Rushden Echo, 11th March 1921, transcribed by Kay Collins

Rushden Resident’s Death - The late Mr. Charles G. Cunnington

The death occurred on Tuesday night of Mr. Charles George Cunnington, aged 72, of Griffith-street, Rushden, after an illness lasting about three weeks. The deceased gentleman was the eldest son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Cunnington.

Mr. C. G. Cunnington was one of the first members of the Rushden Independent Wesleyan Church, and had kept up an active interest in the Church up to the time of his illness. He was also a valued officer of the Rushden Temperance Society.

The deceased leaves, besides the widow, five sons and one daughter, Mr. Jesse D. Cunnington (Rushden), Mr. Ernest Cunnington (Port Arthur, Canada), Mrs. Cooper (Richmond, Surrey), Mr. R. Cunnington (Golders Green), and Mr. H. Cunnington (Rushden). There are also seven grandchildren.

The funeral took place this (Friday) afternoon.

Mrs. C. G. Cunnington and family desire to return their sincere thanks to the many kind friends for sympathy in their sad bereavement. Will friends kindly accept this acknowledgement as it is impossible to write to each personally.

The Late Mr. C. G. Cunnington - Impressive Funeral at Rushden

The interment of the late Mr. C. G. Cunnington took place on Friday last at the Cemetery, Rushden, the Rev. C. J. Keeler officiating. A short service was first conducted at the residence, after which a number of representatives of the Independent Wesleyan Church, Band of Hope Union, and the Rushden Temperance Society accompanied the cortege to the Cemetery.

The family mourners were: Mrs. Cunnington (widow), Mr. J. D. Cunnington (son), Mrs. Cooper, Richmond (daughter); Mr. R. C. Cunnington (son), Mr. C. Cunnington, Golder’s Green (son), Mrs. J. D. Cunnington (daughter-in-law); Mr. H. Cunnington (son), Mrs. R. C. Cunnington (daughter-in-law), Mr. A. J. Cooper, Richmond (son-in-law), Mrs. C. Cunnington (daughter-in-law), Mr. I. Cunnington (brother), Miss S. Cunnington (sister), Mrs. I. Cunnington (sister-in-law), and Mrs. H. Cunnington (daughter-in-law).

There were also present at the graveside representing ther Band of Hope Union, Mr. John Claridge (president), Mr. B. Vorley (secretary), Mr. G. W. Button (treasurer); Independent Wesleyan Church and Sunday School, Mr. W. Gutteridge (secretary), Mr. W. Lack and Mr. G. Denton; Rushden Temperance Society, Messrs. J. T. Bettles (secretary), J. Knight (treasurer), C. White, W. P. Orrell, T. C. Clarke and W. Clark; and Rushden Liberal Association, Miss A. F. Weale. Sunday School teachers and scholars of the Independent Wesleyan Church also attended, and amongst others were Messrs. A. Gadsby, E Wrighton, A. Wilmott, J. Clark, H. Jaques, W. Ginns, W. B. Sanders and F. Corby.

The coffin, of oak, with brass furniture, bore on the breastplate the inscription:

Mr. T. Swindall was the undertaker.

Wreaths were sent by : “Annie”; “The Boys and Girls” (a wreath of lilies and tulips and a cross of viotes); “Lou”; “Winifred, Mabel and Leslie”; “Officers and teachers of the Independent Wesleyan Sunday School and Band of Hope”; Mr. and Mrs. C. Smith, East Ham; Mr. and Mrs. Denton and family, Eastfields; H. F. and M. M. Jaques; and Mr. and Mrs. R. Denton.

At the evening service on Sunday at the High-street Independent Wesleyan Church, Rushden, the Rev. C. J. Keeler, in place of the second lesson, made reference to the late Mr. Cunnington. Mr. Keeler said that Mr. Cunnington had held an honoured place in the church, and would long live in their memories. Their late friend had occupied every office that the church could bestow upon him. His had been a true Christian life. The thing he had feared above all was that the scope of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ might be limited by men’s false standards. Mr. Cunnington’s had been an ever-growing faith, the very opposite of sad, and towards the end of his days he looked forward to a great and wonderful journey. A permanent record of his deeds and labours for the church would be amongst the most sacred in the church. Mr. Keeler emphasised the valued connection of the late Mr. Cunnington with the Sunday school for many years.

The deceased’s favourite hymns were used, viz., “Before Jehovah’s awful throne”, “Immortal love, for ever full”, “Who fathoms the Eternal Thought?”, and “O Love Divine, how great Thou art”. The choir rendered Sir Fredk. Bridge’s setting of Tennyson’s “Crossing the Bar”. Mr. W. T. L. Flood at the organ played very feelingly “Contemplation” (Gaul’s “Holy City”), “O rest in the Lord” (“Elijah”), and “Be thou faithful unto death” (Mendelssohn’s “St. Paul”)..