History of the Cope

The church's greatest treasure is the remains of a 14th century embroidered cope. The theme of the embroidery is martyrdom.

The origins and history of the cope are completely unknown. The cope is first mentioned as being preserved in a church chest in 1846. It is, in fact, a complete mystery as to how such a beautiful and well made garment came into the possession of an obscure village church.

Pen and ink drawing of the cope

The survival of the cope during the Reformation can be attributed to the fact that it was cut up and remade into an alter frontal.

The cope no longer resides at the church. It was Rector Brown (1896-1918), a gentleman of antiquarian interest, who, it is said, weary of preserving the cope from the predatory scissors of lady visitors keen to possess a bit of medieval embroidery, consigned the cope to the care of the Victoria and Albert Museum, with whom it has remained on loan ever since.