|
HANWELL HERITAGE
Notes on the History
and
Architecture of the
Parish
Church of
St. Peter,
Hanwell,
Oxfordshire
Compiled by
The Rev. Leslie W.A.
Ahrendt,
MA, FLS.
Rector of Hanwell
St Peter's Day 29th June 1941 |
|
 |
The
Church is partly of the 13th century (1230 A.D. onwards), mostly
of the 14th century, with some additions of the 15th century; with
very slight later alterations and restoration. Outstanding
and unique features are the capitals of the nave arcade (within) and
the carvings on the wall plate below the Chancel roof (without). The
latter are enumerated by Charles E. Keyser, M.L., F.S.A., in the
Journal of the British Archaeological Association, December 1921,
page 145, as follows:-
South side, beginning from the west: a ball flower; a figure with
head. of hare and winged body and twisted tail; a head; a ball
flower; a head; two human headed dragons facing each other; a
mutilated figure; a human headed monster with winged lion's body;
two warriors with small round shields facing each other; foliage
and head with cowl, facing a rabbit; a man with staff; a dog and
stag facing each other; a man holding a branch; a human headed
monster.
North side, beginning from the west; a head; a ball flower; a head;
a man with two hounds on a leash; a mermaid holding a fish in each
hand; a dog with rabbit on its back; a human headed monster,
facing a leopard; a human headed winged monster; a head; an old
lady with a pitch-fork pursuing a fox stealing her goose; two roses;
two human headed monsters, one with helmet facing each other; a
bunch of foliage; a figure in a coffin holding a chalice; a figure
with a dagger in his side. Mr.Keyser suggests these might have been
desiged by William of Wykeham in his younger days, which would
place them about 1350 A.D., and make them a later addition to the
Chancel. The size and spaciousness of the Church for such a small
village and the attractive appearance of the yellowish brown
Hornton stone are both characteristics of the Churches of this
district.
HISTORICAL SURVEY
The oldest feature of the Church is the Norman
font (in the south aisle), which is tub shaped, and decorated
with an interlacing arcade of semicircular headed arches. Mr Keyser,
in the British Archaeological Society's Journal, refers to this as a
relic of the earlier, Norman Church. The list of Rectors of Hanwell
does not begin, however, until 1233 A.D.
Standing in the naive, there is visible above the approx. Chancel
arch, the outline of the original steeply pitched roof, this was
that of the earliest form of the present building dating from about
the year 1230 A.D. and consisting, possibly of the nave only,
possibly of the nave and the north aisle. Thus, the earliest work in
the Church, of Early English period presumably consists of the walls
at the east and west ends of the nave, above the chancel and tower
arches; and it may include, also, the walls of the north Doors
aisle. Contemporary with these are the beautiful early slender
English doorways, on the north and south sides, with their
conspicuous slender shafts, roll moulds, and deeply cut molding.
These original doorways may have been moved outwards when the aisles were built. Some writers describe the north aisle as
later than the nave and the south aisle, but this may be merely an
impression due to its later window; the rectangular ones at the side
replaced some earlier windows, and it is difficult to see that these
could have been other than a series of lancets, and the narrow
character of the north aisle does not suggest that it is late. The
windows at the west end of this north aisle, and of the nave, may be
crude plate tracery, transitional between Early English, and Early
Geometric Decorated; but, in small and insignificant windows like
these, there is scarcely material to enable a confident decision to
be made.
Not long after, possibly about 1250 A.D. there was added the south
aisle, belonging to the transitional period between Early English,
and Early Geometric Decorated, with its characteristic window arches
still showing the slender shafts. The east window of this south
aisle, doubtless coeval with it, is a beautiful example of plate
tracery, with roll moulded mullions characteristic of the
transition; as is also the piscina combined with credence shelf in
the south east corner. The other windows of this aisle have
slightly later tracery.
