History of St Nicholas Church
History of St Nicholas Church, Mid Lavant
The earliest reference to the church being dedicated to St Nicholas is in the 1545 will of one William Arnold who requested, my body to be burid wythin the church yearde of Syent Nycolas of mydlavant.
It seems likely there was a Saxon church in Mid Lavant. Parts of the nave were probably built during the 12th century and most of the Chancel in the 13th century. Today there is very little evidence of this in the interior of St Nicholas Church. Another will, written by John Yede in 1530, tells us that there were five standing lights or altars in the church of Mid Lavant; we don’t know who these were dedicated to.
In 1844 Charles Dorrien* of West Lavant House produced sketches of wall paintings which had recently come to light. These paintings, apparently from the latter part of the 15th century, were arranged in compartments and seem to have formed a series representing the Sacraments and Services of the Church. One of them exhibited the rite of interment: the priest, vested in an alb, touches with the processional cross, the shrouded corpse, marked upon the breast with a large cross patee. The south wall of the nave depicted a large figure of St. George and there was evidence for at least three separate paintings, one on top of the other. The earliest was an outline drawing in coarse red paint.
Once again no traces of these paintings remain and Dorrien’s sketches are lost. In the Chancel is a mystery stone slab. It looks medieval and the only reference anyone wanting to be buried there was John Ide in his November 1548 will. However, we are unlikely to ever really know whether or not the gravestone is his. The Mid Lavant parish was always a fairly poor living and in the 16th and 17th centuries there were a number of references to the church and porch being in decay and there not being the appropriate books or plate.
Things began to change after the Restoration of Charles II in 1660. The May family*, who were Lords of the Manor of Rawmere, paid for work to be done on their parish church. Richard May (1638-1713) had the vault built in which about 20 members of his family were interred.
However, after the Mays left in the 1720s the village and church appear to have gone into a decline. It took until the 1830s before anyone with sufficient social standing took an interest in St Nicholas.
In 1835 Henrietta Dorrien, the illegitimate daughter of the 3rd Duke of Richmond, who had a life interest in West Lavant House asked the 4th Duke of Richmond to contribute to the rebuilding of the church as it, "is so small that not only the body & gallery are completely fill’d but the Chancel cram’d in no very decent manner". In 1843, she repeated the point about the overcrowding even though a musicians’ gallery had been added. There were viols, some clarinets and a bassoon amongst the instruments played. Mrs Dorrien said that a north aisle could be added and other repairs made for about £300. The architect Joseph Butler was a surveyor at Chichester Cathedral and a specialist in church building. He was also responsible for designing Bishop Otter Memorial College (now the University of Chichester) in 1849.
The re-modelling of St Nicholas, which took place in 1844, was largely paid for by Charles Dorrien, Henrietta’s son, although the Duke of Richmond did contribute £10. The north aisle increased the capacity while most of the other changes were more decorative. Over the low chancel arches Dorrien had written: This is none other than the house of God and this is the gate to heaven.
Old stained glass windows were inserted and the Ten Commandments were painted on either side of the east window. Dorrien also placed his own painted version of the Descent from the Cross, over the holy table. In 1857 the 5th Duke insisted the picture was removed.
More work seems to have been done in about 1868 and the Vestry Minute Book records that the Church was closed between August 1871 and 14th February 1872 for enlargement and repair.
The rector, Reverend William Woods Stephens*, appointed in 1870, noted that the nave was lengthened by 12 feet, a new belfry and south porch were erected, the west gallery was removed and new arches were made which opened from the Nave into the Chancel. The architect Henry Woodyer of Grafham, Surrey was responsible for restorations and enlargements of many churches in Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire. The building work was done by John Ellis of Portfield, Chichester for £600-£700, much of which was paid for by the Duke of Richmond. The monument of Lady Mary May* was taken down from the south wall and placed in the May vault under the Chancel. There were also changes to the graveyard. It was enclosed with a wall, having previously been fenced. The path across the graveyard was removed.
The newspaper account of the reopening added that three lancet windows had been inserted in the west front, that there was a new font, heating apparatus and that, the old altar rails which had been made from the heavy oak stair banisters of the old Raughmere Manor House have been replaced by a neat oak rail with painted iron stands, the triple lancet East window has been filled with painted glass (The Pater Window*). At the re-opening service, conducted by Bishop Durnford of Chichester, appropriate hymns were very sweetly sung by the choir. Cecil Hook, son of Dean Hook and later Bishop of Kingston, also took part. In 1880 the ecclesiastical parishes of Mid Lavant and East Lavant were merged and have since been run as a single parish. St Mary’s church, East Lavant increasingly became the focal point of services and after 1925 no new family plots were opened in the graveyard.
