Welcome to the Christmas & New Year 2000/2001 On Line Edition of

St George's News

Waterlooville's Parish Magazine

COUNTRY CHURCHES

44. Holy Trinity, Bosham

Bosham Church

This marvellous Saxon Church with its shingled spire overlooking the harbour is steeped in history. When Harold, Earl of Wessex was sent by King Edward the Confessor to visit William Duke of Normandy in 1065, he came to pray at the church prior to sailing to Normandy and this incident is portrayed on the famous Bayeux Tapestry. The scene showing Harold and some soldiers moving towards the church is headed 'Milites equitant ad Bosham ecclesia' and a copy is displayed on the south wall near the entrance door.

Even earlier than this it is almost certain that King Cnut (Canute) 1017-35 lived in Bosham. The tomb of his 8 year old daughter believed to have drowned in the mill stream behind the church was discovered in 1865. The corpse inside measured 3 feet 9 inches. Today the tomb lies close to the chancel steps bearing the raven insignia of the Danish Royal House. Later, in 1914 when Victorian paving stones were being replaced a second Saxon coffin was discovered containing the remains of a stockily built man but his identity remains unknown.

Entering the church via the South Porch with its original 14th century nail studded door, one steps down several steps into the spacious interior. Immediately to the right is a crypt, five feet below the floor of the nave with a fine groined roof. An ancient tomb decorated with four angels heads on the canopy lies alongside the entrance steps. Above the crypt is the attractive All Hallows chapel refurnished in 1959. It contains the only stained glass to be found in the church. Four 15th century Flemish roundels show angels holding the emblems of the Passion - the hammer, the scourge, the spear and the pincers.

The font to the left of the door dates from the 13th century. Octagonal in shape it is supported on a central shaft with 4 smaller shafts surrounding it made of Purbeck marble. The nave impresses by its height and grandeur. The columns of the north aisle have unusual ornamentation. Four reptiles or possibly eels, encircle the base of the pillars with their heads resting on the corners of the bases. High above these pillars are three circular windows. In the north aisle can be seen the 13th century Parish Chest, two War Memorials as well as an early Norman piscina. Under the window to the west of the North door there is a Mass scratch dial of Saxon origin.

The Early English East Windows contain plain glass. Of particular interest are 8 old corbels high above the choir stalls. They once supported the beams of the old roof. They all consist of human heads such as a priest with his tongue out, a man with a moustache, a woman with a pointed chin and so on. A 14th century sepulchral monument near the altar bears the recumbent effigy of a young girl. An unusual and striking altar frontal depicts ships and other scenes copied from the Bayeux Tapestry.

From the chancel steps a fine view can be had of the Saxon tower c.980 with its triangular headed window above the arch. A ringing chamber was installed in the tower during the restoration of 1903-7. Outside on the western end of the tower one of the original Saxon windows with its central balustered shaft can still be seen.

A memorial to Edric Frederick Gifford V.C. who died in 1911 can be seen on the wall below All Hallows chapel. Alongside the South Porch doorway is an interesting photograph of a tombstone in the churchyard. It relates to Thomas Barrow, Master of the sloop Two Brothers, who by breaking of the horse fell into the sea and drowned on October 13 1759 aged 23 years. The epitaph continues:

The Boreass Storms and Neptunes wars
Have toss'd me to and fro,
Yet at length by god's decree
Am harboured here below.
Where at anchor here I lay
With many of our Fleet.
Yet once again I shall not fail
My Saviour Christ to meet.

This close link with the sea is illustrated again by a memorial plaque on the churchyard wall near the entrance gate. It is in memory of Jenefer Wornum of the Manor. 'The sea claimed her' at the age of 23 in 1950. Yet another of the countless victims of the sea around Bosham Harbour since the days when King Canute vainly tried to command the waves.

John Symonds

· Anthony Wornum has emailed us with the following observation:

Just a quick message to correct a factual error in your Christmas and New Year 2000/2001 newsletter. Regarding the memorial plaque in the grounds of Holy Trinity Church for Jenefer Wornum of the Manor: The sea did indeed "claim her" in 1950 BUT she was very far from being "one of the countless victims of the sea around Bosham Harbour"; the actual seas where she tragically drowned were off the coast of AUSTRALIA.

 

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page last updated 15 JULY 2001