Rev. John Herbert Griffiths (1870-1956). Vicar of St Mary the Virgin
John Herbert Griffiths was the vicar of St Mary the Virgin, Martham from 1928 to 1947. Below, John left and his wife Clara right.
John was born on 8th March 1870 in Broseley, Shropshire to John & Annie Griffiths, nee Lucas. John grew up with his parents in Shropshire and Chester. He gained his MA at Queen’s College, Cambridge and in 1893 worked as a chemist at Lewisham, Kent and then as a science teacher at Norwich Grammar School.
It was when he was at Lewisham that he met and married Clara Augusta Isabel Vernon. They were married on 11th September 1893 at St Mary’s Church, Lewisham and went on to have six children between 1895 and 1904.
John switched careers and was first employed as a vicar between 1900 -1906 at St Paul’s, Norwich. He followed that as a rector and vicar between at St Augustin’s and St Mary’s, Norwich. He moved to Martham with Clara and was the vicar at both Martham and West Somerton for 19 years from 1928 until 1947.
John retired on 4th January 1947 and the following tribute was printed to both John and Clara in the Great Yarmouth Mercury.
John & Clara retired to North Walsham where she died in 1951 and he passed on in 1956. They are buried together at St James’ Parish Church, Southrepps, Norfolk. Their grave is shown below.
Sources:
Appointment information courtesy of the: Clergy of the Church of England Database at https://theclergydatabase.org.uk.
Duncan Wood, local historian of Matlaske, Norfolk.