All Hallows Church - Whitchurch
There has been such a church in Whitchurch as early as 800 A.D. and probably earlier. Archaeological evidence of Roman inhabitants of the first to the fourth centuries A.D. has been found on the outskirts of our town. These inhabitants have left evidence of the faith that inspired them.
The Baptistry
On the left as you enter the church is the Baptistery. The font is Tudor, as can be seen from the Tudor rose, which you will find on one of the panels on the side. If you lift the lid and look inside, you will see that it is lead-lined, and that the lead is pierced by two holes. These holes once housed two bolts which kept the cover firmly in position, to prevent people from taking baptismal water for superstitious purposes.
Norman Pillars and Arches
The pillars and arches to your left (south) were probably built in the 13th century and are typically massive, measuring two and a half feet across. The proportions are splendid and simple, bold arches describing equilateral triangles. Looking west up to the steps towards the tower, you will see the arch above them, which is also Norman, and is contemporary with the pillars. The tower is also Norman.
Look to your right (north), and notice the difference in the pillars on this side. These pillars are perpendicular, which ill suit the Norman bases on which they stand, nor do the arches meet the capitals comfortably. Now look up into the roof. The wooden beams which span the nave are of the 15th century and, like the bells, indicate a new-found prosperity, as England recovered from the ravages of the Black Death.
The Tower
The lower part of this tower was also built in the 13th century by the Norman lords of Whitchurch, who came from Fecamp, on the Normandy coast. Originally it was not so high and showed the Norman Nave and chancel, with the perpendicular-style columns on the left South aisle, with Brooke effigies and wall brass and, on the right, the World War I memorial plaque.
With a fondness for strength in building -- the Victorians added the upper part and the spire. Behind the door leading to the bell chamber is an unusual wooden spiral staircase built round a central newel of single length of oak. These stairs are at least 500 years old.
In the tower are two memorial plaques, one on the south side to the Rev John Blair, vicar of Whitchurch for 37 years until 1783, and one on the other side of the tower, to Fanny Blair, daughter of the said John Blair, who died of consumption at the age of 17. On this stone you will be able to read her epitaph, which she wrote herself just before she died.
Also in the tower, but behind the locked door, are the remains of a clock movement dating from before 1660. It never had a face, but simply boomed out the hours, and the marks of the striker can still be seen on bell 8.
The Bells
If you look at the ceiling of the ringing chamber, you will see a large ring with ten ropes coming through from the floor above. These are the ringing ropes of our peal of ten bells, which are all in the bell chamber two floors above. In order of age they are: No 6, 1448; No 4, about 1450; No 7, 1611; No 5, 1612; No 3, 1748; No 8, 1724; No 1 and 2, 1919, and Nos 9 and 10, 1999.
The Commandments Board
Back into the church, and down the nave aisle to the crossing turn left, and then go left again to the back of the north aisle. Here you will see the Commandments Board, which was found behind a panel in the White Hart Hotel in the middle of Whitchurch. It is dated 1602 and vividly depicts the fate of those in the Bible who disobeyed the Ten Commandments.
These are written in the centre, but as it is older than the King James Bible, the translations and spellings are sometimes quaint.
On the north wall of the north aisle are a number of interesting things. First:
The Portal Memorials
At the west end of the north wall is an elaborate memorial to John Portal of Freefolk Priors. He was the third generation of Portals to be commemorated in this church. The first was Henri (later Henry) Portal, whose memorial stone is on the south wall of the chancel above the choir stalls. Henri was a Huguenot (French Protestant), who fled his country for sanctuary in England after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685. He set up the paper mills at Laverstoke that still bear his name, although the main factory has now moved to larger premises in Overton. These mills produce bank note paper for the Bank of England, and now also for many other countries around the world.
At the east end of the north wall is the third memorial to a Portal, this time Joseph Portal, son of Henry, who died on 14 December 1792. This memorial is worth reading, for the paean of his achievements. Joseph was the father of John Portal.
The Mary Maze
This mosaic, conceived by a local designer, executed by a local mosaicist and installed by a local builder, was put into the church and blessed by the vicar in 1993. It shows the Mother Mary with the Christ child on her lap. Joseph looks on from behind. There is a long history of mazes in churches. This one shows that the journey through life to salvation may not be the direct and obvious one. This maze has two paths, the direct and the indirect, and it is set low in the wall so that children can come and trace the paths and find their own way to Jesus.
