Latest Vicar's Letter

The Revd Gregory Whyley was vicar of Eaton Bray for 46 years from 1825 until he died, still in post in 1871. During his long tenure he was in the habit of annotating the burials register with details of the most sad or surprising causes of death among his flock. Death through accident, illness and epidemic in particular, were recorded with notes in the margins and this has revealed to subsequent generations more about our predecessors in Eaton Bray.

In mid-Victorian England, there were six epidemics of scarlet fever; one of these occurred in 1863 and Eaton Bray was not spared. In the summer and autumn of that year, the village suffered 27 deaths from this illness, mostly of children.

Having lived through an epidemic ourselves in recent times, we must surely have empathy with people in the past. That period was upsetting for us all and tragic for many families, but at least we had the benefits of modern medical knowledge. But in Eaton Bray in 1863, while fever scoured the village, there was little that could be done. Revd Whyley however, did what he could to lessen the suffering of the poor, and his charity was recorded in the Leighton Buzzard Observer in September 1863,

Fever at Eaton Bray

The inhabitants of Eaton Bray have for a long time being severely visited by a malignant fever which has greatly reduced the poorer class and plunged them into deep suffering and distress. The medical attendants have in most cases, ordered the patient wine and beef tea, but through their long suffering and poverty they are in many cases unable to procure either of these useful articles. In order to meet this difficulty Messrs John Buckmaster, C Thorn and F Simmons have instructed Mr. Jabez Thorne to supply free of expense, to those parties producing an order from the medical attendant, those things required in fever cases. Any persons desirous of aiding in this laudable object may forward their contributions to any of the above-named gentlemen. The smallest sums will be thankfully received and acknowledged through the medium of the Leighton Buzzard Observer

It should be observed that the Rev. GE Whyley has for weeks past, been supplying wine and beef tea gratuitously to the poor of this parish but it was thought desirable that someone should take the matter in hand in order to release the rev. gentlemen of the burden.

This article was followed by a list of the 60 names of those who had contributed sums ranging from 6d to £1, and a later edition of the newspaper reported that £16 14s 6d had been collected in total.

At this time when our parish begins the long process of appointing a new vicar, let’s spend a moment to give thanks for Gregory Whyley, for his life-long faithfulness, his Christian charity and his devotion to the people of Eaton Bray.

His grave and that of his wife Jane, can be found in the north-west corner of St Mary’s churchyard.

Catherine Hayden, Churchwarden