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Dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary
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The Church of c.1220. After having done duty for about 60 year, the Church was considerably enlarged, and of the former building, only the west wall and the tower were retained. To Hugh de Haversham and his son Nicholas, who succeeded in 1221, belong the honour of rebuilding the Church almost to its present size; and if it were not already endowed, probably they too made provision for the maintenance of the services. The extent of the endowment has been placed on record as early as 1278. This period of architecture, called Early English, is marked by its narrow lancet-shaped windows, three of which still remain. Other early 13th century evidence are the two buttresses with edge roll moulding at the east end of the Chancel, with an inscribed dial on one of them.
Rector Michael de Haversham, 1221 A.D. It is from this date that the names of all the rectors are known down to the present day. [1937] The absence of earlier recorded names, however, cannot be considered as evidence that there were no previous rectors, because it was not until about the year 1213 that the Bishops began to keep registers of institutions. The Bishop of Lincoln, Hugh de Wells, made two fairly long entries of the appointment of Michael. In the first it is stated that the charge of the Church of Haversham was entrusted to Michael de Haversham on “the Wednesday immediately before the feast of St. Dionysius,” and the Official of the Archdeaconry of Bukyngeham was commanded to enjoin the Capellanus (Chaplain) of Haversham, that he should warn Michael to come to the Lord Bishop to be instituted. In the second entry it is stated That Michael, “clerk, having been presented by Nicholas de Haversham, knight, to the church of Haversham,” was admitted to it and canonically instituted “persona” - the origin of the word parson. The reference to the Chaplain of Haversham is interesting. In the earliest know account of the parish it was asserted that the name of the first recorded rector was “one William.” Either this “one William” was the predecessor of Michael, or else he was the chaplain referred to in the instructions issued by the Bishop of Lincoln. It should be remembered that in early days there were chaplains at Haversham, evidently the private chaplains of the Lord of the Manor, as well as rectors of the parish church, and that in post-Reformation days there frequently curates. The names of several of them are known. It is noteworthy that the first recorded rector was a member of the Manor family. Indeed, he was almost certainly a brother of the Sir Nicholas who presented him to the living, as it would appear from a legal reference in 1225, in which it is stated that Nicholas and his brother Michael obtained a writ of pone touching a tenement in Rutland, no doubt the property which Benedict de Haversham held at the beginning of the century. Rector John de Chishull, Bishop. On the death of Michael in 1264, Sir Nicholas de Haversham appointed one who brought no little distinction to the parish. His name is also spelt Cheshull and Chryshull. He had previously held livings at Holton in Lincolnshire from 1259 to 1260, and at Buckminster in Leicestershire. After being at Haversham for 10 years, he was appointed Bishop of London, and was consecrated at Lambeth on April 29th, 1274. He is said to have become also the Lord Treasurer and Lord Chancellor of England in the reign of Edward I. He died in 1280. Master Angelus, Advocate. Chishull was succeeded in the rectorship by “Master Angelus Cameracensis, advocatus dom. regis in curia.” Cameracensis was apparently his surname, and he was advocate of the Lord King in the court of Rome, his business being to advance the King’s suits in the Papal Court. He was appointed Rector by King Edward I, upon whom devolved the right of patronage during the minority of the heir Sir Nicholas de Haversham. Possibly Master Angelus was never able to come to Haversham at all, but delegated his duties to a chaplain. In the old mss, account of the parish he is described as “Master Angelus de Roma, the King’s Chamberlayne.” List of Rectors down to the present time
Lord de Haversham. The Nicholas de Haversham, who succeeded his father Hugh in 1221, died 30 years later possessed of other property besides Haversham, namely property in Thrap, Oxon, and a smaller manor of Compton in Wiltshire, which was allocated as dower to his widow Emma. He was succeeded in 1251 by his son for the same name, who was “constable” of the Castle of Northampton in 1264, that is to say, the governor or keeper. He also came to be styled in official returns as Lord Nicholas de Haversham. It should be said, however, that the title of Lord was used at that time in a much looser sense than in later days. He further increased the possessions of the family by the addition of the Manor of Claybrooke in Leicestershire and other lands in Wiltshire. With his death in 1273 the direct line of de Havershams came to an end.
