Early photographs honour long-standing Hastings verger

James Bissenden was the verger of Holy Trinity, in Robertson Street, Hastings, for 45 years and there is still a plaque in the church today, recording his service.

Maurice Gilham, who lives in Tonbridge, sent us photographic plates showing James and his wife, Dora, but unfortunately he does not have much information about his great-grandparents.

Maurice said: “My great grandfather was the verger at Holy Trinity Church in the mid-1850s.

“I have in my possession a pair of 160-year-old photographic glass plates of my great-grandfather and his wife in a splendid crinoline dress. They copy rather well. I also have a piece of ancient newsprint that separates the plates.

“I’m afraid that I don’t have any useful information about my maternal great-grandparents. Their son, my grandfather, died in 1935 when I was only three years old.

“What I do know is that there is a plaque on the wall which bears testament to his service.”

Holy Trinity actually dates back to the 1850s. It was completed in 1959, having taken eight years to build. Originally, it was planned to sit on a slope on the fringe of the area between Castle Hill and St Leonards but following a landslip, the more level site in Robertson Street was purchased.

Now a Grade II* listed building, the church is an unusual shape and its tower was never built. The church was remodelled and refitted in the 1890s, with the addition of a vestry at the east end, complete with conical roof.

A splendid brass plaque inside reads: “In the faith of Jesus Christ, James Bissenden, for forty-five years verger of this church, fell asleep on the Feast of Easter, 1904. RIP”

Maurice added: “My daughter has done some research and my great-grandparents, James and Dora, had nine children, Jack, Jim, Will, Fred, Edith, Kate, Bess, Dora and Lily.

“My maternal grandmother was Dora and I can remember going on holiday to Hastings in the 1930s to stay with Auntie Edith.”

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