{"id":2372,"date":"2011-01-10T22:32:43","date_gmt":"2011-01-10T22:32:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/haslingfieldvillage.co.uk\/wp\/?page_id=2372"},"modified":"2011-01-10T22:32:43","modified_gmt":"2011-01-10T22:32:43","slug":"history-of-the-church","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/haslingfieldvillage.co.uk\/dev\/?page_id=2372","title":{"rendered":"About the Church"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/span>All Saints Church, Haslingfield
\nGrid Ref TL4052\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Consecrated on Thursday 15 November 1352 by Thomas de Insula, Bishop of Ely, this Church has remained almost unaltered in external appearance ever since. \u00a0 For over 600 years it has been a place of regular worship except during the victorian restoration of 1875-1878, when services were held in the school. \u00a0 During this period, the Camden Society recommended a number of\u00a0 alterations: \u00a0the nave to be re-roofed for the third time; the vestry to be built; the organ moved from the tower; the floor of the chancel to be raised so that there would be seven steps from the nave to the altar(one has been removed in recent times); the east wall of the chancel to be rebuilt for the second time; the three decker pulpit to be modified into the form it is now; the font to be moved to its present position; new pews to be made from parts of the old ones and finally the rood screen to be removed. \u00a0 Unfortunately a beam across the chancel was removed at the same time causing its walls to bulge outwards in subsequent years. \u00a0 This was rectified in 1984 by the insertion of two steel tie-bars. \u00a0 Since then further restoration work has been carried out: the south porch in 1911, the tower buttresses in 1943, a new floor at the rear of the north aisle in 1946, the western walls of the aisles rebuilt in 1949, the south western section of the south aisle refaced in 1990\/91, the west face of the tower restored in 1993\/94 together with the french drain and oak bridge. \u00a0 In 1998 the tower, which was cracked in the east and west walls, was extensively underpinned, walls stitched together with Cintec anchors and the stonework restored. \u00a0 In addition the south clerestory wall, that had been damaged by \u2018Masonry Bees\u2019, had 94 stones replaced.<\/span><\/p>\n

THE NAVE<\/strong>
\nThis has similar, although not uniform, arcades of five bays on each side. \u00a0 The north side is dated by the Historical Monuments Commission as late 13th or early 14th century. \u00a0 Although the piers of the south side are similar the design of the capitals and bases are more advanced and the arches, with their two chamfered orders (the angular shape), suggest a later 14th century origin. \u00a0 The clerestory, is unusual in that it is placed above the piers instead of between them. \u00a0 Some of the glass fragments date from the 14th century. \u00a0 Those on the north side have been heavily restored. \u00a0 The mullions of those on the south were rebuilt during the 1875 restoration. \u00a0 The arch at the west end of the nave was walled up during the 1875 restoration.<\/p>\n

THE KNEELERS<\/strong>
\nThe fine set of tapestry kneelers has been worked by a team from the congregation, led by the late Mrs Elkerton who started the project in 1984. \u00a0 The communion kneelers on the chancel steps, by the late George and Olive\u00a0 Insley, are particularly fine. \u00a0 Other communion kneelers, by George and Olive, may be seen at Bradfield St. Clare, Suffolk.<\/p>\n

THE NORTH AISLE<\/strong>
\nThis was built in the first half of the 14th century, and the four windows in the north wall and the one at either end are of uniform design. \u00a0 In the tracery are fragments of 14th century glass, some still in situ, but some replaced inside out after the restoration. \u00a0 The roof bosses are particularly fine.<\/p>\n

THE SOUTH AISLE<\/strong>
\nOf a slightly later date in the 14th century than the north aisle, the tracery (upper rib-work) of the windows has been thoroughly, though correctly restored. \u00a0 The font consists of an octagonal 14th century stone bowl with a moulded underside set on a modern clunch stem. \u00a0 The 17th century font cover is wooden and is in the form of an eight-sided pyramid with moulded ribs. \u00a0 The window at the east end is a memorial to Charles Frederick Mackenzie, who was a sub-curate (his own term). \u00a0 The Vicar, James Jollands was then non resident and Mackenzie with the help of his friend William Wayman Hutt, both fellows of Caius, ministered at Haslingfield. \u00a0 The roof bosses are also particulaly fine with 14th century shields of the Scales and Ufford families.<\/p>\n

