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St Swithin's Church in Barston |
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Parish Church of St. Swithin, Barston
This is a Fisher of the family the oldest Church reference to which may be found inscribed on the second highest pitched bell. "Abraham Fisher Gave Mee William Bagley Made Mee 1691". The memorial tablet in the south wall in the nave commemorates, inter alios, "John Gough Fisher second son of Thomas Fisher of Springfield in this County, Knight." The present building was Georgian before the Victorian "restorers” got at it! Examples of the round-headed arches remain in the tower windows, in the south wall of the nave (the blocked off south door now housing the Charities board) and in the east window. These arches, thought to be pagan in concept, offended the Victorians and similar ones elsewhere in nave and chancel, together with the chancel arch, were replaced by the present Neo-Gothic. This work was carried out in 1897 at which time the gallery at the west end of the nave and a carved wooden chancel screen were removed, and the vestry and north porch added. It is thought that the thickness of the walls is determined by those of the old Chapel now increased by the brickwork externally and plaster inside. Plans and elevations of the pulpit and prayer desk dated 1854 were acquired in entrepreneurial manner by a London gallery who offered them to the 1933 Incumbent for 30 shillings. His reply is amusing... "Dear Sir I am in receipt of the Original Drawings relating to Barston Church They are of no use to us, or I should think to anyone, and certainly not worth 30 shillings. I might give a couple of shillings for them, and I should not think anyone is likely to give you as much. If you wish me to return them kindly send me sixpence for the postage. Yours faithfully, J. Barker " The drawings remain in the Church's possession to this day. One wonders if he had a reply. A note in the Warwick records shows these furnishings to have been erected on 2nd March 1854; carving by Rattee of Cambridge, the other work by Kendrick Builders of Birmingham. It is also noted that the present font was installed, made from a design by Dudley Male of Birmingham and that the old font in two portions was buried under the foundation stone of the new one, the date of this being 18th August 1854 The stained glass of the east window dates from 1863 and almost certainly saved that window-arch from the Victorian renovators. The Church has a peal of six bells. Five were restored and a sixth added in 1960. They are inscribed as follows:
The 1963 Order of Service booklet mentions the following bell ringing customs in former days in Barston:
Reference has been made earlier to the inclusion of Barston in the diocese of Lichfield. In 1895 the records show an inspection to have been carried out for the Dilapidations Board of Worcester diocese in relation to a property of that diocese but situated in Warwickshire. In 1919 Barston remained in that diocese but the deed of conveyance by which, on 19th May 1921, 900 square yards were added to the Churchyard shows the parish then to be in the diocese of Birmingham where it remains. An Order in Council dated 23rd November 1893 authorised the separation of the Chapelry of Barston from the Rectory of Berkswell. The patronage was assigned to Mr Wheatley of Berkswell and after passing through the hands of Messrs. Shenstone and Gilbert was acquired by the present patrons, The Martyrs Memorial and Church of England Trust, on 13th February 1939. The Church has been scheduled under the 1947 Town and Country Planning Act as being of architectural or historical interest. L. F. Saizman in his History of Warwickshire implies that the twisted balusters of the communion rail are ancient but does not attempt to date them. Suggestions have been made that they are Jacobean, though it seems improbable that they ante-date the fire of 1721. Saizman draws attention to a medieval standing cross in the churchyard retaining part of the shaft a square base, and two octagonal steps, which in 1998 was scheduled by the Secretary of State as an Ancient Monument. Over the years there have been many charitable bequests made, principally toward the relief of the needy, in Barston. It is a reflection of our times that the trustees find increasing difficulty in establishing need requiring relief. A list detailing the charities is displayed on the board facing the entrance through the porch, on the blocked off south door arch. A scheme for the regulation of the charities was drawn up on 27th November 1972 by the Charity Commissioners and they have been rationalised into the Barston Relief in Need Charity and the Joseph Guest Charity (for the relief of poor boys and girls resident in the parish reference to be given to those attending Sunday School). From the income of the former the Church receives towards the repair of the building a guaranteed yearly income of 10p! The first mention of music in Barston records appears on 5th November 1821 - "for repairing the Bassoon £2.2.0." This indicates that there was a Church Band and an entry for 31st December 1840 notes "for fiddle strings 5 shillings." It seems likely that the band was housed in the now demolished gallery at the back of the nave. On 24th February 1865 the Church was presented with a harmonium by a Mrs Bennett and on 27th February 1867 books were bought for the choir. The present pipe organ was installed on 25th November 1903 by the firm of William Hill & Sons, who built Birmingham Town Hall organ. The electric blower was added in 1947 and although the instrument is small it is commended by the knowledgeable. In recent times a bier of some antiquity and no longer used was transferred to Warwick museum where it may be seen. In 1970 a stained glass window was added to the north side of the nave in memory of Frederick Gillman, a local farmer who died suddenly at the age of 34. Depicting the impact of the changing seasons on agricultural life, it was designed and made by Nora Yoxall and Elsie Whitford. Then in the year 2000 another window was commissioned for the south side of the church to celebrate the new Millennium, funded by members of the parish and congregation, and designed and created by The Art of Glass of Earlswood. This window, which beautifully complements the one opposite, shows various scenes and features of life in Barston at the turn of the century and aptly incorporates the biblical text 'Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and for ever" (Hebrews 13:8). In comparison with many churches in this country St. Swithin's present building is not ancient, but it is helpful to remember in placing it in its proper period that eighteen years after its consecration Bonnie Prince Charlie reached Derby in his bid to claim the British throne. Nearly three centuries have witnessed Christian worship within its walls and our prayer is that it will long continue as a centre for the praise of God and the teaching of the gospel. Scroll of Ministers of St Swithin's
1917-1940 John
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