St Michaels Church Castle Frome: December 2008

Monday, 22 December 2008

Kneeler project 2009

We would like to complete the furnishings of our beautiful parish church by producing a set of kneelers. We have started the quest for volunteers who are happy to make use of their talents to produce the kneelers, but if there is anyone else who has the time to help, or has information on where we can source materials locally please let us know and we would be thrilled if you would join our group.

We are not only asking for people who are happy to donate their time, but also in need of financial support for our project. If you are able to make a contribution towards the costs of materials; especially as a memorial to a loved one, family member or friend, it would really help our project get off to a roaring start. We will hold a candlelit dedication service when the kneelers are complete and in place to formally remember yourselves and/or your loved ones. The finished kneelers will carry a permanent label recording the name of the donor (and/or to whom it was dedicated). We will also keep you up to date with our progress. If you would like to find out more contact Louise Manning on 01531 640821 or by email at l.mannning@btinternet.com

Saturday, 13 December 2008

Rosemary for remembrance

I thought that I would post some photos of the beautiful flowers that were placed in the church for remembrance. Thank you to everyone who takes so much time to make the church look so cared for and beautiful.

Wednesday, 3 December 2008

Advent Service

We had a full church, about 120 people for our Advent Service with the children from Bosbury School. Once again the church was filled with the sound of music from the choir and the african drums. A great start to Advent. Over one hundred and fifty jam and lemon curd tarts were eaten by the performers!

Our next service is a candlelit carol service on the 14th December.

Church History

St Michaels Church is Norman, built about 1125, probably by a member of the de Lacey family who arrived after the Norman Conquest. To the north of the church runs a sunken roadway (green lane) which runs up towards the castle. The chancel arch is Norman. The three original Norman doorways remain and include a Priest’s door in the south wall of the chancel. Each has a tympanum (lintel) over it, originally painted with subjects which have long since worn away. Over the south doorway is a sun-dial of Norman workmanship marking the canonical hours.

The nave roof is flat with beams, (15th Century) whilst the eastern half of the chancel roof has a paneled ceiling with bosses at the intersections. The pulpit is late 17th Century.
Under the east window in the south wall of the chancel is a rounded and arched recess which has been set with medieval tiles with a head at the centre and another on the right hand side. In the window above is a small sculptured figure clad in mail and holding in his hands a heart. It is believed that this commemorates a heart burial in one of the recesses below of one of the de Lacys. Could this have been a Knight who died on a crusade as it would have been impossible to bring back the body so often the heart was removed and brought back for burial? The altar rail is 18th Century. The Church underwent major restoration in 1878 and the black and white bell turret and porch were added then. There are three medieval bells, one inscribed “Maudillamor”.

The main sculptural interest is the magnificent font and dated around 1170. It is the work of the Herefordshire School of carvers. The Font stands on carvings of crouching evil creatures and is meant to represent the power of baptism over evil. Shaped like a chalice it rests on four human figures who appear to be crushed by its weight. Sadly only the head of one figure remains in a good state.

Originally the church contained the present west window, two small lights in the north wall of the nave, two in the south wall, a similar “opening” in the north and south walls of the chancel (the north one still remains).

The window in the east end of the chancel was added in the 14th Century to give better light to the altar. In the 16th Century the nave lighting was improved when the present window in the south wall replaced a smaller Norman one. There are a few fragments of 15th Century stained glass. It is suggested that the original window was damaged during the English Civil War and when the window was replaced only a few fragments were left to put back into the new one.

Against the north wall of the chancel are the recumbent effigies of William Unett and his wife Margery who died in the early 17th Century. They are in an excellent state of preservation and carved with intricate detail. The father wears a Cavalier uniform.

St Michaels Church Castle Frome

Monday, 22 December 2008

Kneeler project 2009

Saturday, 13 December 2008

Rosemary for remembrance

Wednesday, 3 December 2008

Advent Service

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