The ERLEBACH family

Richard Philip Erlebach and his family

Family Tree

Richard's Early Years

Left to right: Alfred, Mary (daughter), Henry Arthur, Richard Philip, Mary (mother), Woodland, Eustace
Circa 1857 (from glass plate original)

Richard was born at Tabernacle Square, Shoreditch during the evening of Tuesday 16th November 1813 and baptised at St. Leonard, Shoreditch. When he was 14 a stone thrown at him in play broke his shin bone. His parents tried to cure him but his leg grew worse and an abscess formed. They then applied to the City Of London Dispensary for help. His leg was so bad that he could not go there but had to be attended at home. The cure involved the use of caustic, lancet and knife and for six months Richard was confined to bed sometimes in great pain which he bore very patiently. He spent his time reading, writing and making paste board carriages. After about a year he started the painful process of learning to walk again.

During his early years Richard attended the Tabernacle, Moorfields and was influenced by a sermon preached there to enter the Ministry. in 1835, at the time his father Adolphus became a pastor at West Lulworth, he started a four year course at Hackney Theological Seminary. He completed this during the early summer of 1839 and in July went to Abingdon as assistant to Rev. W. Wilkins, the Congregational Minister there. The original period of this engagement was for one year at a salary of £80.

Meeting Mary

At about this time he met Mary Woodland, daughter of a Ramsgate builder Thomas Woodland and his wife Anne. From a number of letters she wrote to him during the next two years, and which have been preserved in the archives, it seems that they first met during a week's holiday Mary spent at Abingdon at the end of August 1838. [Probably Richard was there doing some practical training]. They ran into each other again at a meeting in Fetter Lane, London, in the summer of 1839 and in October Mary again visited Abingdon and met Richard when she went into the Chapel, unexpectedly to him, and heard him preach. Shortly after this she received a letter from him proposing a correspondence to which she replied that

... its requests I have considered, and think I shall not be unwilling to comply with, I do indeed trust my visit to Abingdon was directed by a Divine Providence ....

This letter which she started My dear Sir" she ended

... I do still anticipate the prospect of a correspondence I expect to derive great advantage from it, may I be enabled in some small measure to return the benefit; above all may it conduce to greater spirituality of mind and devotedness of life, then shall we shall have the enjoyment, and God the glory. I am
Yours affectionately
M. Woodland

Love Blossoms

Richard visited Mary in Ramsgate in January 1840 and as a result of this they fell in love. This was the start of a flow of letters, between them at least once a fortnight, which reveal Mary as a determined and Christian young lady with plenty of ideas and a quick temper. These letters are all written, in Mary's words not very well but neatly enough to be legible even though all of them are crossed two ways and some three ways and the ink has faded somewhat in the ensuing 120 odd years.

Mary visited some friends in Islington in April 1840 travelling to London from Margate by sea, in the steam packet Royal William this being the best means of transport. [The direct railway line at that time went from London Bridge to Stroud via Dartford at which the railway terminates, forms a suburb of Rochester with which it is connected by a handsome stone bridge ... i.e. road bridge. Vide: Black's Picturesque tourist and Road and Railway Guide Book through England and Wales 2nd edition 1850. A complete journey from London to Ramsgate was possible. This involved travelling from London Bridge to Reigate by the Greenwich & Brighton Railways, thence to Ashford via Edenbridge and Tunbridge, Canterbury via, Wye and Chilham and completing the journey through Sturry and Minster. Thus the sea journey was probably quicker and cheaper!

While in Islington she visited the Polytechnic and the Opera House. She was much concerned over the propriety of visiting the latter place but was delighted with the music. She asked Richard

How will this account of my conduct compare with your views of my suitability to fill a very important situation, your reference to the responsibility of the same made me tremble and the more I think of it the more sensible am I of my unsuitability.

Richard went to Islington where they spent some time together before he escorted her back to Ramsgate. After being with each other for nearly a month he returned to Abingdon.

While Richard was at Ramsgate they carved their initials in the chalk cliff and for Mary this became a hallowed spot where she would sit to read her lover's letters. At the end of May, Richard sent Mary a profile of himself but she thought this was only a fair likeness of him. Richard then thought of giving up at Abingdon but Mary was against this so he stayed on. However he had a champion in his desires for in a later letter Mary said that Rev. Adey, a great friend of hers, who had previously been minister in the Ramsgate Chapel she attended is most anxious for your removal from Abingdon, he thinks you are so cramped with Mr. Wilkins but Mary thought it would be years before any change took place and advised Richard to lay up a fresh stock of patience. An interesting side light on Mary's character is revealed in this letter. She had been looking after her widowed brother's daughter of five for some time and said

Mary Ann always enquires when I am writing 1st if it is to cousin Lucy (her brother's fiancee), and then if I am writing to Pa. She asked me just now who I was writing to, I told her a friend. Did she know her. No. Should she ever know her. Perhaps she might. She was then quite satisfied with her answers. She is an amusing little thing, and upon the whole a very good child. She is to have her cousins both Baylys and Woodlands to tea tomorrow much to her delight, but not particularly to mine tho' I dare say we shall spend a very pleasant evening.

