All Saints Church

From Historical Hastings
All Saints Church c1860.jpg
General information
Location
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Early Days[edit]

All Saints Church (or All Hallows as it was once called) is commonly referred to as 'The Upper Church' by old families from Hastings. There was a Norman church on this site, referenced to by Cole as having been mentioned in 1291 [1], which probably was partially destroyed in the French Raids of 1377. [2]

All Saints Church circa 1904

The current church dates from the first half of the 15th century, (although Ross claims the church was partially rebuilt in this period[3]) with a date of re​building​ coming from the will of Richard Mechynge who died in 1436[1] and wished to be buried in the 'new' church of All Saints. A clause in his will left money towards the cost of a new window on the south side.[4]It is highly likely that at one point, the walls were decorated with pictures of the scriptures on the walls for the benefit of parishioners who could not read[4] The only surviving of these is the representation of 'Doom', which was re-discovered during the 1870 renovations, above the chancel arch.

Incumbents[edit]

- 1371: William de Dalby[5]
1372-1373: William de Dalby[5]

C17 Recasting of Bells[edit]

Four bells were recast by Robert Topsell, of Tring, and Thomas Wakefield, of Chichester in 1615[6] - the bells being warranted for a year and a day[7]. These bells were believed to have been cast on the spot - the parish book having an entry dated the 17th of October 1614 ""The' bell mettell being weighed did amount unto 636lb."[8]. It was reported in 1686 that two of the bells had developed cracks[8]. The 1st, 2nd, and 4th of the peal, are inscribed:

1. "Oratorivm 97.
2 .•, Fili Dei miserere mei 97
4. "Soli Deo gloria pax hominibus. I B. R W. W. 1697." - this indicating that they were cast by John Wood in 1697[8].

Original Location[edit]

There is some evidence showing that the church has moved up the valley, away from the sea.[9] The church was also, as stated above, rebuilt following the raid in 1377.

Civil War[edit]

All Saints and St. Clements Church were both occupied by Cromwell’s men during the Civil War. The Royalist rector fled in what was Hastings’ only serious Civil War incident.

19th Century Restoration[edit]

A restoration caried out in 1870 removed many of the artworks on the walls, leaving the 'Doom' representation mentioned above. There is record that one of the scenes showed John the Baptist being beheaded and another on the north wall represented some 16th century ships with a sailor climbing up the shrouds.[4]

Fixtures & Fittings[edit]

The pulpit cloth formed part of the canopy held over Queen Anne at her coronation.[3]

Organ[edit]

The church has a Henry Willis (Father Willis) organ dating to 1877 which was subsequently rebuilt in 1915 with the three manual console in the north chancel chamber and electrically blown pipes.[10]

Choirmaster/Organists[edit]

1884: Herbert Dorman

Bells[edit]

Until 1903, the church had a peal of five bells; one bearing a date of 1602 and the name Edmund Giles, Bell Turner. The peal was removed from the church on the 1st of October 1903 for retuning in London and an additional bell to be added by John Warner and Sons Ltd of London[11].

In the book "Curiosities of the Belfry" by J. P. Briscoe (1883) it is related that over the belfry door appears the following poem[12]:-


This is a belfry that is free For all those that civil be ; And if you please to chime or ring, It is a very pleasant thing. .

There is no musick play'd or sung, Like unto bells when they're well rung; 'I'hsn ring your bells well, if you can Silence is best for every man.

But if you ring in spur or hat, Six pence you pay be sure of that: And if a bell you overthrow, Pray pay a groat before you go.

-1756."

The same inscription also appears in Rye church and a further church in Lincolnshire.

Titus Oates[edit]

The notorious Titus Oates is recorded as having been a Minister at this church and his father, Samuel as being a Rector.

Burials[edit]

A brass effigy of a jurat and his wife is in the church, with the following inscription :— “Here under thys ston lyeth the bodys of Thomas Goodenough, sometyme burges of this towne, and Margaret his wyf, for whos soules of your charitie, say a paternoster and an ' ave.” Mr Goodenough was a bailiff of the town in 1515[13]

The linked transcriptions are by J. Manwaring Baines
Burials 1813-1828
Burials 1829-1843
Burials 1844-1853

Images[edit]


References & Notes

  1. ↑ a b The Antiquities of Hastings and the Battlefield (Thomas Cole 1864) Pg. 45 Google Books - 1864 ESCC Library. A later edition is also available: ESCC Library - 1884
  2. ↑ Hastings Survey of Times Past and Present (Anthony Belt F.L.S.) 1937 pg.43 ESCC Library
  3. ↑ a b A Guide to Hastings & St Leonards(Thomas Ross 1835) pg.5 Google Books
  4. ↑ a b c Historic Hastings ISBN: 0948869003 ISBN: 9780948869006 , J. Manwaring Baines p 114
  5. ↑ a b Internet Archive: Sussex archaeological collections relating to the history and antiquities of the county
  6. ↑ Osborne's Stranger's Guide to Hastings and St Leonards c1854 Pg. 29 Google Books On this wiki
  7. ↑ The Whiting Society Daniel Tyssen Sussex File
  8. ↑ a b c The Whiting Society Church Bells of Sussex
  9. ↑ Close Rolls, 14 Tic II, March 10th 1391
  10. ↑ https://www.npor.org.uk/NPORView.html?RI=N15611
  11. ↑ British Newspaper Archive Hastings & St. Leonards Observer 3 October 1903 Pg. 0005
  12. ↑ Whiting Society Curiosities of the Belfry
  13. ↑ Osborne's Visitor's Guide to Hastings and St Leonards c1854 3rd ed. Pg. 29 Google Books
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