http://kentarchaeology.org.uk/research/archaeologia-cantiana/ Kent Archaeological Society is a registered charity number 223382 © 2017 Kent Archaeological Society /V.V tf'2. FR0M .w.NOOW.N THE NORTH A . S L E , WA RE HORNE CH URCH. KENT w:j:Ziffci&£. £&• T6J&tei&£:&*- 97 NOTES ON WAREHORNE CHURCH AND ITS AN- CIENT STAINED G-LASS, WITH INDICES TO THE PAROCHIAL REGISTERS OP WAREHORNE AND NEWENDEN. BY WILLIAM J. LICHTEOOT. THIS church, which contains several interesting features, consists of a nave, north and south aisles, chancel, and western tower. The nave is separated from the aisles by three arches with circular pillars of Sussex marble, the span of each eastern arch being greater than the others. This part of the church, with the exception of the blocked-up western arch of the tower, which is Per- pendicular, is of late Early English date, and retains most of its ancient features. The windows are remark- ably lofty and grace- ful, especially those at the ends of the r"'iiBfflj aisles, and seem all to have been filled with ancient stained glass, which we will notice below. The east end of the south aisle origi- „.»8.i„;l„'a,.4ij nally formed a chan- , . try, in the south wall of which is a trefoil-headed piscina, with its stone shelf,and byits side is a square ambry, which H VOL. rv.. 98 NOTES ON W A R E H O R N E CHURCH. still retains an oaken shelf, though much decayed, and four hook-hinges which formerly held the folding doors. Immediately under the centre of the east window of the north aisle is a shallow m a trefoil-headed niche, which probably may have been a tabernacle and contained the image of a saint, as there are indications of a project- ing bracket ajb the base, now broken away; but no trace of a piscina drain. We are enabled to add engravings of these interesting relics from drawings kindly made and presented to the Society by our member, the Rev. E. M. Muriel. In the north wall adjacent are two doors, now stopped up. One is near the ground, and the other several feet above it, and just under the spring of the roof. They undoubtedly formed a communication with the rood- loft, which was probably accomplished by the ascent of a spiral staircase, long since removed with its turret, and a loft crossing the aisle and connecting the upper door with a corresponding one, which still remains open, in the north colonnade of the nave. There is another opening, agreeing with the last in position and shape, on the opposite side of the nave, which formed a com- munication with the chantry in the south aisle. The greater span of the two eastern arches of the nave mentioned above has somewhat the effect of a transept, which is heightened by the windows in the aisles opposite these being of larger dimensions and of three lights, whilst those to the west are smaller and of two lights. In the heads of the former is preserved the ancient glass illustrating this paper. I must leave it to others more learned in such matters than myself to decide what these curious figures are really intended 0 N°3. N *. %T3 FROM A WINDOW INTHE SOUTH AISLE WAREHORNE CHURCH . KJ£?&"f%A "W.J.LLglitfoot.elel. NOTES ON WAREHORNE CHURCH. 99 to represent. But I am inclined to think that the artist, in designing the two combatant figures in the north win- dow, had in view the conflict of the Christian soldier with his spiritual enemy, so beautifully delineated by St. Paul in the sixth chapter of Ephesians. It will be observed that the face of fig. 1, which I take to be the Christian soldier, bears a calm, dignified, and beautiful expression, whilst he is standing with sword and shield elevated, ready to ward off the blow, and to defend him- self manfully against the assaults of his adversary. The face of the latter, fig. 2, from its singular ugliness, is the personification of sin, and he is represented as aiming a deadly but unsuccessful blow. It will be observed that these figures afford good examples of the pointed boot and of the circular buckler, and of the mode of holding it. The colours of ruby and blue in the medallions are very rich and lustrous, but the foliaceous grounds upon which they rest have been, in places, broken, and not very successfully repaired with fragments of glass from other windows of the church. The subject of the two medallions (figs. 3 and 4) from the south window is of a Idndred nature. The Evil one is shown, under the similitude given by St. Peter, as a " roaring lion," and is viewing with hatred and disdain the Cross upon