Part One: the Troublesome Mr Wynn
George Campbell Ommanney
During the 1880s a running feud between an Anglican clergyman and elements of his congregation - in particular one of his churchwardens - became the subject of lengthy and sometimes gleeful comment in the regional press. The clergyman was George Campbell Ommanney, a man of profoundly high-church convictions, and the cause of the affair was his appointment in 1882 as vicar of St Matthew's, Sheffield, an area with a strong evangelical tradition. Though he was destined to clash with a succession of archbishops, Ommanney was to remain vicar at St Matthew's for over half a century, and to become a much respected figure.
Ommanney was born on 25 October 1850.
His mother’s family was of distinct anglo-catholic inclinations; his grandfather, the Rev. Robert Gream of Rotherfield, had been a prominent supporter of the Oxford Movement,
and two of his aunts were Mothers Superior. One, Katharine Gream, had herself been the subject of anti-catholic sentiment in the popular press following her appearance as a witness during the celebrated trial of Constance Kent in 1865. It was an experience
her nephew was destined to repeat.
After six years as a vicar in Bristol, Ommanney was invited in 1882 to become Vicar of St Michael’s Wakefield, a post he turned down. Later that
year however he became the third vicar of St Matthew’s, Sheffield:
The Teesdale Mercury,
26 April 1882. It is notable that the appointment of a vicar appeared to require the involvement of the monarch and the Prime Minister. Ommanney is said to have had a deep respect
for Gladstone.
Gladstone was known to favour high-church appointments and his decision to appoint Ommanney to St Matthew’s – which had an evangelical congregation at the time – was surely a provocative move. It was never likely that things were going to go smoothly.
The practice then as now was for two churchwardens to be appointed; one by the vicar, and one by the congregation. The Vicar’s churchwarden
at St Matthew’s was a man called Walter Wynn, whose principles were markedly at odds with Ommanney’s own. The business of appointing new churchwardens marked Ommanney’s first skirmish with the opposing faction, and it was seized on by the local press, clearly
aware that some entertaining difficulties were now inevitable. Press coverage was astonishingly thorough and, for the most part, even-handed; we can do no better than recount the whole affair from first-hand accounts…
Sheffield Daily Telegraph,
16 June 1882
MR. OMMANNEY AT ST. MATTHEW’S
EXCITING VESTRY MEETING
The annual vestry meeting in connection with the parish of St. Matthew, held for the purposes of passing the accounts and
electing churchwardens, took place yesterday at twelve o’clock. The meeting was announced for the vestry, but on account of the large number of parishioners who put in an appearance in consequence of the presence of the new vicar, the Rev. G. C. Ommanney,
an adjournment to the schoolroom in Carver street was agreed to…
MR. OMMANNEY: The next business is to appoint churchwardens, and I will first make my own nomination. I nominate Mr. Henry
Longden.
MR SPIERS: I should like to ask Mr. Ommanney if he does not think it would have been more courteous to invite the outgoing
vicar’s churchwarden (Mr. Wynn) to remain in office during the next year (Hear, hear.) Mr Wynn has held the office now for nearly a dozen years and has won the confidence, and I may say the affection, of the parishioners in an unusual degree… It would have
been better for Mr. Ommanney to have desired him to remain as vicar’s churchwarden, instead of introducing a gentleman who, I believe, is a comparative stranger to Mr. Ommanney himself, and who is certainly a total stranger to the parishioners of St Matthew’s.
(Hear, hear). I imagine that Mr Ommanney cannot have thought about this matter, and I think it would have been much better and more courteous to have asked Mr. Wynn to remain in office during the remainder of this year. (Loud applause).
MR. OMMANNEY: The gentleman seems to be under a wrong impression. Mr. Wynn was, I think, the parishioners’ churchwarden.
(“No, no.”)
MR SPIERS: No; he was the vicar’s warden, and had been for many years.
MR. OMMANNEY: I was not aware of that. (“Oh, oh”.)
