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Reverend
Charles Laud Harrison
Rector between 1938 and 1975 at Bugbrooke
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Not many results are generated by a 'Google' search for information identifying Charles.
The most comprehensive is revealed by
'The Peerage', a genealogical survey of the peerage of Britain as well as the royal families of Europe.
Reverend Charles Laud Harrison was born on 12 March 1909.
He died on 9 November 1977 at age 68
He was the son of Reverend Ernest Wivelsfield Harrison and Edith Eliza Tribe.
He was educated at Northampton Grammer School, Northamptonshire, England.
He graduated from Exeter College, Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, in 1931 with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
He graduated from Exeter College, Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, EnglandG, in 1938 with a Master of Arts (M.A.)
He gained the rank of Chaplain in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, during the Second World War.
THE LONDON GAZETTE, 13 AUGUST, 1940 stated:-
CHAPLAINS' BRANCH.
The undermentioned are granted commissions for the duration of hostilities with the relative rank of Squadron Leader: - 24th July 1940.
The Rev. Charles Laud HARRISON.
He was the Rector between 1938 and 1975 at Bugbrooke, Northamptonshire.
He married Jean McClean Perry, daughter of Reverend Elliot Wilkins Perry,
on 18 November 1947.
He was the Curate-in-Charge between 1949 and 1951 at Heyford, Northamptonshire.
He was Rural Dean in 1960.
He held the office of non-Residentary Canon of Peterborough in 1963.
His son, Ernest Charles Harrison was born on the 28 Jan 1950
Other details can be found in published articles.
RP 4190
Now there's a number to conjure with!
It is quite possible that one or two elders of the village may just be thinking that they have seen it before somewhere ... they would of course be quite right.
But what and where?
The "what" is a Northamptonshire vehicle registration number belonging to a famous Bugbrooke mode of transport.
Colin Burley, writing in the Bugbrooke Link magazine, says in my capacity of local Vlntaginarian (vehicular that is)
I received a letter asking me to find out the previous owners of this registration number, RP 4190.
I do several of these investigations each year and this one started quite as usual until I found that the first owners of this 1927 AJS was no other than a certain C L Harrison of Bugbrooke, and subsequently by a J Bull ... and then by E W Harrison.
I imparted this Information to the current owner but then an audience with our present Rector, Canon Tim Partridge enlightened me even more.
Yes!....the one and only Rev. Charles Laud Harrison bought the machine new in 1927 at the age of eighteen to travel to college in Oxford; obviously he was not a "man of the doth" at the time.
He had sold the motorcycle to J Bull of St. Giles Square, Northampton (now Laws) a motorcycle dealer who in turn sold it back to the family in the person of Ernest Harrison, Charles's younger brother
who was well known locally as the founder of the Roadmender Club and later killed in action during the Second World War; a window In the church is dedicated to his sacrifice.
Charles, was assistant curate at Paignton, since his ordination in 1935, was appointed Rector of Bugbrooke.
(Western Morning News, Plymouth - 20 June 1938)
A direct descendant of the Rev. Henry Harrison, who was instituted to the living as far back as March 1789, the new incumbent is Rev. Charles Laud Harrison.
(17 June 1938 Northampton Mercury)
In the history of Bugbrooke Church of St. Michael, the name of Harrison figures prominently.
Rev. Charles Harrison represents the fifth generation and is the sixth member of his family to be Rector.
(23 February 1940 Northampton Mercury)
Anne Gardner, writing 'Life at Bugbrooke Wharf', in the Link magazine (April 1999),
says Mary and I started at Bugbrooke Primary school in 1939, when I was just past four and Mary was seven.
Each morning all of us who lived at the wharf would set off to school.
At the bottom of the wharf, near the church, was the Bugbrooke Hall.
It was owned by Mrs Harrison, the Rector of Bugbrooke's mother.
Mr Charles Harrison was away at war so we had a Reverend Disney who was the vicar until Mr Harrison returned.
During 1939-1945 Great Britain was, for the second time, involved in a World War.
As a result, many Church of England rectors joined the armed forces, including Rector Charles Laud Harrison.
So villages, like Bugbrooke, by 1941 had substitute rectors (Priest-in-charge) for the duration of the conflict.
Remembrance services of those who died in Twentieth Century Wars, subsequently, became common in Anglican Churches -
it had not been so with nineteenth century conflicts.
A dramatic event that took place on July 23rd 1940.
At a time when the Blitz was devastating London, thunder and lightning (not bombs) hit the church steeple and a large part of it fell, taking the bells with it.
(Credit - the Link magazine October 2020)
At the end of the war Rector Charles L. Harrison returned to his parish.
Eleven Bugbrooke men who had died in the war have a Remembrance plaque inside the Church, alongside those who had died in the earlier Great War.
Engagement
Second son of Mrs.& Rev. E. W. Harrison and Jean McClean Perry
29 August 1947 Northampton Mercury
Married
At the age of thirty eight years, Charles married Jean M Perry (21 November 1947), in Newton Abbot, Devon
at the church of St. Martin and St.Mary, Chudleigh
... Harrison, grandfather of the present incumbent.
Then the Rev. E. W. Harrison, father of the present rector, was rector for 20 years before his death.
From 1920 to 1922 the Rev. Arthur Rock Harrison, uncle of ...
Published: Friday 23 February 1940
Newspaper: Northampton Mercury
The belfry screen, which is dedicated to a former Rector, Charles Harrison, was installed in 1978.
During the Interregnum
March 2025 to ....
Contact the Benefice Office
E-mail:
thebeneficeofbhkandr at gmail dot com
Contact the Benefice Office
Sunday School Rooms, Church Lane,
BUGBROOKE, Northampton, NN7 3PB
Land Line: 01604 830373
E-mail:
thebeneficeofbhkandr at gmail dot com
Mon., Tues., Wed., Thur.
9:00am to 11:30am
For Baptism bookings (Christenings)
to arrange an appointment please contact
the Benefice Office.
For Wedding bookings:
please contact the Benefice Office to arrange
an appointment.
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