Obituary: John Edward Goodwin (d.1902)

Post date: Feb 19, 2012 11:38:12 AM

Extract from Parish magazine of January 1902:

Then only a day or two—and we have turned to another home where the father has passed away at a ripe age after a long illness. During recent years, though the steadfastness and energy of his character have found expression through those who mourn him, parishioners of the younger generation have scarcely been conscious of all that the parish owed in years gone by to John Edward Goodwin. Mr. Goodwin, who was born at Canon Court, became churchwarden in the year 1853, a position which he honourably filled for no less than 28 years. In 1856 he was one of the small committee that planned and carried out the much needed enlargement of the church by the addition of the south aisle. He took an active part in every public movement in the parish. He was particularly interested in educational work, and before the days of compulsory attendance at the National Schools he not only taught in the Sunday Schools, but also joined with Mr. R. J. Fremlin and his brothers in establishing and carrying on for many years a night school in Old Road, which proved an inestimable boon to many adult parishioners who in their childhood had not learnt to read and write. Truly " the old order changeth yielding place to new," and as we realise this we shall cherish the memory of one who was always a consistent Christian and spent all his spare energies in seeking to promote the true welfare of his fellow parishioners.