The History of the Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin

The Parish Church of St Mary is the principal glory of the town.  Even in a county famed throughout the world for its lovely churches, this beautiful building is outstanding.  Surrounded by ornamental trees and standing well back from the road, its position is excellent, proving once again the wisdom of the ancient builder, who not only fashioned jewels but knew how to set them. (Click here to identify St Mary's on the Town Trail)  It is a large and very handsome edifice in the Norman and Early English styles and is large and shapely, with a battlemented tower and a graceful spire.  The church consists of a tower and spire, north and south aisles, chancel and north porch, all constructed of local stone.  The foundations of the present church are Norman and a number of Norman features still remain.  The church was dedicated in 1147 and people have worshipped God there ever since. Click here for a review of the church fabric taken in 1637. 

St Mary's Church 1847 An engraving before the Victorian 'restorations' and additions of the 1860's and 1880's

Parish Church Floor Plan 1847 Compared with today the most noticeable features are that the bell-chamber was reached via an interior staircase in the tower, the font was beside one of the pillars, a vestry had been provided at the eastern end of the chancel with a fireplace in the southern wall and a door leading to the churchyard through the eastern wall where the high altar is now. An organ chamber and vestry were added c1868

The tower and spire were rebuilt in 1862 and the church itself was restored in 1867. A further major restoration and re-organisation took place in 1969 when the Revd Derek Hole was the Rector.  Following the 1867 restoration the then Rector, Revd Francis Browne Newman, left a report concerning these works, as can be seen from the following extracts dated 1868:

“. . . apart from serious damage there was much to disquiet Sunday thoughts, and mar Sunday clothes, by the ready entrance of wind, rain and snow through the perishing oak boarding above.  The flooring was often soaked, yards of it had disappeared altogether, and the remainder was in a pitiable condition. “In the tower there were very alarming settlements.  It was literally split in two from top to bottom, arising partly from the erection of a spire upon a tower never intended to carry one, and partly from the structural defects in the base of the spire itself.

The best professional advice was sought.  When it came it ran, briefly to this effect: ‘take the spire carefully down, rebuild the tower from the foundations and then replace the spire but don’t attempt any repairs of the church until the tower and spire have been securely re-erected; the case admits of no delay.’

“A lath and plaster partition where the altar rails now stand, was found in its rightful position, and now that a canopy has been added, and the old painting and gilding brought to light and renewed, the screen has become once again a highly ornamental feature. “. . . A vestry has been built which is entered by an old doorway opening through the south wall of the chancel . . . “. . . a lectern (specially subscribed for) has also been introduced. “. . . new floors were laid and seated with comfortable rush-bottom chairs, the windows were freshly glazed and a heating apparatus was provided.  After a while to meet the wish of the congregation rather than that of the clergy, oak benches were substituted for the chairs.  “The cost of restoration of the church from first to last, exclusive of everything connected with the chancel but including the re-building of the tower, the new seats, clock pulpit, lectern, organ chamber, vestry, heating apparatus, general repairs to the roof, the interest of borrowed money for several years etc, has somewhat exceeded £4000. “ An opinion was even expressed after the tower was levelled to the ground, that its rebuilding was a manifest impossibility and that the materials stacked six feet high over the churchyard, had better be disposed of to mend the roads . . .  Without injury to a single gravestone the materials disappeared from the churchyard, the tower was seen slowly but surely to rise up in its old place, and the spire was securely placed upon it.  As the whole was built precisely on the old lines but little new stone was needed.”

The Tower

South side of tower showing belfry door and south door

Of three storeys the tower is pierced on the north by a later door of Decorated character (14^th century) while the tower throughout is Early English (13^th century).  In the south west corner of the tower is the original Early English doorway (now blocked up) that led to the tower staircase.

The tower houses a clock and a fine peal of eight bells.  When the repairs were carried out to the tower in 1862, the bells were lowered and could no longer be rung from the first floor of the belfry.  The repairs were necessary because large cracks had appeared in the stonework of the tower. Mr John Henson, a Kettering builder, was employed to take it down stone by stone and then rebuild it.

