On moving to Green Rises in 1910, Grandfather and Grandma Badcock (Melvyn and Evelyn) joined up with the Butleigh Hill Methodist Church and continued with fairly regular attendance and strong support until the church was destroyed by fire in the early hours of Wednesday, 5 November 1947. The cause of the fire was generally believed to have been arson as the first people there said there was a strong smell of kerosene and the mats had been rolled up and placed in the porch where the fire had started. Ila Greig, who lived not far away, was the first person to spot the fire having been roused by their young son Ronnie who had awoken at the time. Interestingly Ronnie now has in his possession the front door key to the Church. I recall visiting the scene with Dad soon after the fire and all that remained of the building was part of the vestry floor, saved when the brass tap melted in the heat of the fire, allowing the water from the tank to run over the floor. There was also a partly burnt pulpit Bible lying on the floor.
Dad had a long association with the Church and also attended most of his school life at the school in the churchyard. Not only did he attend church with his parents but also the Sunday School, and in his last Sunday School year as a scholar, not only did he complete his lessons, but also taught a Sunday School class. During these formative years a neighbour of the family at Green Rises, Mr Henry Hingston, took an active interest in Dad and greatly guided him in the life of the Church and his growing Christian faith. Dad regularly attended the various study groups and other meetings, also the frequent social activities run by the church. This eventually led him into preaching, again strongly encouraged by Mr Henry Hingston, himself a local preacher. From Dad’s records, his first planned service at Butleigh Hill was conducted on 19 April 1936 and over the next eleven and half years conducted 56 services at the church, the last on 26 October 1947 ten days before the church was burnt. The subject of his first sermon was “The Almost Christian” with text from Acts 26 verse 28, and the last, “The Spirit of the Age”.
The school was conducted by the State Education Department in the former caretaker’s cottage in the Churchyard. To make it suitable as a school, a wall between two rooms had been taken out to make sufficient room for the up to 20 children attending. The teacher used the remaining part of the residence for living quarters.
Both Dad and Uncle Trevor attended the Butleigh School until the commencement of the school year in 1923 when the school was moved to a new building erected about a quarter of a mile away on the Green Rises Road. They walked to school each day, which to Butleigh Hill was a distance of three and a quarter-mile each way. The younger three children of the family attended the new school throughout their schooling, apart from Uncle Lloyd who, following the closure and removal of the school, during his last year rode his bike from “Stoke” to Bishopsbourne. The family had moved from Green Rises to Stoke in 1927.
Dad started school when seven years of age, the year 1918, and left school at the end of 1924 when he was almost 14 years old and went home to work full time on the farm.
Some of his schoolbooks, including text and notebooks, have survived together with a few stories from his school days. In one of these exercise books is an account given by Dad of some of his activities over the Christmas holidays. The letter is dated 24.1.21, therefore, making Dad less than 10 years of age. It is addressed to “Dear Norman”, probably Norman Greig who was also a student at the school, and who was about two and a half years older.
Green Rises 24.1.21 Dear Norman, I am going to tell you how I spent my Christmas holidays. Trevor and I had to take Dad's dinner over to Hampton Main. We used to go up to the gorse hedge around the yard and get the sparrow nests out of it. When Dad was ready for work again we used to go out with him and follow the binder. Some of the time we went with Dad and Oliver the rest. When Dad knocked off we used to ride the horses home. While Dad was carting the hay, I had to turn the sheaves. I used to go out with Dad and Oliver to get the load. I killed all the mice I could catch.
Several stories have survived from his time at school. One of these relates to a fellow student, Mary Freeland, who had a rather tearful nature when confronted with a problem in school that she was having difficulty in solving. Tears would roll regularly, almost on a daily basis and sometimes more frequently. One morning before school, Dad sought out the lamb’s bottle, half-filled it with a mixture of milk and water and in his bag, smuggled it to school and into the classroom and waited for Mary’s tears to flow. Mid-morning, she burst into tears and Dad grabbing the bottle, thrust it towards her saying, “Here baby have a drink”. Mary’s sobs immediately turned to wails and the classroom went into uproar. In effort to restore order, the teacher sent Dad from the room and ordered that he report for a detention at lunch time, which he did. Dad later heard the teacher was quite amused by the incident, and when he reported was told not to do it again. No detention was given.
Radio broadcasts reached Tasmania while Dad was at school, these coming from 3LO in Melbourne. It was quite an advancement at the time, bringing news and music direct into the homes of everyday people, just by the turn of a knob and a little tuning. On commencement it caused quite a sensation and Dad would sometimes recall the children at the time running around the schoolyard calling out to each other, “3LO calling, 3LO calling”. A few years after radio commenced, Dad’s parents purchased a battery-operated set, a Stromberg-Carlson. Grandfather in my time liked to hear the news broadcasts and had a particular liking for the lunchtime serial, “Blue Hills”
The end of the First World War was also often remembered. When the news of the end of the war reached Cressy, a person from there rode a motorbike to the Butleigh Hill school bringing the news. The school was soon abandoned for the day and the children were sent home, thus helping to further rapidly spread the good news. Several weeks later “Peace Celebrations” were held at Cressy with Dad attending, together with his parents and other family members.
