Godfrey Faussett (1781-1853), whilst Canon of Christ Church, Oxford, conducted 15 services at Badsey during the interregnum of Curates, Henry Hasted Victor and Edmund Boggis.
Godfrey Faussett was born at Nackington, Kent, the son of Henry Godfrey Faussett and his wife, Susan (née Sandys). Susan was from the Kent branch of the Sandys family and is thought to have been a descendant of Edwin Sandys (1519-1588), Archbishop of Canterbury.
Godfrey was a student at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, matriculating 7th July 1797 aged 16; a scholar 1797; BA 1801; fellow Magdalen College 1802, MA 1804. He was ordained as a deacon at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, on 3rd December 1804 and as a priest on 22nd December 1805.
Godfrey married Marianne Elizabeth Bridges at Holy Trinity, Stapleton, Bristol, on 9th August 1808. They had four children: Susan Godfrey (1810-1893), Bryan (1812-1855), Godfrey (1813-1887) and Anne (1816). The first three children were all born at Holton, Oxfordshire, where he had been appointed Curate on 10th October 1808. The last child was born at Harefield, Middlesex. Marianne died on 5th May 1819 leaving him with four young children.
Reverend Faussett married again on 1st May 1823 to Sarah Wethered and had a further six children: Henry Godfrey (1824-1878), William (1825), Robert Godfrey (1826-1908), Thomas Godfrey (1829-1877), Sarah (1830) and John Toke (1835). Henry was born at Holton, William and Robert at Nackington, and the last three at Oxford.
By now Reverend Faussett had gained more academic honours: BD in 1822 and DD in 1827. In 1827 he was elected Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity, a post which he held until his death. From 1831-1833 he was Vicar of Old Sodbury and in June 1833 he was appointed Rector of Worcester St Martin. In 1837, Reverend Dr Faussett became Prebendary at Worcester Cathedral. In 1840 he was appointed Canon of Christ Church, Oxford, which he held until his death. At the time of the 1841 and 1851 census, he lived with his wife and family at Christ Church.
For three months in 1848, Godfrey and his family lived at Badsey Vicarage during the interregnum of Curates who were in charge of the parish which was held by an absentee Vicar. Between April and June 1848, he baptised five children at Badsey and two at Wickhamford, he married one couple at Badsey and buried six people at Badsey.
Reverend Faussett may have welcomed the chance to stay in the area for a time, as his eldest son, Bryan, who was Vicar of Cropthorne, was having marriage problems. Bryan had married Helena Trevelyan, daughter of Sir John Trevelyan in 1837 and had two children. But Helena had an affair with her cousin, Walter Blackett Trevelyan, by whom she had a son in 1847. Bryan divorced his wife in 1849, which was widely reported in the newspapers of the time. At the time of the 1851 census, Bryan’s daughter, Maria, was living with her grandparents at Christ Church.
Reverend Faussett’s farewell sermon took place at Badsey on 23rd June 1848, which was duly reported in The Worcester Journal of 29th June 1848:
On Sunday last the Rev Godfrey Faussett preached an affectionate farewell sermon in Badsey Church, before the largest congregation ever seen there by the oldest inhabitant of the village. The reverend gentleman takes with him the good esteem and best wishes of the whole of his parishioners which, during his short ministry there and at Wickhamford, he has so justly merited.
It may have been because of his previous connection with Worcester Cathedral or because of the Sandys connection that had resulted in him being so well received in the village.
Reverend Faussett died in his lodgings at Christ Church on 28th June 1853, aged 71; he had been seriously ill for several days. An obituary in The London Evening Standard, stated:
He was a man of most agreeable manners and amiable disposition, and was always looked up to by the men of his time as an accomplished scholar and sound divine, having been more than once appointed select preacher to the university. He was chiefly instrumental in getting the canonry at Worcester Cathedral, which was attached to the Lady Margaret professorship by Charles I in 1627, commuted for one at Christ Church; this took place in 1840.