Church
The church of ALL SAINTS stands on high ground in the
middle of the village and consists of chancel 27 ft. 6 in. by 14
ft. 3 in., with north vestry and organ-chamber, clerestoried nave
47 ft. 10 in. by 19 ft. 6 in., north and south aisles 9 ft. 6 in.
wide, south porch, and west tower 11 ft. square, all these
measurements being internal.
The chancel was rebuilt on the old foundations in 1858, but the
round-headed priest's doorway is apparently an ancient feature and
would seem to point to the original chancel having been of
late-12th-century date, to which period the south doorway and
probably the font belong. A wheel-head cross, of late-10th- or
early-11th-century date, however, preserved in the church,
presumably belongs to the site and if so indicates that there was a
cemetery here, and perhaps also a church in pre-Conquest times,
though the first stone building would no doubt be that erected in
the 12th century, consisting only of chancel and nave. The tower is
of c. 1220, and later in the same period the building
seems to have been remodelled, aisles thrown out and the chancel
altered. The nave arcades and three pointed windows in the south
aisle are c. 1280–90, but the north aisle appears to
have been rebuilt about fifty years later, the square-headed
windows and the pointed door being well-developed 14th-century
work. The porch and west window of the south aisle are also of this
period, but the clerestory is a late-15th-century addition; it has
four square-headed windows on each side, and embattled parapets,
with a sanctus bell-cote set over the east gable. The chancel has a
modern high-pitched roof covered with Colleyweston slates, but the
nave and aisles are leaded, the latter having straight parapets.
The tower was repaired and buttresses added in 1861.
The chancel, which is without buttresses, is built of local
ironstone faced internally with Bath stone. The arch of the
priest's doorway is of a single order slightly chamfered and
hood-mould over, and part of the westernmost window on the south
side is old, but no other ancient features remain. The piscina,
sedile, and a trefoil-headed recess in the north wall are all
modern. The restored chancel arch is of two chamfered orders on
responds with moulded capitals; on the wall above are the remains
of a painted Doom, discovered in 1858. The arcades are of four
bays, with pointed arches of two chamfered orders on octagonal
pillars with moulded capitals and bases, and similar responds much
restored. At the east end of the south aisle is a trefoil-headed
piscina, and farther west a tall narrow pointed recess, or
cupboard, probably used as a locker for banner staves, or for a
processional cross. The 12th-century south doorway, moved to its
present position when the aisle was added, has a round arch of two
square orders on moulded imposts, the hoodmould terminating in
heads.
The tower is of three stages with embattled parapet and angle
pinnacles. The upper or bell-chamber story has an arcade of three
pointed arches on each side, with separate hood-moulds carried
round the tower, and shafts with moulded capitals and bases, but
the outer compartments alone are pierced. The middle stage has a
small pointed opening on the north and south sides now hidden by
the clock faces; the west side is blank. In the lower stage is a
narrow pointed doorway on the south and a lancet window on the
west, both much restored. The tower arch is of two chamfered
orders. There is no vice.
The font is of the unmounted type, octagonal in shape and lined
with lead. On all sides but the west it is richly ornamented with
circular medallions inclosing roses, stars, and other devices,
flanked with bands of interlaced work. Having been long covered
with plaster the ornament is well preserved. The lower part is cut
back, or chamfered, and is plain.
The pulpit and other fittings are modern, but there is a
17th-century oak communion table in the north aisle; a standing
poor's box with three locks, cut from a single piece of oak, may be
of 16th-century date.
There is a ring of six bells cast in 1913 by J. Taylor & Co.
of Loughborough from four old and one modern bell.
The silver plate consists of a cup, cover paten, and alms dish
of 1685, the paten inscribed 'Mears Ashby, 1686', and a flagon of
1702 given by Mrs. Sarah Kinloch, widow, in 1710. There is also a
brass alms dish.
The registers before 1812 are as follows: (i) baptisms and
marriages 1670–1744, burials 1672–77, and 1753–7,
with all entries from Lady Day 1753 to Lady Day 1754; (ii) baptisms
1754–83, burials 1754–94; ) (iii) marriages
1754–1812; (iv) baptisms and burials 1794–1812.
Advowson
The advowson of the church of Mears Ashby was granted to the
abbey of Aunay by Richard de Humez and Agnes his wife before 1159.
During the Hundred Years War it fell into the king's hands and he
presented between the years 1345 and 1383. In 1392 Richard II
granted to the Prior of St. Anne of Coventry licence to acquire
this patronage from the Abbot of Aunay, paying to the king 25 marks
annually while the war lasted. The Prior of St. Anne's retained the
advowson until 1535. In 1562 Elizabeth granted it to John
Marshe. In 1625 died Justinian Bracegirdle in whose will
instructions were left to buy the advowson and impropriation of
Mears Ashby. The profits were to be appropriated in portions of £10
per annum to scholars of the University of Oxford and were directed
by three trustees who alternately presented to the living; their
successors are patrons at the present day.
In 1291 the church was worth £5 6s. 8d.
and in 1535 £5 4s. 2d.
Congratulations on the FTF to timitom
If anybody would like to expand to this series please do, I would
just ask that you could let
Sadexploration know first so he can keep
track of the Church numbers and names to avoid duplication
To view the church micro stats page, please click here