Repairs to Church Tower 1864

The first picture above shows some adventurous ladies, probably the rector's daughters taking the opportunity to look at the work taking place to repair the tower and spire. This view is of the south face of the tower from the Manor House Garden.

The middle picture shows the wall that existed to the south of the church before the churchyard was extended in 1880.

The final picture shows the front of the Manor House before a new gabled entrance was added in the 1920's.

Further restoration of the tower, battlements and clerestory windows was necessary in 1979.  (Click here for article and photograph relating to this)

The Bells

The bells are inscribed as follows (translated from Latin):

1^st (treble)  Taylor Loughboro 1920.  They gave their life for church and country.  Father and son.  WBJ 1913 EWRJ 1916  Praise be to God.

2^nd  Taylor Loughboro.  On earth peace to men of goodwill:1920

3^rd  John Taylor.  Founder.  Queen Victoria 1837-1901  Praise be to God

New bell 1903 commemorating the reign of Queen Victoria 1837-1901 - cost £62 7s 11d.

4^th  Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews; O Son of God Have mercy on me. 1920

5th  O Christ the King of Heaven, May this sound be pleasing to thee.  J Paine & H Bull.  CWT & J Eayre 1718

6^th  (inscription as for 5^th) 1619

7^th  (inscription as for 4^th) 1619

8^th (Tenor)  (inscriptions for 4^th) William Stear & John Payne C W.1749 T Eayre Kett: Founder

A Peal of Bells was rung on 25 September 1920 to dedicate the restored and re-hung bells in Commemoration of Peace. (Click here for article on special peal of bells for Revd R W Sharpley's 25 year anniversary) (Click here for article on appeal for funds to repair 335-year-old bell in the 1970s)

Bells ready for rehanging in 1920	Bell Ringers 1920's

Bell Ringers 1940. Three generations of the Saddington family. On the right, grandfather, Joseph Saddington, on the left, Bernard Saddington, and in the centre, his daughter, Joy (Joy Dacre)	Bell Ringers Practice 1985

Tower Room

This was created in 2000 by installing a floor to provide a first floor Ringing Chamber with the Tower Room located below – known as the Janet Harpur Room in memory of Janet Harpur a faithful worshipper at St Mary’s who cared about the needs of children in a variety of ways.  The room is designed for use as a crèche during services.

North Porch

North door with statue of Madonna and Child

The porch is Perpendicular (15^th century) with angle buttresses and a pointed and heavily studded door bearing the date 1510 and the names of

JHON CAMPYON AND JHONE HYS WYF

cut on them.  The timbered porch was stripped and re-roofed in 1930 due to the ravages of the Death Watch beetle. Above the porch entrance is a niche, which now contains a statue of the Madonna and Child, presented by the school children in 1921.  This probably replaces one destroyed during the Commonwealth.  In the corner of the porch a 13^th century font has been placed after its discovery forming part of a rockery in the old rectory garden.

South Door

This door is round headed and of the early 13^th century.  On the south wall remains can be seen of a mediaeval scratch dial.

Font

The 15^th/16^th century font is plain and is used for Baptisms.  The font canopy is relatively modern and replaced an old one of which only a description remains.  The font was moved from its former position against the third pillar on two steps between the south aisle and the nave to below the tower arch and moved again in 1972 to its present position.

Church interior view to the west showing font and stained glass window

Chancel

The chancel is late Early English about 1280.  The East window is of 1867 but the side windows are late 13^th century, Y-tracery with foiled circles.  The carved oak reredos, altar and panelling date from 1897 and were designed by Mr Dunstan Powell, grandson of the famous Pugin – perhaps the greatest ecclesiastical architect and adviser of that century.  Mr Powell, a partner of the firm of Hardman & Co of Birmingham , London and New York was the artist who designed the east window.  The work in the sanctuary is all carved English oak and is in keeping with the screen and other chancel oak work.  At either end of the altar is the IHS whilst the Angus Dei (Lamb of God) fills the middle panel.  The reredos has a beautifully carved canopy for the cross, on either side being two carved panels representing Angels with Thurifers censing the congregation.  The other side wings are all carefully worked. In 1984, as a memorial to the Revd Edward Pitt, restoration of the altar and reredos took place. Stripping and bleaching was carried out together with gilding and painting to highlight carved features.

