Between 1823 and 1830, Dove Street, Swann Street and Dale Street had been built and the lower portion of Nunnery Lane was being built up with dwelling houses, as also was St. Clement’s Place. The residents of this new district agitated for an opening to be made through the City Wall to facilitate access to Bishophill and their parish church of St. Mary which resulted first in a subway being made through the mound under the Wall in 1838, to be replaced by the present Victoria Bar, opened in 1840.
Apart from the mansions of Nunthorpe and Middlethorpe the parish was truly local, with windmills on the highest ridge running through its centre - the Nunmill at one end and the Mount Mill at the other.
The introduction of railway transport in 1839 to be followed a year later by four daily through trains running to London, and a further extensive network developing during the next ten years, created a demand for houses in the area. This was increased when Terry's confectionery factory concentrating on chocolate was completed in 1864, the carriage and wagon works built in 1867 and further between 1870 and 1880 when the York Confectionery Co. established a considerable business from premises in Fenwick Street, specialising in candied peel and the mint rock supplied to many seaside resorts. By this time, high density housing had been completed in the two areas of Clementhorpe and that bounded by Nunnery Lane, the lower end of Bishopthorpe Road and Nunthorpe Road.
Within months of his appointment in 1871 as the last Rector of the united parishes, the Revd. George Marsham Argles (later Canon of York) saw the urgent need for a separate church to serve the already densely populated areas and the anticipated further developments southwards. The population of St. Mary, Bishophill Senior, in the Clementhorpe - Bishopthorpe Road area had grown from 1,227 in 1851 to 4017 in the early 1870's. This was now the parish with the fastest population growth in York. His enthusiasm and the loyal support of the parishioners resulted in the foundation stone being laid on 16th October 1872. St. Clement's Church, as we know it today, was born.
The laying of the Foundation Stone
The whereabouts of the foundation stone taxed the knowledge of the late Revd. Robin Carberry (and the writer) for some years as the stone is not visible at the present time. It is, however, thought to be on the east side of the church and covered by fitments in the present choir vestry which was added to the church in 1879.
The laying of the foundation stone was recorded in the York Herald on Saturday 19th October 1872 in the following way:-
"On Wednesday afternoon last, the interesting ceremony of the laying of the foundation stone of a new church at Clementhorpe in the suburbs of the city, took place in the open space in front of Nunthorpe Terrace, in the presence of a large number of spectators".
"Special prayers were said by the Rev. G.M. Argles, after which the stone was laid by Mrs. W. Wood Clarke, (niece of G. Wilson Esq.) Mr. Atkinson presenting her, for the purpose, with a mallet and silver trowel, with suitable inscription and case. Having declared the stone well and truly laid. Mr. Argles said:
"In the faith of Jesus Christ , we place this foundation stone in the name of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost. Here let true faith, the fear of God and brotherly love ever remain: this place is consecrated to prayer and to the praise of the most Holy Name of the same, our Lord Jesus Christ, whoever liveth, with the Father, and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end".
In a cavity of the stone was placed a bottle, hermetically, sealed, containing a number of coins of the realm, copies of last week's York Herald and York Gazette, and particulars as to the erection of the church, etc.
The Consecration of St Clement's Church
28th August 1874.
We are indebted to the Yorkshire Gazette which on 29th August 1874 gave a full account of the need for a new church in the Clementhorpe area and detailed the consecration service. An extract from the text is copied here as a matter of historic interest.
"Yesterday morning at eleven o’clock the sacred edifice was consecrated and opened for divine service, when there was a numerous attendance of the parishioners of St. Mary Bishophill Senior and the inhabitants of the surrounding district. Shortly before the hour appointed the Archbishop of York, accompanied by the Bishop of St. David’s, the Ven. Archdeacon Hey, the Hon. and Rev. E.C. Glyn, arrived at the north-west entrance of the church where he was met by the rector, the Revd. G M. Argles, the churchwardens, Mr. William Lawton, Mr. Thomas F Wood and Mr. Charles Mills, by the chapel wardens. Mr. George C Baskett and Mr. Fisher and several clergymen, attired in their surplices, hoods and stoles."