The last major rebuilding work took place in 1986 when a vestry was added on the north side of the church, a niche was created for the Lady Mary May monument and the church became a more flexible space.
*Names of those who feature in the Graveyard Trail or this text.
Map from 1731 courtesy of Goodwood Archives.
Images of St Nicholas Church courtesy of WSRO.
The Tombstone of Derby Leary 1618/19-1681 - A Four Hundred Year Link to the Weald and Downland Living Museum
Derby Leary’s inscription clearly tells us that he was from an old Irish family that lived in Cork. There was famine in the 1620s which resulted in internal conflict and it might have been this which drove him to England. We do not know when he first came to Sussex but he was in Lavant before 1655; his patron being John May of Raughmere.
Under this stone doth Derby Leary lye
Sprung from an ancient Irish Family
Forced from his Country in his tender Age
Of an intestine Warr to fly the Rage
Was habour’d in this County where his Care
In every Province merited to share
His Patrons bounty w:ch he did receive
Improve and cultivate bequeath and leave
‘Mongst his Relations of whose number one
His Nephew Daniel Leary layd this stone
In gratitude unto his Uncles Dust
Waiting the resurrection of the Just
Obyt 22o die Decembris
Anno Domini 1681 Aetatis suae 63
Leary surrendered the lease of a property called Great Juries in Donnington in 1660 at which time he was described as a ‘gentleman of Mid Lavant’. On 15th April 1670 he acquired ‘one tenement one virgate and half a virgate of land’ from William Collick. This second property was almost certainly the Brick Building from Mid Lavant, which is now in the Weald and Downland Living Museum.
Manor Court records show that he sold it to one Thomas Isemonger on 29th October 1674.
Derby Leary’s burial is not recorded as there were no entries in the burial registers between March 1680 and March 1683. Originally the stone was placed in the central aisle of the nave. His nephew, Daniel Leary, a lawyer at Middle Temple, London was responsible for the inscription.
This property was later owned by William Cleverley. His stone features in the Graveyard Trail, Plot number 0001.
The Mary Miller Wooden Plaque 1948 - The Wife and Mother’s Story – A Life of Duty and Sacrifice
Mary Evelina Lyall was born in 1847 in Kent and was brought up in Suffolk by a clergyman uncle as her parents were living in India.
She married John Ontario Miller in 1888 and supported him throughout his illustrious and industrious career. He was born in Ontario, Canada, educated in Scotland and joined the Indian Civil Service in 1879. He became a member of the Viceroy Executive Council of India and Commissioner of Legyral Province (1907-1910). The Order of the Star of India which is carved into his stone in St Mary’s churchyard reflects his Knighthood (KCSI). Mary Miller went out to India with her husband where four of their five children were born. One of the children died there.
When they returned to England John became a founder member of the London School of Economics and Political Science; he also served on the boards of the London Port Authority and Ministry of Food. He died in Lavant, in January 1943.
When Mary Miller died on 1st March 1948 at the grand age of 91, she was living at Robsons Orchard in Mid Lavant. This was the house which Henrietta Poole built in 1797. She had outlived four of her five children.
Her son Lieutenant Godfrey Lyall Miller was killed in action at Pont Arcy Aisne only 6 weeks after the outbreak of WW1. He was 21 and served in the Royal Engineers. The inscription chosen for his grave in France may give an indication of his parents’ feelings: ‘MY PEACE I GIVE UNTO YOU NOT AS THE WORLD GIVETH’
In 1938 one of Mary’s daughters, Margaret died at Robsons Orchard. Margaret had only been married to Reverend Leslie Hills M.C for eight years and was 41 years old. Just four years later Mary’s oldest child Evelina, also died at Robsons Orchard aged 58. She had married Gen. D Robertson in 1909 and they had five children .
Only Alexander (1894-1971), the youngest, lived to survive his mother. A tragic footnote is that his son was killed in WW2.
The oak plaque itself has artistic connections which its modest simplicity does not reveal. Its maker was Joseph Cribb, sculptor and letter-cutter in stone and wood.
At the age of 14 years old, Cribb was the first apprentice of the better-known stone-carver and sculptor Eric Gill and the two artists worked closely in establishing the Guild of St Joseph and St Dominic in Ditchling in 1907. Initially acting as primary assistant he took over the workshop in Ditchling when Gill left until his death in 1967.
The closeness of their collaboration resulted inevitably in a great similarity in their letter cutting styles, with Cribb’s work often being attributed to Gill. However, Cribb was a skilled sculptor in his own right. He produced a number of church sculptures, including the fourteen Stations of the Cross at St Matthew's, Westminster; was involved in at least eleven war memorials and executed the masters of over 50 of the regimental badges carved on Commonwealth War Graves -maybe even that of Leonard Small [Plot 0156].
