A 1892 Non-Conformist Wedding at the Bunyan Meeting Chapel, Bedford

Rev. John Brown (1830-1922)

On Wednesday 13 April 1892, Albert Hugh Lloyd married Jessie Brown at the Bunyan Meeting Church in Bedford. Albert's father was a wealthy cotton manufacturer from Lancashire; Jessie's father was Congregational clergyman and had been minister of the Bunyan Church since 1864.

As Rev. Brown predicted, their lives would not be short of "sorrows and trials". Albert continued in his father's business and retired in 1922, moving Cambridge where in 1928 he took a Ph.D. with a thesis on Greek numismatics, a lifelong interest. He died on 17 May 1936.

Their daughter, Muriel, followed an academic career at Girton College and helped her father with his research. On 2 October 1939 she was found by her mother with her head in a gas oven. Despite treatment, she didn't recover and died shortly afterwards.

In 1946 Jessie gave her husband's collection of 1,700 Greek coins to the British Museum in memory of both him and their daughter.

Jessie survived her daughter by ten years and died in Cambridge on 30 September 1949.

But back to the happy day of their very grand wedding, and fascinating lengthy list of wedding presents, as reported in the Bedfordshire Times and Independent of Saturday, 16 April 1892:

MARRIAGE of MISS JESSIE BROWN

On Wednesday afternoon members of the congregation and friends of the Rev. Dr. Brown and his family, assembled in large numbers at the Bunyan Church, Bedford, on the occasion of an unusually interesting and felicitous event, viz., the marriage of Miss Jessie Brown, daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. John Brown, of the Manse, Dame Alice-street, with Mr. Albert Hugh Lloyd, eldest son of Mr. Humphrey Lloyd, Ashton-on-Mersey, Manchester.

The weather was of the cold and showery character that may expected this month, but there was considerable attendance of friends and well-wishers.  

The communion-table and the surroundings were chastely adorned with flowers and handsome shrubs supplied by Mr. J. C. Sheppard, of High-street.  

Outside an awning covered the approach from the  gates to the porch, and scarlet baize was laid on the walk and in the lobbies.

Several minutes of eager expectancy were passed by the congregation in listening to the joyous strains of a voluntary performed by Mr. T. J. Ford on the organ.

There was a full muster of the choir, who sustained the singing of two hymns during the marriage service.

In due time the bride arrived, and was escorted to the communion rails by her uncle. Mr. Gerard N. Ford, and, after a triumphant peal from the organ, the Rev. Dr. Brown gave out the hymn commencing "Eternal Love, whose law doth sway." This was heartily sung, and the service proceeded.

After the declarations, the Pastor addressed the newly-married couple upon this memorable event in their history.

Others wished them all happiness, he wished them all holiness, and then there was no doubt that they would have happiness.

Marriage was not made for happiness alone, but for discipline and development of character, and love burnt all the more brightly if it was attended by right feeling and good sense.

Let them give to their love sensibility, and guard against self seeking.  

There would be serious duties for them to perform, but they would be able to meet them if they lived near to the source of true strength.

Sorrows and trials would also come, and if they bore them in patient spirit, their afflictions would leave them with the blessing of fortitude.

At the close of his address, Dr. Brown engaged in an earnest prayer, which was followed by the singing of the hymn Oh, love divine and golden.

Mr John Lloyd, brother of the bridegroom, was best man, the bride being given away by her uncle, Mr. Gerard N. Ford, of Manchester.

The bride wore a wreath of real orange blossoms, sent direct from Cannes by the Rev. P. W. Minto, and she carried a beautiful bouquet, which came from Manchester; her bridal dress was composed of white silk, with a train of broché. trimmed with ribbon ruches, and having the front draped with old lace.

The bride also wore a handsome diamond and sapphire bracelet, the gift of the bridegroom.

The bridesmaids were  Miss Brown (sister the bride), Miss Lloyd. Miss  Clara Lloyd, Miss M. Lloyd (sisters of the bridegroom), and Miss M. Keynes (niece of the bride), while Master Geoffrey Keynes acted as page.

The three bridesmaids first mentioned wore dresses of light brown Surah, prettily trimmed with yellow ribbons, to match their bouquets of daffodils.  

The other bridesmaids were little girls, and were attired in white silk dresses. It may mentioned that three bridesmaids wore gold bracelets, and the two younger ones gold brooches, presented to them by the bridegroom.

The bride's travelling dress was in grey fancy material, trimmed with silk, her black lace hat having grey tips to match the costume.

The bride's dresses were supplied by Messrs. E. P. Rose & Son, High-street.

The wedding  guests consisted of immediate relatives, chiefly from Manchester and Bedford, and, after the bonds of holy wedlock had been duly solemnized and attested, they were entertained at the Manse.

In the course of the afternoon the newly-married couple departed for Dover, en route for the Continent, where they purposed to proceed on a tour.

The wedding cake was a remarkably large one, the weight being 70lb. without the icing, and it was the gift of Mrs. Outram, of New Brighton, a friend of the bridegroom.

The  former pupils of Mrs. Brown at the Manse were entertained to tea in the church-parlour, and after the departure of the happy pair, there was reception at the Manse.

On Thursday afternoon Mrs. Brown held an "at home" from three to six o’clock for members of the congregation and their friends.

