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St Matthias, Tulse Hill
We were at St Michael's House, New Cross, for 3 years till on January 16 1900 we received the offer of our first living, St Matthias, Upper Tulse Hill. How happy we were! How proud I was of my husband!
It was a beautiful church with very little income, but we set out in faith, willing for hard work to build up a congregation. There were crowds of people all around. We had no vicarage, so we both went house-hunting and found a small house, one of a row. Here we started the third stage of our lives, still in London, which Willie loved. He was able to go to all important meetings; he was also able to get many renowned preachers at his church.
We moved about the end of January. Victor and Winnie stayed with a friend who was very fond of them. Victor was 27 or 28 months, Winnie 1 year 10 months old. When they came back to us they were delighted. Victor ran all over the house looking into every corner. Winnie ran to me and said: "O my dear Muvver!"
I had two good maids then and we started in our own parish very happily. Dad had many good friends; our lasting friends were Mr and Mrs King, and also Mr and Mrs Robinson, but they died first. Mrs King was always my great friend, and lived to the age of 75.
The birth of Stanley, 11 August 1900
I soon discovered another baby was coming and Stanley was born in August 1900. Dear little Victor was growing such a lovely boy, but full of mischief. He would cut holes in the down quilt, and hide things away. He was with me a great deal and at the age of 3 we sent him to a kindergarten school on Brixton Hill. His energies needed it. It gave him occupation and little friends.
Winnie went too, a little later. What a picture she was, standing at drill among all the other little children, with her soft brown curls and very dark eyes, and I remember a little liberty green dress, trimmed with white braid, which I made; little white socks and brown shoes. Victor and she both loved the dancing class and skipping. Victor was very good and most graceful. He was tall, and Winnie very small. Mrs King loved to have them to tea and she would bring them home herself. Poor dear, she had one baby which she lost at 9 months old. She never forgot.
Dr Reeves (still alive) was my doctor when Stanley was born at 1 o'clock on a Saturday morning. All went very well. Winnie was so pleased to see a new baby. Stan was baptized at Richard's Castle. As soon as we could all of us went for a holiday there. What a good Father and Mother to take us all in, and we never paid a penny.
I had an old-fashioned nurse, Mrs Hull, the same as I had for Winnie. She came over from New Cross. Now our house was pretty full with 3 children and 2 maids, so soon we looked for another house after 4 years, but had we known how soon we were to leave London, I think we should not have moved. However we did not know, and we took a very nice house in Upper Tulse Hill. We had a lovely nursery with windows back and front; we covered it with really good oil-cloth. I bought, I remember, a rock-horse for Victor and Winnie loved it. They had lots of nice toys and a very good nurse. Stanley was now two and a half.
The birth of Howard, 7 February 1903
That February, when Howard was born, I had the same monthly nurse, Mrs Hull, a motherly old dear - and she did not quarrel with the servants. My good nurse was very pleased to have a new baby to look after. She managed all four children but Victor and Winnie went to Kindergarten every morning.
Howard was born of a Saturday, Feb 1903. We spent most of our holidays at Richard's Castle, but before Howard came we spent a month, August 1902, at Lowestoft. This was grand. The three children were small and no trouble. Dad loved them at this age. Our troubles had not begun.
Self-doubt
How difficult to train rightly three children all so different. How many mistakes we make. Dear little ones given to us by God to train. How unheedingly the years rolled by, opportunities missed, mistakes made; and yet we did pray for them and I do believe God will overrule our mistakes and bring them all to himself. In this year 1939 I will still pray in faith and will trust Him.
Building up the Church
1903. 1904. I cannot remember any special events. We worked in our parish at Tulse Hill. The church soon filled. The Parish Room was built. Willie was very much loved and respected. He helped the younger men very much, two or three in the choir specially, being always interested in his church choir. Some of these boys were killed in the Great War.
Torrey Alexander Mission 1904. How well I remember when Victor was 7. We lived on Brixton Hill and went many times to Brixton Hall where a great Mission was held. One afternoon it was for children and young people. My darling Victor only listened with great attention, and sang the hymns, especially that one :-
"Oh that will be glory for me"
Mr Alexander had a lovely voice; he always sang and conducted. A most sincere and holy man. The Mission was a great help to many. Once he and his wife came and had tea with us. We lived in Upper Tulse Hill at that time. It was a great honour to have them. He was very quiet, I remember. In my book-shelf I have a book of his life which is well worth reading, dear children.
Servant problems and illnesses
The children had the usual complaints - measles, chickenpox and whooping cough. We loved our big house. My nice nurse had to leave because she was so delicate. I then had a lady for a time, Miss Fry. I think she had had a love affair and came just for a change. She did not stay. My very good maid for the house, the best worker ever, turned out a thief also. She was secretly married, and her black husband I found came in by back door (downstairs kitchen) and took food etc. I lost many things, and being busy with parish and children I never noticed till later.
In 1905 my little Howard, only 2 years old, caught a chill in June and fell ill with pneumonia which lasted some weeks. Every day the temp. was 102 and it was difficult to give him milk. He just lay very quiet. I never once realised he was dangerously ill, until he was over the worst. He was so patient. But when he began to sit up, then was the danger of heart failure. He could not stand, and his little legs were very thin.
Farewell to Upper Tulse Hill
And that time, July, we now had the offer of Swanage, so when we went in August we left Howard with a trained nurse while we moved. Later Mrs King came with nurse and Howard. Miss Bland was now helping me. She was sent on the Swanage with the three other children to rooms. What a business, but we were still young; I was 34 and Dad was just under 40.
Our people again were very sorry to part with us and they gave us nice presents of money etc. I had a gold chain bracelet, very much used in those days.
Looking back on Tulse Hill days
At Tulse Hill I fear I did not do much entertaining. So many children took up a great deal of time, even with a good nurse. Always Mrs King was my dear friend. Of course I had the usual Mother's Meetings and working parties, but looking back I see how many things were left undone. Perhaps my thoughts were mostly in my home, for my darling children and husband. I loved our house too. The drawing room was the prettiest I have ever had, a long room with a large window at both ends, looking on to Tulse Hill and into the garden; a pretty brown carpet bought in London, and quite lightly furnished, but every one said how pretty.
I shall never forget Tulse Hill. Our four children were little - 7, 6, 5 and 2 and very loveable, no trouble. Every evening after tea they all came to the drawing room for games or reading, and nurse would take them one by one for bath.
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