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VZE49555 by Church of Divine Mercy Singapore

CDM Catechism Class 2022

A return to Malling and the four churches visited last winter when all four were found locked.

A very different experience at all of them, as I found them all open, and was greeted warmly at all, and one I had three wonderful wardens following me around as I took shots, with me pointing out features to them rather than the other way round.

Each church had just opened their books of condolence for HM Queen Elizabeth, and I signed here at East Malling and one other.

St James is a large and impressive church set in a vast churchyard beside one of the branches of he Malling Stream, a winterbourne, which not surprisingly wasn't running due to the long dry summer.

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An impressive church, though this is not the impression one gains when approaching it from the west, where the tower is almost all that is visible. Norman in origin, but much enlarged in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries and remodelled in the fifteenth, St James has had a bush or two with Anglo Catholic practice which has resulted in the introduction of some fine furnishings. Pride of place must go to the Lady Chapel altar by Sir Ninian Comper, one of three to be found in this part of the Medway Valley. Also commemorated here are members of the Twisden family, whose house Bradbourne, stands north of the church. Until the 1930s the chancel was privately maintained by the family and retained its box pews until the death of the last Baronet when this part of the church was restored to its pre-Reformation form. In its floor is a slab to Col Tomlinson, who guarded King Charles I until his execution in 1649. He was related by marriage to the Twisdens. The organ at the west end of the church was formerly in Bradbourne House and was donated to the church in 1934.

www.kentchurches.info/church.asp?p=East+Malling

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EAST MALLING.

EASTWARD from Leyborne lies East Malling, called in the Textus Roffensis, MEALLINGES, and in Domesday, METLINGES.

THIS PARISH is delightfully situated; it is both pleasant and healthy; the soil is for the most part sand, covering the quarry rock; to the southward it inclines more to a loam and red brick earth; but most of it is very fertile, as well for corn as for plantations of fruit and hops, which latter thrive here remarkably well. The high road from London through Wrotham to Maidstone, crosses this parish at the thirtieth mile stone: the hamlet of Larkfield-street, which gives name to this hundred, is situated on it, where there is a fair held on St. James's day. Hence this parish extends northward for more than a mile, to the river Medway, the bank of which is here beautifully shaded with young oaks. Here is a hamlet called New Hythe, situated close to the river, so called from the shipping and relading of goods at it. The civil liberty of the corporation of Maidstone claims over this place.— There once belonged a chapel to this district, called New Hythe chapel, which was suppressed in king Edward VI.th's time, when it was valued at eleven shillings clear yearly value; the first founder of it was not known. Daily mass was said in it. Hugh Cartwright, gent. of East Malling, had soon afterwards a grant of it.

Adjoining to the southern side of the high road and hamlet of Larkfield, is the small, but beautifully situated, park of Bradborne, the plantations of which, as well as the stream which flows through it, are so judiciously and ornamentally disposed round the mansion, as to render it, for its size (its smallness being by art wholly concealed from the sight) the most elegant residence of any in these parts. Close to the southern pale of the park, is the village of East Malling, at the north end of which is a handsome house, the property of Sir John Twisden, the church, and parsonage. Hence there is a street called Mill-street, from a corn mill there, which is turned by the before mentioned stream. Through the village, which has in it some tolerable good houses, one of which was lately the property of James Tomlyn, esq. the ground rises up to East Malling heath, on the entrance of which, near the direction post, there appears to be a Roman tumulus. On this heath are several kilns for making bricks and tile; it lies on high ground, and is a pleasant spot, though surrounded on the east and west sides by large tracts of coppice woods. The park of Teston bounds up to the south east corner of it, and the road from thence to Town Malling and Ofham leads along the southern part of it, through the woods.

AT THE TIME of taking the general survey of Domesday in the year 1080, being the fifteenth of the Conqueror's reign, this place was part of the possessions of the archbishop of Canterbury, under the title of whose lands it is thus entered in that record.

In the lath of Elesfort, in Laurochesfel hundred, the archbishop (of Canterbury) himself holds Metlinges in demesne. It was taxed at two sulings. The arable land is seven carucates. In demesne there are three carucates and thirty-eight villiens, with twelve borderers having five carucates. There is a church and five servants, and two mills of ten shillings, and twenty-one acres of meadow. Wood for the pannage of sixty hogs. In the whole value, in the time of king Edward the Confessor it was worth nine pounds, the like when he received it, and now as much, and yet it pays fifteen pounds.

The manor of East Malling was given not many years afterwards by Anselm, archbishop of Canterbury, by the name of Parvas Meallingas, to the nunnery of the adjoining parish of West Malling, founded by Gundulph, bishop of Rochester, his cotemporary. In the 7th year of king Edward I. the abbess of Malling claimed several liberties within this manor; and in the twenty-first year of that reign, she claimed to have in it view of frank pledge, assize of bread and ale, and gallows, which she found her church possessed of at the time of her coming to it; and it was allowed her by the jury.

In the time of king Richard II. the temporalities of the abbess of Malling in this parish and Town Malling were valued at forty-five pounds.

This monastery being dissolved in the 30th year of Henry VIII. anno 1538, this manor was, with the rest of its possessions, surrendered into the kings hands. After which the king, in his 31st year, granted in exchange, among other premises, to Thomas Cranmer, archbishop of Canterbury, this manor and parsonage, late belonging to the before-mentioned abbey, excepting all advowsons, presentations, &c. to hold by knight's service; and as the king was entitled to the tenths of them, he discharged the archbishop of them, and all other outgoings whatsoever, except the rent therein mentioned. Which grant was in consequence of an indenture made before, between the king and the archbishop, inrolled in the Augmentation-office.