MR. W. WYNN, who was loudly applauded, said: I was not aware that Mr. Spiers intended to make the remarks which we have
heard, but I may say that I have been deputed to ask you, as there seems to be some little doubt about it, what is the qualification of Mr. Longden for the office of churchwarden of St. Matthew’s. (Hear, hear, and applause).
MR. OMMANNEY: I am advised that he is duly qualified to act as churchwarden of St. Matthew’s.
MR WYNN: I do not wish to oppose you, sir, in the work of the parish, and I am not actuated by any personal feeling against
Mr. Longden—indeed I have not the pleasure of knowing him—but you must know, and you do know, that your appointment to this living has caused a considerable amount of—(applause)—throughout the town, and we, as parishioners—
MR. OMMANNEY: Excuse me, but I think this is out of order I have nominated my churchwarden, and declared that he is duly
qualified.
MR. WYNN: I am going to object to him, and state my reasons. (Hear, hear and applause).
MR. OMMANNEY (interposing): This is not the proper place to do that. I should be glad to hear you, but I must say that
you are out of order. The next business is to elect the people’s warden.
MR WYNN (firmly): I have been churchwarden for a greater number of years than you have been in priest’s orders—(loud applause)—and
I know something of the duties and powers of the parishioners. (Renewed applause.) I say, seeing that your appointment to this living has caused a great deal of excitement—(hear, hear)—we parishioners, in order to have our interests properly attended to, and
in order that the services of the church—I call your particular attention to this—that the services of the church may be conducted as nearly as possible on the old lines—(loud applause)—we are accustomed to—(loud applause)—have determined to allow of no interference
from outsiders—(renewed applause)—but mean to keep the management of our own affairs in our own hands, so that only those who are properly qualified shall hold any official position. (Continued applause). We possess the power, and we are resolved to use it.
(Hear, hear). The Act of Parliament clearly states that a man to be eligible for the office of churchwarden must be first a member of the Church of England, and secondly a fit and proper person. This “fit and proper person” means nothing more nor less than
a parishioner—a resident or occupier of property in the parish—in one word a ratepayer: and unless Mr. Longden is a rate-payer I object to his appointment. (Great applause).
MR OMMANNEY (calmly): We will proceed to the next business.
MR WYNN: I must hand in a protest against the appointment.
The following objection in writing was then delivered by Mr. Wynn into Mr. Ommanney’s hands: —
TO THE REV. G. C. OMMANNEY
I, Walter Wynn, being a parishioner of St. Matthew’s, Sheffield, do hereby object to the appointment by you of Mr Henry
Longden as Churchwarden of the above parish, he not being a fit and proper person within the meaning of the Act.—(Signed) WALTER WYNN.
MR. OMMANNEY: We will proceed to the next business—the election of people’s warden.
MR. MARSDEN: Though I have no previous communication with Mr. Wynn I shall propose him as a gentleman suitable for the
office of vicar’s churchwarden for a number of years, and it is well known that he has discharged his duties faithfully and well. (Hear, hear). He has devoted his time, his money, and his ability to the work of helping those who have previously ministered
at St. Matthew’s, and there is no doubt that if the present Vicar had courteously asked him, as he ought to have done—(loud applause) —he would have remained in office. (Hear, hear, and renewed applause). I quite accept the Vicar’s explanation—that he didn’t
know. But it was easy to get to know. (Hear, hear). In nominating Mr. Wynn as the people’s churchwarden I have no doubt that he will be readily accepted. As I have said, I have not asked Mr. Wynn to consent, but I hope he will allow himself to be nominated,
and that will show his true character if he takes the office after what has transpired. (Hear, hear). No one is more highly respected that Mr. Wynn, who is a resident and a ratepayer, and therefore I have great pleasure in nominating him. (Loud applause).
