circa 1120 to 1150
|
Chancel arch
constructed. "A richly-wrought specimen of the purest Norman
period - circa 1120 to 1150. The arch is a semi-circular one of
two order enriched on the west face only-the inner order has a plain
flat soffit, and on the face are the roll moulding and a kind of stud
ornament, on the outer order is cut the usual chevron, the pattern
diminishing in size from the springing upwards. Each order is supported
by engaged shafts worked on the jambs, the bases being moulded and
having the so-called stud ornament, with square plinth below."
[C.
E. Ponting, F.S.A. Notes on the Churches visited in 1892.
Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine (W.A.M.) Vol
XXVII (1894), Hurry and Pearson, Devizes.]
|
C 13
|
The bowl of
the font is of this period, apparently reduced in height, and set on a
new base.
[lbid]
Font: C13
inverted column base on possible Roman capital as base, reset in C19.
[DoE List
of Buildings of Special Archaeological or Historic Interest, (1986),
SU 19 SW 13/145]
(There is a
photograph of the original in Devizes Museum. It forms part of the
Buckler collection (1810)) |
Late C13
|
Two lower
stages of the tower constructed. (Early English)
[C.E.
Ponting, F.S.A. Notes on the Churches visited in 1892. W.A.M.
Vol XXVII, (1894)]
|
C13
|
Walls of the
north aisle appear to have been constructed.
[lbid]
|
C14
|
Scratch dial
to exterior of chancel.
[Cricklade
Museum]
|
C14
|
Churchyard
cross erected.
[Cricklade
Museum]
|
Circa 1400
|
Buttresses
and top stage of tower erected.
[C.E.Ponting,
F.S.A. Notes on the Churches visited in 1892, W.A.M.
Vol XXVII, (1894)]
|
Circa mid C15
|
"The
nave arcades of three bays each and the roofs of nave and aisles appear
to have been constructed" (more detail available)
[lbid]
"Aisles
are of Perpendicular character"
[Kelly's
Directory 1889]
|
circa 1450
|
"The
chapel is of unusually small dimensions, and was probably re- erected
about 1450; the arch between it and the aisle shows that a chapel stood
here prior to that date:"
[C.E.Ponting,
F.S.A. Notes on the Churches visited in 1892. W.A.M.
Vol XXVII (1894)]
|
1553
|
"In
1553 Cricklade St. Mary's had iii bells"
[Brit.Museum.
Add. MSS 33205 fo1229, Church Bells of Wiltshire, H.B. Waiters
M.A., F.S.A. Wiltshire Archaeological Society Dec 1927,28,29 (in 3
parts)]
|
1558
|
A panel of
stained glass dated 1558 and depicting sickles, the arms of the
Hungerfords who were manorial lords of Cricklade is on display in
Cricklade Museum and purports to have come from St. Mary's.
[Cricklade
Museum]
|
1603-25
|
"The
pulpit is a good specimen of Jacobean work -its door has been taken off
and put away in the tower."
[C.E.Ponting,
F.S.A. Notes on the Churches visited in 1892. W.A.M.
Vol XXVII, (1894)]
Pulpit: Mid
C 17 half -octagonal oak with archaded panelling.
[DoE List
of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, (1986)
SU 19 SW 13/145]
|
1613
|
Chained
Bible from St. Mary's Church, now displayed in Cricklade Museum.
[Cricklade
Museum]
|
1627
|
Altar table
1627 with stretchers between turned legs and carved fasciae.
[DoE List
of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. (1986)
SU 19 SW 13/145]
|
1683
|
Burial
register commenced. |
1684
|
Baptism
register commenced. |
1685
|
Marriage
register commenced.
The
registers open with the word A B R A C A D A B R A and are super-scribed
"N.B. The officiating Minister of this Parish is entitled to 2d for
every corpse buried in the churchyard."
[WRO
1189/3]
|
1733
|
Call Bell
cast "Come away, make no delay"
[WRO
1632/45]
|
13 May 1756 |
Baptised
William son of Thos. Peir and Margaret his wife. |
13 May 1756 |
Baptised
Mary dau. Thos. Pears her Parents not discovered.
[WRO
1189/4]
(The
house next to the churchyard gate was the home of the highwayman William
Peare and his twin sister Mary, baptised in St. Mary's in 1756. He was
convicted for robbing a stage coach and hanged in 1783. Tradition has it
that he was buried in an unmarked grave in St. Mary's churchyard - at
dead of night).
