Rev. Charles Wood (senior) had been born in Manchester but raised in Gloucester where he attended The Crypt School before going up to Pembroke College, Oxford. He was ordained in 1832 and served as a Curate at various parishes in Gloucester until moving in 1843 to Penmark, near Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan.
His sons Charles (junior) and John were enthusiastic sportsmen and, with many of his father’s friends and family still living in Gloucester, Charles (junior) organized a match during July 1867 at the Spa Ground in Gloucester as a so-called Glamorganshire eleven, including his father and brother, turned out against the Gloucester club. Charles (senior) – at the age of 58 – batted at number eleven but failed to score.
Charles (senior) served as Curate of Penmark for thirty years before becoming Precentor of Llandaff Cathedral, a position previously held by Rev. Thomas Stacey, the father of the cricketing friends of Charles (junior), Frank and Cyril Stacey. In 1868 he also published a book called “Evidence of Christianity for use in Parochial Schools” which became an invaluable text for those teaching Divinity and Scripture.
WOOD, Rev. Charles Frederick Bryan
Born: Manchester 1809.
Died: Hucclecote, Gloucester, 30 March 1891.