Church History
A guide to the Parish Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Kimpton, Hampshire.
The present Church was begum in 1230, but there is evidence of land holding in Kimpton before the Norman Conquest and the manor of Kimpton is recorded in the Domesday Book. It seems likely, therefore, that the present church was built on earlier foundations, which were probably in the nave.
A guide to the Parish Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Kimpton, Hampshire.
The present Church was begum in 1230, but there is evidence of land holding in Kimpton before the Norman Conquest and the manor of Kimpton is recorded in the Domesday Book. It seems likely, therefore, that the present church was built on earlier foundations, which were probably in the nave.
The existing church was built in stages within about 150 years between 1220 and 1370. It has been restored but apart from the tower there have been no major alterations. It is consequently unified and harmonious and this unity is more apparent because there is no dividing arch between the chancel and the nave. These were built first, and originally stood alone. Early in the 14th century the north transept was added and the south transept was built later in the same century and in the same at the same time as the south aisle. The church therefore has a satisfying stylistic as well as spatial unity.
By the beginning of the 19th century the original tower had crumbled and become dangerous and was rebuilt between 1837 and 1839. There had already been one considerable restoration, that of the south aisle, completed in 1701. The chancel and the transepts were both restored at the end of the 19th century.
The church served both Kimpton and the nearby hamlet of Shoddesden and it had continuous associations with the Foyle family, who held the manor of Kimpton 1620 to 1886, and with the advowson from 1620 until the late 19th century, and with the Thornburgh family in Shoddesden. Both families were considerable landowners in the area and benefactors of the church and parish. The unity and dignity of this small church were apparent as you stand at the west end. If you are in the church, these notes lead you clockwise past the 19th century font and the tower to the north wall and back to the south door where you enter.
By the beginning of the 19th century the original tower had crumbled and become dangerous and was rebuilt between 1837 and 1839. There had already been one considerable restoration, that of the south aisle, completed in 1701. The chancel and the transepts were both restored at the end of the 19th century.
The church served both Kimpton and the nearby hamlet of Shoddesden and it had continuous associations with the Foyle family, who held the manor of Kimpton 1620 to 1886, and with the advowson from 1620 until the late 19th century, and with the Thornburgh family in Shoddesden. Both families were considerable landowners in the area and benefactors of the church and parish. The unity and dignity of this small church were apparent as you stand at the west end. If you are in the church, these notes lead you clockwise past the 19th century font and the tower to the north wall and back to the south door where you enter.
THE NAVE (North Wall)
Both the windows in this wall were inserted in the 14th century and they have cinquefoiled heads and three lights typical of the later gothic style. Between the windows is a blocked up door (which can be seen from the outside of the church) with a pointed head typical of the earlier form of gothic architecture and this suggests that it was probably part of the original 13th century structure.
On the wall is a framed board bearing the Royal Arms. After the reformation, Henry VIII ordered that there should be a display of the Royal Arms in every church to emphasise that the King had broken with the pope and had become Supreme Governor of the Church of England.
This is a fine example, in very good condition and particularly interesting because even without the date,1212 on the board, it can be dated to after 1801 when the use of the French Arms was dropped, and before 1816 when Hanover became a kingdom, and the bonnet of the Elector of Hanover which can be seen within the Garter, was replaced by a Royal crown. Until fairly recently the board was hung in the tower.
This is a fine example, in very good condition and particularly interesting because even without the date,1212 on the board, it can be dated to after 1801 when the use of the French Arms was dropped, and before 1816 when Hanover became a kingdom, and the bonnet of the Elector of Hanover which can be seen within the Garter, was replaced by a Royal crown. Until fairly recently the board was hung in the tower.
THE NORTH TRANSEPT
The entrance to the north transept, unlike the entrance from the nave to the chancel, is through an arch. The tomb to Robert Thornburgh of Shoddesden against the north wall together with the image brackets on the east wall, which show where there was once an alter, suggest that this was at one time a chantry for the Thornburgh family.
The memorials on the north wall are to Robert Thornburgh who died in 1522, and are most remarkable. Above the tomb are two tablets. The lower one invites prayers for the soul of Robert Thornburgh and his wives and children; above it is a brass relief of Robert Thornburgh in armour, followed by brasses of his first wife and her two children and of the second wife with seven children. From the mouths of each adult figure issues a scroll with their words, in Latin, imploring the help of Christ. Below is the tomb itself, half buried in the wall.
THE CHANCEL
The steely pointed lancet window in the north and south walls of the chancel show its 13th century origins. But there were interesting alterations made in the 14th century. The squint between the north transept and the chancel, the second window on the north wall and all the remains of a tomb on the same wall were all 14th century additions. Shallow arches and rounded trefoils within them replaced the earlier pointed arches that can be still be seen in the lancet windows. On this wall is a fine tablet to a member of the Foyle family.
The most striking change in the church, however, was to the window in the east wall where the stonework enclosing the glass was enlarged and re-shaped with two ogee lights and a quatrefoil above them sometime after 1320. The window was re-glazed in 1901 " to the honour of God and the memory of Queen Victoria the Good 1837-1901". Much of the original stone was replaced, what little survived can be seen round the outside and underneath the window. On the east wall there are two memorial tablets, one to a member of the Foyle family, with a long Latin inscription, and decorated with symbols of death, and the other decorated with a cherubim and coat of arms.
