St John and St Mary, Stiffkey
with
All Saints, Cockthorpe
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St John and St Mary, StiffkeywithAll Saints, Cockthorpe |
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The quarto book is handwritten and contains quotations from printed sources which are not transcribed on this page. Page numbers refer to the original quarto;*[f] footnotes or [m] marginal notes to text; [aa ] are editorial.
From an old book on Norfolk c. 1835 [ page 4]
" Bryants "Norfolk Churches" c 1898 [page 7]
Note.
(Here ends Bryant's account of Stiffkey. I am inclined to agree with his conclusion as to which is St John the Baptist Church and which St Mary's, in spite of his being almost alone in attributing the dedication of the surviving Church to St Mary. My reasons I will give a little later on. [He never does]
I must pay grateful tribute to the patient work of one who has done so much for every parish in Norfolk, and whose name did not attain the eminence it really deserved. CHF)
Entered July 10th. 1933
[page 28]
My conjecture as to the whereabouts of some of the stone of St John the Baptist's Church - Sept 18th 1933 CHF
The Rectory drains, on my arrival here, were in a shocking state, all blocked, and the cesspool full up. They were not entirely satisfactory when the cesspool had been emptied and the pipes cleared. We discovered this month that there was an overflow for liquid running E under the road and down the meadow to a coke-filter about 100 years from the kitchen-garden and situated in Church Meadow. These pipes too, we cleared, and all things were much better. Today, my gardened, James Smith, and I have emptied the coke-filter, which has certainly not been done for 25 years.. It was choked with mud. There was a top layer of coke, with broken tiles below, on a bed of broken dressed stone, obviously "Church stone". There was quite a quantity of this, and I am at the moment firmly convinced that it belonged to St John Baptist's Church, the old church.
We replaced most of this stone at the bottom of the filter. This may seem a queer thing to have done, but we did it for the reason that otherwise it might have been dispersed; now at least we know where it is. Entered Sept 18th 1933 C Harold Fitch, Rector.
Pages 30 - 45 contain extracts from Blomefield's Norfolk, 1775 Edn.
[Page 46]
THE STIFFKEY TERRIERS
A. The Terrier of 1845
A true Terrier of all the glebe Lands, Messuages, Tenements, Tythes portions of Tythes Rent Chrges and other Rights Belonging to the Rectory of Stiffkey and Parish Church of Stiffkey in the County of Norfolk and diocese of Norwich and now in the use and possession of Randle Barwick Brereton Rector of Stiffkey, there or his Tenants taken made and renewed according to the old evidences and the knowledge of ancient inhabitants at a Vestry holden this tenth day of April in the year of our Lord 1845 pursuant to due and legal notice given in Church on Sunday last for that purpose and exhibited in the ordinary Visitation of the Right Reverend Father in God, Edward, lord Bishop of Norwich holden at Fakenham on the 15th day of April 1845.
1st. The Parsonage House is built with brick and Stone, and covered with tiles, the dimensions of the ground it covers is about thirteen perches - the outhouses consist of a Barn Stable and Coach House built with brick and stone and covered with tiles, dimensions of Barn and Yard about 13 perches and the dimensions of Stable and Coach House about 5 perches. There is also a walled in kitchen garden adjoining the Stable containing about 22 perches.
2nd. A building of stone and brick covered with slate erected in the year 1844 upon glebe land near the Church for a School Room. The quantity of Glebe Land in the whole is 66ac.lr.21p lying in a ring fence bounded on the West by land belonging to James Back and the Rt Honble Lord C. Townshend, and on the East by the Road leading from Stiffkey to Morston, this crossing the sd Road, by the River, and bounded on the South by land belonging to the Rt Hble Lord Charles Townshend and again to the Sd Road leading from Stiffkey to Morston. Shrubbery 5ac.lr.34p. Wood, Camping Hill Plantation 2ac.lr.7p., Churchyard lac.0r.9p. Arable, further Eight ac. 7ac.lr.17phttp://7ac.lr.17p/. first Eight ac. 7a.3r.8p. Mumford Close 2a.lr.3p. First five ac. 4a.0r.0p. middle five 4a.2r.15phttp://4a.2r.15p/. Camping Hill five ac. 5a.lr.6p. further five ac. 4a.0r.32p. Road five 5a.0r.7p. Pasture Bangay Green Road 0a.2r.36p. Camping Hill 3a.0r.7p. Stone Meadow 8a.lr.15phttp://8a.lr.15p/. Church Meadow 3a.3r.7p. There are three Trees in the Churchyard and some about the House.
3rd. No Augmentation Estates belonging to the Church.
4th. The Rectorial Tythes have been commuted at a Rent Charge of £423.11s.5d including £16.11s.l0d for the glebe land.