There are many examples of Cribb's work in Sussex. The carved stone relief, originally in the chapel of St Joseph and St Dominic at Ditchling Common, and now in St Teresa of Lisieux in Northiam, is considered outstanding. Brighton architect John Denham used Cribb to carve reliefs showing building trades on many Brighton buildings between the 1930s and 60s.
An obituary described Cribb as, a real countryman in the old- fashioned sense. In a 1961, BBC radio programme he was recorded as saying, I learnt a lot of things which have stayed with me all my life, to do my work for the love of doing the work. And always put a good finish on it, and not be slack or haphazard.
The plaque is clear evidence that he adhered to these excellent principles of craftsmanship.
Hanging Brass Corona.
Harriett Elizabeth Pilkington 1805-1869 - A Clergy Family and a Stonemason’s Mistake
To the Glory of God and in loving memory of
H. E. Dixon This Corona was given by C.H.P. & C.M.P.
All Saints’ Day 1869
The inscription on the Corona refers to Harriett Elizabeth. She was the daughter of Charles Pilkington, curate at Mid Lavant from 1805. From 1820 he was also personal chaplain to the Duke of Richmond. Harriett was married to Captain George Manley Dixon, R.N. By 1861 she had been a widow for ten years and living with her niece, Elizabeth Pilkington and four servants in Mid Lavant.
Harriett’s brother, Charles, was Chancellor of Chichester Cathedral. It is Charles’ children who donated the Corona in memory of their aunt. Harriett was buried in St Nicholas churchyard [Plot 0056]. The inscription on her tombstone gives the date as ‘MAY 26. 1869’
However, it seems the mason made a mistake. When her will was proved, the date of her death was given as 25 May 1869, the same date was given in the newspaper notices.
The Pater Family Memorial Window Three Short Lives
This window was installed by Mrs Pater’s family in 1872 as part of St Nicholas re-building work. It reads:
To the glory of God and in loving remembrance of the
Rev. J. S. Pater, vicar of this parish from 1866 to 1869.
died Dec 9th 1870. Aged 30. Adelaide Emilia his wife
died Aug 16th 1869. & of their infant Son, died March 9th 1871.
The closeness of the dates of death demonstrates the fragility of life. All three members of this family died under the age of 30.
Adelaide Emilia Comber (1841- 1869), was born in Brazil and was the daughter of the British Consul there. She married Joseph Pater in Bury, Lancashire in 1867.
After only two years of marriage she died of scarlet fever and diphtheria whilst living in Canon Lane, Chichester Cathedral Close.
Joseph Saunders Pater, born in 1840, was a distinguished classics scholar at Cambridge and then Vice-principal of Chichester Theological College (1866 -1870). He died on 9th December 1870 in Hastings from the all too common tuberculosis.
Adelaide and Joseph both died before their son. Charles Joseph was born on 11th May 1868 and baptised in St Nicholas church on 7th June 1868 where his father was Rector. He outlived his father by only one year and died on 9th March 1871 in Hastings of fever and convulsions of the brain.
This lovely photograph is, perhaps, a reminder to us all that we have much to be grateful for.
The Pater window features some fine glass and images of the Nativity.
Haines Brass Memorial Tablet The Farmer’s Family
William Thomas Sanden Haines (1842-1907) was born in Boxgrove, the only son and youngest child of William Haines (1802-1844) and Ann Worthing (1803-1861). He lived with his four sisters, parents and paternal grandmother in Boxgrove.
When his father died in 1844 his mother had been well provided for. By 1861, aged 18, he was an agricultural student with John Golds at High Down farm in Goring, Sussex.
A visitor from Littlehampton called Mary Ann Swan (1839-1903) stayed with the Gold family and perhaps this meeting led to their marriage in 1865. The couple went on to have nine children. In 1868 Haines was appointed as one of the two overseers of the poor in Mid Lavant.
In 1871 Haines was running the 266 acres of Raughmere Farm and employed eight men, three boys and two women. Haines continued living and farming at Raughmere until his death on 6th August 1907 when the farm was taken over by his son Sanden Haines (1869-1945).
Pew Seating Board of 1871 - The Class Divide
Set up in 1818, ‘The Incorporated Society for Promoting the Enlargement, Building and Repairing of Churches and Chapels’ granted St Nicholas £25 in 1871.The church could now seat 142 people as 29 extra spaces had been provided.
