St Nicholas’ Church Child Okeford Dorset

A Short History

C G Giles

If you have any information to help improve these booklets, please advise the Churchwardens.

#1 St Nicholas Church; A Short History #2 St Nicholas Church; Visitors’ Guide #3 St Nicholas Church; Memorials #4 St Nicholas Church; The Stained Glass Windows #5 St Nicholas Church; The Bishops’ Bible #6 St Nicholas Church; Church Music and the Church Organ #7 St Nicholas Church; The Church Bells St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

This booklet is one of a series of seven written in 1998 by Chris Giles.

After a career in teaching, Chris took early retirement and began to devote himself to the local Church. He became a Churchwarden, the first Benefice Secretary and a member of General Synod. Chris was always interested in history, and especially local history. It was never a nostalgic pursuit for him, but just one of the ways in which he sought to unite the past and the future, those who had lived in the village for a long time and those who had arrived more recently.

In 1999, after these booklets were written, he played a key role in the establishment of the Okeford Benefice. This Pastoral Measure brought the Parishes of Child Okeford. Okeford Fitzpaine, Manston and Hammoon into one Benefice with the Parish of Shillingstone. As Benefice Secretary, Chris worked tirelessly to ensure that what we could best do together was done together, not only within the Benefice, but beyond, with the other Parishes of the Southern Blackmore Vale. He delighted in being able to assist in the training of our first Stipendiary Curate, Rev'd Michael Brierley, and in helping to foster other vocations to Ordained and Reader Ministry.

Whenever he could, he also delighted in combining his devotion to the Church with his devotion to his family - his wife Jean, son Tim, with his computing skills, and twin daughters Kate and Melanie, gifted in history and archaeology.

Chris never took Holy Orders but was, in the true sense of the word, a Deacon, utterly unstinting in his service and an exceptional guide and companion to the first Rector of the Okeford Benefice. He was tragically killed in a road traffic accident on 19th September 2002, at the age of sixty five years.

It was Chris' hope and prayer that these booklets would help you, the reader, better to understand the past of this place, that you may serve the Lord better in the future and know His presence and peace with you today. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

Rev'd Philip Rahilly Rector of the Okeford Benefice Lent 2003 (1995 – 2006)

Page 2 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

Contents Page

The Church building 4 The founding of St Nicholas Church 4 Building 4 South Porch 4 The Tower 5 The Church Clock 6 The 13th Century Font 6 Changes to the Building 7 The Victorian Church 7 The Church Bells 10 The Stained Glass 18 The Chancel 18 East Window, Ascension Window 18 Sanctuary, South Window 18 Choir Window 19 The South Aisle 19 Lady Chapel, East Window 19 Lady Chapel, Magnificat Window 20 Annunciation Window 20 St Nicholas Window 21 West Window; Candlemas Window 21 The Tower 22 West Window 22 North Aisle 23 North window 23 Fittings and Furnishings 24 The Lady Chapel 24 Other fittings and furnishings 24 Wooden Chest 24 The Pulpit 24 The Bishops’ Bible 25 William Kethe 27 Icon of St Nicholas 29 Music 30 Church Choir 30 The Organ 31 The Church Plate 32 Church Silver 32 Church Brass 33 The Churchyard 34 Patronage 35 Rectories 38 War Memorial List 41 List of Rectors 42 Child Okeford - the Name 43

Page 3 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

The Church Building

It is possible that there was a church on this site in Saxon times, and we know that a church was built here about 1250-70. The record of Rectors of Child Okeford Superior and of Child Okeford Inferior, which begins in 1297, is to be found on the wall of the South Aisle, just to the right of the Church door.

The founding of St Nicholas Church

In 1297 Galfrid de Stocks was presented to the Parish as priest, by his relative Roger de Stocks, who held the land under the King. The List of Rectors shows the names of those who have held the living ever since then (see Page 41).

Most of our Parish Registers of Baptisms, Banns and Marriages, and Burials are kept at the County Records Office in Dorchester, Dorset. These go back to 1652/3 for this parish. (Our Church plans of 1887 & 1888, and some other documents, are held at Trowbridge, as are many of the Salisbury Diocesan Ecclesiastical Records.)

Dorset was in the Diocese of Bristol from 1543 to 1836, but many records were destroyed in the Bristol Riots, and also in 1731 in the Great Fire of Blandford. Our local records were kept in the Sub-Registry Office of the Bristol Diocese in Blandford, and so many documents perished.

The only record of the size of the church building from those days are the 1877 plans, drawn as preparation for the re-building of most of the church in 1878-79. [see below - "Changes to the building"]

The Building

The South Porch is the main entrance to the church. As you come in, you will step over a stone floor slab said to have been marked in memory of Roger Wood. It is late 17th Century. In the 1970’s the words Roger and Wood could still be seen, but alas no longer.

Above the door is a carving which depicts St Nicholas; our Patron Saint. The three maidens in the carving over the South Porch doorway refer to the story of three sisters to whom St Nicholas gave marriage dowries. Their father was too poor to be able to provide for them this essential pre-requisite to marriage. A variation of the story is that because of poverty, the family was about to sell its children as slaves. The Bishop Nicholas secretly threw three purses of gold into their house.

The folding mesh doors which are used in summer to keep out insects, birds and bats, were given in memory of Stanley Tuffin of Gold Hill. He was a long serving member of the Choir and also the Crucifer who led the Choir at the start of services and on other official occasions.

Page 4 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

The Tower

The Tower is the oldest remaining part of the church building, possibly dating from the late 15th or early 16th Century, [See Nicholaus Pevsner, 1972, Buildings of England]. Almost all the rest of the building is Victorian.

The outside of the Tower is built of greensand ashlar - blocks of cut greensand rock. The inside seems to be chalk clunch. Much of the tracery is Ham Hill stone, a kind of shelly limestone from Somerset. Geologically, this was formed within the beds of Bridport and Yeovil sandstones.

On the ground floor, inside the Tower, and below the large carved wood memorial to William Pope Baldwin Goodridge, is a piece of metal sheet (lead) with wood surround. This appears to be a piece of lead roofing, apparently removed from the Tower, on which is the legend:

I : CROWCH T : ARNOLD CW 1729

Since both this and the current plaque on the roof use the CW, (and it is used in many other places too), one can reasonably assume that CW = Church Warden, but no documentary proof is currently available. The wood surround is made from an old oak beam, probably from the tower.

The lower rectangular part of this “memorial” commemorates the final stage of the beautifying of the chancel. Its completion, under the care of Rev Canon Charles Bower, marked the Coronation of King George V. It reads:

THE CHANCEL WALLS WERE LINED WITH

MARBLE IN 1912. THIS COMPLETED THE

RESTORATION OF THE CHURCH BEGUN

IN 1879 INCLUDING A PEAL OF BELLS AT

A TOTAL COST OF £6000

Page 5 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

On the Tower roof is a similar panel of lead which notes the dates of re-roofing of the tower; with the names of the Churchwardens and the Rector of 1910, and including a copy of the 1729 information: I.CROWCH T.ARNOLD

CW H S Bower (Fontmell Parva) The T Arnold may well be related 1729 to Henry Arnold of was brother of the Rector, H.S.BOWER Canon C H S Bower Ilsington House, Piddletown. N.J.NEWBOVLD John Brymer (Rector 1873-1909) CW was son of John Brymer of Ilsington House. C.H.S.BOWER R 1910

There is some link between Ilsington House, Piddletown and this parish. As early as the reign of Henry V (1413-1422), Lord Cobham (the Arnold family) held the Chedder Estates, which included Ilsington House. The manor of Child Okeford Inferior was one of their many properties. John Brymer (father of Rev John G Brymer), bought the Chedder Estates from the Lord Cobham in 1840. The Brymer Estates are still at Puddletown. Rev John G Brymer is not to be confused with his relatives - Archdeacon Brymer or Rev F A Brymer of Charlton Mackrell (near Somerton). [It is said that Piddletown was renamed Puddletown to avoid embarrassment to Queen Victoria when she visited the area; but it never regained its original name.

The Church clock is on the second stage of the Tower, below the Belfry. It replaced an earlier clock. This fine clock was made by John Smith of Derby. It drives the hands on the west face of the Tower. The clock dial replaced a window in the Tower in 1887 when it was put in place. On the door of the clock case is a pencilled record of its cleaning, starting from 1907. Originally the clock had to be wound by hand every week, but an electric motor was added in 1978 to do this automatically. On the old case for the weights is a tablet:

The winding mechanism of this clock was electrified (Sarah Piddick held Sunday School for in 1978 in Memory of sixty years) SARAH PIDDOCK 1891 ~ 1977

The 13th Century Font, made of coarsely tooled Purbeck stone, is much older than the tower itself and is now situated in the South West Corner. Prior to 1877 it was located in the Transcept, near the centre of the Church. It was then moved to the Tower when the rest of the church was rebuilt.

Page 6 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

Changes to the building

Faculties, (legal documents), show that an upstairs gallery had been added to the original South Aisle in 1816 by William Wiltshire, for the use of his family. A North Aisle had been built in 1835 and the South Aisle was further extended in 1850 (when the 1816 gallery was taken down). A Faculty of 1864 gave permission for a Vestry to be housed in the Tower. The plans of the Church as it existed prior to “restoration” are dated January and February 1877.

The Victorian Church

The re-building plans are dated 1878. These plans are in the County Record Office at Trowbridge, which houses many of the Ecclesiastical (Church) records for Salisbury Diocese. A Faculty is a legal document from the Diocese giving permission for alterations to be made. One, dated 1878, lists details of the rebuilding, including the re-roofing of the South Aisle and inserting a west window in the South Aisle. The St Lo(e) vault was removed from the South Aisle before the interior of the church was re-paved and re-floored.

New pews made of pine and other furnishings were designed by the architect J D Wyatt and are the ones still in use. Given the contemporary description of the state of the church it is not surprising that it was felt necessary to rebuild it. (The report was largely pre-prepared by someone at the church.)

“The Dorset County Chronicle and Somersetshire Gazette” of September 25, 1879 carries a long article about the reopening of St Nicholas Church, including the following extracts:

“The body of the old church consisted of a nave, with a round roof plastered and covered with slate; a north aisle, with a flat lead roof, supported by three iron pillars also plastered; a south aisle built in 1850, under the superintendence of Messrs Wyatt, architect, with a tiled roof. There was also a painted gallery at the west-end under the tower, projecting ten feet over the nave, and bearing on panels two coats of arms of the Malet and St Lo family. This was formerly occupied by the choir and latterly by Sunday School children, and completely hid the handsome west window and fine stone tower. There was also a chancel about 20 ft long, a hideous brick building with round plastered roof, erected by Archdeacon Hall. The accommodation for the worshippers was also in keeping with the rest of the building, the pews being all old fashioned boxes, a painted deal pulpit and square box for reading desk. Another, and in some respects more serious defect, was that portions of the building were buried five feet in the surrounding soil, rendering the church very damp and uncomfortable, and it would be impossible to conceive any more unsightly edifice than the old structure, which, in the opinion of those who knew most about its defects, has disappeared none too soon.”