7th[sic] The Furniture of the Church consists of One Bell (The Minister finds the Bell Rope), Stone font, Iron chest and Wooden Chest, good Prayer Book and Bible for the Minister and prayer Book for the Clerk, one surplice and a Communion Cloth. There are also belonging to the Church of Stiffkey One Silver Flagon weighing 33 1/2 oz avoirdupois the inscription thereon "Donum Johannis Lucie Blackman Armigr", and one Silver Challice weighing 9 oz avoirdupois with this inscription "Stewky Saynte John and Marge Anno 1567" also one Silver Plate 12% oz avoirdupois with this inscription, "Given to the use of the Lord's Table in the Church at Stiffkey Sept 7th 1672 by one who desires onely to be known to God, and to have a name written in Heaven." Also one small Plate, of Silver, weighing 2 ¼ oz avoirdupois without, any inscription. One linen napkin, linen cloth for Altar Table and Basket for containing the above plate.
8th. There is no land or money left for the repair of the Church.
9th. The Churchyard fence is a wall built with stone, and repaired by the Parish.
l0th.The Clerk is appointed by the Minister, his wages £1.6s. per annum, besides his fees. There is one piece of land in the parish of Stiffkey vested in the Surveyors of the Highways, being part of the half-year lands in the parish of Stiffkey aforesaid, Containing la.0r.28p. bounded by land allotted to Stephen Frost towards the North and East, and by land allotted to William Worthingham towards the South and by the road leading from Stiffkey to Walsingham towards the North-West, the Rent of this land was left to be applied towards the repairs of the homeward part of Stapleford Bridge in Stiffkey, but has always been applied towards the maintenance of the Poor of the Sd Parish.
In testimony of the truth of the above mentioned Particulars We the Rector Churchwardens and Chief Inhabitants have here unto subscribed our Names this 14th day of April 1845. R B Brereton, Rector; Thos H Bayes, C T (?) Page Churchwardens; W Howard, John Howard Chief Inhabitants
B. The Terrier of 1867
[Almost word for word as above; differences as follows]
2nd A building . . . [for James Buck read] Thomas Bland
5th [7th above]. . . without any inscription. Two linen napkins, Two linen Cloths for Alatr Table and Basket for containing the above Plate, an oaken Bier presented by Mr C T Page, and a Pall presented by Mr John Howard.
9th [post 10th]. . . la.0r.28p. bounded by land allotted to and belonging to Florence Rippingall towards the North, East and South and by the road leading from Stiffkey to Walsingham . . . R B Brereton, Rector G T PagePaul Bell, Churchwardens Wigmore Howard John Howard, Chief Inhabitants.
C. The Terrier of 1879 [Preamble]
A full true and correct description of all the above-mentioned property and Rights is contained in a "True Terrier" made at a vestry meeting on the tenth day of April in the year of our Lord 1845, and exhibited at the Lord Bishop's Visitation holden at Fakenham on the 15th day of April 1845, subject only to the following alterations, namely,
There are two linen cloths and two linen napkins for use of the Lord's Table. A pair of Brass candlesticks for the Altar, a metal alms dish, 2 altar Service Books, one metal altar desk.
There are belonging to the Church one oaken Bier and one pall. . . R B Brereton, Rector WHG Buck, Saml J Bell, Churchwardens WHG Buck, Saml J Bell, CG Wood, Principal Inhabitants
D. Terrier of 1901 [Differences from 1845]
2nd. A building. . . [for James Buck read] Major T M Vincent . . .
5th [7th] The furniture of the Church consists of a large "Tortoise Stove" presented by Mrs W E Home of Shackleford, Surrey; one bell . . . basket for containing the above plate; an oaken bier presented by Mr C T Page; a pall presented by Mr John Howard; a carpet for front of altar Table presented by Col. J E Groom; a pair of brass candlesticks for the altar; a metal armsdish; two altar service books; one metal altar desk; Eight Hesper lamps; two standard and one swinging lamp for the chancel; two brass flower vases for the altar table; six Glastonbury chairs for use in the chancel. There are also twelve registers of Baptisms, marriages and Deaths dating from 1548; two door curtains on brass rods; a harmonium. Eugene Sweny, Rector James Green, W H Crafer, Churchwardens John E Groom, Frederic Rarson, Principal Inhabitants
E. Terrier of 1908
[No alteration from previous]
Harold F Davidson, Rector
W H Crafer, John Mallett, Churchwardens
Charles Reynolds, Principal Inhabitants
F. Terrier of 1912 [No alterations]
Harold F Davidson, Rector
W H Crafer, Charles Reynolds, Churchwardens
John R Gray, John E Groom, S F Wordingham, N Green, Principal Inhabitants
G. Terrier of 1933 [Differences are;]
2nd. A building of brick and stone covered with tiles was erected in 1844 upon the glebe land near the church for a school, the property of the Rector and subject with the rest of the glebe to a dilapidations charge. The quantity of the glebe land is 66a.lr.21p. lying in a ring fence bounded on the west by land belonging to Major J M Vincent and Mrs Hammond and on the north by land belonging to Major J M Vincent and Mrs Holdsworth, and on the east by the road leading from Stiffkey to Morston. . .
