History and Guide

Updated by Michael Hendry

© 2020

Preface to the 2020 Edition

Word-processing technology had hardly been invented in 1992 when the last edition of this publication was made. Additional material has been added, as well as photographs, prints and other images to illustrate the guide.

Preface and acknowledgements to the August 1992 Edition

The first “Guide and Brief History” of Cheswardine Church was penned by the late William J. Symons in 1959 some 33 years ago and has remained substantially unaltered through seven revisions. Symons was for many years both Headmaster and Churchwarden in Cheswardine, and the village is indebted to him for his many interests, and not least for some of the material presented here. He in turn acknowledged as his major source of information “the scholarly book ‘The Parish of Cheswardine’, written and published by Ruth Donaldson-Hudson”. (1939)

This present edition has taken account of several other sources, including Parish Records, and articles by Rev James R. Lee, T. P. Marshall, Rev Robert W. Eyton, Samuel Kemp, and Dr D. H. S. Cranage. In addition, the history section has been presented before the guide, since most visitors wish to relate the building to its environment within an historical framework.

We hope you enjoy your visit to this church and ask that you will pray for those who form the living church in this place before you leave.     

Rev A. D. Keay (Vicar)

Wardens: W. G. Lea & L. Massey                          August 1992.

 A BRIEF HISTORY

A Saxon Foundation?

We can assume the parish of Cheswardine originated from an Anglo-Saxon settlement.

It is certain that the word ‘Cheswardine’ is of Saxon origin. The Domesday Book records it as ‘Ciseworde’, and ‘worde’ has its origin in ‘worthine’, which may indicate a complete village area rather than an enclosed farmstead. This gives credence to the’ cise’ part being the name of the owner of the area – possibly ‘Cissa’. King Ella of the South Saxons had a son Cissa, for example. Ruth Donaldson-Hudson suggested ‘Cheese-farm’ as a solution, but in later letters agrees Cissa’s farm or village is more credible.

The Church is dedicated to St Swithun, a Saxon saint born in Winchester about 800 AD. He was a trusted counsellor of the Saxon Kings Egbert and Ethelwulf. He was bishop at Winchester from 30th October 852, until his death on the 2nd July 862 and was canonised when his remains were moved into the new basilica on the 15th July 971, and this subsequently became St Swithun’s Feast Day. Since the weather was stormy at that time, the legend of 40 days of rain if it rains on July 15th arose and is best remembered in this short poem.

St Swithun's day if thou dost rain

For forty days it will remain

St Swithun's day if thou be fair

For forty days, 'twill rain no more.

The earliest recorded church here in Cheswardine is 1170. However, if this had been the earliest church it would certainly not have been dedicated to a Saxon saint, since the Normans, after 1066, attempted to suppress Saxon influences. Thus, the first church was almost certainly of Saxon origin and probably built around 1000 AD. Nothing remains of such a church.

The Mediaeval Building

 The Domesday Survey (1084 – 1086) gives the first written evidence of Cheswardine and it records that “Robert de Stafford holds ……  Ciseworde…”. Further recorded history shows Cheswardine to pass from Robert de Stafford to Henry I and then Henry II. King Henry II granted it to Hamo de Strange, Lord of Wrockwardine, and then in 1160 it passed to Hamo’s brother John de Strange.

A charter of 1170 records that John le Strange granted the advowson  of Cheswardine to the Abbot and Canons of Haughmond Abbey, which is 18½ miles southwest of Cheswardine, near Shrewsbury. (An advowson is the right in English law of a patron (avowee) to present or appoint a nominee to a vacant ecclesiastical benefice or to a church living, a process known as presentation.) Thus, a Norman church now existed. Dr Cranage (Churches of Shropshire) shows evidence that the church had at least a chancel, north chapel, nave with aisles and a west tower. The tower seems to have been rebuilt about 1470, but this is not unusual; several Norman towers are known to have collapsed. Some of the stones of this church still exist in the western most arcades of the present church, and of course, St Katherine’s chapel is from an early period.

Cheswardine has Churchwardens’ accounts from 1544 onwards and from these we find that the roof was shingled, (wooden tiles) and by 1555 gutters of lead were in use. A lychgate, where the clergy met the corpse at the funeral service, is mentioned in 1570, and in 1583, a porch was added. During the 1700’s, the church was badly decaying and major repairs are recorded. An entry for 22nd December 1740 speaks volumes … “1s. 6d paid … for carrying snow out of ye churche.” Considerable repairs cost £60 in 1756-57 and the Churchwardens had to raise no less than sixteen church lewns (taxes) from the parish.

