Canon Henry Collis

Canon Collis died on 10^th December 1905 after being Vicar of St Philip’s for 43 years. It is right that we should remember one who did more for St Philip’s than anyone else as well as someone who had a greatly respected place in the life of the Borough and the Diocese for his work on education. Henry Collis was born in Dublin on 13^th January 1835. He was educated at the King William School on the Isle of Man and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. In 1858, on obtaining his B.A. degree, he was ordained in Ely Cathedral to serve as assistant curate in the large and poor parish of St Andrew the Less in Cambridge and he married Helen Orton from March in Cambridgeshire whose father was later to become High Sheriff of that county. He was ordained priest the next year and was given particular responsibility for the Abbey Schools in his parish. This began his life long concern for education.

In 1862, Mr Matthews, the first Vicar of St Philip’s, resigned through ill health. The Patron, Dale Stewart, Vicar of All Saints, appointed Henry Collis to be the second Vicar of St Philip’s. St Philip’s church was only four and a half years old and consisted only of the present nave and hall. It was known as St Philip’s Barn; Henry Collis called it shamefully built and set about making it more worthy.

St Philip’s school was then meeting in a carpenter’s shop; with the Vicar of All Saints who was trying to build a new building for All Saints School, Henry Collis started raising funds for St Philip’s School. In 1867, with the help of the National Society and Lord Romney, All Saints School was built for infants, girls and a double section for boys while St Philip’s School was built for infants and girls. Children went at first up to twelve and then to fourteen. St Philip’s School cost £2,500 to build. Canon Collis was assiduous in his encouragement of and promotion of St Philip’s School at which initially depended on the largely poor parents having to pay fees together with whatever other funds could be raised.

By 1869 enough money had been raised to enlarge and beautify the church by the addition of the north aisle and new seating. An organ, later enlarged, was installed in 1865. Thanks to the generosity of the Hollingsworth family, the porch, steeple and chancel were added in 1878.

Mrs Collis had a great reputation for organising work with boys and youths. She died in 1903 and is commemorated in the window to the south of the east window shown reading the bible to children. They had three children. One became the first Vicar of St Luke’s, Maidstone, one a partner in Monkton and Son, the solicitors in King Street while their daughter ran the home.

Henry Collis was very concerned with the education and training of young people after they left school at the age on twelve or so. He tried to convert the Bluecoat school in Knightrider Street into a Secondary Modern School but could not raise the money needed. He started art and science classes in 1867 and for thirty eight years he served as the Secretary (and main energiser) of Maidstone’s Higher Education Committee. Classes were held first in the Museum, then in the Master’s House and then in the Archbishop’s Palace. In 1879, Maidstone’s Art School was placed third in the whole of England. This lead to some central government grants. Maidstone Borough Council decided to help in this increasingly successful and important training venture. In 1894, the Art and Technical Institute was built in St Faith’s Street to take 600 students. This was primarily to train the young people of Maidstone for better jobs. Henry Collis was particularly interested in art and he was a highly knowledgeable art critic. In 1896, his portrait was pained for the Institute; it now hangs in Maidstone Museum. In 1902, Maidstone education Committee was established to help and supervise Primary schools in the Borough and Henry Collis was appointed a founding member.

In 1903 he was rewarded for these endeavours by being first made an Honorary Canon of Canterbury Cathedral and later in the year an Honorary Freeman of the Borough of Maidstone. Naturally conservative in politics he was very critical of the reluctance of Maidstone Borough Council to embrace the emerging world. He pressed for electric street lighting, an end to the warren of dangerous blind alleys that covered so much of the south of the town and for trams.

He was known as an easy going friendly person, interested in everyone he met from parishioners to councillors and officials. He supported many charities and a soup kitchen in his parish. He was broad minded and good hearted who worked with unbounded energy and a keen mind. He moved with the times preaching straightforward sermons. Against opposition from certain members of St Philip’s congregation, he had the choir wear surplices.

On 23^rd November 1905, Canon Collis had a stroke in his dressing room; he died on the morning of Sunday 10^th December as the church bells of Maidstone were ringing for morning service. What a remarkable life of service to St Philip’s parish and to the young people of Maidstone.

Christopher Morgan - Jones

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