5th. There are belonging to the Church ; one ancient bell inscribed "Sancte Paule, ora pro nobis", one iron chest, one wooden chest, one oaken bier presented by Mr C T Page, one wheeled oaken bier presented by the late Col. J E Groom, two painted deal coffin stools, a pall presented by Mr John Howard, six hanging lamps, six Glastonbury chairs for use in the Chancel, two door-curtains on brass rods, two sanctuary curtains on iron rods, one Tortoise stove presented by Mr W E Home of Shackleford Surrey, one Harmonium now kept in the school, one Positive Organ erected by subscription in 1907, one framed list of men from Stiffkey who fell and of others who served in the War of 1914-18, which hangs on the South wall of the tower, an oak table which stands before this list, and has thereon two oak candlesticks and two brass vases, a War Memorial erected in 1922 on the West Wall of the Church by the late Mrs Gray of Stiffkey Old Hall in memory of her husband, Lieutenant-Colonal Robin Gray and of the men of this parish who fall in the War of 1914-18, and on the shelf of this memorial two oak candlesticks gilded, and two brass vases. There are also a good prayer book and Bible for the minister, a prayer book for the Clerk, two altar Service Books and an Office Book, a crimson velvet Altar Cloth, one silver flagon. . . two linen napkins, a box containing the above linen, a carpet for the front of the Altar Table presented by the late Col. J E Groom, two long stools by the Font covered with needlework, a pair of brass candlesticks for the Altar, a brass alms-dish, an ancient wooden collecting box, and a brass altar desk. In the vestry there is a deal table with a drawer and a deal wardrobe for the vestments of the minister. There are also thirteen Registers of Baptisms, marriages and burials dating from 1548 and kept in the obove mentioned chest, which stands in the vestry, and which also contains the "Stiffkey Town Book" for the years 1748 - 1796. There is also a large white ensign, also S George's Flag presented in 1933. . .
8th The Clerk is appointed by the minister and the Parochial Church Council, and his wages are £10 per annum, besides fees. . .
C H Fitch, Rector
G M Robinson, C Reynolds, Churchwardens
A H Gidney, A Curson, May A Hammond, Rachel Gidney, Elizabeth S Fitch, William Grand, Phoebe A Pearson, H Beales, members of the Parochial Church Council.
[Page 73]
From "East Anglia - England's Eastern Province" by R H Mottram, published by Chapman and Hall 1933. Extract from the Chapter "Nelson and the Holy Land" pp 73 - 77
Locally Stiffkey is best known for the highly superior grade of mussels gathered on its beach. Up to thirty years ago, before the laborious classes began to lose their taste for shell fish, "Stewkey Blues" were much esteemed and many hundred of times have I seen little groups by the light of an oil lantern gathered about the open stalls in Norwich Market, Tombland, or at any of the gates, taking the saucer in the one proper manner, thumb beneath, and fingers spread out over the molluscs to permit of giving
the recepticle a good shake, to get rid of superfluous moisture. Then, on went the scatter of vinegar and pepper, and the mouthful was consumed with a gulp and a tilt of the head. Then back to the pub the customers would drift for another pint of stout.
More than anything else in Stiffkey, the brick Manor House of the Bacons provides an interest going far beyond its individual case. Here was the typical remote eastern English manor and parish, embracing the fertile land beside the stream that wanders out over "mearshes" and "meals" to the North Sea. Traces have come to light of a Saxon settlement, of two manors, at Domesday time, split subsequently into eight small holdings, by the most devious mediaeval entailment and transfer, at length merged into one and conveyed to Elizabeth's great Lord Keeper, Sir Nicholas Bacon about 1570, with rights of bull and boar, a gallows, assize of bread and other liberties. Fortunately the whole documents have been the object of study by trained local archaeologists, and we can get a fair idea of how the place then looked.
