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Philip Edward Sewell and his family

Philip Sewell was born in London in January 1822 into a Quaker family. In 1840 he left the Society of Friends and joined the Church of England. He wanted to be ordained and to become a missionary, but, while at university, his health broke down. He was advised to adopt an outdoor life and became a railway engineer, working on projects in such widely scattered locations as the north of England and northern Spain. In 1849 he married Sarah Woods.

In 1864 Philip, his wife and their seven children moved to Clare House, St Clement’s Hill, with its extensive gardens and fields. (It is now the Blyth Jex School and Sewell Park.) The Sewells moved to Clare House, partly to be near Philip’s uncle Wright, who lived at Buxton, but mainly for the sake of his wife, who had been ill for two years. He gave up engineering and took a job at Gurney’s Bank, which later amalgamated with Barclays. In time, he became a manager of the bank, and on the amalgamation, one of its directors.

Two years after moving to Norwich, Philip’s wife, Sarah, died. He was left on his own with seven children to bring up. His problems were increased by the fact that, in the previous year, he had become a guardian to a family of seven orphans. Sarah’s death nearly caused his own. His mother, Mary Sewell, decided to move to Norwich to help him. So, in 1867, Philip’s parents and his sister Anna moved into a house in Old Catton called “the White House”, now 125 Spixworth Road.

Philip was an evangelical churchman who, as well as being a father and a bank manager, busied himself in the administrative, religious and philanthropic life of Norwich. He was a justice of the peace, an alderman and a member of Norfolk Education Committee. In addition, he was a keen supporter of the temperance movement, secretary of Norwich City Mission and an active worker on behalf of the Discharged Prisoners Aid Society. In 1872 Philip succeeded to his uncle’s estate at Buxton and became manager and devoted supporter of the Red House School at Buxton (a boy’s reformatory) and chairman of Buxton Parish Council. In about 1874 Philip was appointed vicar’s warden at Christ Church, New Catton.

In 1870 Philip married Charlotte Jane Sole. Every Thursday afternoon in the summer, the Sewells made the field at the front of their house available for school treats. (This is now Sewell Park). After games and presents, prizes and a bountiful tea, the children would be mustered for the return home and, as the “shadows of the evening stole across the sky”, they would sing their parting hymn and give three cheers for Mr and Mrs Sewell.

Philip gave his children a daily bible lesson before their 8 o’clock breakfast. Before his second marriage, his sister Anna would come and teach Philip’s five daughters Grace, Margaret, Edith, Ada and Anna. She taught them the principles of Christian morality and plain sewing. She was very fond of her brother’s black mare, Bessie. Every Monday evening, the mare drew Philip’s carriage to the reformatory and on the way back he would pay a call on Anna and his parents. This horse was the main inspiration for Anna’s book, “Black Beauty,” published in November 1877, five months before Anna died.

Every other year, Mary Sewell gave away clothing to every widow in New Catton who was over 60 and many younger ones. Her friend, Mrs Bayly, wrote: “Each present was to be worth four shillings and, in order to make it as useful as possible, the Bible-woman was sent round to offer each widow her choice - whether she would have the money’s worth in linsey for gown, unbleached calico, or flannel; sometimes shawls were offered too.’ Mrs Bayly added that the “clothing was given early in November, since Christmas presents give time for the cold to be felt before they come’’. Mary died in 1884.

In 1887 Philip Sewell purchased a clock for Christ Church, New Catton. It was fixed below the bell-cote. When the clock was first lit, on the evening of Wednesday 16th March 1887, it was described as a “beautifully illumined dial” and “a great convenience to the district.

For over thirty-five years Philip Sewell was a pillar of the church. A born leader, he was vicar’s warden for twenty-eight years and responsible for the church accounts. In addition, he had a special talent for speaking to children. Many grown-ups could remember with affection when he was their Sunday school teacher. His biographer wrote that his “great talent for speaking in a bright and interesting manner to children was partly due to his simplicity of character and to his cheerful and optimistic way of looking at life. It was a pretty sight to see him walking down St Clement’s Hill talking to tiny children, who were taking hold of his hand or clinging to his coat.” His optimism and his strong faith in God must have helped him meet the challenge of death. In 1898 his eldest son died and in 1899 his wife. However, his own health did not fail him until Christmas 1905. On 20th January, his eldest daughter Grace asked for prayers to be said for him. On February 6th he died. He was 84.The first part of the funeral was held at Christ Church. The altar, pulpit and reading desk were draped in black and the service was taken by Sidney Pelham (the Archdeacon of Norfolk and Philip’s close friend). He met the coffin as it was carried in through the south door. In his short address, he remembered Philip’s manliness, his tenderness to human needs and his religious faith. Philip was buried at Buxton and the words of Psalm 15 were inscribed on his gravestone.

On May 23rd 1907, a special memorial service was held at Christ Church. During the singing of “Come let us join our friends above”, the beautiful Sewell window was unveiled by Bishop Sheepshanks. This window was designed and made by the Norwich Glass Company.