Church Heritage Record 627825

Over the past eight hundred years or so, many alterations have been made to the fabric of St. Paul’s Church, but little detail is known of changes made before the late 1700s. In 1797, the Church was described, by Thomas Langley, as having a nave, two aisles, and a very old, carved font (described as ‘curious’), and there was a chancel and a chapel on the north side. A stone porch on the south side, with a vestry above it, had been removed some time before 1847.

By 1849, the interior of the Church was in a very neglected (even dangerous) state and in 1856 the Church was temporarily closed to allow restoration of the interior to commence, Nearly all the pillars in the nave had to be rebuilt, the foundations underpinned, the floor replaced, and the old lath-and-plaster Vestry Room removed. The Tower arch was opened to the nave, and, also, the arch into what is, now, the Vestry. New seating was installed in the Nave, as was a stone font, a reading desk, a lectern, new communion rails, and an alter, the Church being returned to service in 1857.

In 1868, the external appearance of the Church was changed significantly, when the entire building was re-faced with knapped flint. At the same time, some of the walls (previously up to eighteen inches out of perpendicular) were re-built, stone windows were erected, a new clock was installed, a new roof was put in place, and some stained glass windows fitted. The Church was re-opened in October, 1869.

In 1900, new seating was placed in the chancel, and a reredos installed behind the high alter. At the same time, the wooden screen, with two seraphim and a cross above, was put in place.

The glass and wooden screens between the nave and the tower was erected in 1932; and two years later, the Lady Chapel, with an altar, crucifix, candle sticks, and alter rails, was set up in the south-eastern corner of the nave. In 2006 this side chapel was moved into the east end of the vestry, to create an area for personal prayer and reflection. In its place we now have our worship band and choir/music corner.

It became obvious, in 1967 that urgent repairs needed to be carried out: rain water was coming through the roof and several parts of the floor had become unsafe. Thus, in 1968, work was commenced to completely renew the chancel roof. Together with the main floor joists, the floor in the Nave was replaced, and the whole Church re-decorated; the work being completed by the end of 1969.

A serious problem was discovered in 1978, when it was found that the tracery in the east window had slipped and in those places there was a real danger that the window could fall and be beyond repair. Expensive repairs were put in hand, including the necessity to provide some specially tinted glass. Due to the very severe frosts during the subsequent winter, part of the repairs needed to be carried out again, the whole being completely finished during 1979.

Subsequent years saw the replacement of the old coal-fired boiler (in 1986), and in the same year, the current lighting was installed. Twelve years later, the heating system was further improved, and in 2007 the boiler was updated with a more powerful and economical model. In 2000, it was necessary to repair the conical stone turret at the top of the tower, and to renew the tie-bars strengthening the tower and tying it to the nave. During 2007 repairs were carried out to the roof – largely to the flashing joins with the stonework.

Bequests, in 1488, were for St. Paul’s steeple, and included the making of a bell. Edward VI’s Commissioners recorded (in 1552) that Wooburn had five bells, and a sixth bell was installed in 1718. To achieve the full octave, two further bells were provided in 1814. All five of the 1552 bells have long since been replaced or re-cast; whilst the sixth (which had been broken for a long time) was replaced in 1868 by a bell cast in Dublin – a rarity in England. In 1802, a bell cast in 1712 was replaced and, in 1902, this seventh bell was re-cast. All of the bells were re-hung in 1957. In 1976 steel joists supporting the belfry floor were bedded in concrete, and in 1980, three more joists were added in order to reduce movement in the Tower when the bells are rung. Following an extensive and thorough survey by specialists, (in 2002), it was decided by the PCC that all of the bells should be re-hung and, concurrently, tuning of all the bells (with the exception of the ‘Dublin’ bell), the re-location of the ‘Dublin’ bell to serve as the striking bell of the clock and the casting of a completely new bell should be undertaken.

