St. Mary's Now
The Parish Church of St. Mary's has a lively 'Christ centered' congregation and welcome all who come to worship here, families especially. We meet at 9:30 most Sundays and enjoy a number of different services, click here to see the United Benefice Service Pattern.
Church History
It is very probable that part of this church is older
than the Doomsday survey in 1086. The
entry referring to the manor of Aspenden mentions a priest and a King’s Thane,
both of whom imply a church. For
under the laws of King Athelstan, a Thane should have a church on his estate.
This church would have been of Saxon origin
consisting of nave and chancel only, with small round headed windows all round
which were, of course, unglazed. The
only part of this church remaining is incorporated in the North wall, where in
the chancel there is an original Saxon window, which had been blocked up and was
found in the restoration of 1873.
There was thus the greatest probability that the
church was build around the year 1,000. But when one learns that before 1,000 there was a strong
expectation prevailing that this would be the last year of the world, with the
consequent cessation of church building, it is not improbable that the original
Christian church could date from 950.
The first change came in the 12th Century,
when the chancel was lengthened, a triple lancet window inserted in its east
wall and a single lancet window in the north and south walls.
The next change came in 1475 when the squire Sir
Ralph Jocelyn, raised the height of the nave by replacing the original roof by
the present queen post roof of heart of oak.
He also had the south wall replaced, by the present arcade, and added the
South aisle and it is probable that at this time the chancel arch was removed.
The tower was built around 1390.
About 1500, Sir Robert Clifford married Ralph Jocelyn’s widow and build
the south porch, which bears his coat of arms in spanduels.
The
Tower houses eight bells.
The first, second and third were cast by Robert Phelps in 1736 - the
fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth by George Chandler in 1681. Alfred Bowell, by
whom the bells were re-hung in that year, recast in 1871, and again in 1936 the
7th.
A plaque records the ringing of the first peal of 5040 Triples on October
24th, 1764 by Wm. Sanders, Geo. Nichols, Ed. Pilbrow, Sam Thorp, Wm. Wallis, Wm.
Bunce, Thos. Harvey and Wm. Green, ringers of Aspenden Parish.
The latest part of the building is the chapel at
the end of the South aisle, which probably replaced an older chapel of which
there is no record. On the North
wall, under a shield, there is the date 1622.
On the same wall – the arcade with its peculiarly Jacobean patterned
pillars would agree with this date. In
the pier at the northwest corner of this chapel is the blocked up arch of the
entrance to the rood screen.
Entering the porch, one is faced with the massive
South door of oak in a 17th century pattern.
The lock is of the same date. Passing
through on the left is the 15th century font of octagonal shape with
blank shields on alternate faces, which once held four plain escutcheons.
The
Rector's Board over the font, a memorial to B.E. (Bert) Thody M.B.E., is the
work of Mr. Siegfried Pietzsch, of Redbourne. Mr. Anthony Palmer, Assistant
Archivist to the Hertfordshire County Council, carried out the research. Not
only does it list incumbents, but provides a potted history of the structural
alterations to the building over the years.
To the right is an alms box of a pattern ordered by Henry II in 1166, probably made in the mid 17th century. To the front of the visitor, on the north wall of the nave, is a sepulchral brass. This was formerly in the floor of the nave, and consequently much injured by traffic, it was set in a tablet and placed in the wall in 1873.
The brass on the north wall opposite the door is of an
unknown man and his wife and used to be in the floor of the nave. The
remaining inscription reads:
ALICIE UXORIS EIDS (PIUS?) QUI QUIDEM
The colouring of the chancel ceiling (which is
of the wagon-vault form) was copied in 1873 from a similar design in Jesus
College, Cambridge, designed by Pugin.
The
low north side window in the nave is of Barnac stone, and was walled up until
1873. The old Saxon window is set
high in this wall In the north east corner is an alter tomb or Easter sepulcher,
it is of Gothic design,
and bears no inscription.
On the south side of the chancel, there is an
aurulry set in the wall, which in the recess below the lancet window, is an
eight failed piscince with drain.
The south chapel, which serves as a vestry for
chair and clergy, is enclosed by a fine 17th century screen.
The box pews are of the same date and are plain paneled oak and retain
their original iron hinges.
In the east corner of the chapel is a canopied
altar tomb of Bethersden marble. It
is in memory of Sir Robert and Lady Clifford, whose effigies in a kneeling
position, are cut into the back was of the tomb.
They are of coloured enameled brass and are said to be good and early
specimens of the kind.
The box pew at the south wall of the chapel is still
called “The Macauley Pew” as the family of the great historian who lived
nearby for a time used it.
On the South wall of the aisle is a large tablet
on which are placed copper busts of two brothers Ralph and William Freman.
Sir Ralph was Lord Mayor of London and wears the Collar of SS (of the
order of the Holy Ghost) in his right of office as Lord Mayor.
Originally in the church of St. Michael, Cornhill, they were saved during
the Fire of London, 1666 and placed here in 1702.
Bishop Seth Ward, of Exeter and Salisbury sees,
was a local notable, educated at Buntingford grammar school and Oxford.
His memorial to his parents is fixed to the outside wall of the chapel.
No record exists respecting the dedication of Aspenden Church.
The local tradition is that it is dedicated to St. Mary, in common with
many other churches in the district. But
as the annual fair was held on July 16th and there is evidence to
show that fairs were almost universally held on the commemoration day of the
saint to whom the parish church was dedicated, there must be suspicion that the
original ascription was to St. Anne, mother of the blessed virgin.
Church services take place almost every Sunday, after which the Church can be appreciated along with a cup of tea or coffee which is always available after the service.