By 1878, a photograph shows large cracks in the nave walls, probably caused by the swinging the bells, and a large buttress sustained the south-west corner.
Some years before, the chancel had been rebuilt. We do not know when, but certainly after 1856, and some years before this photograph (courtesy Warwickshire County Record Office, ref DR(B)63), judging by the moss on the roof.
A faculty was obtained on April 25th 1878, stating "The nave of the Parish Church has fallen into disrepair and that it is proposed to restore it by reroofing it, rebuilding the West and part of the North Wall, pointing and restoring where necessary the South Wall and inserting a new window at the West End thereof - that it is also proposed to renew the upper portion of the tower and rehang the bells - to rebuild the Porch - to build a Vestry on the South side of the chancel with a chamber for warming apparatus underneath - to repair and reseat the nave and to provide a new Font."
In the event, all the nave walls were rebuilt, and a north vestry with 'warming apparatus' was not built until 1925. Perhaps the font in classical style was seen as old-fashioned or even irreligious; in any event no new font was provided.
The 1878 photograph (above) of the church from the north-east is contained in an album of photographs of Warwickshire and East Anglian scenes owned by a foreman of the contemporaneous restoration works at Hampton in Arden church. The type of people engaged on this work can be seen in group photographs, while the drastic extent of the works can be seen in a photograph of the Hampton restoration, where the chancel has been razed to the ground before rebuilding.
All the money for the reconstruction went through the account of the rector, Canon Waller, but we do not know whether he paid for all the work from his own pocket. The 1870s were a period of high agricultural prosperity (which generated a large tithe income), before severe competition from empire farmers brought depression. Altogether the contract and extras amounted to £1258 14s 6d plus architect's fees of £80 10s paid on November 17, 1879 (source: Canon Waller's Account Book, WCRO DR157/9).
The progress of the work can be judged from the dates on which James Rowley was paid a
total of £1255 11s:
24/12/78 £500-00-0; 27/08/79 £500-00-0; 19/02/81 £028-16-0; 03/05/81 £062-00-0;
06/11/82 £081-05-0 (£70 plus £11-05-0 interest); 23/05/83 £042-00-0; 20/11/83
£021-00-0; 06/05/84 £020-10-0.
| Right: The nave, probably at
Harvest Thanksgiving, 1905 (courtesy A. Harrington). In the Diocesan Calendar for 1907, the church accommodation is recorded as 90. |
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Click Next for more information on Frederick Preedy with photographs of his stained glass, on James Rowley the builder, and for images of the floor tiles.
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