Page 7 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

The Report gives some details about the furnishing of the new church:

“On the risers of the steps (from Nave to Sanctuary) are oversubscribed tiles by Sampson & Co.”

On the riser of the top step from the Nave to the Choir are the words:

“O Lord open thou our lips” On the bottom step: “and our mouth shall shew forth thy praise”

At the first step at the east end of the Choir to the Sanctuary are the words:

“O come all ye faithful” At the Sanctuary step:

“ I will wash my hands in innocency O Lord and so will I go to thine Altar”

The report also includes a reference to a fifth text on the risers, but there are only four sets of steps.

The fifth set, which I cannot find, was evidently to be:

“Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts”

A further paragraph says “Those who knew the old church must be highly gratified and in some degree astonished at the change effected. Instead of the unsightly appearance of the interior they have now one of the most prettily fitted churches in the district, whilst the exterior presents a good plain substantial building, in Perpendicular style of architecture, unostentatiously neat, the materials being flint and compo, with Bath stone dressings, and of great credit to the architect, Mr.Wyatt, and his manager Mr.Spiers. …”

The Seating Plan of 1877 & 78

The seating plans are of interest:

1877 plans (Old church) 1878 plans (New church)

Adults Children Adults Children

Nave 72 Nave & Aisles 256 North Aisle 95 N. Chancel Aisle 2 52 South Aisle 107 S. Chancel Aisle 30 Chancel 28 Chancel 33 28 Gallery __ 95 Total 321 80 = 401 Total 302 95 = 397

Page 8 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

Although the Mortgage Deed claims that the need for the enlargement was to provide room for an increased congregation, as the village population rose to 997, the plans only increased the accommodation by 4 places. The population soon declined again and did not reach the 1000 mark until the 1970’s.

The new North Chancel Aisle, designed for 52 Sunday School children, was actually occupied by the new Organ. This was built to a specification set by Dr (later Sir) Arthur Sullivan. The Vestry, which had been in the Tower, was also moved to the new North Chancel Aisle, where it remains.

The Rector was the Reverend John (George) Brymer (son of John Brymer of Ilsington House, Piddletown and nephew of Archdeacon Brymer), and the Churchwardens were Henry Syndercombe Bower of Fontmell Parva and William Foot of Chisel; (who was later succeeded by John H Rossiter as Churchwarden).

Fontmell Parva (previously called Little Fontmell by the Malet & St Lo(e) family) is the largest house in the area, and is situated about two miles north-west of Child Okeford on the road to Manston. Chisel is a hamlet lying south-east of the village, off the road to Hanford and Steepleton.

In 1995, the Parochial Church Council (PCC), with the Rector’s Support, gained Diocesan Advisory Committee approval to develop the South West corner.

The Font, moved from the Bell Tower in the late nineteenth century, was repositioned to become a central feature of the South west corner. The action of moving the Font from the tower caused the floor of the tower to collapse exposing a vault beneath.

The coffins of the Rossiter family were damaged but the remains reinterred by the Rector. The vault was resealed and the floor repaired.

Pews were removed and nine church chairs for daily worship, PCC and other meetings now encircle the Font. Library shelves, notice boards and cupboard space were built in.

In 2007, the church lighting was reappraised and new fittings made. The church and chancel have been effectively brightened and special lights show up the character of the roof.

The vestry was also reordered to include a lavatory and enable disabled access.

Page 9 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

The Church Bells

A manuscript, alleged to be in the County Museum (Dorchester) “Bells in Dorset churches. Temp.Edw.VI AD1552”, lists 3 great bells at Child Okeford. [note the spelling of Child - only in 1830’s and later, after Henry Syndercombe Bower became Churchwarden, is an “e” added to Child - and then only on Church (Ecclesiastical) documents. This document cannot be found by the Museum staff.]

It appears that the three bells in the old church were rung from the ground floor of the Tower. Previous Church booklets say the three bells were inscribed:

i) Robert Wells, Aldbourn, Wilts fecit 1788. John Baldwin, churchwarden.

ii) I.Baldwin, churchwarden, R.Wells, Aldbourn fecit 1783 * ** * * * iii) 1648 I.B. W.M. T.P. God Bless King Charles [according to Hutchins]

[fecit = Latin for “he made it” or “maker” (of the item in question)]

The Hearth Taxes of this time indicate that I.B. may well be I.Baldwin and W.M. - William Monk, probably Church Wardens of the time.

(Number iii was the largest bell; the inscription was in “Early English characters” and the * letters were inverted, possibly as a kind of code. )

God Bless King Charles

There are at least three versions of the inscription:

1. Hutchins version in his History of Dorset is above. The Hearth Taxes of the mid-1600’s indicate that I.B. may well be I.Baldwin and W.M. - William Monk, probably Church Wardens of the time. Hutchins says that Number iii was the largest bell; the inscription was in “Early English characters” and the * letters were inverted, possibly as a kind of code.

2. The Dorset County Chronicle and Somerset Gazette in its newspaper report of 1879, marking the opening of the new Church building, quotes the inscription as: “God Bles King Charls 1648 W.M. F.P.” in reference to one of the old bells.

3. In 1906, The Dorset County Chronicle Printing Works published a book “The Church Bells of Dorset” by Canon Raven DD FSA. See page 32

Page 10 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

The following entry appears on Page 81 of "The Church Book of Dorset", item 11

II Okeford Childe (S. Nicholas).

Five bells. Tenor-Diam., ;note E; weight 17cwt.2qt.4lb.

1,2,3,4 Mears & Stainbank Whitechapel Foundry London Laus Deo Victoria R. 1837-1887 5 Mears & Stainbank Whitechapel Foundry London Laus Deo Jubilee Peal 1887. J.G.Brymer Rector H.S.Bower, J.M.Rossiter, Churchwardens. 6 Mears & Stainbank Whitechapel Foundry London Laus Deo . These six bells set up by the people of Childe Okeford 1887

The old bells, three in number, bore the following inscriptions:- 1 John Baldwin Churchwarden Robert Wells Aldbourne fecit 1783 (or 8) 2 J.Baldwin, Churchwarden. R.Wells Aldbourne fecit 1783 (or 8) 3 God bless the King Charls 1648 I E. W M. T P.

This bell (3) was broken apparently by intention, but (from information received on the spot in 1852) not long before that date. The reversion of those letters which are underlined is notable, and probably intentional, the inscription being dangerous at that epoch.

There are obvious discrepancies between the details in the three accounts but they seem to agree in essence. We shall probably never know the correct signatories on the third old bell nor the reasons behind its ‘intentional breakage’. The bell-founder’s initials were "T P" (possibly Purdue or Pennington - Canon Raven).

Page 11 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

King Charles and the Parliamentarians

The inscription “God Bless King Charles”, was obviously commissioned by the Church and Churchwardens, and is of considerable significance, since in 1648 such a “message” of implicit support for the King would have courted danger. The King was already a prisoner of Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell. Whoever put that inscription on the bell had the courage of his opinions!

The full story of the (Royalist) Clubmen who fought the Parliamentarians on Hambledon Hill in 1645, is told elsewhere. Briefly, as Sir Frederick Treves wrote in “Highways and Byways of Dorset”:

“As Cromwell words it, “they beat them from the work, and did some small execution upon them. I believe killed not twelve of them, but cut very many.”

Alternatively, Hutchins’ account might be interpreted as suggesting that it was 12 soldiers not 12 Clubmen who were killed.

It is reputed that Cromwell’s local commander, Thomas Fairfax, was based in the Shroton area. It was from here that he is said to have sent his men to deal with local rebels in Shaftesbury, Sturminster Newton and, most famously, on Hambledon Hill.

A recent survey by the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments, England (RCHME), has identified a blocked entranceway on the south-east (ie. Shroton) side of the hillfort on Hambledon, through which Desborough probably led the attack (Oswald, forthcoming). 400 prisoners from the battle were also held in Shroton Church overnight, close to the base of the Roundhead army.

This was generally a Royalist area, but the problems associated with Civil War touched the lives of local people in many different ways; changes in religious practice, disruption to the social order and increasing control over local culture, as well as the requisitioning of food and resources - by both sides in the conflict - led to great unrest. In the end, it seems to have been the threat to peoples’ livelihoods which prompted the uprising; a motto on one of their colours (banners) was:-

If you offer to plunder our cattle, Be assured we will bid you to battle.

However, nearby Hazelbury Bryan was not Royalist - as the List of Rectors and Patrons in that church shows, there was a period in which the “Republic” was Patron.

Dorchester was also one of the great strongholds of the ‘Protestant’ movement, from which Child Okeford’s own Rector, William Kethe, was sent to minister to north Dorset.

Page 12 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

The hidden challenge

The bell was clearly a symbol of support for the Royalists and rebellion against the Parliamentarians. Its sound carried over all the village. Even today, the sound of a single voice in the High Street can be heard at the top of Hambledon Hill; how much further could the bell be heard?

“From the greensand tower, which had rung to the words of William Kethe 30 years before, now rang a bell which the parishioners knew defied all that Kethe, Cromwell and Desborough had sought to expunge from the village - its loyalty to a social order and culture which reproduced local identity and relationships, and a King who was the symbol of that threatened order.

It was a remarkable bell, part of the material culture of “resistance”. Each time the community heard its tone - called to services, tolling celebratory days of saints or the ritual festivals of the religious and social calendar, in the daily Angelus - this sound heard in the village street and in the houses, beginning and closing the working day, would be heard and marked by each member of the village, knowing the inscription on that bell; a secret tongue of allegiance embedded into the everyday sounds of life.” (Giles, 1996: 17).

Royal execution

“Less than a year after the bell was cast, on 30th January 1649, the King was publicly executed (beheaded) outside Whitehall Palace. He was wearing a special shirt fastened with ‘Dorset Buttons’. The local button industry was then a ‘Domestic Industry’, centred on Shaftesbury, and carried out in the homes of local villagers. In Charles’ dress, as subtly as in the bells of the church, loyalties were silently displayed and noted.”

