John Roland Chapman 1922 to 1935
He also became vicar of the neighbouring parish of Creeting St. Peter. For once the vicar was a Suffolk man being born in Hemingstone in 1886 to William and Mary. William was the minister at Hemingstone church for 50 years.
Educated at Chichester Theological College and Cambridge John’s early posts were as a Lay Reader while a student at Purleigh Essex in 1911, from 1913 to 1915 curate at Dartford Kent then at Ashbocking Suffolk. John was appointed vicar here at Stowupland in 1922 and shortly afterwards he married Dora Taylor at Broadstairs. Creeting St Peter was added to his ministry in 1928. Other positions he held at this time were as Chaplain for 10 years to Phoenix Freemasons Lodge in Stowmarket and in 1926-27 Provincial Chaplain of Suffolk Freemasons. In 1936 he moved on to take over as rector of Bedfield and Monk Soham and from there to Theberton in 1952. He died in 1980 in Surrey.
Canon Chapman returned to the parish for a special service at Holy Trinity in the 1970’s .Seen here are;
- on the left The former Bishop of Dunwich the Rt Rev. T.H.Cashmore
- in the center Rev G.G.Whitefield,
- on the right Canon J.R. Chapman.
They are inspecting a plaque on the church wall that recorded the previous vicars of Holy Trinity. It was given to the parish by Canon Chapman in memory of his wife Dora who had died in 1968
compare with Ena Carter’s list
From Stowupland the Rev Chapman went to Bedfield with Monks Soham. He returned to officiate at the funeral of Emma Catchpole.
