20

A cross below the Church tower marks another long serving Vicar, The Reverend Arthur Thomas [20] was buried in 1895 after 47 years’ service. He was known for his benevolence to the less fortunate people of the village. Lucy Balfour and Arthur Ridsdale wrote of him:

"He was kind to the poor - the treasures of this wold are the keys to the other - and he saw that they never wanted. Being a man of substance he could distribute liberally".

It was his son that Thomas Brooker (grave [4]) had taken to races on that fateful day when he was struck by lightning. It was in Arthur Thomas' memory that the church lychgate was erected in 1897 - designed by Samuel Thacker (grave [10])

_{Rev. Arthur Thomas}