Norwich: Hotblack family service at St Peter Mancroft church

The great, great, great-grandchildren of John and Virtue Hotblack are to gather at the city centre church for a service in their memory.  

The Revd Canon Edward Carter, vicar at St Peter Mancroft, said: “It’s a great delight for me to conduct this re-dedication ceremony, and the memorial tablet is looking very fine now it’s been so skilfully restored.  

An oil painting of John Hotblack (Image: Caroline Holland)

READ MORE: Cavell Court Cringleford residents’ 64th wedding anniversary

“It’s a reminder to me of the generations of Norwich people who have worshipped at the church – those prayers continue, and St Peter Mancroft is still open every day to welcome visitors.” 

An oil painting of Virtue Hotblack (Image: Caroline Holland)

John and Virtue Hotblack were born in Norfolk in the 18th century and were married in the church in 1820.  

The tablet dedicated to the couple is brass, embellished with a red and black border and was originally placed by their son, also called John Hotblack, in 1885.  

READ MORE: ‘Oldest cat’ in the UK celebrates 32nd birthday in Norwich

The tablet has been restored to it’s former glory (Image: Denise Bradley)

John junior was the mayor of Norwich at the time.

From the tablet, people will learn that both John and Virtue were parishioners of St Peter Mancroft all that time ago.  

John was also a churchwarden between 1825 and 1827. 

To add to this, five of the couple’s six children are also buried in the church vault.

Five of the couple’s six children are buried in the church vault (Image: Denise Bradley)

The service has been made possible by a sixth-generation Hotblack, Jonathon Wood, who reported the state of the tablet to his mother Rosemary in 2020.  

A JustGiving was set up and with a substantial donation made by the family of Norfolk farmer Ted Hotblack – the restoration was able to go ahead.  

READ MORE: Norwich people to appear in RSC’s Julius Caesar production

Caroline Holland (right) and cousin Liz Buxton (left) will be among the 25 descendants at the service (Image: Caroline Holland)

Caroline Holland, one of the 25 Hotblack descendants attending the service, said: “To be able to honour our antecedents is a privilege indeed.  

“We are very grateful to St Peter Mancroft church for enabling the service of rededication and the opportunity to reflect on the legacy of our ancestors.” 

Head Verger, Chris Sanham helped the family to locate the tablet (Image: Denise Bradley)

The service will take place on Saturday, June 3.

What happened in 1820?

• George IV became the King after the death at Windsor Castle of his father George III  
• A general election concluded with a Tory majority, with Robert Jenkinson continuing as prime minister 
• Florence Nightingale, who would come to prominence in nursing during the Crimean War, was born  
• The Regent’s Canal through to the London Docks was opened 
• Britain’s tallest ever man William Bradley died, who had stood at 7ft 9ins and was known as the Yorkshire Giant