"The Archbishop was requested to be pleased to consecrate the new church, a petition with that object in view having been prepared and it was read by H.A. Hudson Esq., Deputy Registrar."
"From the reading of this formal document the information was imparted to the listeners that the petition for the consecration was from the Revd. George Marsham Argles, rector of St. Mary Bishophill the Elder, and he presented it to the Archbishop on behalf of himself, the churchwardens and the principal inhabitants of the parish."
"It stated that a triangular piece of ground, containing 1828 square yards, or thereabouts, situate in the parish of St. Mary Bishophill the Elder, and within the boundaries of the City of York, being part of a close known as Scarcroft Close, being bounded on or towards the north by a new public road called Nunthorpe Road, on or towards the south by an intended new road leading from Bishopthorpe Road towards the Mount, and on, or towards the west by a portion of the said Scarcroft Close, had been set apart for building a church: that upon such site as aforesaid a new church or chapel of ease had been erected by voluntary subscription, by grant from the York Diocesan Church Building and Endowment Aid Society, and by the Incorporated Church Building Society; and that the sacred edifice contained 567 sittings, the whole of which were free and unappropiated. The petitioners therefore prayed that his Grace would be pleased to consecrate the church or chapel of ease, and to dedicate it to the service of God by the name or title of St. Clement."
"The Archbishop having intimated his willingness to consecrate the church, his Grace left the porch and walked up the nave to the chancel, followed by the clergy, they and his Grace repeating in turn the verses of Psalm 24."
"His Grace read the exhortation in the Consecration Service, and then asked for the blessing of God to rest upon the undertaking. He then directed that the sentence of consecration should be read."
"The Revd. G.M. Argles then proceeded to read the morning service of the day, except where it was otherwise directed in the form of prayer and ceremonies used at the consecration of a church or episcopal chapel in the diocese of York."
"The Archbishop conducted the Communion Service and at the close of the sermon preached by the Archbishop from Psalm 116, the offertory sentences were read and a collection made on behalf of the building fund."
At this time access to the church was from Nunthorpe Road, due to difficulties concerning Scarcroft Road running across the Freemen’s Stray and construction of the now main entrance to the church was not finalised until some three or four years later.
The church, a large lofty building of red brick with stone facing cost about £4000. It is perhaps the best example of an ecclesiastical building constructed during the Victorian era in the City of York.
The Chancel Carvings
This work includes the rails on both the north and south sides of the Chancel, the desks and sets for the clergy, the choir stalls and the wall panelling behind on each side. The panelling on the north side is interrupted to admit the organ screen of wrought iron. This is boldly designed on the pattern of the cross, superimposed with a globe indicating the idea of the cross embracing the world.
The Symbols of the Passion
On the right and left of the Chancel rails appear the initial and final letters of the Greek alphabet, the "A" and "O" of the Alpha and Omega. At the foot of the rail on the north and after the Greek "A" follow the emblems of the Passion. First, the Cross and the Ladder, the dice used in the casting of lots, the Crown of Thorns and "I.H.S." On the south and following the Greek "O" appear the hammer and pincers, then the nails. Following this the cup of the Passion, and lastly the sword and the ear. These are all carved in small relief without any elaboration of detail. Above the emblems of the Passion, and on each side respectively appear the Cross Keys of St. Peter and the Anchor of St. Clement.
The Shields, Charges, and Coats of Arms
On the western side of the Organ Screen is carved on a Shield the Anchor of St. Clement.
The panelling on the east of the organ screen holds the shield emblazoning in red, gold and silver the Cross of St. Chad, who was the first Saxon Bishop of York about the middle of the 7th Century. Yorkshire has many reminders and relics of this early English Saint. It was to York he came from his seclusion at Lastingham and here he held the See until he removed it to Lichfield where he became the Bishop of the Mercians. The windows of the Minsters at both York and Durham hold portraits of St. Chad and in the liber vitae of these Churches his name is written in letters of gold.