Font

The font, which stands to the north of the tower arch, appears to be Early English. However, it was constructed in 1889 to the memory of Henry Cockayne Cust (1819 – 1884), the stepfather of Sara Marie Streatfeild, wife of Charles Donaldson-Hudson. A massive but graceful example of sculpture, it weighs one and a half tons and is built up of eight different types of marble.

The Nave

Looking eastward from the tower arch one cannot fail to be impressed by the grace and dignity of the lofty and well-proportioned nave. Note the slightly northerly deviation of the chancel. The chancel angle is supposed to represent the inclination of Christ's head on the cross.

The fine wagon roof of Memel Oak from the eastern Baltic was installed when the roof was raised at the last rebuilding. A wagon roof consists of a series of rafters and arch braces set closely together to give the appearance of a continuous, uninterrupted arch or curved plate.

Note that the southern arches of the nave are semi-circular whilst the northern arches are pointed, reflecting the previous styles – Norman and Perpendicular.

The old chest in the new entrance porch is the parish chest from the 1300’s. Three keys were needed to open it, one for each churchwarden and one for the vicar. All had to be present to gain access to the contents.

Memorial plaques to those who died in the First and Second World Wars are situated at the base of the tower on the south side. The eagle lectern is a very fine example of Victorian design.

Although the pulpit is Early English in character, it was produced in 1888 in memory of Thomas Kershaw Swannick, (Born circa 1826, recorded in the 1881 census as being a visitor in Prestbury, Cheshire, whence he was born, and accompanied by his wife Elizabeth Jane, from Helston, Cornwall, born 1836). Each panel is different.

Chairs are provided for congregational seating, using the Duke’s Chairs design, which were designed originally for His Grace the Duke of Westminster for a church in Chester.

The North Aisle

The west end of the north aisle is now the newly constructed meeting room. Above this area in the west wall, is an early Kempe window. Below the window is a memorial plaque in honour of Brooke Hector Smallwood, one of the seven children of Thomas Smallwood of Market Drayton, who tried unsuccessfully to purchase the Cheswardine Estate in 1825. The small bookcase is in memory of W. J. Symons, the headmaster of Cheswardine School for some 31 years.

The large oak chest on the south side of the Sunday school area was given to the church in 1962 in memory of a parishioner. Note the unusual carving on the front.

The first window on the north aisle is by Clayton & Bell, showing the four Evangelists that is, those who tell good news, being Matthew, Mark, Luke & John and their symbols, an angel, a lion, an ox and an eagle. Looking south from this point to the central pillar of the northern chancel arches it will be seen that there is an area of old carving on the middle capital (the top of the pillar). It is of early stiff-leaf foliage design and was all that was left after William Jervis had chiselled off all the decoration for the 1810 church. From this small fragment, J. L. Pearson was able to reconstruct the stiff-leaf foliage design now adorning all the pillars.

The next window in an easterly direction is dedicated to Charles Donaldson-Hudson (1840-1893), who together with the then vicar John Wingfield Harding was responsible for the rebuilding of the church. The four Archangels form the chief members of the court of heaven and are intensely interested in the activities on earth.

The window before the north doorway is dedicated to the son and grandson of Charles Donaldson-Hudson, namely Ralph Charles Donaldson-Hudson (1874–1921) and John Donaldson-Hudson (1908-1949). It shows three great saints – St Swithun to whom this church is dedicated, St Christopher the saint of travellers and St Chad the saint of our own diocese. The latter was Bishop of Lichfield from 669 to 672. St Christopher probably appears since Ralph Charles and John Donaldson-Hudson were both associated with a heavy haulage company based in Liverpool. Careful examination of the lower part of the central leaf of the window shows the coat of arms of the Donaldson-Hudson family above their motto ‘Promptus’ meaning ‘ready’ or ‘resolute’.

The chapel is dedicated to St Katherine of Alexandria, saint and martyr. One of the instruments used against her to try to make her renounce the Christian faith was a rotating wheel having blades fixed to it. However it reportedly broke, so instead the Roman Emperor Maximinus ordered her to be beheaded. The Catherine wheel firework was developed from this form of torture. Although the chapel was moved 13 feet eastwards (4 metres), it was re-erected stone for stone. The stained glass is from the previous church and it rivals the more recent glass.

The roof is ancient, one press report of 1889 stating that it came from Cheswardine Castle refectory when the fortalice (a small fort) was dismantled. The site of the castle is some 200 metres north of the churchyard and it is known to have existed in the reign of Henry II (1154-89). Records suggest that the roof is 15th century and that the castle was already in ruins in the 1300’s, hence the press assumption is likely to be incorrect.

