Saint Gregorys church at Tredington is described in ‘Betjeman’s Best British Churches’ as “A delightful church - all of a hotchpotch outside”. However, to delve deeper, as the reader will see, brings up some fascinating snippets, well worthy of a visit to this somewhat large if not imposing building.
The church has been added to and altered over the centuries and consists of an 11th to 12th century nave, 14th century tower with a 15th century octagonal spire (the tallest in Warwickshire), 17th 18th and 19th century alterations, Anglo-Danish windows, a Jacobean pulpit, Saxon walls and even the door on the south was moved to the north. It has a ring of six bells housed in the tower, the oldest of which was cast by George Purdue in 1622.
However, the ‘hotchpotch’ aside, moving around and inside the church there are little gems to see or read about. The south wall has a Saxon arched doorway, with a fine lozenge moulded arch, at the main door and entrance to the church you will find musket shot’s embedded in the door from the English Civil War.
Inside the church there are several wonderful stained glass windows, a delightful Jacobean carved pulpit, a pair of memorial brasses dating back to the 15th century, several armorial shields of prominent families of the parish and a ‘hatchment’ of Elizabeth Surman. These are always diamond shaped and were usually although not always hung on the side of the funeral hearse and later placed in the church. Possibly though and certainly one of the most intriguing stories lies connected with a pair of memorial floor slabs in the chancel. These relate to the interred bodies of Sir Henry John Parker, 1705-1771, his second wife Katherine who died in 1751 and their two children (1769 and 1795). The detailed relief work of the coat of arms on the memorials is indeed a testament to the skill of the artist.
More recently, investigations into damp revealed a heavy stone slab, next to the Parker memorials, with four iron rings attached for lifting. This was discovered following the removal of the choir stalls and was previously not known about. The slab was carefully lifted away a few inches and a camera inserted into the opening where it was discovered a small flight of steps leading down into a crypt revealing four lead coffins with leather coverings. It was not known if the crypt extended further under the chancel, as is often the case and the volunteer workers had no desire to investigate further or disturb the area around the coffins. And so the slab was replaced, to leave the remains of the Parker family in peace where they had lain since the 18th century. Is the crypt bigger? Is there more to be seen? Maybe in time someone will look but for now; ‘let sleeping bodies lie’.
The geocache is not at the listed co-ordinates and there is no need to enter the church to obtain the necessary information. To work out the coordinates you need to answer the following questions, all of which can be found in the church yard.
At Waypoint 1 is the grave of Kenneth Foggin, an officer of the Royal Engineers. What rank was he when he died? If he was a Lieutenant A=1, if a Colonel A=2, if a Captain A=3, if a Major A=4, or if a Brigadier A=5
At Waypoint 2 in what year was Jane born 19B1
At Waypoint 3 there is an arched door where the stone mason has left his mark. How many 'converging lines' does his mark have? = C.
At the same location, what celestial object is depicted above the doorway? Number of letters = D
The cache can be located at:
N52° C. (A+D-2) (B-(A+D)) (B-C)
W1° D B. (A+C) (A*D-(B+C)) (B*2-C)
Checksum for all of the digits = 48.
The cache contains only a logbook. Please bring a pen. Tweezers may be helpful.
Please replace the cache exactly as found for the enjoyment of others.
🤓🤓 FTF : the sundowner 🤓🤓