Back in Edwardian Southend, the community was rocked by the death of one of its most-respected citizens - a vicar whose death was so bizarre and mysterious it could have come straight out a of Miss Marple novel.

Yet there was nothing fictionalised when it comes to to the story of Dr Henry Charles Lang, the vicar of All Saints Church in Southend.

Shortly before Christmas in 1909 the reverend was found dead in his bed at the church vicarage in Lancaster Gardens, Southend.

His arm was outstretched and within reach of an uncorked vial of prussic acid sitting on his dresser. The air was filled with the peach blossom odour associated with the deadly poison.

The bedroom door was locked from the inside and concerned friends had been forced to break it down after being alerted by the vicar’s wife Rose.

Dr Lang had clearly swallowed the poison. But why?

His death sent shockwaves through the Southend community. Dr Lang had been incumbent at the church since 1892, taking over from the previous leader, the Reverend Montague Burnett.

In his youth and before he entered the priesthood, Dr Lang had studied to become a medical physician and had spent time working at the Central London Sick Asylum. He was ordained as a priest in 1886.

Dr Lang was a popular figure, although he had attracted some criticism during his time in Southend due to his ardent belief in ritualism - an emphasis on the rituals and liturgical ceremonies of the church, in particular of Holy Communion. In other words he swayed very close to the rituals of the Catholic Church, which didn’t go down too well with everyone within his Church of England parish.

Dr Lang wore bright vestments, installed elaborate candelabras and crucifixes within his church and would swing of a thurible - a metal incense burner on chains - throughout the congregation. On more than one occasion he incurred the wrath of Protestant protesters who came to the town to argue against ritualism. Not long before his death, Dr Lang’s ‘High Church’ services had even been called into question by the House of Commons Commission on church discipline However, his church teachings weren’t his only passion in life. Dr Lang was a butterfly enthusiast and had amassed a collection of 10,000 butterfly specimens. He would often exhibit them at the Palace Hotel in Southend and had written several books on the subject. He was also an accomplished amateur actor and had led the service for the laying of the foundation stone for the New Empire Theatre in Southend.

In 1902 Dr Lang suffered a stroke and had to go to Spain for a while to convalesce. Despite his ongoing illness, when his strange death occurred in 1909 it was, to say the least, a hot topic in Southend.

Foul play was at first suspected yet was swiftly pushed aside when it became evident he had drank the poison himself. It soon came to light that the vicar had bought the poison a few weeks earlier, telling the pharmacist he needed it because he “wanted to kill a dog”.

It also became evident that Dr Lang had money problems. He had accepted a financial loan from an an elderly invalid woman – presumably from his parish – which he was unable to pay back. Although this wasn’t illegal it certainly raised a few eyebrows at to why Dr Lang was accepting money - and what did he need it for?

A handwritten letter, found on the dresser, along with the empty bottle of acid, would also shed a whole new light on his life and beliefs.

The goodbye letter to his wife outlined how much he loved her. However, it also detailed how the vicar has lost his faith in religion and didn’t believe in anything he had been preaching.

“Farewell! farewell! farewell!,” wrote Dr Lang. “Don’t enquire any more. You will think me mad, but l am not. I cannot make that excuse. Don’t think it is the religion that I have taught outwardly, but, for some time, have not really believed.”

He explained how he found religion a form of “hypocrisy” and claims that he was actually an agnostic.

He wrote: “Science one can understand, and the assertions of religion are not borne out by scientific facts. I an agnostic, that is, I believe in the possibility a deity existing, except as a great creative principle or first cause, but all the elaborate doctrines of man’s recovery seem to be out of harmony with the dealing with the rest of the organised life of the universe.

“Do not mourn for me. You are all that I care for, but you are better without me. l am not worthy to come near to you, darling wife. Don’t think I can say I am mad, not a coward. l am just going to take the step, and my hand is steady, except for the cold. In spite of you and other things I find life insupportable.”

Supporters of the vicar believed the stroke and its long term effects had taken their toll on Dr Lang and his final letter did not represent his life-long work.

A jury at the inquest into Dr Lang’s death found he had taken his own life but there was insufficient evidence to determine his state his mind. His body was buried in Southchurch Churchyard where his mother had been laid to rest.