The transcription:
Byford Rectory,
Hereford
May 27, 1905
My dear Jack
It needs not that I should tell you how greatly is _______ with you & your sisters. What a comfort to think that your fathers last act on earth was to join in the Church Services, & receives Holy Communion & then go home to die. And now he has rejoiced here, from where he has for a while here seperated, & is safe in the ______ _____ he would be.
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He took to action a ___ to in all that concerned his County, that his death will make a very large gap; not easy to fill--
May some one be found as ready to devote time & ability to promoting the welfare of others.--
Aunt Carie & I hope to attend the funeral, - if you like, we shall like to come on to
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Hampton Court for a short time before returning to Byford. Uncle Christopher & Aunt Mary are coming back with us to Byford. I hope the day may be fine as if the weather is bad, I am not allowed to stand by the grave.
With our united ____ love to you all.
Always
Your ____ & Uncle
Berkeley
About Byford Google AI reports:
History of Byford Rectory, Herefordshire
Byford Rectory is the Anglican parish church and rectory of St John the Baptist, located in the ancient parish of Byford, Herefordshire, on the banks of the River Wye. The parish lies in the hundred of Grimsworth, within the Weobley district, about 7½ miles west-northwest of Hereford Parishmouse+1.
Ecclesiastical Status and Patronage
The rectory has been part of the diocese of Hereford since at least the 17th century. Early gazetteers note it as a rectory rated in the king’s books at £7–£195 depending on the year, with patronage initially under the Crown and later under Sir Henry Cotterell, Bart. Parishmouse+2. The church itself is dedicated to St John the Baptist.
Church Architecture and History
The parish church is described as ancient, with parts dating to the Early English and Decorated periods. It was restored in 1883 and comprises a chancel, nave, south transept, south aisle, and an embattled tower UK Genealogy Archives. The building is noted for its fine architectural character and historical significance.
Parish and Community
Byford is an ancient parish with parish registers beginning in 1660 for baptisms, 1663 for marriages, and 1660 for burials Parishmouse. The parish population has varied over time, from around 200 in the 1870s to about 185 in the mid-19th century Parishmouse+1. The property is not highly subdivided, with much belonging to the Cotterell family Parishmouse.
Rectors and Vicars
The rectory has been served by a succession of clergy, including:
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Thomas Carpenter (1550)
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Richard Aldridge (1578)
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Thomas Wotton (1658)
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James Reade (1660–1683)
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John Woodcock (1757)
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Morgan Price (1781–1782)
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Lewis Maxey (1782)
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James Johnson (later in the 18th century) Our Family Tree
These records reflect the long-standing role of the rectory in the parish’s religious and community life.
Historical Context
Byford’s location on the Wye made it a minor but important rural parish, with ferry crossings and links to Hereford and Brecon. The rectory’s value and patronage reflect its place in the local landholding hierarchy, and the church’s restoration in 1883 shows its enduring importance to the community.
In summary, Byford Rectory is a historically significant ecclesiastical site in Herefordshire, with deep roots in the parish’s religious and social life, notable for its ancient church, long list of rectors, and its role in the region’s rural history.
Submitted by Richard Hungerford at 11:25 PM on June 16, 2026.