St. Bartholomew’s Parish Church Barrow

A History & Guide

St Bartholomew was one of the twelve Apostles and is sometimes recorded in the New Testament as St Nathaniel. His saint’s day is 24 August.

Early History of the Parish and Church

The name Barrow is said by taxable wealth classes Barrow as Cheshire historians to derive from “waste” – an area of negligible the old English word ‘bearu’ agricultural value – although this meaning a wood or grove, might simply have reflected a although the name is common wooded and uncultivated and is occasionally linked to a hill landscape at that time. or mound. The spelling has It is likely that the first church in changed frequently over the Barrow was a chantry, endowed centuries. for the reading of prayers and The first recorded mention of masses for the souls of its Barrow (“Barue”) is in a charter of benefactors, and operated as a Edgar, King of Mercia, in the year chapel under the supervision of 958, at which time it was a village Tarvin church, which is itself first on the outskirts of Delamere mentioned in 1226. In 1291, the Forest, then known as the Forest taxation of Pope Nicholas IV gave of Mara. Cheshire suffered badly the income of the church at after the Norman Conquest of Barrow as £6 13s 4d and the tax 1066, as William the Conqueror as 13s 4d. launched what became known as The first recorded incumbent of the ‘Harrying of the North’: a Barrow was presented to the scorched earth campaign aimed living in 1313 and so is the first at consolidating his position name on our Rectors’ Board at against Saxon and Danish lords in the west end of the nave. Osbert the north of England. Nearly half Gifford, acolyte, was instituted on the houses in Chester were May 15th. It is interesting to destroyed after a long siege and it wonder whether he was a great was common practice to salt grandson of the Osbert Gifford agricultural land to deny its who was an illegitimate son of productive use. The 1086 King John I (1166-1216), since the Domesday survey of England’s name appears to have been 1 passed down in succeeding marriage of Maud de Swynnerton generations. to Sir John Savage in 1409. The Savage family male line failed in Osbert’s patron as Lord of the 1714 and, after passing through Manor was Hugh le Despenser, female relatives, the manor and Earl of Winchester, who with his patronage passed through son Hugh were favoured advisers marriage to the Cholmondeley of Edward II and were the most family in 1784, where it remained powerful and also the most until 1919, when a large part of despised nobles in England. Both the Cholmondeley estate in were executed (1326 and 1327) Barrow was parcelled up and when Edward was deposed by his sold. Since then the patronage wife Isabella. The Manor of has been held by the Okell family Barrow was among lands forfeit of Barrow and is now largely to the crown and was allotted by ceremonial. Edward III to Sir Roger de Swynnerton. It is interesting to note that a number of the rectors listed on Around 1349 Barrow became a the Rectors’ Board were ‘free chapel’ and in 1364 was members of these great families described as the ‘chapel of the that held the patronage. It was manor’. In 1531 it was described common for younger sons or as ‘the parish church, free chapel other male relatives to receive or chantry of Barrow’ and it the living of a parish, although in became an independent church many cases a lowly curate would with parish and parsonage during have carried out the more the reign of Elizabeth I (1558- onerous parish duties. 1603). NOTE: More details on families The manor passed to the Savage connected with our church are at family of Clifton (near present the end of this booklet. day Runcorn) through the

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The Church Structure

The church is listed by English among other appointments was Heritage as Grade II*. This is the Rector of Barrow from 1639 to category for ‘particularly 1643, when he was removed important buildings of more than from his appointment due to his special interest’. support for the royalist cause in the Civil War. On the restoration There are no visible signs of the of the monarchy in 1660 he was earliest Norman-style church reappointed and was also made buildings. The oldest parts of the Dean of Chester Cathedral. In present structure are the north 1671 he was consecrated Lord wall and the octagonal columns Bishop of Sodor and Man but of the north aisle, which date retained the Deanery of Chester from a complete rebuilding of the and the Rectory of Barrow. He church in the 15th century and are died in 1682 and is buried in in the Gothic Perpendicular style. Chester Cathedral. Dr Bridgman The chancel was rebuilt in 1671 in was a Fellow of Brasenose the Jacobean style. The ends of College, Oxford and several of the the roof hammer beams display Rectors who followed were from painted shields depicting the that college. Brasenose was arms of the Isle of Man with, per founded in 1509 and had close pale, those of the Bridgman connections with Cheshire family, surmounted by a bishop’s through the Savage and mitre. These are the arms of Dr Cholmondeley families. Henry Bridgman, who was The church was reported to be in responsible for the rebuilding, ruinous state in 1744. The nave which is commemorated by an and north aisle were rebuilt and inscription on the outer south the tower was erected. The wall above a now filled-in chancel was repaired and re- doorway to the chancel. Dr roofed in 1807 when Hugh Bridgman was 3rd son of John Cholmondeley (later Dean of Bridgman, Bishop of Chester, and 3

