St. Edith's Church, Orton-on-the-Hill
Some of St. Edith's Church earliest history can be found in two valuable sources; John Nicholls 'History and Antiquities of Leicestershire' compiled c1790-1810 and Victoria County History volumes which were issued in the 1940's.
Both sources quote early Latin texts referring to Orton, which reflect that the church's earliest roots are closely linked with the activities of the local Cistercian monks at Merevale. Nicholls is especially valuable, as he records inscriptions which are now very worn.
St Edith's has always been very closely connected with the previously annexed chapelries of Twycross and Gopsall. Apart from a short period in the 19th century and early 20th century, the three shared the same priests.
In 1994 Orton and Twycross churches joined with those at Sheepy Magna, Ratcliffe Culey and Sibson to form the United Parish of The Sheepy Group and in 2000 the United Parish of The Sheepy Group joined with The Parish of Market Bosworth to form a new Benefice of Bosworth and Sheepy.
For almost 800 years a church has stood on its current site changing in relatively few ways, even as the Church of England underwent times of great change and, occasionally, tribulation.
St
Edith's Early History
Taken from the entry for Merevale in the Victoria County History for Warwickshire:
'The Cistercian Abbey of Merevale, colonised from Bordesley, was founded in 1148 by Robert, Earl Ferrers. He endowed it with 'the manors of Weston and Orton-on-the-Hill, Leicestershire'. A confirmation charter of Henry II (1154-1189) confirmed the grants of the founder. Later in the same reign, the church of Orton with the chapels of Twycross and Gopsall were given to the monks. In 1205, Pope Innocent III confirmed to the monks the church of Orton and its two chapels but it was not until 1344 that Pope Clement VI granted to the abbey the appropriations of the church and the chapels of Twycross and Orton, due provision being made for a Vicar.'
The taxation of 1291 states that the Abbot of Merevale held half a curicate of land worth 8s, three acres of meadow worth 6s and a mill worth 4s. Please contact us if you know where the mill was in Orton!
( May 2007) Mr Kenneth Lea emailed us to say, 'I believe that the mill at Orton-on-the-Hill was located on a farm called Moore Barns and was fed by the brook which runs under Sheepy Lane. The remains of the Mill wheel supporting structure was, I remember, being used as a Sheep Dip.'
The County History also tells us that in 1292, John, son of John de Overton brought a complaint against the Abbot of Merevale and other monks for causing the death of his brother Robert. Seven years later, John with 6 others, probably in revenge, pulled down the Abbot's house and pillory at Overton by Twycross (i.e. Orton) and carried away the timber by night. (We do not know where the Abbot's house and pillory were situated).
On October 13th 1538 the surrender of the Abbey House was signed, Lord Ferrers was put in possession of the late monastery and all its land on October 15th 1538. This was all part of the nationwide Dissolution of the Monasteries in the time of Henry VIII. Just before this event it was reported that the two churches of Mancetter and Orton, together, were valued at £73 4s 8d. The sum of £50.00 from the rents of their lands was reserved to be used at the Abbey's Hospice (for travellers and wayfarers).
From these early insights, we can assume that there was a church on the present site from at least the time of Henry II and that, in the late 13th century, there was a priest/monk from Merevale living near to the church. In John Nicholls' work, he lists the earliest priest at Orton as Philip de Langporte 1222.
A full list of priests can be found at the back of the church.
St Edith's Church 'Today'
St. Edith's Church by
William Green.
(drawn in 1942)
The present Church in Orton-on-the-Hill, dates almost entirely from the 14th century. It is built of grey Ashlar sandstone. The original church would have been large and handsome and it would have evolved slowly, through several periods of architecture.
The Chancel is probably the earliest existing part of the church, with its North and South windows, although the East window has been renewed. The Nave and South Aisle date from the period of Decorated Architecture (1290-1350).
High on the West wall of the nave are two Corbels which originally would have supported the first tie beam of the former roof. The Clerestory (upper part of the nave windows) is from the Perpendicular period (1400s).
The great West Tower is also Perpendicular with diagonal buttresses, placed against the right angle formed by the walls. It has a recessed spire. Nicholls (writing about 1810) reports that the spire was damaged by lightning and was rebuilt in 1797 with an extra 18 feet of height, to make it 120 feet in total. Sadly, in 1950, it was judged to be in a dangerous condition and was taken down to the height it is today, which gives it an unusual appearance.
St Edith's was once a much larger church, with a North Aisle. On February 24th 1763, £3 8s 6d was paid for obtaining a faculty to take down the North Aisle. The North wall was filled in, except for the one arch which contains the mausoleum of the Steele-Perkins family, who used to live in Orton Hall (now demolished. Over the Perkins tomb there is the effigy of a 14th century Cistercian Abbot, presumably an Abbot connected with Merevale (a clear picture of what he looked like can be seen in Nicholls' works).
