Bessie Bangay
Bessie Bangay | |
|---|---|
| Born | 29 June 1889 Lyme Regis, Dorset, England |
| Died | 25 March 1987 (aged 97) Chesham, Buckinghamshire, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Church worker |
Bessie Dorrington Bangay (29 June 1889 – 25 March 1987) was an English church worker. At the time of her death, she was the last of the original cohort of Bishop's messengers in the Church of England, licensed during World War I.
Early life
Bangay was born in 1889 in Lyme Regis, Dorset, the daughter of Richard Bangay and Agnes Dorrington Bangay. She had a twin sister, Evelyn, known as Evie, and four older siblings.[1][2] Her parents were from Norfolk; her father was a doctor and a socialist, who gave popular science lectures and built an observatory on his property.[3]
Career
Bangay and her twin sister moved to
Bangay founded the Ley Hill
Personal life
Bangay and her sister lived together most of their lives, and were enthusiastic gardeners. They raised prize-winning poultry and enjoyed bicycling.[2] Bessie Bangay died in 1987, aged 97 years, and was the long-serving and last remaining of the original Bishop's Messengers in England. Her grave is in St George's churchyard; Evie Bangay died within the year, and is buried with Bessie. There is a church window commemorating Bessie Bangay's long tenure of leadership.[2] The sisters left money to the church, used to establish meeting space known as "the Bangay Rooms".[1]
References
- ^ a b c d Barker, Jane. "Bessie Dorrington Bangay (1889-1987)". Amersham Museum. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- ^ a b c Graves, Kathryn (1 April 2019). "Evelyn Dorrington Bangay and Bessie Dorrington Bangay of Tyler's Hill". She Got The Vote. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- ^ Bangay, Paul. "Richard Bangay". The Landmark Trust. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- ^ a b Wareham, Stephanie (28 September 2019). "Chesham's pioneer in women's ministry". Bucks Free Press. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
External links
- Bessie Bangay at Find a Grave
- Sheila Hart and Neil Rees, The Church by the Woods (Latimer & Ley Hill Parish Council), a church history booklet, based in part on Bessie Bangay's memoirs.