It was, as a human agglomeration, already five hundred years and more old, had had a church (now restored) all that time, and the usual type of semi-military-landed control. At the end of the thirteenth century, the population seems to have been about 550, but the Black Death, sheep farming, the decline of local industry and the growth of the great sea ports, hit its prosperity at all points. It had 920 acres arable, 23 of meadows, 130 of pasture, 23 of marsh, a common and a pond. The manor fee to Wylester (? Worcester College) was one gilly flower annually. The Lord Keeper gave it to his son Nathaniel who had lived in Norwich up to 1573, and as there was no suitable house (possibly the division into small manors had resulted in no worthy building) made provision and gave detailed instructions about building the present one before his death (1579). The date 1604 is thought to be that of Nathaniel's setting up his armorial] bearings on his knighthood. Sir Nathaniel Bacon then built a house of which rather less than half remains today, very weel restored by its present owners and occupiers. The history of the interregnum during which the house was a decaying ruin is romantic. Sir Nathaniel Bacon seems to have lived here and at other places until his death in 1622. His daughter Anne, who had married Sir John Townshen of Raynham, came home here after her husband's death of the wounds received in a duel with Sir Matthew Brown on Hounslow Heath in 1603. She lived then at Heydon until her death in 1630. Her son Sir Roger, lived here during the building of part at least of his house at Raynham. Fortunately, on his leaving in 1636, a careful inventory was made, which furnishes a vivid picture of what the house was in his day. The red brick "Corps de logis" faced South, with wings at either end. There ware certainly fifty rooms, with a possible thirty more if the turrets, offices and gatehouse are included. The entrance hall, in the middle of the block, seems to have had a great hall to the east and the "Great Dining Chamber", west, above capacious cellars. From the Great Hall a large window overlooked the 200 feet terrace of the garden. There were also a "parlor" and four other chambers on the ground floor, and fifteen chambers enumerated on the first floor, mainly by the names of their occupants, and including the "Nurcery" and Inner Nursey. In addition, there were rooms for the considerable domestic staff and household operations carried on within what was then a self-contained community; these included the Falconer's Chamber, (with a "hawke's pearke") Sick chamber (with a "glister pipe") and Armoury. The latter contained firearms, 30 "musquettes", 20 "restes" (so the former must have been arquebuses). Six "calivers", 1 "patronell" made up the artillery. Accoutrements and wide arms were 24 flaskettes and touch boxes, 8 bandelers, 30 corslettes, 40 head-pieces, 17 pikes, 1 half-pike, 2 "horse manes stares", 27 swords, 7 daggers, 18 hangers, 10 halbertes, 1 targit, 3 horseman's saddles and "some powder in a barrell". There were also two fowling pieces in the kitchen. This considerable array, enough almost to furnish a hundred men, may have been incidental to the time. It was fairly up-to-date. Maps seem to have been a hobby, bedsteads and bedding plentiful and the tapestry reminds us how bitter was (and is)the east coast spring weather. There was considerable provision of "fine pannes" for the bedrooms, and little or no signs of washing, unless this was included in the "Wardrobe" s "other trumpery". There were eighteen pewter "chambr pottes" but only fourteen candlesticks. Lady Townshend's cupboard of plate contained at least thirty articles of silver, and Mr Bradfer-Lawrence, who admirably edits the list, points out that these are not valued, seemingly because they were "Vere" family possessions, and not part of Sir Roger's estate. There were also a cokernut cup, an eye cup amd one "taster for strong waters". There were 32 horses of all sorts, 24 milch cows, 3 bulls, 7 heifers, 45 steers, fat and lean, 519 ewes, 250 hogs, 200 wethers, and a further 342 and 260 youngs ones at Morston. These animals were valued at £333.13s, and corn and hay in barns and elsewhere £321.16s.8d. Here then we have the establishment of the son of one of Elizabeth's risen men, to whom a widowed daughter had returned to live. There may have been half a dozen grown-ups, some children, half a dozen superior or personal servants, whose chambers are named after them, and as many, less considered ones, whose rooms were named by the functions they exercised. It is impossible to make out what outside servants inhabited the gate house or further offices that have disappeared, but clearly thirty two horses took some looking after. Thus with the men about the house, and tenants, there would be little difficulty in finding strong arms to weild the weopons in the armoury. We see also the extreme importance of the sheep farming. What with the beauty of the spot, the house itself, with its garden, the ample provision for living and even for security, one wonders why Townshend went away and built himself a palace at Raynham. Then I think we get another ingredient in the atmosphere. The cock-a-hoop ambition (not without ability ot a deep sense of responsibility) but over-reaching itself as it was bound to do. The riches, the widened politico-social horizon, the detachment from Europe and conception of a far-overseas Colonial policy had burst all too rapidly upon the men of those days. We can reach back to their restlessness be means of our own knowldge of the fevered vertigo of a post-war decade. Their upheaval, from 1535 to 1688 was a long continuance of shocks that was too much for their equilibrium
Entered Nov 24th 1934.
[Page 84 ]
Opinions of the Dean of Norwich on Stiffkey Church
The Dean of Norwich visited the Church in the summer of 1933 and was much interested. The Dean (Very Rev D H S Granage Litt D) is regarded as almost the foremost authority on English Ecclesiastical architecture, and his opinions are valuable. They are recorded here in rather a haphazard fashion and do not cover all he said.
1. The buttresses at the East end are very early, say from 1190-1220
2. The piscina is of the same date
3. The date of the tower arch is 1290-1300
4. The N door mouldings (double ogee and deep hollows) are early 15th cent.
5. The upper part of the N porch was not a "priest's chamber" but just an attic over vaulted roof of porch.
6. The Chancel arch is perp. replacing a smaller arch in the wall. It has the same mouldings as the N doorway.
7. The nave windows are much later than those originally in the nave.
8. The N & S windows in the chancel are 13th centbut have been altered
[Page 86]
Further opinions of the Dean of Norwich
The Dean visited the Church again on Aug 20th 1935 for the dedication of the new work. He went round again, amplifying all that is recorded on p 84. Three further matters developed.
