Church of St Editha, Tamworth
Encyclopedia
The Church of St Editha is an Anglican parish church and Grade I listed building in Tamworth
, Staffordshire
, England.
The present building stands upon the ground where successive churches have stood since the eighth century. The first church was destroyed, along with the town, by the Danes in 874 and it was not until the time of Ethelfleda
that a second church arose. The Danes ruined this church in 943 and it was King Edgar who re-founded it around 963. Editha, King Edgar's aunt died in 960 and was canonized shortly after for her life of devotion and piety and was then made the Patron Saint of the now collegiate church
.
In 1345 the town and church were destroyed by fire and the rebuilding of the fourth and present church was undertaken. Begun in 1350 and completed in 1369, this edifice is a monument to the man whose task it became to rebuild and enlarge the church, Dean Baldwin de Witney.
The College of Canons of St. Editha was probably a royal foundation in the 10th century, although the date of foundation is unknown. Although the right to appoint Canons was disputed, by the 12th century, all appointments were Royal. There were a Dean and six prebendaries.
The college was dissolved in 1548 under the terms of the Dissolution of Colleges Act 1547 and the church became the parish church for the town of Tamworth.
Samuel Parkes
(c.1815-1864) was baptised here on 24 December 1815. He won the Victoria Cross
in the Charge of the Light Brigade
for saving the life of Trumpeter Hugh Crawford. His parents Thomas Park(e)s and Lydia Fearn are buried in the churchyard and commemorated by a tombstone.
The church was extensively restored
by Benjamin Ferrey
and George Gilbert Scott
in the 1850s, and William Butterfield
, ca. 1871. There is a unique double spiral staircase in the tower.
.
There are south clerestory windows of 1873, by Ford Madox Brown
for Morris and Co
The chapel east window of 1874 is by Edward Burne-Jones
for Morris and Co.
built a new organ in 1792, taking the Dudley organ to Isleworth in South West London. Alexander Buckingham added a chair/choir division in 1809 and a pedal division was added by William Hill in 1841. Further work was carried out by George Holdich, Brycesons Bros and finally Nicholsons of Worcester. A new organ was built in 1927 by Harrison and Harrison incorporating much of the old pipework and is expected to be restored in 2009/2010. A specification of the organ from 1929 can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register
In 1929, Henry Rose appointed the then 13 year old Sir Ernest Titterton as assistant organist. Sir Ernest later went on to help develop the Atomic Bomb.
Tamworth
Tamworth is a town and local government district in Staffordshire, England, located north-east of Birmingham city centre and north-west of London. The town takes its name from the River Tame, which flows through the town, as does the River Anker...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, England.
History
The church of St. Editha is the largest medieval parish church in Staffordshire. Most of the church is mid to late 14th century and 15th century work with some 19th century additions.The present building stands upon the ground where successive churches have stood since the eighth century. The first church was destroyed, along with the town, by the Danes in 874 and it was not until the time of Ethelfleda
Ethelfleda
Æthelflæd , was the eldest daughter of King Alfred the Great of Wessex and Ealhswith, wife of Æthelred, ealdorman of Mercia, and after his death, ruler of Mercia...
that a second church arose. The Danes ruined this church in 943 and it was King Edgar who re-founded it around 963. Editha, King Edgar's aunt died in 960 and was canonized shortly after for her life of devotion and piety and was then made the Patron Saint of the now collegiate church
Collegiate church
In Christianity, a collegiate church is a church where the daily office of worship is maintained by a college of canons; a non-monastic, or "secular" community of clergy, organised as a self-governing corporate body, which may be presided over by a dean or provost...
.
In 1345 the town and church were destroyed by fire and the rebuilding of the fourth and present church was undertaken. Begun in 1350 and completed in 1369, this edifice is a monument to the man whose task it became to rebuild and enlarge the church, Dean Baldwin de Witney.
The College of Canons of St. Editha was probably a royal foundation in the 10th century, although the date of foundation is unknown. Although the right to appoint Canons was disputed, by the 12th century, all appointments were Royal. There were a Dean and six prebendaries.
The college was dissolved in 1548 under the terms of the Dissolution of Colleges Act 1547 and the church became the parish church for the town of Tamworth.
Samuel Parkes
Samuel Parkes (VC)
Samuel Parkes VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces...
(c.1815-1864) was baptised here on 24 December 1815. He won the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
in the Charge of the Light Brigade
Charge of the Light Brigade
The Charge of the Light Brigade was a charge of British cavalry led by Lord Cardigan against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854 in the Crimean War. The charge was the result of a miscommunication in such a way that the brigade attempted a much more difficult objective...
for saving the life of Trumpeter Hugh Crawford. His parents Thomas Park(e)s and Lydia Fearn are buried in the churchyard and commemorated by a tombstone.