A further interesting item in this letter is that Mary said she was going to visit her Aunt Collard, could this be any relation to the man her daughter eventually married?

Engagement

In October Richard once again visited Ramsgate and they became engaged. On the way home afterwards he had to run for his bus at the Bank in London and at a later stage was involved in an accident but fortunately without suffering any injury. In December it appeared that Richard was more settled at Abingdon and Mary suggested that he ought to try to get a rise, £20 from Mr. Wilkins and £20 from the people of the church.

They decided not to see each other at Christmas 1840 as a result of which Mary had a very lonely time, she saw other young ladies with their beaus and was very envious, this made her decide not to have another Christmas alone which it is fairly obvious she managed! She made an interesting reference to medical practice of the time when; on stating that she was not sure who would escort her to a New Years Eve service she said that Mr. Bayly who generally did so but was ill with an inflammation on his chest, was bled on Sunday, leeched on Monday and blistered yesterday, the report this morning was not very encouraging !

Challenges

Early in 1841 Richard received an increase of £20 per annum from Mr. Wilkins but none from the church. Money now began to figure quite largely in their lives, Mary expressed concern that their combined incomes only totalled her brother, William's expenses. In February Richard once again visited Ramsgate and Mary reported comments of her friends that the engagement had brought her out. After this visit Richard started looking for a house but without success, one was too big, another had too high a rent etc, so they resigned themselves to waiting until Midsummer or Michelmas as houses usually became vacant near the quarter days. Perhaps to offset this disappointment Richard sent Mary a portrait of himself which pleased her very much.

At that time Mary received some information that nearly led to her breaking off the engagement, on April 11th she was sent an anonymous letter telling her that Richard had been engaged before he met her. It was bad enough in her eyes that this had happened but what was worse was that in spite of repeated hints that she wanted to be his first love, something she had set her heart on, he had never admitted that she was not. He now had to confess that he had proposed to another young lady, one M. Fisher, but indeed she had never accepted him and anyway had been unwilling to wait six years until he had finished his studies at college and had become established in a church. Eventually Mary full of remorse at being deceived, decided to continue writing to Richard and to try to forget that he had loved another, she asked forgiveness for hurting his feelings in various things she said to him in her letters and looked forward to seeing him to talk things over. This she was able to do at the beginning of May, when she went once more to Islington to visit her friends there.

Sometime after this the ever practical Mary, looking forward to the home she and Richard would be setting up, told Richard that her brother William, who had been an appraiser for some years and understood the value of furniture, was willing to help Richard in choosing suitable items. William had also suggested that there was a better selection at lower prices in London than anywhere else.

Mere

An important event occurred on Sunday 16th May, 1841, when Richard preached at a Chapel in Mere, Wiltshire, where the minister had recently died. Richard stayed with Mr. Charles Jupe, owner of the local silk factory and said that although the chapel was small, the school rooms being attached was a great advantage. Mary wrote to him:

May God graciously bless every effort and succeed your labours with many instances of usefulness that should this visit be merely an occasional one, it may be eminently seen that God has overruled it for his own glory and the benefit of immortal souls.

The singing was terrible but Mary suggested that a musical society would probably improve it. The Minister had acknowledged that his wife was a curse to the place and she did not mourn his death; so the whole state of the chapel must have been pretty low and would present a challenge to any young energetic minister. Richard was interested in going there as he liked the people much better than those at Abingdon; but the income appeared to be limited and Mary advised him not to accept less than he was already getting.

While still with her friends at Islington, Mary arranged to see Mr. Adey with Richard to talk over the possibility of going to Mere. Mary countered Richard's suggestion that the Society at Mere was not very bright with the remark that the farmer's wife could, in part, supply the place of Miss E. Smith, a friend at Ramsgate, and that Mr. & Mrs. Jupe seemed very pleasant companions so it couldn't be too bad.

