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Richard Lewes .....................
Richard Lewes, gentleman, who died in 1691, left forty shillings to the poor inhabitants of Loxton to be distributed on every Good Friday. The poor inhabitants were to attend church on that day in order to receive their share. The bequest was the annual rent paid for a small area of meadowland in Loxton Parish.
In 1894 when Local Government legislation separated civil and church administration the Parish Meeting was formed, and the council members took over the responsibility of the charity. It was proposed that the money was given out on Lady Day, March 25th, instead of on Good Friday.
Names of inhabitants eligible to receive the 'Good Friday Charity' listed on the first page of the Parish Meeting Minute Book 1894 :-
| M. King | G. Cullen |
| W. Godfrey | G. Southwood |
| G. Pullen | Eliza Sevier |
| C. Pople | F. Scott |
| W.H. Stark | J. Avery |
| C. Stark | J. Southwood |
| S. Palmer | W. Avery |
| G. Sevier | J. French |
| S. Coombs | G. Vowles |
In 1954 the Rector, Reverend Canon Christelow pointed out the original conditions of the will to the Charity Commissioners who authorised him to distribute the money in church on Good Friday to any needy parishioners.
Mrs. Ann Gadd and Mrs. Betty Chappell .....................
Mrs. Ann Gadd, widow, of Loxton, who died in 1765 left £50 to the minister, churchwardens and overseers as trustees to lend out on the best security that they could get. The interest on the £50 was to be used to pay a poor woman from Loxton to teach the poor children to read and knit. In 1835, Mrs. Betty Chappell of Winscombe, who was a former resident of Loxton, left a further £50 for the same purpose.
Until 1800, when the Reverend David Moncrieffe became Rector, a local farmer held the £50 left by Mrs. Gadd, and paid 4% interest per annum. The Reverend Moncrieffe was unhappy with this arrangement and thought that he could get a better rate of interest for it. The farmer handed over the money, but before it could be invested further, the Reverend Moncrieffe was persuaded by some of his more influential parishioners that he would be the best person to take charge of the money and to pay 5% interest on it. The Rector signed a Bond for the money, and undertook to pay the 5% interest. The receipt was deposited in the church chest. About eight poor children were taught to read and knit for which their teacher was paid 25 shillings every six months.
The following two Rectors, the Reverend Harry Carrow and the Reverend Thomas Barnes took over the money, which by now included the bequest of Mrs Chappell. In 1873, after the death of Reverend Barnes, it was decided to invest the £100 in London and North Western Railways Co four per cent Debenture Stock. This stock was purchased in the names of John Burridge and James Hewlett as trustees.
The share certificate was mislaid in 1875 and when it was found again Erasmus Galton wrote out it's details in the Vestry meeting minutes. He also proposed and was seconded by James Hewlett that the packet containing the share certificate was to be deposited in a wooden box with three padlocks. One key to be held by the Rector, the second by the churchwarden for the parish and the third by the overseer of the poor. This box was to be kept in an iron box in the vestry. At the Easter meeting of the vestry the new officers should examine the certificate and give a receipt to the old officers on taking over the keys. It was also emphasised that it was essential that Mr. Burridge's name was removed from the share certificate and replaced with another. The name of the new Rector the Reverend John Gerhard Tiarks was inserted.
Mrs. Mary Carey was the village schoolmistress for fifty years until Loxton and Christon United District School opened in 1879. She was paid £5 per annum, which was the interest on the railway stock. The Rector's wife also ran a Sunday school. In 1844 the house now known as Church Farm was sold. A large schoolroom attached to the main building is mentioned on the sale particulars. It is not documented whether this was for both schools or just for the use of the Sunday school.
When the new school opened there was some discussion over what to do with the income from the charity money. It was suggested that it might be used towards paying for the Government School Rate, but the Charity Commissioners disagreed with this and suggested that the money be used for school prizes for academic achievement. The Charity Trustees were not happy with this and instead gave cash prizes for good attendance. The Parish Meeting took over control of the charities in 1894. In 1895 a total of £3 14s 0d was distributed amongst thirty-seven children as follows- one child received 5s 0d, two children 4s 6d, one 4s 0d, two 3s 6d, two 3s 0d, five 2s 6d, four 2s 0d, five 1s 6d and fifteen 1s 0d. The money was usually handed out just before Christmas by the current school manager, and was called the Loxton Charity. It is not recorded whether the children from Christon also qualified for the prizes. From 1947 savings stamps were given instead.
In 1951 the Reverend Canon Christelow, at a Parochial Church Council meeting, suggested that the charity money was not being used for the purposes that the original benefactors intended, and proposed that Bibles and Prayer Books should be bought for use at the Sunday School or children's service. The money was to be under the control of the Rector and churchwardens, instead of the Parish Meeting. The resolution was passed unanimously. No reference was made of knitting.
In 1974 the interest on the original investment was still £4-00 per annum, and would only purchase about six Bibles or Prayer books so it was decided that the money should be given towards the annual party given for the children of Loxton and Christon.
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