The church was extensively restored
Victorian restoration
Victorian restoration is the term commonly used to refer to the widespread and extensive refurbishment and rebuilding of Church of England churches and cathedrals that took place in England and Wales during the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria...
by Benjamin Ferrey
Benjamin Ferrey
Benjamin Ferrey, F.S.A., F.R.I.B.A. was an English architect who worked mostly in the Gothic Revival.-Family:Benjamin Ferrey was the youngest son of Benjamin Ferrey Snr, a draper who became Mayor of Christchurch. He was educated at Wimborne Grammar School....
and George Gilbert Scott
George Gilbert Scott
Sir George Gilbert Scott was an English architect of the Victorian Age, chiefly associated with the design, building and renovation of churches, cathedrals and workhouses...
in the 1850s, and William Butterfield
William Butterfield
William Butterfield was a Gothic Revival architect and associated with the Oxford Movement . He is noted for his use of polychromy-Biography:...
, ca. 1871. There is a unique double spiral staircase in the tower.
Stained glass
There are medieval fragments in the vestry east window. The chancel east window dates from 1870, by William WailesWilliam Wailes
William Wailes, , was the proprietor of one of England’s largest and most prolific stained glass workshops.- Biographical :Wailes was born and grew up in Newcastle on Tyne, England’s centre of domestic glass and bottle manufacturing. His first business was as a grocer and tea merchant...
.
There are south clerestory windows of 1873, by Ford Madox Brown
Ford Madox Brown
Ford Madox Brown was an English painter of moral and historical subjects, notable for his distinctively graphic and often Hogarthian version of the Pre-Raphaelite style. Arguably, his most notable painting was Work...
for Morris and Co
The chapel east window of 1874 is by Edward Burne-Jones
Edward Burne-Jones
Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, 1st Baronet was a British artist and designer closely associated with the later phase of the Pre-Raphaelite movement, who worked closely with William Morris on a wide range of decorative arts as a founding partner in Morris, Marshall, Faulkner, and Company...
for Morris and Co.
Organ
The church has an historic pipe organ dating from 1766. The first instrument was installed by Nathaniel Dudley. Samuel GreenSamuel Green (organ builder)
Samuel Green , was an organ-builder.Green learnt his art under the elder Byfield, Bridge, and Jordan, and afterwards entered into several years' partnership with the younger Byfield. Green built a large number of organs for the cathedrals, and for churches in London and the country, instruments...
built a new organ in 1792, taking the Dudley organ to Isleworth in South West London. Alexander Buckingham added a chair/choir division in 1809 and a pedal division was added by William Hill in 1841. Further work was carried out by George Holdich, Brycesons Bros and finally Nicholsons of Worcester. A new organ was built in 1927 by Harrison and Harrison incorporating much of the old pipework and is expected to be restored in 2009/2010. A specification of the organ from 1929 can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register
Organists
- John AlcockJohn Alcock (organist)John Alcock, was an English organist and composer. He wrote instrumental music, glees and much church music.-Career:...
1766 - 1790 - William Birch 1790 - 1815
- John Valentine 1815 - 1816
- Thomas Valentine 1816 - 1818
- John T. Greaves 1818 - 1828
- John Hewitt 1828 - 1829
- James J. Greaves 1829 - 1832
- John T. Greaves 1832 - 1867
- T. H. Reade 1867 - 1868
- J. Smith Creswell 1868 - 1874
- George Herbert Gregory 1874 - 1876 (afterwards organist of St Botolph's Church, Boston
- W. E. Wadley 1876 - 1877
- R. Matthews 1877 - 1886
- Henry Rose 1886 - 1950
- W. Darling 1950 - 1965
- W. H. Hughes 1965 - 1972
- Kenneth Edwards 1973 -
In 1929, Henry Rose appointed the then 13 year old Sir Ernest Titterton as assistant organist. Sir Ernest later went on to help develop the Atomic Bomb.
See also
- Saint EdithaSaint EdithaSaint Edith of Polesworth is an obscure Anglo-Saxon abbess associated with Polesworth and Tamworth in Mercia. Her historical identity and floruit are uncertain. Some late sources make her a daughter of King Edward the Elder, but there are differing opinions as regards her actual ancestry...
- Dissolution of the MonasteriesDissolution of the MonasteriesThe Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
- Grade I listed buildings in Staffordshire