Wellow Parish Church

To find St. Swithins use post code NG22 then scroll down to the bottom of the list of curches and click on the link to St. Swithun

Brief history of The Parish of Wellow The village was at one time part of the Rufford estate but in 1974 the Queen signed an Order in Council making the Abbey and the larger part of inhabited Rufford a part on the ecclesiastical parish of Wellow. Although the present church has been restored at various times, it has stood on this spot for eight centuries. The hopes and fears, the joys and sorrows of generations of Wellow folk have been brought within these walls. The martyrdom of Thomas A'Becket was not long past when the original structure was erected, probably about the time of Richard the Lion Heart who began his reign in 1189. There are traces of Transition (i.e. from the Norman to early English style of architecture) in the octagonal shafts and arches of the aisles. The small splayed window in the north wall, this dates from the year 1190. The nave is fourteenth century, the arcade is of two semicircular arches with octagonal pier and responds, all fourteenth century. The window in the south wall is of still earlier date. An interesting connection with Norman times is the font bowl under the west window. It is round at the front and square at the back as it was originally made to stand against a wall. This font is no longer used as all baptisms take place in the one which was added in later centuries. The tower is of three stages; the main structure is the same date as the nave (14th) the battlement and pinnacles are Perpendicular (i.e. the Gothic style of the 14th and 15th centuries) The tower has three bells with following inscriptions:

The porch, the chancel arch, the font and the pulpit are all modern. The channcel screen was given in 1904 by Mr. J. A. Bell of Wellow House. In the south aisle is a stained glass window bearing the following inscription: "To the glory of God and to the memory of his beloved wife Louisa Blanche Foljambe who died October 7th, 1871 aged 29 years; and her son Frederick Comton Savile Foljambe who died August 21st, 1871." Mr Foljambe later became Lord Hawkesbury and later Earl of Liverpool. A semi-quatre foil light above the window contains the figure of St. Swithin, the Patron Saint of the Church. The east window of the chancel is in the memory of William S. Ward, surgeon, who lived at Wellow Hall. In his day (last century) Wellow Hall was a hospital and dispensary for "the relief of the old and poor, from whatever county recommended". Before that the Hall was the seat of Sir Francis Molyneux, Baronet. His body is buried in the family vault in Teversall Church. The incumbent at the beginnig of the 20th century, the Rev. W. Beecher, lived there for many years and only moved out when it was taken over by Sir Launcelot and Lady Maud Rolleston. He then made his home in the vicarage which was a converted farm house. This has now been sold and is now in private ownership.

1. Jesus Be our Guide 1660 2. God save the church 1635 3. Gloria in exelsis Deo 1560