Some time later, about 1270 A.D. possibly, the Chancel was added,
being inclined slightly to the right, on account of the
configuration of the land without. This belongs to the Decorated
period and contains two low-side windows, now blocked up. These are
some times thought to have been leper windows, whose occasional
existence has possibly been generalised as an explanation for the
making of all these windows. In general, they apparently served a
variety of purposes where communication between the inside and
outside of the Church was desirable. It
may be noted that the head at the right side of the Chancel appears
to be that of Henry III. The Chancel also bears on its outer
wall the carvings referred to in the summary. Apparently, at the
time the Chancel was built, the steeply pitched roof was raised.
about two feet, and the outline of this is visible, less clearly,
above the position of the original roof. The Chancel arch is early
Decorated, with a plain continuous chamfer, without any capital, an
unusual feature to be seen in the nave arcade of the neighboring
parish church of Cropredy. Indications of ancient rood loft remain.
The east window is a magnificent specimen of early bar tracery, of
five lights with trefoiled heads, and simple plain, produced,
curved, interlacing mullions. In The centre on the north side, is a
simple two light window of the same style. The design of the tracery
of the two three light windows in the side of the south aisle is
also of this type, having been inserted later into its windows. The
molded triple selilia and piscina are also decorated work. To the South from
this period there belong, too, the south porch with plain,
chamfered, continuous arch; and the nave arcade. Although it would
seem that the arcade must have been erected somewhat earlier, the
arches are of early Decorated style, as also the
rare capitals, which may not have been carved at once; for it will
be noticed that those at the west end have remained rough,
un-carved blocks to this day. The pillars are compound with four
clustered columns, and an octagonal abacus. The capitals are
sculptured with human heads and outstretched arms; the hands
clasping round the capital. On the north side, above, there is a
small embattlement as an additional ornament, with further heads
above. On the south side there is no embattlement, and the upper
series of heads is replaced by one of complete figures
playing the voil and fife. The carving of all these figures is
remarkably realistic and expressive, and this feature is the most
remarkable in the Church.
This brings us to the beginning of the fourteenth century. About
this time the tower was built, and there is a Decorated arch between
this and the nave; while it is separated from the aisle which
surround it by massive, plain, chamfered arches of eight orders.
There was originally a small Gallery under the tower; indications as
to where this ran; and the staircase which lead to it can be clearly
seen. In this period there was inserted the east window of the north
aisle, which is mature Geometric with a reticulated tracery,
somewhat transitional to the curvilinear, or flowing, type in which
the late Decorated period found its climax. This window may be
placed about 1315 A.D. while little later, say 1350 A.D. belong the
three windows in the sides of the Chancel, to which reference was
omitted before. These are of a simple curvilinear type, with lights
with heads with ogee curves. To this period there belongs the
sculpture now in the east wall of the north aisle. This has often
been referred to as a reredos. Some writers, noticing that its ends
have been cut off to fit it in to the present position, have
suggested that it may have been the original reredos to the High
Altar. Mr. Keyser's suggestion is more likely, that it is
"probably the side of a monument, possible of the lady whose
effigy lies on the floor of the south aisle", at the east end.
It is elegantly carved, but somewhat damaged.
Possibly, about this time, there was a partitioned off a room, for
the use of a visiting or chantry priest, or the sacristan of the
Church, at the west end. of the south aisle. A fireplace (in which
there is now a modern grate) is to be seen in the corner, and was
possibly there, with the room in use, since the aisle was built.
Above this, on the roof of the aisle was another little room,
entered by a doorway (now blocked up) from the tower stairs.
The slanting wall, on the south side of the tower, which formed one
boundary of this upper room, can be been from without. Beside it is
the elegant rare, Decorated chimney, for the fireplace below.
Apparently these rooms interfered with the windows at the west end
of the aisle, for the west one on the south side was reconstructed
with later mullions (though in the early Geometric style of about
1270 A.D.) But the west window of the south aisle has tracery of a
later period, transitional between, Decorated and Perpendicular,
with two mullions reaching to the top of the window; presumably
about 1350 A.D.
