St James’ Southbroom became an independent parish in 1831, although the church even after rebuilding was still at first referred to as a chapelry, and the first three incumbents were known as Perpetual Curates.
1831-1838 Alfred Smith (previously curate in charge) is remembered as the incumbent who oversaw the rebuilding of the church. He retired to Old Park, Devizes, dying in 1877.
1838- 1870 Benjamin Dowding was the first occupant of the new vicarage, Southbroom House. During his incumbency, the 24-tune barrel organ was replaced by a pipe organ in 1841.
1870-1882 Stafford Tordiffe made alterations and additions to the vicarage at his own expense, and changed the time of Evensong from 3pm to 6.30pm after the arrival of gas lighting in the church. He wished to enlarge the church, perhaps because of its new garrison function, but this was not agreed, although wooden side galleries were installed to increase seating capacity for the soldiers.
1882-1897 Charles Barnwell was incumbent when the earlier organ was replaced by a two-manual organ, installed by distinguished organ-builder Henry Jones of Kensington in 1889.
1897-1918 William Gardiner was a very popular vicar: on his returning to the parish after a period of illness, the horses were taken from the shafts of his carriage, and he was drawn to the vicarage by his parishioners. A brass plate in the sanctuary was erected in his memory.
1918-1926 Hugh Lethbridge was known to take a lively interest in bell ringing, and was drawn into a debate about the opening of public tennis courts on Sundays.
1926-1932 Tudor Jeffreys was active as Chaplain to the Army Depot as well as Vicar of Southbroom. He initiated social occasions for members of the church to get to know one another better, and as Father Christmas, brought gifts to the children in the parish school.
1932-1937 Cecil Plaxton was incumbent when a new Choir Vestry (now church office) was built in the North West corner of the building. Mr Plaxton went on to become Vicar of Pewsey and Archdeacon of Wilts.
1937-1946 Andrew Douglas is credited with making the church a place of beauty, removing the side galleries, re-ordering the sanctuary and moving the choir to the West Gallery.
1946-1954 Cyril Witcomb was much loved and popular. During his tenure a three manual organ was installed.
1954-1960 Harold Blair was the scholarly author of “The Ladder of Temptation” (Longmans, 1960).
1960-1969 Michael Currah saw the peak in the church’s tradition of choral singing. He had the organ rebuilt to improve its tone, and the organ case re-gilded.
1969-1983 Kenneth Brown completed other improvements to the church, adding colour to the décor, and removing four painted panels depicting plump Victorian angels. He was responsible for building the parish centre on part of the garden of Southbroom House (much of the work being done by parishioners), and was a leading light in the establishment of the Devizes Partnership of Churches (now Churches Together in Devizes).
1983-1985 David Osborn is now Resident Chaplain (RAFR) of St Clement Danes.
1986-1999 Michael Ward is remembered warmly, having led the church into an experience of revival and increased spirituality.
2000-2009 Chris Tebbutt developed the life of the church family further, with the introduction of informal services with a worship band in addition to the more traditional services with choir and organ. He encouraged the church into a period of planning and fundraising for the internal re-ordering of the church, and the linked construction of a Church Centre in the diocese of Kajo-Keji in South Sudan. He also promoted the work with children in the church, appointing a children’s worker. He is now Team Rector of Canford Magna, and Rural Dean of Wimborne.
2010-2015 Jonathan Triffitt, in whose previous work as a school chaplain he had been described by pupils as ‘really cool’, continued the development of children’s work within a wider strategic vision for the life of the church and involvement in the local community. His leadership skills were soon recognised, and he moved to be Rector of Blandford Forum.
2016- Keith Brindle...well the jury is still out on this one!
1831-1838 Alfred Smith (previously curate in charge) is remembered as the incumbent who oversaw the rebuilding of the church. He retired to Old Park, Devizes, dying in 1877.
1838- 1870 Benjamin Dowding was the first occupant of the new vicarage, Southbroom House. During his incumbency, the 24-tune barrel organ was replaced by a pipe organ in 1841.
1870-1882 Stafford Tordiffe made alterations and additions to the vicarage at his own expense, and changed the time of Evensong from 3pm to 6.30pm after the arrival of gas lighting in the church. He wished to enlarge the church, perhaps because of its new garrison function, but this was not agreed, although wooden side galleries were installed to increase seating capacity for the soldiers.
1882-1897 Charles Barnwell was incumbent when the earlier organ was replaced by a two-manual organ, installed by distinguished organ-builder Henry Jones of Kensington in 1889.
1897-1918 William Gardiner was a very popular vicar: on his returning to the parish after a period of illness, the horses were taken from the shafts of his carriage, and he was drawn to the vicarage by his parishioners. A brass plate in the sanctuary was erected in his memory.
1918-1926 Hugh Lethbridge was known to take a lively interest in bell ringing, and was drawn into a debate about the opening of public tennis courts on Sundays.
1926-1932 Tudor Jeffreys was active as Chaplain to the Army Depot as well as Vicar of Southbroom. He initiated social occasions for members of the church to get to know one another better, and as Father Christmas, brought gifts to the children in the parish school.
1932-1937 Cecil Plaxton was incumbent when a new Choir Vestry (now church office) was built in the North West corner of the building. Mr Plaxton went on to become Vicar of Pewsey and Archdeacon of Wilts.
1937-1946 Andrew Douglas is credited with making the church a place of beauty, removing the side galleries, re-ordering the sanctuary and moving the choir to the West Gallery.
1946-1954 Cyril Witcomb was much loved and popular. During his tenure a three manual organ was installed.
1954-1960 Harold Blair was the scholarly author of “The Ladder of Temptation” (Longmans, 1960).
1960-1969 Michael Currah saw the peak in the church’s tradition of choral singing. He had the organ rebuilt to improve its tone, and the organ case re-gilded.
1969-1983 Kenneth Brown completed other improvements to the church, adding colour to the décor, and removing four painted panels depicting plump Victorian angels. He was responsible for building the parish centre on part of the garden of Southbroom House (much of the work being done by parishioners), and was a leading light in the establishment of the Devizes Partnership of Churches (now Churches Together in Devizes).
1983-1985 David Osborn is now Resident Chaplain (RAFR) of St Clement Danes.
1986-1999 Michael Ward is remembered warmly, having led the church into an experience of revival and increased spirituality.
2000-2009 Chris Tebbutt developed the life of the church family further, with the introduction of informal services with a worship band in addition to the more traditional services with choir and organ. He encouraged the church into a period of planning and fundraising for the internal re-ordering of the church, and the linked construction of a Church Centre in the diocese of Kajo-Keji in South Sudan. He also promoted the work with children in the church, appointing a children’s worker. He is now Team Rector of Canford Magna, and Rural Dean of Wimborne.
2010-2015 Jonathan Triffitt, in whose previous work as a school chaplain he had been described by pupils as ‘really cool’, continued the development of children’s work within a wider strategic vision for the life of the church and involvement in the local community. His leadership skills were soon recognised, and he moved to be Rector of Blandford Forum.
2016- Keith Brindle...well the jury is still out on this one!