A church transformed
Although St Andrew's features some features from the thirteenth century, notably the beautiful interior arches between the nave and the south aisle, much of what we see today dates to the major rebuilding in the 1860s. Church architect William Butterfield worked on the buidlng. The precise dates of this seem disputed, varying from '1864-68 with further work up to 1875' according to Pevsner to just 1867-8 according to the contemporary newspaper report below. Butterfield designed the west front, with its bellcote, spirelet and weathercock and specifications for some of the windows.
The building was much improved. Compare the look of the place in this illustration from 1820 by J. Buckler and the current building below. You can see some similarities - the windows structures and doorway in the main part of the old building, for example - but many more changes:
Then
Now
In the local news
We are able to find our more about the changes in a newspaper article from the North Wilts Herald, describing the re-opening on 8 February 1868 (transcription may contain some errors):
Saint Andrew's church, Blunsdon, after undergoing extensive alterations and repairs, was opened on Tuesday last by the Lord Bishop of the Diocese. The restoration is a very extensive one, and appertains to every part of the church. The original structure dates as far back as the beginning of the twelfth century. The church is not a large one, but adequate to the wants of the village. It stands in rather a secluded spot adjoining the noble Abbey late the property of Mrs De Windt. The church itself is built in the early English style of architecture.
Of late years, it was apparent that something must be done in the way of restoration and Mr Butterfield the well known architect of London was deputed to make a report on the condition of the edifice. On that gentleman's advice a thorough restoration was resolved upon, and was commenced in the latter end of April last, Mr. Smith of Highworth being the builder. An addition of a south aisle to the church has been made through the fact of Mr Butterfield having, while sounding the wall on that side of the church, discovered two stone pillars in good preservation. The result is that an aisle capable of sitting nearly a hundred persons has been added to the church.
The east window in the South chancel is the gift of Mrs De Windt, to the memory of her late husband, who during his lifetime had taken great interest in the restoration. The subject of the window is 'the resurrection' from the design of Mr Butterfield and is the work of Messrs Lavers and Barraud. The chancel has been new roofed, and renovated throughout and like the body of the church it is paved with tessellated tiles by Minton. The east window is the gift of the rector and is also the work of Messrs Lavers and Barraud. The subject is the crucifixion with Saint Mary the Virgin and Saint Mary Magdalene on either side. The reredos and the credence table are new, and both, more especially the reredos of excellent workmanship. The only memorials in the chancel are those of the Cally and Wyld family.
On the north side of the chancel is a small vestry in which is placed the old credence table. Adjoining the vestry is an organ chamber, which though like the vestry is small is still large enough for an organ of sufficient power for the church. The portion of the chancel allocated to the choir consists of stained oak seats with the lectern on the south side. The seats are perhaps not elaborately carved but appear to be of that strength and solidity which will last for ages. the other window of the church. The other windows of the church are composed of glass of a pleasing colour a great deal of which had formerly been used in the old windows. These windows were restored at the expense of J Lyall Esq.
The pulpit, previously an unsightly object in the north side of the church, has been superseded by one of stained oak and lighter in construction. The body of the church is paved with Minton's tiles and the seats are composed of stained deal. The roof is supported by oak beams and covered with tiles of a considerable character. The whole of the interior of the church is in excellent keeping except the font, which as will be perceived is shortly to make way, on account of its age, for another. The church is warmed by Parrot's hot air apparatus, and to judge from the general state of the atmosphere on such a raw day as Tuesday we should say the system would be a successful one.
Proceeding to the outside of the church one would not know but that the edifice is a new one altogether, so large has been the work of restoration. The windows are surrounded by bands of Bath stone, and although no attempt has been made at carving the effect when viewed from either side is pleasing. At the west end of the church in a new bell turret containing 2 bells surmounted by a vane. The total cost of the restoration is between £1,100 and £1,200. Thus, much has been done but the work of restoration is not finished. The exterior of the church lacks ornamentation in two or three things but a porch has been provided for through the liberality of J Lyall Esq, the purchaser of Blunsdon Abbey. The altar cloth is the present of Mrs De Windt and the service books were presented to the parish by the reverent S.F. Auchmuty.
