RESTORATION OF THE CHURCH OF ST. SWITHUN A.D. 1892 - 3
(The Diary of the Revd. Herbert George Morse. M.A.)
Contents
Page No. Foreword
2 Prayers distributed for use during the time the restoration was in progress.
3 Views of the Church before the restoration.
4 The work begins.
5 South west view after some of the earth had been removed.
6 Interior looking east.
8 Interior looking west.
10 Interior looking north showing a square pew and the North Transept.
12 Interior looking south east.
14 Painting of a Bishop, in the Transept.
16 Painting of St. Laurence discovered on the north wall of the Chancel.
18 Painting of St. Christopher discovered on north wall of the Nave.
20 Interior looking east.
22 The first Services.
24 The Crealock Tomb.
26 Description of the windows.
27 Service For Use Before The Re-Opening Of The Church After Restoration.
28 Memorandum.
31 The Bideford Weekly Gazette, June 6, 1893.
33 Foreword To The Diary:
A.D. 1996
The year 1996 marks the centenary of the completion of the restoration of the Church of St. Swithun by the Reverend George Morse
This book was handed to me by the late Major G. Atkinson of Crossways, Littleham when I became a Churchwarden in 1962, he himself having been a Churchwarden in 1935. It consists of a unique account of a very complete restoration and if it had not been so thorough the building would have been in a far worse condition and the upkeep would have been far more of a burden to the parishioners. However, due to the tremendous support of the people of this parish in raising funds when money was either in short supply or non-existent as it was in 1962 we have managed to maintain the fabric in a reasonably good condition with a few additions. I feel that a summary of the work carried out over the past thirty-four years might be included in this book, although I believe there is now a book kept for that very purpose.
Long may it remain a place of worship and I trust that Reverend G. Morse will forgive me for adding this small contribution.
Michael A. Alvis.
(Churchwarden 1962 – 1986.)
A.D.2002
This electronic copy of the original diary has been produced in order that the text and pictures be preserved for future generations. All the original pictures have been scanned and enhanced to make them a little clearer. I have also included Reverend Morse’s Memorandum to the diary, his guide to the Church (published in 1900) and a copy of an article from the Bideford Weekly Gazette in which the opening service of June 6th 1893 is recorded. It is hoped that the original diary can now be stored in a safe place – possibly the Museum of North Devon.
I hope that the following pages are readable and that whoever reads it may gain an insight into the amount of work and loving care that has gone into restoring and maintaining the Church of St. Swithun here in Littleham.
Andrew Tregoning.
(Churchwarden 1986 -)
A.D.2007
This latest electronic version of the diary has been re-worked to facilitate its publication on the new Littleham and Landcross website.
Some of the layout and font have been changed to make it more "in-keeping" with the rest of the website.
It is hoped now that many more people in Littleham will appreciate the work undertaken by the Reverend Morse.
Ian Mitchell
Prayers distributed for use during the time the restoration was in progress.
Church Restoration
LITTLEHAM.
A.D. 1892 - 3.
The Parish Church of S. Swithun, erected on the site of an older building, was consecrated by Walter de Stapeldon, Lord Bishop of Exeter, on the 17th October, 1319.
Glory be to Thee O Lord
Prayers distributed for use during the time the restoration was in progress:-
"In every place incense shall be offered unto My Name and a Pure Offering.” – Malachi i. II.
O Almighty and Everlasting God, Who didst give unto Bezaleel and Aholiab wisdom and skill in all manner of cunning work for thy Tabernacle of old; vouchsafe thy blessing on the restoration of the Church of Saint Swithun; and grant, O merciful God, that like as the workman strengthens that which is weak, and builds up that which is ready to fall, and makes beautiful the place of thy Sanctuary, so all we who have been made members of Christ in Holy Baptism may be prepared for the Temple not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, where Thou livest and reignest, God for ever and ever. And this we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Stern the strokes, the dint was heavy,
Keen the graving of His Hind,
Ere each finished stone was planted,
As the Master Builder planned,
Beauteous, changeless, through all ages
In the house of God to stand.
O Lord Jesu Christ, Who hast built the living temple of thy Church upon the Apostles and Prophets, Thyself being the chief corner stone; grant, we beseech Thee, that as Thou didst enable our forefathers to build Houses of God throughout the land, so we may be enabled faithfully to keep and use the same to thy honour and glory; Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, One God, world without end.
Amen,
LITTLEHAM – RESTORATION OF THE CHURCH OF ST. SWITHUN
AD 1892 - 3
(The Diary of the Revd. Herbert George Morse. M.A.)
North Transept and north wall.
The Work Begins.
On the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels Anno Domini 1892, the workmen commenced taking away the pulpit, which stood against the south wall between the four light and five light window.
“ May the Holy Angels pray for us and guard us!”
Michaelmas Day this year was on a Thursday and before the following Sunday all the pews adjacent to the south wall, with the floor under them, as well as the pulpit, was removed. The pulpit was made of deal boards “enriched” with plaster casts taken from the carved oak bench ends: it stood on a species of stage or platform which enclosed and hid from view the various stays and struts which supported the whole grotesque erection. Several of these struts proved to be portions of the ancient rood screen, all were much decayed and so much mutilated as to be unfit to work up again.
On Friday 30th September and on Saturday 1st October various small portions of the rood screen and rood loft were found, among them three panels with a very plain moulding (as roughly shown) which all crumbled to dust with a touch. One or two carved mouldings or portions of beams were in somewhat better condition.
On Sunday 2nd October notice was given out at the various services that the Church would be closed for the restoration and the Services held in the cottage in the Rectory garden. In the first lesson at Mattins this day occurred the following: “The Lord God of heaven hath charged me to build Him an house” 2. Chronicles XXXVi v.23. At Evensong the first lesson happened to be Nehemiah (i) and (ii) to verse 9, all about the rebuilding of the Temple; a curious coincidence these being the ordinary lessons for the sixteenth Sunday after Trinity.
On Sunday 3rd October a portion of the ancient tiled floor was uncovered in the eastern most bay of the arcade. The tiles were the old rough raised Devon work with a pale green glaze, but many had been worn down flat. The level of this ancient floor was carefully noted.
