Tag: Regent Street PM Church

Amy Edna Riddick – lifelong member of the Primitive Methodist Church

Amy Edna Riddick was a member of Primitive Methodism royalty. Born in 1852 in Stratton St Margaret, Amy was the second daughter of Charles Morse and his second wife Rebecca Lapper.

Charles Morse was a legendary figure and pioneer of Primitive Methodism in not only North Wiltshire but neighbouring Berkshire and Hampshire. He was born in Purton in 1811 and converted to Primitive Methodism as a young man. He was soon engaged in preaching at open air meetings where he was frequently arrested and escorted away in handcuffs. He became a Sunday School teacher and conducted a Bible class. He was also an organist and became both a superintendent and Circuit Steward. A local business man who ran a grocer’s and draper’s shop in the village, Charles devoted his life to the cause of Primitive Methodism, as did his family.

Amy too spent a lifetime worshipping and working for the Primitive Methodist Church, associated with the first Regent Street Church in Swindon built in 1848 (rebuilt a further two times) and then as a married woman where she worshipped at the Prospect Place Church.

As a young woman still living at home in Stratton St Margaret Amy worked as an assistant in her father’s shop, alongside her brother Levi Lapper Morse. In 1875 she married Henry Raggett, tailor and grocer and Primitive Methodist. The newly married couple lived above the family business at 29 Eastcott Hill, as Amy’s own parents had done in Stratton St. Margaret. By 1891 they were living at 35 Rolleston Street with their four children, Milinda, Beatrice, Henry and Wilfred. Living next door at No. 36 was Primitive Methodist Minister Thomas Whitehead and his family.

Sadly, the beginning of the 20th century saw three deaths in Amy’s immediate family. In 1903 her son Henry Charles Edgar died at the age of 21. The following year her husband Henry died and then in 1905 her eldest child, Milinda died aged 28.

Amy, however, continued to work at a myriad of activities within the church and was appointed the first Treasurer of the Women’s Missionary Federation formed at a meeting convened by her sister-in-law, Winifred wife of Levi Lapper Morse, on October 22, 1910. The census taken the following year records her living alone at 77 Goddard Avenue, a 58 year old widow living on ‘Private Means’.

In the March quarter 1912 Amy married again. Her second husband, Silas Riddick, was also a stalwart Primitive Methodist.

Amy died at her home on August 14, 1931. Her funeral took place at Radnor Street Cemetery on August 18 where she was buried in grave plot D158 with her first husband Henry Raggett and their two children, Henry and Milinda.

The Primitive Methodist records include numerous references to the Morse, Raggett and Riddick families. And Amy was a member of all three.

For more information about the history of Primitive Methodism visit the excellent website My Primitive Methodists.

Mrs S. Riddick

Death of a Well Known Swindon Methodist

Mrs Amy E. Riddick, of 77, Goddard Avenue, Swindon, passed away at the residence on Friday, after a long and trying illness, at the age of 79.

Mrs Riddick was the daughter of the late Mr Charles Morse, of Stratton, one of the pioneers of the Primitive Methodist Church in the district, and was the sister of the late Mr L.L. Morse, of The Croft, and of Mr E. Morse, of Blunsdon. She was twice married, her first husband being Mr. H. Raggett, who was well known in Primitive Methodist circles. He was an ardent worker in the Liberal cause, and at the time of his death was a member of the Swindon Town Council, the Wilts County Council and the Swindon and Highworth Board of Guardians. Her second husband was Mr S. Riddick, who had, previous to his second marriage, lived at Wootton Bassett. Mrs Riddick had four children by her first husband, two of whom had predeceased her. The remaining children are Mr W.L. Raggett of Bristol, and Mrs R.G. Cripps, of Swindon.

The funeral took place on Tuesday, and a service at the Prospect Place Primitive Methodist Church was conducted by the Revs. W.C. Russell and T. Sutcliffe. A large number of friends were present, Mr Arthur Button was at the organ. The Rev. W.C. Russell performed the last rites at the cemetery.

