Cruwys Morchard Devon : 無料・フリー素材/写真
Cruwys Morchard Devon / jmc4 - Church Explorer
| ライセンス | クリエイティブ・コモンズ 表示-継承 2.1 |
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| 説明 | Church of the Holy Cross, Cruwys Morchard Devon, 1086 Domesday Survey states the manor was shared between 2 landholders, the majority holding with the curiously named William the Goat , the balance held by Bishop Geoffrey of Coutances, collectively the parish had 13 ploughs , extensive meadows, pastures & woodland.The first wooden church here, dates at least from the time of the first named rector Godfrey de Sower of 1262 .It served as the private chapel of the Cruwys family, who owned the adjoining manor house from at least the time of King John [1199-1216]. "Some of this family very likely were the founders of the ancient parish church which they endowed well with glebe lands which, with the tythes thereunto belonging, making the rectory amount to £160 per annum clear."The present building which serves a scattered parish, was rebuilt in stone in 1529 and had a spire on top of the tower. However the chapel belonging to Cruwys Morchard House which was the burial place of the family, was destroyed by Oliver Cromwell pre 1660 along, it is believed, with many family monuments .Sadly the spire was struck by lightning in 1688 and the resulting major fire, which melted the lead & bells, necessitated the rebuilding of the top stage of the tower in bricks made in the field opposite the church. It also destroyed painted windows which bore the arms of the Cruwys family. The following letter found in Cruwys Morchard House, dated Monday, 18th February 1688, gives an interesting account of the fire, describing how the church " was totally consumed by fire, enkindled by lightning, in the spire or steeple thereof, melting the bells, lead, glass, nothing escaping but the silver Communion plate. At eleven Sunday evening John Copp passed by the churchyard, saw nothing of the fire. About 12 or 1 next morning Mr. Podger being sick in Morchard House, and not able to sleep, heard two or three extreme violent claps of thunder, with lightning, which he fancied was different from what was common, because it did not seem to vanish as usual, but rested or shined for some time. About two hours after he heard a rapping crackling noise, and at last judging it to be fire, he got up, and found the upper part of the steeple burnt and fallen in, and the remaining part burning very furiously. The church itself, as yet untouched, he got what hands he could, and by throwing a great deal of water, saved the porch, and by help of a long cornpike with spaves turned downward after they have forced the doors, they drew out the chest all in flames, where the Communion plate was, some of which began to be discoloured, and the wind was strong in the west, and blew directly over Morchard House. It was computed by all that were present that the sparks of the fire flew as far east as Morchard Mill. That there were three very violent claps of thunder about midnight, and that a storm of snow or hail had fallen which discoloured the ground. That all of the bells which hung in the steeple about the tower (the frames being placed at the top of the framework) were melted where they hung, because a great deal of the melted metal was found at the top of the tower, down the sides of the walls, and that they melted (at least some of them) by the shape in which the metal was found. That they dug three or four feet into the earth and found a great deal of metal sunk into it. That they dug three or four feet into the earth under the belfry and found a considerable quantity of metal. That the evening when they were ringing several boys were up in the tower, and he himself, when there was a vast amount of combustible matter, as sticks, straw, etc., which had been brought thither by the choughs and if they had any candles there — the clappers were melted and small pieces of the brims of the bells. 'Tis reported that someone at present unknown at Withleigh, in Tiverton, saw when the fire at the top of the steeple appeared no larger than a man's hat. The steeple was built with a bandment of extraordinary massive timber. The axel and . . . covered with wood, had been lately new done, as was the church. John Copp positively affirms that he himself, after he had made a path by throwing much water, ran into the Church and took up the Chalice and Paten, and brought them out in a bucket. That the chest in which they were burnt abroad, and found the plate among the coals, but the basin was melted, the foot of the chalice burnt as well, the church all fallen in, but he himself ran into the church for the plate."The repairs, which also involved a new roof and pews, took 13 years to complete. The windows were replaced with stained glass which again included the Cruwys arms .As a result, the fittings are a wonderful example of early 18c style, and are almost completely untouched since they were installed. The Laudian altar rail is also outstanding with barley sugar balusters and original gates to the north and south. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/0u6De5se5h The 19c east-facing choir stalls have poppyhead finials, traceried ends and buttresses. A 1700 seating plan of the church shows the nave and aisle seating much as it is today with the pulpit and clerk's at the east end of the nave and the aisle seating facing north. Box pews facing west in front of the chancel screen and still in situ were assigned to clerk and parson's wife. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/a47m94y76r The fine box pews survive intact in the aisle but it appears that there has been some re- adjustment to the nave benches. The design of the wall plaster indicates that the west end benches were formerly banked up and the names of local farms whose tenants or owners contributed to the early 18c restoration are painted on the benches which appear in some cases to have been re-arranged. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/e68q31Y975 Painted texts designated benches allocated to particular groups : "Boys under 16 years of age" etc.here are box pews,. The elegant late 17c font is in classical style. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/6762Y7dx55 During the 18c the nave, chancel & aisle were given a white plaster paneling, the wagon roof was also plastered over and a new screen added, described by Pevsner as the "best early 18c screen in Devon, It is of Corinthian design uncommon in Devon, .https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/6QA9GX594T This and the parclose screen are well carved, and in a good state of preservation. Over its entrance to the chancel is a crown resting on a cushion. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/999dvyuLBYc 1838 some of the nave windows were replaced and the vestry added. The church now consists of chancel, nave, south aisle, south porch, and an embattled west tower with 6 bells, dating from 1721 to 1765. There are monuments to the Avery and Cruwys families, and a brass to William Stone of Bath, who left a considerable benefaction to the parish.The registers date from 1572.David Smith CCL www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5501907 |
| 撮影日 | 2017-08-17 10:12:19 |
| 撮影者 | jmc4 - Church Explorer |
| タグ | |
| 撮影地 | Mid Devon District, England, UK 地図 |