Reverend Henry Wybrow Vicar of St. Paul's Church Newport 1843 - 1855

Text and image from "St. Paul's Parish Newport" by Rev. T. Parry Pryce, 1936.

The Rev. James Francis was succeeded as Vicar by the Rev. Henry Wybrow.
During the interregnum, the work of the Parish was carried on by the Rev. John Davies, Curate.
We have found it most difficult to obtain any information of any value regarding his ministry in the parish during his incumbency.
Unfortunately the old records of the Church, containing the minutes of the several Vestry Meetings, etc., are not to be found. The oldest book of this kind in our possession dates only from 1892.
We have closely examined the Church records in the Diocesan Registry at Cardiff, and can find no evidence of the date of his Institution, and the Mandate of his Induction is also missing.
It is fairly clear that he succeeded the Rev. James Francis within three months of the latter's death.
In one of the Baptismal registers there is a record of him taking a baptism on August 20th, 1843.
It is recorded that on Sunday, April 21st, 1844, he preached eloquent Sermons at St. Paul's, and that at the close of each service a collection was taken to defray the expenses of the monument raised to the memory of the Rev. James Francis.
The total collections exceeded by £5 the sum necessary for that object, and that the surplus was applied to the repairs of the ceiling of the Church.
His last signature appears in the Marriage Register for May 13th, 1853. After that date and for some considerable time, Baptismal and Marriage registers bear the signatures of the Rev. Foster Ashburn and the Rev. Isaac D. Winslow.
Although his successor was not appointed until the end of January, 1855, we have no information whatsoever regarding his ministry during those two latter years.

On November 14th, 1854, he issued from Wilcott Vicarage, near Marlborough :—

A Farewell Address to the Inhabitants of St. Paul's District, and especially to the Members of the Congregation of St. Paul's Church.
We give below a few excerpts from this address:—
My Beloved People,
No words of mine can express all I have felt during my long, but unavoidable absence from you, and from my duties at Newport. I may truly say, that I have been in a strait betwixt two, perplexed night and day, whether to follow the bent of my own feelings and inclinations, and to return to St. Paul's, with all its responsibilities and excitements, or to yield to the entreaties of relatives, and friends, and to endeavour, by a longer absence, to prolong a life, humanly speaking, so important to a large family, well nigh entirely dependent upon me, and which all my medical advisers have, without hesitation, decided would have been endangered by attempting hastily to renew, with any degree of energy, my interesting labour amongst you . . . among whom I have spent the happiest ten years of my ministerial life.
Whilst, however, taking steps in consequence of my recent great improvement in health ... to return to Newport ... it pleased God to interfere by the unexpected offer of a country living in a dry and bracing atmosphere well suited to my present physical powers.
It is my painful task to take farewell of a congregation, . . . from whom I ever received the greatest consideration, kindness and affection. . . .
Let me, earnestly request, that you will forgive all that has appeared to you either weak or unsympathizing, as your Minister and your friend. . . . You will often think of me in prayer. Farewell my beloved people : . . . for the sake of our adorable Redeemer, and, without one exception, may we meet hereafter before His presence in glory with great joy.
I remain,
Your grateful Pastor, and ever affectionate and faithful Friend,
HENRY WYBROW.

He was appointed Vicar of Stretton-on-Dunsmore by the Simeon Trustees in 1855, and remained the Incumbent until 1879, when he died on September 2nd, at the age of 72 years. He was laid to rest in the Parish Church yard, in a grave adjoining those of former deceased Vicars. A considerable number of Clergy and parishioners of all classes were present to pay him their last tribute of respect.
On the Sunday following the interment, the Services were conducted by Canon the Reverend Dr. Dixon, Vicar of St. Matthews, Rugby, an intimate and personal friend of the deceased.
Referring to the loss the parish had sustained, he said:—
"For five and twenty years, many of you have heard from his lips the same truths, which I have aimed to press upon you this afternoon, and what he preached he practised. From him you heard the whole Counsel of God and his great aim was to humble the sinner, to exalt the Saviour, and to promote holiness. What he desired, and longed for, and prayed for, was, that all of you, his dear people, may be partakers of the Grace of God through the Gospel of Christ. Like you I have lost a friend, and a Counsellor; and friends like him are rare, very rare. His was the 'death of the righteous' — his 'end was peace.' He had passed the common limit of human life, and to him it could be no surprise when the 'Master had need' of him and called him up higher."