CH55. Oval tablet with a dark surround above arch
To the memory / of the Revd. THOMAS MILLS / thirty three years / Vicar of this parish / amply fulfilling the duties / of his office / until prevented by age / and infirmities / He died June 4th 1810 / aged 72 years / Behold an Israelite indeed / by whom no guile.
There are 2 monuments side by side to the memory of Revd Thomas Mills and his wife Anne ( CH056 ).
Rev’d Thomas Mills was Vicar of St John’s for 33 years. Thomas died in 1810, and his wife Ann died in 1808, “lamented by all who knew her worth”. 33 years is quite a long time to be a Vicar of a parish, but even more amazing is that Thomas’s father, Revd Richard Mills, was Vicar of St John’s before him for 53 years! The bible verse quoted is the King James version of John 1:47 and were Jesus’s words when he saw Nathanael, “Behold an Israelite indeed in whom is no guile” (not a word we use much these days, and it means deceit).
Revd Richard is buried in the churchyard and a brick chest tomb marks the spot. He is buried alongside Mary his first wife and his second wife also called Mary. The second wife was daughter of Hon Major General Rich Russsell who lived at The Cedar House opposite the church and is also buried in the churchyard. Rich Russell was the grandson of Oliver Cromwell.
Whilst Richard Mills was Vicar, many repairs to the church were necessary and good records were kept. The pulpit was moved to allow repairs to take place, 6 bells were recast, beams in the tower were pronounced unsafe and were replaced by steel girders, walls were plastered and whitewashed.
During the time when Thomas and his father Richard were Vicars of St John’s, the parish registers were kept very neat and tidy with straight lines and clear handwriting, much appreciated I am sure by family historians! In the photo below you can see their signatures taken from the parish registers.
Christine Bartlett