The altar showing highlighted detail

Nave

This consists of six bays and a half, the tower touching on what would have been the seventh bay westward,  half of the arch of which becomes a flying buttress to the tower.

The strange nook-shafted respond in the north arcade and the shape of the pier to which it belongs, is evidence of the transept of a cruciform Norman church.  Only thus can it be explained that there are two nook-shafts with stiff leaf capitals to the north and a round arch to the east.  To this cruciform Norman church of which no actual feature remains, a south arcade was added still in the 12^th century, and of that there are two and a half arches from the west.

On the south side are circular piers, square capitals with many scallops and one with upright leaves, the arches from the west unmounded, then with a thin angle roll, then with zig-zag.  The north arcade also with a half arch follows in the early 13^th century.  One pier is circular with a circular stiff leaf capital and the next is square with four demi-shafts and stiff leaf.

The third arch on each side taking its western spring from a Norman pier rests on the east on an Early English one of totally different section, the arch itself being not Early English, but Norman.  The south side displays a character most striking, for the arch thus supported between a Norman and Early English pier is intensely Norman in character.  A portion of the Norman abacus remains under the Norman arch and above the Early English capital.

About 1280 the former Norman chancel was taken into the nave and the arcades were correspondingly lengthened.  This would account for the evidence that at the place where the old and new structures unite, an arch on each side has been underbuilt.

On the third pillar of the north aisle is a grotesque face.  It is a “Green Man’ – a popular feature of many churches.

Wall Paintings

Above the pillars in the base of the arches are some remarkable wall paintings, almost complete,  dating from 1600 and originally representing twelve patriarchs of the Old Testament.  Ten remain complete representing Jacob’s blessing of his sons, Judah with his sceptre on a throne, Issachar with a spade, a scythe and a heavily laden horse.  Reuben as a fisherman, Nephthali fleet of foot as a hind let loose, and Benjamin dividing the spoils.

Nave wall paintings above the pillars

There are a series of valuable mural paintings on the north wall that are exceptionally precious examples of mediaeval art, equal to the best continental work of the period.  Though they are much decayed they are highly interesting, representing the martyrdom of St Catherine.  Discovered in the 1860’s under many coats of limewash, they have been revealed as belonging to the best period of English mural painting about 1300.  Experts consider that the work was done by a master of no mean order.  The Saint is seen disputing with pagan philosophers, standing before the enthroned emperor, led away by a gaoler carrying his keys, and again calm and serene amid the wreckage of her spiked wheel, of which fragments have struck off the heads of her torturers.  There could be a further final scene showing the burial of the Saint by angels on Mount Sinai but if it ever existed all trace seems to have disappeared. (To read about the efforts to complete the restoration, click here)

These paintings were restored by Professor E W Tristram in 1933 and again by Mrs Eve Baker in 1972 together with the Elizabethan paintings with a generous grant from the Pilgrim Trust. (To read about the process of restoration, click here)

North aisle wall paintings showing the martyrdom of St Catherine

North aisle wall paintings showing the martyrdom of St Catherine

A painting over the chancel arch, probably depicting the Last Judgment, has entirely disappeared.

Chancel Screen

This rood screen is much restored but is basically 15^th century and the present colouring conforms as near as possible with the original.

Interior of church before 1969 restoration showing the rood screen

Pulpit and Nave Altar

This was removed and a nave altar and its platform were installed in 1969; the platform was later extended in the 1990’s.  An altar frontal was provided in 1969 designed to represent local industries – agriculture, a footwear clicker’s knife, a hide of leather and an ear of wheat for cereal manufacturing.  Another altar frontal provided at the same time represents creation. (Click here for newspaper article on industrial gifts for harvest)

New-style altar built in the nave by Mr Maurice Patrick.	Revd D Hole with the industries' altar frontal

(Click here to read newspaper article on Restoration Fund fete 1962)
(Click here to read newspaper article on Restored Church Legacy 1973)
(Click here to read newspaper article on Rev E Pitt, successor to Rev D Hole)

Organ

The organ was made by Nicholson and Ward of Walsall in the 1880’s.