So far had the work of restoration gone on and prospered that Tuesday last was selected for the re-opening of the edifice. It was a very unpleasant morning but not sufficiently so to prevent a large company assembling in the church to take part in the opening services. The morning service commenced at 11 o'clock and the Bishop of the Diocese (Dr Ellicott) was announced to preach the opening sermon. His lordship arrived at the Abbey on Monday, and on visiting the church expressed himself highly satisfied with everything he saw. The service used on the occasion was Tallis', and was given throughout with precision by a number of clergymen who occupied the choir. The harmonium, a splendid instrument composed of some 12 or 14 stops, was kindly lent by Mrs De Windt.
Doctor Haking Mus. Doc. introduced the prayers in a clear and audible voice. The Psalms appointed for the day consisted of the 8th, 122nd and the 132nd, and were sung to one of our Old English double chants. The first lesson was selected from the 28th chapter of Genesis, and the second from the 10th chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews. Both were well adapted to the occasion. The first was read by the Rev. W. T. Wyld and the second by the Rev. the Rector. the Bishop of the Diocese read the communion service, the Rev. H. W. Beadan, rural Dean, the epistle, and the Rev. W. T. Wyld the gospel. The other gentleman who occupied the seats in the chancel were the Revs. G. Daubeney, A. Auchmuty (curate of Heavitree, Devon), F Auchmuty (curate of Chipping Norton), J. S...on, Mayrick Home, Murray (Shrivenham), and _ Robinson, Esq. The hymns selected for the occasion were the well known hymn 'Jerusalem the golden' and and 'Christ is made the sure foundation'. The service being ended, the Bishop ascended the pulpit and preached an excellent sermon from the twenty-first verse of the twelfth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans.
The collection at the morning service amounted to £15 12s 2 1/2d.
The evening service was well attended by the parishioners, and the service used was again that composed by Tallis, almost the same clergyman officiating as choirmen in the morning. Dr Haking again intoned the service. The first lesson was read by the Rev. F. Auchmuty and the second by the Rev. A. Auchmuty. the sermon was preached by the Rev. Canon Woodford, who chose for his text the 29th verse of the twelfth chapter of St. John's Gospel. The service was brought to a conclusion by singing the beautiful hymn 'Abide with me' during which a collection was made amounting to upwards of £3.
A remarkable poem
One fascinating aspect of the re-opening of St Andrew's was a poem, written by local stonemason John Burton. Burton was born in 1817 the Wiltshire village of Hilperton, but by the time of his marriage in 1842 had moved to Highworth, where he lived the rest of his life. In the early 1860s he worked on the building of nearby Blunsdon Abbey, before working on St Andrew's. Burton died in 1892, aged 75. His remarkable legacy is this poem, Tuesday 28th January 1868:
As we from Swindon travel down
To old Corinium’s site,
We go the way where legions went
In Roman armour dight.
Not far from out this Roman road,
A-down a shady lane
A little rural village lies
St Andrew is it’s name.
Blunsdon St. Andrew ‘tis in full,
Blunsdon St Leonard by:-
The patron Saints of churches there
We in the names decry.
St. Leonard was a Bishop good,
At Rheims, in France, his see
And much he loved to go about
And set the prisoners free.
About the year five hundred
He left his earthly home,
And for his constant piety
Was canonised by Rome.
St Andrew lived in Palestine
When Christ the Lord was here,
His miracles of love he saw,
His parables did hear.
And then, as early writers say,
The martyrs’ crown he bore,
About the time Domitian
The royal purple wore.
There is a sweet secluded spot,
By where the linden grows,
The village lane in sunny hours
Its northern shadow throws.
There busy bees a luscious store
From lime- tree petals bring,
And birds of various size and hue
The early matins sing.
And thitherward on Sabbath day
The happy peasants wend,
And at the call of prayer-bell
In adoration bend.