As this new period developed, the walls above the nave arcade were
raised, so as to provide the third position of the roof, the flat,
elevated form which we now see. This was done in order that
clerestory windows might be inserted, resulting in a great increase
of interior lighting. The rather attractive clerestory windows are
rectangular headed, and consist each of two lights with
quinquefoiled heads. Towards the close of the perpendicular period,
there were inserted the debased rectangular windows in the north
aisle (presumably to give more light, as would have been necessary
if this side had previously only lancets). These are typical of
domestic, rather than ecclesiastical, architecture, have wooden
lintels, and were most likely placed here when Hanwell
Castle was built in l497, by William Cope,
cofferer to Henry VII. This completes the building of the Church as
we now see it.
During this last decade of the 15th century, the patronage of the
rectory of Hanwell passed into the hands of the Cope family. Before
a century had elapsed, the district was noted as a stronghold of
Puritan influence. In 1585 Sir Anthony Cope presented John Dod,
Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge, to the Rectory of Hanwell, and
his contemporary puritan Robert Cleaver to the neighbouring Rector
of Drayton. It was probably Dod who introduced, the three houseling
benches, which may be regarded as late 16th century. They were
placed round three sides of the Communion table, which was brought
down into the Chancel, or even the nave; and those who received the
Sacrament sat upon them while so doing.
Another relic of this period is the oak table now standing at the
side of the Chancel. This was introduced in order to supersede the
medieval High Altar. It was apparently an ordinary Elizabethan
domestic table, which has been raised by additions at the base. To
John Dod, also, must be given the credit of starting the earliest
Church register now in existence, which begins on February 2nd,
1586. It is interesting to note that for these earliest recorded
years some names recur which are still represented in the village -
Hazlewood, Buller, and Gunn. It seems likely that the opening pages
of the register are in John Dod's own handwriting, for it remains
the Same during his incumbency, and changes immediately afterwards.
The valuable paten and chalice now used rarely, which the Church
possesses date from this period. John Dod remained, at Hanwell for
20 years, being then "suspended, for non-conformity' (as was
also Robert Cleaver). In the confusion which followed, Archbishop
Bancroft attempted to present to the benefices of Hanwell and
Drayton on the ground of a lapse; but he finally agreed that Sir
Anthony Cope should present, on condition that, of his two nominees,
Robert Harris should go to Hanwell. This celebrated Puritan
officiated therefore, in succession to John Dod. It is sometimes
recorded that he came in 1614 A.D. which implies a long vacancy; but
this cannot be so for Bancroft died. in 1610. Sir Anthony Cope
himself died in 1614, so to the incumbency of Harris belongs the
large monument with alabaster effigies which blocks up the eastern
window on the north side of the chancel. The initials R.H. on this
monument are those of the Rector, who preached a funeral sermon
entitled "Samuel's Funeral". Keyser relates that this
"was issued in pamphlet form, and was treated as a Bible
amongst the early Puritans in Banbury and the neighbourhood.".
Unfortunately, no copy of this seems to have been preserved in the
Church, but there is in the Church chest a copy, printed in 1626, of
another of Dr. Harris's sermons, entitled "Hezekiah's
Recovery" Further at this time, the east part of the floor of
the chancel was raised, so that a vault for the Cope family might be
constructed beneath. The sanctuary is thus approached by a series of
steps in the middle; while this, modified later, does not spoil the
appearance of the Chancel, viewed from the nave, it does spoil the
piscina and triple sedilia by bringing the shelf of the former and
the seats of the latter to the floor level.
In August 1642, not long before the Battle
of Edge Hill was fought, some four miles away, Cavalier soldiers
took possession of Hanwell Castle, and turned Dr. Harris out of his
Rectory house. Reminiscent of this incident is an inscription in the
fly leaf of the Church register which reads
"This register was lost in the late wars, 1642 til 1649, when
it was found in Oxford".
Within the body of the book, there is a gap in the entry of
Baptisms, from March 14th, 1639, until 1647, and in this gap is
inscribed
"This book was taken away by soldiers in the year 1642 and 1649
".