On Thursday 6th October a portion of what appeared to be a doorway in the North wall nearly opposite the porch was discovered the upper part of the door way had been destroyed to insert a window. The width between the stone jambs was two feet and the width of the opening measured in the line of the inner face of the north wall was two feet eight inches. On this day also was found and arced recess ten inches deep in the eastern wall of the north transept. This recess was three feet eight inches wide by three feet four inches high and was ornamented with a roughly painted figure of a Bishop, vested in a dark red chasuble with a “Y” cross. (p. 16) The chasuble was of great size, the point in front coming down almost to the feet. The Bishop was represented as wearing red gloves and holding a pastoral staff in his left hand while his right hand was raised in the attitude of blessing with the two fingers and thumb extended. From the pastoral staff a yellow coloured sudarium was hanging. Round the head of the figure was represented a nimbus of pale green colour. It is to be presumed that the figure is meant for St. Swithin the patron Saint of the Church.
South west view after some of the earth had been removed from lying up against the wall.
In the week ending Saturday 15th October:
1. There was discovered a painting on the north wall of the Chancel evidently representing St. Laurence. The Saint is represented naked, lying on his back on the gridiron through which tongues of flame are shooting up. The arms of the Saint are extended down the body with the hands crossed and tied. The head is tonsured leaving a narrow ring of curly hair. He is held down by two bars, pushed at him by figures now obliterated. The whole is roughly outlined in a dark dull red colour with a few black lines. The drawing is good. (p. 18)
2. Another painting was found on the north wall just west of the north transept. This is a standing figure full face to the spectator and naked with the exception of a loincloth. The head and face is in good preservation, short hair with small pointed beard. It seems as if the figure must be meant for our Lord. The elbows are close to the sides with the palms of the hands turned outwards towards the spectator and in each hand is a mark, which may be meant for the scar of the nails. The left foot has a very distinct stigma, black with yellow rays of glory round it. The right foot is nearly obliterated. On the left side is an immense elongated diamond shaped patch, which presumably is intended to represent the wound in the side, but the puzzle of the picture consists in the surroundings of the figure. In the upper left hand corner above the head are a pair of scales and something else; on the right of these are two small flasks; while down the left side are a pair of pincers, something which might be a blacksmith’s anvil, and old fashioned curved saw, a hammer, a pair of large long handled tongs and two or three odd shaped things which may be anything.
3. West of the above and still in the north wall was discovered a large picture of St. Christopher. (p. 20) It is of the usual character, the figure being rather good. The palm-wood staff is yellow. The head and face of the child on the giant’s shoulder with the nimbus round the head is very distinct, thought the rest of the child’s body is gone. Two fish in black outline are visible, though any lines intended to represent the water, which may have been, are gone. This painting fills up practically the whole space as far as the small north doorway mentioned above.
In the week ending Saturday 22nd October a painting of St. Margaret and the dragon was discovered between the north transept and the lancet window in the Chancel. The original floor level of the Chancel was found by the discovery of one half tile which had remained in its proper position, adhering to the north Chancel wall about six feet from the eastern end. It was seven and a quarter inches or from that to seven and a half inches above what had been decided upon as the future level of the Nave floor. It appears that in the Chancel there was a kind of dado on both and south walls formed by the painting of something like semi-circular arches intersecting each other, the top of the arches being five feet from the old floor level. Above the arches was a band seven inches broad with a row of diamond ornaments not easy to make out. Above this band the wall was diapered in a pattern of regular sized parallelograms like large bricks, every “brick” having a five lobed leaf in the centre. This part of the wall was a dull yellow, the markings between the “bricks” and 5 lobed leaves being black. The interlacing arches in the lower part were alternately dark red and yellow, outlined with black, both however being sprinkled with red dots. The brick pattern diaper extended for three feet seven inches above the band up to the bottom of the pictures of St. Laurence and the rest. Thus from the level of the old floor at a point six foot from the east wall to the line of the bottom of the pictures was nine feet two inches.
On the 18th and 19th October at the western end of the north wall close to the tower arch there was discovered a large oval shaped species of medallion on which was painted in beautifully clear and well formed letters the first two verses of the 15th psalm – “Lord who shall dwell in thy tabernacle or who shall rest upon thy holy hill? Even he that leadeth an uncorrupt life, and doeth the thing which is right and speaketh the truth from his heart.” The whole painting of the medallion and the lettering was obliterated on one side probably when the oval-shaped mural tablet to members of the Crealock family was affixed, but enough of the writing was left to show what it had been. West of the oval outline of the medallion and apparently overlapping it was the sentence “Behold the Lamb of God which (that) taketh away the sins of the world.” Under all this there appears to have been an earlier painting as black lines and a large yellow band appear here and there under several coats of whitewash.
On Thursday 20th Mr. Temple Moore the architect came down and on Friday 21st in his presence the south wall of the Chancel (east of the side aisle) was examined and the opening in which a window had been was discovered. The splays of the arch were quite perfect and the old plaster was still on them.
During the week ending Saturday 29th October considerable progress was made in underpinning the north wall and the north transept. The western side of the transept and the corner where the west wall of the transept joins the north wall of the Nave were particularly bad and had to be most carefully treated. On the inside of the Church the north wall, where the transept joins it, had bulged inwards to an alarming extent. The roof and the transept arch were shored up and several feet of the wall of the Nave taken down and rebuilt from the bottom.
In this week also the scaffolding round the tower was carried up as far as the lower part of the belfry windows; and a little was done towards rebuilding the porch which had been taken down ten days ago.
In the week ending Saturday 5th November the scaffolding round the tower was completed and progress made with underpinning and facing the north wall of the Nave and the north transept; the Nave wall being completed and the transept very nearly completed. The single light window in the transept was to have been preserved but the jambs and head were all so much decayed that it was useless to build it in again. It was exactly copied and the dripstone over the head being in fair condition was replaced.
On Monday 7th November the battlements on the top of the tower were taken off piece-by-piece and carefully reset in cement.
Interior looking west and showing a small portion of the modern Chancel screen in the foreground.
On the same day Mr. Langley the contractor arrived with the working plans of the screens, and the following morning he arranged about the fixing of them.
On Tuesday 8th November John Henderson Esq. Of Weare Gifford Hall, came and took photographs of the ancient wall paintings.
During the week ending Saturday 12th November the tower walls were fresh pointed, down as far as the bottom of the bell chamber windows; and the windows themselves were fitted with new louver-boards made out of the Delabole slate slabs with which the aisles were formerly paved. The window at the east side of the bell chamber does not appear to have been fitted with louvers, at least there were no grooves in either the centre mullion or the jambs. The window on the south side of the tower was walled up behind the louvers to deaden the sound of the bells in the Rectory house.
The great crack in the western side of the tower had as much liquid cement poured into it as it would hold.
