Vicar-designate of St Albans Chiswick in 1887.
From The Life and Death of Andy Ducat by Jonathan Northall (pdf): "... Crompton House School which would later become Southend Grammar School. Crompton House was situated at Warrior Square in Southend and was styled as ‘a high class school for the sons of gentlemen’. It was run by the Rev. George Henley Manbey M.A. Oxon. .. Manbey was a graduate from Oxford University, and had spent time as the vicar of St Alban’s Church in Acton Green before moving to Southend. .. Manbey was also a huge believer in abstinence from alcohol and was president of the Southend Temperance League. .. Although Manbey had interests in chess and horticulture, he was clearly a fan of sport. Football featured prominently in his advertisements for the school. He was also a lover of cricket .."
From Alumni Oxoniensis (1715-1886) volume 3.djvu/122: "Manbey, Rev. George Henley, 2s. George, of St. Nicholas, Guildford, gent. Keble Coll., matric. 13 Oct., 1873, aged 18; B.A. 1877, M.A. 1880."
Our colleague, Andrew Behan, adds that George Henley Manbey was born on 19 May 1855 the youngest of the three children of George Manbey (1821-1900) and Georgianna Manbey née Harper (1819-1905). His birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1855 in the Guildford Registration District, Surrey. On 19 May 1855 he was baptised in the Parish of St Nicholas, Guildford, where in the baptismal registers his family are shown to be living in the St Nicholas parish and that he father was described as a gentleman.
In the 1871 census he is shown as aged 16 years and a scholar, living in Westall House, Brook Green, Hammersmith, London, with his parents, his two siblings: Elizabeth Blanche Manbey (1851-1934) - a scholar and William John Manbey (1853-1922) - articled to a solicitor and his maternal aunt Blanche R. Harper (1825-1901), together with one male and two female domestic servants. His father was shown as Member of the Royal College of Surgeons.
Having attended Keble College, Oxford and obtaining his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in 1877, in 1878 he was appointed as the Curate at All Saints Church, South Acton, Middlesex (now Greater London), a position he would hold until 1888
He obtained his Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in 1880 and on 23 May 1880 he married Mary Jane Thomas (1853-1951) at St Mary the Virgin Church, Castle Street, Reading, Berkshire. They were to have eight children: Alban Henley Olaf Manbey (1881-1951); Cecilia Agnes Mary Manbey (1883-1958); Percy Harper Manbey (1884-1928); Bernard Frederick Manbey (1887-1971); Basil Keble Manbey (1888-1940); Cyril Victor Manbey (1890-1890); Mildred Amy Maud Manbey (1892-1964) and Gladys Olga Manbey (1897-1954).
When the 1881 census was undertaken he was described as aged 26 years and the Curate of All Saints Church, South Acton. He was living at 6 Cumberland Villas, Acton Green, Acton, with his wife, together with a female domestic servant.
The Overseer Returns for 1885 and 1886 list him as The Rev. George Henley Manbey residing in a leasehold house called Keble Villa, Acton Green, Turnham Green, Middlesex.
In 1888 he was appointed as the Vicar of St Alban's Church, South Acton and was shown as such in the 1891 census, aged 36 years and residing at Keble Villa, Beaumont Road, Acton, with his wife and their five surviving children: Alban Henley Olaf Manbey; Cecilia Agnes Mary Manbey; Percy Harper Manbey; Bernard Frederick Manbey and Basil Keble Manbey, together with a cook, a nurse and a housemaid.
The 1900 edition of the Post Office London Southern Suburbs Directory lists him as 'Manbey Rev. George Henley M.A.Oxon. private school, St. Alban's college, Lime aven, Oakfield rd. Penge SE.'
He is listed in the 1901 census as Geo. Henry Manbey, aged 46 years, a Clerk in Holy Orders and a schoolmaster residing at 55 Warrior Square, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, with his wife and their seven surviving children: Alban Henley Olaf Manbey - an assistant schoolmaster; Cecilia Agnes Mary Manbey - an assistant schoolmistress; Percy Harper Manbey; Bernard Frederick Manbey; Basil Keble Manbey; Mildred Amy Maud Manbey and Gladys Olga Manbey, together with a male boarder.
In the Southend, Essex section of the 1908 edition of the London Post Office Home Counties Directory he is listed as 'Manbey Rev. George Henley M.A. (curate of Holy Trinity), 60 Boscombe road'.
When he completed his 1911 census return form he described himself as aged 56 years, a school master & clergyman (established church), living in a seven roomed property at 60 Boscombe Road, Southend-on-Sea, with his wife and four of their children: Cecilia Agnes Mary Manbey - a school mistress; Percy Harper Manbey - a clerk; Basil Keble Manbey - a clerk (insurance) and Mildred Amy Maud Manbey - a school mistress. He also stated on the form that his wife had given birth to eight children of which seven were still alive.
He showed himself on his 1921 return form as aged 66 years, 2 months, a Clerk in Holy Orders, M.A.Oxon and the head master of Southend Grammar School, still residing in the seven property at 60 Boscombe Road, Southend-on-Sea, with his wife and three of their children: Percy Harper Manbey - a Captain in the Essex Regiment and a schoolmaster B.A.Oxon at Southend Grammar School; Mildred Amy Maud Manbey - a school mistress at Sutton Grammar School and Gladys Olga Manbey - a school mistress at Sutton Grammar School.
His death was registered as aged 68 years in the 1st quarter of 1924 in the Rochford Registration District, Essex and his body was buried on 28 March 1924 in the churchyard of Holy Trinity Church, Southchurch Boulevard, Southend-on-Sea, SS2 4XA.
He is shown as 'REVD. GEO.HENLEY MANBEY,M.A. VICAR-DESIGNATE.' on the foundation stone of St Alban's Church, Acton Green, South Parade, London, W4.
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