Leonardslee Gardens, near HorshamBy ukgardenphotos, on Flickr

The Rev Edmund Willis

Born at Shillingthorpe 30 January 1849, son of the second Dr. Francis Willis, and died at Horsham in Sussex, of complications following a cycling accident, on 27 September 1892; his obituary. Educated at Exeter College, Oxford; B.A. 1872; M.A. 1875. Curate of Horsham 1873 - 1892, living at Arun Lodge, 8 Dene Road.

Married at Horsham in Sussex on 6 June 1877 to Alice Emily Hodgson. She was the daughter of the Vicar of Horsham, John Fisher Hodgson, and lived there most of her life (recorded there in every census), though her address at death was Arun Lodge, Sydney Road, Walton on Thames, Surrey - she appears to have moved and taken the house name with her. Born 1854, and died 15 December 1924.

WEST SUSSEX Death of Mrs. Willis. It was with great regret that her many friends at Horsham heard this week of the death of Mrs. Alice Emily Willis, widow of the Rev. Edmund Willis, who for fifteen years was priest-in-charge of St. Mark's Church, and who died in 1892. Mrs. Willis, who had been ill for some time, died on Monday at Stepney Lodge, the residence of her son-in-law, the Bishop of Stepney (Right Rev. Henry Mosley). She was the fourth daughter of Canon John Fisher Hodgson, who was Vicar of Horsham from 1848 to 1883. Mrs. Willis. who formerly lived for many years at Arun Lodge, left 14, Wellington-road, her later residence, for Walton-on-Thames about two years ago. In her long residence at Horsham the deceased lady was actively associated with church and parish affairs. An enthusiastic S.P.G. worker, she was at one time Secretary of the Mothers' Union. a vice-president of the Women Citizens' Association, and was keenly interested in St. Mary's Home, of which Miss Violet Willis was formerly hon. secretary. The funeral took place at Denne-road Cemetery on Thursday afternoon. following a service at the Parish Church, conducted by the Vicar of Horsham (Rev. Morley Headlam, M.A., R.D.). assisted by the Rev. Godfrey Wells, curate in-charge of St. Mark's. Before the service the Organist (Mr. W. Stanley Sutton, Mus. Bac.) played Spohr's " Blest are the departed." Psalm 90, " Lord, thou hast been our refuge," was chanted, and the special hymns were Nos. 255 (" Just as I am, without one plea ") and 194 (" Jesu, meek and gentle "). As the cortege left the church the Organist played Mendelssohn's " O Rest in the Lord." The chief mourners were : The Rev. E. Willis, Vicar of Ramsey, Huntingdon (son) and Mrs. Willis (daughter-in-law), Mrs. Henry Mosley (daughter) and the Bishop of Stepney, Miss Willis (daughter). Mr. Henry Willis (son), Miss Hodgson, Miss E. Hodgson and Mrs. Edward Taylor (sisters), Mr. Cyril Taylor (nephew), Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Taylor, Mr. Bridges (cousin). of Eastbourne, and Mrs. Bridges, Mr. Dillon Low (cousin), Rev. A. C. Hayes (cousin), of Holmbury St. Mary's. Dorking, and Misses Agnes and Ethel Gee. There were also present in church : Dr. and Mrs. M. Vernon, the Rev. John Bond (late Vicar of Horsham), Dr. and Mrs. F. W. E. Kinneir, Miss Pigott. Miss Greenwell, Miss Allcard, Miss Deedes ; Miss Carew and Miss Spiller (representing St. Mary's Home), Miss Bostock, Mrs. W. Lintott, Mrs. Bernard Lintott, Mrs. Harold Lintott, Miss Green, Miss Rawlison. Miss L. J. Churchman, J.P., the Misses Arnold, Mrs. Charles Rowland. Mrs. A. Aldridge, Mrs. H. Chart, Mrs. Dengate. Mrs. J. W. Walker, Mrs. J. Kent, Mrs. C. E. Sasse., Mrs. R. Cheesman, Mrs. Charles Agate, the the Misses O'Fflahertie, Mrs. B. H. Trelfer, Mrs. H. C. Hunt. Messrs. G. H. Jackson, Edward Lintott, etc., etc. The wreaths, crosses, &c. were as follow : —ln loving remembrance from her three sisters ; in grateful remembrance from the Mothers' Union ; in very affectionate memory from her old friends, Capt. and Mrs. Arthur Smith ; in affectionate remembrance from Emma Vernon (a sheaf of Arum lilies) ; in kind remembrance from Mr. and the Misses Rawlison ; in affectionate remembrance from the Rev. John Bond (Falkland Grove, Dorking) ; with deep sympathy from Miss Davey'; in loving memory. Mrs. Hurst, Miss Hurst and Miss Beatrice Hurst ; Mrs. A. M. Allcard ; in remembrance from Gwen ; in affectionate remembrance of a very dear friend, from the members of the S.P.G. Working Party ; with deepest sympathy and grateful remembrance, Harriet, Ben, Martha (Stepney Lodge). There was also a cross of holly extending nearly the length of the coffin. West Sussex County Times, 20 December 1924

