Horsham’s Women of History – one of the town’s ‘best-loved citizens’

For the fourth and final part of our feature for Women’s History Month we look at a remarkable local resident who was described as a ‘Champion of Education’ and even had a building named after her!

Miss Louisa Jane Churchman was held in such high esteem that on her passing in 1943 the local paper, the West Sussex County Times, devoted much of its front and back pages to her memorial service, along with many tributes.

Louisa was the eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Henry Churchman, of Middle Street, Horsham. and most of her life was devoted to education and helping others improve themselves.

A staunch churchgoer, Louisa took a great interest in the Church of England Temperance Society.

“Even more typical of her character and nature were the many acts of charity”

In her early life she was an eloquent speaker and skilled in debate. This would help her later on when she became a member of West Sussex County Council in 1934, becoming part of the Education Committee. She was vice-president of the Horsham branch of the Labour Party.

For several years she was chairman of the Board for the Horsham Council School Managers.

She was also a Governor for Horsham High School for Girls and a manager of Horsham Evening Institute. As an accomplished linguist she helped students prepare for advanced exams.

Louisa was a founder member of the local Workers Educational Association and its first secretary. Keen on music, she helped set up the WEA Philharmonic.

In 1923 she was appointed a Justice of the Peace, the first woman magistrate to sit on the Horsham Bench.

Among her many friends was Dr Alice Owen, featured in our previous post.

When she died in 1943, aged 75, she was living with her two sisters in Hurst Road.

Among the many comments and tributes made was the following from Mr W. Lintott, a long-time friend who played with Louisa when they were children. “All through her long and useful life she was ever lending a helpful hand to others in her quiet unobtrusive way and no one in trouble ever came to her in vain.”

It was no surprise shortly after her death that there was a move to recognise her amazing work.

Horsham had had one of the wartime ‘British Restaurants’, based in North Street, which had been created to help those in need during the Second World War.

After hostilities ended it was decided by the new owners, West Sussex County Council, to rename it as the Louisa Churchman Hall, using it as a school meals centre.

It was also used by various organisations over the years until the owners of the cinema next door bought it and it was eventually knocked down.

A memorial fund in Miss Churchman’s name was also set up in order to help the educational needs of children who attended school in Horsham. At the time it was recommended that this lasted for 20 years.

However, it is perhaps disappointing that once the fund finished and the hall was demolished there was no lasting tribute to this remarkable woman.

As another person commented on her passing: “Even more typical of her character and nature were the many acts of charity, so quietly done that even her closest friends had no knowledge of her many kindnesses. She will be missed by those who need a friend in need and a friend indeed.”