Chester) was Rector. An Barrowmore Estate. The inscription commemorating this stonemason was David Hoose of rebuilding may be seen on the Frodsham (the uncle of Arthur north wall of the chancel and the Lancely who lived at Rose Farm arms of the Cholmondeley family and was a church warden in are on the shield below the 1943). The works included re- inscription. roofing of the nave, north aisle and chancel; restoration of the A major programme of works was south wall of the nave and the first approved in 1870 and porch; relaying of the chancel undertaken in 1882-84. Much of floor; construction of the vestry what you see in the church today and organ chamber; removal of dates from that time and is the gallery; installation of new described as being in the Late pews and pulpit; and a fine new Perpendicular style. The architect east window. An inscription was John Douglas who was commemorating these works is responsible for a large number of on the south wall of the chancel. projects in the north-west, including many of the half- The extension in the north west timbered black and white corner of the church was buildings of the Rows in Chester, completed, together with the the Eastgate Clock and a number new church hall, as a Millennium of houses on the Grosvenor project and there is a plaque Estate. Stone was taken from the commemorating its dedication by local quarry which was near the the Bishop of Chester in 2001.

The Church

Tower: This is 58 feet high and with sandstone urns at each was erected in 1744. It contains a corner but these became single bell cast in 1767, which unstable and were removed in strikes the hour. The top of the 1929 - their remains may be seen tower was originally decorated at the foot of the tower. In 1950 4 the church was advised that the Suzanne Hodgson of Barrowmore bell should no longer be swung, in 2008 with a carved frieze due to possible weakness in the designed by Judith Smith, a tower and it is now rung by Reader of our church, and is striking with the clapper. In 1990 dedicated to David Okell. the tower suffered some damage Windows: The east window dates in a minor earth tremor and from 1884 and is attributed to repairs to cracking near the top the workshop of Charles Eamer may be seen on the north, west Kempe (he put peacock feathers and south sides. in his angels’ wings). The four The clock is by John Moore of principal lights show St Werburga Clerkenwell and was presented in (patron saint of Chester) and St 1876 by Major John Clark in Bartholomew, flanking a memory of his mother and father. depiction of the Adoration of the His father the Reverend John Shepherds with the Annunciation Clark was Rector from 1816 to of Mary beneath. The depictions 1862. There is a memorial tablet in the roundels at the foot of the on the north wall under the outer panes are David and tower. The grave of Revd Clark is Goliath on the left and Gideon outside the north-east corner of and the Fleece on the right. The the church and is somewhat out window is dedicated to Eliza, wife of sympathy with its of Hugh Lyle Smyth. surroundings, both in style and The three lights on the south wall scale. of the chancel date from 1913 Font: This is beneath the tower and depict The Good Shepherd and has a lead liner dated 1713, flanked by the Virgin Mary and St stamped with the initials of John John the Evangelist. These Jellicoe and William Newport who windows are dedicated to Mary were churchwardens; it is Okell and came from the however likely that the sandstone workshop of her nephew Gilbert pedestal is much older. The oak Gamon. font cover was created by 5

The windows on the south wall of brother and his wife, of Richard the nave date from 1912 and Gardner Williams, a businessman depict the Four Western Fathers: of local farming stock (an Saints Ambrose, Augustine, ancestor, Ralph Williams, was Jerome and Gregory. The churchwarden in 1738) who rose manufacturer was Herbert to be Master of the Worshipful Bryans, son of a vicar of Tarvin, Company of Turners and made a and the dedication is to Hugh Lyle substantial bequest to the church Smyth. which, with other funds, is still known as the Churchwardens’ Also on the south wall are Fund, restricted to expenditure windows depicting St Francis and on the fabric of the church and St Clare. These are dedicated to churchyard. Vere and Joan Arnold and were manufactured in 1996 by Pendle The three windows on the north Stained Glass. Design was by Jim wall of the nave depict Christ Crombie of Bristol, based on blessing young children. This sketches prepared by Madeleine dates from 1844 and also comes Maddox, a local artist and wife of from the Kempe workshop Bill Maddox, who had been (peacock feathers). It is dedicated treasurer and a churchwarden. by Hugh Lyle Smyth to three of his children who died in infancy. Although not of stained glass, the deeply-recessed Oeil de Boeuf The three lights on the north wall (bullseye) window near the tower of the chancel show Christ is considered a fine example of its flanked by the Archangels type. It possibly dates to the Michael and Gabriel. This is by A L erection of the tower in 1744 or Moore of London and was given may predate this. in 1913 by the widow of Captain Hugh Lyle Smyth in memory of The west window shows Christ her husband, who died that year. flanked by the Virgin Mary and St George. It is dated 1930 and was Pipe Organ: This two manual dedicated to the parents, elder instrument was built by Binns of