He was succeeded by his daughter Maud, or Matilda, a child of 6 months, and during her minority she was placed under the wardship of Queen Eleanor, the wife of King Edward I. The Queen was also granted the custody of the Manor and the other estates, the King retaining to himself the right of the patronage of the Rectory. Judicial Enquiry of 1273. Some most interesting pieces of information of this period have been preserved in two official enquiries made a this time. As was customary on the death of a landowner, an enquiry or inquisition was made on the nature and extent of the property lately held by Nicholas de Haversham, so that a decision might be made as to his legal heir, and a dower awarded to his widow. To be precise, this enquiry was held on “the Saturday after St. Gregory in the 2nd year of Edward I.” It was found that his estate consisted of Compton Manor and other lands in Wilts., property in Southampton, Claybrok in Leicester, in addition to Haversham with the advowson of its Church, and that his daughter Maud aged ½ year was his next heir. The total value of all lands was given at £112 6s 8½d., of which Haversham alone accounted for £59 8s 3½d., “and so to the Lady (i.e., Joan his widow) ought to be dowered of £37 8s 10¾d., that is one third of the value. Name and Endowment of the Church. Two declarations in these returns are worthy of special note:- It: dca: ecca: de Hav’sam donate est de LX and XII acr’ t’re. It. Deo & ecce: Be: Marie de Hav’sam ad luminar’ sustinedn; IX.s., which means that at this early date the Church was endowed with 72 acres of land, and that one of the tenants gave 9/- to God and to the Church of the Blessed Mary of Haversham for the maintenance of lights, as part of the rental for the land which he held. The reference to the Blessed Mary is unique, as it is the only instance that has been discovered so far in old documents to the name of a patron saint given to this Church. It is true that this reference can hardly be considered a conclusive authority in this particular matter, yet it certainly seems to testify that the Church was popularly known at that time as “the Church of the Blessed Mary.” With this one exception the Church is invariably described in Bishops’ registers, Church Registers, Acts of Parliament, and all official documents from the earliest days to the present, as the Church or the Parish Church of Haversham. Even the will of Lady Clinton in 1423, which contains several specific references to the Church, seems to be ignorant of its name, although, strange to relate, the will refers to the Chantry Chapel as being that of St. Peter the Apostle. THE DE LA PLAUNCHE FAMILY, 1289-c.1389.
Arms: Argent billety and a lion sable. Maud de Haversham was only 16 years old when the wardship of the Queen came to an end. She became married to Sir James de la Plaunche, and the following order was issued to Master Henry de Bray, the escheator this side Trent in 1289:- “Order to deliver to John [this is an error for James] de la Plaunche and Maud de Haversham his wife, all the lands whereof Nicholas here father, tenant in chide, was seised at his death, to be held until the King’s arrival in England, so that there may be done what the King shall cause to be ordained by his council, as the King learns … that Matilda is of full age.” Her husband was not to live more than 16 years afterwards, and of him two things only are told. He exercised the right of patronage to the rectory on the death of Master Angelus in 1291, and appointed William de Ledcomb, of whose subsequent troubles on the death of his patron we shall soon hear. The second matter is that he obtained licence in 1304 “to crenellate his dwelling place of Haversham, Co. Buckingham”; that is to say, to fortify it with embattlements, or as another definition says, “to furnish loopholes, through which missiles may be shot.” The reason for this fortification is not given, but there were many marauding bands of free-booters in those days, and no man’s goods were safe unless his house were well armed and protected.
Difficulties of the Rector. The lot of the Rector was not always a path of roses, even in the Middle Ages. Although William de Ledcomb had been the Rector for 18 years, the new Lord of the Manor did his utmost to make things unpleasant for him. A Commission was appointed in 1309, on complaint by William, parson of the Church of Haversham, that John de Olneye, John le Hare, Robert le Long and Nicholas le Someter with others at Haversham, Co. Bucks., assaulted and imprisoned him, and forbade the inhabitants of Haversham to give him tithes, fire or water, or to speak with him, assaulted his servants, took away his plough oxen and other cattle from the common pasture there, and kept them without food, so that many of them died, prevented his servants from saving his hay and his corn, and with the cattle of the said John de Olneye depastured the herbage of his meadow and his corn.” No reason is given for this violent hostility. Had the fault been entirely on Mr. Ledcomb’s part it would no doubt have been recorded. It is not surprising to discover that Mr. Ledcomb resigned two years later. At the same time, Sir John did not have things all his own way, for he too had to make a complaint “touching a breach of the park at Haversham.” Feelings ran very high in those days. A still more serious affair occurred 48 years later. The parson of 1357, Robert Sturmy, was attacked by William Golds, the bailiff of Newport Pagnell, and in defending himself against Golds, Sturmy accidentally killed him! Again no reason is given why the bailiff should have been so violent, but it is satisfactory to know that the Rector was pardoned, and that he was not obliged to resign in consequence. He died in office in 1361. Chantry Chapel. The days of the de la Plaunche family were associated with much Church re-construction, which experts group around the three dates 1290, 1325, and 1360.
