Northamptonshire Tourist Guide - Articles
Badby Parish Church
Badby Church, Northamptonshire
History of Badby Parish Church
Badby with Newnham were thought to belong to Croyland Abbey from 726AD and passed to Evesham Abbey, ratified by King Canute in 1018AD. Badby is listed in the Domesday Book. After Evesham Abbey was dissolved by King Henry VIII in 1539, the manor was granted to Sir Edmund & Ursula Knightley of Fawsley and the rectorship to Christ Church Oxford.
Badby Church Building and Structure
The main structure of this Church of St Mary the Virgin, dates from the early 14th century. The clerestory was added in the 15th century. The tower was rebuilt in the 18th century. Badby Church underwent a very major restoration in the late 19th century. A kitchen and toilet were added as a north porch in the late 20th century.
Fascinating Features and Characteristics of Badby Parish Church:
Chancel:
wide chancel arch
unusual step down to the chancel
first world war memorial window at the west of the south side
18th century altar rails
double sedilia (stone seats) and piscina (wash basin) south of the altar
17th century altar rails
metal text panels each side of window
1995 aumbry and perpetual light
Vestry:
The vestry and organ chamber was built in 1880-1. A small organ made by Atterton was housed here from 1894 until 1996.
North Aisle:
small piscina built into the half pillar
disused aumbry in the north wall
tall scooped recess or niche, for a statue, probably destroyed 1547-53
ball flower decoration around the top of the eastern and western half pillars
east end side window glass was reformed in 1982 and shows the coats of arms of Evesham Abbey and the King in 15th century stained glass; at the top the initials TN are of Thomas Newbold, Abbot of Evesham from 1491 to 1514.
Nave:
west arch constructed in 1880 to replace a low semi-circular one
glazed screen was fitted in 1933
magnificent clerestory windows added above the arches in the 15th century
octagonal pulpit is 17th century.
South Aisle:
east end window has stem and leaf tracery; glass dated 1881
east end side window replaced a smaller one in the mid 19th century
font pedestal is 15th century; top stone bowl fitted in 1881
charity trust boards hang on the wall
the only memorial floor slab is a re¬used headstone, in the north west corner.
Tower:
tower rebuilt in 1707-9 after original fell down in 1705
height from base to top of the pinnacles is 72 feet
solid floor is over 6 feet above the nave floor; west window, with its tracery in two planes, replaced a smaller window in 1888; window is a memorial to Major John Francis Green
The Bells:
Five of the six bells were hung in 1709 in a new oak frame placed diagonally in the tower. This rotted and a completely new steel and iron frame with a new extra bell were provided by John Taylor of Loughborough in 1931-2. The outcome was a very fine sounding ring of six bells.
The 4th bell became cracked in its crown. The Whitechapel Bell Foundry recast it and it was dedicated by the vicar on Easter Sunday 2000.
The Treble weighs 297 kg, cast in 1931
NO. 2 389 1623
NO. 3 440 1623
NO. 4 535 2000
NO. 5 679 1623
Tenor 711 1822
The bells are rung in the full-circle English manner, with practices every Wednesday.
The Clock
The clock, made in 1712, drives one clock face; now electrically wound. Since July 2007, the Westminster " quarter chimes are radio-controlled and independent of the clock.
Grounds of Badby Church
Outside the Church
replacement nave gable cross fitted in 2001 to mark the Millennium
churchyard closed for burials in 1886
large tomb for the Watkins family, who funded much of the Victorian reconstruction, located just south east of the chancel.
Badby Parish Church Incumbents:
The first rector of Badby with Newnham, appointed by the crown in the mid 13th century, was Henry de Cokenato. From 1285 appointments were made by Evesham Abbey. In 1343, the first vicar was Reginald Musard. After the dissolution of the abbey, from 1597 appointments were made by Christ Church Oxford.
since 1919, appointments made by the Bishop of Peterborough
1919 Hubert Ralph Cornish * 1935 Leonard Henry Hayden Green * 1951 Charles Frederick Witham * 1971 Roy Wilfred Dooley (additionally priest in charge of Fawsley from 1982 until he died in 1989)
1989, United Benefice of Badby with Newnham and Charwelton with Fawsley and Preston Capes was formed; Rector of these "Knightley Parishes" lives at Badby Vicarage !
