A recent addition to the church built in ???? The toilet room has solid walls constructed around the last column of the nave. The new inside door, constructed from solid oak, sits in an oak and glass wall which divides it from the main body of the church. In the lobby is the main church notice board with posters and information about up-and-coming events along with copies of all the current rotors for coffee making, church cleaning etc. A free standing notice board has photographs of the the vicars, church wardens and committee members. Also usually a display by the young church.

The Tower has a plain window at the west end and another, also plain, high level window on the south side; on the floor stands the upper part of the mediaeval font; on the walls are memorials of which one (for Rose Tyre) was first erected in the 1828 church. There is also a list of priests and rectors, though it omits the rectors of Hitcham who were also rectors of Taplow from 1517-1537 and the minister in the Commonwealth period, Thankful Owen.

The locked door on the south side leads up the tower, via a spiral stone staircase, to a room which has in the past been used for a Sunday School. A steep wooden staircase then assends to the clock room. Further details about the clock appear in the detailed history section below. The clock has just one face on the west side of the tower and chimes on the hour. From the clock room a steep ladder assends into the bell room. The single bell given by local freemasons in 1913 in memory of two members, Canon Nicholas Garry and James Rutland, parish clerk, who had died in 1907 and 1908. You can see the bell rope hanging down which is tied off on the south wall. From the bell room another steep ladder assends to the base of the wooden framed spire and a small access hatch exits onto a narrow parapet which surrounds the tower edged by the castleated top of the walls. The spire design is known as a pierced sprire as it has small roofed ventilation openings like small dormer windows. The timber framing of the spire is clad in copper sheet which gives the exterier its distinctive green colour. It takes some years exposed to the elements for the copper to form its green verdigris coating. The copper clading on two faces of the eight sided spire were replaced in recent years and have yet (2009) to fully turn green. You will notice this in the photographs on this site.

The windows on this wall are plain. Along this section you will see the plan of the church on it's mobile stand complete with burial index. If you are looking for a burial check the index which is in alphabetical order and that will give you a grid reference to the position on the plan.

On the wall is a display of six coats of arms of members of the Manfield family, who were Lords of the Manor of Taplow (and until 1570) of Amerden and Cliveden, also in the parish. The Cliveden manor and estate passed, in 1680, to the Duke of Buckingham and later changed hands many times, most notably to the Astors and now the National Trust.

The arms and hatchment of Thomas Jones Esq. and his wife Ursular are displayed in a separate panel on the right of the door. Thomas, who died in 1584, served Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary and Elizabeth I, with their very different expectations.

On the floor nearby is a slate memorial to the Honourable and Revd. George Hamilton (1718-1787), a former rector, it came from the old church. Other rectors are remembered in the chancel, including Robert Hay (1884-1973) who was consecrated Bishop of Buckingham in 1944 whilst continuing to serve as rector here for a further nine years.

The walled in section hides the previously open Desborough Pew for the Taplow Court family. On the floor in front of it are 15 mediaeval brasses, some of which are palimpsests. One of the brasses is for Hester Manfield, with an anagram of her name under it (Mars fled in thee); it states that she “died in the Catholique Romane faith” in 1617. The Manfield family, mostly Roman Catholic, still played a significant role in the parish and church affairs. In the Grenfell pew there were eight family brasses but these are currently on display elsewhere.

The organ, made by Walker, which was installed in the new chancel in 1866; the previous organ was sold to the church organist James Rutland who installed it in his home in the High Street. We are lucky that there is a photograph of him playing it, taken around 1900. Rutland, who was also an archaeologist, carpenter, stationer, collector, parish clerk, stained glass maker and Jack of all trades served as organist for over 50 years, for part of which time his daughter was organist at Hitcham. War caused a 1937 plan to create an organ loft at the west (tower) end to be abandoned.

The Organ

Parts of some older Jacobean style pews, believed to have come from the mediaeval church. Note the various 'clandestine' carvings in the east side of the organ panels!

SECTION TO BE COMPLETED
Windows C and G (opposite) are a pair with a total of four lights, one for each of the Gospel Evangelists, though the dates on them differ;
C, St Matthew & St Mark, is in memory of Pascoe Grenfell, who died in 1867;
G, St Luke & St John, celebrates Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897.

Note the references to “S. Mark” but “St Nicholas” in Window D where the artistic style is otherwise similar the change to the latinised spelling, Nicholas, was probably the choice of Rector Phillips (1907-1932).

The altar once stood against the east wall and was surrounded by three curtains which now adorn the wall. The silver candlesticks (1930) and brass processional cross (1933) are kept in a secure place on weekdays.

Plaque commemorating the consecration of the cancel in March 1865, built “at the sole cost” of the then rector (Charles Whately) - who of course still received some tithes and other endowment income from the parish, so he wasn’t without an income! The altar rails were replaced in 1908 in memory of Canon Garry.