[Cricklade
Museum.]
Mary
was described as his twin, but the inscription in the register
repudiates this. |
1779 |
Three
bells cast ( see details and inscriptions June 1894) |
1792 |
Monuments
in churchyard south-west of tower.
"Pair
of chest tombs C17 and early C18. To north, cyma table and base.
Scrolled end brackets. Incised panels on sides with scrolls around.
Inscription not legible. To south, chest tomb with moulded table and
base. Recessed corner balusters. To JOHN HINTON, died 1792."
[DoE,
SU 19 SW 13/148, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or
Historical Interest. (1986)]
|
C18 |
C18
brass candelabra
[DoE,
SU 19 SW 13/145, Ibid]
|
1822 |
Sundial
added to exterior s. wall of chancel. |
1833 |
Pair
of chest tombs south of tower. Inscription on southern tomb reads:
CATHARINE JACKSON died 6 May 1833 aged 78 years |
1861 |
In
1861 the census recorded the following for the parish of St. Mary's,
Houses: 104, Inhabited 91, Uninhabited 9 Males 167, Females 200, Total
367.
[WRO,
PRO:RG9]
|
circa. 1862 |
To
remove the gallery and provide accommodation in the church for the
inhabitants of the priory.
[WRO
1632/71 (Faculty papers)]
|
1862 |
Restoration
of St. Mary's
Interior
plans
[WRO
1632/72]
Press
cuttings
[Wilts
and Gloucestershire Standard]
|
1862 cont'd |
From
"a mass of mouldering woodwork, and crumbling stone, of ricketty
galleries and irregular pews"
[Ibid]
Unsightly
galleries which rested on the pillars of the s. aisle were removed.
Exterior
stairs to rood loft and gallery were removed. New roofs put to aisles
and chancel. Oak roof of nave restored
Straggling
and unsightly pews removed and replaced, in better taste!
All
evidence of "Churchwardens' Gothic" removed |
1863 |
Inscription
on interior n. wall of tower reads:
The
Church Clock was presented to the parish of St. Mary's Cricklade by
Major Henry Smyth and Elizabeth Smyth, his wife. 1863
[Inscription
in church tower.]
The
clock has its mechanism in the tower, and face in e. wall. The face and
mechanism are connected by a shaft running under the roof.
[Cricklade
Museum]
|
3 Oct 1863 |
"A
new clock has been erected on St. Mary's Church through the munificence
of Major Smyth."
[Wilts
and Gloucestershire Standard]
(Major
Smyth of Sandown, Isle of Wight, was a veteran of Cricklade He died in
1867, aged 91).
[Cricklade
Museum]
|
30 Mar 1882 |
Death
of Rev. Hugh Allen, Rector. |
31 Dec 1882 |
Burials
discontinued in St. Mary's churchyard except as follows: "In such
vaults and walled graves as are now existing in the Churchyard burials
may be allowed on condition that every coffin therein be separately
enclosed by stonework or brickwork properly cemented:
In
such reserved grave spaces in the Churchyard (as have never before been
buried in, and, when opened, are free from water) burials may be allowed
of so many members of the families to whom they have been allotted as
can be buried at or below the depth of five feet."
[WRO
1632/65]
|
9 Jan 1884 |
Burial
of Ellen Agnes (age 27 years) dau. of the late Rev. Hugh Allen (This is
the last recorded burial in St. Mary's Churchyard)
[WRO
1189/3]
|
21 Jun 1893 |
New
organ opened. Cost (including new Roof of Timber and Lead to
Organ-chamber etc £156: 8: 6)
[WRO
1632/45]
|
1893 |
Property
belonging to the (ecclesiastical) Parish, and vested in Churchwardens
for ecclesiastical purposes:
One
house in High Street, now in the occupation of John Bush, baker,
yielding a head-rent of £1: 3: 6.
One
Cottage lower down in High Street, formerly in the occupation of Henry
Sadler, and now in the occupation of George Cotterell, yielding a
rack-rent of £6: 10: 0. (George Cotterell was coachman to Thomas Butt
Miller)
One
Cottage in Back Lane (otherwise called Horsefair Lane) now in the
occupation of Alfred Barnes, yielding a head-rent of 2s/6d
Plot
of garden ground in Back Lane, now in the occupation of Robert Hopkins
(Clerk and Sexton) at yearly rent of 10s/-.