In a letter dated 29 September 1922 written by Mrs Hephzibah Hingston to Grandma at the time of the birth of Uncle Lloyd, a few details about the Church and School are mentioned. Mrs Hingston at the time was 82 years of age, the church organist and had no family. She was the widow of the late Mr William James Hingston but was still living on the family farm of “Butleigh Hill” which adjoined the churchyard and school. The envelope with the letter was addressed to, Mrs M. Badcock, C/o Nurse Harvey, Barracks St., Deloraine, Tas, with the 2d. stamp postmarked, Cressy, Oct. 2, ’22.
Butleigh Hill, Cressy.
Sept. 29/22 Dear Mrs Badcock, Your post card to hand today, it was good of you to write to me so quickly. I was glad to hear you were over your trouble and you and the little one thriving well, fancy three coming along in one day and all Boys, it must have kept the nurses busy. Henry Pearn was at B.H. (Butleigh Hill, Ed.) last Sunday. Mr Badcock was down to the service with the children and your help was there, he told me when you left home, and he had no news up to that time. All were well but the little Boy, he had a cold. Did you hear the result of the fair - they took 75 pounds and about another ten in donations next week. The day School has holiday and when it begins again, I understand it will be in the new school and then I expect there will be a stir with the repairs. Tonight, there was to have been a meeting, Foreign Missions, but it has been wet all day and we did not think there would be one, but Mr. Perkins has just been up for the key, a quarter to nine he said there was just a few there and the meeting would be short. I should think it would has gone down, but tis very wet and dirty, but we must not complain the rain is just what we needed and we all ought to be thankful to Him who alone can send the showers. Well now dear I do not want to tire you out with a long letter. I think I am getting mended up from that fall, the hand is much better but still sore to the touch. I had to give them my left on Sunday. I hope you will soon be well and strong again and fit for home, the children will be glad to see mother. May God's gracious love surround you, as you tread life's change- full way. In your pleasures bless you. In your sorrows be your stay. Is the prayer of Yours Sincerely, Heppy Hingston Kindest love and a kiss for the little stranger.
For a few years, there was a presence at the Church which some of the people at the time and still today, refer to as the Butleigh Hill ghost. It manifested itself as a scratching like sound coming from under the floor near the organ. Initially, the sound was of low volume but over the years increased, sometimes being sufficiently loud to be disruptive to a service in progress. During one service Dad recalls the preacher, Mr Henry Hingston, pausing during his address and commenting, “I do believe that noise, whatever it is, is possessed”.
Those attending church often speculated on the cause of the noise, variously thinking it might have been due to rabbits or rats and contemplated lifting some of the floorboards to investigate, but this never got past the talking stage. The noise for some years was always present, day or night. Dad would recall when socials were held in Carl Smith’s nearby barn, pews from the church would be used for seating, and it was his job to get the seats out of the church ready for pick up by a truck and then after the social, they would be dropped off with his job again being to put the pews back into the church. With no electricity at the church the job was mostly undertaken with the light from a torch and with the scratching noise always present, Dad would say that on occasions and being alone, it would take a lot of courage to enter the building.
The noise went on until the day of a Memorial service for Mrs Hingston. It was a Sunday, and the church was full of people. Dad was there sitting in a back seat diagonally across the church from the organ from where the noise was always heard. Midway during the service, the noise departed, rapping the floor from underneath as it went, and passing directly under Dad’s feet. He said he lifted his feet as it went. It was never heard again.
The church was opened for worship on 1 January 1860. The first meeting for purpose of raising funds for the building of the chapel and residence was held on the 5 April 1859. John Gardiner was appointed the builder at an agreed cost of £400-0-0.