A Carillon for use with the bells

In the room housing the clock, on the second stage of the tower, is the wooden frame of a Carillon mechanism by which the bells could be struck by hammers instead of rung in the traditional way. A tune could thus be rung. When this was last in use is unknown.

Page 13 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

19th Century Bells

The new Jubilee Peal was dedicated by the Bishop of Salisbury on 11th May 1888, to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Jubilee. They cost £530 when new; they were re-hung in August 1928 and again in July 1972, at a further cost of £1014. On all occasions the work was done by the craftsmen of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry.

The instruction sheet for the bells says:

CHILDE OKEFORD Jubilee Peal of Six Bells 1887 It is advisable to keep the nuts of the frame laus deo bolts tightly screwed, these bolts being generally at J.G.Brymer, Rector H.S.Bower CW every joint and through each brace, the entire depth J.M.Rossiter CW of the frame. Victoria R 1837 - 1887 Keep this bearing lubricated. A mixture of lard and neats foot oil is recommended, which should be H Q L varied to suit the seasons, a much firmer grease being needed in hot weather. Tenor 17 2 4 A All nuts on the headstocks should be tightened frequently, special care being necessary with those 5 12 2 0 F# of the centre supporting ironwork, to prevent the 4 10 3 25 G  disturbing of the level of the bell, viz. one nut should be screwed a half turn only, until the corresponding 3 8 3 8 A one has been similarly tightened. The clappers need a little oil where they swing 2 6 3 18 B on the crown staples, and a little on the roller pins Treble 6 1 14 C # will cause them to work freely and noiselessly. The ropes may be shifted an inch or two Total 63 0 13 occasionally to distribute wear; a piece of leather Three old bells 31 0 4 allowed for. tied round the rope where it goes through the wheel will prevent fraying.

Mears & Stainbank Bell Founders Whitechapel London

Old Imperial weights:

16 ounces (oz.) = 1 pound weight* (avoir du poids) (lb.) 28 pounds (lbs.) = 1 quarter (of a Hundredweight) (qtr.) 4 quarters (qtr.) = 1 hundredweight (cwt.) = 112 lbs. 20 hundredweight (cwt.) = 1 ton (t.) = 2240lbs.

A modern metric tonne = 2000 lbs.

[2¼ lbs of jam is just about a kilogram!]

Page 14 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

Bell Ringing

Before the days of the railways, which brought a standard time to all of the country, Church bells were an essential part of everyday life such as marking the start and end of the working day and celebrating important events. The bells can be heard over most of the parish; (you can even hear individual people’s voices in the High Street from the top of Hambledon Hill) !

Ringing is a service to God, a way of declaring his presence among us.

It is said that it was an Italian, the Bishop of Nola, in Campania, who introduced bells as part of Christian worship. He called the bell in a tower a “Campana” and a hand-bell a “Nola”; hence the proper term for bell-ringing - Campanology.

With a ring of 8 bells there are 40 320 possible ringing variations; a full peal of 5 000 changes can take 3 hours to complete.

CHILD OKEFORD, DORSET

(THE SALISBURY DIOCESAN GUILD)

on Saturday, July, 2nd.1938, in 3 hours. 15 minutes.

AT THE CHURCH OF ST.NICHOLAS

A Peal Of Grandsire Doubles

5040 changes being 42 Six-Scores in 10 different callings.

Tenor 17cwt. 3qtrs.

W.Damen Shroton treble R.Douch Child Okeford 4 G.Eagle Child Okeford 2 W.Shute Ferndown 5 J.Jackson Child Okeford 3 F.Hart Shillingstone 6

Conducted by W.Shute

First peal on the bells and rung as a farewell compliment to Reverend Canon Bower on his retirement of 30 years in this parish.

Page 15 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

In 1977 we celebrated another Jubilee, that of Queen Elizabeth II, and a special Quarter Peal was rung to mark the occasion. The certificate details are recorded below.

Salisbury Diocesan Guild of Ringers

From this Tower on Monday 6th.June 1977 a Quarter Peal of Doubles (Reverse Canterbury, Plain Bob and Grandsire) was rung in honour of HM the Queen’s Silver Jubilee by

Treble M.Way 4 M.J.Hart-Duke 2 R.Julius 5 K.Woodward cond.3 M.Godley Tenor C.Pike

God Save the Queen E II R

By 1997 the bells and bell ropes needed attention again.

Salisbury Diocesan Guild of Ringers Child Okeford, Dorset

St Nicholas’ Church

th 6 December, 1997

1260 St Nicholas Doubles

1. Niki J Gill 4. David A Gill 2. Judith A Robertson 5. Ross G W Robertson 3. Michael D Marshall 6. Cyril W White

Conducted by Ross G W Robertson

On St Nicholas’ Day at St Nicholas’ Church in memory of

Kay Green

Organist at this church for the past 18 years.

Page 16 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

Two more recent certificates:

Salisbury Diocesan Guild of Ringers

St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford

Sunday June 2nd 2002

1272 St Nicholas Minimus, in 50 mins

1 Suzanne D. Lloyd 4 Michael D. Marshall 2 Cyril W. White 5 Michael Powell 3 Sir Barry Wilson 6 Roger H. Billington

Conducted by Cyril W. White ( 5 and 6 covering )

Rung to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11

God Save The Queen

Salisbury Diocesan Guild of Ringers

St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford

nd Friday November 22 2002

1272 Reverse Bob Minimus, in 52 mins

1 Suzanne D. Lloyd 4 Michael D. Marshall 2 Cyril W. White 5 Michael Powell 3 Sir Barry Wilson 6 Roger H. Billington

Conducted by Cyril W. White ( 5 and 6 covering )

Rung half-muffled to celebrate the life of

Christopher Godwin Giles

Churchwarden and much loved friend to the Village of Child Okeford, who died in a car accident on September 19th 2002

R.I.P

Chris Giles was the author of this series of booklets

Page 17 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

The Stained Glass Windows Much of the glass is Victorian, dating from 1878-9.

The Chancel

Window 1. The East Window which depicts the Ascension, (3 lights).

- Centre light: Christ ascending, with the Apostles Peter, James and John.

- Left and Right lights: Two groups of four Apostles. The main part of the window depicts the ascension as an earthly event; the upper panes contain emblems which symbolise its heavenly significance.

Besides the various floral designs, there are in the centre the two monograms: 1. J H  (despite the use of the Greek letter Sigma, , this is a Latin monogram for Jesu Hominem Salvatorem - Jesus Saviour of Mankind. (See also window no.8) The IHS version is sometimes also referred to as “in His service” 2. X þ  the Greek letters Chi, Rho, Sigma (for ChRriStos) [XPS]

Left and Right are the Greek letters (Alpha) and (Omega) (Alpha) and (Omega) are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet so the window can be regarded as symbolising Jesus Christ, the beginning and the end (Revelation 1:8).

The topmost window shows an angel holding a Crown - of Christ’s glory, or of Christ the King (Rev 2: 10) or Crown of Life (James 1:12) or High Heaven (2 Tim 4:8).

[These two monograms are also carved in the panels of the reredos (behind the altar) and IHS is in one of the mosaic designs on the North wall of the Chancel] (See also window No.8.)

The East Window was installed “In memory of George & Elizabeth Peach & their daughter Mary Alice. Window placed by surviving children AD 1879”. This window was designed by Henry Hughes in 1879.

Window 2. The Sanctuary, South Window shows Jesus with Martha and Mary at the time of the raising of their brother, Lazarus (Luke 10: 38-42). There are two “lights”; on the left are Martha and Mary, on the right is Jesus.

Above is the double triangle symbol - the 6 pointed Star of David. The triangle is a symbol of the Trinity (this symbol is also part of the mosaic design in the south wall of the Choir). The Star of Jacob (Numbers 24:17) denotes Jesus as the Christ. At the top the Dove is shown, the emblem of The Holy Spirit (Mark 1:10).

This window was designed by Henry Hughes and is in memory of “Eliza Briget Seymer from H.M.M.Pitt and L.L.Pitt AD 1879”. (Eliza Seymer, of Hanford House, was a benefactor of the village School.)

Page 18 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

3. The Choir Window, south wall, is in two parts (lights). These show similar subjects taken from the Old and the New Testaments. - On the left Joseph is shown being sold to the slave traders by his brothers (Genesis 37). One of his brothers is holding his “coat of many colours”. - On the right St Peter (probably) (Acts 12), or St Paul, being held in prison (in Rome) restrained by leg irons.

Above two angels are depicted.

NB Biblical accounts do not describe angels as having wings - only Cherubim and Seraphim have wings. Angels are “like young men, dressed in white.” (Luke 24:5)

Below, the text is from Jesus’ allegory of the Vine (John 15:2). The text reads: “Every branch which beareth fruit, he purgeth it // that it may bring forth more fruit”

“Suffering” is therefore seen as a process of strengthening the person as preparation for better things in the future. The general subject is how the faithful share Christ’s sufferings.

[The design of the leg and arm irons is of incidental interest - this particular design was made in Birmingham and was still being exported from the UK to Africa in the 1970’s. The window artist was using contemporary information to illustrate his theme.]

There is no memorial dedication but the newspaper report of 1879 about the opening of the rebuilt Church says that all three windows in the Chancel were designed by Henry Hughes of Ward & Hughes.

South Aisle Lady Chapel

4. The East Window, above the Lady Chapel altar. Some argue that this is not a “Lady Window” since Mary is not shown with a nimbus (halo) round her head; as is the case in the other Mary windows. Others say it is a Mary window, as indicated by the Lily symbol. The newspaper report of the opening of the rebuilt church says that it shows Jesus with Martha and Mary in Lazarus’ house in Bethany, (ie it is not a “Mary Window”).

The three lights show: Left - Martha carrying a wine cup; Centre - Jesus; Right - Mary (of Bethany) sitting listening to Jesus. Above are 6 floral designs; two of which seem to be lilies or white roses. At the top an angel with hands joined in prayer.

This window was designed by Henry Hughes and is dated 1879. It was given In memory of Thomas Oliver who died July 12th.1870 aged 74, and also of Martha Vere Oliver who died May 23rd.1873 aged 67.

Page 19 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

5. The South Window of the Lady Chapel (the Magnificat Window). This is one of the Mary windows, and is again in two parts. - On the left is the Old Testament model for the Magnificat - the text on the Scroll is the song of Hannah, “My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, Mine horn is exalted in the Lord because I rejoice in thy salvation” The picture is of Hannah and the child Samuel (1 Samuel 2:1-2). - On the right is the New Testament - showing Mary and the Christ Child. The text is the Song of Mary - “My soul doth magnify the Lord, My spirit hath rejoiced in God my saviour… ” (ie the Magnificat); (Luke 1:46-47).

