“The Cornish Quaker saint” who welcomed the religion’s founder recalled

A woman who opened her home to Quakers as they sought refuge from persecution is commemorated with a blue plaque. Described as a Cornish Quaker saint, Loveday Hambly was one of the first in the county to embrace the faith.

Living on a farm at Tregongeeves, outside St Austell, Loveday would take in “lonely souls, hungry souls, persecuted men and women” and offer them refuge. Cornwall historian Barry West first visited the farm 11 years ago to borrow a book about Loveday Hambly from owners John and Judith while researching Cornwall’s Quaker history.

Then he told them that one day he would write his own book about the Quakers. A decade or so on, Barry did as he had promised and visited the farm again, not with a copy of his book ‘George Fox, Loveday Hambly and Friends’, which had just been sent to the printers, but to reveal a blue plate. of his design to commemorate the remarkable woman that was Loveday.

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“Loveday Hambly was one of the first in that county to embrace the religious principles of Friends,” said Barry, “and one of the foremost in their support.

“There are few blue plaques in St Austell and this is the latest. Created by Parc Signs and commissioned by me, it tells the story of this beautiful location where Loveday Hambly once lived.”

He added: “It was particularly nice to see St Mewan’s School represented and to have had contact from Grampound School as well, both keen to help share the local history on their doorstep with the pupils through their research we also undertook the discoveries of what happened here in Cornwall in the 1600s.

“The day was a huge success and support came from many different walks of life, with many people traveling to get there, we had a quiet moment led by the Quakers who shared this peaceful experience with us all. A day of love Hambly, a quaker. , was present when we unveiled the plaque, so that made the moment even more memorable.”

Barry researched the story of how Quaker founder George Fox visited Cornwall, was arrested and imprisoned in Launceston, and spent time at Loveday’s home, where he shared his teachings with others and converted them to adopt Quakers. principles.

In 1656 George Fox was arrested, at or near St Ives, was subsequently charged and then imprisoned in Launceston Castle. It is not certain how long he was imprisoned, as accounts vary from one week to 30 weeks, but however long he was kept there, it would have been the most terrible of trials under the most appalling conditions.

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In his own writings, Fox described how he was sent to prison for having long hair, for refusing to pay tithes to the Church, and how he spent many days ankle-deep in human filth, as the prison conditions were particularly appalling. Loveday’s nephew, Thomas Lower, who lived with her, went to see Fox in prison. Loveday was by then 52 and also traveled with her sister the 30 miles to Launceston Castle to visit Fox.

Barry said: “They were strip searched on arrival and verbally abused by the prisoner who called them dogs and whores and threatened to break their legs and necks.

In his writing, Fox recalled, “And from his house we went to Loveday Hambley’s house, where we had a good meeting, and many were convinced there also.” The founder of the Quakers also visited Loveday at Tregongeeves on his last trip to Cornwall in 1668.

He wrote: “And at Tregangeeves (sic) at Loveday Hamblye (sic) we had a general meeting for the whole county: where we established the monthly meetings in the power of the Lord and in the order of the gospel; all: and exhort all: that walk not according to the gospel.

“That the house of God may be kept clean, and that righteousness may break down and sweep away all unrighteousness.”

In the 1927 book A Quaker Saint of Cornwall by LV Hodgkin, which Barry had borrowed from the farm all those years ago, it says that the place where Loveday lived was pulled down in the late 19th century.

It adds: “Here, around Loveday Hambly’s hearth, lonely souls, hungry souls, persecuted men and women, might gather for love and comfort and healing. Here they came; here they lost their isolation; here they really felt one. the united herd, within the sheltering walls of Tregangeeves, their flock’.

Barry said Loveday was known for her hospitality and always had an open door for people; especially the Quakers. He added: “There were many meetings in her house over the years and she was well known in the area for her Quaker views and suffered as a result.

“In those days people were bound by law to pay a ‘tithe’ to the church, but Loveday refused to tithe, and for this he suffered greatly.”