FTER resigning his tutorship at Oriel, Mr. KEBLE undertook the charge of the parish of Southrop, (usually pronounced Suther up,) another little village near Fairford, supposed by some to be the Laca of "Domesday Book." Here he lived in the vicarage-house from 1823 to 1825, (see Appendix,) and was visited by many of his old college pupils, some of whom he assisted in their studies during vacation time, and who (in gratitude for his help and kindness) bestowed upon him valuable presents. Amongst these guests and voluntary pupils of the Poet at Southrop were the distinguished and much-esteemed names of Williams, N Wilberforce, Ryder, Prevost, and Hurrell Froude: some of them lodging at Dean Farm, near Southrop, spent the daytime with Mr. KEBLE at the vicarage. Sir William Heathcote also, who had taken his First Class degree in Michaelmas term, 1821, (during the time in which Mr. KEBLE was Examiner,) paid the Poet a visit in the snug little vicarage at Southrop. The little church at Southrop is of Norman date, with Perpendicular additions. It has a very curious circular font, apparently of late Norman date, which Mr. KEBLE discovered built into an old south doorway of the church, and caused to be removed to its present position at the west end. On this font there is carved a series of figures representing the Christian Virtues, which are trampling under foot and inflicting punishment upon the contrary Vices. This seems meant to teach that by Holy Baptism grace is given a "world of passions to destroy." Around the top of the font there is a band of tracery. On the wall of the south transept of Southrop Church is a white marble slab, with a centre of black marble bearing the following inscription in gold letters : "EDMUND, SON OF THOMAS Keble, Gent., departed this Life DEC. 30, 1654; JANA, UXOR P: POSUIT DEC. 30, 1656." The "P" is supposed to mean Pia. On the south wall of the chancel is a much larger monument, bearing the following inscription :— "THOMAS KEBLA, SEN., GENT., DECEASED THE 9TH DAY OF August, ANNO DOMINI 1670; ELIZABETHA, UXOR POSUIT." The arms and crest of the KEBLE family are found close by, having been removed from above the monument. The spelling of the name "Kebla" for KEBLE on this monument is remarkable, although it may possibly have been simply a mistake of the stone-mason who carved the letters. (See Appendix, p. 45.) In the churchyard there are several tombstones, on which is inscribed the name KIBBLE, belonging possibly to descendants of ancestors of Mr. KEBLE. There are at present several labouring people of the same name residing in the parish. The vicarage at Southrop is a comfortable little house, although with no pretensions to architectural beauty, situated near the church, with a spacious and well-planned garden surrounding it. Wadham College, Oxford, possesses the patronage of the living. The population of Southrop at the last census was 362. When Mr. KEBLE undertook the Curacy of Hursley in 1825, he was succeeded at Southrop by his brother, who held this curacy for about a year, immediately after his marriage. "Full of vows and full of labour, All our days fresh duties bring; (Parish Musings, p. 1.) |