The manor of East Malling, and the premises before-mentioned, were again exchanged with the crown in the beginning of the reign of queen Elizabeth, in the 12th year of which the queen granted this manor in lease to Sir Henry Brook alias Cobham, knt. fifth son of George, lord Cobham; after which it was in like manner possessed by Pierpoint, who lies buried in Town Malling church, and afterwards by Hugh Cartwright, esq. who bore for his arms, Argent, on a fess engrailed, sable, three cinquefoils of the first. On whose decease his widow, Mrs. Jane Cartwright, one of the seventeen daughters of Sir John Newton, became entitled to it, and carried her interest in it to her second husband, Sir James Fitzjames, and he passed it away to Humphrey Delind, who soon afterwards alienated it to Sir Robert Brett, descended of the ancient family of the Bretts, in Somersetshire, who bore for his arms, Or, a lion rampant, guies, within an orle of cross-croslets fitchee of the second. He died in 1620, and was buried in Town Malling church, having had by Frances his wife, the only daughter of Sir Thomas Fane, by Mary, baroness Le Despencer his wife, who died in 1617, an only son Henry, who died in 1609, and both lie interred with him in that church. The next year after the death of Sir Robert Brett, king James granted this manor in fee to John Rayney, esq. which grant was farther confirmed to Sir John Rayney, his eldest son, in the second year of king Charles I. Sir John Rayney was of Wrotham place, and was created a baronet of Nova Scotia in 1641; and his son of the same name, about the year 1657, passed it away by sale to Thomas Twisden, serjeant at law, afterwards knighted, and made one of the judges of the King's Bench, and created a baronet.

He afterwards seated himself at Bradbourn, in this parish, and in his descendants, baronets, seated there likewise, it has continued down to Sir John Papillon Twisden, bart. of Bradbourn, who is the present owner of it.

There is a court leet and court baron held for this manor.

BRADBOURN is a seat in this parish, which has long been the residence of a gentleman's family. It was formerly accounted a manor, and in the reign of king Henry VIII. was in the possession of the family of Isley, of Sundridge, in this county, in which it continued till Sir Henry Isley, in the 31st year of that reign, exchanged it with the king for other premises; which exchange was confirmed by letters patent under the great seal the next year.

In the reign of queen Elizabeth, it was in the possession of the family of Manningham, descended out of Bedfordshire, who bore for their arms, Sable, a fess ermine, in chief three griffins heads erased or, langued gules. The last of this name here was Richard Manningham, esq. who about the year 1656 alienated Bradbourn to Thomas Twisden, esq. serjeant at law, who was the second son of Sir William Twisden, bart. of Roydon-hall in East Peckham, and of the Lady Anne Finch, his wife, daughter of the first countess of Winchelsea, and continued to bear the antient coat of arms of his family, being Gironny of four argent and gules, a saltier and four cross croslets, all counterchanged, with due difference; and for his crest, On a wreath, a cockatrice azure, with wings displayed or. On the year of king Charles's restoration, he was knighted by him, and made one of the judges of the king's bench, and on June 13, anno 19 Charles II. 1666, was created a baronet. He discharged his office of judge during the space of eighteen years, when he obtained his quietus, on account of his great age and infirmities. He altered the spelling of his name from Twysden, as it was spelt by his ancestors, and is still by the Twysdens of East Peckham, baronets, to Twisden, to distinguish the two branches of the family, and this alteration has been followed by his descendants, to the present time. He resided at this seat, the grounds of which he imparked in the year 1666, and dying in 1683, aged 81, was buried in East Malling church. He married Jane, daughter of John Tomlinson, esq. of Whitby, in Yorkshire, who surviving him, died in 1702, by whom he had several sons and daughters. Of the former, Sir Roger Twisden, knight and baronet, the eldest son, succeeded him in title and estate, and resided at Bradbourn. He married Margaret, daughter of Sir John Marsham, knight and baronet, of Whornes-place, and died in 1703, leaving three sons and two daughters. He was succeeded in title and this estate by his eldest son, Sir Thomas Twisden, bart. who was likewise of Bradbourn, and served in parliament for this county in the second parliament of king George I. He married Anne, the daughter and heir of John Musters, esq. of Nottinghamshire, by whom he had four sons; Sir Thomas, his successor; Sir Roger, successor to his brother; and William, and John deceased. He died in 1728, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Sir Thomas Twisden, before-mentioned, who going abroad died at Grenada, in Spain, in 1737, unmarried, and was succeeded in dignity and this estate by his brother, Sir Roger Twisden, bart. who resided at Bradbourn, which he so highly improved, that there are few seats of private gentlemen, that exceed it, either in convenience, beauty, or pleasantness.

He served in parliament for this county in the 5th and 6th parliament of king George II. and having resided here with the worthiest of characters, he died in 1772, and was buried with his ancestors in East Malling church. By Elizabeth, his wife, daughter and heir of Edmund Watton, esq. of Addington, and widow of Leonard Bartholomew, esq. who survived him, and died in 1775, he left three sons, Roger; William, who resided at Hythe, and married Miss Kirkman, and died s. p. and John Papillon. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Sir Roger Twisden, bart. of Bradbourn, who died in 1779, leaving his wife Rebecca, daughter of Isaac Wildash, esq. of Chatham, big with child, which proved to be a daughter, on which his only surviving brother Sir John Papillon Twisden, bart. succeeded him both in title and his estates in this parish, of which he is the present possessor. He resides at Bradbourn, and in 1782 married a daughter of admiral Sir Francis Geary, of Polsden, in Surry, bart. by whom he has a son, born in 1784.

CHARITIES.

Mr. RICHARD BURNET gave by will in 1578, four bushels of wheat, in money 20s. to be distributed yearly to the poor of this parish for ever, on Good Friday, vested in the churchwardens.