Today he is still the patron of nearly one hundred churches. The Cross of St. Chad is the emblem by which he is chiefly known and it forms part of the coat of arms of Lichfield and Chester.
On the panelling of the southern side and corresponding to these charges of the Saints appears the Diocesan Coat of Arms, the keys of St. Peter and the Lily, emblematic of the purity of the Virgin Mary.
The four Shields thus denote the Diocese, the Parish, the Parish Church and its Daughter.
The Symbolism of the Apostles
One of the most striking features of the panelling on both sides is the carving of the heads of the twelve apostles in small relief. The carver has given each an individuality and embodied the characteristics and employed all the old symbols associated with the Apostles of our Saviour.
Starting at the north side, next to the pulpit :-
ST. ANDREW with his hands bound, imposed on his own St. Andrew’s Cross. Above, the FISH and below the BROKEN CHAIN symbolic of the breaking of the chain of death by martyrdom.
ST. BARTHOLOMEW Scripture says very little of this Apostle, but he is associated in many old Churches with the fig tree, a reaping hook and a book and basket of fruit, indicative of the fruits of the Gospel.
ST. PETER has the features of the rude fisherman and is supported on either side with the Keys, surmounted by the CROWING COCK and underneath the inverted CRUCIFIX upon which the Saint - not deeming himself worthy to be crucified in the manner of the Master - chose to meet his martyrdom. The crowing cock is included as a reminder that the strength of Christianity has its strength in its weakness and that here in the very inception of the Church human frailty prevailed.
ST. JOHN the young disciple beloved of the Master - behind him is the BOOK of the REVELATION. The EAGLE and the BEAST of the APOCALYPSE complete the panel.
ST. PHILIP This is the Apostle who is mentioned in Scriptures as concerned with the miracle of the loaves and fishes. He had been noticed by our Saviour before he joined the Apostles "Did I not see thee, Philip, when thou wast under the fig tree?".
ST. THOMAS The WOUNDS and the THRUSTING FINGER, the SPEAR and the NAILS, the implements of the Passion and the STAR OF INDIA. St. Thomas by tradition met his martyrdom in this country.
ST. SIMON TWO AXES, TWO FISHES and TWO SHIPS are the symbols of St. Simon. Scripture and tradition say very little of this Apostle.
ST. JUDE or THADDAEUS Like St. Peter, St. Jude, according to tradition was crucified head downwards in Persia. A SHIP is on many old shrines and windows used as the emblem of St. Jude.
ST. JAMES THE GREAT was especially the patron of pilgrims. There appears on either side of the scallop shells, the badge of the pilgrims. This saint it will be remembered was killed by Herod with the sword. THE CROSSED SWORDS are emblematic of his martyrdom.
ST. MATTHIAS This Apostle was chosen by lot in the place of the traitor Judas. "And the lot fell upon Matthias". Tradition gives to him the grace of having overcome Satan. The Satanic figure appears below.
ST. MATTHEW The rich disciple who sat at the seat of custom. Above, the ANGEL, with whom this disciple is always associated. The BAG of MONEY and the COINS.
ST. JAMES THE LESS By tradition, St. James who was the first Bishop of Jerusalem, was a Miller or Fuller. There appears above, the WINDMILL and below the MITRE.
This ends the symbolism of the twelve apostles. They are all carved in small relief, St. Matthew, St. John and St. Peter are all imposed upon the open book of the Epistles. Attention is drawn to the peculiar individuality given to each face and to the value of the line in the design, particularly to the exquisite carving of the head of St. John where the beauty of the designers’ line has been faithfully rendered by the tool of the carver.
There are one or two general features to be noticed. All the work is in English oak.
The CORNICE OF THE PANELLING is boldly carved with a design of scroll leaves bound around a rope.
The CHOIR BOYS’ STALLS have an old pattern of leaves and berries running along the top.
The CHANCEL RAIL is carved on both sides with a beautiful vine design.
The STALL ENDS are all differently carved with designs culled from old 15th Century types, sunk in the solid wood.