The mixture of 13th and 14th century features on the north side of the chancel is echoed on the south side. There are two 13th century lancet windows, narrow with pointed arches, opposite the northern one. There are also 14th century additions: a two-light window under a trefoiled head, a priest's door and a piscine decorated with shallow trefoiled arches in the stonework above in the same style as the tomb opposite. The squint from the south transept was another 14th century insertion. Both the squints and the lancet windows were blocked up at some after the reformation, and were revealed during extensive restoration at the end of the 19th century.
The alter table is late 16th century and very handsome, with heavily carved baluster legs. The carved rails are at the floor level, which is characteristic of all early tables.
THE SOUTH TRANSEPT
Before the 2003/04 restoration work, the organ took up most of the south transept, which was also used as a vestry. On the south wall are two fine late 14th century windows. The upper one is a straightforward ogee headed two-light window with a quatrefoil above.
The smaller one below is more interesting because it has been cut into an earlier tomb recess, which has been blocked in to make way for the second window. This, in turn, was blocked up, and rediscovered during the late 19th century restoration work. Beside the window is a circular piscine, standing on a stone shelf. On the east wall of the transept are two image brackets and although one has the stonework hacked away and the other is a 19th century copy they are interesting as an indication of the earlier use of the transept. The conjunction of the tomb recess, the piscina, the image brackets and the squint into the chancel suggests that, like the north transept, it may once have been a chantry. If this was so it was abandoned before the smaller window cutting into the tomb was put in, and well before the Reformation.
THE SOUTH AISLE
The south aisle, also a late 14th century addition, is separated from the nave by four octagonal supporting shallow arches with capitals. Both its windows are 14th century in style, deeply recessed with single ogee headed lights. The south east window, nearest the transept, is an 198th century copy, but the south west window was thought by Pevsner to be original. Much of this aisle was rebuilt in 1702 as is recorded on a tablet outside the church.
THE ROOF
The roof is almost entirely modern, but the tie beam in the middle truss of the chancel roof is original and has moulded sides and a foliage boss in the center. The roof was replaced in deal in the early 19th century restoration and again in oak at the end of the century.
THE BELLS
In the 1900 restoration one of the three bells, which was cracked, was re-cast and they were rehung. However, the treble bell must have been replaced later as it is inscribed "Warner 1905". The Victoria County History records that of the others the "second ~(is by) G. Robert Wells of Aldbourne, 1764; and the tenor by G. William Purdue od Salisbury, 1662".
THE ORGAN
The organ by Bevington and Sons, London dated for 1892.
PARISH REGISTERS
Baptisms were recorded from 1480 and marriages and deaths from 1593. The registers are now kept in the Hampshire Public Records Office
THE OUTSIDE
On leaving the church through the 18th century porch, look first at the stone tablet on the wall to the right of the porch, which commemorates the 1702 repairs. The names of the churchwardens suggests that the re-building was initiated by them. This would be consistent with the medieval and early modern practice that while a patron and Rector were responsible for the upkeep of the chancel, the parishioners paid for maintaining the rest of the fabric.
Then turn to look at the tower before going round the outside of the church. The nave, transepts, chancel and aisle are remarkably harmonious, but the tower appears totally incongruous. It was re-built when the nave was repaired between 1837 and 1839 as part of an extensive scheme organized by Rector Charles Randolph. As Pevsner records, it is "surprising". Not only is it built largely of brick and flint while the church is stone and flint, but also it is unlike contemporary church building elsewhere and lancet windows, though they are in keeping with the lancets in the church itself, are set in an uncompromising un-gothic building.
However, there is amore sympathetic way of looking at it. The use of brick and flint was common in the area in the early 19th century and was indeed used in Kimpton Lodge nearby, which was built at much the same time.
Then turn to look at the tower before going round the outside of the church. The nave, transepts, chancel and aisle are remarkably harmonious, but the tower appears totally incongruous. It was re-built when the nave was repaired between 1837 and 1839 as part of an extensive scheme organized by Rector Charles Randolph. As Pevsner records, it is "surprising". Not only is it built largely of brick and flint while the church is stone and flint, but also it is unlike contemporary church building elsewhere and lancet windows, though they are in keeping with the lancets in the church itself, are set in an uncompromising un-gothic building.
Since Charles Randolph was married to Mary Ann Foyle, daughter of the Lord of the Manor, the same architect may have built both the Manor House and the Tower. Brick and Flint may have been the natural choice of building material in 1837, just as stone and flint were in 1220. Economy and practicality would have played a part in dictating the choice of building material in both cases. The lancet windows can, in that case, be seen as an architectural reference to the lancets in the walls of the church itself.
There are two elegant 14th century windows in the north wall, one which is illustrated above. Otherwise the outside, which has been restored calls for no particular comment.
There are two elegant 14th century windows in the north wall, one which is illustrated above. Otherwise the outside, which has been restored calls for no particular comment.
BRASS RUBBING