▶Date of birth: 1846    Place of birth: Clifton, Bristol

▶Father: John McArthur    Mother: Susan Matilda Dayrell

▶Spouse(s): (1) Clara Gillilan; (2) Maria Katharina Baker Stallard-Penoyre   Date(s) of marriage: (1) 8 August 1876 (2); 23 February 1911   Place(s) of marriage: (1) St. Luke’s Church, Cheltenham; (2) All Saints Church, Cheltenham

▶Occupation: Clerk in Holy Orders

▶Lifestory: Cheltenham Looker-On 25 February 1911

Cheltenham. Rev. C. McArthur and Miss K. Baker-Penoyre.

The wedding took place at All Saints' Church, Cheltenham, on Thursday afternoon, of the Rev. Charles McArthur, son of the late Mr. J. McArthur (of Park House, Clifton) and formerly vicar of St. Stephen's, Cheltenham, to Miss Katherine Baker-Penoyre daughter of the late Rev. Slade Baker S. Penoyre, of Edenholme, Cheltenham. Owing to the recent death of the bride's father the ceremony was a very quiet one, there being no bridesmaids and no subsequent reception of guests, the wedding party including only relations and a few old friends.

The service was conducted by the Rev. Canon Gardner (now of Birmingham, but late vicar of All Saints'), Rev. Austin Hodson (curate of All Saints'), and the Rev. S. R. Stallard-Penoyre of Stockton, Worcestershire, and brother of the bride). It was fully choral, beginning with the processional hymn “O God, our help”, including the hymn “O Light, whose beams”, and concluding with the Wedding March from “Lohengrin” by the organist (Mr. T. J. Grainge). The bride was given away by her brother (Mr. Ralph Baker-Penoyre), and Mr. V. G. McArthur attended his uncle as best man.

The guests at the wedding breakfast included Mr. Donald McArthur, Mr. and Mrs. Allan McArthur, Miss McArthur, Mr. V. G. McArthur, Mr. H. D. McArthur, Rev. Jelinger Symons, Rev. S. R. and Mrs. Stallard-Penoyre, Mr. John ff. Penoyre, Mr. Ralph Baker-Penoyre, Miss Baker-Penoyre, Miss Maud Baker-Penoyre, Miss Winifred Baker-Penoyre, Misses Molly and Joan Stallard-Penoyre, Major A. Slade Baker, R.A., Rev. William Lea, Mrs. Walter Marling and Miss Marling, Miss Pritchard, the Misses Craig, Rev. Canon and Miss Gardner, Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Tinson, Miss Whateley, the Misses Falcon, Miss de Courcy Hamilton, and Miss Shewell. The handsome two-tier wedding cake was supplied by Mr. S. B. Willett, of Hewlett Street.

Mr. and Mrs. McArthur afterwards left for a honeymoon in Italy.

Cheltenham Chronicle 10 September 1927

Rev. Charles McArthur, Cheltenham.

First vicar of St. Stephen's.

With sincere regret—a feeling that will shared all who knew him—we have to record the death of the Rev. Charles McArthur, M.A., of Strathdurn, Pittville Circus-road, formerly vicar of St. Stephen's, and an old resident of Cheltenham. For five years or so he had been a great invalid, suffering from partial paralysis, but till quite recently he was accustomed to take the air in a bath chair, exchanging salutations with old friends. His was a most kindly and cheery disposition, and he was universally liked.

A son of Mr. J. McArthur, of Park House, Clifton, the deceased gentleman was born in September 81 years ago. He was educated at Clifton College, where he excelled in games, filling the captaincy of the Rugby football team. From Clifton he passed to Christ Church College, Cambridge, graduating B.A. in 1868, and taking the Master's degree in due course. Entering the Church, he was ordained deacon in 1870 and received priest's orders a year later from the Bishop of Bath and Wells. His first curacy was at Wraxall, Somerset, in 1870, and after a year's service in the like capacity at S. Heigham, he came to Cheltenham to fulfil a curacy at St. Luke's. Here he remained for three years, and in 1875 returned to Somersetshire as assistant priest at Hutton. There he worked for two years. He was at Coleshill, Warwickshire, during 1877 and part of 1878, and then accepted the offer of the perpetual curacy of All Saints' Chapel, Sidmouth. After four years in that position, he in 1883 became the first Vicar of St. Stephen's, Cheltenham, a position he held till 1890, when failing health compelled him to retire. Since then had had no benefice or other clerical appointment. He had, however, the Bishop's licence to preach in the diocese of Gloucester, and for a considerable period he rendered valued voluntary help at All Saints'.

Mr. McArthur's preferment to St. Stephen's was probably associated with the fact that in 1876 he married Clara, the eldest daughter of Mr. Edward H. Gillilan, of Cheltenham, a gentleman of wealth who took a keen interest in the new church and to whose generosity, and to that of members of his family, it was very greatly indebted. On resignation of the living, Mr. and Mrs. McArthur took a voyage round the world. Before leaving on this adventure, they were made the recipients respectively of an illuminated address and a hall clock, and of a valuable ring in testimony of the high esteem and regard in which they were held. During October, 1909, Mr. McArthur took duty for the Rev. E. L. Jennings (afterwards Canon Jennings), who had succeeded him in the vicariate; and on that occasion the former vicar delivered an interesting address of parochial reminiscences. He had been for some years a widower, and in 1910 he married Katharine, daughter of the Rev. Slade Baker Penoyre, who had been prominent as a supporter of and worker at All Saints'. In connection with Mr. McArthur's departure from St. Stephen's, the Rev. E. J. Jennings took occasion to refer to the influential share which the Gillilan family had in the earlier fortunes of the church and parish. "By their zeal, sympathy, and munificence," he said, "they founded all that is going on now. The church, a mere shell when they came, had received an organ, pulpit, oak sittings, south transept, porch, and much else besides. Our Parish Hall, the finest in the town, had already been given by their family, and the Parish Rooms, of which the purchase has recently been completed, had been rented and, at considerable expense, adapted to its present uses."

In June, 1916, Mr. McArthur had a stroke. He rallied well, but in 1922 he suffered a similar visitation, the effects of which were lasting and severe. The deceased gentleman had, we believe, three brothers: Mr. Alan McArthur, who died some two years ago and was at Cheltenham College from 1873 to 1876; the Rev. Stuart McArthur, of Woodmancote Rectory, Henfield, Sussex, who was curate at St. Stephen's from 1887 to 1891; and Dr. McArthur, who has retired from the medical profession.

▶Moved to Pittville from:    Moved from Pittville to:

▶Date of death: 6 September 1927   Place of death: Strathdurn, Pittville Circus Road, Cheltenham

▶Date of burial: 9 September 1927   Place of burial: A service was held at All Saints’ Church followed by a burial at Cheltenham Cemetery

▶Notes: Charles McArthur was the first vicar of St. Stephen’s in Cheltenham    ID: 14554

Contributor(s): David Drinkwater