The Manse, Long Street, Great Ellingham
The Norfolk Chronicle & Norwich Gazette of Saturday October 4th, 1856 referred to an Inquest held on the body of the Baptist Minister of Great Ellingham, forty-year old James Cragg.
It was reported that the Reverend James Cragg had been “perfectly well in the course of the morning visiting some of his neighbours“. However whilst taking an afternoon nap, James Cragg had suddenly died. The verdict was recorded as ‘Natural Death’.
1851 census
The census of 1851, shows 34 year old James Cragg with his 37 year old wife Eliza living in Long Street, Great Ellingham. With the couple is 45 year old Mary Ann Ager, a married woman and described as a sister in law to James. All three were born in Devon.
At this time, James and Eliza Cragg occupied the cottage near to the Baptist Chapel which had been bequeathed to the Trustees of the Baptist Church in 1724.
Arrival in Great Ellingham
The couple arrived in Great Ellingham in 1847 when James Cragg took up the pastorate in the village. According to David Budgen in his informative book “The Story of 300 years of the Baptist Church at Great Ellingham“, Pastor James Cragg’s nine years at Great Ellingham were full and active.
First Occupiers of the Manse
However at the time of his death, James and Eliza Cragg lived at The Manse.
Cragg was instrumental in a new house being provided for the Baptist Minister in Great Ellingham. He and his wife were the first occupiers of the Manse which was completed in December 1852.
Burial
Baptist Chapel Long Street Great Ellingham
Attleborough Heritage Group
James Craggs was buried in the nearby Baptist Chapel. The Baptist Quarterly records the following description to a grey stone slab in the floor of an aisle in the chapel:
Beneath this Stone
Rests the Body of
JAMES CRAGG
Who died Sept.26th
1856
Aged 40 years
Further a white tablet is on the wall opposite under the gallery and is inscribed:
In memory of
The Revd. James Cragg
Who for nine years was the beloved Pastor
of this church
Who died 26th September 1856
Aged 40 years
“A faithful servant of Christ”
The Baptist Quarterly also suggests that the white tablet was placed on the wall during renovations to the chapel in 1884.
James’s Widow returns to Devon
Following the death of her husband, Eliza Cragg returned to Devon. It is clear that Eliza Cragg did not intend to take all her household possessions.
Auction of Household Furniture
The Norwich Mercury of 25 October, 1856, published a notice concerning the intended sale by auction of the late Reverend James Cragg’s household furniture.
The sale – without reserve, would take place in Great Ellingham (presumably at The Manse) on Monday 27th October. Cragg’s household furniture ‘for entertaining and sleeping rooms comprised books, china, glass and other effects. A brown pony, cab-shaped pony gig and a set of harness was also included in the sale.
Updated 2 October 2025
Sources:
1851 census HO107/1823/127
1861 census RG9/1491/118
The Story of 300 years of the Baptist Church at Great Ellingham – David Bugden
Norfolk Chronicle and Norwich Gazette Saturday October 4th, 1856
Norwich Mercury 25th October, 1856. Viewed via British Newspaper Archive
The Baptists Quarterly. ‘A Village Pastorate, 1847-1856’. pages 218-225 https://www.biblicalstudies.gospelstudies.org.uk/pdf/bq/volumes/15-5.pdf