The woodwork of the roof of the tower was nearly completed this week, the lower part of the flagstaff being let into the large beam, which has been placed across the centre of the tower from west to east.
During this week also the north and east walls of the Chancel were being attended to outside. The foundation was underpinned and the face of the wall carefully picked away and rebuilt about a third of the way up. These walls, like the north wall of the Nave, were built of stones set in nothing but “cob”, i.e. clay, which crumbled into dust with a touch. Several enormous stems of ivy were taken out; one would be probably more than three inches in diameter if it were of a regular circular shape.
It is to be noted that these pieces of ivy were all dead and dry; presumably they were cut when - at some previous date – the wall was re-pointed as in places it evidently had been. Very possibly it was done at the time when the south east corner of the aisle fell down and was rebuilt somewhere about the year 1835 to 1840.
Interior looking East.
19th November. The lead gutters round the roof at the top of the tower have been nearly completed during the week ending 19th November. The lead used is 8lb lead i.e. 8lb to the square foot.
The Church walls have proved to be in very bad state indeed; not only have many large roots of ivy (as described above) been found, but large portions of the wall are matted inside with lumps of fibrous roots of ivy in full vigour of growth. The north and south corners of the east wall of the Chancel have both fallen down bodily. The walls have been most carefully shored up to prevent further downfalls. The walls vary a good deal in thickness (being very irregular) from 2ft. 6in. to 3ft. The outer half is carefully taken down a small piece at a time and rebuilt. In this way the wall under the east window has been made good so that the east window, as well as the lancet light in the north wall have not been in the least disturbed.
It was evident that the wall immediately under the east window was of different stone from the rest of the east wall and there were signs that the window had once extended down several feet lower than the present level of the sill. Possibly when that part of the Church was built (in the 14th century) there were three lancet windows, which were subsequently replaced by the present window, which looks as if it were at least a hundred years later than 1319 A.D.
Interior looking north showing a square pew and the North Transept.
26th November. Today being wet (the first thoroughly wet day for several weeks) much of the plaster has been taken off the Chancel walls and in so doing a small sill, about an inch wide, has been disclosed two feet nine inches below the glass in the east window - the jambs of which – or rather the splays of the arch – are continued down to this little sill or ledge in the wall, the filling up under the window being, of course, a wall of less thickness than the wall on either side. This corresponds to the portion of wall which, as mentioned above, was found to be of stone differing in quality from the rest and confirms the idea that the window at one time extended a good deal lower down.
Today also was discovered in the north wall of the Chancel a small aumbry which had been filled in with stones and mortar.
In removing the plaster in the small north transept it became evident that in the eastern wall of the transept there was a straight joint in the masonry about 6 inches north of the small doorway leading to the rood-loft. Signs of a similar break in the masonry had been observed in the outside of the south wall of this transept but less clearly marked in consequence of the mending and patching to which the wall had been subject.
Evidently the transept and the north wall of the Chancel were not built at the same time and now that the plaster has been removed from the splay of the window in the transept the head of the splay is seen to be round and quite Norman in character. The arch of the splay, like the arch over the niche in the east wall of the transept, is formed of very thin stones not more than about an inch thick quite unlike the splay and the arch of the windows in the Chancel. The walls of this transept, when being faced outside, were found to contain a considerable number of very large stones, laid in all sorts of directions, which tied the wall together. No work of this kind and no very large stones have been found in the Chancel walls.
On the whole it seems highly probable that the transept is a portion of the older Church which existed before 1319.
In the week ending 26th November, besides what has been already mentioned, the north and east walls of the Chancel have been completed outside. They were found to be in such a bad state that the whole of the outer face has been taken down to about half the thickness of the wall; the only portion not disturbed is the tiny piece in the angle where the rood loft staircase is.
The large stems of ivy found in the walls have already been mentioned, but in addition to the stems which had been severed at some former period there have been found this week stems of ivy about one and a half inches in diameter in full vigour of growth in the very midst of the wall.
The pointing of the walls of the tower has been completed to within twelve or fourteen feet of the ground and the scaffolding is in the process of removal.
10th December. During the past fortnight the old roofs have been taken down and the greater part of the new rafters put up.
The new window in the south wall of the Chancel has been put in.
Thursday 15th December they commenced putting tiles on the roof. By Saturday 17th the south side of the south aisle was all tiled.
Interior looking south east.
On Monday 19th December the roof of the north transept was taken off and the new roof (so far as rafters, boarding and felt) was put on, the men working very hard all day. A great portion of this small transept roof appears to have been renewed in comparatively modern times. Only small portions of the rafters were of oak and even the oaken portions had been strengthened and pieced with fir.
On Friday 23rd December the lead gutter in the valley between the two roofs was completed and at the end of the day work ceased till after Christmas, the greater part of the roofs being tiled.
A severe frost set in on December 24th and continued without intermission for a fortnight. The foreman and some of the men came back to work after their Christmas Holiday on the 30th December. They broke stones to be used for concrete on the floor and did some work in the roof with the rafters and laths to form the ceiling.
January 9th 1893, Monday. The frost having ceased they began today to make and lay concrete over the floor.
On Wednesday 11th January Mr. Temple Moore came and stayed till Friday 13th going over the work which had been done and arranging various details as to the roof, windows, ventilators etc.
21st January 1893. The concrete on the floor was finished by the middle of the week ending 21st January. Also the roofs have received the first coat of plaster and holes for ventilators have been worked in the wall under the east window and the three south windows.
Various other matters have been forwarded such as clearing out the rubbish fallen in the cutting behind the Church outside the north walls.
28th January. During the week ending 28th January the pointing of the north wall was begun and the ventilators fixed.
4th February. During the past week the roof round the outlet ventilators has been made good and the ridge tiles put on.
The second coat of plaster on the roof has been finished and a portion of the wall of the arcade above the arches has been plastered with adamant.
11th February. During the week ending 11th February the final coat of plaster has been put on the ceiling of the south aisle and on part of the Nave.
The foundations of the wall at the east end of the aisle were examined and being found to be in a very bad condition the wall was entirely underpinned.
14th February. Today the arch over the outer doorway of the porch was fixed in its place. It is an exact copy of the old doorway and two or three stones at the bottom of the jambs have been used again but the greater part of the arch was entirely rotten, the stone, a poor kind of local stone similar to the south door of the Church (i.e. the porch door), had been worked the wrong way of the “bed” of the stone, consequently it had perished and broke into flakes when struck with quite slight blows.
