Biography of Katherine Cavendish Duchess Westminster 1857-1941

Chester Chronicle, and Cheshire and North Wales General Advertiser. 30th April 1892. The Duchess Of Westminster (age 35) At Wybunbury.

Laying The Foundation Stone Of A New Church.

A new epoch in the church history at Wybunbury [St Chad's Church, Wybunbury [Map]] was celebrated on Monday afternoon, when the Duchess of Westminster, in the presence of a large gathering of churchpeople, formally laid the foundation stone of a new church.

The ceremony was one which the Duke of Westminster had promised to perform, but owing to unavoidable circumstances, His Grace was unable to attend.

A procession of church choirs, consisting of Nantwich, Wisaston, Audlem, and Wybunbury (surpliced for the first time) was formed at the Wybunbury Girls' School, and, headed by the bishop (age 47), the Rev. C.A. Stolterforth (Vicar), the Rev. F.G. Blackburne (Nantwich), the Rev. W.C. Reid, and the ministers of neighbouring parishes, marched, singing an appropriate processional hymn, to the site whereon the new church is to be erected.

The service here was in keeping with hearty church worship. The words of the hymns and psalms had special significance to the occasion, and the voices all sang with one accord the praises of the hour.

Upon the raised platforms were gathered some of the best county families. The Duchess of Westminster was supported by Lord [her step-son] Arthur Grosvenor (age 31), and there were also on the platform showing the same interest in the founding of the new church which his ancestors, who lie in the tombs of old Wybunbury churches, are reputed to have evinced in church work in the parish, Mr Louis Delves Broughton (age 34) and Mrs Broughton (age 27). Mr Twemlow, of Betley Court, was also an interested spectator, as was Judge Hughes who came over from Chester and mingled amongst the crowd.

The Duchess very gracefully performed the foundation stone laying, after which Lord Arthur Grosvenor apologised for the absence of His Grace, who said that he had been laid up with a cold for two or three days. In conclusion he wished every success to the building of the new church.

The Bishop, in the course of some remarks, said that they were refounding the old Church of St Chad's upon St Mark's Day, and St Mark's Day was peculiarly appropriate for such a work because the very keynote of St Mark's Day, as the character and life of the apostle was set before them in Holy Scripture, and in the service of their prayer book, was stability and recovered stability. He was sure that everyone here hoped that the work started today would be carried on with all that thoroughness or workmanship could bestow upon it, and that future generations would look back to the work begun today as worthy of both man and God. In conclusion the bishop gave hearty expression to the thanks of the congregation to the Duchess of Westmnister, to Sir Henry Bristowe and Miss Bristowe to whose energy and zeal he alluded, as also to the active work of the late Mr Acton, who was one of the churchwardens, and to whose memory he paid a tribute of respect, and to those who by their presence and support had assisted in the progress of the movement.

After the ceremony, tea was provided in a tent, and an organ recital was given in the evening.

The site of the new church is the site upon which the old church was built, and upon which, in fact, at least four Wybunbury churches have stood. The church at Wybunbury has a grand history. The records of the parish, although incomplete, prove that so far back as 1290 Wybunbury had its church and also its vicar. The identification of the latter is somewhat scanty, but the church records clearly set forth that Roberts was the name of the vicar at this early period. But there are forthcoming fragments of early church architecture which the workmen in digging up the foundations have come upon, that prove there was a church esxisting here even before 1290. They unearthed in a well-preserved state a stone so distinctly shaped and chiselled that the architect, Mr Spooner (Charles Sydney Spooner, 1862-1938 - Stu), who has had 20 years of experience of architecture, was persuaded that it belonged to the Norman style of architecture, or First Pointed or Transitional period. The stone was discovered in the rubble of the church, and had probably lain there for hundreds of years. The date is from 1130 to 1150, and it suggested that at some time it formed part of a circular doorway. Other stones have been discovered, several of which are of the 15th Century style of architecture, and it is supopsed that these once formed part of an arch. The fabric of the church of 1838, which in architectural phraseology was of the Churchwarden Gothic Style, has been demolished, with the exception of a good part of the south wall. The foundations of the demolished were very building were unsound, and the beams which supported this structure has shifted several inches. The builder of 50 years ago succeeded in restoring to the tower the perpendicular, a gigantic work, as in that day the tower had got out of position to the extent of 5 feet 6 inches.