In the middle of June, Richard received an invitation to go to Mere permanently, the letter being signed by five deacons. The people of Abingdon wished to retain his services but the offer from Mere was more attractive and he took up his duties there on Sunday 22nd August 1841. He described the events of this period in a letter to his parents

Well never did I pass such a week as the last so crowded with anxiety and sorrow. Wherever I went the look of sadness and the voice of regret presented themselves exciting in me emotions deeper and sadder than those by which they were prompted. We had a very large congregation on the last Sab. evening - but t'was too much for me and when I gave out the text, seeing what feeling was awakened I proceeded with considerable difficulty ... On Monday evening I met the Teachers as usual to go through the lesson for Sab. day, and what should it be but 20 Acts. You may imagine their feelings and mine ... At the suggestion of some of them a parting present was made me and I met them after the service on Thursday evening to receive it. They fixed on Baxters Oil Prints of the Reception of Williams at Tanna, and his massacre at Erromanga the next day. They are very beautiful and will be quite an ornament to my parlour ... I am told that never did money flow in so spontaneously as on this occasion - and what a meeting we had ... I left on Saturday after the most heart rending partings I ever experienced and such as I hope will never be renewed, and reached Frome at 7 o'clk where I was met by a kind friend who conveyed me hither ... But the congratulations and rejoicings here were as deep and cordial at this end of my journey, as the lamentations at the other - the good people had been watching my arrival and came out of their houses to salute me and bid me welcome ... But how I should get on on Sab. day I knew not - I trembled for the issue for I had not a word of 3 sermons written, yet never did I speak with more ease & fluency & power - may it be a token for good ... It is truly delightful to see how the good people vie with each other in endeavouring to promote my happiness. The house they are thoro'ly repairing and beautifying, and anxiously expecting the arrival of Mrs E. And that I hope will not be long delayed, perhaps the meeting after the ordination which we have fixed for the last meeting in Oct ... The people at Abingdon are fully reckoning on my return to them again but, strange to say, I rejoice in the exchange, and have no disposition to return ...

Induction and Marriage

Although Richard had decided to get married, his plans were still very unsettled for in the same letter he said

You will be pleased to learn that the Registrars Office is not to be the place of celebration as regards the marriage ceremony, but Miss W's former pastor's chapel Southwark. So she will come to London and I will meet her there.

Even this plan was change for in a note Richard wrote to his parents on the circular announcing the arrangements for his induction he said,

Next Thursday as you see is the day, [for his induction] and who of you has thoughts of being present. I need not say how I should like to see you all, but one perhaps dear Father can come. I wish I were going to remain here after the event, as I might entertain you, but homeless tho' not houseless how can I. I'm ... getting married. D.V. at Ramsgate on the Wed. following in Ebenezer Chapel ...

Adolphus did attend the induction service in which about twelve ministers took part, and he wrote in his diary:

... may he be blest ... with a suitable kind and active partner, that they may be helpers to each other and to the Kingdom of God. The event produced in my mind feelings of a peculiar nature I feel as a Parent and a Minister. I feel deeply humbled ... the high honour conferred on us to have a son [called] to the Ministry of the Gospel ... He I trust will increase, though I must decrease, but it will afford much consolation to my mind to know, that when my labours close, that there is one left who will continue them, and may perhaps be permitted to perpetuate them through his descendants, that there may never be wanting one to carry on the great subject, until time shall be no more.

This was the start of a few very busy days for Richard. In a letter to his parents after his arrival home again he wrote:

In preparing to enter on my new relationship, I had to bustle and bestir myself in a somewhat extraordinary manner ... There were no means of reaching Ramsgate by Monday evg. as was very desirable but by leaving here on Sab. evg. - so the fly having been engaged, after preaching 3 times, I took my place in it and reached Bath between 12 & 1. London by ½ past 5, and having procured that indispensible, the ring, started for Ramsgate & arrived there before 6, having travelled more than 200 miles in less than 19 hours. ... Till the Wednesday we were very busy and on that morning repaired to Ebenezer Chapel, and were greatly delighted with the kind and suitable manner in which Mr. Adey conducted the ceremony. After breakfast we started for Herne Bay about 10 miles from R. where we staid till Friday ... came to London by steamer, and started next morning for Weston Super Mare to spend a day or two with my friend Hopkins who very kindly entertained us. I preached for him on Sab. evg. On Tuesday evg. we left for Bristol, and the next day visited Clifton a beautiful place combining all the majesty and sublimity of the sea side scenery with the richness & luxuriance of a midland county. Wednesday evening we reached Bath which is a lovely place, and on Friday afternoon by a previous arrangement the same fly & mules that took me to Bath conveyed not me only but another, my bosom companion so that I returned having become twofold at the least better than when I left.