Painting of a Bishop, in the Transept.
18th February. During the past fortnight all outdoor work has been much hindered by rain, which has been almost incessant. Nevertheless the porch has been built up to the wall-plate and work has gone on with the east window of the side aisle. The jamb on the south side of this window has been entirely renewed during the past week.
The ribs of the roof of the south aisle have been fixed during this week with the exception of a few pieces at the east end.
The Chancel and north wall have been plastered.
20th February. Today the 20th February 1893 the woodwork of the porch roof has been fixed. The rafters and ribs having been previously prepared, were fixed in position and covered with oak boarding, which in turn was covered with felt nailed down with battens ready for the tiles.
The bottom of the niche over the arched entrance to the porch was fixed in its place, and on the inside at the back of the niche, immediately on the crown of the arch has been fixed a small piece of alabaster which was found in the east wall of the Chancel. This piece of alabaster was flush with the inside surface of the wall at the side and slightly higher than the bottom of the window. It looked as if it had formed part of a bracket on which probably had been a statue. The date “1893” has been cut upon it and it has been built up in the wall of the porch where it need not be plastered over again as it had been, and must have been again, if it had remained in the east wall.
21st February. The tiles with the exception of the ridge were put on the porch today. Also the carpenters commenced putting up the ribs on the ceiling of the Nave.
25th February 1893. The roof of the Nave west of the transept has been finished. Enough of the old ridge tiles to complete the roof of the porch have been cleaned from the tar and sand with which they were covered and fixed on the porch. Only one or two more of the old ridge tiles remain and they are in such a condition as to be scarcely fit to use anywhere but all those fixed on the porch are sound and good.
3rd March. Today the cross was fixed on the porch and also on the gable at the east of the Chancel.
Today also a man from Warner the bell founder came to examine the bells and decide about the rehanging of them.
4th March 1893. During the week ending 4th March the moulded ribs on the roof have all been fixed with the exception of one pair if panels over where the rood is to be and a small piece at the eastern end of the side aisle where some carved ribs are to go.
The plastering of the walls and other work has gone on steadily.
Six pieces of moulded ribs, short pieces forming the panels, which were in better preservation than the rest of the old ribs in the side aisle were fixed up towards the eastern end of the aisle and were scarcely noticeable from the new ribs which had been copied from them, so exact was the copy.
6th March. One of the carpenters having stated that he had found living worms in a worm-eaten portion of one of the old moulded ribs fixed at the eastern end of the side aisle the six older ribs were taken down to be examined. The Rector himself found two places in one rib where the worms were alive and he therefore condemned the whole six and had new ribs put up throughout the roof.
Painting of St. Laurence discovered on the north wall of the Chancel, showing also some of the diapered pattern below the figure of the Saint.
7th March. Two men from Jeffries the hot water engineers having arrived yesterday began today to get in the hot water pipes.
11th March. During the week ending the 11th March the scaffold poles have been cleared out of the Church; the floor of the bell chamber in the tower and the floor below it have been removed and new oak beams 10 or 12 inches square have been hoisted up and cemented into the wall, the bell chamber floor on which the frame for the bells will stand, being at a lower level than the old floor.
The beams supporting the old bell chamber floor were worm-eaten through and through, the ends on which of course all the weight rested absolutely broke up into dust in the course of removal. It is only by the great mercy of God that there has not been a serious accident with all the bells falling down.
13th March. Today the upper part of the flagstaff on the tower was fixed with the weathercock on the top of it. The weathercock is new, made by Messrs. Tardrew of Bideford. The old weathercock was of zinc and did not turn easily. The new one is of copper, gilded.
18th March. During the week ending Saturday 18th March the hot water pipes have been laid throughout though not connected with boiler or radiators. The radiators themselves have been put together and tested. Most of the slate has been laid round the floor of the Church next to the outer walls and the greater part of the inside of the tower, below the lower floor, has been plastered.
25th March. During the week ending Saturday 25th March the heating apparatus was finished and the floor of Nave and Aisle “floated” with the coat of cement and sand on which the wood blocks are to be laid.
4th April. On Tuesday the 4th April the Font was set up. On the 5th April several tomb stones were laid flat in the angle formed by the tower and west end of the side aisle out of doors. The four large stones to the memory of Boteler, Taylor, Austin and another were formerly inside the Church but laid north and south not as if they were over a vault or grave, and on taking up the old pavement search was made in the ground to discover graves but none were found under any of these stones. Evidently at some time previously the stones had been used to form the pavement floor of the Church without any regard to the position of graves. Had it been possible to have replaced these stones over the remains of those whose names are recorded on them I (H.G.Morse) should have been careful to see them replaced.
In the north transept there used to be a tablet on the west wall of the transept which had been placed there in memory of Thomas Crelock and in front of that tablet was found a grave. The tablet is now on the floor close to its former position.
8th April. During the week ending 8th April the West window in the tower was replaced. The two mullions are entirely new as is also the arch at the top of the centre light and half of the arch over each of the side lights.
Painting of St. Christopher discovered on north wall of the Nave; on the right is seen a portion of the picture of Our Lord.
Monday 10th April, Tuesday 11th April and Wednesday 12th April. On these days were brought over from Bideford the contents of three railway trucks comprising wood blocks for the floor; thirteen benches, six with two old bench ends, and seven with one old end to each; (an eighth arrived afterwards together with two book desks for the front) and the greater part of the screen with the outer doors of the Church and the wind porch.
Also on Monday 10th the case containing the stained glass for the East window arrived from Mr. Victor Milner.
The old bench ends were sent away to Messrs. Langley’s works at Crawley with the best of the back top rails and of the seats. Every one of the bench ends had at sometime or other been patched with a fresh piece of wood at the bottom which pieces had been very roughly carved somewhat in the style of the old end. The whole end had then been stained or painted black and afterwards varnished.
The varnish has been removed by some process of pickling. The roughly carved patches remain at the bottoms as they were. The seat has been fitted to the ends four inches lower than the original position.
13th April. The lower part of the Chancel screen was set up.
14th April. The lower part (i.e. the part below the cove) of the screen in the side aisle was set up.
The stained glass in the East window was today put into position although the fixing of it was not completed.
17th April. The wooden blocks began to be laid today on the floor of the Nave at the Western end.
The base of the pulpit was also fixed.
18th April. The flag was hoisted today for a moment to see how the ropes worked and whether the flag would hang clear of the mast.
Mr. Langley came to see about the seats and the work generally.