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Bramley near Leeds and installed ‘a saint’ but is often held to in the church in 1888 to replace represent Jesus. an American organ which had Altar: As the carvings which been hired after the 1882 embellish the altar are of rebuilding. The first recorded excellent workmanship, it is musical instrument installed in frustrating that there is no record the church was a harmonium of where it was produced. It was which was given by George Okell donated in 1913 in memory of in 1864 and placed in the gallery, Godfrey Lyle Smyth by his widow. later demolished in the restoration of the church. Candlesticks: Given in 1995 by the organist, Dorothy Williams, in Electronic Organ: This was gifted memory of her husband, who had by the Norman family in memory been choirmaster. of Duncan and Dilys Norman who had lived at Greysfield in Barrow Altar Cross: Designed by Anthony and of their son Owen who was Hawksley and given in 1951 by killed in action in 1942. Helen Gamon (née Okell) of The Manor House and two members Oak Panels behind the Altar: of her family in memory of her These were funded by voluntary husband and other family contribution and were carved in members. 1902 by Norah Lyle Smyth, a daughter of Hugh Lyle Smyth of Brass Vases: Given by Mrs Barrowmore. The lower texts to Dennis, who lived at Greysfield each side are the Ten before the Norman family. Commandments. The upper text Sanctuary Chairs: These to the north side is The Lord’s Glastonbury chairs were gifted by Prayer and the carved figure is of Revd Edward Gladwin Arnold, course Moses. The upper text to Vere Arnold’s grandfather. the south side is the Apostles’ Creed. The second figure Communion Rail: Given in 1951 according to the original faculty is by the Okell family in memory of John Cecil Okell and his wife 7

Florence Hilda who lived at The had commanded a ship in the Croft. It was constructed by period of the Napoleonic Wars, Frank Stanyer, who lived at the effect of which was to allow Milton Brook. him to remain on the active list until his death in 1892 at the age Wall Monument to Juliana of 100, and to rack up 96 years of Wallis: Most of the wall plaques service (it was common practice are self-explanatory but the white for privileged children to be marble monument on the south entered on a ship’s muster at an wall of the chancel is particularly impractically early age, allowing interesting. It is a memorial to early promotion to be justified by Juliana Wallis, whose remains are years of service). interred near the north wall, but seems more in the nature of a Lectern: Presented by celebration of the achievements parishioners in 1892 to the widow of her husband, Provo William of Revd Sheffield Hardinge in Parry Wallis. He was at the time a memory of his ministry as Rector Captain in the Royal Navy (he from 1885 to 1890 and her own eventually became Admiral of the service to the Parish. The Bible Fleet) and lists his status as an was given by Dr and Mrs Barby in aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria. 1983. Above the figure of the angel he Pulpit: Installed as part of the also lists his battle honours, restoration of the church in 1883. which include the famous capture of the USS Chesapeake by HMS Rectors’ Boards: One lists the Shannon in the War of 1812. Rectors from 1313 to 1987, After the battle Wallis was the although there are additions senior unwounded officer and noted in a separate framed sailed the Shannon to its base at document and some Halifax, Nova Scotia. These six appointments may yet remain days of temporary command unrecorded. This board was allowed him to qualify under a carved by Norah Lyle Smyth. The special provision for those who second board records more

8 recent Rectors. This was those killed in the Barrowmore constructed by Ken Lloyd and bombing. carved by Jennifer Howe in 2001. Book of Remembrance: This has Chest: The chest under the tower a page for each serviceman from is dated 1718 and is inscribed the Parish killed in the World with the initials of the Wars, listing his regiment and the churchwardens, John Platt and date of his death. It includes a list John Broadhurst. of those killed by the aerial landmine which destroyed the Bench: The bench under the hospital at Barrowmore Hall in tower has the date 1604 and the November 1940. The book was name of William Foster, who was researched by members of the Rector. It is thought that the Barrow History Group and is carved back may originate from illustrated by Judith Smith, a an older pew. Reader of our church. Calligraphy Wardens’ Staves: These are is by Revd Geoff Buchan of topped with a crown and a mitre, Anderton; the book was bound by reflecting the traditional civic and Artisan Bindery at Barrowmore church roles of churchwardens. and the table was made by Nigel They were presented in 1953 by Bulkeley. Funding came from Helen Gamon. Barrow Parish Council, Cheshire West & Chester Council, the Tithe Map: This is a copy of the Trefula Trust and private donors. Barrow tithe map of 1838, which The Book and table were received was presented by Katherine at a church service in June 2014. Synge who lived at the Old Rectory until 1971. West Door: This was made by Frank Stanyer and given by Roll of Honour: There are three George Tregoning in 1965. boards which record those who served and those who died in Furnishings: A number of each of the World Wars and attractive and useful furnishings in the church are crafted by Ken