The cherubim and seraphin
Continually do cry
Thrice holy is the King of Kings
The Lord of Hosts on High.
The holy church throughout the world
Do laud His holy name,
May all who hear on Sabbath's day
Delight to do the same.
Tradition says that hereabouts
They did an Abby raise,
Where men might in seclusion spend
In holiness their days.
Although within monastic walls
Their bodies were confined,
Methinks it were no easy task
To keep therein the mind.
And though they flagellated sore,
And pained the mortal part,
They often found it hard indeed
To discipline the heart.
This church has lately been restored
And made of larger span,
A temple of the Deity
a praying-place for man.
A portion of the olden church
We in the nave may view,
It is of early pointed date -
The greater part is new.
Where erat the ancient gable-bell
In barbarous cot did swing,
In turret of proportion fare
Its two successors ring.
This bell was by a Chandos made,
And does by legend seem,
Anterior to customs when
Elizabeth was Queen.
Two bells of hand dimensions were
Dug up the other day,
Which might have been for “sanctus” use
In centuries away.
And other interesting things
Have hereabouts been found,
Which through a night of ages have
being a lying ‘neath the ground.
An aisle new on south appears,
A porch on north and west,
With rooms for dulcet organ pipes
And sacerdotal vest.
The curious responds are restored,
The piers and arches three,
And other portions are preserved
Of great antiquity.
In reredos all carved in stone,
Relieved by Minton bands,
The symbol of our holy faith
On super-altar stands.
And on the chancel's southern side
In stone and marble wrought,
The clergyman's sedilia is
A-nigh the altar brought.
And on the altar’s northern side
The credence niche is built,
All glory to the Lamb of God
For us His blood was spilt.
Amidst the stone wrought tracery
Are panes of various dye,
In memory of those who ‘neath
The encaustic pavement lie.
There nailed to the painful cross -
That ignominious tree
The Great Redeemer of mankind
We in this window see.
Another window represents
His resurrection day,
When He the Grave a captive made
And took Death's sting away.
Two older windows in the nave
Some ancient glass contain,
Charged with the Saviour’s monogram
And emblems of His pain.
Foundations of a spacious porch,
A tower, and aisle were found,
And relics of the ancient floors
In various parts abound.
A hagioscope was brought to light
The nave and aisle between,
And cavities in which was fixed
The chantry’s open screen.
The portals which for months were closed
Today are open wide,
That old and young might congregate
And worship side by side.
How pleasant is the sound again,
The gentle voice to hear,
“Come, come, and bow before the Lord,
Ye all are welcome here”.
And pleasant too it is to hear
The music’s ebb and swell,
As choir and congregation sing
The holy canticle.
The pleasure is superlative
As we of Jesus hear,
The story of redeeming love
To penitence is dear.
Since last the Liturgy was read
Within this sacred place
What features old have passed away,
What features new we trace.
We miss the cumbrous family pews
Which were so large and high,
The new ones are in better taste,
And pleasing to the eye.
The pulpit and the desk were rough,
Nor taste did them adorn,
They moulded are in oak and stone,
And in the Gothic form.
The roof was such as oft we may
On common stables find,
The white-wash brush up on the walls
Had made the mouldings blind.
The chancel was a meagre place,
Nor tracery was there;
Except a few antiquities
The nave was also bare.
No symbol of redemption there
Did holy thoughts inspire,
Nor stalls the chancel-arch within
Accommodate the choir.
No fleur-de-lis did gable crown,
Nor cross thereon arise,
No turret point from earth away
And beckon to the skies.
Since first the old Masonic Guild
This sacred house did raise,
What generations here have met
To pray and hear and praise.
And many who have not begun
To breathe the vital air,
In distant ages will be here
To join the public prayer.
May sparks from the celestial fire
On priest and people fall,
And Jesus Christ the Crucified
To them be all in all.
Thanks to:
Paul Zukiewicz for extensive work on the history of the building and the people involved with it, Mike Snow for his detailed coverage of our stained glass and Coral Van der Kamp for her in-depth investigations into the re-opening, the stone masons and the poem.