Apart from repairs, the oak beams form one unjointed length, and at the rebuilding, this was brought to the notice of the architect. The latter ordered that they be preserved since such curved single-span beams were most unusual.

 On the floor against the north wall of the chapel is a fine tombstone, with a floral cross resting on a lamb: near the top of the stem, a fish is incised on either side. Near the top is the name “Ralph Tilston” On the left side is a shield with a cross, the shield on the right is charged with arms that do not seem to be those of the Tilston family (Cranage).

The old Sanctus Bell hangs in the northeast corner of the chapel. Under normal circumstances, this would have been rung during the most solemn parts of the communion service when the bread and wine were consecrated. It called the attention of people at work in the fields or village to what was happening, enabling them to stop and pray for a moment.

The present altar rail, credence table, wall cross, candlesticks, flower vase and altar frontal (with St Katherine’s wheel) were all dedicated in 1967.

It is interesting to note that the churchwardens’ accounts for 1558 show “four pence to … maintain a light before St Katren”, whilst in 1578 it is recorded that Robert Tufnell gave a “corporas case of tensell saten for St Katerens cote”. Obviously, a statue once graced this chapel. The Rev J E Hughes says that he remembered the remains of wall paintings and indications to show where a statue had been prior to 1886.

The Chancel and Sanctuary

 The nave and chancel are separated by low (septum) walls. The choir stalls are of teak to two former choristers – Frank Gregory (c1891-1960) and John (Jack) Sutton Bourne (1914-1987). The pulpit cross is also given in memory of Jack Bourne.

Attached to the choir stalls is the processional cross, presented in memory of Ann Cope (1835 -1918) and dedicated on Whit Sunday 1919. The cross is patterned on the one used at Winchester Cathedral.

 The floor tiles are copies of those found as filling rubble in the walls of the 1810-1886 church. They originally formed the floor of the chancel in the mediaeval church and are said to be the work of the 12th century monks. A few of the better-preserved original tiles hang on the pillars of the chancel arch.

The quinquennial inspection report of 1982 states that “there is a beautiful brass altar rail which it would be difficult to match in any other church in the Diocese.” The gates are of a late date and to the memory of Joseph Lea, churchwarden from 1917 to 1956.

The altar is teak, with three carved panels invariably covered by an altar frontal. Above the altar is a shelf of red mottled marble on which stands a painted wooden triptych by Clayton & Bell. The Instruments of the Passion are shown on the lower small panels, whilst the main central panel is the Adoration of the Magi. On one side is Moses and the burning bush, on the other Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. Next to the Solomon panel are Eli and Samuel, whilst the counter panel shows the departure of Jacob for Padanaram at the bidding of Rebecca. The extreme north panel is the Flight into Egypt and the south one Jesus in the temple.

The three-lance east window is of 13th Century style. These windows are ‘read’ as left lancet upward, centre lancet upward, right lancet upward. Thus the Story of Jesus can be followed – Annunciation, Salutation, Nativity, Jesus in the Temple, Jesus bearing the Cross, John leading Mary away, the Crucified Lord, the Entombment, the Women at the Tomb, the Risen Christ and Jesus with Mary in the garden. The window is dedicated to Rev. George Shipton Harding, M.A. (1816-1874) vicar of Cheswardine from 1867-74, and to his son, George Henry Tetlow Harding.

The southern clerestory windows over the chancel show Gideon and fleece, and Moses at the Burning Bush. Both are by Kempe.

The sanctuary fald stool, a portable folding chair, is in memory of Mary Grave, governess for the Donaldson-Hudson family, whose diamond shaped memorial plaque can be found on the north wall of St Katherine’s chapel.

 Mary Knatchbull, the daughter of the Rev Henry D Knatchbull, vicar of Cheswardine from 1905-1915 advised that the altar cross was designed for Princess Beatrice (1857-1944), Queen Victoria’s fifth daughter. It is dedicated to Sara Marie Collier, (née Streatfeild), who was married initially to Charles Donaldson-Hudson, and was the grandmother of Ruth Donaldson-Hudson. The design uses brass, copper, enamel and lapis lazuli. On each arm of the cross is one of the symbols of the four evangelists. The Rev Knatchbull acquired the candlesticks at the same period.

The organ was built in 1921 as a memorial to the men killed in the First World War. It was completely rebuilt in 1980. The blower was added in 1942 in memory of Helen Perry. This is a fine instrument having eight speaking stops on the great, six on the Swell and four on the Pedals, together with seven couplers and ten thumb and toe pistons. It was rebuilt and extended by Ward & Shutt in 1978.