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Lloyd, who has been a produced by parishioners and churchwarden. Some of these friends as a project, which was items are created from redundant initiated by the Ladies Circle and church pews, including the Revd Cecil Clarke in 1978. The cupboards and servery in the cushion for one of the sanctuary north aisle and the table by the chairs was produced in 1987 after south door. a visiting Bishop complained the seat was rather cold and the Kneelers: There are 100 other chair was provided with a individually designed kneelers cushion by the National depicting scenes of Barrow, Decorative & Fine Arts Society to various coats of arms and a host mark the completion in 2007 of a of eclectic subjects. These were full recording of the church designed by Judith Smith, a furnishings. Reader of our church, and

The Churchyard

Sun Dial: The pillar to the right of original ashes graveyard and was the path outside the porch is a later laid out in memory of listed monument. The sandstone Alexander Reston, who died aged base is thought to have been part three. His family lived at Stamford of an ancient cross – it is known Bridge. that a number of ancient crosses War Memorial: This in the area were attacked by commemorates the members of religious zealots in 1613. The the Parish who lost their lives in carved stone at the top was both World Wars. It was funded prepared by Jennifer Howe to by public subscription and hold a brass sundial, which was erected in 1920. later stolen. Stone Vases: To the right of the Memorial Garden: The area porch may be seen the fragments beyond the east window was the of the tall stone vases which 10 decorated each corner at the top have been replaced more than of the tower until they were once since they were first removed in 1929, due to fears for installed in 1925, but still use the their stability. original iron furnishings.

Lych Gate: This was erected by Garden of Remembrance: The parishioners in 1897 to landscaped garden in the south of commemorate the 60th year of the new churchyard is for the Queen Victoria’s reign. It was burial of ashes and was originally renovated in 1987 by a gift from funded by David and Catherine Barbara Foley in memory of her Okell in memory of David’s husband Tom and in 2006 by a brother, Roger Carrington Okell. gift from Barry Owen, who was It was renovated in 2012 by a gift churchwarden. from Tim Healey.

West Gates: The gates at the top Stone Bench: The sandstone of the west steps were erected in bench in the Garden of 1908 by a gift from Francis Amos, Remembrance was gifted in 2012 Alderman of Chester, in memory in memory of Eileen Stanton. of his wife Margaret. This gift is Graves: Hugh Lyle Smyth, his wife commemorated by a tablet in the Eliza, three infant children and his tower. second wife, Isabella Maxwell, New Churchyard Gates: Of the are buried at the south-east edge gates to the south side, one was of the old churchyard. The gifted by Peter Dobbs in memory adjoining grave is that of his son of his wife Margaret Catherine Godfrey and his wife Evelyn (Meg), the other is in memory of Chomley (née Savage). Both John Bailey Davies and was gifted graves are marked by Celtic by his children, both in 2012. The crosses. In front of these lies the gates to the north side were memorial stone of Vere and Joan gifted in 2014 by Madeleine Arnold. Maddox, in memory of her The grave of John Cecil Okell and husband Bill. Both sets of gates his wife Florence Hilda is just to 11 the east of the War Memorial. War Graves Commission grant There is an Okell family vault to towards the maintenance of the west side of the path to the these graves. lych gate, where David Okell and Just to the north of the Garden of his wife Catherine are interred. Remembrance is a memorial There are a number of individual stone marking the re-interment war graves in the churchyard, in of the ancient remains of 14 the familiar Lutyens design. These bodies from unmarked graves, are of servicemen who died of which were disturbed when the their injuries while in Barrow. new church extension was built in There is a small Commonwealth 2000.