A continuous design of quatrefoils runs at the base of both chancel rail, desks and stalls. This binds all the work together and yet as each quartrefoil is differently treated there is no monotony.
The careful observer will notice in the carvings a little mouse. This is the trade mark of the carver,"Mousey Thompson", whose workshop at Kilburn is always worth visiting.
The work at St. Clement's has a note of permanence both in the quality of its material and in the way it has been fashioned. It is beautiful now and the centuries to come will take nothing away from it.
The Church Hall
Although the original plans for the Church dated March 1872 showed a future extension to the west end of the building, understood to be for the creation of a church hall, it was many years before the dream was to become a reality and even then it was not as an appendage to the Church. It is interesting to note that 125 years on, we are about to realise the founder's dream of a "parish hall" at the West end of the church, but now inside St. Clement's in the form of a narthex.
From time to time efforts had been made to satisfy the need for a hall but some more urgent if not greater need always arose, demanding immediate attention. The parish had never been indifferent to the claims of the extension of Christ’s Kingdom outside its own borders and this was seen at its highest and best in the building of St. Chad’s; an effort which demanded great enthusiasm, genuine self sacrifice and abounding generosity over many years. The Jubilee Chronicle compiled from parish magazines shows that a bazaar in the Assembly Rooms for the South Bank Church, in November 1922, raised the magnificent sum of £1400.
The need for a church hall, however, was never forgotten and the moment seemed to have arrived some time later but again the needs of the church schools of the city took precedence and through a 2000 guinea bazaar it gave considerable help including a contribution of 100 guineas to Tang Hall.
Despite the fact that the church owned 16 Scarcroft Road, there were objections to a parish hall being situated next to the church. Presumably on the grounds of increased traffic and late night revelry.
The purchase of Springfield House at 16 Cygnet St., which had stables, outbuildings and garden, and which was purchased for £1000 in January, 1932, resolved the situation. The magnificent success, in November 1932, of the Ideal Home Bazaar in the Assembly Rooms, which in 3 days raised nearly £1600 resolved most of the financial worries. Considering the financial crisis and high rate of unemployment at the time, this was an incredible achievement.
Plans for the building of a main hall on the garden site were designed by Messrs. Brierley and Rutherford of York and Messrs. William Birch and Sons Ltd. also of York were accepted as builders.
The cost of the site, the building of the main hall, certain alterations to the house, heating, lighting and furnishings cost approx. £3500 and whilst there remained a figure of £1500 outstanding, a considerable portion of this was found as a result of the events of opening week commencing Saturday 18th November 1933.
The property was to become known as the Church House and comprised a large hall with seating for 400 people together with a stage, two dressing rooms, a caretakers house of three bedrooms, parlour and kitchen and eight other rooms suitable for club and committee purposes. The floor of the hall had been laid in maple wood which was admirably suited for dancing.
It was envisaged that the Church House would be the home to the people of St. Clement’s where the C of E Men’s Society, the Women’s Fellowship, the Mother’s union, the Girls’ Clubs, the Young People’s Fellowship, the Cubs and Brownies, the King’s Messengers, the Dramatic Society, the Sunday School and the Church Council would meet. The worship of the Church would have its counterpart in the fellowship of the house, which would become increasingly a parish home.
The emphasis was on wholesome leisure for all the family; men predominated in the Bible classes, women in the guilds and children in the temperance society. Canon Argles was particularly keen on the latter, seeing one of the great social problems of the parish to be intemperance and the "want of restraint in parts of parents over their children and especially daughters who are allowed far too great liberty at late hours of the night."
Sadly this is not the case today in 1999. Although the Church House is still used for leisure and general social activities most of the organisations referred to in the previous paragraph have disappeared and with a need to see that the building does not become a financial burden on the limited resources of the Church it has been necessary to introduce other activities which, whilst not directly associated with the Church, do meet the needs of a broader spectrum of community life.
Facts and Figures
THE ARCHITECTS were Messrs. J.W. Atkinson, York, and the church cost about £4000 to build in 1874.
THE CHURCH measures 107 feet 6 inches by 57 feet, originally to seat 567. The height is 52 feet.