THE CHANCEL<\/strong>
\nThe side walls are, at least in part, 12th century and may be the remains of an earlier Norman church. \u00a0 A priests door in the south wall was blocked up during the 1875 restoration when the floor was raised. \u00a0 The chancel arch is of the early to mid 13th century with dog-tooth ornamentation and supported by semi-piers.\u00a0 \u00a0 The chancel roof was boarded in by the Wendy family circa 1600 at the same time as the east wall was rebuilt, with a five light window being inserted. \u00a0 They were also responsible for boarding in the ceiling. \u00a0 Then during the incumbancy of George Cowdell Clements, vicar 1863-98 it was believed that he was responsible for the decoration of the roof panels including the Instruments of the Passion and the Runic style Saints’ Emblems, derived from the Red Letter days of the Book of Common Prayer in conjunction with a ‘clog almanac’ (a medieval calendar used between the 11th & 14th centuries) are depicted on the ceiling. \u00a0 Recent professional dating indicates that the works were carried out during the latter part of the 19th century. \u00a0 He died, in February 1898, by falling off his horse as it stumbled on icy ground along the Barton Road just outside the village.<\/p>\n

THE MONUMENTS<\/strong>
\nThe two principal monuments in the chancel commemorate members of the Wendy family. \u00a0 The manor of Haslingfield was sold to Dr Thomas Wendy in 1541. \u00a0 He was a physician of considerable repute and attended four successive monarchs; Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary and Elizabeth I. \u00a0 He was president of Gonville Hall and was responsible for building the large brick manor house of which only a small part now remains. \u00a0 His finely decorated altar tomb, with shields around the sides, was situated in the north east corner of the chancel until the 1875 restoration, when as previously mentioned, it was removed and destroyed. \u00a0 Dr Wendy, who died in 1560, was succeeded by his nephew, Mr Thomas Wendy. \u00a0 The monument in the south east corner was erected in memory of\u00a0 Thomas and his wife by their son, Sir William Wendy. \u00a0 Thomas died in 1612 and the monument shows him in academic dress kneeling, facing his wife, also kneeling, across a double prayer desk. \u00a0 Below them are similar effigies of Sir William and his wife Blanche. \u00a0 Sir William Wendy, who succeeded Thomas Wendy, was involved in the draining of the fens and was Sheriff and Deputy-lieutenant of the County. \u00a0 He died in 1623 and was succeeded by his nephew, another Thomas Wendy, who was Sheriff for the county in 1638 and MP in 1660. \u00a0 He was knighted by Charles II at his coronation. \u00a0 Sir Thomas died in 1673 and his memorial, a standing effigy of white marble, is on the south wall.\u00a0 There are several floor slabs to the Wendy family which were badly cut during the 1875 restoration to fit the spaces in the floor.<\/p>\n

THE ORGAN<\/strong>
\nThe original organ which was first installed at the west end, in 1862, then moved to the Chancel in 1875\/6, consisted of 5 stops only, two additional stops being added later together with a 30 note pedal board and electric blower. \u00a0 This organ has now been transferred to supplement the organ recently installed in the parish church at Harlton.<\/p>\n

The present organ, in the north aisle, originally built in 1846 for Trinity Church, Paddington, was moved to St Mary\u2019s Church, Ely in 1879\/80, and after restoration work, installed in Haslingfield Church in 2001 by Peter Bumstead of Ipswich. \u00a0 It has been awarded a Historic Organ Certificate by the British Institute of Ogan Studies.<\/p>\n

OUTSIDE<\/strong>
\nClunch, a compressed form of chalk, was the only local building material and the blocks were cut from quarries in the hillside just south of the village. \u00a0 The walls of the nave and tower are a visible proof of its poor durability, it is in constant need of repair and has been partially refaced with ashlar. \u00a0 The chancel wall is of field stones and the tower plinth (projecting base) is faced with carstone rubble. \u00a0 The chancel and north porch roofs are tiled, the nave and vestry roofs are slated and the tower, aisles, and south porch are leaded. \u00a0 During the 1875 restoration the flat Jacobean roof was replaced with the one we see today. \u00a0 Water colours by the artist Relhan show clearly that the roof of the nave was very flat at the beginning of the 19th century. \u00a0 The east end of the chancel was rebuilt for the second time during the 1875 restoration and the gable cross, made of poor quality material was inserted at that time. \u00a0 This fell off in 1988 and has not been replaced. \u00a0 At the apex of the east gable of the nave is an original pierced and foliated Wheel Cross, which is a particularly fine example of its kind. \u00a0 The two porches are 14th century. \u00a0 The south porch carries the date of its reconstruction, 1746, with the names of the churchwardens.<\/p>\n

