Sidebilder
PDF
ePub

Table, "To the glory of God, and in dear memory of Matilda Bosville, this Church was restored A.D. 1861." The whole expense of restoring the Church was borne by a sincere friend of this above named lady, whilst the landowners, the vicar, and the land occupiers in the parish contributed several hundred pounds towards the improvements in the Church yard.

This venerable edifice, which is dedicated to All Saints, is entered by a fine porch on the South, and consists of a three storied tower, surmounted by a modern battlement, a Nave, two Aisles (North and South) and a Chancel. We have just previously drawn attention to the decorations of the Chancel, and, without here particularizing, may add, that it presents features of beauty and workmanship that cannot fail to be attractive to the lover of Church architecture, as well as to the antiquary and student of archæological lore. The restoration has been carried on with taste and spirit.

An old Norman Church, corresponding with the present tower, no doubt existed on the present Nave, and many stones were found walled into the late Church which

had evidently formed part of an earlier building.

For the guidance of visitors, as also, in order that those who have visited it may recall to mind what they have viewed, I purpose describing each portion of the Church separately, and calling attention to the various objects of interest in the Nave, North and South Aisles, and finally, the Chancel.

The Nave and Aisles bear date about A.D. 1330.

Over the Chancel Arch is the text, "Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world," S. Luke ii. 14, whilst on the North and South side thereof are an oak Reading Desk and Pulpit, plainly, but chastely ornamented (carved). It is an open-boarded quatre-foiled roof. The spaces North and South above the pillars are neatly decorated with frieze work, and the capitals of the pillars, ornamented, whilst, at the West end, there is a Norman arch, leading into the vestry, which is under the tower, and above it an old Norman (some say Saxon) "string course," on which is inscribed "A Praise God in His Sanctuary ;" and above in a semi-circular

device, "Glory to God in the highest," St. Luke, iii. 14.

In the North Aisle there is a beautiful specimen of a piscina, of quite a different type to the others found in the Church; and contiguous to it, apparently what has been a hagioscope. The East window of this aisle represents six events in connection with the early part of our Saviour's earthly history, viz., the Nativity, Circumcision, Presentation in the Temple, Adoration of the Magi, Flight into Egypt, and His visit to the Temple when He was "twelve years old." This window was erected by Lady Middleton and Wentworth Bosville, Esqr., to the memory of their parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Bosville, of Thorpe Hall. Of the three side windows only one contains stained glass, which illustrates three events in the history, viz., Samuel (prophet) anointing Saul; Melchisedec (priest) blessing Abraham; and David (king) blessing the people upon the safe return of the Ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom. A neat little Organ is placed at the West end, with the text, "Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord," (Psalm cl. 6) painted upon the front. The monuments in this aisle bear the following inscriptions:

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF

JOHN FARTHING, ESQR.,

OF BURLINGTON,

AND OF SPRING DALE, IN THIS PARISH,

WHO DIED FEB. 11TH, 1809,

AGED 73 YEARS.

AND ALSO,

ELIZABETH, HIS SECOND WIFE,

WHO DIED MARCH 2ND, 1833,

AGED 62 YEARS.

This tablet is erected in place of one which fell in the chancel, in 1866, by Franky their only child, the widow of James Hopkinson, Esqr. In the parish register, under the heading of "Burials in 1809," is the following entry :—

"Feb. 16th, Thursday, John Farthing, Esqr., aged 73 years; in life he was very abstemious, and by his strict adherence to economy and frugality arrived to an amazing degree of opulence.”

AND

TO THE MEMORY OF

ALEXANDER WILLIAM BOSVILLE,

OF THORPE HALL, IN THIS PARISH,

AND OF GUNTHWAITE,

IN THE PARISH OF PENISTONE,

[blocks in formation]

A FATHER, A LANDLORD, AND A FRIEND,

THE AFFECTIONATE REGARDS OF ALL

WHO KNEW HIM, AND WAS CUT OFF

AFTER A SHORT BUT PAINFUL ILLNESS

ON THE 23RD OF SEPTEMBER, 1847,

IN THE 48TH YEAR OF HIS AGE.

ALSO OF

MATILDA, RELICT OF THE ABOVE,

WHO DIED AT BIRDSALL, 22ND JULY, 1859.

THEY REST BELOW.

In the South Aisle there is also a wellcarved piscina, "walled in." The East window herein represents six events during the ministry of our Saviour, viz., His

« ForrigeFortsett »