George Attree and Ernest Charles Attree
by B. van Cleve
George Attree was born in 1816 to Harry Robinson Attree (1779 – 1827) and his wife Mary Blunden (1785 – 1851). He was baptised in St. Nicholas Church, Brighton (03/10/1816). On the 15th of December 1847 he married Elisabeth Austin Hodd (1821 – 1865) in St. Nicholas Church Brighton. They had nine children.
He is listed as auctioneer and/or funeral director in the marriage banns and different censuses. He was Alderman of the Borough of Brighton and Churchwarden of Brighton. He died on the 26th of May 1892.
The surviving son mentioned on the memorial plaque is likely to be George Frederick, who moved with his family to Canada. The surviving daughters are likely to be Mary Elizabeth, Louisa Matilda, Ada Olivia, Rose Marian (spelled Rose Marianne in a different source), and Amy Jane Austin.
A.M.D.G. AND IN MEMORY OF GEORGE ATTREE ALDERMAN OF THIS BOROUGH 1854 TO 1862 AND CHURCHWARDEN OF BRIGHTON 1872 TO 1888 WHO ENTERED INTO REST ON ASCENSION DAY 1892 IN HIS SIXTY-SEVENTH YEAR THIS PILLAR WAS ERECTED BY HIS SURVIVING SON AND DAUGHTERS 1898.
A.M.D.G. stands for ‘Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam’ – ‘For the Greater Glory of God’ (In 1892, ascension day fell on the 26th of May)
George Attree’s oldest son George Frederick (14/01/1953 – 01/06/1918) married Edith Catherine Ross (20/03/1856 – 17/11/1950) on October, 30th 1883. The wedding took place in St. Peter’s Church.
One of Attree’s daughters, Rose Marian (1859 – 1948), married Laurence Gwatkin (1880 – 1962), the son of the chemist and fellow churchwarden James Ross Gwatkin, who is also commemorated on a memorial plaque in St. Peter’s Church, Brighton.
Attree’s youngest son, Ernest Charles (1864 – 1889), who had been baptised in the Chapel Royal on 08/06/1864, died in Menton, Alpes-Maritimes, France, at the age of 24. He is commemorated on a memorial plaque in St. Peter’s Church, which was dedicated by his father.
GEOGE ATTREE FOR 15 YEARS CHURCHWARDEN GAVE THIS PILLAR A.D. MDCCCXC IN MEMORY OF HIS YOUNGEST SON ERNEST CHARLES
(For those unfamiliar with Roman numerals, MDCCCXC = 1890)
Eliza G. Cooke
Eliza Georgianna Cooke is commemorated in a memorial plaque in St. Peter's Church Brighton. She was the wife of the curate Thomas Cooke.
Benedict George Hoskyns
Benedict George Hoskyns was Vicar of St. Peter's Church, Brighton, and then became Archdeacon of Hastings and later of Chichester.
John Leonhard Brigden
John Leonhard Brigden was a coach builder and he was four times mayor of Brighton. He is buried in the St. Nicholas of Myra Churchyard.
John Muzzall Newnham
John Muzzall Newnham was churchwarden and chairman of the guardians of the poor. He died in 1892 at the age of 63.
Arthur Blackman
Arthur Blackman was headmaster of the Central Schools, Brighton, for 28 years, and member of the Parish Church Choir for 20 years.
William Maitland Julius Hannah
Two Memorial Plaques, one in Latin, for William Maitland Julius Hannah, son of John Julius Hannah, Vicar of St. Peter's Church Brighton.
Charles Campion
Memorial plaque for Lieutenant Charles Campion, who died at Vlakfontein, S. Africa. He was the son of Colonel William Henry Campion.
Charles Gervaise Boxall
Charles Gervaise Boxall was the grandson of William Boxall, who is also commemorated in a memorial plaque in St. Peter's Church.
James Ross Gwatkin
This memorial plaque in St. Peter's Church Brighton commemorates James Ross Gwatkin, who served as a churchwarden for 29 years.
William Boxall
William Boxall D.L. was present as High Constable of Brighton when the foundation stone of St. Peter's Church was laid.
John Hannah
John Hannah was Vicar of St. Peter's Church, Brighton (1870 - 1887), and Archdeacon of Lewes (1876 - 1888).
Richard Durnford
Memorial Plaque in Latin with English translation for Richard Durnford, born in Berkshire, Bishop of Chichester.
War Memorial Plaques
There are four War Memorial Plaques in St. Peter's Church. One for victims of the Second Boer War and three for victims of the Great War.
Commemoration of Construction Milestones
St. Peter's Church underwent several modifications and additions. Some of the construction milestones are commemorated by memorial plaques.
Floor Plan for Memorial Plaques
This floor plan indicates only the position of memorial plaques for individuals, and only if they are to be found inside the church building.
William Robinson
William Robinson had been a verger to St. Nicholas Church and to St. Peter's Church Brighton. He died at the age of 46.
Restoring Damaged Text – The C.G. Boxall Memorial
The memorial plaque for C. G. Boxall has suffered severe damage over time. After painstaking detective work the text could be recovered.
‘This project is kindly funded by Historic England as part of the Everyday Heritage - Working Class Histories. We are grateful to them for this funding.’