Joseph William Lionel, 17th Baron Petre (5 June 1914 – 1 January 1989) was an English peer. He was the patron of three livings but, being a

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

, could not present.

Family

He was the eldest child and only son of

Lionel Petre, 16th Baron Petre Captain Lionel George Carroll, 16th Baron Petre (3 November 1890 – 30 September 1915) was an English peer. Born in Wadhurst, Sussex in 1890, he was educated at the Oratory, Edgbaston & Sandhurst. There is a story that he originally intended ...

, and his wife Catherine Boscawen. He succeeded to the title

Lord Petre Baron Petre (), of Writtle, in the County of Essex, is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1603 for Sir John Petre. His family has since been associated with the county of Essex. He represented Essex in parliament and served a ...

at only fifteen months old on 30 September 1915, after his father died in the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. During the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, the 17th Baron served in the

Coldstream Guards The Coldstream Guards is the oldest continuously serving regular regiment in the British Army. As part of the Household Division, one of its principal roles is the protection of the monarchy; due to this, it often participates in state ceremonia ...

as a

Second-Lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...

, and later in the

Essex Regiment The Essex Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 to 1958. The regiment served in many conflicts such as the Second Boer War and both World War I and World War II, serving with distinction in all three. ...

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

of the 5th Battalion. Also during the war, in 1941, he married Marguerite Eileen Hamilton. Their son, the present

Baron Petre Baron Petre (), of Writtle, in the County of Essex, is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1603 for Sir John Petre. His family has since been associated with the county of Essex. He represented Essex in parliament and served ...

, was born a year later.

Wanganui’s tribute

Mr. W.J. Rogers,

Mayor of Wanganui The mayor of Whanganui (previously Wanganui) is the head of the Whanganui District Council. Since 1872, there have been 29 mayors. Andrew Tripe is the current mayor. History The Wanganui Town Board was first formed in 1862, and its first chairman ...

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

, wished to adopt the Petre coat of arms in its city seal. A letter granting formal permission for the Borough to adopt the Petre Arms was written by Lord Clifford of Chudleigh, resident of Ealing, on 7 August 1923. His Lordship stated in his letter of authority that the then Lord Petre was a minor and it was necessary to obtain the assent of the Trustees, which had caused considerable delay. ‘I have now been informed by the solicitors (who are also my family solicitors) that the Trustees have been pleased to give their consent, so that is all that is necessary’. In concluding his letter Lord Clifford expressed his pleasure, that of his family and his grandfather’s family, at the honour the town of Wanganui had conferred upon them in desiring to adopt the Petre Arms and mentioned the pride he felt in the knowledge of his uncle’s active association with the fortunes of this beautiful and progressive town in its early days. The City Seal embodying the coat-of-arms was first used when the Borough assumed City status by proclamation in terms of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1920 on 1 July 1924. A description of the City’s Arms appears in ''Fairbairn’s Crests of Great Britain and Ireland''.

Almshouses

Father Grant instituted the repair of the Alms Row Chapel. On Monday 22 November 1922, five months after reconstruction work had been completed, Grant, with Episcopal permission, installed the

Blessed Sacrament The Blessed Sacrament, also Most Blessed Sacrament, is a devotional name to refer to the body and blood of Christ in the form of consecrated sacramental bread and wine at a celebration of the Eucharist. The term is used in the Latin Church of the ...

there. He had celebrated

Mass Mass is an intrinsic property of a body. It was traditionally believed to be related to the quantity of matter in a physical body, until the discovery of the atom and particle physics. It was found that different atoms and different elementar ...

in the chapel once each week since his appointment, and did so thrice weekly from 1922. E.E. Wilde commented: Mass was still celebrated in the chapel after 1932: indeed, Hugh Verity, who was at Ingatestone from 1935 to 1965, and who was Treasurer of the Charity, normally said Mass there once a week. Pensioners continued to reside in the Almshouses until the early 1970s. However, the endowment began to prove insufficient for the needs of the buildings themselves. The fabric deteriorated and they began to fall into disrepair. Once threatened with demolition, Lord Petre eventually offered the almshouses to the Diocese of Brentwood for renovation and for use for a charitable purpose. A total of £120,000 was required for the necessary repairs and alterations. A Trust was established, with six trustees, including Lord Petre himself, and Bishop Patrick Casey. A government grant of £49,000 was secured, £5,000 was received from the Almshouse Association of Great Britain, £10,000 from the

Diocese of Brentwood The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brentwood is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic church in England. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Westminster. Overview The diocese covers the traditional county of Essex, an area of ...

, as well as a loan from another charity, and a smaller one from the Essex County Council. Each of the cottages is now occupied. In 1978, the Ginge Petre Charity Almshouses were officially re-opened and dedicated with the celebration of Mass, in the presence of Lord Petre, by Bishop Casey. The chapel dedicated to St. John Payne, again houses the Blessed Sacrament, and Mass is celebrated there regularly.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Petre, Joseph William Lionel 1914 births 1989 deaths

Joseph Joseph is a common male given name, derived from the Hebrew Yosef (יוֹסֵף). "Joseph" is used, along with "Josef", mostly in English, French and partially German languages. This spelling is also found as a variant in the languages of the mo ...

People educated at Eton College British Army personnel of World War II Coldstream Guards officers English Roman Catholics 17 20th-century English nobility