The window is dedicated: “To the glory of God in memory // of Gerald Syndercombe Bower and John Syndercombe Bower. // AD 1888.” Although not signed, we now understand the window design is almost certainly by Wyndham Hope Hughes.

6. The South Window, (Annunciation Window) is in the centre of the South aisle. It is a more modern window and is dated 1920. - The left light shows the Archangel Gabriel bearing a stem of lilies. The scroll has the text of Gabriel’s greeting, “Hail, Mary”. - The right light has a scroll which reads “Blessed art thou among women” (Luke 1:28) and shows Mary, with a dove, the emblem of the overshadowing Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35).

On the windowsill is the memorial tablet and dedication:

To the glory of God in very loving memory of SARAH MATILDA wife of HENRY SYNDERCOMBE BOWER of FONTMELL PARVA who entered into rest November 9th.1915. This window is dedicated by her husband.

This window is dated 1920 and is signed by H T Bosdet of Chiswick, London.

Page 20 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

7. The St Nicholas Window is just west of the Church door (South Porch). St Nicholas, Patron Saint of this church.

- Left light: St Nicholas, Bishop of Myra (Turkey), on the seashore with a boat in the background. He is robed in a cope and mitre, bearing a crozier (symbolic shepherds crook) and three bags of gold.

The emblems of bags of gold and the ship are also in the carving outside the church, over the door of the South Porch*, in the mosaic on the south wall of the Chancel, in the St Nicholas banner and on the Alms Dish. The ship symbol forms the wind vane on the St Nicholas Church School and is also the school badge. *The three maidens in the carving over the South Porch doorway are three sisters to whom legend says St Nicholas gave marriage dowries. The three bags of gold he holds in his left hand are a symbol of the gifts from St Nicholas. Their father was too poor to be able to provide for them this essential pre-requisite to marriage.)

- Right light: kneeling man, with two other men in the background - this may refer to the legend of St Nicholas appearing and assisting sailors during storms at sea; on return to shore they recognised the Bishop as their helper.

This window is a memorial "To the glory of God and in loving memory of Caroline Anne Fendall, born September XXVII [27th.] 1823, entered into rest September 22nd.1890."

According to the Church Register, she was a devoted worker for this Parish Church. The window is dated 1890. She was the wife of Col.Fendall, who donated the brass Lectern.

8. The West Window of the South Aisle is sometimes called the Candlemas Window. It illustrates the Song of Simeon - the Nunc Dimittis (Luke 2:22-38), “Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace … ”.

There are 3 lights: Left: the prophetess Anna with by-standers. Centre: Simeon, holding the baby Jesus (the Christchild). Right: Mary and Joseph, with a by-stander.

Above are six seated figures (reading, writing?).

In the inner small lights are angels sitting: the outer two have instruments - strings and pipe (Psalm 150: 4); the outer two have scrolls - Nunc Dimittis (Song of Simeon) and Alleluia.

In the top light is the sacred monogram J H  [IHS] (See also window 1.)

This is the third “Mary window”. It is a memorial: "To the glory of God and in Loving memory of Alexander Rozel Brown & Jane Barbara his wife, buried in this churchyard."

(He was buried 2nd.May, 1885 and his wife was buried 2nd.May 1889).

Page 21 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

The Tower

9. The West Window in the Tower is a “Christian Soldiers” window which depicts Archangels and Christian soldiers. (See “Church Music” and “Sir Arthur Sullivan” in Visitors’ Guide.)

There are four lights; the larger (upper) figures are “mighty beings”: Two Archangels: St Michael, left-centre, with dragon (Revelation 12:7); Archangel Gabriel, right-centre, with scroll “God is my Strength” (which is a translation of the name Gabriel). The other two are: St Oswald, King-Martyr (outside left) and St Edmund, King-Martyr (outside right).

Beneath these are smaller figures with illustrations of knightly virtues: Duty (Pietas), Obedience (Obientia), Magnanimity (Magnanimitas) and Love (Caritas).

- Duty or Piety: “Ye knight watcheth his armour” shows a knight keeping a vigil before the statue of Mary and the Christchild at Salisbury Cathedral. (see** below), - Obedience: “Ye knight is armed to defend Ye right” - Magnanimity: “He defendeth the oppressed” - Love or Charity: “He doth afford succour to the wounded”; a clear reference to the dedication.

Below again are three shields or bearings (specially relevant to the family - the inner right is that of the South Staffordshire Regiment) and the outer right is the memorial dedication:

“To the Glory of God in memory of Henry Raymond Syndercombe Bower Lieut. 1st. Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment beloved eldest son of Henry and Charlotte Bower Who was killed in France whilst rescuing a wounded soldier. December 19 1914 Aged 20”

Above the main figures are 6 small lights, in 2 layers, four below and two at top: - Outer left is the arms of Salisbury (see ** above) - Outer right, the emblems of St Nicholas - Bishop’s Crook and three bags of gold In other lights are four further Virtues with their appropriate emblems: - inner left - Fides (faith) - Shield with Cross (Ephesians 6:16) - inner right - Spes (Hope) - Anchor (Hebrews 6:19) - top left - Fortitudo (Courage) - Sword - top right - Puritas (Purity) - Lily/Fleur de Lys

NB These “Virtues” include the three theological “supernatural” virtues: Faith, Hope and Charity (1 Corinthians 13:13); the others have some affinity with the natural or “cardinal” virtues: Justice, Fortitude, Prudence and Temperance.

The West Window was dedicated on 6th November 1919 by the Bishop of Salisbury, following his dedication of the Village Cross War Memorial.

Page 22 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

The North Aisle

10. North Window; a second window of Christian soldiers showing St George (with Dragon), King David and St Maurice.

- Centre light: King David (Old Testament precursor of Christ; “born of David’s line”, with symbols of sword and harp, standing for military prowess (saviour of his people in a sense) and his musical and poetical skills. The Psalms are mostly attributed to the Hebrew David; see the Psalms of David; 1 Samuel 16: 23 and 1 Samuel 17: 48- 50. - Left and Right lights: two Christian martyrs, St George with dragon, and St Maurice.

Above are two angels bearing crowns, with scrolls for appropriate Virtues: - Left, a golden crown for Valour. - Right, a Crown of Thorns for Faith or Faithfulness

The window is a memorial :

"To the glory of God and in loving memory of Maurice Syndercombe Bower, Lieutenant RASC who died on active service at Sofia (Bulgaria); January 13th. 1919"

(ie he died after the signing of the Armistice which marked the official end of the first World War). British troops were doing relief work in Bulgaria.

The window is signed by its designer, H T Bosdet, of Chiswick, London, and dated 1920.

The window was reinstalled in August 2006 by Salisbury Cathedral Glass Workshop after restoration work by Henry Haig, ARCA, stained glass artist, and John Shepherd, stonemason.

Page 23 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

Fittings and Furnishings

The Lady Chapel

The Lady Chapel is a more recent alteration. Until 1969 it was a normal South Aisle, filled with pews, as in the 1888 plans, but it was decided to convert it into a Chapel, and it is most often used for early morning Communion services.

The furnishings of the Lady chapel have been gifts of the congregation; the Altar and rails were made by (Major) R J Strode and given by him in September 1969. The Dorsal Curtain and Frontal were designed and made by Andrew Bond of Bournemouth, and given by Mr and Mrs A W Coleman, but they are not currently hung. Mr Coleman also gave the Book Rest on the High Altar. The Credance Shelf was made and fitted by A G Goddard, and the rest of the fittings and furnishings of the Lady Chapel were provided by gifts of money. The Lady Chapel was dedicated by the Right Reverend Victor Pike, Bishop of Sherborne, on Sunday, 18th October 1971.

The Prie Dieu (Prayer Desk) in the Lady Chapel was given In Memory of Gillian Sylvia Ridout, by her parents Leslie and Sylvia Ridout. Leslie was Sacristan, Verger and Sexton for 6 years to 1970.

Other fittings and furnishings

In the Tower were a pair of Coffin Stools, mid-17th Century, but not now used for their original purpose.

The Wooden Chest, (possibly the old Parish Chest) which stands in the north side of the centre transept, dates from the mid-17th Century. It is panelled with guilloche and fluted ornament.

The Pulpit has five sides (a heptagon). The base is of Devonshire marble, with red marble above. Its alabaster arches are let in with red marble columns and mosaic medallions. The top is green marble. It was made by Earp & Son, who also made the reredos behind the altar and did all the other stone carving. The pulpit was donated by H S Bower in memory of his parents. The memorial tablet is set in the side of the steps:

TO THE GLORY OF GOD D AND IN MEMORY OF THE REV HENRY TREGONWELL BOWER, OF FONTMELL PARVA, AND OF HIS WIFE ELIZABETH SYNDERCOMBE BOWER. THIS PULPIT WAS SET UP BY THEIR SON, 1879

This pulpit replaced one of painted deal (wood), which itself had replaced a previous pulpit in 1863.

Page 24 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

The Bishops’ Bible

The Bishops’ Bible was stolen from this Church in January 2009.

It has not been recovered .

The Bishops’ Bible was housed in a wooden case just to the north side of the pulpit.

This copy of the Bishops’ Bible is now over 400 years old. It is a first edition of a text prepared by a Committee of Bishops which included Archbishop Parker (of Canterbury) and Archbishop Sandys (of York), and was published by Richard Jugge in 1568. This copy was in use in this church during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I when the Rector was William Kethe.

The Bishops’ Bible was the official translation of the Bible before the “Authorised Version” or “King James’s Bible” of 1603/4.

A newspaper article of 1926 gives some details about this copy of the Bible. It is quoted in full below.

(Incidentally, this newspaper article is stuck onto a card, which dates from 1908, carefully saved for the sake of economy. This card was advertising The Ladies Association (Workrooms Branch) of the Soldiers and Sailors Help Society, which was holding a sale of disabled men’s work at The Royal Horticultural Hall, Westminster; Admission 1/- [5p]. The Ladies Association was “Under the Immediate Patronage of HRH Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein”).

Page 25 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

“The Old Bible” It was indeed a suitable occasion for the return of “The Bishops’ Bible” to Childe Okeford Church just before the 2nd. Sunday in Advent when the Holy Scriptures are so prominent in our services. It is a copy of the first Edition of what is called “The Bishops’ Bible” prepared by a committee of Bishops of whom the principal men were Archbishops Parker and Sandys. It was published by Richard Jugge in the year 1568, and his name and colophon appear on the last page. In its perfect state it contained 3 portraits, Queen Elizabeth, Lord Leicester and Lord Burleigh.

