Rev. H. M. Batten
Information about Reverend H. M. Batten is scarce. His full name is seemingly impossible to find online; even St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Upper Island Cove, a parish at which he served as rector for multiple years, recorded only his initials. Much of the following information was provided by the archivist at the Synod Office in St. John’s.
Harris Melvin Batten, born in Bareneed on March 10, 1912, was a student at Queen’s College in St. John’s, likely beginning in 1938 and ending at an uncertain date. Ordained as deacon on May 31, 1942, and as priest on June 20, 1943, Batten served as the chaplain of Queen’s College from 1942 to 1943. Following this, he held the position of curate of St. Mary’s Anglican Church in Hodge’s Cove from July 1943 to June 1945 and from 1943 to 1945, and then the incumbent of Flower’s Cove from 1945 until September 1951. In 1951, after his position in Flower’s Cove, Batten travelled to England, where he was curate of St. Andrew’s Rectory in Romford, Essex, from 1951 to 1952. He returned to Newfoundland in July 1953. In Upper Island Cove, he served first as the incumbent of the mission (beginning August 1, 1953) and then as rector from January 1, 1954, to 1958. He was rector of Heart’s Content as of October 1, 1958; simultaneously, he appears to have held the position of rural dean of Conception-Trinity, starting on the same date and ending on August 14, 1968. While he was in this position, he was a consultant for the 1967 Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador. On August 15, 1968, he became the rector of Channel, a position he held until his death on June 17, 1970.
Rev. Batten was a married man. References to his wife are found in many marriage records as she was often the organist at church weddings. There appear to be no extant records of her life but several elderly citizens of Upper Island Cove claim that her name was Molly; however, it is possible this may have been a nickname. According to both the older residents and the Synod archivist, Rev. Batten married later in life than the average man at the time. He does not appear to have had any children.
Batten’s name appears on four texts in the Queen Elizabeth II Library, written each time as “H. M. Batten.” Several texts bear the notation “Queen’s College,” but it is uncertain if this means that Batten was still a member of Queen’s College (as student or chaplain) when he donated the books or simply named it as his alma mater.
Donation List:
Blunt, A. W. F. Israel in World History. Oxford University Press, Humphrey Milford, 1927.
Dearmer, Percy. The Parson’s Handbook: Containing Practical Directions both for Parsons and Others as to the Management of the Parish Church and Its Services according to the English Use, as Set forth in the Book of Common Prayer. London: Humphrey Milford, 1921.
Olivier, Henry E. What Happened at the Reformation? Milwaukee: Morehouse Publishing Co., 1928.
Theodoret de Cyr. B. Theodoreti Episcopi Cyri Opera Omnia Ex Recensione Jacobi Sirmondi, Tomus II. Halae, Typis et Impensis Bibliopolii Orphanotrophei, 1770.
