 Picture by Lorna Minton www.palmito.demon.co.uk |
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The first mention of Ruscombe is in 1091 in the Foundation Charter of the Cathedral of Old Sarum (Salisbury). Since the charter makes no reference to a church or chapel at Ruscombe, it seems unlikely that one then existed. It is 130 years later, in 1220, that the existence of a chapel in Ruscombe, then within the parish of Sonning, is first mentioned. It seems probable therefore that this chapel at Ruscombe was built some time between 1091 and 1185. The chancel walls of the present church are the original walls, with the original lancet windows in the east and north walls. The window on the south wall of the chancel has subsequently been enlarged to let in more light. Faded paintings in the splays of the east wall
windows are thought to date from the 13th century. One is clearly of St
Peter. It is less clear which saints the other paintings represent. In the south wall of the chapel there is a small piscina, which would have been used in pre-reformation times for cleaning the scared vessels after Mass. This was bricked over at the time of the reformation, and was rediscovered during restoration work in 1984. Also discovered at this time were two plain oblong recesses in the north and east walls, one of which would certainly have been an aumbry (i.e. cupboard) for storing sacred vessels. Almost certainly there was once a rood screen separating the chancel from the nave, but this was probably destroyed in the late 16th century. In the same period the text of the Ten Commandments was written above the chancel beam, following the order of Queen Elizabeth 1st in 1560 that this should be done in parish churches. They were cleaned and restored in 1990. The present nave and tower date from 1638/9. On the walls are several monumental tablets of the 17th to 20th centuries to the memory of local families, the Aldworths, Nevilles and Barkers. The most impressive is that on the north wall to the memory of Sir James Eyre, Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas who died in 1799. The inscriptions indicate that people were buried under the floor of the chancel. This was confirmed during the course of essential repairs to the subsiding chancel floor in 1992, when 13 lead linings of coffins were discovered, along with corroded coffin handles, plates and nails, and a considerable quantity of human remains. The tower houses a pair of bells. The tenor bell was cast in the 16th century at one of the Reading bell foundries. The treble bell was cast at the Wokingham bell foundry, probably early in the 15th century. The clock on the outside of the west wall of the tower was installed in 1920 to commemorate those who fell in the 1914 -18 war. It was funded by Ruscombe Parish council, who continue to maintain it. St James Church is a Grade 1 listed building which has received financial support and advice from English Heritage. It is loved and cared for by an active congregation, and is popular for weddings and other special services. A booklet is available from church (price £1) giving more detailed information about this church's history. |
History of St. Mary the Virgin
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