Mexborough & Swinton Times, November 18, 1939
Conisboro´ Verger who has Attended 850 Weddings
Conisborough is losing its well known verger and parish clerk, Mr. William Merrills Burton, (picture left, with Rev Eddershaw) of the Church House, whose resignation takes effect on November 30 th . Mr. Burton has held the office for 17 Years, 16 years in a part-time capacity and since last December on a full-time basis, but he is now relinquishing his duties as he is now engaged in full-time service as vice-captain of the Conisborough and Denaby Fire Brigade, and Mrs. Burton who has assisted him in his work at the church, finds the caretaking duties a little too strenuous.
Mr. Burton is, however to continue as verger until a successor is appointed.
During his 17 years of office Mr. Burton estimates that he has officiated at 850 marriages, and average of 50 a year. And not only has he acted at weddings in his official capacity, but on occasions he has been called upon to give the bride away, to be best man and to sign the marriage register as a witness. And furthermore he must be godfather to more Conisborough children than any other man resident in the township.
He told the “Times” on Monday: “I have served under four vicars and under the first vicar the late Rev. W. A. Strawbridge, I kept a record and I was godfather for 35 children. Since that time I have been asked to `stand´ for scores “.
“The quickest wedding at which I was present” he went on “took place only a few weeks ago. A bride desired to be married by special licence as her bridegroom, a soldier, had only a limited leave. She was given instructions on how to get a licence and it was agreed that the couple should be married on a Sunday and certain times were given at which the wedding could be held, but the couple failed to arrive at the appointed hour. At a quarter to six, however, I was hurriedly fetched to the church by the Vicar´s wife, who told me that the wedding was about to be solemnized.
“I had been resting and as we rushed to the church I put on my collar and tie. The Vicar´s wife gave the bride away and I was the best man. According to English law a wedding is legal if the ring is on the bride´s finger before six p.m., and in this case we just managed it in time, for immediately after the ring had been placed in position the clock began to strike six. Afterwards in the vestry I laced up my boots – I had not had time before owing to the hurry”.
Mr. Burton, although a native of Marton (Lincolnshire) has lived in Conisborough since he was three months old, with the exception of a short spell in business in Goole and it is his proud record that ever since he began work at the age of 11 he has never been out of employment. He was in the bakery trade for 16 years and later was caretaker of the Station Road Schools, Conisborough. Returning from Goole, he was for 20 months the screens machinery and afterwards, before taking up his duties on a full-time basis nearly 12 months ago, he was for 16 years a lorry driver with the Conisborough Working Man´s Co-operative Society.
Mr. Burton explained to the “Times” that the four incumbents under whom he served were the Revs. W. A. Strawbridge, H. Lee, W.J.T Pascoe and H.T. Eddershaw, and he also officiated under nine churchwardens, Mrs. Nicholson, Dr. W.J. Maclure, and Messrs. W. Smith, H. Crowther, H. Thirlwall, F. Mason, W. Clarkson, W. Pearson and J.E. Greathead.
He has been chairman of the Northern Province of the Guild of Vergers since its inception some years ago and has acted at Sheffield Cathedral on several important occasions, his dignified presence making him a commanding figure.
On one of the most recent occasions he figured in the news reels. This was the opening of the extensions to the Cathedral at which he headed a procession of bishops and high dignitaries. Present at the ceremony were the Princess Royal and the Archbishop of York, and only few weeks ago he carried the Cathedral verge, or rod, for the new Bishop (the Rt. Rev. L. S. Hunter) in his processional entry into the Cathedral for his enthronement ceremony.