In last week’s issue of the Rushden Echo we were able to give our readers the exclusive information that the living of Rushden had been offered by the patron, Mr. P. W. Barker, of Meeschindepore, Bengal, to the Venerable Arthur Kitchin, M.A., Archdeacon of Calcutta. The news gave rise to the liveliest interest among Rushden churchmen, and was the first and only intimation that steps had been taken to fill the vacant Rectorship.

We are glad to be able to announce that Archdeacon Kitchin has now definitely accepted the living and hopes to enter on his new duties towards the end of September. There is, of course, a natural desire on the part of the parishioners for any information which may help them to become acquainted with one who will, in three months time, be their leader and co-worker in Church work, and the following particulars of the Archdeacon’s career will, we are sure, be read with the keenest interest.

Archdeacon Kitchin was educated at Westminster School, Christ Church, Oxford, and Litchfield Theological College, and took his B.A. degree in 1877 and his M.A. in 1880. He was ordained Deacon in 1878 and Priest in 1879, by the Archbishop of Canterbury. He was Curate of Bexley Heath, Kent, from 1878 to 1882, and of Gulval, Cornwall, for a few months in 1883. In that year he accepted a Government chaplaincy in the Diocese of Calcutta and was successively Chaplain (incumbent) of St. James’, Calcutta, S. Paul’s Cathedral, Calcutta, and Mussoorie in the Himalayas. For the last eleven years the Archdeacon has been chaplain of St. Thomas’ Church, Calcutta, with charge of the Calcutta Free School, the largest charitable institution for European and Eurasian children in Upper India, containing nearly 500 boarders. After having acted as Archdeacon under three Bishops of Calcutta (Bishops Johnson, Welldon, and Copleston), Mr. Kitchin became Archdeacon of Calcutta in 1903. Having lived in India for 22 years, he is now on furlough and will retire on pension in April, 1907. When he left Calcutta in April last, resolutions were passed by the Governors of the Calcutta Free School, the Church Committee of St. Thomas’ the District Charitable Society, and the Diocesan Board of Education, expressing great regret at the Archdeacon’s departure and the warmest appreciation of his work. He was the recipient of many presents from the Bishop and Clergy of the Diocese, the children and staff of the Calcutta Free School, and other friends.

His congregation are about to place a handsome Jeypore marble font in St. Thomas’ Church as a memorial of his work. Archdeacon Kitchin is, we understand, a moderate High Churchman of wide sympathies.

We are quite sure that the parishioners of Rushden will give Archdeacon Kitchin a very cordial welcome, and that he will find here a body of church-workers ready to second to the utmost of their power his efforts on behalf of the Church and good work in the town. From all we can learn, we are assured that the cause of the Church in Rushden will be greatly strengthened by the presence of the Archdeacon amongst us and that the excellent work done by the clergy in past years will be carried on with at least equal vigour and success.