Families Connected to the Church

To appreciate the provenance of granted the estates. Her only various items donated to the child, Lady Penelope Barry, church, it may be useful to married the Honourable James understand the association of Cholmondeley, son of the 2nd Earl certain families with the church of Cholmondeley, in 1730. Lady and each other. Penelope died childless and the estates formally passed to the Savage and Cholmondeley: The Cholmondeley family in 1784. The Savage family of Clifton, near family seat is Cholmondeley present-day Runcorn, were Castle, near Whitchurch in landlords of Barrow from 1409. Cheshire. They remained The family title became Earl landlords in Barrow until 1919, Rivers but this title was when the property was parcelled extinguished in 1714 when the up and sold off, although the last surviving male elected to Church of England primary school remain in holy orders. A is built on land donated by the daughter, Lady Elizabeth Savage, family. Countess of Barrymore, was 12

In 1568 the Savage family built a an artist, who carved the first huge family seat near Clifton Rectors’ Board and the oak known as Rock Savage. The panels behind the altar (although Cholmondeley family allowed this she was later a member of the to fall into ruin but the name communist Second International). Rocksavage lives on in the Various family members are chemical complex and power commemorated by other gifts station at Runcorn, as well as in a and memorials. Hugh’s son courtesy title for the heir to the Godfrey married Evelyn Chomley Cholmondeley titles. Savage, but her family was not directly related to the previous It is probable that the landowners. Hugh Lyle Smyth Barrowmore Estate derives its was churchwarden from 1882 name from Barrow, but the until his death in 1911 and in coincidence of a possible 1894 became Chairman of the association with the Earl and first Parish Council. He was High Countess of Barrymore is Sheriff of Cheshire in 1895. intriguing. Barrowmore Hall eventually Lyle Smyth: Hugh Lyle Smyth was became a sanatorium for a wealthy corn merchant born in servicemen suffering from Ardmore near Londonderry. He tuberculosis but was destroyed in moved to Cheshire and lived 1940 by an aerial landmine initially at Crabwall Hall in dropped by a German bomber. Mollington. He married Eliza The death roll from this tragedy Turner of Rusholme Park in 1862 may be seen at the west end of and came to Barrow in 1882 to the nave. live in Barrowmore Hall, which he had designed by John Douglas. He Arnold: Edwin Gladwin Arnold had eleven children: Una Maud married the daughter of the 2nd was a novelist who wrote under Marquis of Cholmondeley in 1852 the name Marius Lyle; Norah was and was appointed Rector of an unusual woman of great Barrow in 1862 under the energy, a leading suffragette and patronage of the Cholmondeleys. 13

His son, Henry Abel Arnold, built The Croft on the outskirts of became Rector in 1890 and Barrow when he married in 1912 married Mary Lyle Smyth in 1892. and he became patron when the Their son, Vere Arnold, was Cholmondeley estates were sold churchwarden 1952-1955 and off in 1919. He was 1963-1989, in recognition of churchwarden 1923-25, 1928-34 which service he was appointed and from 1939 until his death in Warden Emeritus from 1989 until 1941. He was also Chairman of his death in 1994. He was a the Parish Council from 1911-41, prominent Liverpool except when on active service in businessman, Chairman of the the First World War. His brother Runcorn Development was Frank Jackson Okell, the first Corporation (which supervised Bishop of Stockport, whose ashes the creation of the New Town) together with those of his wife and was High Sheriff of Cheshire are interred near the north wall in 1958. of the chancel. Frank’s son David became patron and was Okell: The Okell family moved to churchwarden 1979-1993 and Barrow in the 1730s when they warden emeritus until his death built The Manor House on Village in 2007. He is succeeded as Road, then known as Barrow patron of the church by his son House. They lived there until John, although most 1952, at which time the house responsibilities of the patronage was occupied by Mrs Helen are now either extinct or Gamon, who was born an Okell. exercised by the diocese. Her brother, John Cecil Okell,

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This History and Guide is a revision of one prepared by Tim Healey and last revised by him in February 2002. He drew on a number of oral sources in the Parish and cited other sources as:

 ‘Old Cheshire Churches’ by Raymond Richards 1947 (revised 1973)  ‘The Records of the Parish of Barrow Cheshire’ compiled by Barrow Women’s Institute in 1951 and revised by a second edition of 1963  ‘Barrow. The History of Cheshire Villages’ by a local history group, published in 1983 and now known as ‘The Barrow Book’

The present revision benefits from the ‘Record of Church Furnishings at St Bartholomew’s Barrow’ completed in 2007 by the Tarporley branch of the National Association of Decorative & Fine Arts Societies, a further review of faculties granted by Chester Diocese and kept in the Chester Archive, and some research on genealogy and history websites.

Alan Frew Churchwarden October 2014

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