1. Since his previous visit we had uncovered a niche in the N wall of the sanctuary; this he felt was an Easter Sepulchre, although of very simple pattern.
2. He said he felt that prior to the 15th cent the Nave (contemporaneous with the Chancel) had been narrower and a little longer than it is now, as evidenced by the corner stones at its W end. Apparently in the 15th cent, the most unusual step had been taken of removing the walls to their present position, where they are crowned by an ornamental parapet (obviously 15th cent).
3. The curious evidence at the S W angle of the tower; viz the corner alluded to above, with no stone quoins, the corbel to support joist and the mark of a pent-roof, seem to point to an anchorites cell from which the present tower steps led up to the belfry, where there is actually a blocked up spy hole to the Altar.
CHJ Sept 17 1935
[Page 87]
THE "RESTORATION" OF 1935
l.The Need, Appeal and Response
When I came here in 1933, circumstances were such that Stiffkey Church was in a terribly neglected, dirty and even unsafe condition, and the Churchyard looked like a battlefield. These matters have been and are being attended to; what is set down here is an attempt to beautify the church. The furniture of the sanctuary was mean and unworthy; in Victorian days a second communion -step had been added, destroying the proper levels and making things very uncomfortable for communicants. The choir desks were of pitch pine and in front was a wooden desk with iron legs. The pews came right up to the chancel step and the pulpit stood in the chancel, blocking out the view of the altar, and the organ protruded across the chancel arch. When I came here my friends all knew that there would be need of much restoration, and many of them offered to help at once. But I asked them to wait until I could see what was really needed. After 18 [months] I could see the necessity of clearing the space west of the chancel step and putting the pulpit onto it, of making new choir stalls and a new reading desk to match and balance the old, of new choir stalls, [sic] in the Sanctuary the ancient level should be restored, a new altar slab built, a new Holy Table, standard candlesticks and communion rails provided.
This looked like costing a great deal of money, so my wife and I in 1934 wrote 1150 personal letters to as many friends, asking for 1/- each, or more if they chose, and these were posted on Sept 30th. An avalanche of response followed, beyond our wildest expectations and by Nov 12, £200 had come in. When plans were drawn up, the Church Council wished the parish to be asked, so in May 1935 further letters were sent to them, eliciting a wonderful response. A note will be appended as to the exact details of the gifts, meanwhile it can be said here that the final expense amounted to; Faculty fee £5.5s.0d, Architect's fees and expenses £41.1s.0d., builders' work £46.7s.0d. Furniture work £223.8s.0d total £316.1s.0d. This was exclusive of the cost of posting the appeal & acknowledging receipts, which came to £6.14s.6d.
2.The work and the Workers
Having decided substantially what was needed I consulted Mr Cecil Upcher FRIBA of 4 The Close, Norwich not only an architect of repute, who had done work for me before and whose work held in Norfolk in high esteem, but a valued personal friend. He came and saw the church and drew up designs for all the work mentioned in the preceding paragraph. For the building I wished to have Mr George Pearson and his son William; for the other work Mr Upcher recommended J Howard & Sons of West Pottergate, Norwich who did the Coldham Screen for me at St Peters Sheringham, and I naturally took his advice.
Messrs Pearson did their work extremely well with all that rural wisdom and cheerfulness by which we know them, and as labourer they had Mr H Haines (Commonly known as "Hinny Haines") of Morston. The carving &c was splendidly done, and no one could have been more helpful than Mr Howard, his partner Mr Stanley and their two workmen. Needless to say, the village took a good deal of interest, especially when the discoveries were made. The services while all this was going on were held in the Nave, the old reredos standing on the chancel step and flanked to the arch by the old altar-curtains, with the altar before it, and the reading desk where the pulpit now stands (the pews were cut away first of all). The building work began on Monday July 8th and was finished on Friday August 9th, the furniture was brought in and fixed in the following week.
3.Details of the Building work
The top communion step was removed; it was put in in Victorian days and made the wrong levels. We found old tiles just at the newly chosen level. The stone step was made into the surround of the new altar slab, and fitted this requirement almost exactly. The top of the new slab was filler in with new "Excelsior" grey tiling, which was also placed on the floor to left and right of the the slat, displacing red & black tiles which were used to fill up the space caused by removal of gravestones from the chancel floor. (These gravestones will form a further topic of discussion see section 4 below). Two pews were removed from West of the chancel step on the N side, and one on the other side; the pulpit was then placed in the newly made space on the N and the organ was put against S wall of the nave. The whole church including the roof was then swept down and the defective plaster repaired.