The happy pair should have had a noisy welcome home but we were rather later than was expected so that the ringers were disappointed, but the next morning we had a comfortable peal ...

Settling at Mere

At the Independent Chapel Richard's congregation was made up mainly of the employees of Messrs. Jupe's silk factories and farm labourers. Mr. & Mrs. Jupe themselves helped him in his work which included visiting neighbouring villages and hamlets. He was well liked at Mere for at the Sabbath School Teachers Social Tea Party, Christmas 1845 he was presented with a copy of the English Hexapla, being six translations of the New Testament, a ponderous tome, bound in leather which must have been quite expensive. Although almost certainly it was of great value to him he has increased its value to the family by entering in it his Family Register. Also in it are two newspaper articles regarding his activities et Mere, and later Chard. A later addition is the fly leaf of the family Bible of Henry Arthur.

Travels

In May 1844 Richard, Mary and their daughter Mary visited his parents at West Lulworth. Unfortunately shortly after returning home Richard had a very sore throat so the doctor sent him, with the two Marys, off to Ramsgate for a couple of months to recover.

During the summer of 1849 Richard took his family to the Isle of Wight for a holiday.

The journey from home to the Island is accomplished very easily. Driving to Salisbury one may reach it from thence in 3 hours. Passing by Cowes on board the steamer we had a view of her Majesty's Marine residence, a noble pile of building!! While there we have made good use of our time, seeing something or other every day.

Among the places they visited were: Ryde a large & handsome town with many elegant villas; Binstead about 2 miles from Ryde, where you may remember the parson refused to inter Mr. Guyer; the ruins of as ancient monastery, well worth inspecting about a mile beyond Binstead; St. Helens, Brading and Shanklin where they stayed for part of the holiday.

Richard occasionally preached in other places and in April 1850 he went with his family to Croydon for this purpose. In June while Mary was at West Lulworth with the children he was again invited, this time with a view to being offered the pulpit. However there was some opposition to him due to the way he was presented to the people of the Church and he declined the offer. While he was there he visited his brother Adolphus who was staying with his father-in-law.

Losing Louisa and Edward

One of Richard's interests was writing poetry and hymns. A hand written volume of his entitled Rhyming Hours which is preserved in the Archives, contains many of these compositions, some of which were published in the Juvenile Missionary Magazine.

1851 was a sad year for Richard and Mary for they lost two of their children, Louisa and Edward. In Rhyming Hours he wrote:

After nearly ten years of uninterrupted domestic comfort and gladness there fell upon us the severe and heart agonising stroke which suggested the foregoing lines (a poem entitled Solitary Musings. On returning home alone after the decease of two dear children) and to which as a mournful gratification, and as a family record this page is devoted to receive its details:

Our Dear Edward was a noble child from his birth and as he grew, his open and lovely countenance adorned with luxuriant hair that fell in graceful clusters on his shoulders and beaming with peculiar intelligence, not only made him an object of fondest affection to ourselves but of general admiration, to all beholders - of a most vigorous constitution he gave promise of many years, but how suddenly and sadly were such anticipations terminated. - On Friday May 16th 1851 he with other children was walking, and appearing more than usually tired was carried home and being thought sleepy was put to bed - In the night he was feverish, and next day symptoms of scarlatina were developed - appropriate remedies were used, and the medical attendant regarded the disease as approaching a not unfavourable crisis, when on the Wed. evening following to our great surprise and alarm he pronounced him in a well nigh hopeless state. Blisters were applied to the throat as a last resort, but soon after 12 o'clock, as if falling gently asleep he closed his brief earthly career, being (if he had lived to the following June 2nd) 2¾ years of age.

