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St Nicholas
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4  |
Loxley Church has a
history dating back to the 8th century, when the site
was given to the Cathedral Church of Worcester by Offa,
King of Mercia. A little of the Saxon stonework
remains in the north wall.; but to all intents and
purposes the present church was consecrated in 1286,
the lower parts of the tower at least dating from this
period.
It was, however almost entirely rebuilt in the 18th
century, the tower alone remaining unaltered.
This stands a little incongruously at the side of the
church at its west end (1), the former aisle against
which it stood seemingly having been removed. (2)
The church stands within the grounds of the Loxley
House (3), although there is a separate
pedestrian entrance from the road.
Note the re-use of gravestones to face the wall of
the vestry (4)
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6
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As quite often the case when
visiting churches without prior warning, the key could
not be found in the time available, and pictures had
to be taken through dirty windows. Fortunately
one of the features here is the plain glass in the
Georgian windows, and, as window sill and external
ground levels contrive to allow good visibility within
the church, picture quality is better than usual in
such circumstances!
5 & 6 are taken through the East
window, looking towards the west door; box-pews and
Georgian altar rails can be seen.
Immediately to the left of the
northern chancel arch can be seen a rope which acts as
the hand-rail to the steps leading to the
Vestry. Another door in the vestry then leads to
the pulpit in the north wall of the church, and which
is hidden in the photograph behind the difference in
wall alignment between chancel and nave.
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7
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7
Opposite the pulpit in the north wall is a larger
high-sided family pew, used no doubt by the Lord of
the Manor who resided at Loxley House.
William Debanck was the parson who built himself a private pew and secured a letter from the chancellor of the
Diocese restricting its use to the minister. Not
having gained access to the church, this may in fact
be the pew in question.
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8  |
9  |
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8 .
A view of the west end of the church taken through the
northern tower window, showing the font and a side
view of the small organ now used. 9. A
closer view of the rounded grave-cover against the
west wall of the church.
"In 1704, already a widow, she
[Jane Norcliffe, gd. of Sir Reginald Forster
of Loxley Hall] lost her only child, a boy of nineteen; and having presented the church with a fine silver chalice and paten, removed to another parish. To her liberality may be ascribed, in all likelihood, the classical renovation of which the effects are apparent in the excellent Communion rails, the pulpit – projecting like a bracket, so that the preacher suddenly emerges (to the delight of any juvenile members of his congregation) from the south wall of the nave – the circular headed windows, the box pews, the handsome west-door, and its pretty flight of steps." "The alterations in the `forties were the work of the Rev. William Cassebon Purdon. Now, in this present winter, the restorers are busy once more. The disused gallery has been removed; the arch between the nave and the tower has been opened up; a glass-light representing the patron saint – of boys, thieves, parish-clerks, sailors, pawnbrokers, and Loxley Church – has been inserted in the lancet window; and a cross has been fixed on the gable."
The above two quotations are taken
from a history of the church on the village and church
web site at http://redbreast.co.uk/loxley/1923Restoration.htm
, which is undated, although apparently relates to the
1923 restoration work which removed the west gallery.
See also http://www.LoxleyVillage.com |
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ACCESS |
Map reference : The
west end of the church abuts the private drive into
Loxley House. and the door is locked.
Pedestrian access is available through a wicket gate
from the road, immediately uphill from the Lodge
Cottage. The whereabouts of the church key was not
ascertained.
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Photographs: ©
Edwin Macadam
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Please see our
Home Page
for important copyright notice |
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the Webmasters |
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This
site has been constructed by, and remains the copyright of its authors,
Edwin Macadam and Sheila Girling Smith, Shelwin, 30,
Eynsham Road, Botley, Oxford OX2 9BP
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© July 2001 - February 28, 125 |
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