The first was on the title page with the date, but this and several pages of introduction are missing as well as the first two chapters of Genesis. But Lord Leicester’s portrait in armour will be found on page CXXVIII on a separate leaf, and Lord Burleigh’s at the beginning of the first psalm, his arms being on the initial D. At the beginning of the preface to the New Testament are the arms of Archbishop Parker and on the scroll is the date 1568.

The Bishops’ Bible was in general use in Churches before the adoption of the authorized version of James I which we now use. In its perfect state it is very rare. This copy was found in Bath by Mr.John Batten father of our late Lord Lieutenant, and bought in 1891. He gave it to Mr.H.S.Bower who kindly gave it to the Rector. When he first had it, there was a very worm eaten cover which was beyond repair. At the beginning of the book of Joshua are written the names of the two Churchwardens who held office about 1600. Thomas Gy (Guy) and Arnold Philip Burbidge. It is very interesting that this Bible should be preserved and should return to the Church where it was in use nearly 400 years ago and where we hope it will long remain.”

[Restoration work was carried out by Paul Slap and his team, at the British Library Conservation Unit in Russell Square, London, in 1998]

(The arms of Archbishop Parker; dated 1568) William Kethe (who wrote the hymn All people that on earth do dwell … ) was Rector of Child Okeford Superior from 1561-1608, and would have used this copy of the Bishops’ Bible 400 years ago. Page 26 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

William Kethe was born in Kincardine, Scotland. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth’s sister and predecessor, Mary Tudor (Bloody Mary) (1553-1558) he had exiled himself in Frankfurt (ie he was a Marian exile). He was one of the translators of the Geneva Bible. Like many of the Protestant exiles who returned from Geneva, Zurich and Frankfurt, when Elizabeth came to the throne, he would doubtless have hoped that the doctrines embodied in Cranmer’s 1552 Prayer Book would be reintroduced. It seems remarkable that he came to be Rector of this little village Church. His unmarked grave is somewhere in this churchyard. [See also "Church Music", below.]

It has been argued (see Underdown, 1987) that the community is bound together not only by working together in the homes, fields and workshops of the village, but also by attendance at church, drinking in alehouses, and seasonal festivities; not necessarily in that order.

William Kethe, as Rector was outraged by such goings on; one of his sermons says: “Where God calleth it his holy Sabbath, the multitude call it their revelling day, which day is spent in bull baitings, bear baitings, bowlings, dicing, carding, dancings, drunkenness and whoredom … men could not keep their servants from lying out of their own houses … at night” (Sermon 1571) [Some things have changed anyway!]

The context of this Bible is significant. Queen Elizabeth I was the last of the Tudor Monarchs. She had appointed Matthew Parker as Archbishop of Canterbury. He was connected with the family of Anne Boleyn, her mother.

Elizabeth I died on 24th March 1603. Her successor was the first of the Stuart kings, James I (of England) [but he was also James VI of Scotland, son of the (Roman) Catholic Mary, Queen of Scots. James never met his mother after he was a year old, and was brought up as a Calvinist (Protestant)].

This Bishops’ Bible therefore straddles an historic change in English/Scottish history. As the King of England, James I accepted his position as Head of a (Protestant) Episcopal Church - The Church of England. King James authorised a new translation of the Bible, which became the standard version in most English speaking Churches until fairly recent times.

The List of Rectors on the east side of the Church doorway is itself a memorial - to Helen Swain, who was killed in 1982 in a tragic car accident. Her parents gave this carved list as a lasting memorial to their daughter.

The list shows the separation of the parish into two parts for a long period of its history. We have no definite boundaries for the Inferior and Superior parts of Child Okeford, but the 1830 Ordnance Survey map shows two Parsonages - one where Malabar now stands and the other just to the north of the current Village Hall. [See also “Rectories”, below] The War Memorial List is on the other side of the Church doorway. (See full list of names on Page 40) Above it is the stone memorial tablet to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in both World Wars (1914-18 and 1939-45).

“At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” we mark the signing of the Armistice in 1918.

Page 27 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

The written list of the names of those who died is taken out every year on the Sunday nearest November 11th to remember each one by name.

“At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.”

And from the Kohima Epitaph, recorded high in the Naga Hills of northern India, from the second World War:

When you go home, tell them of us and say, “For your to-morrow, we gave our to-day”

Above the stone tablet are the British Legion Banners, laid up when there were too few members left in the village to maintain a separate branch.

The Churchwardens’ Staves (Wands) are made of oak, with brass Crosses on the top. Such staves were originally intended to be used to keep order amongst unruly congregations.

The dates suggest that they were part of the refurbishing of the Church in 1887/88. The names of some holders of this office are inscribed on them:

Rector’s Warden People’s Warden H.S.Bower 1878 D.Moore 1916 H.G.S.Bower 1931 A.Moore 1936 J.N.L.Glasbrook 1941 W.R.Richardson 1941 L.T.S.Bower 1950

[There are two errors in these inscriptions - it is J.H.L.Glasbrook, not J.N.L.Glasbrook; and W.P.Richardson; not W.R.Richardson]

The system of “Rector’s Warden” and “People’s Warden” was largely abandoned from about 1956, when new legislation took effect. The election of Churchwardens is currently governed by the Churchwardens (Appointment and Resignation) Measure 1964, as more recently amended.

Page 28 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

Icon of St Nicholas

This beautiful Icon, made especially for the church, was given to Mr Harry Bucknall who was christened here.

A small plaque records that the Icon was painted by Father Paissos of Kontlourn mousion Monastry, Mount Athos, Greece.

The Icon has brightened the north nave beautifully.

Page 29 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

Music The Choir

St Nicholas Church Choir, Childe Okeford, under the leadership of T A Bevis, was the first church choir to be affiliated to the School of English Church Music - July 21st 1928. [The second one was York Minster.] The SECM was founded on December 6th 1927 (St Nicholas’ Day) by Sir Sydney Nicholson, a friend of T A Bevis our choirmaster and organist. By command of King George VI the SECM was renamed the Royal School of Church Music in 1945. The line of College medallions worn by the Choir and Junior Choir testify to the continuing tradition of good music in our worship.

William Kethe (Rector of this parish, 1561-1608) is particularly remembered for his hymn

All people that on earth do dwell, Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice; (Hymns A&M Revised, Hymn 166)

This was based on Psalm 100 and was included in Day’s Psalter of 1561. He put many psalms into metrical verse.

Sir R Grant based his hymn O worship the king, all glorious above; O gratefully sing his power and his love; (Hymns A&M Revised, Hymn167) on work by Kethe, which was in turn based on Psalm 104.

Sir Arthur Sullivan, so well known for good tunes in operetta, composed the music for

“Onward Christian soldiers!”

The tune is called “St Gertrude” and the words were by S Baring-Gould. The tune was composed in 1872 and named after Gertrude, wife of Ernest Clay-Ker-Seymer. He was the owner of the manor of Ockford Inferior, based at Hanford House. The first performance was in their Chapel, St Michael’s, Hanford. Sir Arthur was a frequent guest of Ernest’s father, Henry Ker-Seymer. The first public performance of “Onward Christian Soldiers” is thought to have been here at St Nicholas, Child Okeford.

Page 30 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

The Organ

This was built by Henry Jones, 136, Fulham Road, London SW, to the specifications set by Dr Arthur Sullivan (later Sir Arthur), and presented to the parish by Mr and Mrs E Clay-Ker-Seymer in 1879. This is our current instrument, played every Sunday and during the week. It was fully restored in 1998 by Percy Daniels & Co.ltd. of Clevedon, Somerset. [Mervyn Baker, Craig Aldem, Arthur Furze, Gary Cook did the work.]

The Choir Screen

This is a memorial, partly to Ellen and Fred Bradley and partly to other parishioners - John (Lionel) Glasbrook (Churchwarden), Charles Hoare, Sylvia Doughty, Norman Doughty, and Gwynneth Walton. Like the Baptistry Screen, the Choir Screen was made by Gordon Paddock. Both carry memorial tablets - details are in "The Memorials" booklet. Both were built in 1977.

St Nicholas Banner

The Church Banner was made and given by Mr & Mrs R B Maynard. Bob Maynard was organist from 1974-76.

Page 31 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

The Church Plate

Only those items in regular use are kept locked in the Church. For security reasons, the rest have to be kept in a Bank vault.

Church Silver

The silver Ciborium, made by Louis Grossé Ltd, was presented to the Church in 1972. (A Ciborium is like a bowl set on a candlestick. It is used to hold wafers of unleavened bread ready for blessing (consecration) in the service of Holy Communion.)

A silver Wafer Box “In memoriam W.P.Richardson 1949” is in regular use. Dr Richardson was a well loved “village doctor” who was also a Churchwarden. [see booklet “Memorials”] (The Wafer Box holds extra supplies of wafers of unleavened bread, ready to place in the Ciborium when needed.)

There are two plated Flagons; one dated 1783, the gift of the Rector of the time, Reverend Henry Hall. The other, dated 1970, was the gift of C T Nye, given in memory of his wife. (Wine flagons normally hold additional supplies of unconsecrated wine at major Festivals, ready to pour into the Chalice if required.)

There are three Chalices and three Patens: the oldest Chalice is Hallmarked 1568, and normally kept in the bank. The old Paten is dated 1573 [Strictly speaking it is said that a Chalice is kept for the private and exclusive use of the priest and a Vessel is the correct term for the one used by the congregation. However, the term Chalice is the one in common use.]

Subsequently, a copy of the 1573 Chalice was made and is inscribed “From the 1928 Mothers’ Union in memory of Audrey Bower, 28th November 1928”. Its cover can be used as a Paten. See also Audrey Bower’s memorial on the north side of the Choir.

The third Chalice, in silver gilt, with a plain silver gilt Paten, was given by R J Strode in 1964, in memory of his sister, marked “To remember Constance C.Strode R I P 1892-1964 Childe Okeford Church A M D G”. There is also one modern plain silver Paten.

(A Paten is the small silver plate on which the wafers of unleavened bread are consecrated, and which the Priest uses to give Communicants the “Body of Christ” in the service of Holy Communion. Alternatively, the Priest may use the Ciborium instead of the Paten.

The Chalice looks similar to a Ciborium, but is used to hold the wine consecrated for use at Holy Communion - the “Blood of Christ”).

The two silver Alms dishes were both given by the Reverend Henry Hall, the one dated 1783 is round with three legs, like a salver; the one from 1795 is a plain oval shape.

