As I was passing Burford church on my way back from Little Hereford I decided to stop off partly in hope that the church would be fully open this time and partly to look for family gravestones which I failed to find last time.
The red sandstone church is in a lovely rural location 200 yards from the River Teme and the Worcestershire border. When you travel round this area you are constantly going from Herefordshire to Shropshire to Worcestershire.
Parts of St Mary are 12th century and the church was extended at both ends in the 14th century. The West Tower is 15th century with a "perpendicular" top added in the 19th century restoration.
The West Door
The church was open but I decided I would look for family graves first - a decision I was to regret as you will see later!
Photos of the churchyard cross are not good I am afraid as the sun was in the wrong position just like last time! The cross was restored in 1867.
I took photos of some of the corbels that I missed on the last visit.
To see many more including Green Men and Mythical Beasts please see my last post on the church. St Mary, Burford
Although I have to admit I didn't read every gravestone (the churchyard is quite large) I failed yet again to find my paternal grandmother's family graves (I think there are four of them, including my grandmother's parents in the name Clarke). Even more worrying I found a website where you can check graves and names and this failed to produce a record for the name Clarke at Burford :( When I was a child we used to visit the graves with my grandparents every Easter to leave flowers. I do have a memory of the churchyard being full of primroses and red ants! I did visit when I was in my early 20's to look for the graves again without success. But then it was all much fresher in my memory and surely I would have known for certain then which church it was? The only other possibilities are Little Hereford Church or Tenbury Wells church both within a few miles of Burford. I do have a memory of what the church looked like which is why I am so certain it is Burford. The only other possibility is that it wasn't my grandmother's parents who were buried there but other people in the family with different surnames?
Just as I was about to go in the church I spotted two couples of elderly people had beaten me to it and none of them were wearing masks. Obviously they had as much right as me to be there but I could have kicked myself for not going in earlier. I pithered outside a while longer but they were obviously in no rush. Really I suppose, as I was on my own and no-one waiting for me, I should have just waited until they left but for some reason I decided to go in. Unfortunately it meant I missed a lot of the features I wanted to see as the men were hovering by certain tombs and the triptych :( Also I felt very uneasy which didn't help. I really have got out of the habit of being near people especially in indoor areas.
Photos in many cases are poor - it was quite a dark and gloomy church. In fact, I must make a mental note to turn on lights in churches if I can find the switch!
The 15th century font is "Perpendicular", octagonal with a bowl with square panels containing leaf motifs. I think there is a more recent font in the church but I didn't see it!
Sir Aston Webb restored the church in 1889. He was a free Arts and Crafts Gothic architect early in his career. He was employed by Miss Rushout to enrich the church in memory of her brother, the last Baron Northwise. Many of the fixtures and fittings date back to this restoration.
The next two windows were made by James Powell of Whitefriars. The first window shows Lord Fanhope (formerly Sir John Cornewall) and his wife Princess Elizabeth and the second depicts scenes from the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
One thing I didn't miss, thank goodness, was the "Heart Tomb". Part of the inscription reads "Here lyeth the heart of Edmond Cornwall Esq, son and heyre to Sir Richard Cornwall of Burford. Knight who travelling to foreign countries to know, died at Cologne, the XIVth year of Henry VI. (1436) and willed his servant to bury his body there and enclose his heart in lead and carry it to Burford to be buried". Lower down the inscription reads his daughter "Eleanor has such an increase of children that 17 score and odd people were descended from her body before she died".
In the centre of the church is a monument to Edmund - containing a life size figure in oak (or pearwood). The Latin inscription reads "Edmund Cornewaylle, son and heir of Thomas Cornewaylle of Burford. Knight died the ... day of January in the year of our lord 1508th and his age the 20th. May he rest in peace".
I gave up on accessing the tombs and triptych on the other side of the church and left at this point. But I will return.
(List of features missed - meant as an aide memoire for me when I go again.
- Life sized brass to Elizabeth de Cornewayle d 1370.
