Re-opening of the church

Transcribed by: Janelle Penney

Beccles & Bungay Weekly News 10 November 1863
Page 4, column 3
From microfilm supplied by the British Library Newspaper Library

Names mentioned: MARSHALL, BEDINGFIELD [of Ditchingham Hall], TARVER, SPAUL [of Norwich], MORRIS [of Ditchingham], plus a number of others

HEDENHAM
Re-opening Of The Parish Church
On Friday last the church of S. Mary, Hedenham, which has been closed exactly four months, and during that time has undergone complete restoration, was re-opened for public worship, in the presence of most of the clergy and gentry of the surrounding neighbourhood. Hedenham chancel is a solid, substantial structure, standing at the foot of a somewhat steep hill, and possessing externally few peculiar or interesting features of architectural beauty, with the exception of the windows in the chancel, which are handsome specimens of decorated Gothic. Its present external appearance, however, is one of a building in sound repair. The newly-leaded roof, and the fresh stone-work in the porch and northern windows prove to the passers by that it has been included in the work of church restoration which is now so happily progressing throughout this kingdom.

The interior of the church possesses architectural features of no mean character. It consists of a nave and chancel, the latter of which was restored by the Rector, the Rev - MARSHALL, during the past year. The nave, which is of considerable length, has been paved with Maw's tiles, and is fitted with low, moulded, oaken benches; the woodwork of the roof has been stained; and an unsightly gallery which formerly hid the tower-arch from view, has been removed, and the light from the west window is obtained.

On the right hand side of the building, at the extremity of the nave, is a handsome pulpit of carved oak, supported by a stone basement, the gift of the patron of the living, J.L. BEDINGFIELD, Esq., of Ditchingham Hall. Close besides this stands a lectern, very beautifully designed in brass and illuminated iron-work. The chancel, which is raised one step above the floor of the nave, is entered by an arch of decorated Gothic architecture, and is of unusual beauty.

On the left hand side is the prayer-desk, and the stalls appointed to the use of the rector, and the BEDINGFIELD family, and opposite are the choir stalls, in the centre of which is placed a small harmonium. The floor is paved throughout with encaustic tiles.

The altar, which is slightly raised above the level of the chancel floor, is separated from the rest of the chancel by a light railing of ironwork, and is draped with a very handsome embroidered covering, the work of some of the ladies of the parish. The reredos is of carved oak, and contains some very beautifully carved eucharistic emblems. By removing a mural monument, some very ancient sedilia have been brought to light, and restored to their primitive use. The upper lights of the chancel windows are coloured, and the walls are almost completely covered with mural monuments of the BEDINGFIELD family. The whole has been executed with the greatest taste from the designs of Mr Edward TARVER, by Mr SPAUL, of Norwich, with the exception of the stalls in the nave, which are the work of Messrs.
MORRIS and Son, of Ditchingham.

The opening service commenced at 2.45 p.m. The church was very full, and amongst the congregation we noticed the Rev R. COBB, and the Misses COBB, Rev Abbot UPCHER, and Mrs UPCHER, Miss SMITH, Mrs R. MANN, Lieut.-Col. MANN, the Misses BEDINGFIELD, Mrs GARNEYS, Rev C. J. BOWEN, Rev - GOODE, Rev - BRISCOE, Rev A.R. WEBSTER, Rev Dr BEALE, Rev - LOHR, Rev W.E. SCUDAMORE, and Rev - BATES.

The commencement of the service was read by the Rector, and the lessons by the Rev A. UPCHER. After the third collect for grace, the hymn "Brief life is here our portion" was sung, led by the choir, Miss STANFORD presiding at the harmonium. The service was then continued by the Rev A. UPCHER, and after the prayers, the hymn for All Saints Day, "Who are these like stars appearing," was very prettily sung. The sermon, of which we append a sketch, was preached by the Ven. Archdeacon BOUVERIE, Archdeacon of Norfolk, from the text, "How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! My soul longeth, yea even fainteth for the courts of the Lord, and my flesh crieth out for the Living God."

[There followed a long passage from the sermon not included in this
transcription.] ...The preacher then briefly spoke of the imposing sight which a devout congregation presented, and alluded to the special purport of the present
service. The extraordinary progress of church building and church restoration was, he said, one of the most cheering characteristics of the present age. Go where you would, through the length and breadth of our favoured land, the eye was gladdened by the sight of some new church springing up where none had formerly existed, or some ancient edifice, reared by the piety of our forefathers, in the course of restoration and improvement. And if there was one feature which more than another demanded our thankfulness, it was the increased attention which was being paid to the claims of the humbler classes of Society, and the consideration shown for their comfort. This object had been especially cared for in the restoration of the edifice in which they were assembled. Here all met as brethren, equal in the sight of God. Social distinctions, however necessary in the world, must vanish when we passed the threshold of this Church. Nothing was here to check the
full tide of Christian worship and the aspirations of the longing hearts of a faithful congregation.

The cost of the work which they were now witnessing was as follows: 460 Pounds had been expended in the chancel; and the repairs of the rest of the church had cost nearly 500 Pounds. Private subscriptions (including a grant of 70 Pounds from the Feoffees of the parish) had reached the sum of 345 Pounds, and thus the remaining debt amounted to 150 Pounds. [Short biblical passage deleted].....

At the conclusion of the sermon the festival hymn, "The strain
upraise of joy and praise," was sung, and the offertory was collected in embroidered velvet bags, by the Revds. R. COBB and LOHR, amounting, as we afterwards learnt, to 16 Pounds 10 Shillings. The Ven. Archdeacon then pronounced the benediction, which concluded the service.