Mrs. MARY TURNER, in 1679, gave by will 20s. to be distributed to twenty poor widows of this parish on Lady-day for ever, vested in the same.

THE LADY JANE TWISDEN, relict of judge Twisden, gave by will in 1702, toward putting out poor children, born in this parish, apprentices, the sum of 100l. now vested in the same, and of the annual produce of 4l. 4s.

JAMES TOMLYN gave by will in 1752, to teach poor children to write, and the church catechism, and to read, 5l. yearly for ever, issuing out of land in this parish, called Crouch, vested in the churchwardens, and now of that annual produce.

EAST MALLING is within the ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION of the diocese of Rochester, and being a peculiar of the archbishop of Canterbury, is as such within the deanry of Shoreham.

The church of East Malling is dedicated to St. James. It is a handsome building, with a square tower at the west end of it.

Archbishop Anselm, who lived in the time of king William Rufus, gave the church of East Malling to the nunnery of the adjoining parish of West Malling, and granted, that the abbess and nuns there should hold it appropriated to them. (fn. 1)

¶Simon, archbishop of Canterbury, in 1363, on the complaint of Sir John Lorkyn, perpetual vicar of this church, that the portion of his vicarage, the church of which was held appropriated by the abbess and convent of Malling, was insufficient for his decent support and for the payment of episcopal dues, and the support of other burthens incumbent on him; and the abbess and convent being desirous of providing a proper support for the vicar and his successors, as far as was necessary, and agreeing, under their common seal, to assign to him and them the portions under-mentioned, which the archbishop approved of as sufficient, and the vicar likewise agreed to—decreed, and ordained, that the vicar and his successors, should have the mansion belonging to the vicarage, with the garden of it, and six acres and three roods of arable land, and two acres of meadow, which they used to have in past times, free and discharged from the payment of tithes, together with the herbage of the cemetery of the church, and the trees growing on it, and the tithes of silva cedua, lambs, wool, pigs, geese, ducks, eggs, chicken, calves, cheese, and the produce of the dairy, pidgeons, hemp, and flax, apples, pears, pasture, honey, wax beans planted in gardens, and of all other seeds whatsoever sown in them, and also the tithes of sheaves arising from orchards or gardens, dug with the foot, together with the tithes as well of the cattle of the religious in their manors and lands wheresoever situated within the parish, either bred up, feeding, or lying there, and of all other matters above-mentioned, being within the said manors and lands, as of the cattle and matters of this sort of all others whatsoever, arising within the parish; and further, that the vicar and his successors, ministering in the church, should take at all future times all manner of oblations, as well in the parish church, as in the chapel of St. John, at Newhethe, in this parish, and all other places within it, then or in future, and the tithes of business of profit, of butchers, carpenters, brewers, and other artificers and tradesmen whatsoever, to this church in any wise belonging, and likewise the residue of the paschal wax, after the breaking of the same, and legacies then, or which might afterwards be left to the high altar, and the rest of the altars, or images; and he decreed, that only the tithes of the two mills in this parish belonging to the religious, and also the great tithes of sheaves, and of hay wheresoever arising within the parish, should in future belong to the abbess and convent. And he taxed this portion of the vicar at ten marcs sterling yearly value; according to which he decreed, that the vicar should pay the tenth, whenever the same ought to be paid in future; and that the vicar for the time being should undergo the burthen of officiating in this church, either by himself, or some other fit priest, in divine services, and in finding of bread and wine, for the cele bration of the sacraments, and of the two processional tapers, as heretofore; and that he should receive and undergo all other profits and burthens, otherwise than as before-mentioned.

The vicarage is valued in the king's books at 10l. 8s. 4d. and the yearly tenths at 1l. 0s. 10d.

Sir John Twisden is the present patron of this vicarage.

The vicar of East Malling is always intitled to be one of the ministers, who preach at the lecture founded in Town Malling church, that is, one sermon every fortnight, on a Saturday, being the market-day; and he receives ten shillings for each sermon he preaches.

www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol4/pp508-517

Old Noarlunga St Philip & St James Anglican church by aquilareen

Foundation stone 28 Jul 1850 by Bishop Augustus Short, designed by Mr Burnet, opened May 1852, bell installed in tower 1863, new chancel dedicated 20 Dec 1904, re-opened 7 Dec 1930 after renovations, closed c2015, now private. Earliest services had been in the flour mill or Horseshoe Inn. Town originally named “Noarlunga”, renamed “Old Noarlunga” in 1978 after Main South Road by-passed the town in 1972.

“A Meeting of the subscribers for the erection of a Church at Noarlunga, was held on Friday last, when Messrs Bosworth, Hollins, and J. S. Clark were elected trustees. The church will be a very pretty structure of stone from the neighbouring quarries, and it is to be on an acre in the township presented by Mr Giles for the South Australian Company.” [South Australian 26 Jun 1850]

“Noarlunga — The foundation stone of the new church to be dedicated to St. Phillip and St. James, was laid on Friday, the 28th ultimo, by the Bishop of Adelaide, in the presence of a numerous, and highly respectable, concourse of the inhabitants. . . Divine service was performed for the first time on Sunday last, at the ‘Horse Shoe’ Inn. Mr Bock, the worthy landlord, fitted up the room for the occasion, and Miss Plaisted led the various hymns on a splendid organ. . . a great improvement upon the pro tempore places of worship previously used at Noarlunga.” [Adelaide Times 3 Aug 1850]

“The towered church of St. Philip and St. James, Noarlunga, perched on a hill, with the silver ribbon of the Onkaparinga winding in and out at its foot, was designed by Mr. Burnet after the model of a church in England.” [Observer 23 Dec 1905]

