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The Bell Tower
The
Tower is Norman, built about 1100. It was damaged by lightning on the
west side and was restored in 1897. A large quantity of new stone was
put in, stone mullions were replaced and it was repointed from ground
to summit.
A new lightning conductor and a steel flagstaff were
added and a Red Ensign purchased for use on special occasions. New oak
doors were fitted at the main entrance and to the oak screen, with
cathedral glass and patent springs.
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The Clock
There
was a clock in the tower in the early 19th century but no record exists
of how old it was. The present clock was purchased from Bensons of
London in 1866. It arrived on 31st September 1866 and set to work on
26th January 1867. In 1897 it was repaired and the hands and dial
re-gilded.
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The Bells
The new peal of five bells first rang out over Thurlaston on 12th
February 1882. They consisted of :
A new treble (note C) 2'7 1/2" weighing 6cwt 3qu 13 lb.
The
old treble with the lettering "Omnia fiant ad Glorium Dei, Gloria Deo
Soli. T Eayre AD 1746" (do all to the Glory of God, Glory to God alone)
(note B flat) 2' 9" diameter weighing an estimated 7 3/4 cwts.
A new bell (note A) to replace one dated 1580. Diameter 2'11" weight
9cwt 2lbs.
The
old tenor bell (note G), still the hour bell for the clock and
inscribed "Soli Deo Gloria. Pax omnibus 1653 TM" (Glory to God and
peace to all men) Diameter 3'5" estimated weight 13cwts.
New tenor bell (note F) inscribed "J Taylor & Co Bellfounders
Loughborough". Diameter 3'8" weight 17cwt 4lbs.
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The North Aisle
In the early 1300s a portion of this aisle was set aside by Ralph de
Turvile as a burial place for the Turvile family and other
distinguished people it was called the Turvile Chantry. In 1778-9 a
wall with a door in it was built across the aisle to divide the chantry
off from the rest of the church and the arch between the chancel and
the chantry bricked up. This burial place was, at that time called 'Mr
Grundy's Aisle' as he had now taken over the rights of the Turviles
when he bought New Hall Park and he was Lord of the Manor of
Thurlaston. After it was closed off from the rest of the church this
part became neglected and was known as 'The Dark Chancel'. In 1832 it
was described as being in a 'wretched state' as the Grundy family, who
were supposed to keep it in repair in lieu of paying Church rates had
failed to do so. In the early 1850s the condition of this are was very
bad indeed. It was so dark inside that its contents could only be
viewed with lighted candles. It had been used to store coal and several
barrow loads of soil were taken away from the decaying remains of many
years of Christmas hollies and evergreens which had been thrown away in
there. Many monuments were damaged but the large tomb of John and
Katherine Turvile was saved and moved, as were some of the other tombs
in this area. The end wall (East) was unsafe and had to be demolished
and rebuilt a few yards westward. The vestry was added a few years
later.
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The South Wall
The
years 1778-9 witnessed a drastic change in the church. The south aisle
was taken down and a new south wall to the Nave was built, with three
plain windows in it. The walls of the Nave were lowered and a new slate
roof put on.
The interior walls were plastered and a new main
door, five feet wide, was put in, in its present position in the west
wall of the belfry. A new inner door, from the belfry to the nave, was
added and a new floor for the bell-ringers. The Turvile burial chantry
at the east end of the north aisle was walled up to block it off from
the rest of the aisle a small door allowed access. The chantry was
also blocked off from the chancel by the arches being filled in. A new
quarry floor was laid and a new pulpit, reading desk and pews added.
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East Window
Made
by Waites of Newcastle and fitted in 1850. It was a gift of the
Rector's sisters, the Misses Bruxner. The stonework and tracery is an
enlarged copy of a window in Stoke Golding church. The five main
windows contain the figures of
Abraham
David
John the Baptist
Peter
Paul
And
underneath each are scrolls of texts. The upper tracery contains
representations of the Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus.
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The Passion 1860 - 1862
This
window replaced one which was installed in 1778/9 when the new south
wall was built. In the tracery at the top of the window are
representations of the Passion and Crucifixion of Christ.
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Adoration of the Magi
Completed
in 1882, this window shows a representation of the three Kings paying
homage to Jesus. The Bible quotation reads " All Kings shall fall
before him all nations shall serve him. Behold I make all things new,
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end".
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Presentation in the Temple
This
depicts Anna on the left side, Simeon with Jesus in the centre and Mary
on the right side. The bible quotation reads " Then he took him up into
his arms and blessed God and said 'Lord. Now lettest thou thy servant
depart in peace according to thy word, for my eyes have seen thy
salvation". The tracery reads " He shall be great and shall be called
'The Son of the Highest' ".