A table of benefactors (renewed 1886/89) is fixed to the wall in the vicar’s vestry. The two vestry windows are both by Kempe in memory of former vicars – Rev John Edward Hughes, vicar 1884-1909, and Rev Samuel Pearson, vicar 1724-1762. A fireplace still exists, doubtless needed when meetings were literally vestry meetings. There is an old chest, dated 1718, housed in the vestry, although its original use is unknown.

The South Aisle

Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee window is an outstanding example of a memorial from this period. The four major lights show figures emblematic of the Virtues, and the lower lights depict some principal incidents from the life of Victoria.

The Royal Coat of Arms of Charles II, which backs onto the organ pipes dates from the 17th century and it is carved from a single piece of chestnut. Originally, it belonged to the parish church of St Neot in Huntingdonshire

For some reason it was removed, and in the early years of this century, Ralph Charles Donaldson-Hudson found it in an antique shop in Wardour Street, London. He purchased it and it adorned his dining room mantelpiece at Cheswardine Hall for many years. Finally, it was stored in a loft over the carpenter’s shop in the Estate yard before being presented to the church. A specialist from South Kensington has declared it to be “probably the finest example in England”.

(Note the small gallery of pictures on the south wall. Amongst them are Mr Frank Gregory’s beautiful copies of four pages from a 12th century Monk’s Breviary, discovered by the Rev J E Hughes and forming part of the covers of an old book of churchwardens’ accounts.)

The Kempe window in the west end of the south aisle is in memory of George Arkinstall, the parish clerk from 1868 to 1894, who died tolling the bell for a service. His church notebook has survived and covers the period 1837 – 1877

(A Ladies Guild produced the almost life-sized figure of St Swithun fixed to the pillar nearest the porch doors. The was to celebrate the church millenary in 1976 (What was that??) A local potter, Mr Fisher, also made the earthenware plate which rests on the old parish chest.)

External Features

The wrought iron lantern over the foot of the south steps was given by Mary Grave in memory of the wife of Charles Donaldson-Hudson, Sara Marie Streatfeild. It was regilded recently by the late Chris Bishop from Colyton House in Market Drayton

The present clock was installed in 1849, according to George Arkinstall’s notebook, and not the one shown in the sketch of the church by Miss Jervis from 1807.

 The battlemented top of the tower is moulded vertically and horizontally in characteristic perpendicular manner. On the stringcourse above the west door is a knot with a dog on each side. The knot is the badge of the Talbot family. Reference to the history section shows the le Strange family virtually owned Cheswardine in the 1100’s. The daughter of the 5th Baron Talbot was the sole heiress and she married the 4th Baron Talbot about 1380. In turn, John Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury married the daughter of the 6th Earl of Stafford in 1467. Both the latter died in the 1470’s. The carving on the stringcourse therefore dates the tower to be around 1470. On each side of the west door and at different heights are two niches that some reports state to have once held figures of St Peter and St Paul.

Note the carved lion on the southeast buttress of the tower, whilst on the northeast buttress is a gryphon (or griffin) usually thought to be a symbol of Jesus being both human and divine, and on the south east corner of the vestry is a rather interesting adornment!

The large porch is of gabled timber construction with interior stone side benches.

Gravestones in the Old Churchyard

On the east side of the porch, adjacent to church are two graves, the first of John Donaldson-Hudson (1908 – 1949), the last squire of Cheswardine Hall, and his widow Dorothy Elizabeth (nee Freemantle) (1915 – 2005). The other grave is of Michael Donaldson-Hudson (1900 – 1965).

Alongside the path from the small north door of the church to the drive leading to the northern portion of The Old Hall are a number of significant graves. That of Catherine Donaldson (nee Halliley) (1813-1905) can be found just the other side of the bushes on the left-hand side, whilst that of Robert & Ann Macalister, is found a little further on.

At the end of the path, on the right-hand side, is an area dedicated to sole use of the Donaldson-Hudson family, and here can be found the grave of Ruth Donaldson-Hudson (1902-1979). 

 Sara Marie Collier (nee Streatfeild) (1850-1909), who married Charles Collier, after the death of her first husband, Charles Donaldson-Hudson, is buried here too.

On the south side of the tower can be found the large grave of Ralph Charles Donaldson-Hudson (1874-1941) and his wife Muriel Balfour (1876-1956)

You will also find a number of grave stones for the Vardon family from Goldstone, and for the Harding family from Old Springs.

The New Churchyard

The new churchyard is 100 yards due east of the church, on the south side of Church Lane. The entrance gates form a memorial to those men and women who died serving their country during the Second World War from 1939 – 1945.