Contributors to its cost were –
£
Charles Chilcott Snr 30–0–0
T L Frampton 10–0–0
Sam Tongs 10–0–0
Sam Wright 10–0–0
Wm Chilcott 15–0–0
Charles Chilcott Jnr 10–0–0
John Lyons 3–0–0
David Seigman (or Leigman) 1–0–0
Henry Denzey 1–10–0
John Emerson 5–0–0
Wm Dodery Esq 10–0–0
Wm Patterson 5–5–0
Rev T B Harris 1–0–0
Rev John Smithies 5–0–0
Sam Tongs 5–0–0
By Cash 0-15–0
W J Norwood ? 10–0–0
F Burton 2–0–0
Nott 2–0–0
Richard Ambrose 1–0–0
Charles Johnston 1–0–0
Mrs Mason 2–0–0
By Cash 0–3–8
W Hingston 1–0–0
Robert Hingston 1–0–0
H Hingston 1–0–0
Collection Made 4–0–0
J W Hingston 1–0–0
By Cash 0–2–6 George Night 1–0–0
John Kelshen ? 1–0–0
John Crouch ? 1–0–0
Charles Burton 1–0–0
Mrs Greig 5–0–0
W Hunter ? 5–0–0
John P Crooks Esq 25–0–0
Mr(s) C Cullen 5–0–0
Joseph Kendall 1–0–0
Wm Hill 0-10–0
J D Toosey Esq 3–0–0
George Holland ? 1–0–0
Mr Baxter 1–0–0
Miss Brailey 0–10–0
Mr Morley 1–10–0
John Thomas 1–0–0
Charles E Thomas 1–0–0
Mr F Flanaghan 1–0–0
Mr Robert Brumby 1–0–0
209–8–2
The following receipts were given at the opening service, held 1 January 1860
Morning Collection 13–8-10
Evening Collection 9-19–8½
Proceeds of Tea Meeting 13–6–0
Miss(?) M Wilson 10–0–0
Mr J Emerson 10–0–0
Henry Denzey 1–0–0
Sam Tongs 5–0–0
W J Norwood 5–0–0
Jas Saltmarsh 1–1–0
H B Nickols 1–1–0
Mr Wm Mason 1–0–0
Charles C Chilcott Snr 5–0–0
Robert Morley 1–0–0
Francis Burton 2–0–0
Mrs Emerson 2–0–0
Mrs Seigman ? 1–0–0
Charles Chilcott Jnr 10–0–0
Richard Ambrose 1–0–0
Harriett Ambrose 1–0–0
Mrs Lyons 1–0–0
Thomas Bartley Esq 5–0–0
Mrs Smithies 1–0–0
Mrs Frampton 5–0–0
Charles Chilcott Snr 11–0–0
Sam Wright 11–0–0
F L Frampton 11–0–0
F Burton 11–0–0
Mr Robert Hunter 5–0–0
Charles Chilcott Jnr 6–0–0
Samuel Tongs 11–0–0
Collection Made 3–2–7
£400–7–5½
Deficiency made up by the Building Committee
Mr F Burton 1-15–0
David Hall 11–0–0
John Tongs 5–0–0
£17-15–0
Paid for building Green Rises Chapel and Residence
1859
June 2 John Gardiner 25–0–0
July 1 by cash 55–0–0
Aug 4 ” ” 20–0–0
Sept 12 ” ” 20–0–0
Nov 17 ” ” 25–0–0
1860
Jan 3 ” ” 70–0–0
Feb 8 ” ” 108–0–0
Feb 22 ” ” 20–0–0
May 7 ” ” 20–0–0
May 11 ” ” 37–0–0
£400–0–0
From the accounts book of the time details of income and expenditure help to give a picture of the time
1860 SEAT RENTS Sitting
Jan 5 F L Frampton One pew 1–1–0
Samuel Tongs One pew 1–1–0
Wm Chilcott No 2 4 1–1–0
Chas Chilcott No 3 4 1–1–0
Jn Emerson No 15 4 1–1–0
Jn Lyons No 14 2 10–6
David Seigman No 14 2 10–6
Richard Ambrose No 17 4 1–1–0
Henry Denzey 1 5–3
Samuel Wright 4 1–1–0
£8–3–3
EXPENDITURE
1860
Jan 30 Account Book 0–5–0
Bottle Wine 0–4–0
2 Chandeliers 0–8–0
Cord & Rollers 0–1–6
Box of candles 1-13–4
April 30 Johnson for candles 0-10–0
May 10 Mr Frampton for well 1–1–0
Pulpit Branches 2–0–0
June 30 Cleaning Chapel 1–0–0
Advertising Opening Services 1-12–0
Cleaning Chapel 1–1–0
£9-14-10
Cemetery
The Butleigh Hill Burial Ground, as it was first known, was established soon after the commencement of the church. From notes in the accounts book from the minutes of the Longford Wesleyan Methodist Quarterly Meeting of 26 September 1865 it states –
1. that £1–5–0 be the amount charged for a grave 8 ft. x 4 ft. at Butleigh Hill
2. that Mr Frampton who gave the land have a piece for himself and family free of charge
Burials noted in the book are-
1st Row
(1) Unknown, (2) Tongs, (3) Giles, (4) Shipp, (5) Brydon
2nd Row
(1) John Lyons, (2) Alfred Wellard
3rd Row
(1) Walter Smith, (2) W Chilcott
4th Row
(1) John Chilcott, (2) Aikman
Payments Received for Burials
| 1866 March – received from Walter Smith 1870 Jan 7 – M Giles, 1 piece 4 ft x 4 ft Oct 8 – Aikman, 1 piece 8 ft x 4 ft 1873(or 75) March 27 – 1 piece “Parsons” child – Mr Brydon, 1 piece 8 ft x 4 ft 1876 March 28 – J G Skirving 1896 April 14 – Mr Skirvings child, 4 ft x 4 ft – W Chilcott, 8 ft x 4 ft | £1-10–0 15–0 1-10–0 10–0 1–5–0 10–0 12–6 1–5–0 |
Written by Ivan Badcock – 2005