Visit to Sand Hutton and Bossall churches

Monday 28 May 2012

Despite the vagaries of last-minute commitments more than a dozen members of the York branch of the CEGV managed to gather north of the historic English town of Stamford Bridge on Monday 28 May 2012.

We were visiting two contrasting churches in the Sand Hutton Group of 10: St Mary’s in Sand Hutton itself and St Botolphs in Bossall. St. Marys was completed in 1847 and built by the Walker family, replacing the former church of St Leonards, the ruins of which were immediately adjacent. The ruins, of St Leonards, are now officially listed, with all the administrative and financial problems that this entails. After a brief tour of the church and the ruins, we celebrated Communion with our Branch Chaplain and our Chairman played the Makin organ installed just 4 years ago.

After lunch at a local pub, we travelled to the tiny village of Bossall, reputed to be the smallest parish in the York Diocese, consisting of just seven buildings, including the church! The village had been decimated by the Black Death and many of the former dwellings were never re-occupied. This cruciform church was completed in 1147 and is set in a stunning location with wonderful views of the Wolds from the churchyard, which is a site of Special Scientific Interest and therefore cannot be cut until July.

The building itself is in good condition after a special fund-raising effort to mark its 850^th anniversary last century and there is also an early lych gate by Thomson of Kilburn, manufactured before he had adopted the mouse as his emblem, stained glass by Kempe and a pipe organ by Harrison and Harrison (1906).

The weather was hot and sunny after recent rain, which showed off the countryside to marvellous effect – a good time was had by all. Our thanks to the Churchwardens of both churches for looking after us so well and to the Rev Ivan Howitt for facilitating the visits.

York Guild of Vergers welcomes new members

November 28 2011
 

Canon Maureen flanked by the new vergers

The annual pre-Christmas CEGV lunch in York gave vergers in Yorkshire the opportunity to welcome four new members to the Guild, a brace each from both the York and the Yorkshire South and West Ridings branches.

CEGV Chaplain Maureen Palmer welcomed Carole Shaw from Holy Trinity , Hull as an associate member; plus Kevin Hara from Beverley Minster, Eric Grubb of St Marys, Whitkirk and Kevin Simpson of Wakefield Cathedral as full members.

The ceremony took place within a communion service held in the Zouche Chapel of York Minster – a highly appropriate location as it is attached to, and accessible from, the vergers’ vestry in the minster.

Formalities over we then decamped for what was probably the caterers’ earliest Christmas dinner of the year as we were still in the dog-days of November. This was, however, the nearest to Christmas that we could manage this year as, for some reason, our diaries for December were largely full.

And then back to work….

York branch of Guild of Vergers visit to Sledmere

Approaching Sledmere House
Tuesday 6^th September 2011

Way up in the windswept wilds of the Yorkshire Wolds is an oasis of calm, rustic tranquillity that was carefully crafted by Capability Brown. Sledmere House, west of Driffield, was our destination for the day at the invitation of Sir Tatton Sykes and his brother.

The roof of the family chapel

They in turn were our guests at the Anglican communion service that  marked the beginning of our visit, which took place in their family’s Catholic chapel. After lunch nearly 30 vergers and family then enjoyed a specially arranged tour of the house which took us behind the roped-off areas. It was a considerable relief that we were allowed to sit in some of the many chairs and divans in this home which was painstakingly restored after a major fire in 1911.

One of the unusual features is an organ placed at the bottom of the central staircase which has pipes located in a cupola far above. Its ability to fill the house with sound was demonstrated by trip organiser and Branch Chairman, Richard Babington throughout our visit.

Next door to the house, but inaccessible from the estate itself, is the parish church of Sledmere, the maintenance of which the Sykes family has supported financially, despite their own Catholic faith.  An attractive building, it was left where it was when the rest of the village of Sledmere was relocated to improve the view for the masters of the House..

On a purely practical note, the signage around the entire estate was a model of simple, unobtrusive clarity and could usefully be copied by many churches that also cater for large visitor numbers.