Presumably the register was removed when Dr. Harris was turned out of
his house. He does not seem to have vacated the benefice until
1645, when he was instituted to the Rectory of St. Botolph,
Bishopsgate, in the City of London. In the following year, Dr. Harris
became Rector of Petersfield in Hampshire; and, in l648, President
of Trinity College, Oxford, and Rector of the college living of
Garsington (Oxfordshire).
We may, however, feel that he had a deep affection for this
benefice, where he stayed for so long because the register records,
on June 18th, 1664, the burial in Hanwell Church of Joanna,
widow of Robert Harris.
There appears to be no record of what happened from l642 until
1645, when the Rector was driven out of his parish, nor whether
there was any interval after he vacated the benefice. His successor
was Walter Harris, who is definitely recorded as Rector in 1651, in
the register, when his daughter was baptized. The present old
register which covers the period 1586 to 1754, really consists of a
number of earlier volumes, later bound together. The dates do not
run consecutively, but in groups, as baptisms, marriages, and
burials were in the first instance kept in separate volumes. A fresh
register (or section of the present volume) was started at this
period with a title page bearing the inscription
"A register for the parish of Hanwell, according to an Act of
Parliament, commencing September 29th l653. Walter Harris, Minister
and Registrar."
This Rector almost covered the period of the Commonwealth, remaining
until 1658. A memorial on the wall of the south aisle, to his wife,
bears the date 1656.
The Restoration period covered by the incumbency of George Ashwell,
also left its mark on the Church. An entry, duly witnessed, in the
register, dated August 3lst, l662, records that, according to the
Act of Uniformity, the declaration was made, and the new Prayer Book
used on
"the Lord's Day immediately preceding the Feast of
St.Bartholomew,1662".
At this point, history is recorded, on two brasses under the Chancel
carpet. The Rector, and the parish are greatly indebted to
C. E. Wrangham Esq., not only for getting these notes published in
order to help the Church funds, but also for the following note on
the brasses, with translation of the Latin inscriptions.
Note on the Brasses In Hanwell Church - C.E.
Wrangham
On the floor of the Chancel are two plain brasses, bearing Latin
inscriptions in capital letters. These are memorials to two children
of the third Sir Anthony Cope of Hanwell Castle, V.P. for Banbury,
and of Mary Gerard, his wife and first cousin. They had, already
lost two sons. The words may be translated as follows:-
"Memorial"
"Here lies a boy of high qualities, and higher hope, Henry
Cope, darling only son of the most noble Sir Anthony Cope, Baronet,
and of Vary his wife. Seven years he lived here, and then he rested
in the Lord to enjoy the eternal Seventh Day. During his eighth year
the Lord took him on the Lord's itself, June 8th, A.D.1662. The Lord
gave the Lord hath taken away, the Lord will give again."
"Memorial"
"Here,
at the feet of a beloved brother in death untimely to her family,
yet timely to her, lies mistress Mary Cope, only begotten daughter
of these same parents, and their only hope. A virgin, she passed to
the Choir of Virgins on the Eve of the Annunciation of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, whose name she bore. She reached within a year of the
same limit of life as her brother, and the same day of the week on
which he died before her, namely the Lord 's Day, A.D.1671.
"This hast thou ordained, O Lord, to whom her family remaining
humbly pray that thou mayest graciously look on her in her
loneliness and grant her a glorious resurrection."
Four years later, at the age of only forty three their father died
of a broken heart. Their mother went out of her mind through grief,
and lived for another forty years. Perhaps it was she who caused the
legend of the Ghost of Hanwell
Castle. These were the last of the Copes to live here.
Thereafter, the estates passed out of the family, who had built the
Castle, and possessed it for two hundred years.
Taking up the story once more, it must be mentioned that before Sir
Anthony died, and the Cope family disappeared, they left one
precious memento behind them. This is
the Clock, which strikes the hours, and whose mechanism is at
the west end of the nave, under the tower. It bears a plate with the
inscription "Sir Anthony Cope, his gift. George Harris,
Fritwell. January 1671."