“St. Phillip and St. James' Anglican Church. . . When services were first held there the gospel was preached in somewhat trying circumstances. There were no window panes, strips of calico serving instead. No floor had been set down, and the congregation rested their feet on the soil. . . The name of the church is derived from the Christian names of two of the pioneer workers in the district — Messrs. James Hughes and Phillip Hollins. Before the erection of the church the former conducted a Sunday school in a flourmill nearby.” [News 16 May 1929]

“Noarlunga . . . A large bronze bell weighing 120 lbs. has been fixed in the tower of the Episcopal Church here, and will be very useful to the members of that congregation. The gentlemen who have kindly taken the trouble to procure the bell are certainly deserving of the thanks of the members of the church. It is of a good tone, but it has not yet been properly rung. Some trees and shrubs have been planted in the ground adjoining the sacred edifice, but whilst the fence is in an open and decayed state, there can be little hopes of seeing plants grow, as pigs, goats, and calves, are constantly getting into the enclosure.” [Advertiser 22 Aug 1863]

“St. Philip and St. James' Church. . . a lecture and concert was held in Mr. Holmes's wheat store in aid of the funds for plastering and ceiling the church. In the afternoon about 100 persons were present, which number was largely increased in the evening.” [Adelaide Observer 14 Apr 1866]

“The anniversary festival of the Sunday school belonging to St, Philip and St. James's Church was held on Thursday. Eighty children marched from the church to the district school room, singing hymns, were supplied with fruit, spent some time in play, and then were provided liberally with other refreshments. Between 50 and 60 adults were next regaled, and the whole company had a day of thorough enjoyment.” [Register 15 Mar 1871]

“St. Philip and St. James, Noarlunga. . . The Wardens' accounts, which were audited and passed, showed the Church to be in a very satisfactory financial position, and clear of all liabilities. . . discharging the balance of building fund, £25, and left £6 7s. 4d. in hand towards further improvement.” [Register 1 May 1873]

“Rev. J. H. Stokes, Incumbent of the Church of St. Phillip and St. James, Noarlunga, was presented with a set of double harness, silver mounted. The presentation was made by Mr. L. Weber on behalf of the members of the Church. . . A large stained-glass window valued an £80 is about to be placed in the eastern end of the Church as the result of the liberality of an old and much esteemed resident in the district, who has been a member of the Church since its erection in 1851.” [Register 15 May 1895]

“A stained glass window, the subject of which is ‘The Ascension’, will shortly be placed in the east end of the Anglican Church of Saints Phillip and James,-Noarlunga. The opening, which is unusually large, 8 ft. by 5 ft, will be filled by one complete light unbroken by masonry. The figures depicted in the window are boldly drawn, and the rich and various colors of the drapery blend harmoniously. The central figure, that of our Lord, stands in strong relief in white against the blue of the sky and the yellow rays of the opening heavens, and forms the point of the picture. The window is handsome bordered with vine leaves and grapes, and on the lower margin is the inscription: — ‘Peace be unto you. Lo, I am with you alway’. There is also a tablet with the words: — ‘To the glory of God. Erected by George and Eliza Yates, 1895’. The work entitles Messrs. Montgomery and Grimbly, the designers and executants, to very great credit.” [Advertiser 8 Jan 1896]

“On Sunday, February 2, the ceremony of unveiling the stained-glass memorial window presented to the Church of SS. Philip and James, Noarlunga, by Mr. and Mrs. S. Yates, was performed by the Anglican Bishop in the presence of a large congregation. . . Mr. and Mrs. Yates have also caused to be erected a new communion railing in the Church of a light and graceful appearance, and a lady of England is the donor of a new altar and cloth.” [Register 6 Feb 1896]

“St Phillip’s and St James' Church, Noarlunga. . . A committee was appointed to consider the question of building new chancel and repairing the church.” [Advertiser 19 Apr 1902]

“A new chancel will be dedicated by the Bishop of Adelaide (Dr. Harmer) at Sts. Philip and James, Noarlunga, on Sunday. The church was completed, with chancel and vestry, in 1867, and the present rector is the Rev. T. Wood.” [Advertiser 16 Dec 1903]

“Noarlunga. . . A beautiful carved blackwood reredos for the Church of St. Phillip and St. James was dedicated by Archdeacon Clampett, of St. Matthew's Church, Hawthorn, last Friday evening. The reredos is erected to commemorate the seventy-fifth birthday of the sacred edifice. . . After the service the congregation and friends met in the local hall. . . The reredos is the work of Mr. Price, of Adelaide.” [Observer 17 Oct 1925]

“Many inconveniences have been suffered by the congregation of St. Phillip and St. James' Anglican Church. . . At present the church is in a sad state of disrepair owing to lack .of funds to cope with the ravages which Time has wrought. Such a pitch has the disrepair reached that on rainy days members of the congregation dare not sit in the back rows, for dripping gutters have no respect for Sunday clothes. Recently, also, two churchgoers were rather fortunate in moving from one of the pews just before a large piece of plaster fell from the ceiling. Large cracks may be seen in various parts of the church, inside and out, and the possibility of more plaster falling presents danger. Some of the window frames has become separated partially from the stonework, and to prevent the entry of wind and rain .newspaper has been stuffed into the space. . . From time to time improvements were made to the church, which now boasts a brick floor and leadlight windows.” [News 16 May 1929]

“the third of a series of dances, arranged by Mr. Keith Maynard, for the restoration fund of St. Philip and James Church, Noarlunga.” [Advertiser 11 Jun 1929]

