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Near 200-year-old portrait of Henry William Majendie, vicar of Speen during the 1800s, is restored after being found neglected in St Mary’s Church in Speen, Newbury




A portrait thought to be nearly 200 years old that was found neglected beneath a church altar has now been restored in order to pay respects to its important subject.

The painting depicts Henry William Majendie, a vicar of Speen during the 1800s who was also a generous benefactor for the village and surrounding parishes.

Three members of the PCC for St Mary’s Church in Speen – Brian Nobes, Jo Fageant and Rev Janice Macdonald – launched a project to get the portrait professionally restored when it was re-discovered beneath the church’s altar.

Jo Fageant, Brian Nobes and Rev Janice Macdonald with the restored portrait of Henry William Majendie
Jo Fageant, Brian Nobes and Rev Janice Macdonald with the restored portrait of Henry William Majendie
Rev Majendie was the vicar of Speen for 50 years from 1819 to 1869
Rev Majendie was the vicar of Speen for 50 years from 1819 to 1869
The portrait mid-restoration
The portrait mid-restoration

Mr Nobes said: “We felt that our benefactor had been neglected badly and had been moved from pillar to post, and from here to there to everywhere, so we decided between the three of us that we would get some funds together and have him restored.

“We kind of realised all of a sudden what this man had done, not just for the church but for the village.”

Rev Majendie was born in 1791 and became the vicar of Speen in 1819, a post he held for 50 years until his death in 1869. He was also the rural dean of Newbury for 40 years.

During his time at Speen, Majendie was the catalyst for building two Church of England schools in Stockcross and he paid for the construction of St John’s Church which was built in the village from 1838 to 39.

Majendie paid for the construction of the hall in which his restored portrait will now reside
Majendie paid for the construction of the hall in which his restored portrait will now reside
St Mary’s Church in Speen
St Mary’s Church in Speen

He also paid for the construction of the hall at St Mary’s Church in Speen which was completed in 1860.

This hall, which is attached to the older part of the church, is likely where the portrait will be displayed.

Jo Fageant said: “He would be looking down on his work.”

“And the people enjoying the facilities,” Rev Macdonald added.

Majendie also helped build another St Mary’s Church for the cost of around £7,000 between 1829 and 1831 on what is now the corner of St Mary’s Road and London Road in Newbury.

It was demolished in 1976 with the land now taken up by a block of flats.

There is currently a memorial plaque for Majendie within St Mary’s
There is currently a memorial plaque for Majendie within St Mary’s
St Mary’s Church in Speen
St Mary’s Church in Speen

As well as his work supporting church construction projects, Majendie also founded Speen Cottage Hospital which was opened and dedicated by him on October 18, 1869.

Ironically, Majendie was the hospital’s first patient as well as its first fatality.

On December 16, he slipped and broke his leg while walking home from Newbury.

He was admitted to the hospital and died the following day at 78 years of age.

Speen Cottage Hospital became a convalescent home once Newbury District Hospital was opened in 1885. It has since become a residential property.

Rev Janice Macdonald, John Hughesdon (St Mary’s PCC treasurer), Jo Fageant and Brian Nobes
Rev Janice Macdonald, John Hughesdon (St Mary’s PCC treasurer), Jo Fageant and Brian Nobes
St Mary’s Church in Speen
St Mary’s Church in Speen

The three PCC members launched the restoration project once the painting was found and they began fundraising to pay the nearly £800 cost. This total was reached entirely through donations from local people.

The old painting was sent to professional restorer Maria Teresa Molner at the end of last year before it was returned completed earlier this month.

Mr Nobes described her restoration work as “fantastic”.

Interestingly, no signature or date was discovered during the restoration process, meaning that the date the portrait was painted and its artist are unknown.



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