Church Vestry

From the “The Book of Wanborough – Complied , written and presented to St. Bartholomew’s Church, Wanborough, Surrey by the late William Maurice-Adams AD 1925.Pages 44-52.
The New Vestry.
During the summer of 1926, the building of the new Vestry—the gift of W.C. Perkins Esq., of Wanborough Manor was commenced on the north side of the Chancel. During the digging of the foundations human remains were discovered—doubtless of some person whose burial found record in the old parchment Register (1561-1640). These were reverently re-interred with a short service suitable to the occasion said by the vicar, the Rev. John Pearce.
The new building was erected from the designs of Capt. W. H. Blacking, of Guildford, the Diocesan Architect by Messrs. Stanley Ellis, Builders, also of Guildford, and was completed by the beginning of December in the year above mentioned.
In response to a request made by the Vicar, Churchwardens, and Parish Council sometime previously, the Lord Bishop of Winchester—the Right Rev. Dr. Woods— signified his readiness to dedicate the new Vestry, and fixed the hour of 6 p.m. on the evening of December 21st (St. Thomas’s Day for the commencement of the Service introductory to the ceremony.
The following account of the proceedings on that date appeared in a subsequent issue of The Surrey Advertiser, published in Guildford: “Tuesday, December 21st (St. Thomas’s Day) will doubtless henceforward be accounted a Red Letter Day in the annals of the ancient Church of St. Bartholomew, Wanborough. By the generous munificence of Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Perkins, of Wanborough Manor, a new clergy and choir vestry has been built in the year of their silver wedding to replace the small and inconvenient iron structure which has for many years past done duty in that capacity, and the date named was chosen by the Lord Bishop of Winchester, Dr. Woods, for its dedication.
” The new building occupies a site between the Manor House and the adjoining church, and is connected with the latter by a short cloister giving entrance to the sacred edifice through the north-east doorway. This last is one of the interesting features of the church believed to be due to the work of reconstruction carried out. it is supposed, in the 12th century, by the Abbot and Brethren of Waverley Abbey.
” The Vestry is a handsome building of good design, spacious and well-lighted, with arrangements for gas-heating, and with all necessary fittings and appointments to render it in every way suitable for its purpose. All the woodwork above the floor is of solid oak.
” The time fixed for the service of dedication-consisting of shortened evensong, the dedicatory prayers, and an address by the Bishop — was 6 p.m. But before this his lordship was the appreciative recipient of a most hospitable welcome on this his first visit to the parish at the hands of Mr. and Mrs. Perkins at the Manor House, and an introduction to the principal residents and others assembled there to meet him. The clergy present included the late Suffragan Bishop of Kingston-on-Thames (Dr. Cecil Hook, now of Puttenham), the Venerable Archdeacon Blackburne (Rector of Puttenham, the Rev. J. A. Phillips (Curate of Puttenham), the Rev. G. L. Cole (Vicar of Ash), the Rev. E. J. Newill Rural Dean), and the Rev. John Pearce (Vicar of Wanborough).
” When the service commenced the church — it is one of the smallest in —was filled to overflowing, and the of the congregation joined heartily in’ singing of the hymn ” We love the place O God,” as the choir advanced in procession from the south door, followed by the church wardens (Colonel H. L. Pritchard and J. B. Hewett) bearing their staves of office; the Rural Dean in his capacity, on this occasion, of Acting Chaplain carrying the  episcopal cross; and the Bishop with pastorial staff. The last named occupied a seat in the Sanctuary during the preliminary evensong. The dedicatory prayers including petitions for the blessing of God on the the new vestry and its founders; were said at the entrance to the choir — an arrangement which permitted all present to share in the proceeding, and to add at the end of each collect their fervent Amen.
Space will not permit more than merest outline of the Bishop’s appropriate and excellent address.   In allusion to new Vestry this bore on the subject of vestments or clothes, and pointed out how their use was indicative of profession or character (as seen in the case of the 17th cent Cavaliers, Puritans and Quakers) or of the rendering of public or private service (such as that of the Army, Navy and Police many other like bodies).   The vestures of the clergy in church were placed in the latter category, and stress was laid upon necessity of avoiding all that could described as casual in their use.   In all cases the call made upon the wearer was to live up to the profession.   The profession of Christianity itself made a like call.
” In happy sequence the Bishop concluded by a reference to the Christmas thought of the coming “for us men and for our salvation” of the Diety clothed in our humanity — “Veiled in Flesh the Godhead see” — the doctrine of the Incarnation which is the basis of the whole fabric of our Christian Faith.
” A notable Address on a notable occasion!” (W.M.A.)
As a permanent record of the event above described a commemorative tablet of oak with incised and gilded lettering—the whole the work of Mr. A. S. Jeal, Builder, etc., of Puttenham—was, on Saturday, June 25th, 1927, and under the authority of the Church Council, placed in the Cloister, over the door leading into the Vestry, bearing the following Inscription :—
This Cloister and Vestry, the Gift of William  Charles and Jane Gibson Perkins of Wanborough Manor, were dedicated to the Glory of God In the year of their Silver Wedding By Theodore, Lord Bishop of Winchester on St.  Thomas’ Day, A.D. MCMXXVI.
During the Spring of 1927 various necessary repairs to the outer walls and buttresses of the church were carried out —especially at the east end where ancient growths of ivy, of considerable size and much decayed, had penetrated almost to the inner surface of the wall on that side and caused extensive fractures. These growths, and the damaged portions of the wall were carefully removed and the cavities filled in with stones and other substantial material.