which the redemption of the Christian was wrought. These figures are smaller than those from the north window, and rest on grounds of similar character, which have been omitted, as but a few frag- ments remain. The font, which stands at the west end of the nave, is square, and of the plainest possible character. The pedestal is modern. The chancel is perhaps of later date than the rest of the church. It is spacious and lofty, and contains three square-headed windows of two lights on the north and south sides, identical in design. The sill of the one within the rails on the south side is extended down- H 2 100 NOTES ON WAREHORNE CHURCH. wards, and forms a sedile, having a carved and moulded cornice with oak-leaves, which is much mutilated; but, where better preserved, the carving is exquisite. In the eastern angle of the sedile is a small piscina with pedi- mental canopy, the finial and crockets of which are de- stroyed ; and there is a plain ambry with pointed arch in the east wall to the south of the altar. The east window is fine, with four lights, and of Perpendicular date. It contains numerous fragments of stained glass with headless figures of saints, and the remains of two escutcheons with arms; one, (the field gone, and its place supplied with modern white glass,) a chief quarterly or and gules, for Peckham ; the other, (the field supplied as in the pre- vious coat,) on a chevron, three talbots passant sable, for Mo- rant.1 There is no chancel arch, a feature I have noticed in other churches in the vicinity, as Snave and Snargate; but the roof of the chancel does not range 1 Sir Thomas Morant, of Morant's Court, in Chevening, owned tbe manor ot Warehorne, temp. Edw. III. He left an only daughter and heir Lora, who carried the estate in marriage, first, to Sir Thomas Cawne, of Ightham, and secondly, to James Peckham, of Yaldham, in Wrotham; which will account for the presence of these escutcheons in the east window. It is hardly necessary to engrave the well-known coat of Peck- ham. It appears twice in our third Volume, p. 143, Plate III., Nos. 6 and 7, and in the same Plate, Ifo. 3, is given the coat of Morant, from a Seal attached to a Charter in the Surrenden Collection. But on this Seal, the charges are very indistinct, and have the appearance of being dogs or wolves passant regardant. The escutcheon in Warehorne Church decides them to be talbots passant. There has always been much uncer- tainty as to the charges borne by Morant; the question is here deter- mined, and the importance of the decisive information thus obtained justifies tbe introduction of a cut representing the arms as they appear in the east window of this church. I have no't, however, deemed it neces- sary to add the unheraldic eagles and other external ornamentations which are appended to the escutcheon in the window. [The writer is indebted for the foregoing notes, and the engraving of the shield of Morant, to the kindness of our late honorary Secretary.] NOTES ON WAREHORNE CHURCH. 101 • with that of the nave as in the latter church. The floor of the chancel was originally on a level with that of the nave, but raised some years ago to its present height, when some monumental slabs were then covered by the new pavement. One is still visible near the north wall, with the indents of the brasses of a civilian and lady in the but- terfly head-dress, an inscription and shield, all removed. I am informed that those beneath the pavement have been similarly treated. This is to be regretted, as the only memorials now remaining of ancient inhabitants of the parish are those of the two Rectors given below. The roofs are ancient and retain their original high pitch, but have been ceiled with plaster leaving the principals seen. The spandrils in the nave are pierced with trefoils and rest on plain stone corbels, and those of the chancel are ornamented with pointed trefoils; and on the tie-beams are carved roses in low relief. Imme- diately over tlie altar the ceiling is panelled, and at the intersection of the moulding are- bosses of fleurs-de-lis and roses, but covered with whitewash. The tower was much damaged in a thunderstorm in the year 1777, when it was partly rebuilt and cased ex- ternally with brick; and a wretched square door and window were then inserted, which have a very bad effect, and render this the worst part of the fabric. There are buttresses tq the tower, and at the south-west angle of the south aisles, but none to any other part of the church.