Close to this maze and a bit higher up is the memorial to those of Whitchurch who fell in the South African War of 1899-1902. It is not common to find Boer War memorials in churches.
To the right of the maze is a table with a cross and chairs, defining an area for quiet prayer and meditation. Visitors are invited to write their prayer requests on the cards provided, and these will be included in the daily prayers at evensong.
Looking to the east, you will see, stretching from a pillar to the north wall a wooden screen, which was originally across the entrance to the chancel and was erected in honour of Queen Victoria in 1901. It was later moved to its present position, losing a small amount at one end, so that it would fit the new aperture.
Through this screen, you can see some of the pipes of the organ, and more pipes can be seen in the chancel. This is a three-manual instrument with 41 speaking stops and was built by Rushworth and Dreaper and given to the church in 1935. Now move now up the north aisle and towards the chancel, stopping at:
The Saxon Stone
This stone was discovered embedded in the north wall when the Victorians were rebuilding the church in 1866-68. It is unique but reminiscent of the style of the stones found on Hadrian's Wall. It shows a carved figure in relief. The halo with the cross behind the head indicates that it is of Jesus, who holds the gospels in his left hand while his right is raised in blessing. In spite of the damage of centuries, the fingers are easily discernible. Like other very early representations of Christ, the chin, albeit damaged, seems to be clean-shaven. Across the top, and possibly at some later date, an inscription has been carved, commemorating a Saxon lady whose name means "Pledge of Peace". It reads: "HIC CORPUS FRITHBURGAE REQUIESCIT IN PACEM SEPULTUM", which is translated as: "Here the body of Frithburga lies buried in peace". Whoever she was, she represents the Saxon community of centuries ago.
On now to the chancel itself. If you go up towards the altar, on your right you will see high up a lovely little stained glass window to the memory of 10-year-old Rustat Hemsted. In the chancel are two framed lists of all the vicars of Whitchurch from 1283 until the present day.
Move around the pulpit into the east end of the south aisle to see:
The Brooke Memorials
On the east wall you will see the brass memorial to members of the Brooke family and, nearby, effigies of two other Brookes.
Also in the south aisle are the two memorials to the fallen of the First and Second World Wars. The First World War memorial is just behind the Brooke tomb, while that for the Second World War is at the western end of the south aisle. Beneath each of these two memorials there are glass cases containing photographs of those mentioned in the memorials; both presented by the Whitchurch branch of the Royal British Legion. The pages of the photo albums are turned at regular intervals.
Outside All Hallows
Just as All Hallows grew and changed over the centuries to reflect the tastes and needs of a changing church, so it has continued to do so in recent times. Attached to the west end of the bell tower is a fine church room, generously donated and built in 1974. This provides facilities for meetings, social and other activities in which the church is involved today.
As you go outside the church, look at the recently cleaned tombstone at the northeast corner "ln memory of John Haime, soldier, preacher and fellow labourer with John Wesley. Died August 18th 1784". This stone was placed where it now stands by the local preachers of the district in the 1930s. The original stone is now on the wall of the Methodist Chapel in Winchester Street, Whitchurch.
No new plots have been allocated in the churchyard since the early 1900s, although burials continued to be made up until the 1920s. The gravestones leaning against the north wall were moved there during the course of construction of the church room in 1974.
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Near the Church is a Bench commemorating the life of Jack Kelland. Which year did he die. Use this for ABCD
Inside; near the font there is a notice which gives possible years the Font was made. These are EFGH to 1603.
You are looking for a Nano cache which can be found near the Church at N 51.(C+D).(D-A)B(B-C), W 001.(A+E)(A-E).FG(A-E)
[ If the church is closed, then you can still do a puzzle. You can still use ABCD. At the West wall of the Church grounds is a notice. The number of years God has been woshipped here is JKLM The cache can be found at N 51.(C+D).(D-A)B(B-C), W 001. KL. (A+J+K)(C+J)M ]
Please be careful crossing any roads and please take notice of any "Private" signs and do not wander into any places you shouldn't.
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