Henry Gooch
Henry Edward Gooch
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"In memory of Henry Edward Gooch, Lt Col. late of the Coldstream Guards. He was born Dec 25th 1783 and died at Melbourne Hall 18th Jan 1867." |
Colonel Henry Edward Gooch, born in Norfolk in 1783, was the second
son of the Archdeacon of Sudbury in Suffolk. He was a Coldstream Guards officer
and had a distinguished military career in the Napoleonic wars fighting at the Battle
of Waterloo. He married Frances Elizabeth Knight in St James church,
Westminster.
Around 1857 Emily (ne Cowper, ne Lamb), Lady Palmerston let out Melbourne Hall to Colonel Gooch and his wife Frances. They were very keen on helping raise money to restore Melbourne Church which was in a very poor state of repair and held a garden party in the hall grounds for that purpose.
On the Colonel’s death in 1867 most of Melbourne lined the
streets or walked in procession from the hall to the cemetery as he was much
liked in the town. The shops were all shut.
Colonel Gooch’s wife, Frances had 3 stained glass windows placed
in the chancel. The 5 light main east window and the 2 either side on the north
and south walls of the chancel.
The 5 light East Window has the words "By thy Cross and Passion, Good Lord deliver us". (from the Book of Common Prayer). It portrays the Crucifixion with Mary on one side and John on the other.
The north wall window shows the Transfiguration of Jesus on the mountaintop, when the figures of Elias (Elijah) and Moses appeared. Beneath them, watching, are the 3 Apostles, Peter, James and John.
The south wall window shows the Resurrection of Jesus with an Angel either side him. Beneath are the sleeping guards who were watching the tomb.