In the mean time from the previous Monday evening our precious Louisa had been similarly affected, as were also Mary and Woodland, the latter alarmingly so, but both mercifully spared - Of dear Louisa's recovery we entertained strong hopes till the following Saturday when we began to fear that tho' the crisis of the fever was passed, she was sinking - her full habit gave to the fever (which degenerated into typhus) greater scope and power so that she suffered considerably, but her gentleness and patience are very pleasant to remember - The only utterance like a complaint that escaped her was I know papa, that I've got the fever because I'm so very hot Well, darling was the reply shall we ask God to send it away, to which she meekly assented - The attention she received were invariably acknowledged even in the midst of her weakness and pain - almost her last act of consciousness was the recognition of an act of kindness on the part of her best earthly friend and a soft thank you kind Mamma - Her reluctance to take the prescribed remedies was immediately removed when told that our grief was so great on account of dear Edward's removal and would be increased if she were removed too. On Saturday the 24th our worst fears were awakened, medical skill seemed utterly baffled and we could look for nothing but a fatal issue, nor were there wanting indications of similar thoughts entertained by herself - It was said to her in the evening Loui dear you're going to heaven - Yes Ma' - You'll have a crown, darling, - Yes, Ma' - and a harp too - Yes - standing by, I said what will you do with it, dear? Sing, Pa. was the immediate reply - verses of the hymns to which her musical voice had so often given expression were rehearsed to her occasionally, which she took up with apparent pleasure - Her restlessness became considerable during the evening, and more than once she said, "I want to go home: let me go home", and though assured she was already there, she repeated the exclamation - her mind, most probably being largely collected, tho' it is not impossible a higher suggestion might be present - Sabbath day found her still in the body - The sound of the chapel bell startled her from a fugitive slumber - I said it is the bell for chapel, darling, would you like to go? No. Papa - would you like to go to heaven? Yes, was the instant reply. To our great surprise, the medical man proposed some rallying appliances, and we had begun to think the case not altogether hopeless: but soon after mid day we saw the struggle could not be long. During the afternoon life ebbed out rapidly. Once, and only once, she spoke: it was to repeat very deliberately and with considerable difficulty, two or three seconds elapsing between each word:

O that will be joyful,
joyful, joyful, joyful,
O that will be joyful,
When we meet to part no more

and just after four o'clock, the very time on the Sabbath previous she had joined in the children's service in the chapel, in singing these very lines, her spirit was gently dismissed to know experimentally the bliss of which she could so sweetly sing.

In the review of this sad event it is no slight satisfaction to remember that her mind was early instructed in the elementary and all important truths of the gospel. There can be no question but that they produced some secret and gracious impression - Her thoughts were evidently occupied with them - In her little prayers there was peculiar seriousness, and once she remarked to her sister how glad she should have been had she lived when Jesus was on earth, as she would then have gone to him and had his hands placed on her head and received his blessing with the other children. She had been accustomed even before she could read to take her turn in finding the hymn at morning prayer in the family - This she did on the very day she was taken ill, and selected a hymn which had never been previously sung and which now seems to have been almost premonitory -

We're travelling thro' this weary land,
To yon bright world
We hope to meet each other there
In yon bright world
We hope to meet our parents there
In yon bright world
We hope to meet our teachers there
In yon bright world
We hope to meet our Saviour there
In yon bright world
We hope to meet each other there
In yon bright world
We hope to rest in glory there
In yon bright world

Had she lived till the second of the next month she would have completed her sixth year - On Wed. 4th June their mortal remains were deposited, side by side in the graveyard adjoining Zeals Chapel - Mr. Evans of Shaftesbury conducting the funeral service - Lovely and pleasant in their lives, in death they were not divided.

Following this sad loss Richard took his family to Ramsgate to recover:

Very difficult is it to realise the loss we have sustained and when we do its force seems well nigh to crush all energy and hope. Being however away from the scene with which they were associated one's thoughts are less frequently engaged about them, so that I sometimes wonder at myself that the mind should retain so much of its wonted buoyancy ... The other precious ones are improving - Mary is thoro'ly recovered, and Woody progresses but one side of his neck is swollen by an enlargement of the glands which troubles and makes him fretful - We repair to the sands every morning and rear our mounds against the encroaching tide.

Further Preaching

Richard's efforts in Mere had been so successful that the chapel built in 1795 became overcrowded, so a new one with a lofty and commodious room underneath for the day and Sunday Schools was built at a cost of £2,000. The dedication services took place on Thursday 15th September 1853 at which the collections, in aid of the building, amounted to £160. Adolphus attended these services and on the following Sunday he addressed about 350 children in the Sunday School. After the service he baptised his grandson Eustace, the first baptism in the new Chapel. (In 1869 the congregation had once again outgrown the Chapel so another new building was erected, this time at the sole expense of Mr. Charles Jupe and the old chapel converted to school rooms).

In 1859 it seems that Richard held some sort of revivalist mission. In a letter to his parents he wrote

On my birthday I suggested at our mid-day weekly prayer meeting that we should hold a series of meetings during the next week every evening ... During the week the meetings were very largely attended, and the spirit of prayer manifestly enjoyed - the subject on Monday was Waiting for the Promise of the Spirit - The following evenings on Self: Self Deception, Denial, Sufficiency. Destruction. On the Friday the room was crammed and when I rose to pray, all power seemed to have fled. All right feeling was gone. There I stood and wept. A friend or two prayed, and then I ventured on the address. It came with unusual power and we staid together till 10 o'clk. The next Sab. was a very hallowed day. The whole congregation seemed melted to tears. We continued the meetings every evening for 3 weeks. The demand on ones strength was very great - for the services were most exciting - one was carried beyond one's self, and did the work of two or three services in one - The impression seems still to remain, and we hope will never pass away - some very unlikely persons, as we are apt to judge have been brought to God.