22nd April. Today I fixed a small circular piece of rosewood in the centre of the underside of the mahogany slab with is to form the new top of the altar. On the rosewood is a simple cross which I drilled out in the lathe.
“ Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints.”
29th April. During the week ending 29th April the wood block flooring was finished.
Also the partition over the Rood loft between the Chancel and Nave was put up.
3rd May 1893. Today the front of the gallery of the Rood loft was raised and fixed in its place.
5th May. Putting up the carved ribs on Eastern end of the roof of side aisle.
6th May. During the week ending 6th May the greater part of the screen has been erected, only a few of the small ornamental detached pieces remaining unfixed.
Interior looking East
The Churchyard has been made more tidy and the path picked up and fresh stoned. Also the gateway at East end, which had been widened to admit carts, has been put to rights at the stone pier built up again.
13th May. During the week ending 13th May the outer doors, all new, have been fixed. The benches have been altered having been received from the contractors with an awkward back rail.
On Saturday 13th May the marble for the Chancel floor arrived.
15th May. Today they began laying the marble floor in the Chancel.
17th May. Today the stained glass window in the South aisle given by the Crealock family, arrived in charge of a man sent by Chas. E. Kempe the artist who designed and executed the window and whose man at once commenced to put it in.
18th May. The marble pavement in the Chancel was finished today with the exception of grouting in the joints.
Two memorial slabs to the memory of the Reverend Nicholas Mill, formerly Rector of the Parish, and his daughter have been laid under the altar. These slabs were in different parts of the old floor far from their present situation but the burial register states that “Mary Anne daughter of the Reverend Nicholas Mill and Sarah his wife was buried in a vault outside the communion rail near the entrance thereof” and a large brick vault extending from the centre of the East wall some ten or twelve feet westwards was discovered when the old floor was being taken up. This vault was very imperfectly covered with large irregular shaped stones and was full of water. The smell which came from it was most offensive. It was filled in with fresh earth without any attempt at examination but there can be no doubt that it is the vault in which Mr. Mill buried his daughter and in which it is reasonable to assume he himself was subsequently interred. Indeed although many “bench graves” of various kinds were found in various parts of the Church no other “vault” was found in the Chancel.
19th May. The brass “spider” chandeliers were today hung at the height (about 6ft. 5in. from the floor) at which they are intended to remain. The chains from which they hang were suspended from the roof a few days ago.
At the same time the brass cross which formerly hung over the Chancel screen was hung up at the western end of the Nave close to the tower arch.
20th May. During the week ending 20th May the choir desks and seats have been fixed; the Crealock window of stained glass executed by Chas. E. Kempe fixed in its place and various small matters attended to.
The benches with old carved ends have been set out in their proper place.
The wooden cornice from whence depend the hangings covering the east wall has been fixed, hiding several inches of the lower part of the East window. This can hardly be said to improve the proportions of the window but certainly the glass looks better since the lower panes were hidden from view.
Tuesday 23rd May. Mr.Charles Langley came to look at the work at the Church.
Saturday 27th May. The foreman from Messrs. Langley, Bristow by name, left but Geo. Hammond, foreman carpenter, remained to finish up several small jobs.
Sunday 28th 1893 May. On Sunday 28th May a service of reconciliation was held. The Rector of the parish (The Rev. H.G. Morse) assisted by two other priests (The Rev. J. Studholme Brownrigg and the Rev. Salisbury J.M.Price) and William Tate as lay-clerk sprinkled the Church with holy water and then censed it with incense using the offices attached in the appendix of this booklet. After which four men and three boys were admitted as choristers with blessing. Five women and girls then received individually a blessing as admitted to assist in the singing.
Immediately before the admission of the men and boys the Reverend Salisbury Price read a lesson from scripture: - Ecclesiasticus XLVii verses 2, 8, 9.
After the admission of the men and boys and before the benediction of the women the Rev. J.S.Brownrigg read Exodus XV verses 20, 21.
About forty persons were present at this service. Evensong was sung in the Church the same evening.
Monday 29th May. The altar was brought back into the Church, the top slab removed and the new mahogany slab mentioned above on the 22nd April was fixed on the altar frame and the altar thus completed was set in its place.
It was mentioned above under 20th May. that the choir stalls had been fixed. It may be interesting to read that the carving of the poppy head end of the choir stall on the south side (the Rector’s stall) represents the arms and crest of the Morse family and the carving at the eastern end of the same desk has a bit of fancy carving which includes a walrus otherwise called a Morse or sea horse!
On the poppy head end of the choir stall on the north side of the Chancel gate is the coat of arms and crest of Alfred Herbert Morse, J.P. of Copdock near Ipswich, the patron of the advowson of Littleham. The arms of Morse on this shield are shown impaled with the arms of Gooch of Benacre Hall, Suffolk, the wife of Alfred H. Morse being a daughter of Sir Edward Gooch, Bart.
In the afternoon of Monday 29th May men arrived from Messrs. Warner of London to rehang the bells.
Wednesday 31st May
At 8 a.m. the Holy Eucharist was celebrated by the Rector, this being the first celebration in the restored Church.
The bells were in a condition which made it possible to chime them in the afternoon although they could not be rung up.
At half past three in the afternoon the choir of the Church duly vested in cassock and surplice received at the porch door the Archdeacon, the Rector and other clergy and proceeded up the centre of the Nave singing the hymn “In the name of God the Father”, William Tate leading the way carrying a processional cross. When the Archdeacon had arrived at the altar Te Deum was solemnly sung to a Gregorian tune. The Lords Prayer and three collects followed. Then the hymn “Breast the wave Christian”. A sermon was preached by the Archdeacon. The hymn “Now thank we all our God” was sung, followed by the Blessing.
The Church was very full. Probably more than 250 people were present.
On Thursday 1st June the re-hanging of the bells was completed and this finished the work of restoration. The Holy Eucharist was celebrated at 8 a.m.
Non nobis Domine, non nobis, sed Nomini Tuo da gloriam.
On this Thursday evening there was a public tea in the Board School at which exactly 160 people were present.
Evensong was at 7 p.m. During the evening viz. just before the service and at intervals afterwards, the bells were rung up merrily.
Tu autem Domine Miserere Nobis.
Herbert George Morse
e. Coll. SS. Trinitatis, Cantab. A.M.
Rector.