First the Chantry Chapel was added, it is thought about 1290 (the Chapel arch being of that period), though it was reconstructed about the year 1325, as the two windows would suggest. This would be in the days of Lady Maud, who entered into possession of the estate in 1289, and lived until 1329. It was in the year 1325 that her second husband, Sir John de Olney, died; and in the same year John de Haversham, the Chaplain, and presumably her relative, gave an endowment of 12 acres of land in Haversham to the Abbot and Convent of Lavendon, for the maintenance of a chaplain there.
The restoration of 1934 revealed the existence in this Chapel of a hagioscope (or squint), an ambry( a recess for church vessels), originally much deeper, and a fine 14th century pisina which can be seen in the picture above together with the stone seat, or sedile, below the window facing south. The Leper squint is of interest, and was, of course, (in the year 1200 when it was constructed) an opening from the outside of the Church. It was here where lepers, or suspected lepers, without mixing with the normally healthy congregation inside the building, might view the Rector as he administered the Sacrament of the Holy Communion.
Extracts from: "The Story of Haversham" by Rev. Samuel Hilton, M.A. Rector of Haversham (Published in 1937) On the outside of the south window of the Chapel it will be noticed that there is “a moulded external label having beast-stops.” The “beasts” are, (1) a cat with a mouse in its mouth; (2) a cockatrice, which is a fabulous monster represented in heraldry as having the head and body of a cock with the tail of a reptile. The one in the window is standing on its twisted tail, with its head looking upwards. The figure is more noticeable if viewed sideways.
Those for whose benefit Chantry Chapels were built were usually people who had made some generous contribution or endowment of either money or lands to the Church. The liberality of John de Haversham, the Chaplain, has been recorded, and almost certainly Lady Maud had followed in the footsteps of her pious ancestors in supporting the Church. The association of their names with the construction of the Chapel would seem to be a legitimate assumption. Mention may be made in passing, of the surprising fact that there is no indication of any endowment or charity being given to the Church or parish from that day to the present, except a bequest in 1896. Church Enlargement. About the year 1325 also, the south aisle was entirely rebuilt to be in line with the new Chantry Chapel. The south arcade was also rebuilt, as well as the Chancel arch. Perhaps it would have been more interesting to people today had the original archway been retained. The last stage in the reconstruction work took place about 1360. This would be in the days when the Rector had his unfortunate contretemps with the bailiff of Newport Pagnell.
To this date is assigned the rebuilding of the north arcade, with its two noticeable head-stops over the pillars. The windows of the Chancel, which doubtless had formerly been narrow lancet shaped, were enlarged in this “Decorated period,” as were also the two large windows in the north aisle. The “Inventory of National Monuments” suggests that this section of the north aisle was not built until this time. To the end of the 14th century (about 1390) is assigned the south porch, the canopy over the tomb, and the font. All through this reconstruction period, 1325 to 1390, the “ogee” style is much in evidence, as is seen in the east window (c.1325), the two square-headed windows on the south side of the Chancel (of the end of the century), the piscine in the Chapel, the canopy in the sanctuary, and the font. The clerestory was added in the 1400's when the pitch of the original roof was lowered. Since then, over 500 years ago, apart from re-roofing and the re-building of a buttress or two, no addition has been made to the structure of the Church. Haversham Church in Lady Clinton’s days. It is worthy of note that the last improvements and additions to be made to the structure of the Church were during this period. Besides the canopy, the font, south porch, and the enlargement of three windows in the Chancel, all of which fall within this short period, there was also the addition of a clere-story in the earlier part of the 15th century, Even the old parish chest may belong to the end of Lady Clinton’s time. This oak chest, with its floriated iron-straps and two locks, the lid being in two parts, is probably early 15th century.