MR. W. CLARKE: I have great pleasure in seconding the nomination. As a member at St. Matthew’s I remained in the church
against the advice of my friends, and in spite of what I heard against Mr Ommanney. I said I would wait and see—(Hear, hear) —and, as a Sunday school teacher, I was desirous of continuing my work peaceably. I am sorry, therefore, that Mr. Ommanney has seen
fit to go out of his way, as I think, to bring a stranger among us. (Hear, hear). I don’t know Mr. Longden, but I do know Mr. Wynn, and I know his work. He has stuck to it, and I heard from his own lips that he was desirous of staying at St Matthew’s. I also
am desirous of staying, and I intended to do so, but, as a Christian, can I stay if Mr. Ommanney asks a stranger to come as warden? He has a right to select his own warden, and I don’t object to him doing it; but we don’t want any more excitement. The appointment
is now made; Mr. Ommanney is the Vicar, and I accept him as such. (Hear, hear). I am willing, and with God’s help I intend, to work along with him; but, Mr. Ommanney (appealing to him personally), do, sir, withdraw the nomination. (Hear, hear and a laugh).
I don’t wish to fight in such matters. We have sufficient to fight with the world, the flesh, and the devil without fighting for things like this. (Hear, hear). The sympathy shown to Mr. Wynn should have convinced Mr. Ommanney that the right course to take,
if he had done wrong, was to withdraw his nomination and to ask Mr. Wynn to remain in office at least this year, so that he might see what he was. I have great pleasure, seeing that we cannot have him as vicar’s warden, in seconding his nomination as people’s
warden. (Applause).
MR SWAIN: Is it legal to have as vicar’s warden anyone who is not a parishioner? (Loud cries of “No.”) Continuing, Mr Swain
in a loud voice said: Then I object to him. (Loud applause).
MR. WYNN: The proper thing to do is to allow his nomination to go, and to lodge an objection with the Archdeacon, who,
if he thinks the objection valid, will decline to accept the appointment. (Hear, hear).
MR OMMANNEY: Mr Walter Wynn has been nominated, I am very glad to say, as people’s warden, and seconded. Does any gentleman
nominate another parishioner? (No reply). Then I declare Mr. Wynn to be elected. (Loud applause).
MR WYNN: Gentlemen, this is the largest annual vestry meeting we have ever held in this parish. We have as many here to-day
as we have seen on previous vestry meetings altogether, and I am glad to see you take so great an interest in the church. There is nothing like a cry of danger to arouse our friends. (Hear, hear). Had I consulted my own feelings—my own peace of mind and happiness,
or been ruled by the advice of friends, I should have declined to be nominated as your warden. I look upon the duties of next year as likely to be anything but light. (Hear, hear). I hope we shall work amicably together in the parish, but at the same time
we must be prepared to abide by our principles. (Loud applause). What is the state of things at the present time at St. Matthew’s? We have got a Protestant church—(hear, hear) —built by Protestant money—(applause) —for Protestant worship—(renewed applause)
—and we have been accustomed to meet there week by week and year by year for the purpose of worshipping in a quiet and unobtrusive matter. (Hear, hear and applause).
MR OMMANNEY (interposing): I suppose you are returning thanks for your appointment?
MR WYNN: Yes.
MR OMMANNEY: I would ask you whether you think that is really connected with the business before the meeting? (Voices:
“Yes, certainly,” and cheers.)
MR. WYNN: I think I have a right to express my views. (Prolonged applause).
MR OMMANNEY: I am willing to allow you to any what you like, but I leave it to your reason to say whether you think all
this conducive to harmony, and peaceful working, and whether it is connected with the business of the meeting. (Cries of “Certainly,” “Let him speak,” and cheers).
MR WYNN: I shall be glad to be guided by you in that respect. What my words would be will be shown by my acts. (Hear, hear).
What I cannot say now will be shown by my conduct during my year of office, and that will prove what my principles are. If I can work with Mr. Ommanney I shall do so. (Hear, hear) and a Voice: “Not long”.) I will do all I can to assist him if he is determined
to come among us and do his duty, not as a Catholic priest—(Hear, hear) —but as a Church of England minister—(applause) —not as a member of the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament—(hear, hear, and hisses) —but as an English clergyman—not with extreme views,
but to preach the good old Gospel to which we have been accustomed. (Loud applause). We want no mummery in this church. (Renewed applause). We want nothing but the pure religion. (Hear, hear: a voice, “without candles;” and applause). I think, from what I
see at this meeting, I shall be supported by the parishioners. I am very much obliged to you indeed for the honour you have conferred upon me, and I pledge myself to do my duty as a Christian. (Loud applause).