4. Discoveries during the building.
A. On the first day, when the old platform (deal) on which the choir-desks had stood was taken up to be adapted and skirted with oak for the new choir-stalls, there were found underneath 4 heraldic tombstones of which details are given in 12. We took these up and put them in the sanctuary where together with the one heraldic one already there (Harmer) they reach exactly from wall [to wall] suggesting that the five were there originally. The two plain (though good) stones which lay alongside of Harmer in the Sanctuary we put back under the new choir-stalls, with no platforms over, together with one (Branthwaite) which had protruded from under the communion step. Details of these also are given in 12.
B. There had also protruded - in the middle of the chancel - from under the communion step, a plain grey stone with places (matrices) for two brass coats of arms showing at the the w end. One dismantling the step this stone was found to continue under it, and to have a brass dated 1479 to the memory of Margaret Braunche, details of which are given in 12. This we regarded as our greatest find, as in the latest book on brasses, a rubbing is given with the legend, "This brass has been lost"! We have placed this stone wholly to the W of the Communion step in the chancel near the blocked up priests door.
C. We found that the window-jambs of the chancel windows were of stone, and the stone holds good of the nave windows. The clearing of the plaster away from all these must be one of our next tasks.
5. Details of New Woodwork
Below are given certain details of the new woodwork, which is not being described, but below are facts which do not speak for themselves.
A. The Altar. This was the gift of the relatives of the late Mrs Robin Gray of Stiffkey Old Hall, who loved the church and did as much as she could for it. The donors were Major & Mrs Feilden her brother and sister-in-law and Mrs Neale Rippingall (of Langham) their daughter.
B. The Reredos. The central picture of this (tilted so as not to reflect the West window) is a Medici print of Leonardo Da Vinci's "Last Supper". The painting of the central portion resembles the Old Norfolk Rood Screen style. We were not a little puzzled to know what to do with the panels on each side of the picture. Mr Upcher wanted pictures; I did not, so they arrived plain oak. The present treatment - toning in with the background of the picture, is 1 think adequate and indeed effective. The whole thing suggests an opened triptich, with the "barber's poles" as the hinges. As for the ten shields, a plan will be helpful.
| 3 1 2 4 | ||
| 9 7 5 | 6 8 10 |
1. The crown of thorns 2. The Crown of glory 3. The Diocese of Norwich 4. Fitch 5. Gray - owners of Old Hall 6. Groom - holders of other Manor and advowson 7. Bacon - lords 1574-1622 8. Townshend - lord 1622-1910 9. Atholl (earls) - lord of one manor 13th cent 10. Irmingland - part lord of other manor 13-15 cent.
C. The Altar rails. We retained the old top rail, and this was put on uprights with the same pattern as the legs of the altar. The decoration on the horizontal part facing west contains the Thorn as a symbol of sacrifice. We felt it well to have an open space in the middle. The rails are dowelled into the pavement.
D. The Choir Stalls. These explain themselves, platforms have been eliminated, the front desks have been dowelled into the floor; the seats are moveable. The desks have a book-shelf so as to keep the top clear between services.
E. The Clergy desk. This desk, on the N side was copied from the old one on the S side (which was treated with caustic soda to make it lighter in colour, and the old pseudo gothic panel was replaced by one which matches the new desk and the choir stalls.) This new desk was given by Capt W H Sweny, son of the late Rev Eugene Sweny Rector 1883-1906, in memory of his parents (to which the inscription on the E side testifies.) The W poppy head was carved with cockles & seaweed to give local colour. (I did want to have sea-lavender on the reredos, but it wd have been too delicate to see at a distance.)
VI Other Matters
The old red carpet - in very good condition - which covered nearly the whole of the sanctuary floor, was taken up. It will go very well in the vestry. The cross stitch mat along the Communion rails will make good mats for choir stalls. This has been replaced by a blue & brown one made by me, mats of the same pattern being put in the 4 chairs (2 in Sanctuary & 2 in Reading desks) & in front of Sanctuary chairs and on and below altar step.
The velvet curtains were given by my wife's mother Mrs Hamilton B Brown of 409 East Church St, Elmira NY, USA - the old curtain over boarded-up S Doorway will probably make a cover for the old Holy Table, which has been placed at the We end of the Church.
The 3 misereres - our only 15th cent oak I removed to a position W of the font. In the present sanctuary they would have clashed in colour and being very bulky would have made the sanctuary lop-sided. Where they now are they can be properly seen - and used. They have been dressed with "Oilit" which claims to eliminate death-watch beetle.
Finally all the walls & roofs of the church were swept down, the plaster repaired & the rain-streaks under the windows eliminated with soda-&-water. It now remains to clear all the window jambs of plaster and then to give the whole Church a coat of distemper of the present colour, Except of course, the stone work.
