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| Notes on the Parish of Arksey, church entries |
The Transcriptions - Part Three
Continuing the transcription of a note book written by Archie Ernest Trout in 1913 and discovered in Arksey Vicarage. It is copied just as Archie wrote it. Presented in ten parts, this is part two.
For part two go to - Notes on the Parish of Arksey - Part 2
For an introduction to this series go to - Exciting Find at the Vicarage.
Contents
- The Church, Architecture and Bells
- The Bells
- Church Alterations
- Notes and Links
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Page 7
The Church, Architecture and Bells
The church (of All Saints) dates from 1150 and the best description of it is that given by Sir Stephen Glynne, Bart. Jan 28 1856. Printed in Yorkshire Archeological Society Journal vol 15, as follows.
It is a large church, cruciform in plan with central tower. The nave and chancel each have north and south aisles but the transepts don't extend beyond the wall of the aisle. There are portions of several pointed styles, but a considerable portion of early English and Perpendicular.
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| My own diagram of the church to better understand the terminology of this article. |
The tower and arcades are chiefly of this style. The nave has each arcade of 3 pointed arches. Those on the north spring from circular columns with octagonal capitals; those on the south have octagonal columns and one of less good work, probably later. There is no clerestory. At the southwest corner of (the) aisle is a large staircase of octagonal form lighted by loops. In the south aisle the windows are chiefly perpendicular of 3 lights. The west window has 3 cinquefoiled lights without tracery under a pointed arch and contains a little stained glass. The west window of the north aisle is perpendicular and mutilated. The other windows of the north aisle are squareheaded, of 'decorated' character, of two and three lights containing much stained glass with armigerous shields.
Between the north aisle and transept is a Norman arch on square imposts and over it a window of the same kind now closed. The corresponding arch on (the) south is pointed but plain. The roofs are plain. The tower stands on four 'Early English' pointed arches with good mouldings. The western arch is the best but is on plain square imposts. The eastern piers are clustered with plain round moulded capitals. There is a double ascent to the chancel, which seems to have an inclination. There is a late thin, perpendicular rood screen at (the) entrance to (the) chancel and very late parclose screens. Between (the) north transept and chancel arch is a pointed arch on imposts. The north (side of the) chancel has a late squareheaded window, and at the east end a mutilated window. The chancel opens to each aisle or chapel by a continuous pointed arch and extends beyond the north aisle, and at (the) east end of the south (aisle) a vestry is added which extends actually beyond the east end of the chancel.
The east window is poor, perpendicular, of three lights. On the south of the altar is (a) good trefoil piscina with good mouldings contained all around, the drain square and apparently altered. A quatrefoil is pierced in the wall between the chancel and vestry, and is said to be modern. The font has a plain round bowl and a cover of Jacobean woodwork. The pulpit is also Jacobean.
The external character of the church, except the tower is chiefly perpendicular, embattled with pinnacles, except on transept. The north aisle has no pinnacles at (the) west end. The parapets of the aisle are not completed. There is a good south porch, embattled, the outer door having crocketed arch with finial and shafts. The arch is Tudor form with enriched spandrels.
A very large gargoyle is on the north aisle of (the) chancel. The vestry is of late character. The tower is Early English, large and massive. The belfry window has two plain lancets with shaft having impost set under obtuse hood. In the stage below is an obtuse window of early character. The tower is embattled with four pinnacles and has (a) short octagonal stone spire without ribs and alternate spire lights. This upper part, is of course, a later addition.
The Bells
The description of the bells, given in the Yorkshire Archeological Journal (vol 16, page 51) is as follows:
Arksey (All Saints) 5 bells.
No 1.
DONO GEO COOKE DE WHEATLEY BARONETTI ET FRATUS SVI HENRICI ARM 1673. QUOR ME SONANTE RECORDAM RUI.
Cast by S Sellers, York. 27 1/2" dia.
Arms: On a chevron gules, between two lions passant guardant sable, armed of the first.
Crest: Out of a mucal crown argent a lion issuant as in the arms, gorged with a ducal coronet or.
No 2.
(Printed characters)
TEMPLA DEDIT PUSCA PIETAS NON GARULA SAECLI (lower) COMPANAS* POSUET LOQUAR MINIUM 1673.
S Sellers, Ebor, 301/2" dia.
No 3.
Jesus be our speed 1657 (lower) W P churchwarden A S Fecit W C.
32 1/2" dia.
No 4.
(Roman characters)
Gloria in altissimus deo 1718. E Sellers, Ebor. Thomas Rodwell, vicar. (Lower) Thomas Tirwhit, Ian Hall churchwardens
36" dia.
No 5.
All laud and prayers now let us singe, God send thee heaven that heare me ryng 1622.
39 1/2" dia.
At the survey of 1552 there was one bell and two sanctus bells here.
Church Alterations
The church has been renovated and repaired at various times, the last time being in 1913 which was fully reported in the Doncaster Chronicle, July 11 / 1913 and is set out to some extent below:
It was in memory of Rev William Stoddart MA, vicar of Arksey 1855-65, and was carried out at the cost of the late Col. Stoddart, nephew of the above.
The work consisted of the installation of gas instead of lamps, and of a system of hot water pipes and radiators, the boiler house and flue being on the north side of the church.
In the chancel, a new tessellated pavement is laid upon a concrete foundation, the design being a chaste fleur-de-lys upon an open light coloured ground. But the adornment of the church, to enhance its ancient beauty, does not end here, but reaches its climax at the sanctuary. This has been embellished with a dark oak reredos panelling, and (the) north and south walls are panelled with the same dark oak. The chancel walls have been cleaned and tinted. The stone-work externally has also been repaired.
The masonry work was undertaken by Mr H Trout of Arksey, builder.
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| Newspaper cutting from the book |
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Notes and Links
*Some of the Latin words were unclear, and may prove difficult to translate.
To continue go to - Notes on the Parish of Arksey - Part 4