Issue two sons and two daughters:

  1. Edmund Willis, born at Horsham 1 September 1879 and baptised there 29 September 1879. Married at Horsham on 6 November 1912 to Constance Marjorie Bostock. She apparently died in Cambridge in 1967.

    Educated at Exeter College, Oxford (B.A. 1902, M.A. 1905) and then at Wells Theological College. Ordained deacon 1904, and priest 1905. Curate at All Saints, Poplar, 1904-1909 (with his brother in law, the future bishop); Missionary Priest at Brewarina, NSW, 1909-1912; Rector of St. Paul, Shadwell, Sussex, 1912-1919; Vicar of Ramsey, Hunts, 1912-1926; St Peter, Maritzburg, 1926-1928; Vicar of Little Horkesley, Colchester, 1930. Died in Surrey 21 April 1946.

  2. Mildred Willis, born at Horsham about 1879. Married at St Mary's Horsham, on 1 October 1908 to Henry Mosley

    NEW BISHOP APPOINTMENT TO VACANT SOUTHWELL SEE It is officially announced that the King has approvedthe appointment of the Right Rev. Henry Mosley, Lord Bishop Suffragan of Stepney, and rector of St. Margaret, Lothbury, to the Bishopric of Southwell vacant by the resignation of the Right Rev Bernard Oliver Francis Heywood. Mr. Mosley, who has been Bishop Suffragan of Stepney since 1919, and rector of St. Margaret, Lothbury, since 1921, has been identified with the East-end of London throughout his clerical career. Ordained in 1893 to the curacy of St. Andrew, Bethnal Green, he remained in the parish for five years. Afterwards—l893-1901—he was attached to the Trinity College, Oxford, Mission at Stratford. From 1902-1911 he was rector of All Saints', Poplar. During the eight years, 1911-19, prior to his appointment as Suffragan of Stepney, he was rector of St. John-at-Hackney. Born in 1868, Mr. Mosley marred in 1908 Mildred, daughter of Rev. E. Willis, of Horsham, Sussex. Western Morning News, Saturday 16 June 1928, p6

  3. Violet Willis, born at Horsham 7 December 1882, and baptised there 6 January 1883. Died unmarried 15 January 1953; residing at Standen Cottage, Hannington in Hampshire at the time, though she died at the Rectory, Finchley, where her niece Betty Ridley's husband was Rector.

    HORSHAM. Entertainment in the Assembly Room. — On Saturday afternoon a dramatic entertainment, arranged by Miss Etheldred Hodgson, in aid of the sick and poor of Horsham, was given at the King's Head Assembly Room. There was a large attendance. The piece performed was " The Armada," the children sustaining parts being Mildred Willis, Harold Taylor, Leonard Taylor, Bowater Vernon, Violet Willis, and Edmund Willis. The performance afforded genuine amusement. In the evening " Polly " was performed by Miss Hume, Miss Sinclair Thomson, Mrs Young, Miss E. Hodgson, and Miss J. M. Taylor. This was followed by a farce, entitled " The Obstinate Family," inwhich Mr C. P. Taylor, Mr Vernon, Mr C. H. Taylor, Mrs Young, Mr P. Taylor, and Miss E. Hodgson took part. There were good attendances at both performances. Surrey Mirror, 4 January 1895, p5

  4. Henry Willis, born and baptised at Horsham 15 December 1886.

    WILL any Lady RECOMMEND a GOVERNESS, not under 25, to take the entire charge and education of a little boy of eight years of age, partially paralysed, and of a girl of 12, advanced for her age? Mrs. Willis, Arun Lodge, Horsham, Sussex.- Morning Post,Tuesday 18 June 1895