Rev. Walter Gibbs, who was to be the first Vicar of Tyler’s Green, … was highly recommended to Philip Rose by a much admired clergyman friend and was described as “an unobtrusive gentlemanly man of Middle Age, of independent means and without a family, who is seeking an independent charge and is to a great extent indifferent to stipend … well known to the Archbishop of Canterbury and many of the best Anglican Clergy. His wife is said to have a gift for schools and visiting”. Rose took him to Penn to introduce him to Mr Knollis and to afford Lord and Lady Curzon the opportunity of hearing him preach and was immensely enthusiastic. He thought he was “admirably suited for the District and his accepting it may indeed be regarded as the most favourable feature in our whole arrangements”, although he did add on a more doubtful note, “he is Irish and perhaps a little too energetic in his style of preaching, but I think him very well”.

Walter Gibbs died in 1862 and is buried under the Altar steps, though his Memorial Stone lies outside the East wall.

Edited from: The History of St. Margaret’s Church Tyler’s green, Miles Green, 1984