The Processional Cross, with a silver plated Crucifix, was given by Maurice Crew, the organist and Choirmaster for many years, in memory of his parents, in 1965.

Page 32 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

There are also two Cruets, with silver tops marked “In Memory of Christian Wallace”, given by her husband, the late Peter Wallace.

Church Brassware

The Baptismal Ewer, used at the Font, is brass and was given by R Stopford.

The Altar Candlesticks were given in memory of Percy Robert Rowland, a member of the choir. A margin note in the Burials Register says “killed April 1st by falling under a roller on the road” (This was a horse drawn ‘ring-roller’, on whose shafts Percy was sitting, when the horse shied and he fell under the roller). Buried April 5th 1916, aged 9.

There are also two brass triple-candlesticks, used for some festivals. They have no inscription.

The Altar Cross was presented by Nathaniel Fletcher Barton for Christmas 1889. The inscription notes the names of John George Brymer, Rector, and his Churchwardens - H.(enry) Syndercombe Bower and John H. Rossiter, (who had succeeded William Foot). [All three of these men were parties to the establishing of the Child Okeford Co-Operative Society and Coffee Shop; this was not a conventional Co-Op; (its profits went to the Diocese not the customers). The building is now called Bartley House, on Upper Street. The Rev John Brymer built a new Rectory, now called Malabar, which is nearby. [see also " Rectories" - below]

The Lectern is also brass (made by Cox and Sons). It was given by William Fendall (a Lt Colonel) who had fought in the Peninsular War (1807-11) under Wellington. British troops forced French forces out of the Spanish Peninsula and then went on to invade S W France in 1814, thus forcing the abdication of Napoleon Bonaparte. Nearly half a century later, in 1856, Lt Col Fendall’s horse was killed by the last shot fired in the Crimean War, but he survived. I wonder if he ever met Florence Nightingale, who made her name as a nurse during that dreadful war. At the age of 92, William Fendall sold wood carvings done by himself, and with the proceeds bought the Lectern, which he then gave to the church in 1886. (See also the "St Nicholas window" - a memorial to his wife.)

The main lecturn and the Pulpit book stand were reguilded and lacquered in 2008. The money was raised through holding an excellent and enjoyable community lunch in the village hall.

Page 33 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

The Alms Dish (used to receive gifts of money (The “Collection”) at all services, was presented to the Church by the Reverend John Brymer (Rector) about 1879, probably after the completion of the rebuilding of the church. It is very highly decorated, made of brass and 3 coloured alloys. It features an image of St Nicholas holding a sea anchor in his hand, with the top and T-bar of the anchor ending with the three gold bags which are his other emblem.

The maker had at first inscribed “St.Nicolas” at the side of the figure and had then to add the missing “h” afterwards. Round its rim are the words, “Ye Have Received Freely, Give Freely”.

The Churchyard

The old churchyard lies round the church to north and south. In 1872 it was decided to extend the churchyard and enclose it with a brick wall. The extra land was given by Dillon-Trenchard and H E Clay-Ker-Seymer.

All the walls were repointed with lime mortar by a volunteer in 2000/2001.

The wrought iron gates were also erected.

A new wrought iron gate, presented by the Tuffin family, was erected and blessed in 2008 to remember Geoff Tuffin (1954 – 2006) who had been invalided from the Army and was much loved in the village. He roamed the area on a special bicycle – as the memorial plate records, he was a “Tricyclist Extrairdinaire”

In 1955 a further extension was necessary. This is on the east side of the 1872 extension. It is bounded by a beech hedge. Mr J H L Glasbrook of Child Okeford Manor gave the land. This was further extended in the 1970’s and consecrated by the Bishop of Sherborne, Rt Rev John Kirkham.

In 1997 a further extension was completed, the land being the gift of Mr & Mrs R Buckland of Church Farm. This extension was consecrated by the Bishop of Sherborne on 9th December 1997.

Grave plans, showing surnames, have been made for the 1872 Extension and the 1955 Extension; to see these, please make requests, in advance, to the Churchwardens.

Page 34 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

Patronage

The Patron is the person who has the authority to appoint the Parish Priest. Child Okeford has changed hands over the centuries, and has been joined with other parishes at various times.

Priests had different kinds of status; some had a life-long right to the income from a parish and its Glebeland (Church-owned land which was rented to local farmers or others and which yielded a rent). This was called a Benefice because the Priest had the right to the financial benefits of the Living. Such a man would probably have the title “Rector”.

Many Rectors in the historical past were academics at the old Universities - Oxford and Cambridge. They could not be present all the time, so they appointed a Curate (one who has responsibility for the Cure or Care of Souls) in their place. They were vicarious Rectors, known as Vicars - who stood “in the place of” the Rector, who held the Living. Vicars were paid a salary (Stipend) by the Rector or Patron.

The term Curate, strictly speaking, applies to all Priests in charge of a parish.

About 1906, the Church Commissioners and Diocesan authorities, took effective control of most glebeland. The distinction between Rectors and Vicars then became a matter of traditional title, rather than one of legal distinction.

Many Patronages passed to the Diocesan Bishops. The Bishops can “suspend the Benefice” if they need to. This allows them to appoint Clergy as “Priest-in-Charge” of a parish, without giving them the living - ie, such clergy do not have a life-long right to serve/work in that parish. If required, the Bishop can ask them to move to another place where they may be more urgently needed. Where the Benefice is intact, there is little short of serious ill discipline and scandal which can remove a Priest from his Living. NB: Up to this point the masculine term is used, because that is the history of the church.

From its dedication up to 1350, Child Okeford was under a single Rector - see "List of Rectors", Page 41. In 1350, John Amyel was presented to Child Okeford Inferior and John de Bares, who had been Instituted on 14th May 1331, remained Rector of Child Okeford Superior until 1362.

From the topography of the village, it seems likely that Child Okeford Superior (Upper) was centred around the church and present High Street. Child Okeford Inferior (Lower) was the land to the north west, from Gold Hill to land across the Common. In the 1784 Glebe document, “an ancient writing” was transcribed which listed the glebe land of both parsonages. The glebe for the Lower Parsonage was centred in what is now Fontmell Parva (which was known as Little Fontmell up to about 1840). This area still had, in 1784, a surviving open-field system which was probably the farming centre of Child Okeford Inferior. Other documents have lead to a suggestion that Hanford House/Hanford Manor was the centre for Child Okeford Inferior. NB: A manor is not necessarily a house or dwelling, it is essentially land which yields an income to a feudal owner.

Page 35 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

The cost of supporting two Rectors was not easy. In 1437 the two Patrons petitioned the Bishop to the effect that the tithe income from the two moities (Livings) were not enough unless the two men served alternate years at the church. The Bishop gave permission in an Order dated 11th May 1437, that the Rector serving the Church should have the small tithes and the Oblations at the altar (the Collection) for his year on duty; the absent Rector should have the greater tithes - wool, lamb, and a moiety (one of two halves of the income) of the Glebe land, and also should be able to seek “agreeable support” elsewhere.

By the 17th Century, Child Okeford Superior (Upper) was certainly based on Trenchard’s Manor (now Manor Farm) in Child Okeford. One of the Patrons lived there. Child Okeford Inferior (Lower) was probably based on what is now Hanford House. At this time the Capel family held the manor of Child Okeford Inferior. This was subsequently inherited by the Haysomes and then, by marriage, the Seymers. The Capel’s manor house may well have been on the moated site in Bere Marsh, and there is a tradition that the building stone from the moated manor was used for part of the building of the Seymer’s “Hanford House”. Two patrons were therefore involved in those days. Each held one advowson - the right to “present” a Priest to the benefice (or Living); effectively this gives the right to appoint the Priest. The Domesday Book infers a separation.

The two Rectories (as institutions, not as buildings) were re-joined by a Faculty of 1811, which became effective in 1815 when the Reverend Henry Hall died. By the time of the Reverend John Brymer (from 1873) only one Rectory appears to have been in use. From its appearance, we have an old photograph, one might guess it was a 17th Century building. [see also "Rectories", below]

A partial examination of the two moities (literally one of two halves - in the case of a parish it refers to one of the two Livings), is shown in the chart below:

Superior Year Year Inferior

William Crabb 1642 1642 William Crabb 1670 Samuel Conant 1673 1674 John Vivers John Vivers 1679

William Crabb 1687 1687 William Crabb

John Crabb 1747 1747 Monk Crabb

Henry Hall 1758 1763 Henry Hall 1815 Charles E North 1815 1863

(1863 was the year in which a new wood (painted deal) pulpit was installed)

It is clear that the two Patrons had made some sensible accommodation between themselves for over 170 years previously, as the above chart indicates.

Page 36 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

However, in 1815 the Reverend Charles Edward North took over the advowson of Child Okeford Superior for himself; and then was Presented and Installed by the Bishop on his own petition, ie he effectively appointed himself to Child Okeford Superior.

Presumably, he was already under the Patronage of Child Okeford Inferior, so he held both Livings. Thus the two moities were combined and Child Okeford once again became one Parish with one Rector. [See also his memorial in the "Memorials" booklet.]

Child Okeford Superior had previously been in the hands of the family of Robert de Hull and his descendants, notably the Trenchards. John Trenchard Esq., is listed as Patron 1486. The family lived in “Trenchard’s Manor” for years. This house is now known as Manor Farm. In 1841 W T Dillon-Trenchard Esq. refaced the old manor house with “mathematical tiles” on the south side, flemish-bonded brick on the west and Todber stone with flint on the north side. In the wall of the south gable is a stone block inscribed with:

sq. W T D T E 1841

Curiously, in the loft on the inside of the gable, ie the reverse side of the stone block, is a similar inscription, but without the “Esq.”. Perhaps it was the first version, but the Esq(uire) was regarded as too important to be missed out and the inscription was re-cut on the other side of the block and then it was put in place.

Page 37 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

Rectories The old Rectory The Church also has a photograph of one of the old Rectories, Child Okeford. It was taken before 1879 by W.N.Ridout, The Studio, [town name is missing].

Handwritten on the reverse of the old photograph are these words:

A photograph of the old Child Okeford Rectory standing on the site of the present Rectory. The right hand portion was slightly burnt, and in 1879 the Rev.John Brymer pulled it down & built the present house. I remember it very well, it was a beautiful and comfortable old house. There was of course another Rectory as well as the one on this site. The site of the other seems uncertain. It may have been just below the Village Hall, or where Hambledon House now stands. The man in the photograph seated in the corner with a dog is the Rev.John Brymer, I think the old gardener on the left is an old man named Forward. The other man on the right and the two women standing at the window I do not recognise. I obtained this copy & put it in the parish chest March 21, 1934 Charles Bower

[Canon Charles H S Bower served as Rector at Child Okeford, 1909 - 1938] The “present house” to which Canon Charles Bower refers in his note, was built by Rev John Brymer, and is now called “Malabar”. The remains of the foundations of the previous old Rectory in the said photograph are still under the lawn to the rear of Malabar (west side).

