Socially the area was blessed with a one-class society. Whilst the Catechism was still being taught to the children, there did not seem to be much observance of 'To order myself lowly and reverently to all my betters' and 'to do my duty in that state of life unto which it shall please God to call me'. This was generally interpreted that we should not expect God to improve our Social standing but that we should be content to accept our lot and touch our forelocks to the Squire and other Gentry.

    These were the Solicitors, Doctors, people with money in big houses and, of course, the 'Parson'. Some of their Ladies acted as "District Visitors" (a forerunner of the Social Worker) whose function was to keep the Church in touch with the every day life of the area. This meant recommending a Parishioner for one of the Charities administered by the Parish Church, recruiting for the Choir and Sunday School and as it was expected to accept their dictums as law there was often interference with people's private lives. They expected, even demanded the respect they considered the Catechism implied. They were usually prompted by their kind hearts and the sincere belief that it was their duties towards the 'lower orders'. It was expected that the boys would raise their hats and the girls would curtsey and the Gentlemen were addressed as 'Sir' and the Ladies as 'Ma'am'. The lines in the Hymn 'The Rich Man in his Castle, The Poor Man at his gate, God made them high or lowly and ordered their estate' were very applicable.

    Lowden had a few of the local characters. Of these I remember Mr Charlie Chapel, the Baker in Sheldon Road, Mr (Josh) Dyke and his son who turned on the gas street lighting by riding round on a bicycle and turning it on by means of a long pole. There was Miss Thatcher whose Father helped to build the old St Peter's and who spent her life in nursing in War Hospitals and finally as Matron of St Andrew's Hospital. She was also for some years Treasurer of the Church. Mr George Dear was the Headmaster of Lowden School, who, besides being a fine teacher was also an excellent organist despite being minus two fingers on one hand and one finger on the other.

    Mr and Mrs Dudman were the first caretakers and vergers and they lived in the Utterson Almshouses adjoining the Church. Their daughter Miss Dudman took over in 1938 and continued until 1967. Another character was Mr Frank Stacey. He lived in Lowden and worked for Messrs Wood and Awdry all his life up to his death around about ninety years of age. He only wore an over-coat once in his life, and his dress made no concessions to Winter or Summer. When he was about 80 years old he fractured his kneecap and after being taken home in a wheelbarrow was told by his Doctor that he would never walk again. Despite his age and to show what he thought of Doctors he was walking again in three months from Rowden Hill to St Mary's Street every day to open the letters in the office. In his youth he had been a Volunteer (fore-runner of the T.A.) and told me once he had shot one of the last bustards on Salisbury Plain.

    As services were always held in St Andrew's, St Peter's was sometimes closed for a Sunday and people went to the Mother Church. Eventually an Assistant Curate was put in charge of the Daughter Church and it appears regular Services were held there early in the century. As the years rolled on Church life was becoming more and more Parochial. It held yearly Congregational Meetings, Sydesmen's Meetings (forerunner of the P.C.C.), Acting Church Wardens Meetings, a flourishing Sunday School, various Youth Guilds, Adult Football and Cricket Teams and Socials. In the early days the Sydesmen met once a year but it seems that by 1934 they were meeting several times a year.

    The Church did not appear to pay a Quota to the Diocese direct, but contributed towards the Finances of St Andrew's. I believe that the: environment, geographical situation and possibly feelings inherited from the ancient manorial days contributed towards an independent feeling, which gradually prepared the Church for the building of a new Church and Parish.

This page was last updated on 22 February 2007