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Post 1904
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Charles Wigley Wicksted, of Shakenhurst Hall, and the then vicar, the Rev Frank Ratlif, employed John Oldrid Scott and Son to plan and carry out major alterations that included altering the roof line, redesigning and extending the chancel, removing the box pews and musicians’ gallery, completely altering the nave ceiling, and installing an organ in a new organ chamber.
Further changes and repair work were carried out during the 20th century, but the overall appearance of the church remained virtually unchanged until the early 21st century when repair work was carried out in the tower and renovation and improvement work was carried out in the nave.
The Nave
Photographs taken before 1904/5 show the appearance of the nave during the 19th century. (Two old photographs are on display at the back of the church). They show box pews, a musician’s gallery and a curved and plastered ceiling. In 1904/5 the box pews were replaced with oak pews, many of which are still in place. The musician’s gallery was removed and the ceiling line completely altered to give it its present appearance, open to the rafters and several new heavy oak timbers added to the two already in place.
This remained the appearance of the nave until 2016/17. The floor was dug out to the bedrock foundation, insulation was laid to cure the chronic damp problem, and underfloor pipes were laid to improve the heating of the church when finances make it possible to install an oil tank and boiler. A new stone floor of Indian fossil sandstone replaced the stone and woodblock floor that had deteriorated through damp and 100 years of wear.
A kitchen and toilet were built into the back of the nave and some of the pews removed to enable the space to be used for other purposes than formal and traditional worship. Final decisions about pews and chairs will be taken in later 2018 or 2019.
New glass doors were installed to separate the nave from the toilet and kitchen.
The ceiling panels were replaced and the entire nave repainted.
The Font
This, together with some parts of the arch over the south porch, are the only remaining 12th century features.
In “Buildings of Britain – Worcestershire” by Alan Brooks and Nikolas Pevsner (pages 125-6) the font is described as follows:
“Extremely fine. Drum shaped, Norman. Bowl with long beaded scrolls. Double rope moulding below; short stem with long ribbed leaves.”
Prior to 1905, the font was on the north side of the central aisle, but was then moved to a central position. During the 2016-7 alterations, it was moved to its current position to allow unhindered access up the central aisle from the vestry.
The War Memorial
2010 Font suffering from damp
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2018 Font following restoration
The memorial tablet set up on the north wall opposite the porch was the work of James Powell and Sons, glass manufacturers of international repute and described as “world leaders in their field”. The memorial consists of a central figure of St George, depicted in “opus sectile” style (a type of mosaic). Around it are the names of those who died in WWI together with one name added after WWII.
The catalogue of James Powell and Sons has the following entry:
“10/12/1919 Bayton, Near Cleobury Mortimer, Worcs. Opus St George. 70 guineas”
In 2014, Daphne Gray, a local resident, researched the story behind the names of all those on the memorial. Please refer to the booklet below the memorial.
Other Features
The wooden panelling round the nave was installed during 1937. To the left of the glass doors, you will see a plaque set into the panelling that commemorates the gift of the panelling in memory of Eva Alice Mole.
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