History of St. Mary's the Virgin, Swainswick Part 2

19C Victorian restoration in churches is widespread and it was certainly actively pusued at Swainswick. The east end of the chancel was extended and completely rebuilt with a three-light lancet-type window – the centre lancet being wider and taller, with coloured marble pillars between and at the sides. There appeared to be a stone reredos behind the altar but this was sometimes curtained. A new stone pulpit and a stone clergy-stall with matching style coloured marble pillars were also installed.

Wooden pews were built into the nave and north aisle and later, box-pews with doors were added. The five bells were recast and with extra bell-metal added, a peal of six bells were positioned in the existing frame with some modification.

The church was heated by a stove at the west end of the nave, just forward of the tower with the flue chimney passing through the roof – visible on W.E. Lockey’s photograph 1855.

The front was positioned further over to the south wall, behind the door and the clergy vestry was at the west end of the north aisle behind the gallery.

In 1875 a hand-blown pipe organ was donated and installed at the southwest corner of the nave and a brass lectern was also given and located in the chancel.

In the post 1914-1918 war periods, a panelled wall memorial with the names of the fallen, was installed against the east wall of the chapel. Family memorial pews for the chapel were also donated at this time.

The east end of the chancel was further extended and the east window replaced by a four-light window similar to the original, matching the chapel east window.

In the chancel, the stone clergy stall was replaced by a choir pew with a dedicated clergy-stall in the south side and a matching choir pew on the north side.

Stained glass was inserted into the window above the pulpit in 1924 and into the small window at the west end of the north aisle (after unblocking) in 1926, as family memorials.

A central heating system was originally fitted in the church in 1921, supplied by a solid-fuel heated boiler located in a small outbuilding outside at the west end. The boiler was adapted to be oil fire and eventually renewed in 1976. Electric lighting was installed in 1935 and also the wind supply for the organ was modified. The names of the fallen in the 1939-1945 war were recorded on the lower panels of the war memorial in the chapel.

The outbuilding at the west end was extended to contain toilet facilities.

The new electric organ was purchased in 1963, costing £750 and located in the chapel behind the choir pews. The southwest corner of the nave occupied by the previous organ, was refurnished as a curtained clergy vestry.

In 1973, the bells were removed to the foundry, extensively modified, retuned and supplied with new fittings. In the belfry, the wooden bell frame was replaced with steel and the bells were rehung in a new configuration which allowed a sound deadening chamber below the bells. Following diocesan Pastoral Reorganisation in 1975/6, the parish of Woolley and the Chapel dedicated to All Saints, was united with the parish of Swainswick.

A book of Remembrance in a hinged glass case was fitted on the south wall of the chapel.

Experiments with some forms of alternative modern liturgy were attempted and the adoption of the New International Bible as the definitive bible to be read from the lectern, was introduced.

The Holy Communion was now celebrated with the Minister facing the congregation, this meant moving the altar further into the chancel to allow access behind the table.

Further Diocesan Pastoral Reorganisation in 1991 revised the disposition of the parishes within the benefice; Swainswick and Woolley were now a parish in the benefice of Bath, St. Saviour’s at neighbouring urban Larkhall. The minister at St. Saviours was now the Rector of the benefice with a resident officiating minister, responsible for Swainswick and Wooley.

Some free standing pews in the chapel were replaced with suitable chairs to allow flexibility in the use of the chapel.

The 21C has seen the liturgical Common Worship introduced and used at most services with the BCP rite retained for the early Holy Communion celebrations and special occasions.

An audio-enhancing system was installed in 2006 and it was also decided to remove the block of three pews, at the western end of the arcade and pave the earth floor beneath to create an open space to chat after services.

A major project completely re-ordered the west end of the north aisle involving the installation of bespoke kitchen units, cupboards for equipment and wardrobes for choir robes, music books etc. This replaced the ad hoc use of the box pew at the west end of the north aisle, for non-religious purposes and make effective use of the semi-redundant area of the church for social gatherings, small meetings etc., whilst still retaining the choir-vestry function.

Appendix

1. Edmund Forde

In the chancel floor within the sanctuary, is set a monumental brass commemorating an early lord of the Manor Swainswick. The effigy is of a wealthy civilian, with three scrolls emanating from his head, which are engraved in black-letter Latin, indicating his pious thoughts from the Book of Job.

Under his feet on a separate plate, also engraved in black-letter Latin is his commemoration inscription which translates :-

Pray for the soul of Edmund fforde of Swayneswycke Esquire who died the 17th day of February Anno Domini 1439 in the reign of King Henry 6th and in the 18th year after the conquest. May his soul be pleasing unto God.

Unfortunately, the original effigy was stolen a few years ago and the figure now in place, is a replacement produced from an accurate rubbing previously taken from the original.

Thankfully, the scrolls and the inscription plate were not taken.

2. The Communion Plate.

The Elizabethan Chalice is engraved sterling silver manufactured in London in 1577. There is a domed cover for the chalice that can be used to contain the wafers.

The Victorian Chalice is sterling silver manufactured in Birmingham in 1891.

The Flagon is also Victorian and engraved sterling silver manufactured in Sheffield in 1856.

There are two Patens, one is free standing, sterling silver manufactured in London in 1760 and engraved with a Swainswick dedication: the other smaller paten is a simple plate of antiquity, thought to be silver but with no marks, its date and manufacture cannot be authenticated.