Richard's daughter, Mary had been away but Our young lady has returned and is very well, she hastened her way home on account of the tidings she heard concerning the Lord's work in the place.

In January 1863 Richard spent a week in Bristol where he preached for two Sundays. A little while later he visited Hoxton where I fancied myself with Mother in sundry places where we used to sit. He enjoyed preaching there but although there was a suggestion that he might become the minister he did not fancy living in London. He saw a good deal of his brother Adolphus and his family, who seemed to be prospering, and should have taken tea with his niece Emma but was prevented by other engagements. he was in London on the day

of the Princess' arrival, and had a good squeezing in the mighty crowd. But the sight was very imposing. The city looked like a fairy region - London Bridge was strangely adorned. The arch had a wonderful piece of work.

He did not stay for the illuminations in order to get home to help with the celebrations there. Mr. Jupe had, at great expense, erected a tent in his grounds and gave tea to about 1000 people.

Moving to Chard

In April 1863 he preached in Chard for two Sundays, a visit which resulted in a call to be their Minister, the previous one Rev. William Denshaw having given up through ill-health. From Chard he went to see his parents and found his father in a very weak state.

He took up his new duties in the middle of the year and in a letter to his father in September he said

I little thought when I came from this place to see you that I should ever send you a letter from here. It seems very strange that this should be my home, but I feel sure that it is the right place. I am getting to know the people and they express themselves so very glad that I have become their Minister. I preach here to larger congregations, and shall hope to be the instrument of doing good - The people are exceedingly kind. They made many alterations in the house at my suggestion, and the other day sent me a complete and very superior set of robes in which of course I look mightily grand - I find them very comfortable to preach in.

His many friends in Mere, who must have been very sorry to see him go showed their appreciation for his ministry with various gifts. Late in August

a gentleman came from Mere bringing a large skeleton clock in a glass case as a present from his family. They are Quakers who occasionally attended our Chapel - The cost could not have been less than £10 or £12. A few days after two of the deacons came down with a purse of £25 ... we had a variety of other gifts too numerous to mention.

Here, as in Mere, Richard's work was connected with a factory. This time it was Messrs. Gifford Fox & Co. lace and net makers (this firm, although at some time taken over by a large group, did not finally close until 1964). Not only did members of the firm form part of his congregation but also he conducted a weekly service in their Holyrood Street Mill.

Family Matters

In August 1864 Richard went to Lulworth for his father's funeral and on leaving was given a lift to the station by one of his father's flock. In the course of conversation it seemed that the man, one of whose jobs was to drive the ladies to their meetings had benefited by the instruction he had received for He spoke very nicely of praying for his mistress that she have clearer lights and greater comfort. The letter containing this information, written to his mother shortly after leaving Lulworth continues

I fancy you in the midst of your bustle, and see my little room turned out and picture the cleanliness which will be the result. I hope the new clock is behaving itself - I found from Rail time that my watch had gained a trifle - and I think the clock is so disposed.

An interesting sidelight on the times is contained in the last paragraph:

I left my piece of soap for your benefit. You can see how you like it. I use no other. It is glycerine, sold in long slabs at 1/-.

At the beginning of 1865 Richard was in a place called Bere near Honiton on the Coast where he visited some friends. These people also knew his parents and asked after his mother. One of them with whom he talked at the chapel was married to a grocer & lives at Seaton a little watering place not far hence. That was his only visit to the seaside that year for in a letter to his mother in June he commented: Our friends are leaving for the seaside - thinner congregations therefore yesterday - no seaside for us, this summer - can't afford it. He went for a short visit to his old church in Mere in March 1866. He was warmly welcomed and talked to many of his old friends but regretted that there was not time to speak to all he would have wished. He was glad on many accounts that I have been. Mary who had been at Warminster came while I was there and staid on over the next Sabbath; and she too was very joyfully welcomed. [Presumably this was his daughter.]

Chapel Building

According to Congregational Sunday Schools, Chard. Their Rise and Progress 1808-1908 by T. W. Sanders, Richard was:

a man of great ability and readiness of speech. He had a kind heart as well as a fine mind, and was of a lively disposition, and therefore greatly beloved. Mr. Erlebach, as every true pastor should, took much interest in the spiritual welfare of the young people of his congregation, and laboured hard to further the interests of both the Church and School. Up to 1863 the Sunday School had been held in the same building as the services of the Church, but in 1864 the number of scholars in the School rendered it difficult to carry on the teaching in a satisfactory manner. It was therefore deemed a wise thing to ascertain whether a separate room could not be built in which to continue the work so zealously begun.

