St Nicholas' church building is Norman, and the 12th century chancel arch is probably original. The church was rebuilt in the 13th century in the transitional style from Norman architecture to the Early English Gothic style: the lancet windows on both sides of the chancel and the gabled bellcote at the west end of the nave date from this rebuilding. Later the present west window was added in the Perpendicular Gothic style. In the same period a south porch was built. Its inner door is Perpendicular, but the outer is transitional between Norman and Early English and has been re-set, presumably from where the Perpendicular doorway is now.In 1639 buttresses were built against the west wall to support the bellcote. In 1847 the architect James Cranston restored the chancel. The Oxford architectural writer and publisher J.H. Parker designed the east window of three traceried lancets.In 1852 the Gothic Revival architect George Gilbert Scott restored the nave and added the organ chamber and north aisle, re-setting the original transitional style north doorway in the new wall. A Sanctus bell was cast and hung at the same time as the restoration.
In June 1642, the poet John Milton paid a visit to the manor house at Forest Hill where he met and courted 16 year-old Mary Powell, daughter of Richard Powell. They married at the church before returning to Milton’s home in London. Mary found life difficult with the severe 35 year-old schoolmaster and she returned to her family in Forest Hill a month later. She did not return to Milton until 1645. Between 1646and1652 Mary gave birth to 4 children –Anne, Mary, John and Deborah. John and Mary's marriage lasted until 1652 when Mary died while giving birth to Deborah, the couple's third daughter and fourth child.
To find the cache you will need to visit the church and also do some research online.
Inside the church porch and over the church door is an inscription.
A= The number of letters in the third word
B= The number of red letters
C= The number of blue letters
D=The number of letters in the sixth word
Online find some information about John Milton’s children
E= Mary was born 25th October 164?
F= Deborah died 10th August 172?
G= John was born 16th March 165?
H= Deborah was born ? May 1652
N51 AB.EH(E+G) W001 C(F+H)(B-G)G(D+G)
If you would like to add to the Church Micro series yourself then please look here http://churchmicro.co.uk/ There is also a Church Micro Stats & Information page that can be found at http://www.15ddv.me.uk/geo/cm/index.html