Page 38 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

The Ordnance Survey map of 1830 labels a second Parsonage site opposite the northern end of Rectory Lane (Hind Lane), just below the site of the present Village Hall. This was, presumably, the site of the other Parsonage for Child Okeford, probably Inferior. Hutchins 1870 edition says “here are still two rectorial houses, one on the west side of the street near the church; the other a little above the former on the east side of the street.” By the time of the Reverend John Brymer, (1873), the Parsonage marked on the Malabar site was the Rectory in current use and is clearly the one on the west side of the street. This is the one Canon Charles Bower calls “The old Rectory”.

We may ask which was the house on the east side “above” the other one? It does not make senses in terms of the gradient of the land. It is possible that by “above” Hutchins means “north of” the other. That is the only explanation which appears to make sense and this would then correspond with the 1830 map.

The very large house continued as a Rectory until 14th December1950. At that time Child Okeford was joined with Shroton (Iwerne Courtney) to form a new set of combined parishes. The sale of what had been the previous Rectory was authorised under the Pastoral Measure 1938. The house, with just over 3 acres were sold for £4 250. One of the Churchwardens, John H.L.Glasbrook, of The Manor, Child Okeford, had to swear a Declaration to the effect that he knew the land in detail. He had been informed that the Bishop of Salisbury was going to sell the Rectory (as it then was), during the vacancy in the living. It was sold to Robert Henry Cooper, (whose wife is aunt to King Zog of Albania), of 3 Connaught Square, London. Mr Glasbrook (aged 58 - according to the document) also said that the property has been part of the Rectory and Glebe for the past 20 years to his knowledge, and he “knew of no other claims on the property”. He had lived in Child Okeford for 24 years and had been Churchwarden for 9 years.

The Bishop of Salisbury (Sarum) kept a grip on the situation by retaining ownership of the Glebe land and stipulating certain conditions about the future use of the house. Part of the Conveyance document states that the new name of the Rectory must not be such as to suggest that it was the home of the Incumbent (Rector). Robert Cooper called it “Malabar”. The conditions say that it must not become a “place of amusement, hotel, tavern, inn, or public house nor shall any spiritous or fermented liquor be sold in or on the property and no act or deed shall be allowed to be a nuisance to the Incumbent or to any Minister conducting divine service in Church or churchyard”.

The new Rector in 1950 was the Reverend Dr R M Taylor, who lived in the Rectory at Shroton, and had care of Shroton (Iwerne Courtney), Child Okeford, Hanford and Iwerne Stepleton. Hence the parish magazine is called “The Hill - a magazine for those living round Hambledon Hill”. These parishes encircle Hambledon Hill. In 1966, he vacated Child Okeford in favour of his son, the Reverend William R de C M Taylor.

In 1967, Child Okeford was officially separated from Shroton and the new Rector was given responsibility for Child Okeford, Manston and Hammoon. A year later, under the Pastoral Measure of 1968, the three parishes were made one parish, but retained three church buildings.

Page 39 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

The current, modern Rectory on the west side of Rectory Lane (Hind Lane) was built in 1968, on part of the glebe land retained by Salisbury Diocese. The first occupant of the new Rectory in Child Okeford when it was built was Rev William Taylor, who served as Rector from 1966 - 70.

The next Rector, Rev R York, was appointed to the Benefice. Subsequent Rectors were appointed as “Priest-in-Charge”. A further parish re-organisation took place following the Installation of the Reverend David Box. Child Okeford, with Manston and Hammoon, were combined with Okeford Fitzpaine, on the other side of the river, in 1991. However, the Patron of Okeford Fitzpaine is not the Bishop of Salisbury; that Patronage remains in the hands of Anthony Pitt-Rivers of Hinton St Mary. The two Patrons, Bishop and landowner, alternate the exercise of their patronage. A new Benefice was created, thus creating a new Living.

On the retirement of David Box in 1994, the Living was “suspended” by the new Bishop of Salisbury. After nearly a year’s Interregnum, and following the recommendation made by Churchwardens of all the parishes, the Bishop subsequently Installed the current Rector, the Reverend Philip Rahilly, as Priest-in-Charge of all four parishes. The installation took place in St Andrew’s, Okeford Fitzpaine. Technically, the title Rector is a courtesy one for a Priest-in- Charge, but it is the appropriate mark of respect.

The Rectory became vacant in 2006 when Rev. Philip Rahilly moved to another parish. During a prolonged interregnum a full pattern of services was maintained thanks to our two non- stipendiary ministers, Rev. Sarah Muffett and Rev. David Marl.

In early 2008, Rev. Shirley Smith was licensed as Priest-in-Charge of the Okeford benefice, together with the Benefice of Hazelbury Bryan and the Hillsides; a total of 11 parishes.

Shirley left in February 2011 and Rev Fr Darren A’Court was licensed as Priest-in-Charge of the Okeford benefice in March 2012.

Rev David Marl, non-stipendiary minister retired on Easter Day, 2012.

Page 40 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

The War Memorial List

THESE ARE THE NAMES OF THE MEN OF THE PARISH OF CHILDE OKEFORD WHOM THIS TABLET COMMEMORATES

1914 - 1918

Bower Lieut. Maurice Moore Sergt Charles G. Bower Lieut. Raymond Moore Capt Gerald H. Cluett Pte. Charles M. Quick Pte. Albert Cobbold Pte. Arthur Rawlings Pte. Thomas Davies Pte. George R. Read Pte. James Elsworth Pte. Archibald Savory Pte. Herbert L. Fudge Pte. Walter Shephard Pte. Albert W. Gillingham Pte. Charles G. Smith Pte. Harold Hall Pte. Edward G. Thorne Pte. George Hatcher Trooper Thomas G. Wareham Corp Charles Holdway Shipwrt Robert Wolfrey Driver Oliver W. Kingsbury Pte. Frederick 1939 1945 Knight Lieut. Philip Arnold Signalman Douglas P Livingstone-Learmouth Capt Nigel Delahay Lieut Robin R.S. Lynes Seaman William Fudge Pte Maurice Moore Pte. Charles S.

Page 41 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

LIST OF RECTORS

1297 - 1305 GALFRID de STOCKS 1305 - 1317 WALTER de KYLHAMPTON 1317 - 1331 PHILIP de BRADENECK 1331 - 1362 JOHN de BARES

SUPERIOR INFERIOR

Jan 1362 - Mar 1362 JOHN WANESYNGE 1350 - ? JOHN AMYEL 1362 - 1376 THOMAS TYNDALE ? - 1364 ROBERT ? 1376 - 1397 WILLIAM HANFORD 1364 - 1385 WILLIAM LARDNER 1397 - 1418 THOMAS SEYGNESBURY 1385 - 1394 JOHN or WILLIAM SEWARD 1418 - 1433 JAMES GRENEY (or GRENE) 1394 - 1401 JOHN OVERALL and 1433 - 1457 ROBERT WHITTOCK JOHN WYLTONESHURST 1457 - 1469 THOMAS POLE 1401 - 1406 JOHN FYSHER 1469 - 1486 JOHN LLOYD 1406 - 1419 PHILIP HOLMAN 1486 - 1507 GILBERT WYLKYNS 1419 - 1422 JOHN, son of RANDOLPH 1507 - 1530 WILLIAM POKESWELL 1422 - 1455 ROBERT KEBY 1530 - 1544 JOHN SAMWAYS, 1455 - 1461 ROBERT WARD HENRY SAMWAYS 1461 - 1465 WILLIAM or Walter RANTE and WILLIAM WILLCOX 1465 - 1476 ROBERT WALDEBY 1561 - 1608 WILLIAM KETHE 1476 - ? ROBERT WALDEBY 1608 - 1642 GERARD WOOD ? - 1515 THOMAS ROXLEY and ADAM WILSON 1515 - ? WILLIAM POXWELL 1642 - 1670 WILLIAM CRABB 1593 - 1642 WILLIAM WATKINSON 1673 - 1679 SAMUEL CONANT 1642 - 1674 WILLIAM CRABB 1679 - 1687 JOHN VIVERS 1674 - 1687 JOHN VIVERS 1687 - 1747 WILLIAM CRABB 1687 - 1747 WILLIAM CRABB 1747 - 1758 JOHN CRABB 1747 - 1763 MONK CRABB 1758 - 1815 HENRY HALL 1763 - 1815 HENRY HALL

SUPERIOR AND INFERIOR

1815 - 1863 CHARLES EDWARD NORTH 1863 - 1867 DANIEL WARREN EVANS 1868 - 1873 ROBERT CHOLMELEY PRICE 1873 - 1909 JOHN GEORGE BRYMER 1909 - 1938 CHARLES BOWER 1938 - 1946 WILLIAM DELAHAY 1946 - 1950 MELLIS STUART DOUGLAS 1950 - 1966 RICHARD MARTIN TAYLOR 1966 - 1970 WILLIAM R. de C. M. TAYLOR 1971 - 1980 REGINALD FRANK YORK 1980 - 1982 DEREK H.A. WILSON 1982 - 1989 STANLEY GILL 1990 - 1994 DAVID BOX 1995 - 2006 PHILIP RAHILLY

OKEFORD BENEFICE

2008 - 2011 SHIRLEY SMITH 2012 - DARREN A’COURT

Non Stipendiary Ministers

2006 - 2012 DAVID MARL 2006 - SARAH MUFFETT

Page 42 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

Child Okeford - the Name

The spelling of the village name is regarded as contentious by some, as a matter of high principle by others. There is no simple or definitive answer.

Spelling problems In past centuries there was no standard spelling. Old English, the Middle English of Chaucer, even Shakespeare’s English lacked consistent spelling. Only government officials and the Church needed to write down information; the rest was spoken - a matter of oral tradition. Local areas had their own dialects and accents. The problem was one of putting local accents into a written form. The variation of local dialect or accent gave rise to the problem of writing down oral culture; writing was not standardised. Much depended on the interpretation of what those writing the documents heard or thought was said.

It was not until Samuel Johnson wrote his Dictionary (1755) that the spelling of English started to become consistent and relatively fixed.

