The Legacy of Reverend James Graves – Historic Beverley Bequest Alive and Well

As a town rich in heritage and history, Beverley has a wealth of stories from its past. One in particular is that of the Reverend James Graves and the legacy he left in his Will, which continues to have a positive impact on local children and young people.

Reverend Graves served first as assistant curate and later vicar of Beverley Minster between 1769 and 1807. In his Will, dated 1804, he left much of his estate in trust to educate “as many poor boys and girls who shall reside in and belong to the Parish of St Martin …..The Boys to spell read and write and account in all the common rules of arithmetic and the Girls to do the like and also to sew useful Needlework such as making plain Shirts and good housewife work in general.”

In 1810 the James Graves School opened in Beverley and a charitable trust was founded, which it still alive and well in the 21st century, with trustees meeting quarterly to distribute funds within the spirit of the original Will. A portrait of Reverend Graves still hangs in the Minster vestry.

Miss Dorothy Hailstone, one of the charity’s current trustees, has carried out research to find something more about the man behind the Will.

“Hardly anything is known of his upbringing, but it is the nature of the Will itself that says the most about him, in particular the fact that the bequest was left to benefit the education of not just boys, but also girls. Educational charities were not uncommon in James’s time, but the provision of education for both sexes was something of a rarity and shows him to be a forward thinker.

James and his wife had no children of their own, yet the Will clearly shows a man who cared very much for poor children within the parish. The trust that has survived two centuries, weathered financial recessions, endured many changes in charitable laws and is still going strong.”

In recent years the charity has supported work in local schools.

Roger Shaw, the trust’s chairman, explained:

“We receive applications from schools, organisations and individuals within the parish boundaries of the Minster. A successful application must support the education of children and young people within the spirit of Christianity. In the modern day we can go further than just helping to provide the ‘bibles and good books’ as stated in the Will – whilst still working within the spirit of the bequest, the trust has been able to support beneficiaries in others ways we think James would have approved.”

The trust has supported young people by helping them to afford opportunities to take part in projects in developing countries, such as assisting to build schools and other vital facilities that we take for granted.

Mr Shaw said: “I think James would have approved of this work. His trust, in its own small way is having a global impact.”

Miss Hailstone agrees: “From what I have discovered about James, I think he would be humbled and happy to know his gift is still helping children in Beverley and also supporting those in need half a world away.”