Warren, Rev William

Singer

Collection date:

Area: Somerset - Bridgwater Town

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Rev William Meade King Warren of Bridgwater (1874-1964) was not a singer but an important intermediary for Sharp in Bridgwater. William Warren was born in 1874, the eldest son of Rev Frederick Warren, Rector of Exton, nr Dulverton for over 20 years.

William went to Oriel College Oxford and Wells Theological College. He was curate of Bridgwater from 1900-1909 and lived in North Street, where Sharp stayed to do his song collecting. He was the visiting chaplain at the Union workhouse and could thus introduce Sharp to Robert Dibble, George Radford and others. He signed nearly all the entries for workhouse burials and officiated at the burials of singers John Briffett and Joseph Laver.

William Warren was married in 1909 to Althea Rowland, and was posted to Meare nr Glastonbury (1909-17). In the 1920s he was Rector of Charlynch, 5 miles West of Bridgwater. He died in 1964.