The world of local history has lost one of its most dedicated champions with the passing of Rosemary Church at the age of 86. A former primary school teacher, Church devoted much of her life to uncovering and preserving the rich heritage of Faringdon, Oxfordshire, and its surrounding villages.
Building a Legacy in Local History
Rosemary Church's most significant contribution was the founding of the Faringdon and District Archaeological and Historical Society in 1978. Under her guidance, this vibrant community group undertook a vast range of activities. They meticulously catalogued church gravestones, transcribed documents of local interest, and assembled a precious collection of historical photographs.
The society was intensely practical, even conducting field work ahead of construction teams to excavate and record what lay beneath the ground before new developments were built. Their efforts culminated in the creation of a valuable history resource centre for the entire community to use.
A Prolific Author and Researcher
Church was directly responsible for the transcription and publication of a huge volume of historical records. These included parish registers, school logbooks, and various deeds, making them accessible to the public for the first time.
She also oversaw the publication of The Changing Faces of Faringdon and Surrounding Villages in 1999, a cherished collection of old photographs that captured the area's evolution. Perhaps her most widely recognised work was In and Around Record Offices in Great Britain and Ireland (1987), a guide she co-wrote with Jean Cole. This book became an essential tool for local historians across the country, teaching them how to navigate and utilise the wealth of resources available to them.
A Life of Purpose and Passion
Born in Berkeley, Gloucestershire, Rosemary was the daughter of a police constable, Norman Gibson, and his wife Florence. After attending Kingswood Grammar School in Bristol, she graduated from Shenstone Teacher Training College in Bromsgrove in 1959.
She married her childhood sweetheart, David Church, in 1960. After a decade raising their two sons, Colin and the author of the original obituary, she began her teaching career at Grange Infant School in Swindon, where she remained until her retirement as deputy head in 1994.
Described as incapable of idleness, Rosemary filled her years with purposeful activity beyond history. She was a skilled craftswoman, known for her knitting, crochet, and needlepoint. She was also renowned for her excellent Christmas puddings, superb orange marmalade, and greengage jam made from fruit from her own trees. She was the type of person who naturally took the lead.
Rosemary was predeceased by her husband, David, in 2017. She is survived by her two sons, four grandsons – Sam, Fred, Ben, and Silas – and her sister, Diane.
