All Saints Church, Westbury

[king william]

Sylvia,
Nice to hear from you and many thanks for the information about William Gilchrist - now Bob's Mary Gilchrist has some recorded parents - I will also forward this information to Bob's sister Barbara in Gloucestershire, she will be very interested.
Many thanks
Robin

[BonnieGirl99]

Hi Robin

I stumbled across this thread and website whilst googling All Saints Church in Westbury, Wiltshire. I moved here a few months ago (and funnily enough am half-Kiwi too - from Wanganui/Wellington :-) )......

I wanted to respond to your post, even though it's a couple of years old now, because I wondered if I could help? Did you find the information you were looking for about your ancestors' memorials/records?

I live right by the church and would be happy to enquire in person if you would like me to.

All the best,

Nina

PS My mother is an avid genealogist so I understand how important these things are!

[king william]

Bonnie,
How nice to hear from you and how wonderful that you live near the church.
I would be very grateful if you could ask some questions for me, as you realise New Zealand is too far to pop over from.
The ancestor I am searching for was buried there on 25th September 1558 and her married name was ? Busshe. The name may also have been spelt Bushe, it became Bush in the 1600's. Her husband was William Busshe and they lived in Dilton Marsh.
She was previously Miss Strange, an heiress of Gloucestershire and we have never known her christian name. The reason her name is so important is that there was a large, very noble le Strange family which she belonged to as their coat-of-arms then was joined with the Busshe coat of arms and it shows that she was of the Strange family of Knockyn, Shropshire.
With her name we may be able to follow her further.
I believe there was a memorial to the family, whether it was in the floor which has been redone in Victorian times - or elsewhere.
I know how much the English keep records and how anything of value would have been recorded so am hoping that there is still somewhere a record of them. I do know that somewhere in a corner there are some fragments from the past, I read it somewhere and I am hoping that my ancestors are recorded there somewhere.
William Busshe and Miss Strange were the parents of Paul Bushe, the first Bishop of Bristol.
I look forward to hearing from you and many thanks for your kind offer
Robin

[BonnieGirl99]

Hi Robin

I will make some enquiries at the church and get back to you! Will take any relevant photos for you too if I can......

All the best,

Nina

[Reb Bacchus]

I also found this thread via Google, and I'm looking for information about my 4th great-grandparents that were married in Westbury on 27 Sept 1785.  I think her name was Elizabeth (Betty) Edwards, and his name was John either Bridgeman or Roberts.  The records I'm looking show Bettty marrying Bridgeman and Elizabeth marrying Roberts on the same day in Westbury... I somehow doubt there were two marriages on the same day with those folks.

However, I'd like to find out anything about the couple that might be available.  I'm especially interested in their parents, but directions to history about the town and area would be fun too.  I've driven through that area several times and have seen the "white horse" but I had no idea I had a connection to the place. 

I've lived in Texas for almost 50 years now and my health probably won't let me return.  I do hope to find enough about the area so that when my children go over they can see where some of "their people" came from.

Thanks for any help possible

[MartinPom]

Hi BonnieGirl99
My uncle found a Plaque in a church some 50 years ago. It reads:
"OVER NORTH DOOR
By deed dated 4th. January A. D. 1845.
RICHARD GAISFORD ESQ.
Conveyed to Trustees the sum of £2,000. Three per cent Red Bank Annuities: directing the whole of the Dividends to be expended yearly in the month of SEPTEMBER, in Providing suits of wearing apparel for men above the age of 40 years. And for women above the age of 30 years in alternate years respectively. The recipients of one to be nominated by those of the Trustees who are members of the Church of England. The Table recording this and the preceding charities given to
the Glory of GOD. for the benefit of the Poor of this Town, was erected in the year of our Lord 1851. JAMES SINGER CHURCHWARDENS. "

I think that it may be in All Saints, Westbury. I'd appreciate it if you could find out for me please.

Regards
Martin
South Africa

[BonnieGirl99]

Hello Robin, Reb and Martin

I finally made it to All Saints the other day and spoke to someone who advised me that I needed to contact the "Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre" based in Chippenham as this is where all the parish records are kept.

Reb, I think your questions could be answered by contacting them (they have an email address). Do you know whether the marriage/s took place at All Saints church? It is possible that there was more than one wedding that day if they took place at different churches. There are quite a few in the town, although I don't know which of them were around in 1785. I'm sure the History Centre could point you in the direction of other information and history on the town and area too. I am not from this area and so know very little myself.

Robin, I think that your question about the Christian name of Miss Strange could be answered by the History Centre too as I'm pretty sure that any records of plaques or memorials would have been kept there regardless of whether they were removed during the restoration. I will, however, go back to the church today and see if I can speak to someone else (the woman I spoke to the other day wasn't very nice :-( ) and try to locate that corner that Phil Draper talks about. Did you ever hear back from him?

I'm sorry it has taken me so many months to look into this and get back to you. It is partly because I have been so busy and there never seems to be enough time for anything, but also, the church is never open (except for services, and I'm not really a church-goer), so I've never been sure how to speak to someone in person. However, with it being Christmas, the church has opened its doors to the public so I am taking the opportunity to go in and speak to whoever I can, and also have a look around.

Martin, I will ask about this plaque too, and see if I can find it. If it is indeed at All Saints, then I will get a picture for you. As I will for you Robin, if by some chance they actually have the plaque/memorial for Mrs Bushe nee Strange.

Here is the link to the History Centre in Chippenham:

http://www.wshc.eu/

I hope they can answer your questions better than I can! But as I say, I will go to the church today and get back to you all with anything I discover, or not!

All the best,

Nina

[Reb Bacchus]

Thank You!!!  I'll contact the centre.

[BonnieGirl99]

I just returned from All Saints and it couldn't have been more successful! :-)

I found myself talking to a historian who is currently going through the records of all the plaques/memorials that were removed, having just completed a record of all the ones that remain on the church walls! So if anyone will have the information you are after Robin, it is her!

Unfortunately right now is not a good time with all the Christmas craziness. In fact, she even showed me a plaque that was dedicated to the "Bush" family - but we were unable to ascertain if there was any connection to William Busshe or his wife as there is currently a big noticeboard and Christmas tree in front of it! In fact, there are 60 Christmas trees in the church at the moment as they are having a "Christmas Tree Festival"!

She said that mid-January would be a good time to get in touch with her....I then asked if it was okay for me to pass on her details to you (both Robin, and Martin too) and she said that it was absolutely fine, as she is always interested in hearing from people who have ancestors connected with the church and Westbury. I will send you a PM with her details.

And Martin, yes, it IS All Saints in Westbury where your uncle found the plaque! Only it is over the south door, rather than the north door.  And it is absolutely enormous with loads of other stuff written above it (the entry you shared). I took some photos and will endeavour to post them here.

I hope that all of this helps, and that once you are in touch with this lady, she is able to finally give you a name for Miss Strange, Robin!

All the very best,

Nina