1991 Stephen Paul Adams
1998 Michael David Petitt.
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History of Badby Parish Church
Badby with Newnham were thought to belong to Croyland Abbey from 726AD and passed to Evesham Abbey, ratified by King Canute in 1018AD. Badby is listed in the Domesday Book. After Evesham Abbey was dissolved by King Henry VIII in 1539, the manor was granted to Sir Edmund & Ursula Knightley of Fawsley and the rectorship to Christ Church Oxford.
Badby Church Building and Structure
The main structure of this Church of St Mary the Virgin, dates from the early 14th century. The clerestory was added in the 15th century. The tower was rebuilt in the 18th century. Badby Church underwent a very major restoration in the late 19th century. A kitchen and toilet were added as a north porch in the late 20th century.
Fascinating Features and Characteristics of Badby Parish Church:
Chancel:
wide chancel arch
unusual step down to the chancel
first world war memorial window at the west of the south side
18th century altar rails
double sedilia (stone seats) and piscina (wash basin) south of the altar
17th century altar rails
metal text panels each side of window
1995 aumbry and perpetual light
Vestry:
The vestry and organ chamber was built in 1880-1. A small organ made by Atterton was housed here from 1894 until 1996.
North Aisle:
small piscina built into the half pillar
disused aumbry in the north wall
tall scooped recess or niche, for a statue, probably destroyed 1547-53
ball flower decoration around the top of the eastern and western half pillars
east end side window glass was reformed in 1982 and shows the coats of arms of Evesham Abbey and the King in 15th century stained glass; at the top the initials TN are of Thomas Newbold, Abbot of Evesham from 1491 to 1514.
Nave:
west arch constructed in 1880 to replace a low semi-circular one
glazed screen was fitted in 1933
magnificent clerestory windows added above the arches in the 15th century
octagonal pulpit is 17th century.
South Aisle:
east end window has stem and leaf tracery; glass dated 1881
east end side window replaced a smaller one in the mid 19th century
font pedestal is 15th century; top stone bowl fitted in 1881
charity trust boards hang on the wall
the only memorial floor slab is a re¬used headstone, in the north west corner.
Tower:
tower rebuilt in 1707-9 after original fell down in 1705
height from base to top of the pinnacles is 72 feet
solid floor is over 6 feet above the nave floor; west window, with its tracery in two planes, replaced a smaller window in 1888; window is a memorial to Major John Francis Green
The Bells:
Five of the six bells were hung in 1709 in a new oak frame placed diagonally in the tower. This rotted and a completely new steel and iron frame with a new extra bell were provided by John Taylor of Loughborough in 1931-2. The outcome was a very fine sounding ring of six bells.
The 4th bell became cracked in its crown. The Whitechapel Bell Foundry recast it and it was dedicated by the vicar on Easter Sunday 2000.
The Treble weighs 297 kg, cast in 1931
NO. 2 389 1623
NO. 3 440 1623
NO. 4 535 2000
NO. 5 679 1623
Tenor 711 1822
The bells are rung in the full-circle English manner, with practices every Wednesday.
The Clock
The clock, made in 1712, drives one clock face; now electrically wound. Since July 2007, the Westminster " quarter chimes are radio-controlled and independent of the clock.
Grounds of Badby Church
Outside the Church
replacement nave gable cross fitted in 2001 to mark the Millennium
churchyard closed for burials in 1886
large tomb for the Watkins family, who funded much of the Victorian reconstruction, located just south east of the chancel.
Badby Parish Church Incumbents:
The first rector of Badby with Newnham, appointed by the crown in the mid 13th century, was Henry de Cokenato. From 1285 appointments were made by Evesham Abbey. In 1343, the first vicar was Reginald Musard. After the dissolution of the abbey, from 1597 appointments were made by Christ Church Oxford.
since 1919, appointments made by the Bishop of Peterborough
1919 Hubert Ralph Cornish * 1935 Leonard Henry Hayden Green * 1951 Charles Frederick Witham * 1971 Roy Wilfred Dooley (additionally priest in charge of Fawsley from 1982 until he died in 1989)
1989, United Benefice of Badby with Newnham and Charwelton with Fawsley and Preston Capes was formed; Rector of these "Knightley Parishes" lives at Badby Vicarage !
1991 Stephen Paul Adams
1998 Michael David Petitt.
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