- Alabaster effigy in chancel north wall of Elizabeth sister of Henry IV d 1426.
- Very rare monument is the painted triptych. Signed and dated Melchior Solabuss 1588 with portraits of Richard Cornewall d 1568, his wife Jenet and son Edmund.
- Two other memorials with couples kneeling facing each other.
- Priests' doorway early ironwork (N side church I think). Or did I see it last visit?
- Five large angel figures chancel roof.
- Large wrought iron candelabra and lanterns from restoration.
- On floor near Triptych is replica of a pole axe belonging to Edmund who was around 7 foot three inches tall. Axe bears his initials.
- Scratch dial near priests' doorway south side with original 700 year old door. Crescent shaped hinges and small ring knocker.
- Nave roof 13/14th century.
- Large oak chest.
- Water stoup by south door.
- Black and white mosaic tiles in chancel with heraldry)
I hope everyone is staying safe and well.
All photos taken by me with the Pansonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera.
Reference:
The Old Parish Churches of Shropshire by Mike Salter
Buildings England Shropshire by Nicolaus Pevsner Penguin Books (1958)
Saint Mary's, Burford Shropshire. A Short Guide compiled by the Reverend C G Challenger MA Rector 1961/8.
7 comments:
The church looks wonderful. I am sorry that you didn't get the best experience visiting the interior.
With regards to you family graves. I wonder if the parish churches have records of who was buried and in which plot in the grounds. If the church itself does not hold the records they may be able to direct you to the local records office where the information might be held.
CherryPie - Thanks so much.
Thanks also for help re: family graves. I think I discussed with someone after last visit about the parish register. I really must look into it. I suspect the records will be held elsewhere but I must check - thank you.
Looks like a lovely church both inside and out. Such a shame you couldn't get to see everything inside. It still feels both sensible and courteous to pop on a mask when entering any bulding where there may be other people. Some folks are in a world of their own at times and forget others. I was going to mention there may be a map of the churchyard with plot numbers on it. I see cherrypie has already mentioned this. When a cousin and I were looking for our great great grandparent's grave we managed to get a photcopy of a map of the area where they were buried as there wasn't a stone. You have a long list of things still to see inside so you have a good reason to make a return visit:)
Rosie - Thanks so much. It is one of those particularly lovely churches. Churches used to have signs about wearing masks but not, of course any more. I too think it is courteous to wear one if around others but so many now don't bother even elderly people which I find hard to understand. Perhaps they think being vaccinated makes them immune from catching it!
Thanks too re: map of churchyard with plot numbers - I remember seeing one of those in several other churches. I will have to try and get some church contact details and hope there is an email address. Somewhere buried in a a storage box somewhere I have a copy of my grandmother's confirmation certificate which seemed to come from Worcester -perhaps Burford was once in Worcs? I just wish now I had got more information from family when they were around to be asked! For some reason too I have it in my head that Cleobury Mortimer Salop was imp to the family too - so wish I could remember why. Although to be honest we had that many days out in Salop and Herefordshire due to family that the visits tend to merge into one! Somehow 6 of us when my brother and I were little crammed into my grandfather's A40!!!!! I used to sit on a little seat in the front over the handbrake!!! between Dad and Granpy. Health and Safety would put paid to that these days!
Don't know how I missed this. Sorry your visit was marred by disrespectful people. That green really pops off the page on the stained glass windows!
You could try searching your grandparents names on billion graves or find a grave, someone may have recorded them? Or of course there is then then parish records (I have an ancestry subscription if you'd like I can check on there for them :))
The church entrance is very much like one on the church I pass on my way to work although it isn't in such good condition.
Rustic Pumpkin - Thanks so much :) Glad you liked the stained glass :)
Pam - Thanks so much. I think Find a grave was the website I visited and entered that churchyard. Thanks so much for the offer that is so kind as I am not registered on an ancestry website. Going to Worcester soon but over weekend will find the file with grandparents' full names and possibly date of death.
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