Rector - George Hardwicke Spooner (1851-1933)

Interior of St. Maryleborne Church (Credit Wikipedia)

George Hardwicke Spooner (MQ7N-8BY) was the rector of St. Cuthbert’s church, Halsall from 17th August 1921 until December 1928. He was previously Dean of Childwall, Archdeacon of Warrington and Archdeacon of Liverpool as well as being an author of several books ( Wikipedia).

George Hardwicke was born on 10th December 1851 in Marylebone, London and baptised the following year in St. Marylebone’s church by his father. He was the third of seventeen children of Reverend George Woodberry Spooner. His mother was Frances Agnes Franklin who died at the young age of 32 years when George (jnr.) was only 10 years old. Frances was the second wife of George Woodberry. 

The family moved to Gloucestershire when Reverend George Woodberry was appointed vicar at Inglesham.  However, an unbelievable tragedy struck in 1861; three children of the family died of diphtheria – two sons on the same day and a daughter a week later. Sadly, on 3rd July of the same year, their mother Frances also passed away. 

George Woodberry was left with only 4 of his eight children (another child with his first wife had died as a baby in 1840). Elizabeth, a daughter from his first marriage, was 21 years old so would have presumably brought up her siblings: George Hardwicke 10, Shirley 6 and baby Jessie.

Two years later, in 1863,  Reverend George Woodberry married again; his third wife was Mary Ann Wheeler, 25 years his junior – they went on to have nine children together. So a new mother figure for George Hardwicke, however, in 1868, his older half-sister Elizabeth, who had brought him up, married and emigrated to Canada. It is not clear if he ever saw her again. 

Nevertheless, George Hardwicke had his own life to lead. He was educated at King’s School, Worcester and took his degree in Classics and Theology at Pembroke College, Oxford University in 1871. 

George and Edith Spooner ( Credit S. Jackson)

In 1885 George became rector of Woolton followed by the rector of Walton in 1906 as well as being appointed the Archdeacon of Warrington in the same year. He also held the position of Archdeacon of Liverpool. In 1921, he became the rector at St. Cuthbert’s, Halsall as well as retaining his Archdeaconry. Whilst in Halsall, he and Edith celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary by holding a garden party in the grounds of Halsall Rectory in the summer of 1928. 

George was ordained on 26th December 1874 by the then Bishop of Chester; his curacy was at All Saints church, Great Nelson Street in Liverpool (sadly this church was demolished in the 1960s). 

On 31st July 1878 he married Edith Boult ( LRJQ-5MG), daughter of Peter Swinton Boult, a cotton broker from Liverpool. George’s first appointment as a vicar was at Litherland; he also gained the position of Diocesan Inspector around this time. 

On 27th May 1879, Edith gave birth to their first child, Arthur Hardwicke Spooner, later a Brigadier General in 1945.

Their second son, Reginald Herbert Spooner was born on 21st October 1880. He played cricket for Lancashire and England. He also played rugby for England . (Wikipedia)

Their first daughter, Violet Randall Spooner came into the world on 9th January 1884. 

Archibald Franklin Spooner was their fourth child, born on 21st May 1886. He played cricket for Lancashire. (Wikipedia)

Liverpool Echo 30/7/1928

In November 1928, George retired from Halsall and the Spooners returned to Liverpool, George retaining his position of Chancellor of Liverpool Cathedral as well as concentrating on diocesan work. 

Archdeacon George Hardwick Spooner died at his Liverpool home on 7th February 1933 at the age of 81. He was buried at Woolton Parish Church. A memorial service was conducted at Liverpool Cathedral where Dr. A. A. David, the Bishop of Liverpool remembered Archdeacon Spooner and stated ‘few men in public life have better deserved the respect and affection of all classes and sections in South West Lancashire’.