Posts Tagged ‘pews’

30
Jan

Wolfhampcote – St. Peter.

   Posted by: churches    in Rugby District, Warwickshire

St. Peter - Wolfhampcote

Due to the small population of the parish St. Peter’s has been closed and reopened a number of times during the last 150 years. It finally ceased to hold any regular services in the 1950s.

Nowadays it is owned by the Churches Conservation Trust, and remains a consecrated building, although services are only held here once a year.

The church originally served the nearby medieval village which was abandoned some time during the 14th century. The church continued to serve the villages of Flecknoe, Sawbridge, and Nethercote. However, a smaller church was built in the late 19th century in the village of Flecknoe which is about 2-3 miles away as the crow files. The building was paid for by the railway company in 1891 as compensation for the disruption caused at Wolfhampcote. The railway itself was closed to passengers in 1952 but carried freight until 1963.

Pews St. Peter - Wolfhampcote Anglo-Saxon font, St. Peter - Wolfhampcote Pulpit St. Peter - Wolfhampcote

The pews in the foreground are medieval as can be seen by the low shelf which is for resting elbows, not books. The date of these pews is thought to be 14th century but there is some evidence for an earlier 11th century date. The font is Anglo-Saxon. The octagonal pulpit with inlaid panels is dated 1790.

North chapel, St. Peter - Wolfhampcote Chancel, St. Peter - Wolfhampcote

The chancel contains a modern pointed traceried five-light window, and the altar rails are also modern. The floor is paved with a number of memorial slabs from the 18th century, and the walls contain 19th century memorials to the Tibbits family.

Corbel, St. Peter - Wolfhampcote King post roof, St. Peter - Wolfhampcote Corbel, St. Peter - Wolfhampcote

On either side of the chancel arch are half-round moulded corbels. The steep-pitched king-post roof in the chancel consisting of three trusses, and is probably 14th century.

Piscina, St. Peter - Wolfhampcote Memorial cross, St. Peter - Wolfhampcote Memorial, St. Peter - Wolfhampcote

A C14 ogee-headed piscina with circular basin is inset into the south wall of the north chapel, indicating that an altar was once there. The north aisle has a memorial cross to John Truslove who died aged 16.

Memorial, St. Peter - Wolfhampcote Memorial, St. Peter - Wolfhampcote

The sanctuary contains memorial slabs and a brass memorial to Frances Benyon wife of parish minister (died 1687).

Tags: , , , , ,

1 Comment
28
Oct

Fawsley – St. Mary.

   Posted by: churches    in Daventry District, Northamptonshire

St Mary's - Fawsley St Mary's - Fawsley

St. Mary’s parish church at Fawsley dates from the early 13th century, much of which remains, including the tower, south porch, chancel, and nave.

Alabaster tomb - Fawsley Alabaster tomb detail - Fawsley

The alabaster free standing tomb to Sir Richard Knightley and his wife Jane Skenard, heiress to Old Aldington is c1540 and contains some fine details.

Alabaster tomb detail - Fawsley Alabaster tomb - Fawsley Font - Fawsley

The font is 13th century and the worn original carving has been reworked.

East window - Fawsley East window - Fawsley East window - Fawsley

The east window is a Victorian memorial depicting Sir Charles Knightley and his wife in the bottom left and right panels.

Brass memorial St. Mary - Fawsley Brass memorial St. Mary - Fawsley North wall monument St. Mary - Fawsley

The brass in the aisle, however, is mid 16th century monument to Sir Edmund Knightley and his wife and their six daughters. The oldest brass though is that of Thomas Knightley (1516), which shows him with his heart engraved above his portrait. The largest monument in this church though is the large monument on the north wall to the Knightley family (1566-1619). It was restored in 1930.

Medieval medallions St. Mary - Fawsley Medieval stained glass window St. Mary - Fawsley Medieval medallions St. Mary - Fawsley

the church also contains a number of peices of medieval stained glass. The oldest is the 13th century window depicting Adam and Eve. Restored in 1992 in memory of the Reverend Roy Dooley. Other windows contain 15th century medallions depicting biblical scenes that were originally at Sulgrave Manor.

Washington Window St. Mary - Fawsley Washington Shield St. Mary - Fawsley

Amongst the glass panels from Sulgrave manor, are 16th century panels depicting marital shields celebrating the marriages of members of the Washington Family. The top panel second from left celebrates the marriage of Lawrence Washington and Amy Pargiter (1538).
The bottom left panel celebrates the marriage of Robert Washington, (son of Lawrence Washington), and Elizabeth Light (1565). The top panel third from left celebrates the marriage of the second son also called Lawrence Washington to Martha Newce. Sulgrave Manor was the home of George Washington’s ancestors, and the central panel clearly shows the Washington coat of arms upon which the American flag, the ‘Stars and Stripes’, is based.

Box Pew St. Mary - Fawsley Knightley Pew St. Mary - Fawsley

The pews in St. Mary’s are medieval box pews, and in the south aisle is the high sided medieval Knightley Pew. This was designed so that the family members could attend church and not be seen by the rest of the congregation.

Squint St. Mary - Fawsley

However, with such high sides the family also couldn’t see what the priest was doing at the altar. As a result a ‘squint’ in the south wall of the chancel was made, so that they could see what the priest was doing.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

1 Comment
Back to top