Friends of St-Mary's

Spring News 2010

If you saw figures walking around on the roof of the Church one Saturday morning in December, you were not dreaming. Friends and helpers ventured up there to check it out and do some quick repairs. It was windy and slippery – one person fell on his backside whilst bravely painting on the Smart Water purchased by the Friends to provide a forensic ‘signature’ to the roof covering as a security precaution. There was an added bonus that the roof party managed to stop a couple of leaks before they could do too much damage. Meanwhile at ground level some massive pruning was going on. Thank you to everyone who helped both then and subsequently to clear the cuttings away. The churchyard(s)look much tidier and we did this ourselves, so at no cost!

There is more work to be done in basic maintenance, particularly some painting and pointing which will require paid expert labour. We are trying to build up a fighting fund of £3,000 to keep on top of maintenance and tackle jobs while they are small.

The graveyard extension purchase is very nearly finalised. The land has to be consecrated before it can be used for graves, and Bishop Frank is coming to perform the ceremony on Wednesday 3 July at noon.

Please support the Friends – here is our programme for 2010:

Sunday 18th April -a display of Wappenham villagers’ Wedding dresses (plus one star attraction) in the church followed by a ‘Songs of Praise’ service at 4 pm to celebrate marriage – would you be happy to display your wedding dress?

Saturday 8th May 9.30 to 12 noon - The Clarissa House Plant Sale, with coffee and biscuits

Saturday 10th July - A concert by the Northampton Chamber Choir (to be confirmed) Watch this space! Jane M Chair of the Friends of St Mary the Virgin Wappenham

The beautiful church of St Mary the Virgin is the first sight to strike you when approaching the village of Wappenham. It has been a part of village life and a peaceful place for Christian worship over many centuries. The Friends of St Mary the Virgin has been set up to look after the fabric of the Church, working closely with the Parochial Church Council, so that it will continue to stand for years to come.

The Committee

Pictured:
Jane Mordue (chair)
Dene Ayres (no longer with committee)
Rev Will Adams
John Bond (no longer with the committee)
Sarah Proctor
Anthony Tucker
Di Watts

Not pictured:
Alastair Judge, Eliza Bond (PCC representative) and Rev Dorothy Micklethwaite also attend.

What needs to be done and what has been accomplished?

The Church has stood for 800 years and each generation has looked after it and made it ‘fit for purpose’ for their times. The 21st century is no different. So what are the projects that need tackling now?

Become a Friend?

If you wish to support our work in maintaining this valuable part of our heritage, please do subscribe as a Friend for only £12 a year. An annual subscription of £12 is worth is £14.40 thanks to the generosity of the Chancellor! As a Friend you will be kept up to date with projects and results, as well as receiving early invitations to some special events and private viewings of works as they proceed. You will also know that you are helping to safeguard a historic building for future generations.

In 2004 the Diocesan Clocks Advisor, Mr John F.H. Smith, wrote that the clock was ‘of national importance’. It dates from the 1600s and is of “a wrought iron frame with two trains, end to end, the frame having curved scrolled finials on corners. The trains are capstan wound. On the going train the great wheel has forked iron spokes (an unusual and original feature). The going train is regulated by a pendulum and anchor escapement but there are redundant holes in the frame which indicate conversion from an earlier verge and foliot escapement”.

The pendulum was the breakthrough of its day in providing much more accurate timekeeping. The clock’s survival was due to a villager, George Gasson (pictured left), who, in 1952, restored it and climbed the tower every day to wind it. In 1975 the Northamptonshire Chronicle & Echo featured the then 83-year old George Gasson who was still climbing 30 steps a day (by candlelight) to wind the church clock.

The Wappenham church clock was finally restored to working order on Thursday 16th August 2007. For those parishioners that remember the clock working in the past, you might think that the strike is a little quieter than it was - you would be right! When the church bells were re-hung some years ago, they were lowered away from the louvre window in the church tower and, whilst not noticeable for a peel of bells, the single strike for the clock is now quieter.