Transcription of Report in the Wrexham Advertiser of Saturday 24th August 1878
MARRIAGE OF DR. LAWTON ROBERTS AND MISS C. HUGHES, FENNANT.
Probably no event has ever taken place at the Rhos around which centred such general local interest as was manifested on Wednesday when the whole of the dense mining population of this populous district turned out in holiday attire in honor of the nuptials of Dr Richard Lawton Roberts, son of Dr R. Chambers Roberts, of Ruabon, and Miss Christiana Hughes, second daughter of the late Mr John Hughes, of Fennant. The ceremony was performed at the Rhos Church, and from the bride’s residence through Johnstown and the Rhos the line of route was decorated with flags, banners, floral arches, wedding favors, streamers, evergreens, rosettes, &c., the general aspect of the usually dull locality being completely metamorphosed, old and young vieing with each other to contribute some quota, however slight, to the general display. The day was ushered in by cannon firing and bell-ringing, the inhabitants being evidently determined to enjoy themselves ad libitum for one day at least. At the Fennant a splendid floral arch spanned the entrance gates, which were covered with wedding favors, rosettes, streamers &c., the arch being surmounted by the Union Jack and a banner bearing the words “May every blessing attend them,” the spirit of this cordial wish being repeated in various forms at the windows and doors of adjacent houses. At the New Inn a large ornamental arch crossed the public road from the Red Lion Inn to Mr Mills’ printing establishment, the arch being decked with pendant bouquets, mottoes, parti-coloured flags and bannerettes, and a large inscription, “Health, happiness and prosperity,” with the words “May every blessing attend them” on the reverse. At Gutter Hill several cottages echoed the good wishes, and opposite the Presbyterian Chapel, Hill-street, was a large banner inscribed with the words in bold characters, “Health, happiness, and prosperity, to Mr and Mrs Roberts,” whilst at the King’s Head (Mr Hughes’) a fine arch with banners floating from its summit, spanned the street, the inscriptions being “Health, happiness, and prosperity” and “Long life and happiness.” Opposite the residence of Dr Jones, the Rhos, was appropriately displayed the banner of the Loyal Plasmadoc Lodge of Oddfellows with the inscription “I was sick and ye visited me.” This was very effective and caused much good natured comment. A really magnificent arch erected by Dr Jones, at the cost of an immense amount of labor sprang from the gates of the Church, and bore, in addition to innumerable decorations, two prominent inscriptions, “Long life and prosperity,” and “Health, happiness, and prosperity.” About half-past ten the centre of attraction was of course the church itself, the interior presenting at once an animated and expectantly impressive scene, the popularity of the contracting parties and their families being abundantly testified by the vast multitude which thronged the precincts of the sacred building long before the arrival of the wedding party. The interior of the church was prettily decorated over the communion table and organ, at which instrument Mr W. Baker ably presided. At least 3,000 persons assembled in the vicinity of the church which has probably never before witnessed so fine an assembly within its walls. As the bridal procession entered the church, Mr Baker played one of Chadley Drake’s Grand Marches, playing the Wedding March very effectively as the party left the church. The service was commenced by the singing of the 386th hymn -
The voice that breathed o’er Eden
The earliest wedding day,
The primal marriage blessing,
It hath not passed away.
and as the ceremony proceeded every ear was strained with the utmost attention to catch the responses. The officiating clergy were the Rev Horatio Walmsley, Odd Rode Rectory, Cheshire, uncle of the bridegroom, assisted by the Rev J Jones, vicar of Rhos, and the Rev Trevor Owen, vicar of Llangedwin. The bride wore a dress of rich white silk exquisitely trimmed with white satin and Honiton lace, the bridesmaids’ dresses being of cream cashmere and pale blue satin, mob caps of pale blue satin trimmed with forget-me-nots and white lilac. On leaving the church the bride’s pathway was strewn with floral tributes of affection by women and children, and the sun shone out with great brilliancy as the “happy pair” re-entered the carriage.
The bridal déjeuner was served up in a marquée on the lawn at the Fennant, and was supplied by Mr Bolland, of Chester, the cake being in its way quite a triumph of the confectionary art. The wedding party consisted of Mrs Hughes, Miss Hughes, Miss Richards, Mr W. C. Hughes, The Fennant; Dr R. Chambers Roberts and Mrs Roberts, Ruabon; Mrs Edwards, Vicarage, Ruabon; Mr J. Kenrick, Wynn Hall; Rev J. and Mrs Jones, Vicarage, Rhos; Rev Horatio Walmsley, Odd Rode Rectory, Cheshire; Mrs Smith, London; Mrs Edwards, Miss Edwards, and Miss E. Edwards, Hanmer; Miss Forshaw, Ruabon; Miss Humphreys, Chirk; Rev Trevor Owen, Llangedwin; Mr and Mrs Bateman, Hanmer; Dr Richards, London; the Misses Turner, Gardden Lodge; Mr and Miss Saunders, Cannock Chase; Rev J. W. Rees, Rhos; Rev S. Thomas, Ruabon; Rev Llewellyn Thomas, Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford; Miss K. Phillips, Little Sutton, Cheshire; Mr Jesson, Lichfield &c.
