Philip Maddocks was born in St. Helier, Jersey in 1850, the son of Primitive Methodist minister Philip Maddocks and his wife Lucinda Beck. In fact, Philip junior would begin his own clerical career as a Primitive Methodist minister serving between 1868-1873 on circuits at Chippenham and Stroud (among others) before becoming an Anglican vicar.
In 1880 Philip married Florence Jane Sherrat at St Mary’s, Birkenhead and at the time of the 1881 census he was working as curate at St Peter’s Church, Burnley. He arrived at St Barnabas, Gorse Hill in 1883 and at the time of the 1891 census he is recorded as living at St Barnabas Vicarage, 268 Cricklade Road with his wife Florence and their ten year old daughter Florence Ida Louise. A son, Cyril, was born the following year but died in 1895 aged three years old. A second daughter, Philippa, was born in 1897. Florence died in 1902 and Philip married Blanche McGovern in 1918.
Philip served at St Barnabas’ for 48 years and at his funeral was described as Swindon’s oldest vicar.
Rev. P. Maddocks,
Funeral of Swindon’s Oldest Vicar
The high esteem in which the late Rev. Phillip Maddocks, the first and only Vicar of St. Barnabas’ Church, Gorse Hill, Swindon, who had held the curacy of souls in that parish from its formation in 1890 – he was curate from 1883 – was held, was shown by the large congregation at the funeral, which took place on Saturday morning.
A crowded congregation attended at St. Barnabas’ Church at 10 a.m., when there was Requiem Mass. The celebrant was Canon A.G.G. Ross (vicar of St. Mark’s) and the Bishop of Malmesbury also took part in the service. Canon Ross also officiated at the graveside in the Radnor street cemetery.
Choral Service
The choir were in attendance, and special hymns were sung, Mr. J. Padgett presiding at the organ.
The Young Men’s Guild, of which the Rev. P. Maddocks was president, was largely represented.
The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr. A.E. Smith, of Gordon road.
Extracts from the North Wilts Herald, Friday, March 20, 1931
Rev Philip Maddocks two daughters both died in Roundway Psychiatric Hospital in Devizes. Florence Ida Louise was first admitted for a short stay in April-September 1912. She died there in 1976 aged 95. Younger daughter Philippa died in Roundway Hospital in 1926 aged 29. Both women are remembered on the headstone.
Philip was buried in Radnor Street Cemetery in a double grave plot A882/3 with his first wife Florence, their two daughters and their young son.
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Radnor Street Cemetery 
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