VII The Dedication
The whole work was dedicated at a service on Tuesday August 20th at 7 pm. The Church was full. I took the service, the lessons were read by my brother-in-law Rev L Gethin, Vicar of Witchingham, and Rev F G Beddard, Rector of Wells, in the absence of the rural dean. The dedication was performed by the Dean of Norwich (Very Rev D H S Cranage Litt D) who also preached the sermon, in which he recounted his conjectures about the progressive achitectural development of the Church and drew many useful spiritual lessons.
Entered Sept 26th 1935
GRAVESTONES IN STIFFKEY CHURCH
Below are given exact particulars of every (visible) stone memorial in Stiffkey Church. The next art 13 will deal similarly with the brasses [art 13 on brasses never begun in the book; only title of section given].
A rough plan will be helpful
+ ABCDE
vestry
G F(on wall)
I H
J K L (back of church)
1. In the Sanctuary
The stones at present in the sanctuary were moved there in 1935 with the exception of E (see p 103). In every case where removal has taken place the old as well as the new position will be indicated. I believe all the stones in the sanctuary were there till the 19th cent.
A.
Removed here from E end of space under N choir-stall platform and projecting out (showing "aged 61") from under the platform just by the vestry door, East of where I now is. At one time we thought this projection was a piece cut off from Branthwayt's (H) as the cracks in both seemed to correspond, but it was not so. Anne Wright was clearly the daughter of William & Anne Wilson (B & D). Her husband's (Thomas Wright's) similar stone was unearthed, cracked, two years ago, outside the S W wall of the chancel; I hope to bring it into church sometime. Inscription.
D/S
Arms of Wright (D) and Wilson (S)
Anne
the wife of
Thomas Wright Esq
died Janry the 15th 1769
Aged 61
B.
Removed here from W end of space under N choir-stall platform. Mr Wilson was Rector 1702 - 1736. It is noteworthy that he was rector of Morston also. His son is buried in a high tomb S E of the chancel, which bears the Wilson arms. Details of this will be given in a later section.
Inscription.
Arms of Wilson
Sub hoc Lapide Sepulchrali jacet
Revdus Gulielmus Wilson A M
Collegii Regis Collegii apud Cantabrigienses
quondam Socius
Ac Parochiarum de Stiffkey et Morston
per plurimos annos Rector
Pastor, maritus, Pater, Amicus,
Fidelis, Dilectus, Charus, Benignus
Quarto Nonarum Octbris morte correptus est
Anno Dni MDCCXXVI
Aetatis Suae LXII
c.
This middle stone was removed from the E end of the S side of the chancel, under the platform and adjoining the S wall, in other words where G is now. This Mrs Armiger was a Lucie. It is interesting that in Blane's "History of the Bible" in my possession, the arms of Lucie are given on 2 dedication plates. On the stone there is this same Lucie crescent in the centre, flanked by two other shields. On that to the S the Lucie Crescent (S) is quartered with another coat with a good many crescents and maltese crosses ?suggesting crusades on it. If the crescent has anything [to do] with the moors and Islam these might be the arms of a Blackman. The other shield, on the N side, has Lucie (S) with another coat, Regemorter or Armiger - & which of these I can find out later.
In the inscription the word LUCIE is cut LUCIAE showing uncertainty as to whether the family was Lucie or Lucia. It probably was a Spanish family Lucia which was anglicised into Lucie. The Church flagon, undated except by hall-marks (which I must examine) was given by John Lucie Blackman, almost certainly this lady's son. Inscription.
1 2 3
1. Lucie & ?Blackman 2. Lucie 3. Lucie & ?Armiger or Regemorter Here lyeth ye Body of Elizabeth Armiger.
she was ye Daughter of John Luciae of London, Marchant; she had three husbands. Her first was Ahasueres Regemorter of London, Doctor of Physick by whom she had two sons Ahasueres and William
Her Second husband was Jeremy Blackman of London Esq by whom she had one son Lucie Her Third husband was William Armiger of Northcreek in ye County of Norfolk Esq. by whom she had no issue. She departed this life the 20th of December 1682 aged 59 yeares.
D.
This stone was removed here from W end of S side of chancel next to S wall and under platform -where H now is. I think it is most likely that this Anna Wilson was a daughter of the Rev W Harmer (see E) [marg] Yes, the Stiffkey register shows he baptism "Anne the daughter of William H Rector & Margaret his wife". Feb 18 1682-3. She was bom in 1682, and therefore would be 20 when her father died in 1702 at the age of 53 - a not impossible, but rather a very possible state of things. He (Harmer) left a daughter "Anna". He quarterings include a bend with 3 lozenges and while they seem to differ a little from those of Harmer this may well be accounted for by artistic licence (the stones are clearly by another hand altogether). Inscription.
