been highly thought of.

[lizdb]

I wonder if he stipulates in his Will where he wants to be buried - which may help with the enquiry on your other thread.
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=710089.msg5535277#msg5535277
Or more to the point -why Theydon Bois!

[Little Nell]

St Stephen closed about 1961.  Buckland is an area of Portsmouth, to the north of the city centre, north of Landport & Kingston. 

If you look at an OS map on Streetmap, you should be able to see the areas.

 http://www.rootschat.com/links/01ej7/

Nell

[hookleg]

Thanks for the map link and date of closing. I have looked at St Stephens Road on Google Earth but could find no sign of a church. I presume it was pulled down. Do you know if any pictures or photos survive?

[oscardaphers]

There are two pictures of St Stephens on this web page
http://www.northendteamchurches.org.uk/stmarkshistory.htm

Wendy