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The Church at West Woodhay is dedicated to St Lawrence of Canterbury, it is
believed that this has been so since the earliest days of a church in West
Woodhay, dated to 1302. At that time the fair at Woodhay took place on the first
three days of February; the feast of St Lawrence of Canterbury is on 2nd
February and the fairs normally took place on the three days over the
feast of the patron saint of the parish.
There have been three known churches in West Woodhay, two in the grounds of
the House and one on the present site.
The early mediaeval building survived
until 1716; the then owner of the Manor Sir William Rudyerd obtained agreement
to replace it on the basis that it was "very ancient and in great decay and
not anyways (with safety), to be repaired".
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Rudyerd's replacement was built in the
classical style, probably designed by Sir John Vanbrugh. Only the foundations and some of the tombstones survive, within the Gardens of West Woodhay House, just to the left of the front
of the House itself.
This picture is assumed to have been taken shortly before the church was
replaced, and is a view from the side of the house, across the
lawns.
click on the picture to see a larger version
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The third and current church building (pictures
on main Church page) is a fine example of Sir Arthur Blomfield's Early
English Revival style, using local flint and bath stone, and built in 1883 by
William Henry Cole. The Sanctuary windows were made by
William Morris's company. The central crucifixion dates from 1883 east window Burne-Jones Crucifixion, with the cross as a tree,
designed in 1877 for St Michael's Torquay. The windows to left and right
date from 1887 - Morris's St Augustine, and Burne-Jones's St Peter and St
Paul. |
For larger pictures, click on a picture then use your browser back
button to reverse out
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The Nave windows are by Powell of London; dating from 1890 they illustrate
the Te Deum
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The carvings over the altar are the work of the Belgian artist Goyer.
The carvings of the pew ends, pulpit and lectern were the work of Miss Jessie
Cole, and much of the embroidery was the work of her sister Miss Edith Cole.
The building was extended by 12 feet in 1894 at the western end, and a vestry
and organ chamber added on the north side of the chancel. The organ is a fine
example of a Willis organ and has been restored. The oak screen in front of the
organ chamber and vestry were added in 1901.
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| There are two bells in the tower; the smaller is unmarked but the larger was
cast by Robert Cor of Aldbourne in 1717, gifted by William Sloper to his new
church and transferred to the newer building. The bells were restored recently.
Little remains from the earlier buildings, but in the base of the tower
behind the choir are some mediaeval encaustic tiles believed to originate from the first church and
one memorial transferred from
the second church building. |
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There are a number of memorials in the Church and outside - for a list of memorials
please click here.
Mr HW Henderson panelled the nave in memory of his sister Caroline, and Mr John Henderson
presented the three carved cherubs that came from the Castle of Moy in Scotland
and can now be seen above the font. Outside
is a memorial garden, created by Mr John Henderson in memory of his first wife
Sarah, who died in a hunting accident in 1972. The garden is a place of beauty
and of peace.
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To end this abbreviated history with some of the people of the past, this yellowing picture is of West Woodhay Church Choir in 1933
(click on the picture for a larger version, and use the back button on your browser to exit from it)
From left to right are:
Back
row: F.Pike W.Goble W.Cox J.Prior F.Coxhead
Second Row: E.Abraham M.Goldsmith V.Pike (Organist) G.Goddard
W.Mason W.J.Ashfield
Third
Row: M.Ashfield E.Jewell R.Brown
Front Row: C.Mason E.Waters Rev
A.E,Burdekin (Rector) S.Barnes J.Barnes
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