The Diocesan Architect reported to the Churchwardens that the fabric of the Church was now in a highly satisfactory ‘ condition.
In the early days of the year 1928 operations were commenced in connection with the installation of radiators and the necessary adjuncts for the heating of the Church. The work was carried out by Mr. W. J. Jackson, Builder, of Compton—the entire cost being generously borne by Philip Lyle Esq., of Wancote, Wanborough.
The furnace was placed in the chamber on the south side of the new Vestry at a depth of eight feet below the floor level. With this was connected a series of six Radiators one of which was placed in the Vestry, and the other five distributed as follows : in the Sanctuary two—both of them just within the altar rails, against the north and south walls respectively ; one under the north window near the pulpit, and the north end of the Choir Screen ; one at the eastern side of the south entrance to the Church, and the last centrally placed, under the west wall. Arrangements were also made for the conveyance of heat by means of pipes along the greater part of the base of the north wall.
During the course of the work vestiges of a former system of heating the sacred building were laid bare. This system appears to have been that known by the term hypocaust. The furnace, in this case, was situated at the west end of the church, and the heat was conveyed by means of pipes carried under the floor, up the whole length of the central gangway as far as the Sanctuary rails where their course turned off at right angles in the direction of the ancient Priests’ doorway on the north tide of the chancel, by means of which access to the vestry is now obtained. Over these pipes were placed open-work iron plates, or perforated tiles, to facilitate the entry of the heated air into the Church. The pipes employed in the new system followed, in the main, the course of the older ones.
Several of these perforated tiles are still to be seen in the floor of the middle gangway at the extreme west end of the church,and also further east.
In making the necessary excavation near the entrance to the Sanctuary human remains were discovered. These, with others disturbed in making provision for the new furnace, were reverently re-interred in the churchyard opposite the west end of the Church.
The new heating arrangements were brought into use for the first time during public worship on Sunday, January 22nd. It was shortly after this that a new 2′ 6″ pathway was made to give a better exterior means of approach to the New Vestry. This passed along by the western wall of the church and parallel to it—crossing in its course the monumental stone mentioned on page 26, Regarding this latter as an obstruction,.and with a view to removing the offending portion, the verger—who was carrying out the work—proceeded to hack lines across it with his tool in line with the two sides of the path under the impression that he would be able thereby to break through the stone at these points and thus accomplish his purpose.   Fortunately he found   the    ta&k   too    difficult and desisted from  the attempt to carry it through.   But the scars inflicted on the monument remain.
In the course of the year 1928 the base of the pedestal appertaining to the Font was removed, and the Font itself lowered to this extent. By this means more passage-room was obtained at this point, and the use of the Font rendered, it was thought, more convenient.
In the early part of June 1929, several slight falls of plaster from the ceiling above the Choir and Sanctuary occurred, and it appeared likely that others—perhaps of a more serious nature—might take place at any moment in other parts of the building. Mr.  Theophilus  Allen,  A.R.I.B.A. was accordingly authorised by the Church Council to make an examination of the roof and to ascertain, if possible, the cause of these occurances.   For the purpose of such , inspection Mr. W. T. Jackson, Builder and Contractor,-of Compton and Puttenham, , was employed to removed the tiles from the portion of the roof where the falls had taken place.   It was found that portions of the woodwork of the roof were pressing heavily upon the ceiling beneath, and that the removal and renewal of these would be necessary.   It was thought, however, that a somewhat later date in the summer would be more convenient for carrying out this work, and wire netting was according suspended temporarily beneath the whole of the roof of the Church in case of further falls of plaster taking place meanwhile.
The whole of the work contemplate was completed during the month of July, 1929 the details and cost of which are shown in the following Account duly received And defrayed by the Churchwardens (Colonel A. M. Tringham and J. B. Hewett, Esq.)
It may be remarked that the first item given under the date April 5th is reminiscent of the severe frost which occurred in the early part of the year, and was the occassion of many frozen and burst water-pipes throughout the entire neighbourhood and elsewhere.
Compton and Puttenham, August 1929.
Apr. 5th. To repairing burst pipes £ s. d. Half Bar of Metal, 1 pint of Petrol, Material and Plumber’s time 5 9
June 21st. To carting and erecting ladders ; taking off tiles for Architect to inspect roof; refixing tiles and clearing away 126
July To re-tiling roof of church as per Estimate of July 16th, 1929 70 15 0
To re tiling roof of Belfry as per Estimate of July 16th, 1929 1 15 0
To erecting scaffolding to West End Taking off all weather tiles and old lath ; re-battening with new battens and re-tiling% using old tiles as far as possible To re-fixing loose sprocket pieces
150 Old Roofing Tiles, 400 ft of 1″x0.75″ Batten, 5-lbs. of Cut Nails, 38 lbs. of Galv. Tile Pins. Material and Mens’ time 11 10 0
To taking down wire netting inside of church ; putting up scaffolding; examining all. plaster panels and re-plasterrng where defective. 1 Bag of Sirapite, 4 Borrows of Hair Mortar, 1.5 Bundles of Laths and Nails,    Material and Men’s time 4 17 6
Subtotal 90   5 9
Allowance for difference between cost of counter battens, allowed 1″ x 0.75″ Oak, used 2″ x 1″ Deal 2 0 0 Allowance for wire netting taken down 1 3 6 Sub total 3 3 6
Total £87 2 3
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