It was recorded in an account of the 18th century: “Here are no ancient coats of arms or painted glass, except yt. in ye north window of ye Chancel is one coat, viz: Argt. a Lion rempt. sable, in an orbe of Billets sable, being ye arms of Plaunche, put up on doubt by ye last Heiress of ye Family, viz,. Elizabeth, Lady Clinton Daughter and Heir of Will. de la Plaunche.” Unfortunately, this window with its coat of arms has since disappeared. A few fragments of 15th century stained glass have been found, and are now placed in the east window of the Chapel. Apparently they were part of the window referred to by the 18th century chronicler, though it is difficult to piece them together now so as to make any semblance of design.
Until recently it was always confidently assumed that the tomb was that of Lady Clinton, although there is no inscription on it to say so. The two latest authorities have rather dropped a bombshell on local tradition by questioning this assumption, while at the same time they allow the date of about 1390. This raises quite an interesting problem. Are there any good reasons for the general belief? The writer thinks there are. It so happens that Lady Clinton left a will, which is preserved in the Archives of Lambeth. According to this will she appointed her “body to be beryet in the Chauncel of Hauersham byfore ye ymage of oure Lady Seynt Marie.” It used to be supposed that she had prepared the tomb for herself during her own lifetime, but there is no hint in the will that any tomb existed, or yet that there was one wherein the body of her sister Katherine lay. The bodies of her children were buried “in the chapel of Seynt Petir the apostell in ye same church of Hauersham.” From this specification of the place of her burial, viz.: before the image of our Lady, a writer in the Records of Bucks in 1870 makes the following suggestion: The Canopy of stone appears to be of a somewhat earlier date then the tomb and effigy of alabaster, and apparently this canopy was constructed originally between 1380 and 1390 for an Image of the Virgin, which would have stood on the bracket in the recess, and it was in front of this image that Lady Clinton willed to be buried. The date of the Tomb itself is probably 1423-4. On the removal of images and shrines from Churches at the Reformation in 1547, the tomb was then fitted into the vacant recess or perhaps this was not done until 1665, when “Dorrite Thomson Stq. repeazzed this Toumb” (see inscription at one end of the tomb). The tomb also has the appearance of being slightly too long for the recess, and having been cut at the ends to make it fit in. A second point to notice is that there are five tablets or shields which must have had coats of arms painted on them originally; and what could those arms have been but the five which Lady Clinton used in her seal towards the end of her life, namely those of her husbands Birmingham, Grey, Clinton and Russell, along with that of de la Plaunche? Recent photographs taken of these five tablets reveal traces of coats of arms on three of them which can be identified, namely: On the end one there are distinct traces of the lion rampant of the de la Plaunche; the second on the front shows fairly clearly the Barry (argent & azure with the difference of a baston gules of the Grey of Rotherfield; and the fourth on the front shows faint traces of the chevron azure of the Russells of Northants. It will be noticed too that these arms, though not in the order given in her seal, are in the correct chronological order. This would seem to be conclusive evidence that the tomb could be none other then of Elizabeth Lady Clinton. At her death on Sept. 11th 1423, the line of the de la Plaunche came to an end, as the children of Lady Elizabeth had all pre-deceased her, and the manor passed to a collateral branch descended from the original family of the Havershams. Alicia Payn Brass
John Maunsell Brass
The Willis Bequest 1896.
Canopied Niche
The Font and Lectern
The Old Organ 1869
Pulpit and Hourglass
The Bells. It was during the rectorship of Mr. Bostock, when Charles I was king, that two bells were hung in the church tower. A third was added after the Restoration of King Charles II. They are thus inscribed:- CHANDLER MADE ME 1667, by Anthony Chandler GOD SAVE OVR KING 1625, by James Keene GOD SAVE OUR KING 1638, bY James Keene There is also a “sanctus bell” of 1752.