“Hawdon in his first overland expedition (1839) struck the Horseshoe after coming down the Onkaparinga, and from thence was able to make a beeline for Adelaide. . . Mr. Peter Giles, an octogenarian comeback, says that in his days there were only six houses, a brewery, and a flourmill in Noarlunga. Beautiful trees and shrubs, wattle, honeysuckle, silver wattle, sheaoak, tea tree, and masses of wild flowers grew in profusion and beauty along the river bank to Port Noarlunga. . . Philip Hollins was the father of Onkaparinga River navigation. The barge Appoline was built to be towed between Port Noarlunga by a horse on a tow path (1857). Hollins was also the proprietor of the Horseshoe Hotel. . . The Rev. A. Burnett held the first Anglican services in the district in its lodgeroom (1848-1853). . . In the seventies and eighties Noarlunga was the great changing place of the Yankalilla-Adelaide mail. At the Horseshoe Inn the passengers transhipped into a larger or smaller coach as the case might be.” [Advertiser 28 Oct 1929]

“To celebrate the reopening of St. Philip and St. James Anglican Church, Noarlunga, following renovations at a cost of £200, a back to Noarlunga service will be held on Sunday afternoon. It will be followed by a reunion tea. Archdeacon A. W. Clampett, M.A., will preach. There is a special corner for children in the church. It is in the form of a font presented by scholars of catechism.” [News 3 Dec 1930]

“For eighty-one years the Church of St. Phillip and St. James, Noarlunga, has been a prominent landmark on the main South-road. . . Children of the Catechism have furnished the church with a massive font and a shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary.” [Advertiser 17 Oct 1931]

“In the Anglican Church at Noarlunga on Sunday, a memorial window to the late Mrs. Eleanor Maynard was unveiled by the rector (Rev. R. E. Saunders). Designed in a mixture of antique and opaque glass, the window shows the Star in the East shining over Bethleham. Mr. Saunders preached a memorial sermon, taking as text ‘Let your light so shine before men’. Friends of Mrs. Maynard throughout the State contributed to the cost of the window.” [Advertiser 25 Aug 1934]

“Noarlunga. Last week ladles of the St. Phillip and St. James's Church of England Guild conducted a pet show in the institute in aid of the Church of England Diocesan Centenary.” [Advertiser 27 May 1947]

“A Blossom Ball organised by members of the St. Phillip's and St. James's Church of England Guild in aid of the church centenary fund realised £36.” [Advertiser 14 Aug 1947]

“Next Sunday the centenary of St. Philip and St. James Church of England will be celebrated. . . Eucharist, with the Bishop of Adelaide. . . luncheon in Noarlunga Hall. . . Evensong at 3 p.m. . . The first rector was Rev. A. Burnett, who arrived in 1848 and lived in a tent at Willunga. During his term of office the church was contemplated. On July 25, 1850 the land was conveyed under Act 10. 1847, by Messrs. G. F. Angus, Hy. Kingscote and I. R. Todd in trust. . . From 1856 onwards the rectors were Revs. T. R. Neville, E. K. Miller, F. H. Stokes, G. Griffiths, T. Wood, H. C. Thrush, R. E. Saunders and H. J. Hughes, the present rector.” [Advertiser 9 May 1950]

“Edward Giles, who was connected with the South Australian Company and had a farm on the opposite side of the river, gave the land for the church. Mrs. F. Rayner, president of the Ladies' Guild, said originally the church had a slate floor and calico windows.” [News 12 Nov 1952]

St John the Baptist, Bredgar, Kent by Jelltex

A return to Bredgar,

I was here in November, and found the fine looking church locked.

We were going fairly nearby to another church, so give it a try?

And good job we did, as I saw as we approached the porch I saw the padlock open and the hasp hanging down.

Yay.

Jools went to the glass shop the other side of the road, and I go to snap the church.

Despite looking large and grand from the outside, inside it was a bit of a disappointment. Tough a large and fine wall mounted monument made up for it somewhat.

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This is a collegiate church, with much work of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. When the college was founded by Robert de Bredgar in 1393 the nave and south aisle were completely rebuilt. It was a case of premature enlargement, for the college was a very small foundation and seems to have used the existing north chapel for its services. In all events, the very cheap form of sedilia in the chancel - a dropped window-sill - shows that very little money was left after the completion of the west tower. This also meant that there was insufficient cash for the west door and instead of introducing a brand new feature, they re-used a Norman doorway! This reinforces the point that one should never date a wall by the architectural features within it. There is a small brass of one of the collegiate priests, Thomas Coly (d. 1518), whilst the house in which he lived survives on the opposite side of the road.

www.kentchurches.info/church.asp?p=Bredgar

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BREDGAR.

OR Bradgare, as it was sometimes spelt, is the next parish southward from Tunstall.

ALTHOUGH the road from Sittingborne to Hollingborne-hill, and thence to Maidstone, passes through it and the village of Bredgar, it is rather an unfrequented place, lying obscurely among the hills, and bounding eastward to the woods. It contains near 1300 acres of land, of which one hundred are wood-grounds. The village, which stands on high ground, nearly in the centre of the parish, having the church and college, or chantry in it, is a healthy and not unpleasant situation, being surrounded mostly by pasture grounds, but the remaining part of the parish is very hilly, the soil poor and chalky, and much covered with flints, being rather a dreary country. At the entrance of the village there is a good house, inhabited for many years by the Beales, the last of whom, Mr. John Beale, of Bredgar, dying s. p. in 1769, gave this among his other estates, among his relations, and this house is now owned by his sister's son, Mr. Pattison; a little distance from hence is a modern fronted house, belonging to the Rev. Mr. Marsh, rector of Bicknor, who resides in it.

The plant Dentaria Major Metthiolo, or the greater toothwort, is mentioned by Mr. Ray, as found by him in this parish.

THE PARAMOUNT MANOR of Milton claims over this parish, as do the subordinate manors of Tunstall and Bobbing likewise over some part of it.