It is, I think, worth recording that Sunday 28th day of May, on which day the last services were held in the cottage in the rectory garden, formerly the old village poorhouse, which had been arranged to serve for the services during the time the Church was closed, was this year Trinity Sunday; thus on that day and during the week we had to use the Epistle taken from the Book of Revelation telling of Him who sat on the throne and of the lamps of fire and the glories of the heavenly worship all of which seemed singularly appropriate in our restored and beautiful Church.
Further, the morning psalms on that day which were said at the last service held in the cottage (being the psalms for the 28th morning) contained the following passages: “Lord remember David and all his trouble; how he sware unto the Lord and vowed a vow unto the Almighty God of Jacob ….. I will not suffer mine eyes to sleep nor mine eyelids to slumber, neither the temples of my head to take any rest until I find out a place for the temple of the Lord, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob. ….. Arise O Lord into thy resting place. ….. Behold now praise the Lord all ye servants of the Lord. ….. Lift up your hands in the Sanctuary and praise the Lord!”
Anno Salutis Nostra 1893
The Crealock Tomb
On Wednesday 7th March 1894 men arrived at Littleham from Messrs. Farmer & Brindley of London to commence the erection of the great altar-tomb to be erected in the south aisle to the memory of Lt. General Crealock.
On the 6th. March preparations for the foundation of the tomb were commenced, portions of marble etc. arriving by train at Bideford.
On Tuesday 13th March the effigy of the deceased General arrived at Littleham.
On Tuesday 20th March the iron work for the railings round the monument arrived.
On Wednesday the 28th March 1894 the fixing of the monument, pavement round it and the railings was completed.
The small statues round the monument represent some of the virtues: - that at the north east corner holding a sword represents Justice; that with a cross in the centre of the north side represents Faith; that at the north west corner holding a club represents Fortitude; that at the south west corner holding a book and a serpent and having a man’s face behind i.e. at what ought to be the back of the head of the figure, represents Wisdom; that in the centre of the south side with an anchor represents Hope; and that at the south east corner holding a looking-glass represents Truth.
On the 26th April 1895 the stained glass for the three light and four light windows in the south aisle arrived with a man from Mr. Kempe sent to fix them.
The fixing of these two windows was completed on Thursday 3rd May, being Ascension Day.
Description of Windows
The East window represents our Lord in glory with an Angel on either side, he on the dexter side offering incense, he on the sinister side carrying the cross. Above are the letters Alpha and Omega (the latter very badly shaped) and higher up two small figures of angels in dalmatics holding scrolls on which are the words “Tu Rex” and “Gloria”. The original intention was to have, in English, the words from the Te Deum “Thou art the King of Glory O Christ”. It was found that there would not be room conveniently for anything near this number of words so the phrase was taken from the Latin version of the Te Deum.
The glass, as stated above was from the works of Mr. Victor Milner of London (I am not at all satisfied with this glass. H.G.M.)
The five light window at the eastern end of the south aisle was filled with glass from the works of Mr. Charles E. Kempe of London. The figure of St.Margaret, nearest the east, was chosen because we found a figure of this Saint painted on the Chancel wall. St. David of Wales in the next light was chosen because the Crealock family were connected by marriage with the Welsh family of Stradling and the window was put in and the glass given by the representatives of the late Gen. H. Hope Crealock. The figure of St. Anne in the centre light was chosen because the Chhristian name of Ge. Crealock’s mother was Anne. The idea of the light is, I believe, that St. Anne is teaching her daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, to read, and that the passage chosen is the Song of Hannah recorded in 1 Samuel ii. 1. The words in the window are “X”ultet (i.e. exultet) cor meum. (the words in all the copies of the Vulgate to which I have access are “exultavit cor meum”). The figure of St. Laurence in the next light was chosen because St. Laurence was in ancient days represented on the Chancel wall. (it was in compliance with the suggestion of me, the Rector, that the figures of St. Laurence and St. Margaret were selected). The figure in the fifth light represents St. George, the patron saint of soldiers.
The heraldic devices in the lower part of the window are as follows: -
In the easternmost light is the crest of Crealock with the badge of a Companion of the Bath and of a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George showing below it. In the next light underneath the figure of St. David of Wales is the coat of arms of the family of Stradling (paly of 6 arg. and az. on a bend gu. 3 cinquefoils or). Under the figure of St. Anne is the shield of Swain (az. a chev. btwn. pheons or, on a chief gu. as many maidens heads couped ppr. crined of the second). Under the figure of St. Laurence the shield of Spiller (per fess arg. and sable a horse salient counter-charged). Under the figure of St. George is the shield of Crealock (az. a chevron checky arg. and sa. btwn. 3 garbs or, a bordure embattled of the second).
N.B. These coats of arms are not correctly depicted in the mural tablet below the window.
The four light window in the centre of the south wall was filled with glass at the expense of Alfred Herbert Morse, J.P., of Copdock House near Ipswich and his wife Diana Ann, daughter of the late Sir Edward Gooch, Bart. of Benacre Hall, Suffolk. The four Saints, St. Clement, St. Paul, St. Andrew and St. Swithin represented in the four lights are the patron saints of the four Churches which I (H.G. Morse) have been licensed as curate or instituted as incumbent; viz. St. Clement’s Cambridge where I served my first curacy under Rev. Arthur R. Ward [R.I.P.] the vicar; St.Paul’s Lorrimore Square, Walworth, Surrey, a district Church of Newington which was then in the diocese of London, under Rev. John Going the vicar, (he is now Rector of HawkChurch); St. Andrew’s, Foston-on-the-Wolds, Yorkshire, of which I was vicar; and St. Swithun’s, Littleham, of which I am rector.
In one corner of the window is the coat of arms and crest of Morse, in the other corner Morse impaling Gooch as being the arms of my brother.
During the summer of A.D. 1896 the under mentioned decorative work was carried out from the designs and under the direction of G.F.Bodley Esq. A.R.A.
The eastern part of the Chancel roof over the sanctuary was painted and gilded. The east wall down to the spring of the arch of the east window was diapered. Two large pieces of tapestry were hung, one on each side of the window and altar. The mullions and sides of the window were painted. The wall behind the choir seats on the north side was diapered for some distance up from the back of the seat. The whole of the oak in the Chancel and Sacristy including the eastern side of the great screen was stained a dark colour and well waxed. The carved panels at each end of the choir seats were painted and gilded. Three texts (being vv. 29, 60 and 64 of the Deutero-canonical book “The song of the Three Children”) were painted up in the three panels on the eastern side of the rood-loft. The whole of the western side of the screen and loft as well as the great Rood was painted in red and green and richly gilded. The wall forming a partition between the Nave and Chancel above the rood-loft was also diapered on the western side. One bay of the Nave roof over the Rood was painted.