THE TOWER<\/strong>
\nThe tower is of three architectural stages and is supported by buttresses which rise to the embattled parapet where they terminate in octagonal pinnacles. \u00a0 At the west corner there are additional angle buttresses of three stages. \u00a0 There are moulded string courses between each stage and below the parapet, the last being broken by a gargoyle (carved water spout) in each face. \u00a0 The west window of the top stage and the entire parapet with its pinnacle have been restored in freestone. \u00a0 The entire west face was restored in 1993\/94. \u00a0 The Hertfordshire spike was taken to bits and rebuilt in 1991 when it was found to be swaying in the wind. \u00a0 The weather vane was regilded and straightened, having been lying at an angle for 15 years.<\/p>\n

THE BELLS<\/strong>
\nThe tower contains a fine peal of six bells. \u00a0 Four of them are recorded in an inventory\u00a0 taken at the time of Edward VI, about 1550, and a fifth was in position in 1726. \u00a0 The treble was added in 1969. \u00a0 The five original bells were recast by Robert Taylor of St. Neots in 1816, reproducing the old inscriptions. \u00a0 The tenor however was re-cast in 1960 by John Taylor & Co.<\/p>\n

THE MEMORIAL INSCRIPTIONS ON THE BELLS<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n
Extract from Memorial Inscriptions 2006<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n
(information supplied by the late Jean Sanderson)<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

\nTREBLE IN MEMORY OF LUCY BUTLER<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
THE GIFT OF HER HUSBAND ELLIS BUTLER<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
WHITECHAPEL BELL FOUNDRY 1969<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
2 OLD FIRST AND SECOND CAST 1668 THOMAS WENDYE KB<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/em><\/div>\n
3 OMNIA FIANT AD GLORIAM DEI J ARNOLD AND T SCRUBY CW 1816<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
(Let all things be done to the glory of God )<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
4 OLD THIRD CAST 1615 WILLIAM WENDYE ARMIGER?<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
R TAYLOR ST NEOTS 1816<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/em><\/div>\n
5 THIS PEAL WAS RECAST BY ROBT TAYLOR ST NEOTS 1816<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/em><\/div>\n
TENOR GEORGE JOHN EARL DELAWARR J ARNOLD AND T SCRUBY CW 1816<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
THE 57TH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF GEORGE THE THIRD<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
RECAST FOR GILLETT & JOHNSTON CLOCKS LTD BY JOHN<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
TAYLOR & CO LOUGHBOROUGH 1960 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/em>DAVID EDGAR ISITT VICAR.<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
EDWIN GLASSPOOL VICAR’S WARDEN<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
ALBERT GEORGE MILES PEOPLE’S WARDEN.
\n<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

\nTHE CLOCK<\/strong>
\n<\/span>A clock was recorded in the tower in 1726, the present one appears to have been installed in the 1880\u2019s and the works were fully restored, and the face re-gilded, including electric winders being installed, in 2000. \u00a0 The following memorial is attached to the case.<\/div>\n

\u201cDuring the restoration of the tower in the year 2000\/the clock was overhauled, dial and hands regilded\/and automatic winders installed with gifts in memory of\/Stephen Colin Sanville sometime sidesman\/and keen amateur horologist\/and Dorothy Margaret (Peggy) King\/bellringer, choir member and devoted parishioner\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Information provided by\u00a0Harold\u00a0Hopkins, Church Archivist, 2012<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

All Saints Church, Haslingfield Grid Ref TL4052\u00a0 Consecrated on Thursday 15 November 1352 by Thomas de Insula, Bishop of Ely, this Church has remained almost unaltered in external appearance ever since. \u00a0 For over 600 years it has been a place of regular worship except during the victorian restoration of 1875-1878, when services were held … Continue reading About the Church<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":2011,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/haslingfieldvillage.co.uk\/dev\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2372"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/haslingfieldvillage.co.uk\/dev\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/haslingfieldvillage.co.uk\/dev\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/haslingfieldvillage.co.uk\/dev\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/haslingfieldvillage.co.uk\/dev\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2372"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/haslingfieldvillage.co.uk\/dev\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2372\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/haslingfieldvillage.co.uk\/dev\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2011"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/haslingfieldvillage.co.uk\/dev\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2372"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}