IT APPEARS by antient records, that there was a family resident in this parish, who took their name from it. Robert de Bredgar, resided here in the reign of king Henry III. whose name appears in an antient roll of the benefactors to the monastery of Davington, and bore for their arms, Argent, a bend, gules, fretty, azure, between two lions rampant of the second; and in the reign of king Richard II. Robert de Bredgar, clerk, parson of this parish, founded a chantry or college in the church here, as will be further mentioned hereafter.

BEXON, or Baxton, is a manor, situated in the southern part of this parish, which gives name both to a borough and street in it.

It was antiently in the possession of a family, which assumed its surname from it; one of whom, John de Bexon, was residen there in the reigns of Edward II. and III. whose effigies was formerly painted in the windows of this church, with a scroll underneath. But in the next reign of king Richard II. this manor was become the property of the family of Tong, who were of some account in different parts of East-Kent, as well as in this neighbourhood; for it appears by some antient deeds, that Semanus de Tong, in the 16th year of that reign, was tenant to the Maison Dieu, in Ospringe, for lands at Lorinden, in Challock, and sealed with a bend cotized, argent, between six martlets, gules, in which name this estate continued down to John Tonge, gent. who about the latter end of the reign of king Charles I. alienated it to Mr. Thomas Fearne, who bore for his arms, Per bend, gules, and or, two leopards heads, counterchanged. One of his descendants, Mr. John Fearne, passed it away by sale to Mr. Thomas Best, of Chatham, whose grandson, Thomas Best, esq. of Chilston, dying in 1795. s. p. gave it by his will, among his other estates, to his youngest nephew, George Best, esq. now of Chilston, who is the present possessor of it. (fn. 1)

SWANTON-COURT, now vulgarly called Swan court, is a manor likewise in the southern part of this parish, adjoining to Bicknor, which was formerly part of the possessions of the eminent family of Leyborne, of Leyborne, in this county, in which it continued till Juliana, daughter of Thomas, and heir of her grandfather William de Leyborne, dying s. p. by any of her husbands, all of whom she survived, this estate in the 41st year of king Edward III. escheated to the crown, there being no one found, who could claim it, as heir to her; and it remained there till the king, in his 50th year granted it, among other premises, to the abbey of St. Mary Graces, on Tower-hill, then founded by him, part of the possessions of which it remained till the dissolution of that monastery, in the 30th year of king Henry VIII. when it was surrendered up into the king's hands, together with all the lands and revenues belonging to it.

Soon after which, the king granted this manor to Ralph Fane, esq. who as quickly afterwards parted with it to Sir Thomas Wyatt, who in the 33d year of that reign passed it away to the king, in exchange for other estates, pursuant to an act passed for that purpose the year before.

This manor thus coming into the king's hands, he granted in his 38th year, to Christopher Sampson, esq. to hold in capite by knight's service, who in the 5th year of king Edward VI. alienated it to Thomas Reader, of Bredgar, yeoman, and he having levied a fine of it in the 16th year of queen Elizabeth, afterwards sold it to William Terrey, who in the reign of king James I. partly by sale, and partly on account of alliance, settled it on Mr. William Aldersey, descended from an antient family of that name settled at Aldersey, in Cheshire, who bore for their arms, Gules, on a bend, argent, three leopards heads, vert, between two cinquefoils, or; in chief, a crescent, within a crescent, for disference. (fn. 2) He married Thomasine, daughter of Mr. Roger Terrey, and their descendants continued to reside here, till at length Hugh Aldersey, esq. dying in 1762, s. p. his heirs-at-law alienated it about the year 1767, to John Toke, esq. late of Goddington, in Great Chart, but now of Canterbury, who continues at this time the owner of it.

MANNS is an estate in this parish, which was formerly accounted a manor, and took its name from a family who were possessors of it; one of whom, John Mann, died possessed of it in the 50th year of Edward III. when it was found by inquisition, that he held it of the king, in capite, by knight's service, and that Joane was his daughter and next heir. How it passed afterwards I have not found; but the next that I find it in the possession of, is the family, of Isley, one of whom, Thomas Isley, possessor of this manor, left five daughters and coheirs, viz. Mary, married to Francis Spelman; Frances, to William Boys, esq. Elizabeth, to Anthony Mason, esq. Anne, to George Delves, esq. and Jane, to Francis Haute, esq. After which, Francis Spelman, and Mary his wife, in 1583, alienated their fifth part to Robert and Thomas Whytfield, and their heirs male.

In the reign of king James I. William Hales, esq. of Nackington, was possessed of the principal messuage called Manns, with the lands belonging to it, and in 1640, together with his son William Hales the younger, passed it away by sale to Tho. Godfrey the younger, of Lid, esq. who seems to have parted with it to Clarke, whose family was possessed of lands here some time before this, for Humphry Clarke, alias Woodchurch, of Bredgar, esq. grandson of Humphry Clarke, of Kingsnoth, resided here in the reign of king James I. and dying in 1608, was buried in the north isle of this church, bearing for his arms, Paly, wavy of six pieces, ermine, and gules. (fn. 3) He alienated it to Reader, who bore for his arms, Three crescents, on a canton, a lion's head erased, all within a bordure, ermine, in whose descendants it continued down to Mr. John Reader, who died possessed of it, and his heir-at-law alienated it to Mr. James Chapman, gent. of Milton, the youngest son of Edward Chapman, esq. of Molash, and his grandson James Chapman, esq. is the present possessor of it.