[WRO
1632/45]
|
June 1894 |
Church
bells repaired: Elm Stocks, Oak Wheels, gun metal bearings in cast iron
blocks and covers, hardened gudgeons, iron stops, new pulleys, sliders
and tufted Ropes - New head-stock to Call Bell, lever, and oak uprights.
Inscriptions
on Bells: On large Bell: "Prosperity to this Town 1779"
On
Second Bell: "Thos. Rudhall, Gloucester, Founder 1779"
On
Third Bell: "Peace and good Neighborhood 1779"
On
Fourth, or Call Bell (small): "Come away, make no Delay"
1733"
[WRO
1632/45]
|
25 Jun 1894 |
The
Bells having been disused for Ringing for many years past, after the
above mentioned repairs the First peal was this day rung in celebration
of the Birth on the 23rd inst. of the eldest son (Edwd. Albert Christian
Geo. Andrew Patrick David) (Later Edward VIII) of H.R.H. The Duke of York
[WRO
1632/45]
|
July 1894 |
Interior
of Church (walls, pillars, and roof) cleaned -Timber Freize revarnished. |
Sep-Oct 1894 |
Church
Tower re-roofed (new timber and lead)
[WRO
1632/45]
|
Mar-Jun 1896 |
Ancient
Stone Cross cemented, - Churchyard wall (to Street) partly rebuilt -
Ellacombe's Chiming Apparatus fitted.
[WRO
1632/45]
|
17 Dec 1896 |
Shock
of Earthquake felt in Cricklade about 5.40 a.m. (as well as in various
other parts of England, especially in Hereford, where minarets of
Cathedral were displaced)
[WRO
1632/45]
|
23 Jan 1901 |
Bell
tolled throughout day for Death (on Tuesday 22nd inst. at 6.30 p.m.) of
our good Queen Victoria, in the 82nd year of her age.
[WRO
1632/71]
|
28 Jan 1901 |
The
Accession of His Majesty King Edward VII proclaimed at the Jubilee
Clock, Cricklade, this day by Thomas Butt Miller Esq. High Bailiff of
Cricklade, in the presence of a very large number of the inhabitants.
[WRO
1632/45]
|
9 Feb 1901 |
Cemetery
for Parishes of St. Mary and St. Sampson consecrated.
[WRO
1632/45]
|
25 Dec 1903 |
Carved
Oak Eagle Lectern presented to St. Mary's Church by Thos. Butt Miller
Esq. used for first time on Christmas Day.
[WRO
1632/45]
|
30 Apr 1905 |
New
gold-embroidered covering for Communion Table presented to the Church by
Mrs. T. B. Miller of the Manor House, Cricklade, the work of many years
by her own hands, and used this day for the first time (1st Sunday after
Easter)
[WRO
1632/45]
|
2 Aug 1906 |
To
remove the e. window and erect a new stained glass window.
To
provide a reredos, altar rails, Super Altar and stone floor for the
chancel.
To
close a door in the chancel.
To
fill all the windows in the church with cathedral glass and to restore
the dormer windows in the aisles which were removed in or about 1862
[WRO
1632/71 (Faculty papers)]
E.
window inscription reads:
To
the glory of God and in loving memory of John McKaye B.A. for 20 years
Rector of this Parish who died June 30th 1905 this window is dedicated
by his friends and parishioners Oct 1906. |
3 Nov 1908 |
Specification
for (repairs to) Cricklade St. Mary's Churchyard Cross commences:
"The cross has suffered less from fanatical prejudice than from
injudicious repair by the use of iron..."
[WRO
1632/64]
|
1908 |
Restoration
of St. Mary's - reinstatement of dormer windows removed during 1862
restoration - to provide more light. Press cutting
[Wilts
and Gloucestershire Standard]
|
8 Jul 1915 |
To
insert stained glass to a single window in the e. wall of the s. aisle and
3 light windows at e. end of s. aisle as a memorial to Thomas Butt Miller
- the gift of Mrs Miller of Kingscote Park, Tetbury, Glos.
