CH34. Inscribed on the back panel of a fixed carved seat
In memory of the Rev. / JOHN HARRIES THOMAS, Vicar of this church / 1860 – 1896 / Erected in accordance with the will and / bequest of his son Mr. OLDFIELD THOMAS.
Rev’d John Harries Thomas
The Vicar’s stall by the chancel steps is dedicated to Rev’d John Harries Thomas who was Vicar of St John’s from 1869 to 1896, a time of great change, growth and prosperity for Hillingdon and St John’s.
Revd Thomas was born in Billericay Essex in 1822, the son of a clergyman. He was educated at Peterhouse College and Trinity College Cambridge. He was made a deacon in 1844, then a priest in 1845 and served as a curate at Muswell Hill 1844-1845. Then followed 5 years as Canon at St James Westminster, 5 years as minister at Archbishop Tenison Chapel, (formerly in Regent Street, London but now demolished), 6 years as Rector at Millbrook, Beds, and 5 years as Archdeacon at Cape Town from 1863-1868. He then returned to the UK and became Vicar of St John’s in 1869.
Rev’d Thomas and his wife Emily, had 5 children, Francis (who joined the Royal Navy and to whom the stained glass window in the Prayer Chapel is dedicated), Madeline, Ellen, Arthur and Oldfield. It was Oldfield who made a bequest in his will for the carved seat to be dedicated to his father’s memory.
In 1895 Revd Thomas was forced to retire due to ill health. I have a copy of a book written by Louis Hamand who was the organist of St John’s from 1895-1906 which says “The Rev JH Thomas who had been Vicar at Hillingdon when I first went there, was within a few months compelled to resign the living owing to almost complete loss of voice”. Rev’d Thomas retired to Southsea and named his house “Hillingdon” Further proof that he loved Hillingdon was that after he died in1903 aged 81, he was buried in Hillingdon Cemetery, just down the hill from St John’s.
Regular readers of “Hillingdon Histories” will know that I have been trying to find various graves in Hillingdon Cemetery and it’s been a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack. However, a few weeks ago, Mike Palmer, our Tower Captain, emailed me to say he remembers walking through the cemetery as a child and his father would point out where some of the Vicars of St John’s were buried. Thankfully Mike has an excellent memory and was able to direct me to the exact spot. A photo of the grave of Rev John Harries Thomas is shown below. Sadly, it’s partially collapsed but it is possible with some water and gentle brushing to make out the name Rev’d Thomas. I am so pleased to have found his final resting place.
Christine Bartlett