THE SITE was given by G. Wilson Esq., who also gave £500 for the EAST WINDOW in memory of Marion Wilson. The window represents the Transfiguration, the figure of our Lord occupying the centre light and the side lights being those of Elijah and Moses, and the lower lights being those of Peter, James and John. The stained glass was produced by the mosaic enamel method made famous by the artist Capronnier of Brussels. Its significance to worshippers at dawn and dusk is that our Blessed Lord is the first and last figure to show. The window was inserted in September 1875.
The present MAIN ALTAR is dedicated to the memory of F.J. Wells (died May 1934) and wife Ann Elizabeth (died Jan. 1940).
THE REREDOS representing "The Last Supper" is a most beautiful work executed in terracotta by Mr. Thrupp. The carving and marble surround is by Mr. Milburn. It is of interest to note that each disciple has his name etched above his figure. The reredos was unveiled on 9th November 1884.
THE SANCTUARY PANELLING was given by Mary Ann Argles and dedicated on 29th June 1924, in memory of her husband Canon G.M. Argles (died 1920) and daughter Margaret (died 1916).
THE ORGAN, a Father Willis, made at a cost of £670 was dedicated on 31st. March 1877. It was renovated, and brought back almost to perfection, in 1941, following indifferent work prior to the war. This was made possible by a gift from Edith Augusta Thackray. For the past 20 years the organ has been maintained by the York firm of Principal Pipe Organs, where our organist Robin Dickson works. We owe him and the company a debt of gratitude for their care.
THE PULPIT, principally of Bath stone with shaftings and traceries of Babbacombe marble from Torquay was given by Mrs. Argles.
The stained glass WINDOW IN THE SOUTH AISLE depicting St. Margaret and St. Clement was dedicated to Margaret, youngest daughter of Canon Argles and given by a number of her friends in 1916. It was executed by J.W. Knowles, of York, in 1919. It is carried out in the English method, where the whole of the colour is obtained by the use of separate pieces of coloured glass. There has been a measure of artistic licence displayed in the two lights as the faces of the saints have more than a passing resemblance to Canon and Mrs. Argles as can be seen in photographs printed in the 1924 Jubilee book.
THE FONT at the back of the church is of Bath stone, a gift of Mr. Keswick.
THE LECTERN was given by Miss A. Argles.
THE JACOBEAN COMMUNION TABLE in the Nave and the CHARLES II YORKSHIRE CHAIR (with two droplets missing), were obtained from St. Mary Bishophill Senior church. The small stone coffin in the North Isle was also transferred from St. Mary’s and is possibly of Saxon origin.
The WAR MEMORIAL was unveiled on 25th September 1921 at a cost of £290.
It is incredible to find that a photograph in the Jubilee Record of 1924 shows a total of 77 SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS covering St. Clement’s and South Bank. There are a further 25 or so mentioned who are not included in the picture.
ST. CLEMENT’S DAY SCHOOLS. When Canon Argles took charge of the parish of St. Mary Bishophill Senior in 1871, he found the educational facilities very inadequate. Recognising the importance of efficient schools he secured a plot of land in Cherry Street and aided by voluntary contributions, grants from Societies and a substantial sum from his own pocket he had the satisfaction of seeing a day school erected and opened on 17th July 1872. As the number of pupils grew, a separate building was erected for the boys in 1876 by the Trustees of the Dr. Beckwith Charity. This new school was opened in January 1877. It was in its heyday in the last two decades of the nineteenth century, when it ranked as the leading elementary school in York. Situated at the heart of the new area of dense terraced housing, the school became a focal centre of parish life. Here a parish library was conducted, a penny bank, a night school and, of course, parochial Sunday schools. In 1877 there were 480 children in the day school and 360 in the Sunday schools; fifty boys attended the night school. By 1915 the Sunday schools had over 1,000 children on the books, and the day school was almost as large.
The school closed in 1960 when the pupils were transferred to Scarcroft School.
CLEMENTHORPE MISSION ROOM was opened on 18th March 1892.
