Westham church - the first church the Norman's built in England
This church was locked when we got here and unfortunately most of the photographs
came out a little dark, so until we get back to that area this picture will
have to suffice for now.
One of the first things the Norman's did after they landed here was to build
this church at westham dedicated to St.Mary, which consisted of chancel, central
tower, crossing with north and south transepts, and nave. Of this original
building there remain three windows in the south of the nave, a round arch
and small window in the south transept known as the Priest-hawes chapel, and
one in the north wall near the tower; and indications of the aspidal east
end of the transept.
Most of the other features are perpendicular, spacious and effective in
treatment. The nave arcade and massive tower are good decorative work. The
tower has been a thing of beauty for over 600 years and the mason's marks
are still on the arch. The great chancel window has 33 figures, the bottom
ones modern saints and prophets among whom are the saints of Northumbria,
Aidan and Bede, the first martyr St Alban, and our good St George; but above
the modern figures are 13 saints and apostles which catch the eye for their
quaintness.
It is one of the best galleries of 15th century paintings in any English
church, and splendid the white figures are in blue and red and gold. The screen
is the old rood screen back in its place, with the old stone stairs beside
it up which the priest would go to read the good news each day. The screen
has been brought from the tower after long disuse. Its huge beam, weighting
about a ton, is once more doing its duty, and the massive 15th century gates
are swinging on their hinges.
The Original entrance to the church
In the Lady chapel is one of the few stone altars left in England. It may
have crowned the high altar of the Norman church, but was put in the floor
for people to walk over when most stone altars were destroyed. Its consecration
crosses have saved it, and it is mounted on a massive oak table under Norman
walls as old as itself.
Let into the side of a window of the chancel is a fragment of stone which
has its place in the Bible story, for it is a piece of the foundation of Solomon's
temple. There was once an old sexton who had an eerie feeling about the rough
boulders amongst the graves, for they mark the graves of those who died of
plague.
There was buried here a nameless man, without friend and none to mourn him.
They laid him nameless in mother earth, a man found on the beach, a scrap
of paper found in his pocket saying " I am 63 today."
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