The register has an entry, on September, 19th, 1676, with witnesses,
recording "A terrier of land belonging to the Church
(presumably the benefice) of Hanwell". This "lay in the
common field belonging to the said parish, and is in common
estimation about an acre and a half; whereof one parcel, well nigh
an acre in quantity, lies in ye west field, ye west end thereof,
shooting into Warwick Road. and it lies between two other lands,
whereof that on the north side is now in the occupation of ye widow
Coxe, and that on ye south side in ye occupation of Mrs Wotton.
The other parcel being somewhat above half an acre in quantity, lies
in lotzum quarter, between ye common Balke on ye north side, and on
ye south side a land now in ye occupation of Jonas Hazlewood".
Another register entry of this period runs as follows: "That on
Easter Day, April 4th, 1686, ye Hoble William Communion-Spencer
Esq., out of his pious liberality, lent his Communion plate for the
use of my parishioners of Hanwell, viz, one large silver flagon,
one large silver chalice, and one large silver paten, the which are
not to be taken for his gift to my Church of Hanwell, unless he
please hereafter to signify his will herein, but otherwise may be
resumed if he think fit, whensoever he pleaseth. The week before, ye
Hoble Will. Spencer, Jun. Esq., committee of ye body and estate of
ye Lady Mary Cope at his own charge set up rails in my chancel
before ye Communion table, and painted ye walls from ye east end,
and along ye south side rails as far as ye said rails. The coping
and painting of the roof was done, partly at his, partly at ye
Rector's charge. The setting up of the wainscot, and ye benches,
with ye painting of both, as also of ye walls in ye west part of ye
chancel, between ye rails and ye body of ye church, besides ye more
necessary repairs of paving, slating, whiting, and glazing ye
chancel was done at ye charge of ye Rector."
Perhaps this includes the renewal of the mullions in the east
window, recorded by Beesley as done in the reign of Charles II. This
period contributed one more monument, the altar tomb to the Rector,
George Ashwell, in the south aisle.
The eighteenth century is represented by further monuments. At the
east of the south aisle is an altar tomb to another Rector;
Dr. Fitzherbert Potter, who died in 1750. This is crowned with an
immense slab of black marble, measuring 9 feet by 4 feet 6 inches.
Immediately after the entry of the burial of this Rector, a note has
made in the register, and afterwards erased. Several attempts have
been made, at later times, to decipher these words. The suggested
reading is - "The stone laid on Dr. Potter's tomb belong to the
Church at Hanwell, and may be removed into its place without
risk". The significance of this reading, which is of doubtful
accuracy in parts, is not clear. Another similar large slab of black
marble has been recorded in the neighbourhood, namely on the tomb of
the cofferer, William Cope, in the mediaeval parish church of
Banbury. When this was destroyed in 1790, the remains crumbled into
dust. It is possible that this slab was then brought from Banbury to
Hanwell. In favour of this it may be mentioned that the slab is too
large for its present tomb, and that the comment in the register is
in small cramped writing which suggests a later insertion. Dr.
Keyser suggests that it may have been the original stone of the High
Altar. Both suggestions may be true, for the Altar stone would have
been discarded by the puritans in 1585, and would probably have
lain about in the intervening years.
In 1750, there began as happened in many parishes, a series of
non-resident Rectors. This resident state of affairs lasted until
1814. During this period a succession of curates officiated, and the
name of the Rector does not appear in the Church register. Some of
those curates held benefices elsewhere, being themselves
non-resident in these. One of these, Thomas Gill, who was also
Patron and Rector of Avon Dassett in Warwickshire, and of Holcot in
Northamptonshire, is commemorated by a Tablet in the north aisle,
dated 1777; with a tombstone below.
