A Piscina in the Nave
To the west of the lower entrance is a small piscina. Probably an altar stood near in a chapel enclosed by the rood-screen. From an inscription on a flooring slab we may suppose it was dedicated to St. Margaret; for rood-screens enclosed chapels, chantries, chancels and even tombs (EB II 472); chapels had their own piscinae (EB II 482) and altars were in different parts of churches (EB I 641).
A great pew once filled that corner of the nave. The entrances to the loft were simply boarded up until the year 1840, when they were blocked up with stone.
Burials in the Church
The nave has been much used as a place of sepulchre. Human remains have been found under the floor in all parts. Quite recently a very old slab was come upon in the tower, beneath which bones were dug up. (C).
Frescoes and Carving
It is evident at one time the interior was beautiful with mural paintings and decorated ceilings. The roof of the nave, like the chancel, was ceiled. Some of the rafters were moulded.
A north door, which may have served as an entrance from a priory to the north-west, was closed up with stone in 1890.
Above the pulpit is a sounding-board of the Georgian period. The Royal Arms of George III surmount the Chancel Arch.
The Font (probably Saxon)
The Font is of Sussex marble, leaded inside. The base is new, as are also the four columns at the corners. Evidently the font originally consisted of the square basin on a circular pedestal and the four pillars were added later. It probably belongs to the Saxon period; certainly it is not later than the Norman. (EB II 464). At some time it possessed a cover, which was probably secured and padlocked. It probably is older than 1571, for in that year the use of such was prohibited. They were introduced in the fourteenth century when infant sprinkling became an established custom (AR X 208).
A Stoup on a Pedestal
A stoup, which stood on a pedestal in the
nave near the south door, is still in the parish. It was taken from the church
many years ago and was bought some time after by a parishioner at a sale in the
neighbourhood. The Rev. Canon Simpson informs us his brother discovered one at
Sidley; that another was found on the sea-shore at Bulverhythe; and that he and
his brother came to the conclusion they were holy water stoups. Although
evidently used as stoups, there is good reason to believe they also served the
purpose of portable fonts for baptisms in private houses. (EB).
The Porch
The porch (on the south side) has two windows, two seats,
and a latticed door. East of the south door may be seen the remains of a stoup.
(M). The spandrils above the entrance are ornamented with the Tudor double rose
and leaves of the end of the fifteenth century.
Old carved wall plates were found so much decayed they could not be replaced at the restoration in 1899. A section and sketch of them will be found among the Miscellaneous Sketches.
To the east of the entrance is a large iron hook - one of a pair. Its origin is unknown. It has split the stone and divided the corbel.
Church porches, in years gone by, were the refuge of homeless and sick persons who there found shelter and relief. One case is recorded of a man who spent a whole year in one. (N.Q. 1st IX, X)
The Tower - a good specimen of Perpendicular Style
The tower is a
good speciment of the Perpendicular style of architecture. The interior supports
the theory that the fabric is Norman work cased in Perpendicular.
Restoration in 1899
This was accomplished at the expense of Miss
Routh, of Bexhill. A weather vane, bearing the date 1777, was blown down in
1895. The present one is made exactly like it. Most weather vanes are
symbolical. A cock is perhaps mostly used - to remind people of human weakness
as exemplified in St. Peter's denial of Christ. The vane on Hooe Church is
probably intended for an arrow, warning us "Time flies", or bidding us "Press on
towards the Mark" (NQ).
From the top of the tower (reached by turret stairs) a good view of the country round may be obtained. The name "Thorpe", inscribed on the north wall, is that of a former clerk, who held the office for some fifty years.
A Singing Gallery
A baize curtain spans the Tower Arch, where a gallery for choir and instrumentalists once stood. The arch is pointed.
The Bells
The peal of bells, of which the parish is justly proud, are five in number (D). They probably belong to the fifteenth century. They were recast in 1789 and three of them again in 1899.
The notes of the bells are: Tenor, F sharp, Fourth, G sharp; Third, A sharp; Second, B; Treble, C sharp; Key B flat.
The weights and inscriptions are as follows:
Weights: -
Present |
Former | ||||||||
cwts |
qrs |
lbs |
cwts |
qrs |
lbs | ||||
Tenor |
11 |
0 |
24 |
11 |
0 |
27 | |||
Fourth |
8 |
1 |
7 |
8 |
1 |
20 | |||
Third |
6 |
3 |
9 |
6 |
3 |
10 | |||
Second |
5 |
2 |
17 |
6 |
0 |
17 | |||
Treble |
5 |
0 |
23 |
4 |
3 |
15 |
Inscriptions
Tenor |
John Norton and John Blackman, churchwardens. "Music is medicine to the mind." |
Fourth |
"To the glory of God, this tower was restored, three bells recast, and peal refitted by Miss H.C. Routh, M.D. 1899, in memory of her brother, John 0. Routh, Vicar from 1842 to 1852." |
Third |
"Long live King George; ye 3rd restored." |
The Second and Treble have no inscriptions now, but they, together with the fourth, bear the name of the bellfounders, Messrs. Mears and Stainbank.
The Tenor and Third are also inscribed:
W. & T. Mears, late Lester, Pack and Chapman of London, fecit 1789.On the Fourth Second and Treble bells were formerly these inscriptions:
Fourth |
"Peace and good neighbourhood" |
Second |
"To honour both of God and king, our voices shall in concert ring." |
Treble |
"I mean to make it understood that though I'm little yet I'm good." |
Among former rhymes on the bells we have recorded:
"Do not repeat what′s gone and past, | |
for the five bells are come at last." | |
"Although I am both light and small, | |
I will be heard above you all." | |
"I, to the church, the living call, | |
And to the grave do summon all." |
Restoration in 1890
The nave and chancel were restored in 1890, and other parts of the fabric made good. The nave was reseated with excellent pitch pine pews, a warming apparatus provided, new pulpit and lectern furnished, the floor concreted and paved with wooden blocks, and sundry other improvements made. Various gifts by churchwardens and others have been made from time to time. The floors of the chancel, tower and porch are tiled.
Brasses
Two flooring slabs, enriched with brasses, once existed in
the nave. In 1890 they were removed - one was placed at the entrance to the
porch, and the other by the west door. They bore the following inscriptions:
(1) |
"Of your charitie pray for the soule of Richard Hollyer, and Margaret and Alas, his wives. The said Richard decessed the xxvi. day of January, 1539." (The above was a Vicar of the church, and the brass on his slab was in the form of a cross). |
(2) |
"Thomas Acrouch, yeoman, and Elizabeth, his wife. He died the xxviii. day of December, 1576; she the x. day of July 1569. Santa Margarita ora pro nobis." (This slab has disappeared). |
Another slab records in Latin the deaths of Jane and John, the wife and son of Thomas Bowers, a former vicar. (This slab is Sussex marble).
A Muniment Chest
An old muniment chest stands in the vestry. It is
probably as old as early in the eighth century and was made for the Saxon
Church. It consists of a hollowed length of the trunk of a tree. One end at one
time was split and had to be secured by an irofl band. The lock is of wrought
iron and double-barred. Both are concluded to be of Anglo-Saxon origin. It was
restored in 1899. The lid, middle hinge, parts of the other two hinges, hasp,
key, most of the nails and the sheet iron bands are new.
Old Keys
An old Key, probably of the West Door was found three feet underground in December 1899. Another key was probably that of the South Door.
Miscellaneous sketches - Click on the picture, on the left, for a larger image |