On the floor of the chancel and the sanctuary there are at least 16 shades and styles of marble; the choirstalls appear to date from 1865, earlier than the oak screens and the church pews which are contemporary with the new nave of 1912. The 1828 church had been fitted out with box pews.

Notice that the stone rood screen tracery is different when seen from the nave (traditionally this is the “earth” side - hence the crucified Christ) and from the chancel (“heaven”) where the priest and the choir look down (like Christ with the heavenly angels!) to see the empty cross of the risen Christ.

The Lady Chapel (a traditional name as the chapel is dedicated to B.V. Mary) incorporates three sets of windows: Window H celebrates a couple, of whom the wife died in 1913;

Window J the five lights of the main window, by Baron Rosenkrantz, celebrate the death of his daughter Julia Louisa Rosenkrantz (1890-1911). The centre light portrays the Christ child held aloft to focus us on his impending crucifixion and glory as well as his human birth. Note also the varied marbles of the altar and floor; these and the wood and stonework show no expense was spared in the creation of this modern but special chapel where the reserved sacrament is kept (indicated by the constant light).

On the floor of the Lady Chapel, in two groups, are 32 mostly smaller memorial brasses of similar significance to those noted between 4 and 5. On the north side of the chapel, on the floor, are another 17 brasses of similar significance.

The windows on the south side are plain and make the lady chapel particularly light.

 

The Lady Chapel
Note the five narrow arched windows shown above

The large South Transept window (K) by Baron Arild Rosenkrantz depicts the Nativity, B.V.Mary and the Adoration of the Magi. It dates from early years of the new nave and commemorates the death of James Du Pre in 1912.

Between the windows in the South Aisle there is an interesting modern memorial (1958) to Edward and Audrey Skimming.

The three main lights of Window L are a celebration of the founder of Silchester House School, on the Bath Road, Charlotte Roberts (bringing gifts to children), and St. Birinus (baptising). Above them is a fretwork containing many symbols which relate to Christmas; can you spot the holly berries, bells, stars, frog (or toad), mistletoe, leaves lantern, dove with olive branch, beetle and fish?

Please notice the fabric work and embroidery in the Mother's Union Banner (St. Mary Hitcham and St. Nicolas Taplow): the motif is the flight of Mary and Jesus into Egypt, with a dove, a cross and lilies, the St Nicolas Banner and our collection of Hasssocks which are decorated by at least 14 symbolic designs as well as patterns or wording.

THE TURRET CLOCK
The clock dates from about 1900 and was built by J.B.Joyce & Co. Ltd. of Whitchurch Shropshire. The makers name is on the frame in gilt lettering. The mechanism is housed in an open wooden frame and is itself on a cast iron flat bed frame. It has a double three legged escapement with four wheels in both going and striking trains. It has only one face on the west side of the tower which has Roman numerals at 5 minute intervals, sub marks at one minute interval and two gilded hands. It has an hourly chime with a striker on the main bell. The Clock was wound by Huygens endless train with an 8 day going period. The old pulley weights and the winding handle are still in the clock room! The winding was electrified in 1988/89, with a part donation from the Taplow and Hitcham Recreation Ground Association. Clock automatic winding mechanism was installed by Gillet & Johnson.

WINDING OF THE CLOCK
(and other historical anecdotes)!
Although of little historical value I thought it may be interesting to mention that I (Keith Thomas) used to wind the clock twice a week for many years during the middle nineteen eighties up to when it was electrified. It was wound on Sundays, when at church anyway and Wednesdays when I had to make a special trip. The information above (from the NADFAS church recorders survey) about the clock having an 8 day going is interesting because it was well known that one winding definitely did not last a week! In the last couple of years before it was electrified Revd. Jonathan Meryick (vicar of Taplow at the time) took over the Wednesday winding whilst I continued on the Sunday, thankfully saving me a journey! Previous to me taking over this onerous task Thomas Williams did it for about 12 years before it became too difficult for him. Thomas lived in the village at the Old Farmhouse next to the school. He is now buried in the churchyard with his mother. Their grave is in the corner formed by the chancel and the Lady Chapel, RIP Thomas.

Before Thomas the clock was wound by our last full-time verger Bert Fowler, also for many years, until it became too much for him! Bert lived in Pax Cottage on the green with his wife Gertie. Bert was verger and sexton and Gertie was sacristan. In later years Bert's eye site was fading and he had great difficulty marking graves on the rather diagrammatical plan and it really became almost illegible (I took over the plan and some of the burial of ashes from Bert along with Gerties sacristan duties). Bert (burial) and Gertie (ashes) are both interred in the 'new' churchyard in an unmarked grave to the north. RIP Bert & Gertie, dear friends.
Keith Thomas July 2007

 

The Old Church
Bucks Religeous Census 1851, published Bucks Record Society Vol 27 'Consecrated Sept 1829'

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