Country Churches

106. St Mary & All Saints, Ellingham

The hamlet of Ellingham is situated in the Avon Valley some two miles north of Ringwood. The oldest parts date from the 12th century but the red brick south porch in Georgian style dates from 1720. Immediately on entering the churchyard - full of daffodils - one notices a large triangular blue gilded sun dial over the entrance arch. Two glass doors have recently been placed in the porch as a millennium gift. They are beautifully inscribed with two St Michael angels blowing trumpets.

Inside, the nave is unaisled and the dominant feature is the plastered tympanium double screen over the 15th century chancel arch. It extends to the roof and has a space of two feet between the screens. The east side had a painting of a rood group showing kneeling angels, a replica of which hangs on the wall of the chancel. The west face is post-Reformation and has the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, the Royal Arms of Charles II and four biblical texts all done most attractively in black lettering with Renaissance borders. Three brass chandeliers of 18th century style hang in the nave and on the north side is a large canopied pew (1712) made of oak and walnut for the Lisle family.

Attractive carvings of the four Apostles - recently restored with gold gilt - can be seen behind the altar, whilst gold gilted roof beams shine brightly above. All the glass is Victorian. The three light east window shows St Michael whilst the south side windows depict the Supper at Emmaeus and the first Easter evening.

The west door is now boarded up and in front is a carved wooden reredos of the school of Grinling Gibbons (1648-1721). It incorporates a graphic 16th century Flemish painting of Judgement Day. This was taken from the church in Port St Mary after the siege of Cadiz in 1702. It was probably painted by Franz Floris (1520-70).

The tomb of Sir Richard Puncharday (1465) lies in the chancel and on the south wall of the nave there is the Beconsour Memorial to Alice Beconsour of Ibsley. “She lyeth virtuously and dyed in the feare of God the 19 of July Anno Dei 1622.” The memorial, recently repainted, shows the arms of the White and Beconsour families, as well as some green birds with red legs, possibly popinjays or green parrots.

One story associated with the church concerns Alice Lisle, daughter of Sir White Beconsour. Born in 1618 she married Colonel John Lisle, a prominent Parliamentarian created a Viscount by Cromwell. She was arrested for sheltering two men at Moyles Court after Monmouth’s defeat at Sedgemoor. She was duly executed at Winchester on 2 September 1685 following the Bloody Assizes of Judge Jefferies. Her tomb can be seen near the south wall of the church. She is today depicted on a fresco in the House of Commons which shows her arrest by Colonel Penruddocke.

Last but not least the church has a superb display of embroideries all completed in recent years by Mrs Burnett, Mrs Wilmer and a team of ladies from the parish. There are four magnificent altar frontals showing the Crown of Glory, the Crown of Thorns, the Fishes of the Holy Trinity and the Burning Bush. In addition each of the 26 pews has a pew runner 10 feet long and 12 inches wide each depicting a different saint. Together they add much to the beauty of the church. A booklet giving full details is on sale in the church.

John Symonds