Cumbrian churches: April 2011

Saturday, 30 April 2011

Stained Glass at St Alkelda's, Giggleswick

Stained Glass at St Alkelda's church

Giggleswick

North Yorkshire

Above. Three light window showing the baby Jesus being presented with doves.

The window is dedicated to Ann Waring(?) and was erected by Mary and Ellen in 1891.

Above. Another three light window, this time showing Jesus in a number of guises.

The left window shows Jesus the Shepherd. The middle window shows Jesus the preacher\teacher. The right hand window shows his followers looking for him after he has been taken down from the crucifix.

Above. Window with the quote "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not"

This beautiful window has the following memorial at its base. "To the glory of the ever blessed trinity and in loving memory of John who died April 9th 1893 and of Sarah who died April 20th 1878 eldest son and youngest daughter of the late Christopher John and Frances Anne Geldard of Cappleside." In tiny writing to the right of the dedication, the following can just be made out "An offering from their Aunt Sarah Openshaw."

Above. Five light window showing Rest (far left) St Alkeld, Jesus, St James and Peace (far right)

There are two distinct family coat of arms in the windows beneath the angels Rest and Peace...though as yet, I've not been able to identify them.

Above. Three light window, most likely entitled I am the light of the world.

Above. The Altar window.

Unfortunately, this is slightly over exposed, and also the bottom of the window is obscured by the beautiful altar screen, so I'm unable to see who was responsible for this window, or to whom it was dedicated.

Above. Another very colourful three light window.

Above. Three light window with the quote "To do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy god."

Above. Three light window with the quote "Look unto me and ye be saved."

This window is dedicated to the loving memory of Anne Hatten (?) died 5th of May 1900, and dedicated by her husband and son.

As more information is found about these windows, it will be posted here.

There are brief details and a little history relating to the church here.

St Peter, Stainforth

St Peter

Stainforth

North Yorkshire

St Columba's Free Church, Edinburgh

St Columba's Free Church

Edinburgh

I've finally managed to identify this rather dark and gothic looking church as St Columba's Free church. You can find it at the junctions of Upper Bow, Johnston Terrace and Castlehill, a few hundred yards to the East of Edinburgh Castle.

The Scottish Church Heritage Research website states that this building was built sometime around 1700......but apart from that, there seems to be scant information regarding this building at the moment.

Here's their official website

Wednesday, 27 April 2011

St Thomas, Garstang

St Thomas

Garstang

Lancashire

Built in 1770 to designs by Richard Gillow, St Thomas is a Grade II listed building. The font is probably from the same date. Check this link out for a full list of incumbants since 1626. Prior to 1770, Garstang's chapel stood where the town hall now stands, and by 1769 was described as being in a very poor state of repair. The towns people of Garstang decided to build a new church in their town by subscription. The corner of a field in an area called Rivington Croft, with the foundation stone being laid in 1770 by William Lucas, agent to Sir Edward Walpole, politician and younger son of Sir Robert Walpole, Britain's Prime Minster from 1721 to 1742.

Above. View of the main door under the tower.

The church has a large number of memorials and monuments to the Boys-Stones family, my family on my mother's side, as well as a family plot (photos below) The Reverend George Boys-Stones, my Great Great Grandfather was the first vicar of St Thomas, serving from 1878 to 1914. He was the Rural Dean of Garstang from 1916 until his death in 1923.

Above. My Great Great Grandfather, the Reverend George Boys-Stones.

My Great Great Grandfather was a real-life philanthropist, donating money to the local poor house and providing funds for education and employment. He was heavily involved in local politics and invested heavily the Garstang Gas Company Ltd, from which he made a respectable fortune. His estate, when he died in 1923, was valued at £62.241, most likely as a result of his investment in the local Gas company. On top of his local benefactor work and interests, he was also Justice of the Peace for county of Lancashire. He appears to have been a true gentleman and I'm truly humbled to be his Great Great Grandson.

Above. Memorial plate to George Lawden Boys Stones, my Great Grandfather's brother.

George Lawden Boys-Stones was my Great Great Grandfather's brother. He was born in 1888, and served as a Captain in 7th Hariana Lancers and Staff Captian of the 6th Cavalry Brigade. He died from injuries sustained during the capture of Baghdad from the Ottoman Empire in 1917, and is buried in the military cemetery in Baghdad.

Above. First World War memorial with George Lawden Boystones' name on again.

Above. Memorial to the Reverend George Boystones....vicar and dean of Garstang.

Above. Small brass memorial on the organ...dedicated by my Great, Great, Great Grandmother Martha Stones.

Above. George Boystones' obituary.

Above. Newspaper cutting detailing comments made by the Bishop of Manchester about George's death.

Above. The Reverend George Boystones...Vicar, Dean and all round Humanitarian gentleman.

Above. Newspaper cutting detailing the will of George Boystones.

Check the church's official website.

I've had a recent request to provide further photos of the Boys-Stones connection with St Thomas in Garstang....and I'm only too happy to proudly display my family connection to this beautiful church.