St Mary & All Saints, Droxford
St Mary and All Saints is a Grade I Listed church of early Norman origin, with later additions from the twelfth century and a square Tudor tower at the northwest corner. In its earliest and main parts the Church dates from the middle of the 12th Century (1150-1160). It is believed that
a Saxon Church existed previously in the parish.
The church is bright, open and welcoming, and the team of flower arrangers make a delightful contribution to the peaceful and prayerful atmosphere of the church. You will find it set back from the east side of Droxford Square, where you can park your car before walking through the churchyard to the entrance on the south side. Nearby, in the Square, is the village hall that provides a function room, kitchen, and toilet facilities when needed.
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History of St Mary & All Saints, Droxford
In its earliest and main parts the Church dates from the middle of
the 12th Century (1150-1160). It is believed that a Saxon Church
existed previously in the parish. St Wilfred is said to have converted
the Meon Valley to the Christian faith in the second half of the 7th
Century, about 660-670 AD. There is good reason for accepting this.
THE NORMAN CHURCH
This consisted of nave and apse chancel. The original walls of the
nave remain today inside the present church as they were first built,
except where they were subsequently cut into arches opening into
the aisles. The massive square pillars, which are a feature of the
church, are sections of the outside walls of the Norman building.
The Norman chancel arch stands in its original position, but was
raised about four feet in comparatively modern times, as can be
easily seen. The fine Norman doorways in north and south walls
belong to the original church.
AISLES & CHAPELS
In the 13th Century, the north aisle and chapel (now used as a
vestry) were built. The 14th century saw the addition of the south
aisle and chapel, with its canopied niche. The aisles were erected
outside the existing walls, those being cut away to form arches. As
the aisles were built, the carved north and south doorways were
moved to the positions they now occupy.
TOWER
This bears, carved on a stone above the entrance, the date 1599. It is
uncertain whether the date refers to the actual erection of the tower,
or merely commemorates some Tudor restoration. There are five
bells, the oldest bearing the date 1606.
RESTORATIONS
At the beginning of the 20th century (1903) during the
incumbency of the late Canon John Vaughan, the church was most
carefully renovated and some most interesting discoveries were
made.
The walls of the two chapels were carefully examined, with the result
of finding in the south chapel a piscina, and in the north chapel both
piscina and aumbry, the latter in excellent preservation, the slots for
hinges and door-bolt being plainly apparent. The scraping of the
north chapel walls revealed traces of the 16th Centur;y scroll
decoration. The removal of plaster, which to some extent had
covered up the Puritan desecration of the fine canopied niche in the
east wall of the south chapel, showed, still remaining, some of the red
and blue mediaeval colouring, and the rose of William of Wykeham in
the centre of the canopy was uninjured. The niche no doubt
contained a statue of the Virgin and Child.
The recumbent figure of a lady of rank that lies in the south chapel
was put there during the restoration in the belief that it formed part
of a stately tomb that had been destroyed by fanatical zealots of the
17th Century. The figure had been found, about 1820, buried in a
meadow near the church, and was then taken to the church and
laid behind the organ in the north chapel.
No information exists as to the identity of the person. It is conjectured
that it may be the mother of John de Drockensford, who was the son
of the local Squire and was keeper of the Wardrobe to Edward I, and
Chancellor of the Exchequer to Edward II, and finally Bishop of Bath
and Wells. His tomb is in Wells Cathedral.
The ancient staircase, which in mediaeval times led to the rood-loft,
was found by boring the massive masonry of the pillar from which
rises the north end of the chancel arch. The steps, broken, but
distinguishable, can be seen by opening the carved oak door in the face
of the pillar, behind the organ. Part of the door leading onto the
rood-loft can be seen above the pulpit. No trace remains of loft or
screen.
The Jacobean oak communion rails, which had been removed some
years earlier, but happily not destroyed, were restored to their old
place, as was the oak altar table, also Jacobean (but the latter was
stolen in 1990 and had to be replaced).
The scraping of the chancel walls revealed part of the heads of two
windows on the south side.
The 1903 restoration included the panelling of the sanctuary walls in
a fine dark wood harmonising well with the old oak of rails and altar.
On the south side of the sanctuary a panel, which can be opened,
covers a piscina and shelf.
The most recent change is a new stained glass window that was
commissioned to mark the third millenium. The window was
designed and installed by Vanessa Cutler, and is in the south-west
corner, to the left as you approach the south porch.
MEDIÆVAL SUN-DIALS or MASS CLOCKS
There are four of these interesting relics. Two are in the south porch,
one on each jamb of the Norman doorway, and two on the outside
south wall, on the East jamb of the window of the south-east chapel,
one above the other.
CHURCH REGISTERS
These date from 1633: but earlier entries are not continuous.
IZAAK WALTON
An interesting connection exists between this famous man and
Droxford. Walton's daugnter Anne married Dr. William Hawkins,
who was Rector of Droxford as well as Prebendary of Winchester. In
his will, Walton left to his daughter Anne "all my books at
Winchester and Droxford, and whatever in those two places are, or I
can call, mine". There can be no doubt that Walton stayed in
Droxford, worshipped in the church, and fished in the Meon. Walton
also made bequests to Mr. John Darbyshire, who was then curate of
Droxford, and to Mr Francis Morley, who was nephew of Bishop
Morley of Winchester, and friend of Bishop Ken. He lived at the
Manor House of Droxford, the house adjacent to the Church. A
tablet to Anne, wife of Mr John Darbyshire, is on the north wall of
the north Chapel, and the tombstone of his second wife, Frances
Avedale, is in the floor of the north chapel. The monuments to the
Morley family are near the font.
FORMER RECTORS OF DROXFORD
Several lie buried in the churchyard or under the church. Of the
latter, the most interesting record is that of Dr Nicholas Preston
who, as the inscription on his tombstone states, was one of the
Royalist Clergy ejected from his benefice by Oliver Cromwell's
Government. He returned to his rectory with the restoration of
Charles II in 1660, having been dispossessed for ten years. The tomb
is in the floor of the south aisle.
Go to our downloads page for a PDF version of this history that you can view or download to disk..
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