On 31st. December 1896 a little statue of St. Swithin was fixed up in the niche over the entrance to the porch. The statue was executed by J.Thompson of Peterborough under the direction of Temple Moore Esq. and was the gift of the Reverend Chas. G. Thornton.
Littleham
Service For Use Before The Re-Opening Of The Church After Restoration.
Antiphon. O pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Ps. CXXII. I was glad when they said unto me: We will go into the House of the LORD, &c. With Gloria.
Antiphon. O pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper that love thee: peace be within thy walls.
At the West Door.
Almighty and merciful GOD, Who hast granted such grace unto Thy Priests that whatsoever they rightly and fitly do in Thy Name is held as done by Thee; we entreat Thee of Thy great goodness to visit that which we are now about to visit, and bless what we are now about to bless, and at our entrance here in lowliness of heart grant that all evil spirits may be put to flight, and the angel of peace enter in, through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Amen.
V. Our help is in the Name of the LORD.
R. Who hath made heaven and earth.
While the Clerks go up the aisle and return down the centre
of the Nave the rest of the people remain standing at the west end.
Clerks. Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
V. Have mercy upon me, O GOD, after Thy great goodness.
Clerks. Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
According to the multitude of Thy mercies do away mine offences.
Clerks. Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
V. Glory be to the FATHER, and to the SON, and to the HOLY GHOST as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Clerks. Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
At the west end of the Nave.
V. The LORD be with you
R. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
O Almighty GOD, Who dost purify that which is defiled, and restore that which is decayed, mercifully hear our prayers, and purify this Church which in ancient times Thou didst cause to be built for Thy service; sanctify it anew by the outpouring of Thy heavenly grace, and keep it henceforth from all stain of defilement through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Amen.
The people go into the seats and kneel down. The Clerks proceed to the entrance of the Chancel where they kneel and say:
LORD, have mercy.
CHRIST, have mercy.
LORD, have mercy.
Our FATHER, &C.
V. O GOD, make speed to save us.
R. O LORD, make haste to help us.
All standing up.
V. Glory be, &c.
R. As it was, &c.
The Priest alone
Let my prayer be set forth, O LORD, in Thy sight as the incense.
The Clerks go in procession round the Church, singing part of Psalm LXVIII.
Antiphon. Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove; that is covered with silver wings, and her feathers like gold.
Ps. LXVIII. first 13 verses. Let GOD arise, &c. with Gloria.
Antiphon repeated.
[Admission of Choristers.]
Hymn. " Breast the wave, Christian."
V. The LORD be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
All remain standing till the end of the Office.
Let us pray.
O GOD, Who didst create man in Thine Own Image, and through the coming of our LORD JESUS CHRIST in the Flesh didst restore that Image when defaced by the sin of our first parents; look graciously, we beseech Thee, on this Thy holy place which we have re edified and adorned anew to the glory of Thy Name; through the same Jesus CHRIST our LORD. Amen
Let us pray.
O Lord Jesu CHRIST, Who hast said that Thy House should be called the House of Prayer; mercifully grant that Thy Presence abiding herein may keep this holy place void of offence, and so purify the bodies and souls of all who worship here that they may be preserved as fitting temples for Thee and the HOLY GHOST; Of Thy mercy, O our GOD, Who livest and reignest for ever, world without end. Amen.
V. The LORD be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
V. Let us bless the LORD.
R. Thanks be to GOD.
May the Almighty and Merciful LORD, FATHER, Son, and HOLY GHOST, bless and preserve us. Amen.
And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of GOD rest in peace. Amen.
PROCESSIONAL.
In the Name of God the Father.
In the Name of God the Son,
In the Name of God the Spirit,
One in Three, and Three in One;
In the Name which highest Angels
Speak not ere they veil their face,
Crying Holy, Holy, Holy,
Come we to this sacred place.
Here shall highest praise be offered,
Here shall meekest prayer be poured,
Here with body, soul, and spirit,
God Incarnate be adored.
Holy Jesu, for Thy coming,
May Thy love our hearts prepare
Thine we fain would have them wholly,
Enter, Lord, and tarry there.
Amen.
BREAST THE WAVE, CHRISTIAN.
Breast the wave, Christian,
When it is strongest;
Watch for day, Christian,
When the night's longest
Onward and onward still
Be thine endeavour;
Seek the rest that remains
To thee for ever.JESUS is o'er thee;
Run the race, Christian,
Heaven is before thee:
He who hath promised it
Faltereth never;
He who hath loved so well
Loveth for ever.Lift thine eye, Christian,
Just as it closeth;
Raise thine heart, Christian,
Ere it reposeth:
Thee from the love of Christ
Let not death sever;
And when thy work is done
Praise Him for ever.
In Conjunction with the Rev. H. G. Morse’s Diary.Memorandum
A.D. 1878 - The Rectory House partly re-roofed and otherwise put into repair. New lead pipe laid from the reservoir to the house to bring the water. The old sewer under the cellar disconnected and fresh drains laid. New entrance hall built and door made at Eastern end of the house, the old front door at the western end being left as a garden entrance.
A new entrance from Yeo Vale Road made to the carriage drive by cutting through a disused quarry, the old entrance not being with the bounds of the glebe.
A.D. 1880 - The carriage drive to the village made below the pond, the old drive close to the windows being dug up and a lawn with paths and flowerbeds laid out around the house.
A.D.1883 - The old “Poor House” now known as the Rectory cottage, with garden and plantation adjoining incorporated with the glebe by an award of exchange made by the Land Commissioners for England.
A.D. 1887 - Various lands adjoining the Glebe incorporated therewith in exchange for a detached portion. The carriage drive below the pond extended and carried up through some of the newly acquired land, a new plantation being made of either side of this drive and on the land lower down.
A.D. 1888 - A new well made in the field above the church to supply the Rectory House, the water being brought down to the reservoir in a galvanised iron pipe working on the principle of a siphon.
A.D.1892 - The stables and outhouses entirely rebuilt, the new building being planned and designed by the Rector.
A.D. 1893 - The church re-opened after a thorough restoration, the walls under-pinned, the roof entirely new, heating apparatus put in and oak screen built across nave and coloured glass fixed in east window of the chancel. A full account of the work was written by the Rector from week to week, as it was being carried on, in a book subsequently placed in the iron box with this and other parish books.