The new church will be built central with the tower, and will be as near as possible a facsimile of the fifteenth-century church. There will be no galleries which formed part of the old church. The organ and vestry will be built in the south chancel aisle, and in the north chancel aisle there will be a Morning Chapel.

The foundation will consist of monolithic slabs of Portland Cement. The concrete for the foundation will be a thickness of 3 feet six inches, and the whole will be bound together by a network of inter-ties. The stones which have been unearthed will again be utilised for building up the new church, and a number of brass plates, which bear the names of long since dead parishioners who lie within the tombs of the church, will be carefully put back again. One of these plates is of great antiquity and is one of half a dozen similar plates in the county.

The cost of the new church will be about £6,000. Towards this amount a considerable sum has already been raised. The Duke of Westminster sent a donation of £100, and a collection on the ground realised a considerable sum. The work will be completed in about 12 months.

The architect is Mr James Brookes, the well-known church architect, of Wellington Street, Strand, London, and the clerk of the works is Mr Spooner. Messrs Treasure & Son, of Shrewsbury, are the contractors; and Mr John Bebbington is foreman of the works.

The Times. 22nd June 1910. LORD ACHESON (age 33) AND MISS CARTER (age 22).

The marriage of Viscount Acheson, elder son of the Earl (age 68) and Countess of Gosford (age 54), and Miss Mildred Carter, only daughter of Mr. J. Ridgely Carter (age 46), American Minister to Rumania, and Mrs. Ridgely Carter (age 45), took place yesterday at St. George's, Hanover-square. The Sub-Dean of the Chapels Royal (the Rev. Edgar Sheppard, D.D.) performed the ceremony, assisted by the Rev. David Anderson and other clergy, and Mr. Ridgely Carter gave his daughter away. She wore a very simple wedding gown of soft white satin with a long train draped with old point de Venise, and a Venetian lace cap over a spray of myrtle and orange blossom, covered by a plain tulle veil. Master David Stanley, Master Julian Ward, and Miss Diana Roberts, dressed all in white, followed the bride, and there were seven bridesmaids, Lady Theo Acheson (age 28) (sister of the bridegroom), Lady Victoria Stanley, Mlle. Irene deo La Grange, Miss Canilla Morgan, the Hon. Rhoda Astley, Miss Elsie Nicholl, and Miss Marian Scranton, who wore white chiffon dresses with draped bodices and wreaths of myrtle beneath tulle veils. They also wore diamond neckislides and carried loose bunches of red roses. The Hon. Patrick Acheson (age 26) was best man to his brother.