The Puritans. The period of the Commonwealth left its mark on the parish in more ways than one. The Clinton monument was defaced and damaged to such an extent that it had to be “repeazzed” (repaired) in 1665. The church registers which almost certainly must have been kept since the time of Henry VIII, somehow disappeared in these days of upheaval. As early as 1538 the authorities in each parish were ordered to provide a register “wherein ye shall write the day & year of every wedding, christening, & burying made within yor parish.” The registers which now exist contain no entries earlier than 1665. Not only did the registers disappear but the rector too! The Rev. Michael Bostock, who had been rector since 1623, is said to have been deprived of his living in 1646; it is also said that the minister put into his place by the Puritans bore the name of John Newman! The church records ignore this intrusion, so that it is not possible to verify it. At the Restoration of Charles II, in 1660, the Church of England ministry was also restored, and a duly ordained minister appointed in the person of Robert Newman M.A. Special mention is made of his ordination as deacon by the Bishop of Coventry & Lichfield, and as priest by the Bishop of Rochester in 1643. He had been in charge of the parish since May, 1657, but could not be instituted until 1660, when the ceremony was performed by the Vicar General & Official of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the see of Lincoln being still vacant. Nonconformity still lingered, for the house of George Martin (wherever that was) became licenced for Presbyterian worship in 1672. There was a John Newman in the parish at the time, and if he were the same individual as the Puritan minister of 1646, it would have been he, no doubt, who conducted these services in Mr. Martin’s house. The church register records his burial in 1676 without comment. Presbyterians continued to flourish for many years, for such entries as these are found in the diocesan records concerning this parish: in 1717 “some diss. Presb, as they say”; and in 1720 “Families 53, about 10 Dissenters.” Box Pews.
It was probably during the Thompson regime that the high-backed box pews of thin deal wood were introduced into the Church. These pews were most emphatically “of mean extraction.” After being lowered and much altered in 1857, they were removed altogether in 1934, as they had become riddled with the ravages of woodworm. One can readily imagine the great Lord of the Manor allocating to himself the spacious “manor pew,” where he listened to the eloquence of the rectors of that time preaching from the high pulpit, while the sands were running through the hourglass. (The iron stand of the hour glass is still to be seen in the pulpit.) One wonders whether the oratory of the rectors rivalled that of their distinguished parishioner in the pew, whom the Duchess of Marlborough (the favourite of Queen Anne) described as “a great speech-maker, and the mouth-piece of his party for extraordinary purposes of alarm.” “Haversham Christians.” An interesting sidelight has been thrown on the religious life of the parish at this period. There was appointed to the church of the depopulated parish of Stantonbury in 1668 a well-known poet and religious enthusiast of the day, John Mason by name. It may be of interest to give an extract from an article, which was written about him some time ago. “Hardly a mile across the river from the church of Stantonbury and the Wittewronge mansion lies the village of Haversham, commanded by its fine church on the high ground beyond. Mason used very frequently to minister to the people beyond the water meadows in default of parishioners of his own. Haversham was his ‘beloved place,’ and his affection was returned by those whom we only know as the ‘Haversham Christians.’” Even after he left Stantonbury in 1674 to become the Vicar of Water Stratford, near Buckingham, he kept up his connection with Haversham for a long time.
Mason was one of the earliest writers of hymns used in congregational worship, and many of them are to be found in early 18th century collections. Some of his lines were well known to Pope and they are said to have influenced the Wesleys and Cowper, while the hymn-writer Watts borrowed from them freely. The influence of Haversham was evidently an encouragement to John Mason, and perhaps some of his compositions were first sung in its church. www.waterstratford.org.uk/john-mason There is an unfortunate sequel to this story, for which an assistant curate at Haversham must bear a large portion of the blame. Seven years after Mason had left Stantonbury, the Rev. James Wrexham, formerly Vicar of Kimble Magna and of Woburn, was appointed by the Rector (Samuel Halton) to be his assistant at Haversham. Mr Wrexham came with a reputation for piety and of learning of a sort, and afterwards he was described as “a melancholy Divine.” It was not without significance that the following entry was made in the Church Register, apparently in the handwriting of the Rector:- “ James Wrexham, Minister of the gospel cam to dwell at Haversham and to officiat as an Assistant to ye Curat Jan. 3 1681. iTin.3.7. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without lest he fall into reproch and ye snare of ye Divill.” Wrexham spent much time “in compiling a more exact and complete Scripture Chronology than is yet extant,” and he incurred the reproof of the Bishop of Lincoln “for wasting so much time and pains in a fruitless study.” He further claimed to have calculated the very year when the Millennium would begin. Mason now at Fenny Stratford formed very close friendship with him, and his intensely earnest nature imbibed all too eagerly the ideas of Wrexham about the Millennium. The death of James Wrexham in 1684 filled Mason with grief, and he dwelt more and more upon the “Revelation Thoughts” which he had learned of Wrexham. When the year foretold by the latter at length arrived, Mason verily believed that the Lord had appeared on earth, and he was convinced that he had seen Him with his own eyes. On his stating this publicly many acclaimed him as a prophet, and he attracted around him a large crowd of excitable and erratic people, whose foolish vagaries brought much discredit on him and led him from one delusion to another. The Rector of Tyringham, H. Maurice, in the year after Mason’s death in 1694, wrote a small book which he called “An Impartial Account of Mr. John Mason and his Sentiments,” in which he sought “to transmit to Posterity as remarkable an instance of pure Enthusiasm as the Reformed World ever new.” Maurice attributed Mason’s delusion partly to his unhealthy physical and mental condition, but especially to a snare of the Devil “to smite him with a Notion that will chase away Sobriety.” He also asserted that from taking too much Tobacco,” and “While he smoked he was in a kind of Ecstasy and all his People flock’d about him to receive his communications.” The other point of view was well expressed in a letter written by Mason’s sister to Mr. Maurice shortly after her brother’s death. Among many other tributes to his memory she said, “He had such Zeal to the Glory of God and such a Flame of love to Jesus Christ that I never saw the like no Man on Earth before. …. He was the self-abasingest Creature that ever I knew in my life …. He was the finest Man in the World against Sin, but the pittyfullest Man to the Sinner….The Haversham Christians are able to give a large account of his Life from first to last, ever since he enter’d into Ministry; and that honourable Family also can give you an account of a good part of his Life, therefore I shall say no more.” Confirmation at Haversham Church
Churchwardens’ Accounts. It was during this period that a permanent record began to be kept of the expenses of the wardens, which are complete from Easter 1754. Such items as these are typical of what used to appear in their accounts:- The churchwardens also “payed” 4d. for every hedgehog, and on one occasion gave 1/- for a fox (pace the Grafton Hunt!) The sparrow account was a regular item until so recently as 1884. Indeed it would appear from a perusal of these old accounts that the churchwardens of those days were more concerned in keeping down the sparrow and hedgehog population than in maintaining the church fabric in good repair. Rector Cooke. There came to Haversham in the latter days of the 18th century a young curate named Edward Cooke, who was destined to add real distinction to the parish. He was a native of the neighbouring small village of Wolverton, “the son of an opulent yeoman,” and had been educated at Berkhamstead School, and at Exeter College, Oxford. After a curacy of 5 years he was appointed rector in 1802. Dr. George Lipscomb, in his monumental work “The History of Bucks” published in 1847, can hardly find words sufficient to express his admiration of his learning and ability, and apparently the twelve pages of information which he gave of this place were derived largely, if not entirely, from the notes of Mr. Cooke. Indeed, it is thought that this applies not merely to the chapter on Haversham but to a large part of Lipscomb’s work:- This is what Dr. Lipscomb said of him:- He possessed a very extensive library, particularly of theology, law, history, antiquities, and classical literature, and including that immense collection of books and manuscripts relative to the history of his native county, of which, by his generous beneficence, the writer has so largely availed himself in the compilation of this work.” This high praise indeed! Sunday School. Mr. Cooke’s services to the parish were of a practical as well as of a literary nature. It was he who made a beginning of the educational work here. Among the property officially recorded as belonging to the rectory in 1822 occurs the item: “A small out-house, used as a Sunday School for boys, but calculated as Cow House or Cattle Shed.” Possibly this school had existed for several years prior to this date. Here in “a lowly cattle shed” were first taught the rudiments of education to the children of the village. It was in this humble way that the foundations were laid of the educational system of later days.