A committee was set up under Richard's chairmanship. Mr. D. W. Buckler was asked to attend as visitor in order to investigate and report on the matter. He

pointed out that a Schoolroom built behind the church would be difficult of access and have many inconveniences; but if the Chapel were appropriated for School use, a new place of worship could be raised on the ground in front; the cottages and smithy to be removed for that purpose.

This, it was decided, should be done provided sufficient funds were forthcoming. He wrote to his mother in September 1865:

We are just going into the business of Chapel building. There is no school room here and we are going to put up a new chapel and turn the present one into a school room. I'm glad the people take it up with so much spirit. I think we shall get £1800 here and in the neighbourhood, Mr. Jupe has generously promised £100 towards it. It will be a capital job and I hope a great blessing to generations yet to come.

The original building, which was erected in 1703, served unaltered for over 100 years. The first organ used in the parish church was bought and installed in the chapel in 1814. Then in 1820 due to the efforts of Rev. John Gunn more room was needed so three galleries were erected together with a new floor and roof. Further improvements were made until in 1834 the building was again enlarged and a new and superior organ was placed in the new deep gallery behind the pulpit. (From: History of Free Churches in Chard and the neighbourhood by Rev. Henry Mayo Gunn, son of John Gunn; written at the time of the laying of the foundation stone of the new chapel.)

The foundation stone of the new building a commodious and handsome church, designed, with a spire, in the gothic style, which will be a credit to the congregation and an ornament to the town was laid in 1867. At the beginning of the ceremony a paper was read by the mayor. An extract of which reads:

This foundation stone was laid by Charles Jupe, Esq. of Mere, Wiltshire, on the 31st of October, in the year of our Lord, 1867, and in the 30th year of the reign of our Sovereign Lady Queen Victoria. The architect is W.J. Stent, Esq. of Warminster; and the amount of the contract is £2,083. The officers of the church are the Rev. Richard P. Erlebach, Minister; Thomas H. Hughes and William C. Warren, deacons.
The mayor of the town is George Trenchard Canning, Esq. by whose hand the bottle containing this document is placed under the foundation stone.

Amongst many donations towards the cost of the building were those of £100 each from Mr. Canning and Richard himself. The teachers and pupils of the Sunday School raised £60 which paid for a beautiful stained glass window in the front of the church. The building was duly completed and formally opened in 1868, at which time most of the cost had been subscribed. The Sunday School continued to flourish and in 1870 there was a regular attendance of 293 scholars and 24 teachers this being the highest on record. Numbered amongst the staff was Richard's wife Mary.

More Family Matters

Two notable events in 1867 followed each other very quickly. On 28th March Richard's mother died, leaving his sister, Mary Ann on her own in West Lulworth with a problem over her income. Richard helped her to sort this out and in fact continued to advise and help her for the rest of his life. He seems to have saved quite a considerable sum of money by this time for, having deposited £50 of Mary Ann's money in the Western Equitable Property Society he said I have a few hundred in the same concern which is managed very well. The money is all invested in good house property so there is no risk as with Banks. The second event was the wedding of his daughter Mary to William Collard on the 4th April in the Chard Congregational Church. One small misunderstanding marred the happiness of the occasion; Richard's friend Charles Jupe of Mere mistook the date, thinking it was a day later, so he and his wife and son did not attend, They were very vexed and disappointed. A small problem arose out of the wedding We have been saying how can we get a piece of wedding cake conveyed to you (Mary Ann). It must be reserved till we find an opportunity.

Easter 1873 proved to be quite a family occasion for Richard and Mary. All their children except one and their three grandsons were at home with them. They have not met in like numbers for a long time, we only wanted Alf, who is in Scotland, to complete the circle. There is some talk of my going to see him and getting a peep at the land o'cakes, ... Richard was not, however, keen on going!

Sunday Schools

Also in that year a Ritual Church was opened in Chard.

People flock in great numbers, but they are mainly those who went to the old church before and those who come from the country to see the lighted candles and the crosses, and to hear the music. The floating portion, too, of other congregations are swept away by the stream .... It is sad to see people captivated by such childishness and to have men calling themselves priests and professing to be able to do such wonders.

However it seems that Richard did not lose too many of his congregation.