D/S
Arms of Wilson (D) ?Harmer (S)
Anna Wilson
Revdi Gulielmi Wilson Uxor
his jacet
Vixit annos LXXVI
Obijt Feb XXIV MDCLVIII
E
This stone lay in the Sanctuary in front of the altar, and was removed thence to its present position. It was unfortunately dropped, or rather it slipped, during transit, and while I am very sorry about this, I am glad that it was the only accident; later on I hope to have the inscription recut where it has been affected. Mr Harmer seems to have been the last Rector of Stiffkey who was not also Rector of Morston.
Inscription.
Arms of Harmer
Gulielmus Harmer A M
Qui in hac Ecclesia olim Sacris praefuit
Obiit Pridie Iduum Octobris
Anno Dom MDCCII
Quinquagesimum tertium Aetatis agens Annum
Margarets dilecta Conjuge
Et Semina Sobole superstile
Roberto et Anna.
N.B.The lettering of this stone is cursive and more primitive than the others.
N.B. Since being laid these Sanctuary stones have been treated with linseed oil, which seems very successful.
2. In the Chancel
F. The Bacon tomb on the chancel wall has been sufficiently described elsewhere, but I think it well to give here the exact alignment of the inscription. From ?Cotman's print (see p ) it would appear that this monument was once backed by a glazed window.
Inscription.
[complete inscription follows in text; omitted here but printed in the Church Tour]
G.
This stone now lying under the back choir-stall on the S side of the chancel, near the wall, and the more eastern of the two under that stall, was put there in 1935 having been removed from the sanctuary where it was the southermost the 3 in a row.
Inscription.
Sacred
To the memory of
Michael Ward LL B
Rector of Stiffkey and Morston
who departed this life
the 8th Decr 1841
aged 72
H
This stone now lying near the S wall of the chancel under the choir stalls and westward of G, lay previously to its removal in 1935, partly under the communion step and partly west of it and visible. A dotted line in the inscription will show where the step came. The part under the step was in a very broken condition, we have done our best to piece it together. The year of death was missing, but this has been supplied from other sources. It is notable that although Branthwayte was the first rector under whom Stiffkey and Morston were consolidated, the fact of his being rector of Morston is not mentioned in his memorial. A memorial slab to several of his children (J) lies at the west end of the church. Inscription.
Beneath this Marble
are depositied
The mortal remains
of Arthur Branthwayt Clk MA
and many years Rector
of this parish,
Descended
from the ancient family
of the Branthwayts of Hethel
in this County
of which parish
he was likewise
rector. He died of a lingering disorder
which he bore
with the most Christian Patience
and Resignation
Augst 25th AD [1792]
I. This stone lies under the back choir stalls on the N side, adjoining the wall. It was until 1935 the northermost of the 3 in the sanctuary. I do not know what connection there was between the two persons commemorated in it.
Robert Framlingham Gent.
Died Desember (sic) ye 3d 1681
Being ye 67th year
of his age.
Here lyeth ye Body of
Robert Fiske Esq
only Son
of William Fiske Esq
and Susan his wife
Who departed this life Octbr
ye 22nd 1718 aged 52
NB Stone K (qv) at the W end of the Church has more memorials to the Fiskes. [m] the Wm F thereon being evidently Robert's Father.
J. This stone lies at the West end of the Church in the nave just S of the belfry. It is nothing
short of a tragedy that the heating apparatus has been planted on the top end of this and the adjoining stone (K), cutting out part of the inscription on this stone and part of the coat of arms on K. We shall have to wait until we remove the stone before we discover whether the stones were sut to allow of its insertion. The parts of the inscription on this stone are indicated by dotted lines -
Underneath this stone
........the earthly remains of
[Elizabeth] Juliana & Dorothy
who in the same week
in May 1771
died of a malignant fever
in the thiteenth, Eighth and Sixth year
of their respective ages.
Daighters of Arthur Branthwayt
Rector of this parish
and Jane his wife.
'Teach us , Great God, at thy Command
To cease our useless grief,
Thine was the stroke and thine the hand
To give our minds relief.
These faded flowers shall at thy word revive
In Heaven flourish & for ever live.
Beneath the adjoining stone lies [K?]
Miles Branthwayt
Who died Deer 9th 1776 aged 8 years
also
Ann Branthwayt
Who died July 4th 1783, aged 9 years
K This stone is adjacent to J and its coat of arms is partially covered by the stove. I do not know in what capacity William Fiske was living here; he may have rented the Hall from Townsend, or he may have owned the manor-house.
D/S Dexter most probably Fiske, of sourse, Sinister at present unknown.
Gloriosam Resurrectionem expectant, hie reliquiae Gulielmi Fiske Generosi ab aula Clopton, quam
vocant apud villom de Ratlesden, in agro Suffolciensi, hue carissimae & dilectissimae coujugis (sic)
ergo - non ita priden profecti.
Qui ad Caelum raptus est decimo tertio die Jannarij, anno post natam Salutem MDCLXX
Aetatis suae XXXII.
[Nothing further is written in the book]