The Church of St. Michael the Archangel, Winterbourne

C Roy Hudleston 1937

C Roy Hudleston was at one time Hon Sec of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society and lived at the Grove, Winterbourne.

A SHORT GUIDE TO THE CHURCH OF St. Michael the Archangel WINTERBOURNE GLOUCESTERSHIRE BY C. ROY HUDLESTON Printed for the WINTERBOURNE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL by JOHN BELLOWS LIMITED, GLOUCESTER 1937 PRICE SIXPENCE

HOW long a church has existed at Winter- bourne we do not know. Winterbourne is not separately mentioned in Domesday Book, and there is therefore no information as to whether a priest was resident in Norman days. The oldest parts of the present church belong to the middle of the 12th century, the earliest features being the priest's doorway (on the south side of the Chancel), the south porch doorway with its curious semi-circular arch (removed from the west end in 1843), the chancel arch, and the arch to the chantry chapel under the tower. When Willian de Headingdone, rector of Winterbourne, resigned the living in 1332, owing to old age and blindness, it was ordered that he should have a pension of £20, because of his " great service in the erection of noble build- ings and in their defence." The 14th-century work in the church is no doubt due to this rector, and to the Bradeston family, whose ownership of the manor of Winter- bourne began about 1328 To this family we owe the manor chapel (on the north side of the chancel) and the chantry chapel (under the tower). A gallery formerly stood at the west end of the church, but was taken down in 1815, and a larger one built, supported on pilasters, portions of which are now in the rectory garden. The gallery was taken down in 1843, when the church 3

underwent a severe restoration. The north and west walls were taken down, and a window with the Berkeley arms in the west wall was removed. Part of the south wall was also demolished, as well as the pillars supporting the roof of the church. The vestry was converted into a south porch, and a vestry built at the east end of the manor chapel. This vestry was taken down in 1880, when the present one was built. The chancel was restored in 1856. At that time the east wall was re-built by the Rev. J. W. Jones, and raised two feet to allow of the insertion of a loftier window. This was presented by Mrs Jones, in memory of her husband's work in the parish--he was for many years curate. The reredos was also given by her to commemorate his work. There was a further restoration of the church in 1880. This will be mentioned later. The church was lighted with electricity in 1937, the gift of Mr C.W.Buckland, rector's warden, in memory of his wife. The chief features of the church will now be described in alphabetical order. Bells. The six bells were cast at Chepstow in 1750, repaired and partly re-hung in 1890. Chantry Chapel. In 1352 licence was granted to Thomas de Bradeston to alienate houses and land and rent to the wardens of the Chantry newly made by him at the altar of St. Michael in Winterbourne Church. The chantry existed until dissolved in 1547, and the residence of the Chantry priests was the Wardenage House, which, until it was pulled down just over a 4

century ago, stood where the cottages opposite the church now stand. The walls of the chantry were decorated with paintings, portions of which remain. No doubt at the Reformation the paintings were plastered over, and it was not until the Rev. A. H. Austen- Leigh was rector (1875-1890) that they came to light again. A figure of St. Michael and the dragon, a knight in armour, the Bradeston arms, their crest (a boar's head) and roses are still to be seen. Unfortunately the east wall, against which the altar of St. Michael stood, was pulled down in 1894, to make way for the organ chamber. Dedication. In 1352 the church is described as " the church of St. Mary, Winterbourne." It would seem that this dedication was discarded in favour of St. Michael the Archangel. Font. The font, of unusual design, dates from the latter part of the 17th century. Manor Chapel. Notice on left of the entrance to this chapel traces of the staircase which led to the rood loft. On the right hand side of the chancel arch are two deep embrasures which communicated with the outside of the church before the organ chamber (which hides many interesting details) was put in in 1894. These two embrasures lighted the rood loft and the rood altar, the piscina (14th century) of which still exists. The manor chapel was restored by the late Mr William Tanner, and it was again restored and re-furnished in 1929 by Miss Tanner as a memorial to the Winterbourne men who fell 5