SOUTH BANK MISSION ROOM foundation stone was laid on 13th August 1900.
Rectors of St Clement with St Mary Bishophill Senior
The Minister responsible for the building of St. Clement's was George Marsham Argles, one of the leading Churchmen in late Victorian York. He came to the parish in 1871 and during the next 48 years worked it in accordance with the highest Anglican ideals. By 1877 he had two curates and congregations were double what they had been in 1865. By the end of the century, he had three curates and was conducting services in both a mission room and a mission church as well as in the parish church.
George Marsham Argles (Canon of York) 1871 - 1919
Gilbert David Barker 1919 - 1928
Charles Henry Lambert 1928 - 1934
Harold Merryweather 1934 - 1937
David Leslie Seckendorff Pocock 1937 - 1945
George David John 1945 - 1953
Edward Broughton Parr Duckworth 1953 - 1956
Frederick Guy Harrison 1956 - 1964
Robin Linton Carberry 1965 - 1989
Ernest Edward Stephen Jones 1990 - 1997
Michael David Barnby Long (Canon of York) 1998 - 2002 (Priest in Charge)
Andrew Stoker Rector 2003
APPENDIX A
The United Parishes of St Mary Bishophill Senior with St Clement
On the 17th January, 1585, the few remaining parishioners of St. Clement found themselves united to the adjacent parish within the City Walls, with its attractive Norman church built in 1180, standing prominently on the brow of the hill rising above the river in Bishophill, built on the site of a Saxon church which was probably destroyed when the City was devastated during the Norman Conquest.
As its name implies, Bishophill was the area of residence of the Archbishop during the reign of Edward the Confessor (1043 - 1066), The Domesday Book, compiled in 1087, states "In the shire of the Archbishop in the time of King Edward were 189 dwelling houses. Now about 100 are inhabited, great and small, besides the Archbishop’s Palace and the Canons’ houses". Another resident in the seventeenth century was Thomas Lord Halifax, the famous Parliamentary General, who built his mansion here to be his town residence. A surname associated with both parishes is that of Basy. Roger, who was Mayor of York in 1290 and represented it in Parliament in 1295, built the river wall on the line of Skeldergate in 1305 and founded a Chantry in St. Mary’s in 1319. Elizabeth founded another Chantry in the church in 1403 and Constantia was Prioress of St. Clement’s Nunnery in 1315. During the latter half of the 19th century, St. Mary’s was the Civil church, attended by the Lord Mayor and civic dignitaries.
The Church was enlarged a century after being built by lengthening the nave eastwards. Its stone tower was destroyed by lightning in 1378 and in 1461 new bells were given, indicating that by then the tower had been replaced to house them. In 1659 St. Mary’s had become very dilapidated but was put into a good state of repair by the parishioners at their own expense and this included a new brick tower. A new peal of bells was installed in 1771, which were rung for practice for some years after services were discontinued around 1924, only to be silenced on the tower being declared unsafe. They were installed in the belfry of St. Stephen’s Acomb and re-dedicated by the Bishop of Selby on the 29th September, 1954.
Following discontinuance of services around 1924, the Archbishop’s Commission, on the resources of the Church in York, recommended that the Church of St. Mary Bishophill Senior be removed and that any features of architectural and historical interest be carefully preserved elsewhere and its graveyard converted into an open space.
APPENDIX B
The Church of St Mary Bishophill Senior
When the parochial boundaries of the united parishes were revised following discontinuance of services at St. Mary’s in 1924, the area outside the City Walls reverted to its ancient boundaries The registers and charities continued in the care of the Rector and Churchwardens of St. Clement’s, the registers being in their keeping to this day. The charities were administered by them until taken over by the Charities Commission, although small amounts are still being received by the Rector and Churchwardens of St. Clement’s.
As a result of the boundary revision, the Vicar and Churchwardens of St. Mary Bishophill Junior, already responsible for the maintenance of fabric of their ancient church also became responsible for the maintenance of the fabric of St. Mary Bishophill Senior. The gifts left over the centuries for the repair of that church by a small number of benefactors, and paid over annually by St. Clement's proved inadequate, and the condition of the fabric of St. Mary Bishophill Senior deteriorated rapidly over the following twenty-six years.
