Description: Canon George Edward Mason was one of the longer-serving Rectors, holding office for 34 years from 1874. There were many changes in the Parish under his influence and energy, although he spent much of his time on duties elsewhere. He was a frequent visitor to London, he also travelled round the world and published a comprehensive book of his experiences, and visited South Africa on more than one occasion. In fact, he died in Africa after a long spell of ill-health, having resigned the living at Whitwell in 1908. Whitwell was purely an agricultural village when he arrived, with only a few houses on Bakestone Moor, very few on Larpit Lane and there was no Hodthorpe. The Rectory was uninhabitable, when he arrived, so he lived in apartments. He arranged for the restoration of the Old Rectory by the famous architect, R.L. Pearson, RA - the same combination was responsible for the restoration and reconciliation of All Saint's Chapel, Steetley. His other endeavours included the enlargement of the Parish Church, the building of St Martin's Church and the opening of day schools at Hodthorpe and Whitwell. Canon Mason kept the canon balls, armour and weapons, from the Civil War skirmish on Whitwell Common, with the idea of opening a village museum. The Canon Mason screen in the Parish Church is dedicated to his memory and the local lodge of the RAOB was also named after him. (information from www.wlhg.co.uk)