The chief mourners were Mr W.L. Raggett (son), Mrs R.G. Cripps (daughter), Mr R.G. Cripps (son-in-law), Mr Cyril Cripps (grandson), Mr W.E. Morse (nephew) Mrs W.A. Stanier and Mrs Le Sueur (nieces), Mr S. Payne (brother-in-law), Mr J. Riddick, Mr. W. Riddick, Mr F. Riddick, Mrs N. Riddick, Mrs T. Riddick, Mrs G.H. Matthews, Nurse L. Davis, and Mr W. Davis.

North Wilts Herald, Friday, August 21, 1931.

Agnes Harding – Methodist and Mayoress

The following words were published in the North Wilts Herald in 1939 as part of a much longer article celebrating the Golden Wedding anniversary of former Mayor A.E. Harding and his wife Agnes. Of course the article concentrated on the work of the Mayor but his wife was more than an equal in this partnership.

Agnes Westmacott was born in Somerford Keynes into a staunchly Primitive Methodist family. Her father, Samuel Westmacott, was a baker and grocer who moved to Swindon by the time of the 1871 census. He became a member of the Regent Street Chapel with which Agnes would be involved throughout her life.

Agnes married Albert Edward Harding, a railway clerk in 1889 and the couple had three children, Stewart, Myrtle and Albert. The family’s long time home was ‘Apsley.’ Not Apsley House, former home of the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, but a property called Apsley at 56 Victoria Road.

Albert entered politics in 1907 serving as a councillor representing the East Ward on the Swindon Town Council and in 1922 was appointed Mayor. However, family life continued to centre around Primitive Methodism and the Regent Street chapel where Agnes served as a Sunday School teacher for many years. She was also the first secretary of the Brinkworth and Swindon district branch of the Primitive Methodist Women’s Missionary Society.

Agnes Harding died at her home and was buried with her husband, who had died six years previously, in Radnor Street Cemetery in grave plot E8568 on December 30, 1949. The couple were later joined by their youngest son Albert and his wife Kathleen. Buried in the neighbouring plot is their eldest son Stewart, who predeceased his parents, dying in 1931. He is buried in plot E8569 with his wife Gladys who died in 1968.

Married for Fifty Years

Golden Wedding of Mr and Mrs A.E. Harding of Swindon

Mrs Harding’s Record.

Mrs Harding was born at Somerford Keynes and came to Swindon with her parents in her youth. She was a scholar in the day school at the Regent street Primitive Methodist Church, and one of the first scholars to attend the College street school. For many years she was a teacher in the Primitive Methodist Sunday School, Regent street, with which church she has been associated all her life. She was elected to teach a class of unruly youths – and then for many years taught the infants class of some seventy children. During this period she was presented with the diploma for long service.

For many years she has been a class leader, with at one time 95 members on her book, but of late years has had to have more assistants.

Mrs Harding was one of the first pupils of the Art School which was held in the old Town Hall, The Square, whilst the College was being built.

When the Primitive Methodist Women’s Missionary Society was established she was one of the first to form a branch in Swindon, and was secretary of the Brinkworth and Swindon district branch. At the conference at Cardiff in 1924, Mrs Harding was elected national president of the society; she represented the District Sunday School at the triennial conference at Liverpool, was a delegate to the annual synod at Aylesbury and to the conference at Sheffield.

During her year of office as Mayoress, Mrs Harding was presented by the branch with a silver purse and an album of the members’ names. As Mayoress she helped to form the Nursing Association and has continued as a member.

A member of the Red Triangle Club at its formation, she still continues her association with the women’s section.

When the Linen Guild at the hospital was formed, Mrs Harding became a member, and still continues with the weekly meetings. She is president of the sewing circle of the Regent street Church and in connection with these organisations, she has made hundreds of articles and is still an active member of all these societies.

At her silver wedding she was presented with a silver salad bowl by the British Women’s Temperance Organisation.

Councillor and Mrs A.E. Harding were presented to Her Highness Princess Helena Victoria at the opening of the Red Triangle Club; in 1933 to their Majesties King George the Fifth and Queen Mary, when they visited Swindon, and to the Duke of Gloucester on his recent visit when opening the Civic Offices.

Extract North Wilts Herald, Friday, 17 March, 1939