In the 16th year of king Richard II. Robert de Bradgare, rector of this church, John Burbache, clerk, and others, founded, with the king's licence, A CHANTRY or SMALL COLLEGE in this church of Bredgar, in honor of the Holy Trinity, which consisted of a chaplain or secular priest, in holy orders, and two scholar clerks or confreers, who were to govern it, and celebrate divine officers, continually there in future, excepting at those times when the scholars should be employed in their studies: and they endowed it with different houses, rents, and lands, in this and the adjoining parishes, to hold to them and their successors for ever; and in 1398 the above-mentioned Robert de Bradagare, with the consent of archbishop Arundel, who then confirmed this foundation, gave them, under his seal, rules and statutes, for the better government of it. At which time there appears to have been a building already erected, called the college, for them to reside in, almost adjoining to the church of Bredgar.

In which situation this chantry or hospital continued, till the reign of king Henry VIII. when it was surrendered up with all its possessions, into the king's hands. Soon after which the scite of it, by the name of the chantry house of Bredgar, with sundry premises belonging to it, in Bredgar, Borden, and Bicknor, was granted by the king to George Harpur, esq. who afterwards, in the 33d year of that reign, exchanged it with the king for other estates in this and other counties. After which it seems to have remained in the hands of the crown, till queen Elizabeth, in her third year, having taken into her hands several manors, lands, &c. parcel of the see of Canterbury, by her letters patent that year, granted to archbishop Parker, and his successors, several rectories, parsonages, and other premises, in lieu of them, among which was this dissolved college of Bredgar, then valued at 13l. 6s. 8d. Since which it has continued parcel of the possessions of the archbishopric, and remains so at this time. The tenths payable to the crown receiver from this dissolved chantry are 1l. 17s. 7¾d.

William Sherman, esq. was lessee in 1643, at the yearly rent of 13l. 6s. 8d. Edward Jeffrey is the present lessee, he new fronted and much improved the chantry-house, in which he resides.

Charities.

THREE TENEMENTS and sixty-five perches of land, at the Bush, in Silver-street, in Bredgar, let to the overseers at 20s. per annum. was given for the repair of the church. One acre and an half of land in Hinkins crost, let at 12s. was given for the like purpose. A small piece of land, called the Playstool, let at 2s. 6d. per annum, was given for the like purpose.

AN ANNUITY of 10s. per annum was given for the use of the poor, to be paid out of a field called Whitebread, at Deanshill, which now belongs to Messrs, Thomas and William May.

AN ANNUITY of 20s. was given by Mr. Humphry Clarks, for the use of the poor, payable out of a house in Bredgarstreet, belonging now to the heirs of Edward Chapman, gent.

WILLIAM TERRY, gent. by deed anno 17 James I. granted to Francis Clarke, and others, 31. per annum out of a house called Black-end, and an orchard belonging to it, and a piece of land called Mascalls, all in Bredgar-street, in trust, to be distributed among the poor inhabitants.

MR. THATCHER, citizen of London, in 1718 gave by deed 100l. which with that of 30l. added to it by the parishioners, was laid out in lands at Torry-hill, containing twenty-eight acres, lying in Milsted and Lenham, which were purchased in trust, for the minister and churchwardens to pay from thence 5l. per annum, for a master or mistress to reach eight poor children of this parish to read, and to instruct them in the church catechism; the overplus to be distributed to the poor of the parish. The children to be appointed by the minister; now of the annual produce of 6l. 10s. 4d.

The poor relieved constantly are about twenty-five; casually forty.

BREDGAR is within the ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION of the diocese of Canterbury, and deanry of Sittingborne.

The church is dedicated to St. John Baptist. It consists of three isles and one chancel, and has a square beacon tower at the west end, in which hang five bells. On the west side of the tower there is a fine Saxon door-case, with zig-zag ornaments; on the capitals of the pillars are carved two heads of a very ludicrous from. By the injudicious digging of a vault for Mrs. Murton of this parish, in 1791, two of the columns gave way, and the main arch between the body and chancel came down, but this damage has been since repaired.

In this church there are several memorials for the Tongs, and Fearnes of Bexon, particularly of John Fearne, obt. 1713; of the Readers, as late as 1705. In the north isle a monument for Humphry Clarke, alias Woodchurch, esq. obt. 1608. Memorials of the Alderseys, of Swanton, particularly of Hugh Aldersey, obt. 1762, and Mary Thurston his wife. In the church yard, at the east end of it, are several tomb-stones of the Beales and Thurstons. There is a very antient tomb-stone near the south porch, on which was once a portrait in brass, on the east end of the stone there is carved a cross in relief.

King Henry III. gave this church in pure and perpetual alms, to the leprous women of the hospital of St. James, alias St. Jacob, at the end of Wincheap, near Canterbury, so that Mr. Firman, then master of it, should enjoy it for his life, but there was no vicarage endowed in it till archbishop Courtney, in the 15th year of king Richard II. endowed one in it.

After which this church appropriate, as well as the advowson, continued part of the possessions of the hospital, till the surrendry of it in 1551, anno 5 king Edward VI. at which time there appeared to be a manor called

FILCHER, alias FILTER, belonging to the rectory of Bredgar appropriate; all which, together with the advowson, seem to have remained in the hands of the hands of the crown, till queen Elizabeth granted them to Thomas Reader, who possessed them in 1578. He afterwards sold them to Mr. William Terrey, who in the reign of king James I. passed them away to his kinsman, William Aldersey, of Swanton-court, in whose descendants they continued till Hugh Aldersey, esq. of Bredgar, about the beginning of George II.'s reign, alienated them to Mr. John Tappenden, whose son, of the same name, sold them to Sir Edward Dering, bart. of Surrenden, whose son Sir Edward Dering, bart. is the present owner of this manor and rectory, with the advowson of the vicarage of the church of Bredgar.

In 1578, the communicants here were one hundred and fifty-five. Houses in this parish fifty. In the reign of queen Anne, the vicarage was worth thirty pounds per annum.

It is now a discharged living in the king's books, of the clear yearly certified valued of thirty-six pounds, the yearly tenths of which are eighteen shillings.