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The Annunciation
Purchased
in 1882. The left hand window shows Mary with the words "Behold the
handmaid of the Lord". The centre window shows a dove and white lilies
with the words "Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall
call his name Immanuel". The right hand window portrays an angel with
the words "Behold thy highly favoured of the Lord". Across the bottom
of the window is written "Now all this was done, that it might be
fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet" |
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The Light of the World
Purchased
in 1862 by Rev. G. Bruxner with £50 that had been presented to him by
the people of Thurlaston in appreciation of all his work for the
church. On the right hand of Christ are the words " Be zealous
therefore and repent, behold I stand at the door and knock" (Rev. 3,
v19-20). On the left hand are the words " Then spake Jesus again I am
the light of the world" (John 8, v12). The upper tracery contains
representations of the Dove, Cherubim, Vine, Rose of Sharon and Lily of
the Valley. At the bottom is the statement "This window was furnished
with its present glass by the parishioners of Thurlaston in the summer
of 1862 in grateful acknowledgement of the restoration of their church".
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West Window
Possibly
installed in 1850 when the other windows in the North Aisle were
restored. The quotation at the bottom of the window reads: "The promise
is made to you and your children, as many as the Lord our God shall
call. The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free
from the law of sin and death".
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The Bell Tower Window
Made
by Waites of Newcastle and erected by parishioners in Thurlaston in
1860 as a memorial to Thomas Philip Craven M.A. who served 5 years as
Curate of this parish. He died in 1860 in South Africa where he went
for health reasons. The central figure is St. Thomas under which is the
text "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed". On
the right side is the wish of the Greeks "We would see Jesus", and on
the left, the reply of St. Philip given to Nathaniel "Come and see".
There is a plaque under the bell tower in Thomas Craven's memory.
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North Aisle Windows
Restored
in 1850. The old stained glass windows, which are decorated with the
coats of arms of the Turvilles and Champaines, were replaced with plain
glass.
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The School
In
1832 Day School was held by Mr. and Mrs. Hall in a house near the Dog
and Gun public house. About 80 children attended and there were 100 in
Sunday School.
The first schoolroom was built by the Rector, Mr.
Arkwright, in 1835 at his own expense. Later in 1835 a new schoolroom
and school house were provided at a cost of £1,000 and in 1859 the
Infant School was added at a cost of £500.
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Churchyard
In 1832 there was a mud and brick wall at the eastern end. There were
handsome iron gates at this end and also a white painted wooden gate.
On the north side a new small gate was put in.
The Rectory stood
on the western side, now the recreation ground, until 1845 when 'The
Holt' was built as the new Rectory. Also in 1845 the various footpaths
crossing from north to south were removed and New Road, now New Walk,
was made as the western boundary.
The present stone wall was built in 1864 originally complete with iron
railings.
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The Bier House
The Bier House by the East gate. The bier house was restored in 2005 with the help of a local grant.
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The Pulpit
The
original pulpit, built in 1779, was replaced in 1860. The 'new' pulpit
contains a few small panels of carved oak which are probably the
remains of the old chancel screen.
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Children's Oratory
This
was originally a doorway which was blocked off, either in 1897, or 1850
during the restoration and repair of the North Aisle.
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The Font
The font is most probably Victorian, put in around 1879.
On each of the four sides are representations of the four Evangelists,
Matthew, Mark, Luke & John
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War Memorial Wall Plaque
This plaque is dedicated to the villagers who fell in battle during the 20th
Century. This is the only memorial in the village. There is one candle for each name and these are lit every year
on Remembrance Sunday.
The Names on the memorial are listed below:
1st World War
Cpl. Alfred Ball
Pte. William Garrett
Pte. Herbert Kettle
L. Cpl. Fred Lockton
L. Cpl Harry A. Lockton
Pte. Herbert Flavell
Pte. Horace Flavell
Pte. George B. Taylor
2nd Lt. George E Woodward
A close up photo or this is available on the Photo Album page.
2nd World War and Later
FO Julien W I Bruxner-Randall
Sargent Samuel G Clarke
A B Harold Greasly
FO H Theodore Wardle
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The Alms Dishes
The
two alms dishes are made from oak & bell metal salvaged from a
fire
in York Minster on May 20th 1840. In the centre of the small dish is a
plate bearing the ecclesiastical insignia of York, and a circular
inscription giving the origin of the materials.
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The Mauseleum
The
effigies of Hugh Turvile, who died on the feast of St Denis 1340, and
his wife (with the coat of arms of the Turviles) are found on a low
alter-tomb. The figure is bare-headed, with a hood folded over the
shoulder. The body clothing consists of a long belted over-tunic and an
inner tunic. The hands hold a heart. At the feet is a mutilated animal,
perhaps a dog.
Hugh Turville was a Member of Parliament which was held in Salisbury in
1347.
An
inscription in Norman French next to his wife reads: "Here lies Agnes
Turvylle, who died on the seventh day of July in the year of our Lord
Jesus Christ one thousand three hundred and forty nine (1349) on
whose soul may God have mercy".
The coats of arms of the Turviles are cut into the 'body' of this lady.
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The Organ
There
was no organ in 1832 and hymns were accompanied by various instruments
played by musicians in the ringing balcony in the tower. By 1875 there
was an inferior organ which was replaced by the present one in 1886,
donated by Miss Bruxner, daughter of the Rector. It has 736 pipes and
was built by Peter Conachie & Co of Huddersfield and played at
a
service for the first time at the Harvest Festival, 3rd October 1886.
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