reformer, wit & priest - Combe Florey Somerset

            By the south entrance is a portrait memorial to rector Sydney Smith, the celebrated wit, writer, preacher, champion of parliamentary reform and sometime Canon of St Paul’s Cathedral. His wit and love of life attracted many eminent statesmen, writers and other distinguished persons to his dinner table at the rectory.  From 1829 until his death in 1845, his care of the people of Combe Florey endeared him to all as physician, counsellor and friend.  - outraged by the social injustices of the time, he was moved to found the Edinburgh Review in 1802.
he rectory at Combe Florey was in a dilapidated state when the Smith family arrived in 1829.   Sydney, by now a comparatively wealthy man, soon engaged a team of 30 builders and joiners and when the additions and repairs were complete he described it in a letter to a friend “My place is delightful; never was there a more delightful parsonage! Come and see it. Be ill, and require mild air and an affectionate friend and set off for Combe Florey. The country is perfectly beautiful and my parsonage the prettiest place in it.” 
A constant flow of visitors, especially his family, children and grand children, pleased Sydney, but on the whole long periods in the country bored him. When towards the end of his life he and his wife were the only inhabitants of the rectory he became melancholy and longed for London society, which was in such marked contrast to their daily life in the country.
The months of February March and July were usually spent in London where he performed his duties as Canon Residentiary of St Paul’s Cathedral. When away from the village for long periods he would engage a curate to care for the parish. His nephew Rev. Cecil Smith was able at times to take over for him.
The locals were always delighted when the family returned from London. A visitor to the rectory was amazed that every morning after breakfast the study was full of poor people seeking advice, medicines and food. There was a room fitted out as a dispensary and Sydney administered simple remedies for common ailments to allcomers as best he could. he would visit the sick, pray with them and “by gay and cheery conversation divert their thoughts”. He would often leave the patient a volume from his extensive library.

The parish school kept by a dame in a cottage was not large or well attended but the Smiths took a great interest in it and were constant visitors. In the summer of 1833 an epidemic of scarlet fever caused many deaths, and in his old age he was still devoted to the sick and poor.

The arrival of the railway at Taunton in 1842 was a great consolation to Sidney when Bath could be reached in two hours and London in six. “In short everywhere is no time!” he gleefully exclaimed.

The last 15 years of his life were spent between his town and country houses. He returned to London for the last time in the Autumn of 1844 to be near to his son in law Dr. Henry Holland and died aged 75 at 56 Green Street, Grosvenor Square on Feb 22nd 1845. He was buried at Kensall Green cemetery.’
(Notes compiled from ‘The Smith of Smith’ by Hesketh Pearson and ‘The Life and Times of Sydney Smith’ by Stuart J. Reid: )
   

Taken on: July 6, 2023

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