Twycross

St James Church, Twycross

St James' Church, Twycross

The Victoria County History of Warwickshire states that in King Henry II's time (1154-1189), he gave 'the Church of Orton-on-the-Hill, with the chapels of Twycross and Gopsall to the monks of Merevale Abbey. In 1205 Pope Innocent III confirmed to the monks the Church of Orton and its two chapels. In 1344 Pope Clement VI granted Merevale Abbey the appropriation of this the church with the chapels, due provision being made for a Vicar'

We know that a portion of the tithes at Twycross were given to the Abbey at Ouseney, near Oxford in 1129 when this Augustinian Abbey was founded. Four hundred years later, these tithes were transferred to the Bishop of Oxford when the Diocese of Oxford was founded.

St James' Church and St Edith's Church (Orton-on-the-Hill) have been closely linked over the centuries. From the earliest records, the church of Orton and the chapel of Twycross shared the same priest. Twycross became a benefice in its own right in 1839 during the ministry of Reverend Andrew Bloxham, but in 1926 Twycross and Orton were reunited and later joined by Norton-juxta- Twycross. In 1994 Twycross and Orton became part of the United Parish of the Sheepy Group and Twycross vicarage was subsequently sold. The church is now served by the resident minister at Sheepy.

The Present Building

Although there must have been a church building in Twycross in King Henry's time, the building we see today dates back to c1330-1350. The earliest part, perhaps, dates to c1344 when Pope Clement appropriated Orton Church and Twycross Chapel to Merevale. From that time the Abbey would have had to provide a priest, but it would have received the Great Tithes in return. This arrangement remained until the Dissolution of Merevale Abbey on October 13th 1538.

The Eastern window on the South wall of the nave has Y tracery, c1300-1350, but the bulk of the church is late 1300's. The chancel windows have transomes and pointed trefoil tracery. The North aisle has plain moulded piers and arches without capitals, which are of the decorated period of architecture (1301-1400).

Some plain pew panelling dates from 1789 and in 1901 it was reported that the old high box pews on the North and South side of the church had dry rot and new red deal seats stained in oak were put in.

In 1893 a piscina was discovered in the South wall of the chancel and, also, a staircase in the South wall which must have led to a rood loft at one time. Suspended from the rood loft would have been a large crucifix - a holy rood. In 1901 a square (an aumbry?) was found behind the wainscoting of a pew in the North aisle. In 2002, whilst repairs to plasterwork to the South wall were being undertaken, the lower part of the staircase was revealed. It is possible the steps were constructed in the 1350s and ceased to be used after the Reformation in the 1530s. Also in 2002, a fireplace in a pier in the nave was exposed. As was a small opening to the left of the main door, but this has been boxed in. Two tall straight headed windows in the South wall suggest that the chancel originally extended as far as the first pier.

The North side clerestory is 15th century. In 1840 the North aisle was elongated to house the box pews belonging to the Curzon family from Gopsall Hall and their staff. The cemented South porch also dates from this time.

Major additions were made to the church in 1840, funded, largely, by the first Earl Howe of Gopsall, Richard William Penn Curzon. who was Lord Chamberlain to Queen Adelaide, at one time.

The East Window

Possibly the oldest stained glass window in England.

How did this treasure come to Twycross?

Most of the glass in the East window is of French origin, from the Sainte Chappelle in Paris and the Abbey Church of St. Denis, near to Paris. It was purchased in Paris to save it from damage and possible destruction in the French Revolution (1789-1799) and was placed in the possession of King George III of England. It was inherited by George IV and then William IV.

William IV was a frequent guest of Earl Howe at Gopsall Hall (now demolished). In the late 1830s, during extensive alterations to the church, the glass was presented to St James' Church by Sir Wathen Waller and installed by the famous glazier Thomas Willement, in 1840.

The glass was removed for safety during the war (1939-1945) and, again, for cleaning in 1983. The cleaning and renovation was carried out by the York Glaziers Trust, in York, and they constructed a replica safety window which is now fitted on the outside. The work was completed by November 1984.

N.B. The vertical purple borders including the fleur de lys; horizontal rows of triangles dividing the panels in the centre light; the frames around the kneeling figures (top left and right) and some other small borders are 1840 glass. The 5 panels forming the top of the East window are tracery glass, mostly English 1200 to 1500AD.