On 15th May 1874 Richard visited Eustace who records in his diary:

Papa came at 2.15 from Weigh House Chapel. Went with him to Buckmasters to dinner. Had fried soles &c. After returning to office for a few minutes we went to St. Pauls Churchyard, Memorial Hall &c. I came back at 5.30.

In 1879 Mr. J. B. Gifford suggested giving a treat to the children of all the Sunday Schools of Chard. This suggestion was enthusiastically received and £100 was collected. On the appointed day over 1000 children marched to Passlands, Mr. Gifford's house, where they had tea in a large marquee and then spent a pleasant evening engaged in many amusements. During the next year the centenary of the formation of Sunday Schools was celebrated. On Sunday 11th July the ministers exchanged pulpits and preached suitable sermons. In the afternoon the children and friends met in the Baptist Chapel, the building being crowded to overflowing. On the Monday evening Richard led a united prayer meeting. On Tuesday evening a tea for teachers and friends was followed by a conference on Sunday School topics, with Mr. Gifford in the chair and Richard as one of the many speakers. On Wednesday evening a sacred concert was given by 100 children and teachers in the Congregational Church. The culmination of the celebrations was on Thursday, a grand day for the scholars.

The children of the various Free Church Sunday Schools marched in single file to Old Town, where a grand procession was formed. At about three o'clock, starting from the lower end of Fore Street, preceded by two Union Jacks, and followed by a centre banner bearing the inscription 'The Centenary of Sunday Schools' marched a number of infants dressed in white and carrying flowers. Then followed the ministers of the churches and a number of visitors, and after them, headed by their various school banners and followed by the Crewkerne Brass Band, came a number of the girls of the three schools in separate lines, the Wesleyan children occupying the central position, the Baptist children the left side, and the children from our own school on the right. After them came the remainder of the procession, the children of each school keeping in line with their school banners and marching in groups consisting of 10 boys and 15 girls. Then followed the Chard Brass Band, which rendered most efficient service, and six conveyances filled with little children from the various schools brought up the rear. Flags, banners, and bannerettes of all colours and description were interspersed in the procession, and the whole formed a very pretty and impressive sight.

The order and conduct of the children gave great satisfaction and gained the admiration of all.

Tea was provided under a large tent erected in Passlands, kindly lent for the occasion by Mr. Gifford.

In the evening all kinds of games were indulged in, and it was computed that not less than two thousand persons were present at the sports.

The whole of the day's arrangements were organised and carried out under the direction of the Superintendents of the Sunday Schools - Messrs. J. Hawker (Baptist), J. Lewes (Wesleyan), and T. W. Sanders (Congregational).

Advancing Years

At last on Sunday 1st October 1882, after 19 years, Richard retired from his ministry at Chard. During his time there he had, amongst his other duties, been Honorary Secretary to the Somerset Congregational Union. In gratitude for his ministry the church gave him a purse of 50 sovereigns, and Mr. Gifford a purse of money on behalf of the firm. The employees gave him a handsome gold pencil case bearing the following inscription:

Presented by the work people of the Holyrood Street Mill, Chard, to Rev. R. P. Erlebach, 1882, in recognition of his valuable service, he having for a considerable period conducted one of the three morning services at that place.

Mary was not forgotten for the Sunday School gave her a handsome and costly black and gold Amboyna Davenport, with silver plate inscribed as follows:

Presented to Mrs. Erlebach by the teachers and Scholars of the Chard Congregational Church, in grateful recognition of her 19 years work amongst them, October 1882.

(This Davenport is still in the family.)

Aged nearly 69 he went to live at Langley Park, Hampton and although retired he was still glad to accept an invitation to preach. In July 1884 he wrote to his sister

I am getting a little more work. The Ipswich people want me to give them a Sunday in August and I am to be at Wimbledon, in the grand new church the last Sunday of this month; also one Sunday here, and another at Feltham. I forget whether I told you I had a Sunday at Long Melford ...

On 27th November 1883 Mary was diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes by an oculist Mr. Jay of 4 Finsbury Square (as recorded by Eustace in his diary). In 1885 Mary was struck down with paralysis and for nine months until her death Richard nursed her and provided for her in her helplessness. Mary died on May 30th 1886 and the funeral service at Wandsworth on 4th June was conducted by Richard (bravely according to Eustace). Although her death affected him greatly he recovered after a time to his full vigour.

His last preaching engagement was at the Congregational Church Woodford Green on the last Sunday in October 1888. In November he caught a chill but refused to take it seriously and this gradually sapped his strength until on Tuesday 4th December he died. He was buried in the same grave as Mary in the Wandsworth New Cemetery (grave No. 1012), the Service being conducted by a great personal friend of his, Rev. E. H. Jones of Bridgewater.