New Painting added to the website

The Church of the Holy Rood, Holybourne, August 1877

A beautiful view of the Church of the Holy Rood, captured in pencil and watercolour by an unknown artist in the Summer of 1877, the only clue to their name being the initials M.L.P.

The Vicar of Holybourne at the time that this was produced was the Reverend William Milton Ireland. Born in Ireland in 1817 he appears to have been a Barrister before he had the calling to serve the Church. Initially giving service as a Curate in Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire, he arrived in the area between 1858-1860.

Arriving as a Curate, he became the Vicar of Holybourne in 1862 serving the parish until 1881, when he transferred to Whaddon in Cambridgeshire. The Church appears to have been in an increasing state of disrepair leading up to his arrival with an article in the Hampshire Advertiser describing it:

‘The sacred building was an ancient structure, early English in design, but never possessed much architectural beauty, while latterly it had become so dilapidated that restoration and partial rebuilding were absolutely necessary.’

A committee was formed in 1876/77 to raise the funds required to carry out the extensive repairs, to which a sum of approx. £2000 was raised with the total cost being approx. £2180. The balance of which being raised by offertories and fundraising before Reverend Irelands departure in 1881, leaving the Church debt free and in a far better condition than when he took it on.

There are of course some differences if you compare this view to the Church today, this might be down to the artistic licence of the artist or changes brought about when the Church was restored. The most noticeable difference is the spire, this was erected in the Autumn of 1902 by Mrs Judge of Petersfield to commemorate the marriage of her parents. A brass plate was erected under the tower, inscribed:

‘This spire is erected to the glory of God, and to the beloved memory of Thos. and Elizabeth Howard, the most devoted and self-sacrificing parents of Edith Emma Bradley Judge, in commemoration of their marriage in this church, February 15th, 1836.’

Churches help us celebrate the best of times and commemorate the worst of times, I am sure many of you have memories of this Church.

I was Christened here and I have many memories of visiting the Church or feeding the ducks by the pond as a child, I do not recall ever falling into the pond which probably means I was very careful or very lucky as a child - my father assures me it was luck!