Highfield

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In the census of 1881, Walter H. Chitty (b.1868, India) was a boarder at Eton College (Westons Yard from Watsons Chambers).
Source Citation: Class: RG11; Piece: 1458; Folio: 96; Page: 24; GSU roll: 1341353.

Walter received his B.A. from Jesus College, Cambridge in 1889 and his M.A. in 1893.

In 1901, the census shows him unmarried and Schoolmaster of Stratheden House School, St. Johns Park Road, Greenwich. His sister, Mary A. Chitty (b.1866, India) was also present.
Source Citation: Class: RG13; Piece: 540; Folio: 137; Page: 3.

He was made deacon by the Bishop of Rochester, Kent in 1903 and ordained there in 1904.

In 1908, Crockfords Clerical Directory listed him at St Christophers School, Shalford Park nr Guildford. Then from 1908-1919 he became headmaster of Aysgarth School, Yorkshire.

Rev. Chitty was installed at Highfield on September 8th 1920 and during his tenure tried to make significant changes to the structure of the church and the finances. He sold the large vicarage, which was in a state of disrepair and uneconomical, moving into 99 Highfield Lane.
The 1927 Kellys Directory described Highfield Church as having a living of a vicarage net £500 per year.
When he left Highfield in 1929 he gifted a bound set of the parish magazines to the PCC, as well as the inscribed chair (photographed above) for the use of the Bishop when visiting the church.

In addition to his role at Highfield, Rev. Chitty was made Rural Dean of Southampton, 1925-30, and Honorable Canon of Winchester from 1928. He became vicar of Hartley Wintney (Basingstoke), in the diocese of Winchester, from 1931-33.

Death recorded for Walter H. Chitty (aged 72),  Jul-Sep 1940, Winchester, Hampshire, Vol. 2c, page 293.

Sources: Additional facts given above unsourced were taken from Crockfords Clerical Directories or Highfield Church Southampton 1847-1997 by Elizabeth Reader.