Society Wedding in Bourton in 1921

Faringdon Advertiser

Sat 30th April, 1921

 

Bourton (Extracts from the article)

 

Marriage of Major Bartle Edwards, M.C.

and

Miss Daphne Kendall-Butler

 

Wednesday last was an auspicious day in the pretty model village of Bourton, when the marriage took place of Miss Daphne Kendall-Butler, daughter of Sir Cyril and Lady Kendall-Butler, of Bourton House, Shrivenham, Berks, and Major Bartle Edwards, M.C., of Hardingham Hall, Norfolk. Not only was the event of great interest in the immediate and surrounding locality, where the bride’s parents, as well as the bride herself, are so well known and esteemed, but there were many relatives and friends present from far and near.

 

There follows the most enormous list of guests from the bride’s side and the grooms; as well as an even more enormous list of wedding presents and the names of those who gave them.

 

Long before the time fixed for the ceremony (2 o’clock) the villagers and others from the surrounding villages began to assemble and take up positions outside St James’ Church. The sitting accommodation in the sacred edifice was for the most part reserved for the guests, and the church was filled. 

 

The weather was ‘fit for a queen,’ and the favourite omen in the country districts, expressed in the old familiar phrase, “Happy is the bride that the sun shines on,” was realised in all its fullness. From the churchyard gate to the church porch the two companies of Girl Guides from Shrivenham and Bourton, in charge of Miss Olliver (Shrivenham), lined up on either side of the path and formed a guard of honour. The Organist, Miss Sheppard, played appropriate music as the congregation assembled in the church.

 

The service was conducted by the Rev E.F. Hill, Rural Dean (Vicar of Shrivenham), assisted by the Rev S. Walley, Rural Dean (Rector of Hardingham), the Rev R. Eubank (Vicar of Bourton), and the Rev C.S. Pepys (Rector of Compton Beauchamp) who gave the address.

 

The congregation remained in the church whilst the register was being signed, and the bridal party left the church to the inspiriting strains of the Wedding March and the ringing of the bells. For a hundred yards or so the bridal party proceeded on foot along the road before entering the cars. It was an extremely kind and thoughtful arrangement, for it gave the villagers and the great number of people who were there assembled an opportunity of seeing without obstruction a charming wedding group, which indeed it was.

 

The guests were entertained in a marquee erected on the lawn of Bourton House.