Page 7 - L&T Rev Fessey

Rev. G. F. Fessey Redditch Heritage

George F Fessey

The First Minister of St Stephen’s Church

George Fred Fessey born in 1806, St James,
London and was baptised 25th December
1806, St James Piccadily, in the Borough of
Westminster. His parents were Richard and
Elizabeth Fessey. Friday 23rd May 1828,
George Frederick Fessey gained a Bachelor of
Arts at Lincoln College Oxford. At an ordination
by the Lord Bishop of Worcester St Thomas’s
Day in December 1831, George Frederick
Fessey, B.A. of Trinity College, Oxford became
a Deacon. Then in the following year he was
ordained as Priest.
In 1876 the new church, St George’s, was
consecrated and opened by the Lord Bishop
of Worcester at Redditch. George Fessey was
instrumental in the building of St. George’s
which was a chapel of Ease to the Parish
Church of St Stephen’s and classed as an
enduring and fitting monument to the
beneficent activity of the much esteemed vicar
the Rev. G. F. Fessey, who had experienced
the satisfaction of witnessing the completion
of two churches within the district under his
charge. He had been and ardent and generous promoter of the building of the new church
and several of the principal inhabitants of the town earnestly associated themselves with
him in carrying out the work.
In 1884 the Rev. G. F. Fessey resigned as Vicar of Redditch after nearly 43 years’ service
and the news was received with much regret by all of his parishioners the well to do as
well as the poor.
As soon as it was known that the Rev. George F. Fessey had resigned as vicar his
parishioners formed a committee and their appeal was promptly responded too. A
presentation at the National School took place and consisted of a silver salver, and an
address, with a library table from the poor. On the 11th November 1888 the death of
the Rev. George F. Fessey at his residence, Glenfall Terrace, Cheltenham after a long and
painful illness was announced He was in his 83rd year.
In 1889 a painting of George F. Fessey had been painted by Mr J. Bunker, commissioned
by Mr R. S. Bartleet just before the death of the reverend, which was a good likeness of
him and this was presented to the vicar and the church wardens of St Stephen’s. The
gift was accepted and was placed in the Reading room of the Institute and in 1895 a
stained glass window in memory of the late Rev. George F. Fessey was dedicated in St
George’s Church, Redditch. The window which consists of three lights, represents the
Ascension and is a gift from Mr Joseph Fessey, brother of the Rev. G. F. Fessey.

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