Country Churches

102. St Peters Hurstbourne Tarrant

Hurstbourne Tarrant is situated in the Bourne Valley about five miles north of Andover. The building of the church began in 1180 though the north aisle dates from the early English period 40 years later. The original Norman doorway has an eagle and a lion carved in stone on either side. Just inside the door is a 12th century tub font on a pavement of 14th century encaustic tiles.

Two medieval murals survive on the north wall. One represents the legend of the three living and the three dead. It portrays three Kings hunting in the forest who meet three skeletons thus reminding them that death faces every man. The other painting, much less clear, represents the Seven Deadly Sins.

Most of the pews date from 1500 though they have been widened and improved. Both the pulpit and communion rails are Jacobean. The east window contains modern glass in memory of H.W.Prosser. It shows four saints - St James Major, St Peter, St John the Divine and St Andrew - with four roundels below. Two mural tablets in the centre of the chancel floor relate to Mrs Mary Stish (1732) and Thomas Powlett (1708). On the wall are two interesting memorials of servicemen. One is a Crimean War veteran, Francis Alder of the 77 Regiment, son of the vicar, who died at Scutari on October 6 1854. The other is a naval veteran, Captain Charles Alder, who died in 1903. He served in numerous campaigns of the mid-Victorian era beginning with the Crimean War, followed by the Second China War, the storming of the Taku forts and the capture of Canton. Later he served on the Congo River Expedition and was finally engaged in the suppression of the slave trade off the coast of West Africa. A much earlier memorial on the north wall of the chancel commemorates Charles Poxlett who died in 1677.

The south aisle contains a charming 20th century memorial to Arthur Fenton Host 1864-1935. A one time Fellow of Trinity College Cambridge, then for 33 years a Harrow master and finally Church Warden of St Peters from 1927. "A man strong in faith and pure in heart, simple, kindly, humorous, delighting in whatsoever things are lovely."

Not far away is the 1914-18 Memorial window. This shows a Roman soldier giving half his cloak to a beggar, a World War One soldier kneeling before Christ and St George on horseback. Above, the various flags of the Allies are depicted.

The west end of the church is dominated by huge timber baulks supporting the belfry, very reminiscent of Priors Dean church. The Royal Arms of George III hang above. The belfry contains four bells, the earliest of 1613 inscribed 'Love the Lord'. Standing against the west wall is a 17 foot long thatch hook used in olden days to pull down burning thatch.

The Church Guide reveals that Jane Austen's brother James married Mary Lloyd in the church in January 1797. Another famous visitor to the village was William Cobbett (1762-1825). He wrote much of his famous book Rural Rides whilst staying with his friend Joseph Blount of Rookery Farm House.

John Symonds