The world of local history has lost one of its most dedicated champions with the death of Rosemary Church, a former primary school teacher whose passion for preserving the past left an indelible mark on her Oxfordshire community. She was 86 years old.
A Life Dedicated to History and Community
Rosemary Church, who lived most of her life in Faringdon, Oxfordshire, was far from idle. In 1978, she took the initiative to found the Faringdon and District Archaeological and Historical Society. This was not merely a talking shop; under her guidance, its members actively catalogued church gravestones, transcribed documents of local interest, and collected historical photographs.
They established a community resource centre, hosted exhibitions and talks, and even conducted field work. Often, they would arrive at construction sites before the excavators, racing to uncover and record any historical artefacts before the land was built over.
A Prolific Contributor to Local Heritage
Rosemary's work was both meticulous and prolific. Working closely with the Society, she was responsible for the transcription and publication of numerous parish registers, school logbooks, and deeds. Her editorial oversight was crucial for the publication of The Changing Faces of Faringdon and Surrounding Villages in 1999, a cherished collection of old photographs.
Perhaps one of her most significant contributions to the wider historical community came in 1987, when she co-wrote In and Around Record Offices in Great Britain and Ireland with Jean Cole. This guide became an essential tool for local historians, demystifying the process of using the vast resources available to them.
A Legacy Beyond the Archives
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, an education officer, in 1960. After a decade dedicated to raising their two sons, Colin and the author of her obituary, she embarked on her teaching career at Grange Infant School in Swindon. She remained there until her retirement in 1994, having attained the position of deputy head.
Her energy extended far beyond the classroom and the archive. Rosemary was a highly skilled craftswoman, adept at knitting, crocheting, lacework, and needlepoint. She was also renowned among family and friends for her excellent Christmas puddings, superb orange marmalade, and greengage jam, made with fruit from her own trees. She was a natural leader, never one to wait for others to take action.
Rosemary was predeceased by her husband, David, in 2017. She is survived by her two sons, Colin and the author, her four grandsons – Sam, Fred, Ben, and Silas – and her sister, Diane.