Pre-Conquest King Edward (the Confessor) had no children. He had originally named his “cousin” William of Normandy, as his successor. But they quarrelled and, on his death bed, Edward named his brother-in-law, Harold Godwin, as the next King. From one point of view, one could say that the last of the Saxon kings was Harold Godwin. He owned the local area, which was part of the Blackmoor Forest. As recorded in the Bayeaux Tapestry, he lost to William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. However, William never did accept that Harold had really been king, and referred to him as Earl Godwin, (accepting his noble birth, but claiming for himself a greater right than Harold Godwin, so helping to legitimise William’s own claim to the throne).

After the Norman conquest In 1084, William commenced a national survey of property on which to raise taxes, and this became the Domesday Book in 1086. All the land went to King William, but he died in 1087. In turn, William gave part of the local area into the hands of the Count of Mortain (Normandy), and part to the Abbess of Glastonbury. Across the river, he gave FitzPaine some of the land, including what is now Hazelbury Bryan.

Compiling the Domesday Book Within the set of documents, compiled over two years, Child Okeford was named in four different ways: In part of the text it is just Acford. Elsewhere it is Chyld Akford. In the Index to the Domesday Book it is Child Acford. 1086 - In a Mortain Fee (for the Gillingham Hundred) it is spelt Chyldakford.

The Shorter Oxford Dictionary defines the term Childe/Cild/Chyld(e) as an archaic term which was a form of Title - a youth of “gentle” or noble birth.

Page 43 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

Collecting information for the Domesday Book Local villagers would have been summoned (possibly to Gillingham) to explain the nature of their local resources. This would have been noted by a clerk. Later, other officials would come to check that the information was true. Eventually the details were written up in Exeter. The villagers had no need to write the name of the area or village, the spoken word was enough, but each official would have had to make a spelling to fit with what he heard as the village name.

Okeford as a group name Okeford is a generic term for a set of villages - Fipenny Okeford (Okeford Fitzpaine), Shilling Okeford (Shillingstone), and Child Okeford share a common boundary, the River Stour. All lie on the edge of Blackmoor Forest. Even as late as 1967, when a reorganisation of the local parishes took place, two parts of Child Okeford parish were in Fiddleford, across the river, on the western side of the Stour.

Changes of name King John (1199-1216) and Cranborne Chase King John was an Angevin king, rather than a Norman. He claimed exclusive rights to hunt deer, wild boar and other quarry across a wide area which forms the western edge of Salisbury Plain - known to him, and us, as Cranborne Chase. This included Child Okeford, since the River Stour forms the western boundary. Under the floor of The Olde House, in Child Okeford, are stone slabs which are reputedly the remains of King John’s hunting lodge, but more likely to be a 17C stone floor. King John may have known the village by any or all of the four names in the Domesday Book.

1236 - Chilockford

King Henry III (1216-1272) (Plantagenet) In 1262 the village name was written as Childeokeford [one word].

King Edward I (1272-1307) (Plantagenet) By 1280, in the “Perambulation of Cranborne Chase”, it is called Chylde Hanford and also Child Ocford.

1293 the lands of the Prior of Christchurch at Chillacford were rated at £1 11s

1305, in public records, the village is named Chyld Okeford.

Edward III (1327-1377) (Plantagenet) Child Ockford

Saxton’s map of 1575, spells the name Chele Aukford.

A map on the wall in Sherborne Castles, dated 1600, labels the village as Child Okeford

[1750 - Dr Samuel Johnston’s Dictionary]

1753 Court case between the Rector and a farmer about moduses (payment in lieu of milk tithes); refers to parochia de Child Acford.

Page 44 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

1767 John Rake’s Will gave £5 to the eldest poor persons in the parish, “He chargeth all his estates in the parish of Child Ockford … ”

Hutchins’ History of Dorset, 1773 Child Oackford These great volumes refer to the place as Child Ockford and as Child Oackford. Hutchins quotes the Domesday Book and its reference to two Manors - at first held by Earl Harold Godwin - taken over by the new King, William - “the King holds Ackford”.

The Enclosure maps give Child Okeford as the spelling.

The 1771 map of A Survey of LITTLE FONTMILL FARM In the Parish of Child Okeford in the County of Dorsett 1771

This is now called Fontmell Parva, the place name is clearly Child Okeford. [The survey included a sketch of the Mr Peach’s Mansion House, with formal garden - the small remains of which are incorporated in Millbrook House.]

1801 Return to Parliament for the parish of Child Okeford gave three uninhabited houses.

1811 Return to Parliament for the parish of Child Ockford gave …

The 1825 Survey - Childe Okeford [two words].

1870 Hutchins’ History of Dorset 3rd Ed. Vol.IV, generally calls the place Child Ockford.

There was some interesting correspondence in 1930, to be found in the Dorset Records office in Dorchester, between Capt H G S Bower (Henry G Syndercombe Bower; 1839-1930) Churchwarden and local landowner, who insists on adding an “e”. William Cox, Vicar of Okeford Fitzpaine disagrees. The latter quotes Boswell’s “Civil Division of Dorset”, 1795, the Register of voters of 1833 and the County Rate basis of 1854; all of which spell the name as Child Okeford. [See also the "Memorials" booklet.]

One is forced to the conclusion that the “e” is a deliberate antiquation, ie, an attempt to make the place name appear even more ancient than it is - the “e” is an imposition. However, H G S Bower had his way, and many Church records since then carry the extra “e”. All civil maps and most civil records do not have the extra “e”.

Page 45 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

Modern arguments, myth and legend

T Graham, 1954, writes about an old story which claims to explain the names of the three Okefords. There was an orphan Child, which must have been of some importance, to whose upkeep Fippeny Ockford gave Five Pence, Shilling Okeford (Shillingstone) contributed One Shilling and Child Okeford gave it a home. However, the following item from Somerset & Dorset Family History Society “The Greenwood Tree” (Vol 21 No 2) puts a very different light on the matter:

“ .. the name SHILLINGSTONE has nothing to do with an obsolete coin of the realm. Shilling is a corruption of “ESKYLLING” or “SCILLING” [Hutchins spells it Eskelling]; forms of the name of a family who held Shillingstone manor in the early Middle Ages. They were probably descendants of the Norman SCHELIN, who was in possession at the time that the Domesday Book was compiled.”

Mills argues (1986) that the term Chile/Chylde refers to son of a royal or noble family. One might note that Godwin, Earl of Wessex (Harold Godwin) had held the Manor of Chyldakford. He was later known as King Harold, who was killed by the forces of his cousin, William of Normandy at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

The Oak may refer to the close proximity of the Blackmoor Forest (Forest of Blackmore) which was substantially cleared in about 1277 (see Calender Close Rolls 1272-79). The ancient ford across the river was close to the forest of oak trees.

It has also been argued that Okeford should be taken literally - a ford made with split oak trunks - laid on the river bed to prevent wagon wheels getting stuck in soft mud. This technique is known to have been used, but there is no documentary evidence in hand to prove this is the origin of the name. The ford is still there, just on the north side of the present Haywards Bridge. Children paddle there in summer.

In later times there is a story relating to Cromwellian soldiers who, it is said, cut down an oak in the grounds of the old Rectory, possibly for making a new base for the ford. This is pure speculation. However, from the same stump four saplings grew together as new trees. They are now large trees - but they are sycamore trees - which rather spoils the story.

It is interesting that the name FitzPaine is retained in the name of Fipenny Okeford / Okeford Fitzpaine. The FitzPaine family was given possession of the land now known as Hazelbury Bryan, presumably by William the Conqueror, as recorded on a tablet on the south wall of Hazelbury Bryan Church. Land, and places, often took the name of their owner. As a place name, the name Godwin has gone, possibly suppressed by King William. But as a family name Godwin is still common in these parts, especially north of Gillingham and in Wiltshire.

The only conclusion one can draw with any certainty is that converting oral tradition to written documents is fraught with difficulties.

The Dorset County Records Office, Guide to the Location of Parish Registers, has the following data on Child Okeford records held at Dorchester:

Page 46 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

Christening/Baptism Registers 1653 - 1973 Marriage Registers 1658 - 1925 Burial Registers 1653 - 1952 Banns Registers 1653 - 1654; 1755 - 1812; 1909 - 1970 Transcripts available of Marriage Registers 1658 - 1812

Page 47 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

Acknowledgements: This booklet started as part of the updating a simple guide, which I wrote over a decade ago. Some Australian visitors, whose forebears had come from Child Okeford and Hammoon, wanted something to take home. We had nothing available. The outcome is a series of booklets, of which this is No 1(Second Edition).

I started with a copy of the booklet produced by Rev R F York in 1973. In that volume he gives credit to: Taylor, Rev, R. 1969. Child Okeford. A Parish Panorama. (Hand published pamphlet). Hutchins, J. 1870. The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. (3rd Edition). Vol. IV. London, John Bowyer Nichols and Son. Diocesan Records Office, Salisbury Dorset County Archivist Royal Commission on Historical Monuments Notes left by Canon C H S Bower

Among additional sources to which I have referred are:

The Domesday Book. Fraser, A. (ed). 1975. The Lives of the Kings and Queens of England. London, Book Club Associates. Giles, M. C. 1996. Between Down and Vale. A Social Archaeology of the Parish of Child Okeford, North Dorset. Unpublished M.A. research, Sheffield University. Hutchins, J. 1870. The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. (3rd Edition). Vol. IV. London, John Bowyer Nichols and Son. Lawrence, A. 1899. Sir Arthur Sullivan; Life Story Letters and Reminiscences. London, James Bowden. Marshall, M. D. 1959. Church Bells in England. Unpublished thesis. Wiltshire County Records Office, Trowbridge, who allowed key records to be photographed. Dorset County Records Office, Dorchester.

The windows and memorials within St Nicholas Church, with interpretative assistance from Rev D Box, AKC and Rev R M Giles. Materials in the care of St Nicholas Church. Graveyard maps made about 10 years ago.

Many individuals who live in the Parish and beyond, whose local knowledge is a vital resource, have been kind enough to allow access to Deeds of local properties. I am sure more amendments will be made as this resource is further explored.

C G Giles

This series of books was the inspiration of Chris Giles who devoted an enormous amount of time and effort to research, write and produce the first editions. In memory of a dear friend, I am proud to continue his work and, with the considerable help of the churchwardens and the support of the PCC, the books have been reviewed, updated and now reprinted.

David Pope

Page 48 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

Page 49 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012) SOUTH PORCH

SOUTH WEST CORNER

St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford A Short History

Page 50 2nd Edition 2008 (Updated April 2012)