The Organ	Plaque detailing the restoration of the organ in 1916

Choir

For many years members of the choir consisted of males only, supplemented by female voices for Festivals. Latterly women and girls were introduced to swell the ranks. (Click here to read article detailing the long service of 50 years in the choir of the "Tailby Twins" and Click here for their memories after 65 years)

The Choir - 1894 at the entrance to the church	The Choir - 1975 processing through the churchyard George Thurlow leading the group Maureen Althorpe, Roger Dacre, Renee Toseland at the rear

Alms Box

By the second pillar near the north door is a beautifully carved Elizabethan poor box with three locks dating from the canon of 1603 which ordered the provision of such alms boxes for the relief of the poor of the parish. Very few of these have survived. Payment for the construction of this box is noted in the Churchwarden's Accounts of 1631

Brasses

The oldest brass is of the Boyvill family and is situated between the south arcade and chancel screen.  The original stone contained brasses of a man and his wife with eighteen children, nine sons and nine daughters, with shields at the corners and inscriptions.  Of these only nine daughters and one shield remain.  The memorial is probably to Richard Boyvill and Gresyll his wife who died early in the 16^th century.

Photograph of Brass of a man and his wife and eighteen children.

Just inside the chancel is a small portion of another brass, considerably worn, but probably part of the monument to Edmund Bacon who became Lord of the Manor early in the 17^th century and built Burton Latimer Hall. He died 4 March 1626 aged 80 years.  Tombstones to other members of the Bacon family, former Lords of the Manor, with dates 1642 and 1782, also form part of the chancel floor. The son and heir of Edmund, Thomas, was a vigorous opponent of the levy of ship money during the reign of Charles I. Thomas had married Margaret Franklyn and their daughter, Anna, was baptised in the church on 25 January 1626, but the mother died on 29 January, and on January 30, Margaret Bacon was buried in the chancel. In the south aisle wall is a fine brass enclosed in a stone monument with three pyramids at the top supported by two pillars.  It is to Margaret Bacon and her baby.  She wears a mantle and her baby lies at her feet in swaddling clothes.  The Bacon family continued as Lords of the Manor until 1760 when it was purchased by John Harpur, ancestor of the present owner.   

Photograph of brass within monument on left	Margaret Bacon brass within monument on south aisle wall

Monuments

On the south wall of the chancel is a monument to

• Thomas Montagu (grandson of the Earl of Manchester ) – Rector 1679-1718

• Samuel Barwick – Rector 1758-1809

On the north wall of the chancel there is a more recent monument to the memory of

• Canon Edward Pitt 1973-1982

In the South Aisle can be found a wooden cross in memory of

• Edward Jaques – son of a former Rector

Also in the South Aisle there is a black tablet with a cherub’s head to commemorate

• John Payne – 1765

The 19^th century members of the Harpur family are recorded on the marble tablet in the South Aisle.

Oak Chest

The fine old oak chest in the chancel is dated 1629 and the initials on the front are probably of the people who made it, John Robinson, a smith, and Thomas Blofield, a carpenter, both noted in the Churchwarden's Accounts as being paid for work in the church around that time. Until 1992 the chest contained parish archives dating back to the 15^th century and registers from 1538.  The earliest consisted of a parchment scroll twenty-two feet long by six and a half inches wide.  Apart from a few missing years during the Civil Wars the registers are complete from 1538.  These records are now housed in the County Record Office.

Mass Book

Another item now deposited at the County Record Office is the priceless possession of a Mass book of the 14^th century, beautifully illuminated.  It contains prayers for a blessing on the staffs and shields of those about to undertake a duel and for those proposing to go on a pilgrimage, together with a mass for the dead and for marriage.  This book would have been lost but for the fact that its pages were used to bind the Churchwardens’ account book for 1559.  They have been rebound by the British Museum .