in the War. For the effigies and brass in this chapel see under Monuments. Several lords of the manor are buried here. Monuments. In Sanctuary note heavy monu- ment to Thomas Symes (d. 1670) and Amy (Bridges) his wife (d. 1662). In Manor Chapel there are five fine effigies:(i)A lady, circa 1300. This effigy in 1712 was in the belfry ; whom it commemorates is not known. (2) A knight in armour and his lady, almost certainly represent- ing Robert de Bradeston (d. 1355-7) and Isabella his wife. The lady's feet rest on a lap dog. These effigies are on a wide table tomb and were formerly under the arch between the chapel and the chancel. (3) Another knight in armour, and his lady, attributed to John de Bradeston and his wife. John was younger son of Robert mentioned above, and died in 1374. The lady's feet rest on two lap dogs, wearing collars of bells. One of the dogs has lost its head. In the Manor Chapel is also a brass, stated to be the earliest in Gloucestershire. Dating from circa 1370 the brass is believed to represent one of the Bradeston ladies. The canopy and mar- ginal inscription are missing. The lady wears the veil head-dress, then in fashion. Mr Cecil Davis says " her gown ... is peculiar in having pocket holes in front and through these is seen the cincture (girdle) of the kirtle worn beneath." Note also the fine mural monument of James Buck, lord of the manor (d. 1612) and other monuments to members of this family. In the North Aisle in a fine 14th-century recess is the effigy of a knight on a plain table tomb. 6

It dates from the middle of the 14th century, and by the county historians has been described as the tomb of William Fokerham, lord of the manor of Sturdon, but he died in 1257. Rudge, writing in 1803, says: "Stern Court, an old ruined building belonged formerly to the family of Stern or Hicinstern or Sterten,as it is found on a tomb in the manorial chancel, one of whom is said by tradition to have been a great robber." Later he says the monument is in the north aisle, and adds " legend is ... that this man had sold himself to the devil; and it was among the articles of the contract that he was to be carried to the church, after his death, neither with his feet or his head foremost, nor to be buried in the church or churchyard ; to cheat the devil . . . he directed that his body should be carried side- ways to burial, and that it should be buried in the wall of the church." No documentary evidence is forthcoming concerning Hugo de Sturden (as he is sometimes called) but legend has it that he eloped with one of the ladies of Syston Court, and his exploit has been immortalised in the ballad " Oh, who will o'er the Downs so free." If the effigy represents a lord of Sturden, the most likely would seem to be Richard de la Riviere, who died in 1362. In 1328 it was alleged that he and several others broke into John de Acton's houses at Iron Acton and Elkeston and took away 32 oxen and 6 mares, and felled trees, reaped his corn, fished his fishponds, etc., so it may be assumed that Richard was neither above abduc- tion, nor above selling his soul to the devil. 7

Organ. The organ chamber was built and a new organ provided in 1894. Pews. The church was re-seated in 1877. Pulpit was presented by the late Mr H. W. Marsh, of Winterbourne Park in 1877. Registers date from 1600. Scratch Dial. Twelve feet above south porch. Tower. Early English and Decorated, stands in an unusual position, over the south transept. It has been re-built. The spire was struck by lightning in 1583, and again in 1827. In 1853 it was found to be unsafe and was taken down to within a few courses of the tower and re-built. The old stones of the steeple may still be seen in the orchard of Hambrook House. The steeple was again restored in 1922. Windows. East in memory of Rev. John Walker Jones (1785-1862), 30 years curate of Winterbourne. North Aisle in memory of the men of Winterbourne who fell in the Great War. West in memory of William Tanner, a generous benefactor to the church. Under belfry to the memory of Mrs William Tanner (d, 1853) and her daughter. South aisle in memory of members of the Marsh family of Winterbourne Park. [Note.--Much of the information in this guide is taken from Mr. C. H. B. Elliot's " Winter- bourne " (1936), to whom grateful acknowledg- ment is made]. 8