For further information about the CEGV York branch or membership enquiries contact Branch Chairman Richard Babington on 01964 630263 or via holmwoodrb@btinternet.com

York branch of Guild of Vergers visit to Thirsk

Tuesday 26^th July 2011

A brief half-day visit to Thirsk, located centrally in our region, saw more than 20 virgers, family and friends gather in the structurally-unchanged C14 parish church of St Mary’s. A splendid high building  dating largely from 1430, with later clerestory, chancel and tower, the church boasts six hatchments from the Bell family beneath a fine mediaeval carved roof. Of particular note are the chantry screens and (largely) C15 21 foot tall font cover, while two Georgian pew doors survived the inevitable (but quite sympathetic) Victorian restoration of 1876.

During the C16 an apprentice-hermit lived above the south porch, reaching his solitary residence by means of a rope ladder before graduating to a cell in the Old Lady Chapel in Osmotherley. Today there is a spiral staircase to the room and no hermit.

The crypt has an unusual history as well – originally built when the chancel was extended over a dropping hillside it probably served as overnight accommodation for visiting priests and now, after a bad flood last winter, has been remodelled to form a versatile café area.

One particularly unusual stained glass window dates from 1932 and records the life of Sir Robert Bower who was, supposedly, the most handsome officer in the British Army. It has to be said the window doesn’t really do him justice if this was truly the case.  

We were guests of verger John Lazenby, the longest-serving member of the branch who has been proudly serving what is often called ‘The Cathedral of North Yorkshire’ for 48 years.

After our welcome by Rev Canon Richard Rowling we were given a talk about the church by Tourism Officer Margaret Hunton, followed by a communion conducted by Rev Graham Bowkett. The party then dispersed to eat our way through the various catering establishments in the town while several also enjoyed a visit to the James Herriot museum in the town – the famous writer was the local vet and was married in St Mary’s, as were his daughter and granddaughter.

For further information about the CEGV York branch or membership enquiries contact Branch Chairman Richard Babington on 01964 630263 or via holmwoodrb@btinternet.com

York branch of Guild of Vergers visit to Hull

Monday 27th June 2011

A truly eclectic collection of churches was on the menu for the CEGV Yorkshire branch when 15 members gathered from the various corners of our region to investigate Hull.
Hull recently commemorated the 70th anniversary of the most intense WWII bombing of any town outside London: 95 per cent of its houses were damaged or destroyed by the Luftwaffe and much of the historic centre flattened. Two of the churches on our tour had to be rebuilt from war time ruins but the third (and, ironically, by far the biggest target) was a miraculous survivor.
We gathered at Holy Trinity at the invitation of verger Gordon Barley who took advantage of the normal Monday closure of the builidng to give us a private tour. Holy Trinity claims to be the largest parish church in England (by floor area - 34,000 square feet) and we are fortunate that all its individual 19th century pews, mediaeval font, rood screen and 14th century brickwork survived.
Less fortunate was the next port of call - the Danish Seamen's Church of Sanct Nikolaj. This reopened in the mid 1950s after being completely destroyed in raids. This elegant structure is one of only two left in Britain, survivors from the days when Denmark's vessels queued up to deliver bacon and butter to the British market via ports all along the east coast.
A shrinking local congregation reflects how the children of Danish immigrants are largely integrated into the community,while modern shipping doesn't give time for shore-leave, but the immaculate church still survives as a wonderful advertisement for Denmark itself. Traditional Danish fish-based food was provided for lunch and, in a highly welcome change from British practice, beer was readily available for the meal at only £1.25 per bottle. We were given a gentle but warm welcome by Pastor Steen Tygesen who described how he ministers to his remaining flock all over Britain, and also made us feel quite jealous about the institution of Church Tax as practiced in his country.
The final port of call was The Charterhouse - an ancient almshouse charity which boasts a beautiful Georgian Chapel from 1777. Another casualty of war, the classic Georgian buildings were restored to their former appearance and the chapel has recently been restored with many ugly additions removed, creating a more simple glory. We were treated to a traditional communion service conducted by Master of the house, the Reverend Canon Stephen Deas with organ accompaniment provided by trip organiser and Branch Chairman Richard Babington.
The wealth of the charity allows the buildings to be maintained to very high standard and, as one of our party observed: "the floor is so polished you can see your face in it!" - not an obviously good thing in the gents' toilets, but there you are.
And so home again.
PHOTOGRAPHS WILL BE UPLOADED WHEN AVAILABLE