Quantock Towers

I can not write sermons (thank goodness) but I wanted something a bit more personal to this church for today rather than a generic reflection so using some of the information in our Church guide – thank you John Crothers - I looked at some of the visible representations of St Mary and used that as a starting point for this talk. However as this is a service where we are acknowledging our patron saint, first a little information about Mary.

We hear relatively little of Mary in the Bible. Matthew and Luke mention he events before and at the birth of Jesus but The Gospels of Mark and John begin with Jesus as man. She is then mentioned occasionally throughout all 4 Gospels. Interestingly more history of Mary is given in the Quran than our New Testament. The Quran gives an account of the miraculous birth of both Mary and Jesus. Mary is dedicated to God before her birth by her mother Anne and is described as having a secluded upbringing in the Temple where angels bring her food. Later the virgin birth of Jesus is related but of course Islam sees Jesus as a messenger sent by God who is fully human and not part of the Trinity.

So moving onto St Mary here in Nettlecombe.

There has been a church here since about 1250 and was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary by 1440, we have no information why that particular Saint was chosen. The Trevelyan chapel, when it was added in the 16th century, was also dedicated to St Mary (Our Lady) as well as St George.

In the Trevelyan Chapel East window we see St Mary, 2nd a from the left, next to St Ulrith. On a little aside we are quite unusual in having St Ulrith portrayed as she is not a very common Saint. Its probably because she was fairly local – born in East Stowford, Devon, converted to Christianity and lived near Chittlehampton. She was apparently beheaded with a scythe possibly by pagans or encouraged by a jealous Stepmother - you see a scythe and a head being carried in the window. It was said a spring came forth from where she fell, particularly notable as apparently it was a time of drought. Ulrith was a name given to several in the Trevelyan family – so this is probably why she was portrayed. Remember this as we return to Ulrith later.

Anyway back to the window with StMary and Ulrith. This was restored in memory of Pauline the first wife of Sir Walter Trevelyan. She died in 1866 so the date 1869 probably refers to the completion of the work. The glass may be of mixed age and if you take a look later is better viewed from afar (you will see what I mean), which was probably the intention for all but the Trevelyan family themselves!

This window was installed towards the end of a significant period of restoration of the church. Rev Noel Ellison , who was married to Maria Trevelyan, sister of Sir Walter mentioned previously conceived the plans for this but sadly died before he could see the much of the work in 1858. The window showing another portrayal of Mary– difficult to see but do take a look later, - to the south side of the altar was given in his memory and that of his wife who died shortly after. It shows the annunciation and the colours are particularly vibrant in good light.

This brings us to the altar area where the most obvious portrayal of Mary is seen in the church – that in the East window. This window was given in memory of both Sir Walter Trevelyan (a different Sir Walter) who died in 1931 and his daughter Ulrith ( I said that name would appear again) a couple of years earlier at only 23. The Revd Fred Corfield, Rector at the time of this windows installation wrote”No definite news of the new window, though it will probably be ready by Easter. On closer examination of the old window it is found to be in a deplorable state, the wet coming through in several points also the glass is cracked in several places. We feel it’s very fortunate that a new window is forthcoming as the present one could not withstand many more south west gales”. It looks like the window made it in by easter 1935 although sadly the parish record for the following month has been lost.

The window was made by Martin Travers who was one of the most influential stainedglass artists of the 20th century. He was awarded the Grand Prix for stained glass in the 1925 International Exposition Of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts in Paris – the exhibition that gave rise to the tern “Art Deco”. In the same year he was appointed instructor in stained glass at the Royal College of Art and remained so until his death in 1948. His longstanding chief assistant John Crawford wrote that his windows were” designed and made to harmonise with their surroundings”. With several recognisable local features, I think that holds true here. He also designed the current reredos and rods when the 13th century frontispiece was replaced on its original base also in 1935. The previous one would have hidden some of the window apparently.

The final portrayal of Mary is the Bronze mother and child also in the Trevelyan chapel. This was commissioned as a memorial to Joan Wolseley (1904-43) – sister of Ulrith and was the last owner of Nettlecombe Court to have born the name Trevelyan. This was made by Ernest Gillick (1874-51). Ernest Gillick was born in Bradford and attended the Royal Academy where he was elected an associate. His first important commissions were for figures of the artists JMW Turner and Richard Cosway for the façade of the Victoria and Albert museum.

So 4 different portrayals of Mary in our church today. It could be argued they are there largely due to one family who lived in the Court and as the Lords of the manor – those at Nettlecombe court were responsible for the building and upkeep of the church it’s not too surprising. However to maintain the church, skilled workers, who largely remain nameless, were also required, as they are today. The Victorian age was a particular time of church restoration as the author of Somerset Churches, AK Wickham wrote

“There are few churches in Somerset, as in England generally, on which the Victorians have not left their too obvious marks, in seating, stained glass or in more structural repairs, especially in chancels. However, it most be freely conceded that they saved many a church from the complete decay which the long delay of the past would have brought.”

The 20th century brough changes here as it has done in many parishes and it became the responsibility of the parishioners to care for their church. It is now our role to save this church from decay and I am sure most of us have to explain to someone that we do not receive any money from the “state” or “governments” for this lovely building. We continue to repair or conserve past work using skilled persons, such as the effigies, using skilled craftsmen and willing volunteers. We also endeavour to make this building fit for use today and the future by hoping to improve disabled access and make a more useable space in the plans for the West end. However perhaps we can see we are just in a long line of people who have helped to care for this building over the centuries. As I said at the beginning of the service “we” ,as in all those who attend services or support us in anyway, are the ones responsible for all that happens in the building today.

So a very sincere thank you for all who are helping to keep the Blessed Virgin Mary church here in Nettlecombe for others to worship in, and enjoy, in future years.

Quantock Towers

Patronal service to celebrate St Mary - 8.9.24

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