Rector at St Mary and St Margaret, Castle Bromwich (1827-1878)
Edwin Kempson was born around the turn of the nineteenth century and was the first Rector at St Mary and St Margaret Church, Castle Bromwich.
Curate, Vicar or Rector?
If like me you’re uncertain what the difference between a Curate, Vicar and Rector is, the difference is largely historical.
Curates
England is divided up into ecclesiastical parishes. Someone is appointed to care for the spiritual needs of the people of each parish. This spiritual care is known as the cure of souls and originally the person giving the cure was called the Curate. Today the name Curate usually refers to a trainee clergyman.
Rectors
In the days when Tithes were paid someone was entitled to receive the Tithe. A Rectory was a benefice in which the Tithe was paid to the Incumbent. The Incumbent was know as the Rector and the Benefice house, where he lived, was also known as the Rectory.
Vicars
In Medieval times many Benefices were owned by Monasteries. The Monastery nominated someone to act on their behalf (vicariously) and such a person was known as a Vicar. Their place of residence became known as a Vicarage.
Edwin Kempson and Castle Bromwich
Edwin Kempson was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge and was ordained as a Deacon by Henry Ryder, the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, on 19th December 1824 and appointed as curate at Bymhill with a stipend of £100. The following year on 9th October 1825, he was ordained as a Priest.
On 22nd September 1827, he was appointed to Castle Bromwich. In that year the chapel ceased to be a chapel of Aston and became a parish church in its own right. Hence Edwin Kempson became the first rector of Castle Bromwich.
On 1st January 1829 Edwin married Mary Holmes, the youngest daughter of Jasper Thomas Holmes Esq. of Blackheath at St. Mary Church, Lewisham. They made their home in Castle Bromwich, and over a period of ten years had seven children. ( One census return shows a possible eight child, but this is yet to be confirmed)
The diaries of Lady Charlotte Bridgeman show that the Kempson family maintained a close friendship with Charlotte and Lucy Bridgeman, often socialisng with them on a daily basis during the days they spent in Castle Bromwich. Many of Edwin’s children grew up to have notable lives, of which more later.
Edwin himself died on 25th January 1878. He was buried in the graveyard at Castle Bromwich on 30th January.
References
The Church Society
