23/09/1805 –23/04/1873
Rector of the Great Berkhamsted Parish 1851-1871
Relatives
Research:
Rev James Hutchinson served as Rector of the Great Berkhamsted Parish for 20 years, from 1851 to 1871.
Rev Hutchinson succeeded Rev John Crofts, the Rector who served the Parish for over 40 years (1810-1851) and who had been responsible for the establishment of Rectory Lane Cemetery and the construction of a new rectory.
Since the 13th century, Rectors of Great Berkhamsted had been presented a royal patron, the Duke of Cornwall, who was the local landowner. Rev Hutchinson was the last rector of St Peter’s to be presented by a royal patron, Prince Albert Edward, eldest son of Queen Victoria; in 1862, the local Duchy of Cornwall estates were sold to the Ashridge Estate, and subsequent rectors of Great Berkhamsted were presented by the Earls of Brownlow.
New churches and a town hall
Shortly after his installation in Berkhamsted, Rev Hutchinson began to extend the mission of the Church, assisted by the curate, Rev Henry Twells. They began to hold services in a cottage in Frithsden, and in 1860 he oversaw the construction of a new church, Holy Trinity in Potten End.
Rev Hutchinson took considerable interest in architecture. On 22 August 1860, he was present at the inauguration of the ornate new Berkhamsted Town Hall which had been designed by the Gothic Revival architect Edward Buckton Lamb (1806–1869).
“The new Town Hall at Berkhampstead – in the old English style of architecture – was opened in due form. It is a large and well-lighted room, built by Messrs. Matthews and Nash and designed by Mr. Lamb, the architect. This being the first public meeting held within the walls, we have the pleasure of stating that for light, sound, &c., it has fully answered the expectations of those interested in the undertaking.”
The Rev. James Hutchinson said “Respecting the origin of the movement… you all no doubt recollect when the old market-house was burnt down, and it was subsequently suggested and agreed, that a market-house, with a town-hall, should be built – a committee was appointed, subscriptions were raised [a bazaar raised £600]. It is the opening of the Town-hall alone which is now finished and conveyed to the trustees. We are much indebted to [Mr. Hazell, Mr Nash and] General Finch, of whom I should like to make a request, that he should consent to have his likeness painted by an eminent artist, and then placed in this room as a memento of his kindness.”
The glee singers then sang “The Chough and Crow.”
Lieut.-General the Hon. J. Finch then rose, amidst the most vociferous applause, to return thanks.
Bucks Herald, 22 August 1860
Restoration of St Peter’s
Rev Hutchinson’s enthusiasm for architecture was also evident when he led the Parochial Church Council to commission major improvements to the decaying St Peter’s Church building and to Rectory Lane Cemetery. In 1870 the Church Restoration Committee appointed the renowned Gothic Revival architect William Butterfield to begin a major restoration project on St Peter’s Church (a previous renovation in 1820 by Sir Jeffry Wyattville, architect of Ashridge House, had proved rather unsuccessful). Butterfield’s work involved many alterations, including removing medieval features, refacing the church with flint, and installing new interior fittings and stained glass. Under Hutchinson, the church also launched a public subscription to raise funds towards replacing the wooden gates and gateposts at the Cemetery entrance on Rectory Lane.
During his incumbency, James Hutchinson lived at the Victorian rectory (built by Rev. Crofts). Writing in the parish magazine in 1996, John Cook noted that a monument there records a right of way:
“The Rector has ancient right of way from the Rectory through Green Lane to Grubbs Lane’. These words are inscribed on a stone monument at the Rectory, followed by J.H. Rector 1861. The initials are those of James Hutchinson.”
Berkhamsted Review, September 1996
Grubbs Lane was the former name for Chesham Road.
Rev. Hutchinson retired from the post as Rector in 1871, and was succeed by Rev John Wolstenholme Cobb, another figure who looms large in the history of the parish. Cobb inherited the Butterfield restoration project.
Death and memorials
James Hutchinson did not see the completion of Butterfield’s restoration work, as he died in 1873 aged 67. He was held in such affection by the parish that the following year, a huge mural was painted in his memory on the east wall of the nave of St Peter’s above the tower arch. The mural was commissioned by his grieving widow, Sophia Jane Hutchinson, and depicted the Ascension of Christ painted in the Arts and Crafts. Cobb lists the artist simply as Burrows; comparable works can still be seen today in churches in Edlesborough (Daniel Bell, 1875) and Tring (J Powell & Sons, 1899). The St Peter’s mural was painted over in the 20th century and nothing of it remains today, but a small brass plaque survives on the pillar commemorating Sophia Jane’s loving artistic gift to the church.
Another adornment to St Peter’s installed in James Hutchinson’s memory was a beautiful reredos for the High Altar. It depicts the Crucifixion of Christ in exquisite golden mosaic tiles and was designed by the renowned glass company Clayton & Bell, who also created the mosaics on the Albert Memorial in Hyde Park, London. This altarpiece is still in place in St Peter’s today, although the sanctuary area has been screened off and is now in use as the vestry. Sophia and her sisters also donated a lectern “in the same style as the pulpit”, although this was later donated to the new church at Potten End.
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St Peter’s Church
Potten End
St Peter’s Rectory
Berkhamsted Town Hall
Personalities of the Past
Memorial Symbolism
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