Richard & Louisa Tasker

 Richard Thomas & Louisa Susanna Tasker

Richard Tasker was born in 1818, in Stratford upon Avon. Having obtained an M.R.C.S. (Master of the Royal College of Surgeons) he came to Melbourne as an assistant Surgeon to Richard Beaumont Child, who was also a Surgeon and an M.R.C.S.

In 1850 he married Louisa Susanna, the daughter of his employer, Richard Child and Mary Louisa Greaves, in Formark Church. They had 3 girls, Mary Louisa, Anne Maria (see Anna Tasker) and Agnes, and then 2 boys, William Biddulph (see William & Richard Tasker) and Richard Beaumont Tasker. 

The family lived in The Grange, a large house at the corner of Chapel St and Pack Horse Road.

Richard became the GP and Surgeon for Melbourne and was the medical advisor for both Earl Ferrer and the Harper Crewe's as well as most of Melbourne. 

Richard died in 1879 at the age of 61. He was very well respected in the town and there were a large number of mourners, with the shops all closing for the funeral. Among the mourners were Earl Ferrers from Staunton Harold, Sir J H Crewe from Calke Abbey and the important people of the area. 

The Brass Lectern, made by Jones & Willis*, of Birmingham, was given to the church in memory of Richard and Louisa by their children in 1891. It says:

"To the Glory of God and in Loving Memory of Richard Thomas and Louisa Susanna Tasker, this Lectern was given to St Michael's Church, Melbourne by their children on Easter Day 1891."

At the same time a bible was given by William Armson with the inscription:

"To the Glory of God, and in memory of forty happy years spent in the service of Richard Thomas and Louisa Susannah Tasker, this bible was given for use in Melbourne Church by William Armson, Easter, 1891."

*Jones & Willis were major producers of church furniture in the 19th Century, their work can be seen in churches all over the country, for example Worcester Cathedral has a brass Lectern made by them. They exhibited at the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park in 1851 and many other Exhibitions, winning many prizes.