February 2015:
BRANSTON All Saints.
Our February 2015 group visit was to Branston All Saints. Although it was a cold wet morning there were nineteen of us present. We were given a warm welcome by Nigel Dickin, churchwarden.
Branston is mentioned in Domesday as having two churches. All Saints has Saxon long and short quoins on the south west wall near the tower. The tower itself is late Saxon early Norman with typical belfry openings.
There have been several restorations to All Saints, but on Christmas Day 1962 the church was badly damaged by a fire. The dark oak rood screen and the organ were destroyed, but the pews were hardly damaged at all. The arches in the north aisle still show smoke damage. The church was restored by George Pace, a leading architect of his time. The stained glass in the chancel east window is by Keith New. The glass was specially made and is one of his largest pieces of work.
There have been several restorations to All Saints, but on Christmas Day 1962 the church was badly damaged by a fire. The dark oak rood screen and the organ were destroyed, but the pews were hardly damaged at all. The arches in the north aisle still show smoke damage. The church was restored by George Pace, a leading architect of his time. The stained glass in the chancel east window is by Keith New. The glass was specially made and is one of his largest pieces of work.
There is a picture of the church interior before the fire in an information folder. The pews are thought to be 15th century, and are carved with animals, people and foliage.
The new organ case appears to hang from the roof at the west end of the aisle. It is decorated with wooden pictures representing 20 centuries of Christianity. They were designed by a member of the Curtois family and were rescued from the rood screen. The strangest monument is dedicated to Sir Cecil Wray and his wife Mary. Unusually, he had the monument built during his lifetime, and no doubt approved of it.
The new organ case appears to hang from the roof at the west end of the aisle. It is decorated with wooden pictures representing 20 centuries of Christianity. They were designed by a member of the Curtois family and were rescued from the rood screen. The strangest monument is dedicated to Sir Cecil Wray and his wife Mary. Unusually, he had the monument built during his lifetime, and no doubt approved of it.
The
mixture of ancient and modern inside the church divided opinion among
our group. It is a bright and welcoming place, and holds weekly
services which are well attended.
A melted cross which used to stand on the altar now stands in a window near the porch, a reminder of the fire and its intensity.
Thanks to Max Kitchen and Phil Stanyon for the photographs and Judy McLoughlin for the write up.....
J. R. K.
A melted cross which used to stand on the altar now stands in a window near the porch, a reminder of the fire and its intensity.
Thanks to Max Kitchen and Phil Stanyon for the photographs and Judy McLoughlin for the write up.....
J. R. K.
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