Alfred Potter

  General Notes:

Alfred Potter was the Rector of Keyworth from 1859 until his death in 1878. He was clearly a man of some substance as he was self-appointed, having first bought the advowson for several thousand pounds. An advowson was seen as a good investment, giving access to a position that promised a steady, comfortable income and status and they were bought and sold for that purpose. Potter, however, appears to have strong convictions and worked tirelessly to promote the spiritual welfare of his parishioners, as he saw it. He was the first resident rector for over a hundred years having built himself a new rectory soon after his arrival, using money which his predecessor had put by for the purpose.

When the energetic Potter arrived in Keyworth, he found active Congregational, Methodist and Baptist chapels there and well over half the village worshipped in these chapels rather than in church - or not at all. He set about rectifying the situation and saw the number of baptisms increased almost three-fold in the next decade. Church attendances rose and he increased the frequency of Holy Communion, eventually to once a week. In 1862 he opened Keyworth's first purpose-built school, providing increased space and improved facilities from that previously provided in the base of the church tower. By doing so, Potter strengthened the virtual monopoly enjoyed by the church in the education of the village children - just at a time when campaigning for non-denominational schools was widespread - and there was resulting resentment amongst dissenters in the village. When the 1870 Education Act permitted schools to be built and supported from the rates, a bitter dispute developed between those who wished to provide such a Board School and Potter who wished to retain his monopoly. When the Board School was built, Potter showed his anger by banning all dissenters from using the Rectory field - whereupon, the whole cricket club, both church and chapel men, moved to another venue ! The education dispute in the village was to continue for several decades, despite attempts by Potter's successors to heal the rift between church and chapel.

In the middle of the 19th century, the church, together with its churchyard, had been described as "one of the most picturesque we have ever seen. The main portion of the church is covered with one brilliant-looking mass of ivy....:while the whole is embosomed and surrounded by groups of splendid trees, and the avenue to the south porch is a Gothic aisle in itself." However, it was soon apparent that the covering of ivy was hiding a structure which was in a dangerous state - particularly, apparent when, in 1870, a piece of masonry from the east window fell to the ground during a service being conducted by Potter. Comprehensive restoration was found to be necessary and this was carried out at a cost of £1,350. Years later, the Rector's son, Sidney Pell Potter - himself a local clegyman - recalled the changes and the transformation he had witnessed as a 12 year old - "from a state of darkness and decay to one of brightness and structural soundness." He recalled that, "Walls were stripped (of ivy) and strengthened, the whole church was re-roofed; the chancel and east window were rebuilt, the windows restored and reglazed throughout, the floors relaid. The detestable lumbering gallery......was swept away with the horse-box pews and double-deck pulpit, and the church was seated with chairs." As so often happened during this era, the old and picturesque had been replaced by the then fashionable.

From 1876 until his death, he was also Rector of Stanton-on-the-Wolds, Nottinghamshire; as this parish adjoined Keyworth, he was able to serve both parishes without neglecting either. ⁴³

  Noted events in his life were:

• Education: at St John's College, Cambridge. ⁴⁴ He was Admitted pens. at St John's on May 22, 1846 and Matriculated at Michaelmas 1846; he graduated as Batchelor of Arts in 1850. He played cricket there, possibly a Blue, in 1849.

• Occupation: Church of England clergyman. ³⁷ He was Ordained deacon at Lincoln in 1850 and priest in 1851. He was Curate of Mablethorpe, Lincs from 1852 to 1855, Skirbeck from 1855 to 1888 and of Ropsley, Lincs from 1859 to 1860. In 1860 he became Rector of Keyworth, Notts where he remained until his death in 1878. From 1876 until his death, he was also Rector of Stanton-on-the-Wolds, Notts.

• Occupation: curate of Scopwick, Lincolnshire, in March 1851, at the time of the census. ⁴⁵ He was then single and living at the Vicarage House in Scopwick and employed a housekeeper.

• Occupation: Rector of Keyworth, Notts, by the time of the census in April 1861. ⁴⁶ He was then living with his wife and three children at the Rectory in Keyworth.

• Residence: the Rectory in Keyworth, Notts, at the time of the census in April 1871. ⁴⁷

Alfred married Catherine Streets, daughter of John Streets and Ann Oldershaw, on 12 Apr 1852 in Shardlow Registration District ³⁶.^,37 (Catherine Streets was born circa 1831 in Stapleford, Notts ^48,49,50,51 and was baptised on 17 Aug 1831 in Stapleford, Notts ⁵².)