COUNTRY CHURCHES

69. St Peter's, St Mary Bourne

This church dating from 1153 with its sturdy tower so close to the main road through the village, appears somewhat gloomy inside but it is a church full of interest and surprises. It lies north east of Andover a few miles from Whitchurch.

The massive 12th century Tournai marble font was probably imported by Henry de Blois Bishop of Winchester. It is carved out of dense black limestone of the carboniferous age one of only four in Hampshire. The present base was commissioned from the same quarries in 1927. The carving round the bowl consists of vines, grapes, fleur de lys and pairs of doves drinking out of cups. A band of scrolling vine branches and leaves surrounds the top. The font stands surrounded by 14th century encaustic tiles.

In the North Aisle are stained glass windows depicting the Four Evangelists as well as St Christopher surmounted by the Old Lady of Threadneedle Street. It was presented to the church by the Bank of England in appreciation of the kindness shown by the vicar to Bank of England staff during their evacuation to the district during the Second World War. Close by a glass case displays an altar frontal of 1687 with the initials of the two churchwardens Richard Berkeley and William Bond embroidered on it.

Another glass case encloses a copy of the Vinegar Bible of 1717, so called because of the misprint 'Vinegar' for vineyard in the parable in Luke chapter 20. Not far away is an unusual commemoration of King Alfred's Millenerary erected in 1901 in memory of Queen Victoria. It quotes the words of Alfred 'I desire to live worthily all my days, that after death I might leave to my successors a memory of good work done'.

The lectern near the chancel steps dates from 1700. It is four sided with a revolving desk. Hanging down are two chains which once secured the Bible and Foxe's Book of Martyrs.

The 12th century chancel was restored in 1855. The East Window, donated in 1928, is attractive. It shows St Dunstan (patron saint of church organists), the Blessed Virgin Mary, our Lord on the Cross, St John, St Elizabeth and St John the Baptist. Above are cherubs and Christ in Majesty. The oak altar rails are Jacobean. A memorial on the chancel wall relates to William Easton, vicar 1817-31, who was much involved in suppressing the Agricultural Riots of 1830 when several local men were sentenced to be transported to Australia. A more recent World War One memorial commemorates Dudley Gerald Mein M.C. of the Lancers who was killed in action near Aleppo on 26 October 1918.

The south aisle is dominated by a large but damaged Crusader Tomb. The effigy is probably that of Sir Roger des Andelys of Wyke Manor who was killed during the Albigensian Crusade against the French heretics between 1209-17. The Victorian east window of the aisle is in memory of the Easton family and depicts the Ascension, whilst a south aisle window dating from 1924 shows the Nunc Dimittis story.

Outside in the churchyard, notice the 18th century sun dial near the path and the huge yew tree, over 20 feet in girth, probably as old as the church. There are many altar tombs of the 18th and 19th centuries. One grave in the south east corner is that of Colonel Kitchener brother of Lord Kitchener of Khartoum. The fifteenth century tower has a peal of six bells five of which date from 1683.

JOHN SYMONDS