Mrs. Ridgely Carter afterwards held a large reception at Dorchester House (lent by the American Ambassador and Mrs. Whitelaw Reid), and among the many who came on from the church were the French, Russian, German, Spanish, and Italian Ambassadors, the Danish Minister, tho Rumanian Minister, the Swedish Minister and Countess Wrangel, Mme. Dominguez, the Servian Charge d'Affaires and Mme. Grouitel, the Chilian Minister and Mme. Gana, the Belgian Minister and Countess de Lalaing, the Duke (age 63) and Duchess of Somerset (age 57), Katharine Duchess of Westminster (age 53) and [her daughter] Lady Helen Grosvenor (age 22), Prince and Princess Alexis Dolgorouki, the Marquis and Marchioness of Hamilton, the Marchioness of Tweeddale, the Marquis (age 48) and Marchioness of Salisbury (age 42), the Marchioness of Anglesey (age 26), the Countess of Powis (age 45), the Earl (age 56) and Countess of Chesterfield, the Countess of Kintore and Lady Hilda Keith-Falconer, the Earl and Countess of Gosford, Prince and Princess Frederick Liechtenstein, the Countess of Kimberley, Countess Grey, the Marquis d'Hautpoul, the Countess of Leicester (age 54) and Lady Bridget Coke (age 19), the Earl (age 41) and Countess of Craven (age 38), the Earl of Desart, Countess Fritz Hochberg, the Earl and Countess of Meath, the Countess of Bilmorey, the Countess of Londesborough (age 49) and Lady Irene Denison (age 19), the Earl and Countess of Derby (age 70), the Earl (age 51) and Countess of Yarborough, Ellen Lady Inchiquin and the Hon Lilah O'Brien, Lord and Lady Charles Beresford, Lord and Lady Leith of Fyvie, Lady Saltoun, Baroness Nunburnholme (age 30), Baroness Newborough, Sir John and Lady Lister-Raye, Lord and Lady Monson, Lord and Baroness Savile, Lady Rothschild, Viscount and Viscountess AIdleton, Lady Alexander Paget, Lady Harcourt, Lady Desborough, Lord Suffield, Sir Herbert and Lady Jekyll and Miss Jekyll, the Hon. Sir Francis and Baroness Ufford and Miss Viliers, Lady Heien Vincent, Lord Knaresborough and the Hon. Helen Meysey-Thompson, Lady Pauncefote, Lord and Lady Weardale, Lady Grace Baring, Lord Strathcona, Lady Margaret Graham and Miss Graham, Sir Francis and Lady Channing, Mary Baroness Gerard, Baroness Manners and the Hon. Misses Manners, [her aunt] Lady Edward Cavendish, Mme. Langenbach, Lord Revelstoke, the Countess of Bessborough (age 84) and Ladv Gweneth Ponsonby (age 22), Lord Aberdare and the Hon. Eva Bruce, the Hon. Harry and Mrs. Lawson, Mr. and Mrs. Bradley Martin, Mrs. F. Vanderbilt, Mrs. Arthur James, Mrs. Walter Burns, Mrs. Lewis Harcourt, Mrs. Lowther and Miss Lokther, Mine. Vagliano, Captain and Mrs. Clonman, Miss Ralli, Mr. William Giuett, Mrs: Hwfa Williams, the Hon. Mrs. Derek Keppel, Mr. William Phillips, Mrs. Frank D'Arcy, the Hon. Lady Murray, Mr. and Mrs. Meyer Sassoon, Sir Bartle Frere, Mme. de Bille, Mrs. Featherstonhaugh, Mrs. Cotton Jodrell, Mrs. Frank Mackay, the Hon. Urs. Charles Lawrence, the Hon. Mrs. Rochfort Maguire, Lady Barrymore, Mrs. Chauncey, and Mrs. Ronalds.

Lord and Lady Acheson left later in the afternoon for the Continent, the bride travelling in a dress of grey chiffon and a large hat swathed in tulle to match the dress.

A list of the principal wedding presents was published in The Times yesterday.

On 30th October 1914 at Zandvoorde during the he First Battle of Ypres.

Charles Pelham (age 27) [Lord Worsley] was killed in action. His wife, Alexandra Vivian (age 24), who did not remarry, subsequently purchased the land in the town of Zandvoorde in which he was buried. Following his re-interrment at the Town Cemetery Military Extension at Ypre in 1921, the land became the site of the Household Cavalry Memorial.

[her son] Hugh William Grosvenor (age 30) was killed in action.

Gerald Ernest Francis Ward (age 36) was killed in action His body was never recovered and he is commemorated at the Menin Gate.

Charles Petty-Fitzmaurice (age 40) was killed in action.

The 1st Life Guard's war diary noted the action at Zandvoorde -[7]

Zandvoorde-Oct 30 6am Heavy bombardment of position opened. At 7.30am position was attacked by large force of infantry. This attack proved successful owing to greatly superior numbers. Regiment retired in good order about 10.00am except C Squadron on the left flank from which only about ten men got back. Remainder of Squadron missing. Also one machine gun put out of action.