In St James church there are pamphlets which give a detailed description of the scenes in the East window.

Special Features of St James' Church

Singing Gallery - Probably erected by Charles Jennens of Gopsall Hall (1662-1747)
Royal Coat of Arms - given to Twycross Church by Mrs C Wright in 1839
Font (14th century) - given by Reverend Andrew Bloxham in 1840
Organ - built by Bishop
Box Pews - used by Earl Howe's family and servants. There is a fireplace in the main pew.
Altar rails - 18th century
The East window - (see above)
Adelaide Regina window - in the North Wall. Commemorating the visits Queen Adelaide made to Gopsall Hall as the Dowager Queen, after King William died in 1837.
Nativity window - made by Herbert Bryans and installed in 1897
Armorial window - includes the Crest of Howe; the Crest of Curzon; the Coat of Arms of the Bloxham family and of the Diocese of Oxford
Brass Eagle Lectern - given to the church by Honourable Mrs Ernest Curzon in 1901
Bells - there are three bells in the tower, which have the following inscriptions: 'God Save his Church. S. W. J. O Churchwardens' (1691); 'T. Mears of London Fecit Recast 1814. Wm Clare Churchwarden'; 'Thomas Mears recast London 1814'. (Unfortunately, it is not possible to ring the bells at the present time).

Stained glass, St James' Church, Twycross

Church Maintenance

Since 1998, major repair work has been carried out at St James' church. The church has been rewired, the roof timbers have been treated, the tiled floor in the nave aisle has been repaired, areas of internal walls have been re-plastered and the whole church redecorated. In 2001 a new Garden of Remembrance, for the interment of ashes, was completed.

English Heritage has offered grants towards the repair of the roof over the North aisle, the East window stonework and re-pointing the tower at St. James'. It is hoped that the further funds required will be raised during this year (2007). Please help, if you can, to look after this lovely church and preserve it for future generations.

After many months of hard work to raise sufficient funds ( English Heritage has given grants to cover 75% of the total cost), restoration work has begun (Summer 2008). Scaffolding has been erected and the work has started, with a proposed completion date of February 2009. Normal church functions and events should not be affected during the work's progress.

October 2008: Work is well underway, with most of the high level tower aspects nearly completed. The clock is back in position, after a total overhaul, and looking beautiful. The restoration of the clock has been possible thanks to the generosity of two Twycross families: the Booton family and Lord and Lady De Clifford; our thanks go to both families.

May 2009 - The English Heritage Project has been completed. This is a brilliant achievement and it has been kept on budget.

Quotes from the Diary of Reverend Andrew Bloxham

October 27th 1839

'The Queen accompanied by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Earl Howe, Earl of Denbigh, Sir Horace Seymour, Lady Clinton, Baron Knesebeck, attended divine service in Twycross Church in the afternoon. A sermon was preached by her majesty's chaplain Rev J. R Wood in the behalf of the funds of the General Infirmary at Leicester, the sum of £36.00 was collected. The churchwardens received Her Majesty and suite at the church gate and attended her into church.'

April 1840

'Commencement of the repairs of the church and addition made thereto by Lord Howe - the whole to be done at his expense. A new roof over the nave and chancel, a prolongation of the N. Aisle with an obtuse (?) arch opening into the chancel and a vestry joining the tower at the N.W. end of the N. Aisle.

The pulpit removed from the middle of the church to the south wall of the chancel, many free sittings in the body of the church given up by Lord Howe.

Divine service during the time that the alterations and the repairs were going forward was performed in the school room, three times on the Sunday in order that all parishioners might be accommodated.'

July 9 1840

Twycross church reopened for divine service, on which occasion a sermon was preached by the Rev. J. C. Moore, incumbent of Measham and a collection was afterwards made for the benefit of the choir and which amounted to £20. 3s 4d.'

'Rita Rambles On'

'Rita Rambles On' Volume 2: A booklet of poems is sold in aid of St James' Church, Twycross (there is an example of the contents on the page for Ratcliffe Culey) If you wish to buy a copy, please contact Rita (01827 880006).