Interestingly, this board tells us:
THE SITTINGS ARE ALL FREE, AND SUBJECT TO ALLOTMENT BY THE
CHURCHWARDENS, SUITABLE PROVISION BEING MADE FOR THE
POORER INHABITANTS.
It is not known whether this increase was the sole reason for extending St Nicholas 1871-1872. The population of Mid Lavant had been declining in the mid-19th century: 282 in 1851, 257 in 1861 and 239 in 1871, but it is possible that church attendance was increasing. In the 1870s 14 new households were built in Mid Lavant, including the Lavant Home which was an orphanage for twenty girls. This building, now divided into two, still stands opposite St Nicholas.
We have no other information about the Pew Costs at St Nicholas, but from the churchwarden accounts for St Mary’s, East Lavant, we know that the vast majority of the pews there were owned by key members of the village, for example: the Duke of Richmond, the Dorriens and the Souters. Those who owned the pews leased them out. At St Mary’s there were only eight seats (not whole pews) that were not privately owned. These appear to have been managed by the churchwardens. The seat price is quoted as: ‘let by the year 2 shillings (10p) each’. These were certainly not the best seats in the house, as the most desirable were always those nearest to the Chancel.
It is likely that arrangements and prices at St. Nicholas were similar, otherwise there would have been a tramping of feet up the road to attend services there. Evidence from other parishes show that more free seats sometimes meant locals felt displaced by people coming in from neighbouring parishes.
By 1824 agricultural labourer wages were falling to around 9 shillings (45p) per week. Paying for a seat was not affordable for the average agricultural labourer. It would probably have been a choice between trying to get into the small free area, going elsewhere, perhaps to a non-conformist chapel which did not generally charge or maybe not attending church at all.
Although we don’t have any real evidence of the arrangements in Mid Lavant, there are five pews in the Chancel which date from the late 17th or 18th centuries. It is interesting to sit in one and consider how much you would have been prepared to pay.
Fraser Window in the South Wall of the Chancel - The Academic Rector
James Fraser (1842-1913) was appointed Deputy Librarian at Chichester Cathedral in 1878 and came to live in East Lavant Cottage in April 1880. This had been the home of Ebenezer Cobham Brewer, author of The Dictionary of Phrase and Fable.
From 1881 to 1895 Fraser was Chaplain of Bishop Otter College. He became Rector of Eastergate in 1894 and left Lavant sometime during the 1890s.
Fraser compiled ‘Notes on Mid and East Lavant Parishes’ which can be seen as the first attempt to write a history of Lavant. This detailed notebook written in his beautiful cursive handwriting can be viewed at the West Sussex Record Office.
The image of St Nicholas is the only one in stained glass in the Church and is of high quality.
Roundel Windows in the South Wall of the Chancel - The Gentleman’s Gift. A French Connection
On Thursday 30th January 1845 The Brighton Gazette noted that, ‘Five stained glass windows, the subjects selected chiefly from a church in Normandy, have been given (to St Nicholas Church) by Charles Dorrien, Esq. of Lavant House.’
The parish clerk at the time, Thomas Mitchell, noted that the glass was old and Dutch. It was quite fashionable at the time for old glass to be placed in English Church windows but how Dorrien came by these is unknown.
The two most interesting roundels show a group of soldiers and a dome which seems to be very similar to that of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.
Two dates appear, one is 1695, and the other with some apparently Dutch words is 1773 or 1778. These windows still hold some secrets.
Brass Plate - Major General James Claud Bourchier 1780-1859 - The Soldier’s Story
This brass plate which includes the words, He that Hath Mercy on the Poor Happy is He was put up in memory of James Claud Bourchier who joined the Light Dragoons in 1797.
A soldier of some distinction, he served under General Abercromby in Egypt in 1801, was in the Peninsula campaign during the Siege of Badajoz and participated in the defeat of the French at Salamanca in 1812. He fought at Waterloo in 1815 and was almost certainly with the Duke of Wellington when he entered Paris in July 1815. Bourchier was made Lieutenant Colonel in 1854.
Married in 1821, he came to West Lavant House in 1847, where he lived for 14 years. The property was set in grounds of 76 acres, for which he paid a rent of £313.10s a year to the 5th Duke of Richmond. The rental agreement stipulated that every five years Bourchier had to paint the exterior of the house with at least two coats of oil paint and ensure that the ironwork was kept in good repair. In addition, he was not allowed to permit any person to ride with or follow any fox hounds. After his death, his son, Charles John, was allowed to sublet the property for the remaining period of the tenancy. His younger son, Claud Thomas, was awarded the Victoria Cross for action in the Crimean campaign.
Detail showing date 1695 from window in St Nicholas Church. Photography: Richard Whincop