Worsley was in command of the Machine Gun section of the Royal Horse Guards defending the area around Zandvoorde to the East of Ypres. They had come under overwhelming pressure and most of the unit had been withdrawn and replaced by 1st Life Guards in which Hugh Grosvenor served. However the MG section, being essential to the defence of the line was retained in the front line along with its crew, led by Lord Worsley. The events concerning the death of both men are discussed in "1914 - The Days of Hope" by Lyn McDonald. Worsley was not the image of the spit and polish of the Household Brigade. He was covered in mud and had not shaved for a week having been subject to continual attacks by the German elite troops ranged against them. He wrote home that his last shave "was all the washing I've had time for in the last ten days". The incoming Life Guards had one Machine Gun inoperative so Worsley's gun was retained as it covered a vital section of the line. His team were tired and hungry having missed out on a meal during the relief by the 1st Life Guards, who had already consumed their own rations whilst moving up to the line and could not help their brothers in arms. However a timely parcel arrived from Worsley's mother containing chocolate which was shared equally amongst the MG team. They remained in position for six days and nights in appalling weather and under attack by overwhelming numbers. Their trench was shallow, and dug on the forward slope before Zandvoorde in full view of the Germans. It was clear to Hugh Grosvenor that the position was exposed and that the Germans were massing for another attack. Grosvenor sent the following message to his HQ "There appears to be a considerable force of the enemy to my front and to my right front. They approach to within about seven hundred yards at night. Our shells have not been near them on this flank". What remained unsaid was that the German artillery certainly had the range of the British trenches and had delivered significant quantities of shellfire, clearly with little reply.

The morning of 30th November dawned as the eighth consecutive day that Worsley's MG team had spent in the line. At 06.00hrs the German barrage started and it was intense. For 90 minutes there was little that the British could do but deal with their battered trenches and their wounded. Worsley's team had to cover their vital Machine Gun with their bodies to protect it from mud and dirt - they well knew that when the shelling stopped they would need it in full working order. When the shelling stopped and the Germans advanced it was over in minutes. An official report confirmed that "the (German) attack proved successful owing to greatly superior numbers" and that the Regiment had "retired in good order". Not all had retired in good order. Hugh Grosvenor and Charles Worsley were occupied in dealing with Germans swarming over their trenches and firing on them at close range and soon it came down to hand to hand fighting. The inevitable conclusion soon came. One man retiring looked back and saw Worsley still standing, firing at the enemy about to overwhelm the trench. There was nobody left alive to tell the tale of the final moments. There were no British wounded. There were no prisoners taken. A cavalry squadron, fighting as dismounted infantry, had simply ceased to exist. By 08.30 news that the 7th Cavalry Brigade had been pushed off the Zandvoorde ridge reached 1st Corps HQ. Perhaps the Commander, General Sir Douglas Haig, took a moment to spare a thought for Worsley who was married to Haig's wife's younger sister.

There was a postscript. The German unit that captured Worsley's trench was the 1st Bavarian Jaeger Regiment and one of its officers found the bodies and on searching them for papers found that Worsley was a Lord. He ordered that any personal effects, including a gold ring should be taken from the body and returned to Worsley's family. Unfortunately the German officer was himself killed a few days later and the effects never found their way back to England. All of the British bodies were buried in a mass grave which remains unfound to this day and all are commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial. All but one; Worsley's body was given a separate burial and via neutral Holland the German authorities passed information of its location. After the war it was located and is now buried in Ypres Town Cemetery Extension, just yards from that of another aristocratic Freemason HRH Prince Maurice of Battenberg. The land where Worsley's body was found was purchased by his wife and now is the site of the Household Division Memorial. Lyn McDonalds book includes photos of Worsley and his wife at the quayside before his embarkation to France and also his temporary grave marker.