¶John atte-Vyse, one of the founders of the college, in 1398, ordained, that each year in future for ever, after his death, on the feast of the Holy Cross, there should be paid to the vicar of Bradgare, for the oblations of that day, six-pence; to the keeper to the goods of the church here, six-pence; to the parishclerk and sacrist, four-pence, and 5s. 4d. to the poor parishioners of Bredgar.

www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol6/pp98-106

Sto. Niño Dela O (4) by kevardvalin3399

2 3

The most unique image of Sto. Niño in the Philippines is the "Sto. Niño Dela O".

Dancing, singing in “Simbang Gabi”

SIMBANG gabi in the town of Pangil in Laguna is not just plain misa de gallo, the evening or dawn novena Masses that start Dec. 16 to usher in the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. It is also an occasion for dancing, singing and offering of infants.

About a thousand mothers wearing bandanas usually flock to the Our Lady of Nativity Parish Church with their babies, to dance and chant praises to God.

They recite the rosary and sing exaltations to the “Nuestra Señora de La O” (Our Lady of the “O” or Our Lady of Nativity). Holding the “Santo Niño de La O” (Holy Child of the “O” or Holy Child of the Nativity), they dance to the children’s Latin song “Dic Mihi” of the basic Christian catechism amid the beating of the drums.

Every Pangileño knows the tune by heart. The song enumerates the 12 important teachings of the Church.

The ritual is locally called “OO”, which many people believe has been derived from the Latin devotional verses and exaltations that start with “O”, such as: “O Maria! O Virgines Pulcra! O Mater Nostra!”

Long life…

For the elderly, the singing and dancing start immediately after the dawn Mass. For infants and children, the activities take place at 4-5 p.m.

As early as 3 p.m., women and their toddlers troop to the church for the ritual. Residents say the event ensures good health for the young ones and long life, success and prosperity for the families.

The ceremony lasts more than an hour.

The daily ritual runs until Dec. 24, in time for the Pregnant Madonna’s birth of Jesus on Christmas.

The “Santo Niño de La O” is hoisted by a chosen person who dances back and forth along the aisle as the churchgoers sing the “Dic Mihi”.

It is said that bearing the image during the annual feast day procession is a privileged task, for which people line up for years. For instance, someone who has his name listed in 2000 will have to wait until 2015 to carry the Santo Niño. If one has sinned, he or she would find the statue heavy; if guiltless, the statue would be light.

The religious devotion was transformed into a Grand Pa-OO Festival or the Bandana Festival in January 1999, when parishioners started dancing the Santo Niño in the streets, waving pine leaves while dancing.

The date of the festival, now on its sixth year, was changed to Dec. 18 in later years.

Pregnant Madonna…

A church document describes the pregnant Madonna as the life-sized statue of the “Nuestra Señora de La O”, which symbolizes the Blessed Mother heavy with the Child Jesus.

When one views the image closely, the Virgin’s hand expresses amazement while her beautiful face looks intently beyond.

The “Santo Niño de La O”, on the other hand, depicts the Child Jesus inside the womb. Thus, it is hoisted on a wooden pole with a silver circle representing the womb.

The two images are also considered miraculous. The “Nuestra Señora de La O”, in particular, is known to help women who have difficulty in child-bearing.

Four centuries…

The municipality of Pangil is as old as the Our Lady’s Nativity Parish. It is now 430 years old.

Church documents showed that the first church was built by missionaries Fray Juan de Placencia and Fray Diego de Oropesa in Barangay Sulib in 1579. Made of bamboo, the church was destroyed by an earthquake and storms.

In 1611, a stone church and a convent were built under Fray Gonzalo del Robles. At that time, the church was the biggest in Laguna.

Today, the convent of Pangil remains a historic place for one memorable reason: it was host to Prince Carlos III of Spain in 1743. The prince stayed in Pangil and spent time hunting in the forest and swimming in the river, which is now called the “Bambang Hari” by natives.

He stayed in the town for three or four years, church records show, and returned to Spain in 1759. Five years later, in 1764, he was crowned King Carlos III after the death of King Fernando VI, his stepbrother to his father, King Felipe V.

Upon his ascension to the throne of Spain as King Charles III, he sent the statues of “Santo Niño de La O” and “Nuestra Señora de La O” to Pangil as a sign of his gratitude and appreciation for the hospitality accorded to him.

The bandanas used by the festival participants, according to old Pangileños, seek to recall their ancestors who covered their heads as they received the two gifts from King Carlos III along the Laguna Lake on a rainy day of December 1764.

They sang and danced in extreme joy along the streets, carrying the images on their way to the parish church. (INQ7)

St James, East Malling, Kent by Jelltex

A return to Malling and the four churches visited last winter when all four were found locked.

A very different experience at all of them, as I found them all open, and was greeted warmly at all, and one I had three wonderful wardens following me around as I took shots, with me pointing out features to them rather than the other way round.

Each church had just opened their books of condolence for HM Queen Elizabeth, and I signed here at East Malling and one other.

St James is a large and impressive church set in a vast churchyard beside one of the branches of he Malling Stream, a winterbourne, which not surprisingly wasn't running due to the long dry summer.

I went round photographing details, and found a good selection of old glass, mostly fragments, but set well. And the grave stone of one of Oliver Cromwell's generals, I think I have that right.

It was at East Malling that I learned about the etiquette of the death of a Monarch and the ascension of the next.

From the time of the announcement of the death of Elizabeth II to 11:00 on Saturday morning, the flag on the tower was to be at half mast.

Then it would be hoisted to the top until Sunday afternoon whilst the new King was proclaimed around the country, at which point the flag would be lowered to half mast until the funeral.

I know not all churches I visited that day observed this.