Friendly Societies. Another matter of practical importance was the formation of Friendly Societies, in which Mr. Cooke took a prominent part locally. One such was established in 1810 for Haversham and Castlethorpe, and a copy of the revised rules of the society, drawn up in 1821, is preserved in the Church chest. It was in such ways as this that the foundations were laid which developed into the National Health and Unemployment Insurances of the present day. His Reward. He died at the comparatively early age of 51, and according to his own modest directions, his gravestone bears this simplest of inscriptions, “E.C. 1824.” A tablet to his memory was fixed over the entrance of the church porch, by those who appreciated his valuable work, and on it are engraven these words:-
The Church Restoration of 1857. Another Rector who left behind him many evidences of his energy and generosity was the Rev. A B. Frazer, who came here 32 years after the death of Mr. Cooke. At his first Vestry Meeting he urged that steps should be taken to restore the Church, and the following resolution was passed:- “The state of the Church being taken into consideration, it was resolved that a rate should be levied towards the Expenses.” The work involved the entire renewal of the roofs (except that of the south aisle) as well as extensive repairs to the flooring and box-pews; these pews were also lowered in height; screens and panelling were added. The most interesting part of this work was the discovery of the Norman window in the west wall, as well as an ambry and piscine in the chancel. Many gifts of value were made such as oak stalls for the chancel, lectern, sanctuary chairs, &c. Altogether about £700 was spent on this work. An organ was introduced in 1861 into the Church for the first time. Unfortunately it was placed in the “singer’ gallery,” i.e., the old chantry chapel, and has since been removed. It is said that most of this instrument was originally built for the parish Church of Hackney in 1664, and was acquired by Newport Pagnell in 1789. The Rectory was further enlarged about this time by the addition of a new wing. Some of the older residents still remember the days when the Rector kept a sort of miniature “Whipsnade” in the paddocks around. The animals (kangaroo, deer, monkeys, &c.) eventually found their way to the Duke of Bedford’s collection at Woburn. Church Rates. Before the end of Mr. Frazer’s days, a noticeable change from the old order took place. Formerly the Church had been maintained by levies made on the ratepayers. The last rate which was levied for this purpose in Haversham was in 1882, and at 4½d. in the £, it was appointed in this manner:-
From that time everyone who attended the services was given an opportunity of contributing voluntarily towards the maintenance of the parish Church. The Advowson. The right of nomination a new rector to a benefice was called in medieval times the advocatio, from which we get the word advowson. Ever since 1221 at least, this right at Haversham had been vested in the Lord of the Manor, unless he were a minor, in which case it was usually exercised by the Crown. On the sale and division of the Manor estate in 1806, this right of patronage no longer went with the Manor, but was retained by the trustees of the heir of the former Lord of the Manor, so that he might be appointed to title when old enough. The Rev. H. A. Small was but 25 years of age when he became Rector of both Haversham and Clifton Reynes in 1828. Unfortunately he lived greatly beyond his means. Having been sued for a debt of £10,000, the Bishop of Oxford in 1850 was obliged to sequestrate both of his livings until the debt should be paid. Mr. Small formally resigned his position as Rector of Haversham 6 years later, and still being “the true and undoubted patron,” he appointed the Rev. A. B. Frazer in his stead. The right of patronage was acquired 33 years later by the Rev. B. L. Symonds, and he held the rectorship for 40 years, a length of service only exceeded in the long history of the parish, viz.: by Michael de Haversham, 1221-1264. On Mr. Symonds’ resignation in 1929, he made a free gift of the advowson to the Patronage Board Trust of the Church Pastoral Aid Society, the Church’s oldest Home Missionary Society, of which His Majesty the King is the Patron. It was the Trustees of that Board, (viz., Sir Samuel Roberts, Bart., Sir Thomas Inskip, C.B.E., T. H. Buxton, Esq., the Venerable Archdeacon Joynt of Southwark, Canon Lillingstone, Prebendary H. W. Hinde, and the Rev. T. C. Chapman) who appointed the present Rector. After living in retirement in the neighbouring village of Castlethorpe for seven years, Mr. Symonds died on Nov. 8th 1936, and was buried at Haversham. The Restoration of 1934. The extensive ravages of the death-watch and furniture worm beetle to the woodwork of the Church caused much concern, and a large scheme of the reparation caused much concern, and a large scheme of reparation became necessary, which was in a way a completion of the work that was begun 77 years previously. Besides extensive repairs, the chief items of the restoration were the renewing in oak and new lead of part of the roof over the south aisle; taking up the decayed wooden floor, and making a new floor with concrete and teak blocks; removing all the deal pews, and providing new oak seating for the nave, and chairs for the north aisle. The organ also was renovated and removed to the west end of the north aisle. The chantry chapel was restored, as far as possible, to what it had been before it was built up at the Reformation. This hagioscope, which had been bricked up and plastered over; also an ambry and sedile – both of which were much damaged; and the beautiful piscine was now exposed, of which only the top portion had been visible before. The total cost of the work done in 1934 was £800.
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