Sewell Wontner Close

Sewell Wontner Close: Vicar of Kesgrave, Foxhall and Brightwell from 1925 to 1927. When the churches reorganised he became Vicar of same and part of Foxhall. Brightwell and the remainder of Foxhall joined up with Bucklesham. Reverend Wontner, together with his sister and mother, moved into the new rectory on the Main Road in April 1929. He instigated the building of the present church hail, alongside the present church, in 1930-32. Due to ill health he was forced to leave the parish prior to the completion of the building project. In 1947 negotiations took place with Rev Wontner and a field between the church and the old Post Office was bought from the family for £450. Conditions were laid down by the vendor as to how it could be used. This formed the land onto which the old Kesgrave War Memorial Community Centre was built. Upon the building of the Grange Farm development, the field and adjoining parcels of land were sold, together with the hail, and a new site was developed in Twelve Acre Approach. Part of the site reverted to the church.