On this day in Wembury 23 January 1904
The Funeral of Mr. Richard Cory #
The funeral of Mr. Richard Cory, of 3 Elliot Terrace, The Hoe, Plymouth, took place at Wembury on Saturday 23rd January 1904. Although the distance was considerable from Plymouth, there was a large attendance at the church. Mr. Cory died in his 82nd year, and his life was noted for high business capacity and a philanthropic spirit.
The cortege left 3 Elliot Terrace at one o’clock and was timed to arrive at Wembury at noon. The weather was bright but exceedingly cold. In many places the road had become covered with ice, and this no doubt prevented several close friends of the deceased from being present at Wembury. At the bottom of the hill leading to the church, the coffin—completely hidden from the magnificent sea view—was borne from the hearse by Messrs. R. E. Cock, W. Coleman, J. T. Wilson, A. Neiker, B. Sansom, and W. Pursley, deacons of the Mutley Baptist Church, of which the deceased had long been a valued member.
Among the clergy officiating were the Archdeacon of Totnes (Rev. E. G. Cocks), Rev. W. Trevena, Rev. H. Hole, and Dr. Petticrew. A large number of ministers, business associates, and family friends were present, representing Plymouth, Devonport, and beyond.
Relatives and others who followed the hearse included Mr. R. Cory, son; Mr. F. Jarvis; Mr. J. C. Wynga; and Mr. J. Buchanan, son-in-law; Colonel G. Hawker, brother-in-law; Colonel Gore; Mr. H. Gibson, solicitor; Mr. W. Adams (agent); Mr. G. K. Trevena; and Dr. Dart, with household servants and members of staff.
Many were prevented from attending through indisposition or absence on duty in Ireland, among them General Kirkehouse, Deputy Inspector-General T. W. Longfield, Colonel Norris Jones, and several naval officers and clergy. The list of mourners included representatives of many local and national bodies, including Commander Colin Mackenzie, R.N., Major Tolcher (Plymouth), Major Perry (Plymstock), and others from Torpoint, Newton Ferrers, and Devonport.
So numerous were the floral tributes that extra carriages had to be engaged to convey them to Wembury Church. Among the wreaths were those from Mrs. R. Cory, daughters and family, inscribed “With love and everlasting remembrance”, from Mrs. Buchan and family, from Colonel and Mrs. Hole, and from the employees at Langdon Court, expressing heartfelt sympathy with “a generous and much-respected master.”
The coffin was of polished English oak with massive fittings of brass, bearing the inscription:
“Richard Cory, born 1822, died January 19th, 1904.”
The funeral arrangements were carried out under the personal direction of Mr. W. H. Clarke of Plymouth.
At Wembury Church
The church at Wembury, where the funeral service was held, was completely restored through the munificence of the late Mr. Cory in 1885. Its situation, dedicated to St. Werburgh, stands on bold cliffs overlooking Wembury Bay, with its wide outlook across the Mewstone and the Channel. The church dates to the early 15th century, founded on the site of an older structure said to have been built in honour of St. Werburgh, the daughter of a King of Mercia.
Within the church, Mr. Cory had personally undertaken restoration work at his own expense, including rebuilding the north transept and refitting the chancel. He also donated a brass commemorating the restoration and presented a new bell to the tower. The service was attended by a company of police under Sergeant Newberry and a large gathering of parishioners and estate tenants.
Richard Cory’s funeral was a major event in early 20th-century Wembury, reflecting both his personal philanthropy and the growing social links between Plymouth’s mercantile class and the surrounding rural parishes. His restoration of St. Werburgh’s Church in the 1880s had left a visible mark on the village, transforming it from a weathered medieval structure into a beacon of Victorian piety and architectural pride. The vast attendance, floral tributes, and civic presence testify to his stature across Devon and beyond.
Source: Western Morning News, 25 January 1904 (reporting funeral of 23 January 1904).