Poetry from Marston Blencowes

John Alexander Blencowe (1846-1916) had a book of his poems published by James Martin of London in 1872. In my possession are other various handwritten examples of Blencowe verse which are preserved among the papers that survived the fire at Marston House in 1920. They show that a number of the family enjoyed writing poetry even if their efforts lacked the inspirations of a Tennyson or Keats. Peter Blencowe

On Going to Marston Church

Some go to church just for a walk
Some go there to laugh and talk
Some go there for speculation
Some go there for admiration
Some go there to meet a lover
Some go ????????to discover. (???? words not clear)

Some go there to meet a friend
Some go there the time to spend
Some go there to meet the preacher
Some go there ????????????
Some go there to have a nod
But few go there to worship God

By: Samuel Jackson Blencowe (1754-1814)

So nothing has changed in almost 200 years!

Marston Church on its Restoration in 1878

Speak, ye gladsome chimes,
From our dear old tower
Speak ye on this day,
With such telling power.
Calling to God's House,
To our Father's due,
Beautiful again,
For thy presence true.

See the white robed train
As that aisle they tread
See that altar throne,
Of the Living Bread.
See those pillars grand,
Rescued from their shame.
See indeed, God's House,
Its due honours claim.

They, the pious souls,
Who gave God their best,
Feel our joy this day,
In their waiting. Rest.
And may those unborn,
Love this holy shrine,
When we long have gone,
To the courts divine.

By: Rev. Thomas Henry Blencowe (1841 -1914)