The 19th century ended the practice of non-residence, and is marked
at Hanwell by the incumbency of two members of the Pearse family,
who together held the living for 96 years, from 1814 until 1910. Of
these the former was William Pearse from whose incumbency two
features have been handed down. In 1841, the whitewash, applied in
Puritan days, was removed from the walls of the Church. Beesley
records that the whitewash around the altar was removed, there was
brought to view a series of paintings extending the whole
breadth of the Chancel. These consisted of figures of saints, etc.
but the plastering was in so bad a state that it was impossible to
preserve more than one of them. There is, however, none now visible;
indeed the only vestige of mediaeval colouring left are a few traces
on the east wall of the south aisle. However, the removal of the
whitewash and plaster has greatly added to the interior appearance
of the Church which now glows softly with the warm colour of the
Hornton stone.
During the end of his incumbency, it appears that William Pearse
was incapacitated, presumably by age, and so, from 1852-1861,
curates officiated. Most of the work was done by another member of
the family, Thomas Pearse, Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, who
in 1854 presented the second paten which is that now in common use.
The second long incumbency of the century began when Vincent Pearse
came in 1861. During the summer of 1879, slight restoration work was
carried out to some of the stone work in the chancel, and the
western portion of its floor was raised; when the vault was
constructed in the 17th century only the east end was raised,
leaving a sudden, rise in the middle. This must have produced an
ugly effect which has been effaced by the introduction of a more
gradual incline. Presumably at this stage, the present altar rails
and pews were inserted; part of the woodwork of the earlier box pews
was used to construct the pulpit.
In 1910, when the Rev. H. Armstrong Willis became Rector, the old
Puritan oak table was displaced and replaced by the present
Communion table, together with the series of frontals now in use.
The very fine carpets were placed, and show to great advantage, in
the large Chancel and sanctuary. It is a matter of great regret that
this incumbency, which is marked in the Church service register by
a real spiritual revival in the parish, was cut short, little after
a year had elapsed, by sudden death.
In 1917, the patron of the benefice, Earl de la Warr, presented
the second chalice, that is now in general use. In 1923, the present
organ was purchased, and placed at the west end of the south aisle.
In 1938, as a result of the enthusiastic care of the Rector, The
Rev. C.A. Ccmpton, the roof (apart from the Chancel), was thoroughly
restored. The Roof of nave was replaced, having been much affected
by the ravages of Death watch Beetle. The roofs of the aisles were
restored and treated. The outside was completely re-leaded. The
whole work cost about 1,100, and leaves a Church mostly in a fine
state of repair.
COMMENT
The foregoing survey reveals one point worthy of remark. From about
1150 A.D. until 1938 we have a series of material features which
record, and bear witness to the work of every period in English
history, in a very complete way. At no stage is there a long gap,
never more than 50 years without some achievement preserved in the
fabric and possession of the Parish Church. Most English country
Churches are old and interesting. By no means all are so
representative of every stage of history, and so unaltered and
unrestored. from their medieval State. Writing to the Rector in
1958, the Diocesan architect wrote - "The Church possesses, as
is well known to you, many features of unique interest; it has been
handed down to you in almost its original condition; and its
preservation, both as an authentic historical record, and a
beautiful survival of the past, will he a matter of grave concern to
all responsible for its preservation".
To these words certain others ought also to be added. Such a
possession is a privilege which brings the responsibility of USING
it. Should these words be read, by any who are able to help in the
preservation of this lovely Church, by making donations, which can
now be invested in War Savings, and used when the war is over, such
help will be very valuable. Two things still need to be done: -
1) The Chancel roof needs attention, for the plaster steadily falls
from it.
2) Supreme in all else, Hanwell Church is notably lacking in any
good woodwork. Its appearance would be much enhanced if funds were
available, for replacing the pitch pine, Which is partly falling to
pieces, by something more worthy.
If these things can be done, the years of this decade can find an
honourable place after their predecessors, in later times when this
little history is rewritten.
In this connection, there may be quoted a passage which occurs in a
sermon preached about 1620 by Dr. Harris, the famous Puritan Rector
of Hanwell, and of which a copy printed in 1626 (second edition)
exists in the Church Chest:
"Be, with Hezekiah, a good Churchman. Repair God's home, and
let it never be said that our Churches lie like barns, and that Our
Father lets down what Pater Noster set up.
|
|
|
