Archives > Thompson's
Notes
Joseph Thompson of Parwich (1833 - 1909) had
the following to say about the old church building, prior to its replacement:
In me boyhood there was a small but interesting
Norman Church, but the parsons have "Restored" this off the
face of the earth. First of all, the heavy pillars and round arches, which
supported the roof, dividing the Nave from the Aisle were pulled down
and a meaningless round plaster arch of no ornamentation was substituted.
But that was not enough. In later days, a reforming parson came. The church
had an unusually long chancel for the size of the building. This was not
placed in the exact middle of the eastern wall but rather to one side;
it therefore prevented the parson from seeing all the congregation when
he read from the communion table, moreover he had to lift up his voice
to be heard. So the decree went forth; a faculty was obtained, and the
dear old church was pulled down and a brand new one built. Where is now
the low, ivy covered square tower, through which one entered and saw the
sexton toll the bell? Where is the sculptured sword, thought to be crusaders?
Where the pulpit for the Parson with the desk under it for the clerk?
Where the choir with its diverse instruments of music in the gallery?
Where the sqare pews that belonged to the several farms, and gace a special
and personal interest to the occupants? All gone! All swept away to satisfy
the ritualistic fancies of a sacerdotal parson. Thus is England being
spoiled of its glory. Inside the church are comfortless benches, a Sanctum
and Altar forsooth and externally it is a spick and span new building
which might just as well be a Methodist Chapel. But, this is not all.
Our gathers long indulged in a little paganism including nature worship.
Amongst the ornaments of the church was an entablature covered with animals
symbolic of phallic worship. This evidently had been taken down at a later
period and been obscured by whitewash and plaster. On pulling down the
church it has been built into the porch of the new church as the tympanum
of the arch above the main door. I used to see two oak chests in the chancel
and wondered what they contained. It was said the candles for lighting
the church were stored there because the mice played havoc with them when
they were stored in the cupboards on the wall. I used to see one, bolder
than the rest, from my perch in the gallery. It used to run out of its
hole and take a nibble from the candlestick placed in its holder ready.
But it must have satisfied the hunger of the poor thing that looked as
small and famished as any church mouse must do! I often wonder what became
of the old sundial that so long dominated the porch door of the old church,
around which a circle of expectant worshippers, men and boys, used always
to be standing waiting for the service to begin.
There used to be a little odd-looking square old man, by name of Isaac Saint, who had a chronic weakness for always being Church Warden, an honourable office in that day and he generally had his desire satisfied. Being then in power, he decided that certain "Improvements" be made at once. First the private pews in the gallery were cleared away, followed by the clearing of the Norman arches and one circular plaster arch substitued for them. A Vestry meeting was called to discuss the improvements. Some said it would not be safe and would put the church in danger. Nothing daunted the little man who declared it would be such an easy thing to do "to turn-er arch" that he could do it himself! So the thing was done and the great, wide, hideous flat arch took the place of the two Norman arches with their corbels and zig-zag chiselling, in keeping with the architecture that the most iconoclastic dissenter would never have wished to have been swept away. Then the Font stood inside the chancel. The stove stood in the middle of the Church. Women clattered up the aisle in their pattens and men used to cover their faces reverently with their hats during their private devotions before the service. There was no merit then in turning to the east, though a low curtsey towards that point was dropped by several women. In the square pews, each knelt with his back to others, unaware of the bad orthodoxy of such practice. Nor did I often hear the sermon discussed, for, like Tenison's hero, "they though 'a said what 'a ought to 'a said and then they coomed away."