MR OMMANNEY: There is no other business.
MR SPIERS: I may state that, in consequence of the remarks of Mr. Wynn, some of us have thrown a little more feeling into
the meeting than we otherwise should. We were given to understand that Mr. Ommanney was anxious to come in a friendly and conciliatory spirit, and that, in accordance with the expressed feeling of the parishioners, he would be prepared to modify his views
as to ritual. (Hear, hear). I think there can be no mistaken sounds from this meeting as to our views with regard to what we term Ritualism. (Applause, and a Voice: Is Mr. Longden here?)
MR OMMANNEY: That is all the business and the meeting is closed. (“No, no,” with loud cries of “Two sidesmen to be appointed,”
and “Is Mr Longden here?)
MR WYNN proposed Mr. Spiers and Mr. Hobson as sidesmen for the ensuing year.
The resolution was seconded and carried without opposition.
MR OMMANNEY: I suppose that sidesmen are elected in the same way as churchwardens, and therefore I propose Mr. K.E. Bindley
and Mr. Joseph H. Royston. (A Voice: Are they qualified?)
The meeting, in which a great deal of excitement had been shown, was then declared adjourned.
Sheffield Independent,
15 July 1882
We understand that the archdeacon has signalled his acceptance of the nomination of Mr. Henry Longden as vicar’s warden
at St. Matthew’s. It will be remembered that at the time of Mr. Longden’s nomination by the Rev. G. C. Ommanney, doubts were expressed respecting his qualification, and it was stated that the archbishop’s attention would be called to the matter. Mr. Longden,
it seems, was qualified, his qualification consisting of a cottage in Rockingham Lane, which, however, was taken only two or three days before the vestry meeting. Thus the first difficulty in Mr. Ommanney’s path has been quietly disposed of.
Sheffield Independent,
28 September 1882
THE REV. G. C. OMMANNEY AND MR. W. WYNN
A DISPUTE AT ST. MATTHEW’S.
The following correspondence which has passed between the Rev. G. C. Ommanney and Mr. Walter Wynn, the parishioners’
warden, has been forwarded to us for publication: —
“St. Matthew’s Vicarage,
“Sheffield, September 25, 1882.
“Dear Mr. Wynn, — Will you kindly send me the amounts collected in church yesterday, morning and evening, for the curate’s
stipend fund, being altogether £8. 6s. 7 ½d. The bearer of this is authorised to receive the amount from you and will bring it to me. —Believe me, yours very sincerely, G. C. Ommanney.”
“Mr Walter Wynn.”
“Dear Sir, —I am in receipt of your letter of the 25th, demanding from me last Sunday’s offertory for the
stipend fund of your curate (?”clerical help,” you have no curate). I scarcely need say I decline to give it up, as I have already told you.
“The offertory of St. Matthew’s belongs to the churchwardens for the purpose of providing funds for repairing, cleaning,
and lighting the church, for the salaries of clerk, organist, &c., for wine for the Communion, and for other incidental expenses connected with the services…
You now demand the money as your right, and you were so enraged when I refused to let you have it on Sunday morning
in the vestry, that had the churchwardens been equally warm, it would in all probability have resulted in a free fight and scramble. You had not the courtesy to speak to me on the subject beforehand, so that we might have discussed it in an amicable spirit,
but without any consultation with me you announced the collection was for your curate’s (‘help’s’) fund. I was rather staggered at the announcement, but resolved in my own mind to let you have the money so long as you had announced it, after first pointing
out to you that you ought to have asked me whether we could spare it or not. I spoke to you about it, but you shut me up with ‘There was no need to consult you; it is mine by right.’
