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83. St Swithuns, Headbourne Worthy
This eleventh century church only a few miles north east of Winchester lies in a beautiful churchyard alongside the Hyde Bourne stream surrounded by woodland and flowers. Built of limestone from the Isle of Wight, most of the nave and chancel dates from around 1030 though the chancel was extended and the tower and wooden belfry added some two centuries later. A porch built in the nineteenth century forms the entrance.
The vestry at the west end has an interesting rood carved over the Saxon doorway of what was once the original west wall. It shows Christ flanked by Our Lady and St John but it unfortunately suffered some mutilation during the Reformation of the sixteenth century. In the south wall of the vestry is the only piece of medieval stained glass in the church, a small roundel of St Matthew. On the floor are some medieval tiles inscribed "Have mynde". A list of rectors back to 1285 and the First World War memorial can also be seen in the vestry.
The font at the back of the nave is plain and circular dating from the 13th century. It is surmounted by a fine wooden cover designed and handcut by the Rev Slessor, a late Victorian rector. Eight triangular patterns depict oak leaves and acorns, ivy leaves, hops, holly, blackberries, grapes, hazelnuts and wild strawberries. The fine barrel timbered roof dates from the fifteenth century whilst a canopied 13th century piscina can be seen in the south east corner.
The glass of the east window is Victorian showing St Swithun in the centre with St Peter and St Paul standing alongside. On the south side of the chancel is an impressive 13th century sedilia which provided stone bench seats for the clergy. On the north wall is a very fine brass commemorating John Kent, a Winchester scholar who died in 1434. Wearing a long gown he stands with hands joined together as if in prayer. A letter scroll in Latin issuing from his lips reads in translation "My song shall be always of the loving kindness of the Lord." The belfry contains three medieval bells. The Treble of 4½ cwt dates from 1380, the second of 6 cwt is inscribed St Gabriel and dates from 1424 whilst the Tenor of 8 cwt and inscribed Sancta Nicolas also dates from 1420. All are supported by huge timbers. One modern touch in the church is provided by the glass inner door framed in American oak which was only installed in 1957. Before leaving the churchyard note the tomb of Joseph Bingham (Rector 1694-1723) author of "The Antiquities of the Christian Church", a famous book in its day though seldom read today. This lies immediately behind the east window. John Symonds |
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