[WRO
1632/71 (Faculty papers)]
Inscription
reads:
To
the glory of God and in memory of Thomas Butt Miller 13 January 1915. |
Nov 1917 |
Church
contents (a few details from inventory)
Seating
was for about 200
The
choir contained one organ with 2 manual pedals and 12 stops, and a gas
stove.
There
was gas lighting, including one burner in the pulpit.
The
tower contained 4 bells
The
lantern of the churchyard cross held the following figures:
s.
the assumption of the Virgin
n.
Bishop with crozier
w.
crucifix with St. Mary and St. John
e.
Queen and Knight
[WRO
1632/70]
|
16 Apr 1925 |
Petition
for donations towards the repair of the Churchyard Cross.
"Cricklade
St. Mary's
CHURCHYARD
CROSS
Early
this year the TOP portion of this Cross was blown down. The cost of
repairing the damage done to this singularly beautiful cross amounts to
£20. Mrs. Cyril Giles and Mrs. A. Robinson, members of the Church
Council, have kindly consented to call round for donations. Donations of
one shilling and upwards will be gratefully accepted by The Rector and
the Churchwardens. The work of refixing the Lantern and the broken
pieces has been carried out by a skilled mason under the directions of
Mr .W .A.H. Masters, Architect and Diocesan Surveyor, and of Mr. Weir
the Architect to the Protection of Ancient Buildings Society .
Signed:
Charles Wray"
[WRO
1632/64]
(The
collection book detailing all receipts is extant) |
12 Oct 1928 |
To
erect an oak reading desk at the entrance to the chancel, on n. side,
for the use of the clergy.
[WRO
1632/71 (Faculty papers)]
|
10 Sep 1934 |
To
introduce electric lighting.
[WRO
1632/71 (Faculty papers)]
|
1939-45 |
Removal
of iron railings from frontage, for scrap metal.
[Cricklade
Museum]
|
3 Sep 1947 |
To
remove 3 pews to provide altar to s. aisle.
To
place an organ blower behind the organ.
[WRO
1632/71 (Faculty papers)]
|
11 Aug 1948 |
To
remove 3 pews from s. w. comer, for the font.
[WRO
1632/71 (Faculty papers)]
|
1948 |
"New
festal frontal made by Messrs Wippell, from an embroidery worked many
years ago by the late Mrs Butt Miller and presented to St. Mary's by her
son Mr. Geo Miller of Romsey, Hants 1948."
[WRO
1632/57 (Extract from an Inventory dated 1929)]
|
20 Jun 1949 |
To
insert an oxidised silver plate in s. wall of the sanctuary in memory of
Cicely Laura Miller and Servants.
In
s. w. comer, to insert a stained glass window of St. Nicholas, in memory
of Rev. C Wray.
[WRO
1632/71 (Faculty papers)]
Inscription
on plate reads:
To
the glory of God and in loving memory of Thomas Butt Miller and his wife
Cicely Laura Miller late of the Manor House. Also of their faithful
servants Eliza Prior, George Cottrell and Harriet Greathead.
Inscription
on s. w. corner window reads:
Charles
Wray, Priest, Rector of Cricklade St. Mary's 1912 - 1927 Died 18 March
1945. |
28 Sep 1949 |
To
insert stained glass depicting St. Christopher and St. Hubert to 2 light
windows in s. wall of sanctuary , in memory of Cicely Laura Miller.
[WRO
1632/71 (Faculty papers)]
(It
is understood that Cicely Laura Miller was known as "Bunny" to
her friends - hence the inclusion of the rabbits in the lower window). |
1952 |
Parish
amalgamated with St. Sampson's
[DoE
SU 19 SW 13/145 List of Buildings of Special Architectural or
Historical Interest, (1986), quoting (Thomson & Taylor in W_A_M-
60 (1965).75 and 61. (1966), 38.f)]
|
1963/64 |
Restoration
of St. Mary's
Excavations
of 1964 suggest that the north chapel walls are founded on Anglo-Saxon
work associated with the town wall.
[Ibid]
|
1981 |
St.
Mary's proclaimed redundant |
1984 |
St.
Mary's re-opened for Catholic worship |
1985 |
St
Mary’s Church joins the Local Ecumenical Partnership |
1998 |
The
Friends of St Mary’s established |
3
Oct 2001 |
New
boundaries were decreed for the Parish of St Thomas of Canterbury,
Fairford with St Mary, Cricklade |