“Now, Sir, I am not a lawbreaker, as you are, and if the offertory belongs to you of right—if custom goes for nothing—it
will be my duty to give it to you, but I must be convinced that such is the case. It is not enough for you to say that it is yours. It is not enough for your warden (Mr. Henry Longden) to say that it is so because he has ‘seen it in a book.’ I must have an
opinion upon it. If you are not content to wait until I send you my final decision, which will be as soon as I am perfectly satisfied, you may take whatever steps you think well to recover. —Yours very truly, WALTER WYNN, Parish Warden.”
Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser,
24 October 1882
RITUALIST AT SHEFFIELD
Great uproar arose at an indignation meeting held at noon yesterday, at Sheffield, to protest against the ritualistic
practices at St. Matthew’s Church. The room was crowded, and the audience included a number of the High Church party. The chief speaker was Mr. Wynn, parish warden, who denounced Mr. Ommanney, the vicar, as a Jesuit in the Church; as a man who, whilst eating
the bread of the Church of England, was doing the work of the Church of Rome. He expressed his intention of never resting until the plague spot of ritualism had been removed. Mr. Bindley endeavoured on behalf of the ritualists to show that Mr. Ommanney was
acting according to the Prayer Book, but was greeted with great uproar and cries of “No popery.” A resolution was passed, amid great cheering, condemning Mr. Ommanney’s practices, and asking the Archbishop of York to put them down.
Edinburgh Evening News, 28 March
1883
RITUALISTIC DISTURBANCE IN SHEFFIELD
A very noisy meeting was held at Sheffield yesterday, where the Ritualists attending St Matthew’s Church there endeavoured
to prevent the re-election of Walter Wynn, the parish warden, because he had repeatedly protested against the Romish tendency of the Rev. G. C. O’Mmanney’s teaching. For two hours the schoolroom was a scene of uproar, and when the show of hands was declared
in favour of Mr Wynn as against Mr Bindley, the Ritualistic candidate, Mr O’Mmanney demanded a poll of the parishioners. This was taken, the result being declared in favour of Mr Wynn by a large majority.
The intruded apostrophe above has the effect of introducing an Irish (and consequently Catholic) air to Ommanney’s name; it is unclear whether
this was deliberate.
Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser,
31 March 1883
‘The chairman asked both sides to speak with real Christian charity, but when Mr. Wynn, the people’s churchwarden, read
the parish accounts, and, adverting to £80 given to the vicar for distribution amongst the poor, asked how much of this amount had been spent in Ritualistic literature, hisses, groans, and uproar prevailed for some seconds…
Frequently the proceedings were entirely interrupted by the uproar, and a scene of the wildest confusion prevailed…
A poll was demanded by the supporters of Mr Bindley… Mr Wynn obtained the votes of 326 parishioners, and Mr Bindley only
146. The result was received with great cheering by the Protestant party…
Sheffield Independent,
29 March 1883
The attempt to oust Mr Walter Wynn and to put in his place a gentleman of pronounced High Church views was a blunder so
huge that I am surprised Mr. Ommanney should have given his sanction to it. It was certain to be unsuccessful, even though Mr Wynn and his friends might be caught napping; and it was inevitable that it would awaken feelings of hostility against Mr. Ommanney
and his friends, which months of quiet and earnest work in the parish will not overcome... With Mr Henry Longden as his warden, Mr. Ommanney should have been satisfied… For Mr Ommanney personally it is impossible to entertain feelings other than those of
the highest possible respect, if not of absolute affection. His worst enemies—if he has any—will not deny that he is earnest, hard working, and self-denying, in these respects putting to shame many a clergyman whose life passes pleasantly enough, who is on
good terms with himself, and who has no trouble with congregation or parishioners. But it is his misfortune that he has come to minister to a people who have been trained in the narrowest of all religious schools of thought, and who scent the scarlet lady
in every act to which they have been unaccustomed…
No doubt heartened by this vote of confidence, within the week Mr Wynn was to take a significant and fateful step...
in Part Two: An unseemly manifestation of feeling...
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