St Nicholas’ Church

CHOLDERTON

 

 

 

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Church News and Events

 

The New Bell Tower

Since the existing Bell côte was been declared unsafe the PCC planned a suitable replacement.  It had to be affordable, in keeping with the church and with the previous bell tower and one that would remain safe for years to come.  The Design Proposal is here.  Contributions have been coming in but more is needed.  Here are some pictures of the progress - Belfry Pictures.  Now the work has been completed and the Service of Dedication was held on Sunday 19th May 2011.   Here are pictures of the new tower with some of the worshipers and contributors:

Annual Meeting of Parishioners and Annual Parochial Church meeting 2011

This took place on 20TH Mar 2011 in the church after the morning service

The Annual Report was presented and approved.  Click HERE to view

The 2011 Deanery Mission Project

The project selected for 2011 is THE BIBLE SOCIETY

More information can be found at the www.thepeoplesbible.org

 

Urgent need for an Organist at St Nicholas Cholderton

 

Our regular Organist is now away from the parish on frequent occasions and we have a great need for someone willing to play our ancient organ on one or more Sundays each month.  If you are willing to give it a try please contact Terry Cull on 01980-629346 or Crawford Stoddart on 01980-629442.  You’ll find us a friendly little congregation which would be so grateful for your help.

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Church Services

Monthly Services 2010 at St Nicholas

1st Sunday 11 am Holy Communion

2nd Sunday 11 am Matins

3rd Sunday 11 am Family Service

4th Sunday no service in Cholderton, but services are held at other churches in the Bourne Valley


On the 5th Sunday 10am a Team Service is held in one of the churches in the Bourne Valley on a rotational basis.

Stay for coffee and biscuits after services and an opportunity to talk to the clergy, members of the PCC and other members of the congregation.

 

Children are welcome at all services. However Family or All Age Services are held each Sunday in other parishes in the Bourne Valley Team Ministry.

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If you need further information on any Church matter please contact Crawford Stoddart

If you would like a visit from the clergy please let any member of the PCC know or if you prefer contact Rev. Vanda Perrett direct - contact details below.

The P.C.C.

The Rector: Vanda Perrett
The Rectory, High St., Porton, Salisbury, Wilts SP4 0LH
Tel: 01980-610305

Church Warden: Crawford Stoddart
Treasurer: Priscilla Park-Weir
Deputy Churchwarden:
Secretary: Vacant,  Deanery Synod Representatives: Terry Cull,  Organist: Cynthia Poole
Other P.C.C. members: Beryl Jones, Paddy Chitty

Photos of previous church events can be viewed at the church photogallery.

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History

The original church was given by the prior and monks of St Neot's, Huntingdonshire about 1175. Patronage of the living remained with the Priory until it passed into secular hands in 1449. In 1693 it passed to Oriel College, Oxford.

The present church of St Nicholas was built between 1841 and 1850 at the instigation of the then Rector, the Rev'd Thomas Mozeley, a fellow of Oriel College, who arrived in Cholderton as Rector in 1836. The new church was consecrated in 1850.

It cost over £6000 out of which Mozeley had to find over £5000 himself through he and his wife writing articles and publishing books. No financial support at all was forthcoming from the local community.

The struggle to finance and complete the church caused Mozeley to resign, to be replaced in 1847 by Revd James Frazer, who later became Bishop of Manchester. Mozeley continued to pay for the completion of the church up to its consecration. It took another ten years for Frazer to contribute and install the stained glass windows some of which commemorate members of his family.

 

Read Brig Michael Clarke’s account of the church

 

 

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Architecture

The old church, built in the 12th century measured 40 feet 2 inches.

The exterior of St Nicholas strongly reflects the architectural style of a college chapel in that it is tall, unaisled and without a break to mark any internal divisions. On entering the impression is reinforced by the stone screen separating the building into chapel and ante-chapel at the level of the first bay.

Sited alongside the previous 12th Century church the new building is twice as long and twice as high and was built to fit a medieval hammerbeam roof which Mozeley had acquired from Suffolk. The roof was originally from an Augustinian monastery used later by a Guild of Cloth Workers who carved their Sign of Shears on some of the roof braces.

The floor tiles specially made by Minton were considered so exceptional that the entire design was shown at the Great Exhibition of 1851. The tile with the royal coat of arms in the ante-chapel is as used in the House of Lords in London.

The pew ends, all different, represent the Fruits of the Earth and were carved by craftsmen from Suffolk. A special L shaped front pew on the left was designed to enable Mr Paxton of Cholderton House to sit with his back to the wall as he was averse to having people sitting immediately behind him.

The organ was given in 1905 by Mr and Mrs Stephens of the Cholderton Estate together with the then Rector, Revd Brisco Owen.

The font is of Caen stone with an oak cover. The Norman font from the old church is on the left hand side as you enter the ante-chapel.

The stone screen forming the vestibule at the west end is adorned on both sides with the armorial bearings and initials of those associated with the building of the new church.

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