Rector - Edward Leigh Mather (1882-1852)
Edward Leigh Mather (GKHZ-MPK) was born on 7th July 1882 in Over Tabley, Cheshire. His parents were Rose Eleanor Leigh Mather (daughter of former rector of Halsall, Richard Leigh who lived at what is now Halsall House) and her husband Reverend Edward Lushington Mather, twenty years her senior. The family home was the elegant vicarage in Over Tabley.
Edward was ordained in 1906 by the Bishop of Liverpool, Francis Chavasse. (Chavasse Park in Liverpool city centre being named after his family).
In 1910 Edward married Sophia Gladys Appleton (MY1R-ZXD), a solicitor’s daughter from Wigan. The young couple then moved into the newly built Halsall Rectory, across the road from St. Cuthbert’s church (not bad for a first home!)
The new rectory was commissioned by the Blundell family, patrons of Halsall Church, (history of Halsall Rectories) . Edward was a first cousin once removed of Colonel Henry and his brother Reverend Thomas Blundell Hollinshead Blundell. Edward served as the curate at Halsall from 1910 until 1921.
At this time his uncle, Reverend James Gerard Leigh was the rector of Halsall but was in hospital in Scotland for an extended period of time. (In actual fact, in 1911, the vicar was Reverend John Inglis who lived at Chestnut Cottage, Summerwood Lane with his wife and six daughters.)
Edward’s uncle, Reverend James Gerard Leigh died on 27th February 1921. Edward, Sophia and their two children still occupied Halsall Rectory but were away in Seascale, Cumberland when the census was taken that year. The Mathers entrusted the care of the rectory to Thomas and Mary Craven in their absence: Thomas was the gardener and Mary was the Mather’s cook. Edward continued to be curate and Reverend Sydney Manifold Rawland was the vicar, living at Chestnut Cottage with his mother and siblings.
Then on 17th August 1921 Reverend George Hardwicke Spooner became Halsall’s new rector, under the patronage of Major Cuthbert Leigh Blundell Hollinshead Blundell of Halsall House, son of Rev. Thomas Blundell Hollinshead Blundell.
Edward was appointed vicar of Hornby, near Lancaster in 1921 so the Mather family left for Hornby and Reverend Spooner moved into Halsall Rectory.
After seven years, Reverend Spooner resigned and Reverend Edward Leigh Mather returned to Halsall and became the rector of St. Cuthbert’s church just before Christmas 1928 (under the patronage of his second cousin, Major Cuthbert Blundell Hollinshead Blundell).
Reverend Mather lived and worked in Halsall during WW2, supporting the villagers and their families. He and Sophia were very much involved in the ‘Halsall War Comforts Fund’ which raised money for the soldiers returning from war. Above all else however, they suffered great personal loss too as their son, Alfred Mather was killed in action at the age of only 23 years.
Edward, Sophia and their daughter, Helen remained at Halsall until 1946 when they moved to Portinscale, near Keswick, Cumberland; their next home was the Edwardian property, Lonnin Garth – originally commissioned in 1905 by Canon Rawnsley, the Lakeland conservationist and co-founder of the National Trust.
Reverend Mather was the minister at Newlands Church from 1946 until 1952. According to the Penrith Observer, having just taken a service at Crosthwaite church, he was walking home when he collapsed and died on 21st September 1952; he was 70 years old. His funeral service took place at Newlands and only four months later, his wife, Sophia passed away on 11th January 1953. They are buried together with their daughter Helen.
