CHESTERTON. CHURCH : ST MICHAEL. INTERIOR PHOTOGRAPHS
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My home village church, and a scene of many memories for me over the years, some good and some bad. Being set well away from the main road, the church of St Michael is very quiet and peaceful. A lovely place to spend some time alone, either lost in thought or reading my bible.
The highlights inside this exquisite church, to my mind, are to be found alongside the north wall. Pictured below right, the tomb of William Beville dates from 1483/84. A short distance from that proudly sits the Beville monument, of which there are several photographs included. A very fine piece of work, but I feel that it was left unfinished. Other, smaller, but similar works in the area such as at Barnack and Thornhaugh, are fully painted. The Beville monument is unpainted and there is no evidence to show that it was ever painted. There is also a box left for text, with a few guide lines etched in to it so that the stonemason could keep the text straight. No text was ever carved in to this box though...curious!
A couple of other things regarding this monument. Firstly, take a look at the photograph third below on the left. In amongst a row of female figures an extra head appears. An E Mail from a member of the Beville family has suggested that this might represent Susannah Beville, who was baptised at St Michaels in November 1570, but who sadly died six months later.
Also, two thirds of the way up the monument, in between two arches, is a representation of Man's Mortality. This features a human skull with the Grave Diggers tools of pick, shovel and torch. Over the top of those are crossed Flames Of Life. These are facing upwards indicating immortality, if they were doenturned it would symbolise mourning and loss.
Another major monument inside St Michael's commemorates the cousin of the famous poet John Dryden. Please note photograph second from bottom on the right below, where another skull is present, with Flames Of Life this time downturned as mentioned above.
One interesting thing that can be seen in this church is a small collection of pieces of lead, taken from the roof during restoration work some years ago, which all contain a tracing of the persons foot, with the persons name or initials, and a date. One picture included at the foot of page, dating from 1859. R Hibbert carved the impression of his foot, and carved his name, in 1940. Perhaps this was the work of a bored firewatcher, perched on the church roof during the Second World War. Perhaps one of the troops who were stationed nearby?
The three bells in the tower are very old. One is dated 1621 and this is by Tobias Norris of Stamford. Another was made by John Walgrave and would be dated between 1418 and 1440. The third was by John Michell and dates from around 1490. Much of the church interior dates from the 13th century. A lovely church, and a special place for me.