A.D. 1894 - A large altar tomb was erected in the side aisle adjoining the western side of the oak screen to the memory of Lt. General H. H. Crealock whose family also put up a window of coloured glass at the side of the tomb and another at the western end of the south wall. The four-light window in the south wall between the two last named was put up by Alfred Herbert Morse of Copdock House in the County of Suffolk and Diana Ann his wife. The said Alfred Herbert Morse being a brother of the Rector and patron of the Living.
A.D. 1896 - The chancel screen painted and gilded on the western side; on the eastern side it and all the carved oak eastward of it stained dark and waxed. The eastern wall of the chancel above the tapestry hangings, the lower part of the wall at the back of the north stalls and the two eastern most bays of the chancel roof were painted, as was also the western side of the partition wall between the chancel and nave above the rood loft and one bay of the nave roof over the rood.
It the night of 24th September 1896 several large boughs, forming quite half of the old yew tree in the churchyard were blown off by a storm of wind. On the 31st December 1896 the statuette of St. Swithin was set up in the niche over the porch.
A.D. 1898 - On Sunday 18th December 1898 Horace Gray, Bachelor of Arts of Jesus College Cambridge, was ordained a deacon at Exeter Cathedral by Edward, Bishop of Exeter, and then licensed as assistant curate of Littleham on the nomination of Rev. H. G. Morse Rector of Littleham.
A.D.1899 - On the 21st December 1899, being the feast of St. Thomas, Horace Gray, the assistant curate, was ordained priest at Exeter Cathedral, by Edward Bishop of Exeter.
A.D. 1900 - On the 1st July 1900 the Rev. H. G. Morse applied to the Bishop for permission to resign the Rectory, which was granted.
Between the 17th and 29th September 1900 the Rev. H. G. Morse, Rector, made on his turning lathe a pair of candlesticks for use at the American organ in the church. The candlesticks were made out of the wood of a bough blown down from the old yew tree in the eastern part of the churchyard. (Now turquoise blue and in the Lady Chapel) An oaken case was made for the old silver communion cup and cover (Elizabethan 1576. Made by Ions of Exeter).
THE BIDEFORD WEEKLY GAZETTE,
JUNE 6, 1893
RESTORATION of LITTLEHAM CHURCH.
RE OPENING SERVICES.
A labour of love, expended upon an exceptionally interesting edifice, has been brought to a successful termination at Littleham, where the church, beautiful after restoration a description which cannot always be quite truthfully applied was re opened on Wednesday last.
The undertaking of the work was rendered necessary by the decay of the fabric, and it was fortunate that the task fell into the hands of the present Rector, Rev. H. G. Morse, M.A., who with his brother, the patron of the living, have also borne the cost, which, to say the least, has been very considerable. The work of restoration has been carried out with the utmost carefulness and thoroughness, the result being that, though now looking almost new, the architectural characteristics of the ancient and picturesque little church have been religiously maintained.
Littleham Church, dedicated to St. Swithin, was consecrated by Bishop Walter de Stapledon, A.D. 1319, on the site of an older building, a portion of which is still existing in the north transept. The western tower is a later addition, and the south aisle considerably later than the tower. It was built on the side of a steep hill, and earth had accumulated outside, much above the level of the floor, thus causing dampness. Older parts of the wall were curiously built with "cob," used instead of mortar to fill in between the stones, which, however, were mostly of large size, carefully interlaid. Ivy of enormous growth had found its way into the centre of the walls, which, in consequence, were in a dangerous condition. The whole of the north wall, chancel, and porch, have been practically rebuilt; the other walls have been underpinned, and the tower re pointed from top to bottom. Mr Temple Moore, of London, a former pupil of Gilbert Scott, and well known for some very beautiful and careful work, examined the church and prepared the plans. A faculty was granted last year by the Bishop and Chancellor of Exeter for carrying out Mr Temple Moore's plans. A minute examination of the old walls brought to light various old paintings, and the exact size and position of the old chancel screen. One painting of very rude character has been preserved. It was discovered in pulling down a portion of the wall; and it has now been enclosed in glass, a printed card inside giving the following information, “This recess discovered during the restoration of the church, .1892 3, had been built up with stones and plastered over, so that no trace of it appeared. The picture of the Bishop, which probably dates from the 12th or 13th century, has been preserved in the splashed and damaged condition in which it was found, except that a few of the worst cracks in the plaster have been filled”
The lines of the figures can be clearly traced and the colour has been wonderfully preserved. Other paintings which had been whitewashed and plastered out of memory were also found in other parts, and photographs taken of them before being again covered. The most striking figure of the new work is the screen of fine oak, elaborately carved, surmounted by a cross, and enclosing the chancel. Special care was devoted to making it of exactly the same dimensions as the old one, and the design has been faithfully copied from a section of the original. This screen is worthy to rank with some of the best in the county, famous though many of the Devon Churches are for these structures. It was entirely executed at the establishment of Messrs. Langley, Crawley, who had the contract for all the work. The old and in some instances curiously carved bench ends have been done up, and worked into sides for the new and comfortable seats. The main floor has been laid with a thick bed of concrete, and then covered with oak blocks, forming a capital wooden pavement. The floor of the chancel and sanctuary is of black and white marble, and very handsome, It should be added that the east window of the church is of stained glass, representing, Christ in glory with angels on either side.' This is from the studio of Mr. Victor Milner. The south window, also stained, was given by the family of the late General Crealock, C.B., C.M.G. who is buried in the churchyard, and to whom a handsome monument is to be erected; this window is by Mr Chas. E. Kempe. The roof is entirely new, the internal ribs being exact copies of the old ones. The church has also been fitted with Jeffrey's patent radiators for heating purposes. As the work proceeded it was found that the bells needed attention, so they were accordingly re hung at a somewhat lower level. Two of the bells bear the dates 1731 and 1692. The re hanging has been done by Messrs. Warner and Son, of London.
As stated above, the re opening services were commenced on Wednesday, much interest being taken in the proceedings. The Ven. the Archdeacon of Barnstaple (Rev. A. E. Seymour) preached an appropriate sermon, and the collection amounted to £17 3s. 5d. Several local clergy and other visiting friends were present, and were entertained by the Rector, the Rev. H. G. Morse. On Thursday the Rev. R. A. Mortimer, Rector of Roborough, preached, and the offertory was £2 8s. At the public tea which preceded the service, over 150 people attended.
On Sunday special sermons wore preached, by the Rev. W. Saltren Willett, Vicar of Monkleigh, in the morning and the Rev. R. W. Sealy, Vicar of Abbotsham, in the evening.