Windows

The fine stained glass in the East window was put in to the memory of Hannah Ellen Cross, mother of Mrs Jacques, wife of a former rector, who died 19 December 1896.  It was constructed by Hardmans of Birmingham.  The main part of the window includes pictures showing The Arrest in the Garden, The Crucifixion,  The Resurrection, The Agony in Gethsemane , The Taunting of Christ and the Way of Cross.  The upper medallions show a dove, a hand, a lamb and the Holy Trinity.  The inscription reads “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many.  Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto sainthood.  To the glory of God and in loving memory of Hannah Ellen Cross OB 19 December 1896 RIP”

East Window

The two windows on the south and north side of the sanctuary were presented by Mrs Jacques as a memorial to her late husband (the Rev W B Jacques 1895-1911) who did so much to add beauty to the church.  These windows depict the Old and New Testaments.

Window on the south side of the chancel	Window on the north side of the chancel

The stained glass window at the east end of the south aisle is a war memorial window to the Great War 1914-18 and shows the royal standard and soldiers asleep at the resurrection.  The inscription reads “He is not here for he is risen.”

South aisle window

The stained glass window at the east end of the north aisle is dated 1874 and shows Moses striking water from a rock, Christ with the Samarian woman and the Purifying of Elijah with water. It is to the memory of the Rev Edward Craig, curate, who died 17 August 1850. This window is again attributed to Hardmans.

North aisle window

The belfry window is attributed to Clayton & Bell and is dated 1860.  It shows the presentation, baptism and the ark.  The inscriptions read “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.  Mine eyes have seen thy salvation.  Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”

In the middle window of the south aisle is a piece of armorial glass that came from the staircase window of the old rectory in 1970 and has connections with the Rev David Barclay Bevan who was rector from 1843 –1857.

Armorial glass retrieved from the Old Rectory

The aisle windows and clerestory windows are 15^th century.  The clerestory has six windows each of two lights.

The first window in the south wall has a curious scooped out section in the window ledge.  This is a medieval piscine (basin and drain) which was formerly in the chancel.

Chapter House

On the south side of the church is the Chapter House constructed from local stone in 1984.  It is octagonal in shape and is entered through its internal doors.

Click here for article on the Opening of the Chapter House.

South of church showing vestry door prior to the erection of the Chapter House

View of Chapter House and plot for cremated remains

Church Hall

To read about a proposed Church Hall extension branded a misfit in 1993 click here.

Churchyard Plot for Cremated Remains

In 1972 a plot of land outside the east end of the church, near the vestry gravestones were removed and the ground levelled and turfed to provide an area to to be used for burial of cremated remains. At a later date a further plot was provided to supplement the original.

Proposed Car Park plan for graveyard

To read about a proposed plan in 1993 for a car park using graveyard land in Church Lane click here.

Memorial Gates

Memorial gates were installed at the main entrance to the church. (Click here to read newspaper article) The gates were dedicated to the late Revd R W Sharpley (Click here for details of Revd Sharpley's will) by his brother, Bishop Lamplugh on the 8 September 1972. (Click here to read newspaper article of the ceremony). Click here for funeral of Revd R W Sharpley.

On 29 April 1973 a pair of oak gates were dedicated at the side entrance to the church from Church Lane in memory of Mr & Mrs C T Booth.

Revd Derek Hole distributing primroses, Mothering Sunday,1968 with Mr J R Loake (churchwarden) in the background

Visit of Princess Alice of Gloucester in 1975
George Thurlow, Princess Alice, Canon Edward Pitt	L to R: Nora Matravers, Ralph Aveling, Brian Craddock, Cllr Charles Hakewell (Mayor of Kettering), Cllr Maurice Patrick (Chairman Burton Latimer Town Council), Canon Edward Pitt, Princess Alice, Mrs Hakewell (Mayoress)
To read article about Princess Alice's visit click here.

Click here for article on memories of past 850 years.

Line drawing of the church by Joan Campbell

St Mary's Church is point 5 on the Town Trail feature on the site