The following is a list of the wedding presents, those first in order being the gifts of relatives:—

• Dr. and Mrs. Brown, household linen, and cheque for £25 [£2,865.81 in Sep 2026];
• Dr. and Mrs. Keynes, table appointments, including silver forks and spoons, tea service, entrée dish, biscuit basket, and candlesticks;
• Miss Keynes and the Masters Keynes, Venetian vase;
• Miss Brown, tea cloths, toilet mats, and dessert d’oyleys;
• Mr. W. L. and Mr. J. H. Brown, silver salts;
• Mr. E. K, Brown, workbasket on stand and bookshelves;
• Mr. Lloyd, cheque for £1,000 [£114,632.45 in Sep 2026];
• Mrs. Lloyd, Doulton dessert service;
• Miss Lloyd and Miss C. Lloyd, Spode tea service;
• Miss M. Lloyd, trinket service;
• Mr. John Lloyd, Worcester dinner service;
• Mr. B. Lloyd, brass Vienna coffee machine;
• Mr. E. H. Ford, Satsouma jar;
• the Misses Ford, Japanese bowl;
• Mr. and Mrs. H. Storey, cake basket;
• Mr. and Mrs G  N. Ford, silver salvers;
• Mrs. Dixey, Japanese cabinet;
• Dr. and Mrs. Langdon-Down, silver and gilt afternoon tea-stand;
• Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Anthony, dining room clock;
• Mr. and Mrs. John Rogers, silver-mounted carvers;
• Miss Anthony and Mr. P. Anthony, Hungarian vase;
• Masters R. and G. Anthony, views of Bedford;
• Mr R. Lloyd, Webster's Dictionary;
• Mrs. R. Lloyd, china tea and breakfast service;
• Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Lloyd, Belge lamp;
• Mr. D. Lloyd, flower pedestal;
• Mr. and Mrs. E. Brown, dessert  knives and forks;
• Mr. W. C. Brown, cake basket;
• Mrs. W. Cooper, eider down quilt;
• Mrs. Keynes, fish knives and forks;
• Mr. and Mrs. J. Roberts, table-cloth;
• Mrs. J. Jones, seltzogene;
• Mrs. Jeffreys, serviettes;
• Miss S. A. Jeffreys, vases;
• Mr. Ashton, fancy tin of biscuits;
• Miss J. Ashton, tea cosey;
• the Misses Brice, china afternoon tea set;
• Mis Browning, bread fork;
• Mrs. Blackburn, illustrated edition of Romola, in calf;
• Mrs. Bond, ice wool shawl;
• Miss Bond and Miss M. Bond, opal glass table ornaments;
• Miss Byrom, dinner gong;
• Mr. Barker, linen;
• Mr and Mrs. Compton Burnett, pickle forks, and nutcrackers;
• Mrs. Blott, bamboo flower stand;
• Miss L. P. Brown, olive wood string stand;
• Dr. Coombs, revised version of the Bible, bound in Russian leather;
• Miss Caldecott, Miss Gilbert. Miss Johnson, Miss Sanders, Crown Derby butter dish and salts;
• Mrs. Corbold, jam dish on plated stand;
• Mr. T. N. Cragg, two pairs of silver nut crackers;
• Mr. Challis Carter, cheque;
• the Misses Forster, worked tablecloth;
• Mrs. Forrest, pair of vases;
• Mr. and Mrs Fowler, Japanese fan;
• Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Ford, mother-of-pearl opera glasses;
• Mrs. E. A. Gair, curved Burmese paper rack;
• Mrs. and the Misses Goodman, plated and china butter-dish;
• Miss Gilpin, plush photograph frame;
• Miss G. Greaves, embroidered chair backs;
• Mrs. Green, vases;
• Mr. Grose, plated crumb scoop;
• Professor and Mrs. Haddon, Irish crochet chair back;
• Mr. Hall and Miss  Brown (Sale), brass and china candlesticks;
• Mrs. Irwin, bronze inkstand;
• Misses F. and E. Jelley, hot-water jug;
• Miss E. Joyce (Goldington), crumb-brush and tray;
• Mrs. Kirby, afternoon tea spoons and tongs;
• Miss J. Kirby, newspaper rack;
• Miss Eden Lewis, needlework;
• Miss and Miss Marie Lewthwaite, card-case and purse;
• Mrs. Lucas, netted d’oyleys;
• Miss Lucas, chair back;
• Miss E. Lucas, hand-painted fire screen;
• Mr and Mrs. W. Macintosh, china flower basket;
• Dr, Mrs., and Miss Macfarlane, toast rack and egg stand;
• Mrs. and Miss Meadows, sugar and cream stand;
• Mr. and Mrs. McKie, dinner service;
• Mr. and Mrs. McKenzie, salver;
• Miss Maris  hand-painted panel;
• Mr. Minto (Cannes), orange blossom;
• Mrs. Morton and Miss Bousfield, embossed flower pot;
• Mr. and Mrs. Outram, wedding cake;
• Miss Peacock, afternoon tea cloth;
• Miss Philpotts, Japanese screen;
• Mrs. Piggot, ice pail and cleaver;
• Misses Purchase, photograph;
• Pupils and Teachers at the Manse, fish carvers and cruets;
• the Rev. J. H. and Mrs. Readman, Bedford lace;
• Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Rogers, Ruskin’s Seven Lamps of Architecture and Ethics of the Dust;
• Mrs. Rose, salad bowl;
• Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Rose, standard lamp and shade;
• Mr. and Mrs. Holland Rose, hand-painted plaque;
• Mr. and Mrs. T. E. Rose, sugar bowl and sifter;
• Miss Roberts, Welsh views;
• Miss E. Shuttleworth, card trays;
• Mr and Mrs. Spencer, triplet dish;
• Servants at the Manse, afternoon tea tray and salts;
• Servants at Offendene, silver jam dish;
• Miss Thomson, butter knife;
• Mr. Wellsley, bedroom slippers;
• Mrs. J. H. White, silver paper knife;
• Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, trinket service;
• Misses Wilson, triplet dish;
• Misses E. and G. Wooldridge, ornamental paper rack.