After breakfast, the Rev Horatio Walmsley feelingly proposed the health of the bride, and The Bridegroom, in responding, said it had been a source of unalloyed pleasure to him and his bride to see so many kind friends around them upon that most auspicious occasion. He hoped they should meet upon other occasions equally happy, and he had now the agreeable duty to perform of proposing the healths of the four young ladies who had kindly given their assistance at the somewhat arduous proceedings of that morning. (Laughter). He also wished to call attention to the handsome silver cup he held in his hand, and which the Ruabon Company, which he had the honour to command, had won at Wynnstay on the previous day for the second year in succession. (Hear, hear). It was thought that the cup ought to be “wetted” and that the present was a very right and proper occasion upon which to do so, when it could be filled to drink to the health of the bridesmaids, to each of whom he sincerely wished “Long life and happiness.” (Applause). He knew there were several gentlemen burning to return thanks for their fair friends and he should therefore say no more. (Laughter).
The Rev. Llewellyn Thomas said that he knew that a wedding breakfast was a very dangerous occasion for several reasons. First because at a very early hour of the day they had to indulge in a bewildering variety of good things, and at such exhilarating moments they were apt to imitate a good example-(laughter)-and last, but not least, they were almost certain to make speeches. He had before him a very difficult, dangerous, and delicate task, viz., to express the wishes of a portion of the sex, which was to him a profound enigma and an inscrutable mystery-(laughter)-that band of maidens, that galaxy of beauty, that bevy of bridesmaids who had escorted the bride through the last days of her maidenhood to the mysterious ceremony in the church that morning. (Hear, hear.) To the toast of their healths some fair orator of the fair sex should certainly respond; but it was not the ability or the will that was wanting, not the difficulty of selecting one from among the fair host, but it was thought that if once the flood-gates of female eloquence were opened they might be detained longer than was perhaps convenient to them at that hospitable board. (Renewed laughter.) He thought he should first express their deep gratitude for the way in which the healths of the bridesmaids had been proposed, and for the enthusiastic manner with which it had been received. He seemed to hear a deep sigh, not of envy, which did not exist in the bosoms of his fair constituents-(laughter)-but of extreme happiness, at the future that assailed the bride and bridegroom. (Hear, hear.) He also saw an assurance that the man who had been so good a son would be a good and faithful husband, and a daughter who had been so excellent a daughter, assistant, and friend, would be a loving, good, and gentle wife. (Applause.) He might say here that a wedding breakfast was the only occasion upon which it was in perfect good taste to praise a man to his face, and the reason of this was, that he was so elated with his own success and pleased with himself and his wife, that anything his friends could say could not possibly add to his benefit. (Laughter.) He fancied he detected another expression in the faces of his fair constituents. It was more than an expression, it was a conviction, that when they chose to resign the liberty of maidenhood and assume the safety and dignity of the married state, they could not hope to do so under circumstances more propitious than the present, or in the midst of good wishes more unanimous and sincere than fell to the lot of the bride and bridegroom upon that most auspicious day. (Applause.)
The Rev. H. Walmsley said those amongst the aged could not help feeling the great loss of one of their family. He remembered losing dear members of his own household, and he could not help thinking of the ideas that might be crowded through the mind of Mrs Hughes when she had parted from one of her daughters. She was not, however, going far from home, and she would have the happiness of knowing that she was with one who would take care of her to her life’s end. He hoped that the beginning of her daughter’s married life might be the forerunner of great happiness and joy to the end of the chapter. He had much pleasure in proposing the health of Mrs Hughes, the mother of the bride. (Applause.)
Mr W. C. Hughes, in returning thanks on behalf of his mother, said his sister was as dear to him as a sister could be. He hoped the good wishes expressed that day on her behalf might all be fulfilled, and that she would make – as he was sure she would do – Dr. Lawton Roberts a good and happy wife. (Hear, hear.)
Dr. R. Chambers Roberts (father of the bridegroom) said he wished to propose the health of a much respected gentleman who had taken a prominent part in the pleasing ceremony of the morning. He alluded to the Rev. John Jones, the worthy Vicar of the Rhos. (Applause.) No one could fail to have been greatly impressed with the completeness of the arrangements at the church, and the extreme order which had prevailed throughout, and he thought the Vicar had a great claim upon their gratitude in this respect. (Hear, hear.) With regard to his son he could only say that he ought to be deeply thankful that he had married a girl who would take care of him all his life, being, as Bobby Burns had well said –
A guardian angel o’er his life presiding,
Sharing his pleasures, and his cares dividing.
(Applause.)
The Rev. J. Jones, in acknowledging the compliment paid him, said he had only one regret, Dr. Roberts had stolen from him one of his best and most faithful Sunday school teachers. (Hear, hear.) He was sure she would make a loveable, sincere, and gentle wife, and as for the bridegroom he had known him and his respected parents for some years, and had only known good of them. (Applause.) He was very pleased to have had so distinguished a wedding at the Rhos church, which was the first he had had for the last thirteen years, and he should have regretted very much had it gone elsewhere, because his respect for the families of the contracting parties was so sincerely great. He must also add that they had seldom seen such a perfect set of bridesmaids, and the hearts of the bachelor friends around him much certainly be made of steel if they were not conquered before another twelve months by some of his fair friends. (Laughter.) In conclusion, he wished the bride and bridegroom every happiness, and might God’s blessing rest upon them during the remainder of, he hoped, their long and happy lives. (Applause.)
After breakfast, the happy pair left Fennant for the Highlands, amidst showers of rice and heartfelt good wishes from all assembled.
The wedding gifts were numerous and some of them very unique and costly, and amongst the most valued were a beautiful Bible presented to the bride by her fellow Sunday School teachers with every good wish for her spiritual and temporal welfare, signed on behalf of the teachers by “Wm. Baker”; a book of Common Prayer, presented by the pupils of the bride’s Sunday class; and a handsome flower vase, presented with best wishes by the Fennant servants.