It is believed that the Nave of the Church dates back to 1180 and, if the existence of a Saxon Well in the Old Vicarage is anything to go on, it may well have been the site of a Church in Saxon times. Between 1856 and 1869, the Church underwent wholesale change, and by 1857 there was little remaining of the earlier Church. Gone were the old roof, the Chancel arch, various painted windows, the box pews, the pulpit and the ‘curiously carved’ font. Massive pillars now supported a raised roof with a new clerestory. Of the Victorian internal decorations, only the roof painting remains, although close examination of the pillars reveals where they were decorated with bands around them; and a trace of the ornate Victorian decoration is visible on the wall above the central arch.

There are a number of gravestones in the Nave, some set so randomly that it is presumed that they were re-laid to provide paving when the Church was renovated. There are, also, several fine brasses, laid down between the fifteenth and seventeenth centuries. (For protection, these are normally covered by carpets).

On the walls of the Nave are many memorial tablets, with the north wall dedicated to the War Dead.

The floor of the body of the Nave is of oak, and was replaced in the 1960s restoration.

The pews, of varnished pine, date from 1857, when they replaced box pews. At the west end, there is a typically Victorian, Baptismal Font, with a counterbalanced cover, whilst at the eastern end of the central aisle is a carved pulpit, which originally stood on the opposite (left-hand) side.

Entrance to the Chancel and the Sanctuary is through a rood-screen, designed by 1899, by Sir John Ninian Comper, who also designed the crucifix and the two angels (or seraphim). Together, they form the most impressive feature of the present Church. After being on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, for some twenty-eight years, the angels were returned to the Church in 1999.

Although the Nave of the Church is of late twelfth century origin, the North Chapel (currently in use as a Vestry) was added about 1360, and it would appear the Chancel was rebuilt at the same time. Part of the moulded rear arch, behind the screen, may be fourteenth century.

The oak choir stalls were installed in 1900, as was the carved wooden reredos, behind the alter. The reredos was designed by W.D.Caroe and originally had two side panels. In need of restoration and repair, the two side panels were removed some years ago.

On the south side, in the Sanctuary, there is a piscine (dating from around the fourteenth century), and in the north side of the Sanctuary, there is a lockable ambry.

During the renovation, in the 1850s, all of the Church’s windows were replaced, and it is recorded that four of the windows were gifts. It is presumed that they were the windows in the Tower, two in the Chancel, and that in the east wall of the north aisle. All of the rest are of the same pattern of Victorian coloured lead lighting.

The west window, above the main entrance in the tower, represents the six acts of mercy, and was executed by Heaton and Butler. On the south wall, and erected in 1961, the central window depicts Christ healing. The eastern window in the south wall depicts the Holy Family, with Mary and Joseph, and was dedicated in 1963. Above the Lady Chapel alter; the window depicts Jesus holding a lamb, with St. Peter (with a key, to the left) and St. Paul (with a sword, on the right).

Now used as a Vestry, in the north Chapel is the only trace of earlier glass – the Bertie Family Coat of Arms. (This is a small, eighteenth century panel, set in the middle of the Victorian lead lighting). Dedicated to the War Dead, in the north wall, two of the windows are of stained glass. One of these windows, the eastern-most shows an angel carrying the scales of justice, flanked by St. George and the Dragon, and a further angel bearing a sword. The other north wall window carries the badge of the Royal British Legion, and depicts the Risen Christ, with miniatures of the burning bush, and Jonah in the whale’s mouth.

At the western end of the south wall of the Chancel, there are a pair of windows depicting the Good Samaritan, whilst to the east of these, there is a panel of two windows which portray Christ with the children, and the Baptism of Christ. In 1881, the east window, above the reredos behind the High Alter, was dedicated. This window depicts the Ascension of Christ into Heaven. There are six brasses, normally covered by carpets (for security and to eliminate wear), in the Church’s floors; three in the north aisle, and three in the Chancel.