The South Arcade has octagonal piers and in one of them is a Hagioscope, or Squint - a hole cut through to give a view of the main altar. Nearby there is a tomb recess and an Ogee headed Piscina. This was a drain for washing the communion vessels, when communion was celebrated in the South Aisle. The windows in the South Aisle are 14th century and have reticulated tracery, the rib work of circles drawn into ogee shapes giving a net like appearance. The South doorway is also 14th century.
Along the South wall is a Stone Bench, dating from the days before there were seats in the church. The 'weakest' went to the wall to sit on the benches. Forming part of the bench is a stone coffin lid of a priest, an early Vicar of Orton, with a carving of a chalice and a cross.
St Edith's Church houses some ancient monuments, including a very long plain gravestone. An Alabaster Slab, nearby, relates to William Foster (d. 1511) and his wife Modwene, buried with him. (John Nicholls gives a full account of the letters incised on the slab).
According to Nicholls, the church was re-pewed in 1764 and a small Font of Baluster shape was added. The font is inscribed 'S S Perkins Esq.' (Samuel Steele-Perkins 1742-1808). When the box pews were put in, they would have been arranged to face the Three Decked Pulpit (1764), on the North side of the main aisle. In the South West corner there may be the remains of a Christening Pew.
The Nave Roof is a simple 17th or early 18th century construction.
Other items of interest in the church are the Altar Table (1905), the Pulpit (1920), the Organ (Thomas Bevington 1861), the Bishop's Chair (1866) and a small Jacobean Table. On the walls of the church are the Coat of Arms of the Perkins family, the Ten Commandments, a Royal Coat of Arms and a board with verses from one of St Peter's Epistles. There is also a frame of an old Turret Clock (c1740) in the church, which would have told the time by the striking of a bell.
Orton Cook Book - The ideal hostess gift; a birthday present to post to friends and family; or just for your own use. On sale in church or from members of the DCC. £2.99
Church Maintenance
St Edith's has been lovingly cared for by generations of local Christians, but the upkeep of such a large building is increasingly expensive. In the 1970's the nave roof interior had to be replaced and, in 1992, it was extensively restored due to Death Watch Beetle. The mullions and windows in the East and West walls of the South aisle were replaced and other windows repaired.
Since 1998, £450,000 has been spent on repairing the fabric of the Church. These include extensive masonry repairs to the tower, re-hanging of 3 original bells and a new treble bell in 2003; a new dry area around the church walls and repairs to the Clerestory windows. The Bevington organ has been restored; the Steele-Perkins hatchments, Lord's Prayer text board, the Epistle of St. Peter board and the Royal Arms have been refurbished.
In 2004, a new East window was designed by Derek Hunt of Limelight Studio, in memory of Mr Levi Austin and his wife Marjorie.
In 2005, the chancel roof was re-leaded and the
Steele-Perkins mausoleum repaired, including refurbishment of two tablets on the
mausoleum walls. A new ringers floor was created in the tower and work
began to create toilet and kitchenette facilities in the tower base. This
work was completed in May 2006.
A new treble bell, cast by Taylors of Loughborough, was installed in April 2006 and was dedicated at a service of thanksgiving on the 14th May 2006. At the service the Right Reverend Colin Scott also gave thanks for, and dedicated, the new East window, the refurbishment of the chancel roof, the restored Steele-Perkins Mausoleum, the new facilities and other new and restored furnishings in the church.
On August 24th 2006 members of the Leicester Diocesan Advisory Committee visited St. Edith's, as part of their annual tour of the Diocese, and were very impressed with the work that has been carried out.
Orton-on-the-Hill Church is well supported by an enthusiastic group of local Christians who actively promote the use of the Church for worship, as well as other events. Thank you for any support you are able to give this beautiful church.
A Thought from the Past
In 1890, the Reverend Herbert Candy became Vicar of Orton. Although he only lived another four years, he made an impact on the Church. During his time as vicar, he restored and beautified the Chancel and there is a plaque in memory of him in the Chancel. He was friends with William Morris whilst in Oxford. In 1882, a report was carried out into the conditions of Orton Church, at William Morris's request and the author, Oliver Baker, writes:
"This Church has the rare and indescribable charm of being unrestored. Approached from the village, it presents a rather imposing elevation"
The imposing charm of Orton Church, as one first approaches it, is as strong now as it has ever been.
To view more of William Green's beautiful sketches of historic buildings in the Midlands, click on the link below: