Rev. John Hewett

John Hewett, Vicar of Babbacombe (6 August 1830 – 5 August 1911) was a High Church Anglican priest and founder of the church of All Saints', Babbacombe and a friend and confidant of Anne Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, Duchess of Sutherland as well as the priest for Alexandra of Denmark whilst Princess of Wales. Hewett was also father of Sir John Prescott Hewett and of Rear Admiral George Hayley Hewett. Early life Hewett was born on 6 August 1830, son of John Short Hewett, Rector of Ewhurst, East Sussex and his wife, Mary Ann Selby-Hele, granddaughter of George Horne, Bishop of Norwich. He came from a well connected family, he was nephew of Sir Prescott Gardner Hewett, 1st Baronet and Dr Cornwallis Hewett and the first-cousin of Vice-Admiral Sir William Nathan Wrighte Hewett. Hewett was educated at Clare College, Cambridge with which he Matriculated in 1849 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1853, he also later received a Master of Arts degree in 1857. Early ministry Hewett was ordained as a deacon at Chichester Cathedral in 1855 by the Bishop of Chichester Ashurst Gilbert, whilst still studying for his Master of Arts degree at Clare College, Cambridge. Following ordination he was appointed curate of the Parish of Battle, East Sussex where he served 1855–57, during which time he was ordained as a priest at Peterborough Cathedral in 1856 by the then Bishop of Peterborough, George Davys. In 1857 he was appointed curate of the Parish of Compton Martin, Somerset where he resided for almost 15 years until 1865 when he was appointed to St Marychurch, Devon. During his time there, the population of Devon was increasing greatly as it became a popular holiday destination, particularly the area around Torquay, including the once small hamlet of Babbacombe was growing rapidly and lacked a church. All Saints', Babbacombe