On a sentimental visit by a Churchwarden of St. Clement’s in the spring of 1950, he found the door of St. Mary’s open and the building desecrated and in disrepair. It was being used as a rubbish dump, a sleeping place, a playground for children and a target for vandals. Referring the conditions to the Archbishop and as a result of a personal visit by him, the Archdeacon was asked to make some definite recommendations about the future of the fabric.
Authorisation was given for removal of some undamaged contents to be preserved in St. Clement’s Church. These included a remarkable Saxon or pre-Conquest grave cover belonging to the first half of the eleventh century. The form of cross upon it is that known as patriachal, which probably signifies that it was the gravestone of a bishop. This is fixed to the west wall behind the font. A unit of wall shelves on which charity bread was placed for distribution to the poor is fixed to the wall by the side altar.
Also on the west wall is a Table of Lord Mayors in Office during the latter half of the nineteenth century, with brackets to hold the Sword and Mace during his ceremonial attendance in church, and some of the memorials of parishioners which were found undamaged. Fixed also on the west wall is a Table of Benefactors which, unfortunately due to its size, had to be placed too high to be read. The detail is, however, recorded here as a matter of interest
"This Table of Benefactors was given to this Parish by Thomas Todd, Wine-Cooper. A house situate in Skeldergate now in the tenure and occupation of William Tesh was given (time out of mind) for the use of the Church, the rent to be received by the Church Wardens and employed for the service of the Church".
"Mr. Peter Middleton and Anne his wife, late of this parish in their lifetime by deed to Feoffees in Trust give one house or garden now in the occupation of Henry Pawson, Merchant, one half of the rent to the repair of the Church and the other half to be distributed to the poor of the Parish by the Church Wardens every Christmas Eve".
"Mr. John Pawson, Merchant, by Will bearing the date 2nd August, 1677, gave 20/- yearly for ever, 10/- thereof to be paid to the Minister of the Parish for sermon every St. John Baptist Day, and the other 10/- to be distributed the same day in bread to the poor of this Parish".
"Thomas Todd, Wine-Cooper, by Will dated 25th February, 1703, gave 10/- yearly for ever, to be distributed in bread to the poor of this Parish every St. Thomas Day, the said sum arising out of a house in this Parish now in the occupation of William Raiper".
"Mr. Thomas Sugden, Merchant, by Will bearing date 2nd February, 1712 gave £100 to be laid out in a purchase, the income thereof to be distributed in bread to such as live within Skeldergate Postern, viz. 13 loaves to 13 poor persons every Lord’s Day".
"Mr. John Cobb, Flair Merchant, Spittall Fields, London, gave by Will dated 12th August, 1778, to this Parish £800 in 3% Consolidated Bank Annuities to be vested in the Minister and Church Wardens of the time. The interest amounting to £13.16.0. annually to be distributed amongst poor housekeepers of the Parish not taking alms - viz: the Interest of £200 upon St. Thomas’s Day in Coals and the Interest of £100 the 24th day of June in bread; in which manner and proportion as they think fit".
"Stephen Beckwith Esq., of the City M.D. by his Will dated 31st August, 1843, gave to the Minister and Church Wardens of this Parish the sum of £200. The annual interest of which is to be applied by them in purchasing coals, which coals are to be divided on the 21st August or 22nd December in every year by the officiating Minister, amongst poor persons - members of the Church of England who reside in the Parish and are in the habit of attending divine services in the Parish Church".
"Mrs. Catherine Ramsden by indenture bearing date 30th July 1716, gave 20/- per annum to the poor of this Parish, to be distributed every Christmas by the Church Wardens and Overseers and now payable from the Lord Mayor and Commonalty of this City".
"Elizabeth Brough, widow, by Will dated 9th May 1750, gave to the Minister and Church Wardens for the time being 10/- per year to be paid out of the house in Skeldergate now tenanted by J Lee and to be distributed to poor housekeepers of the Parish every Good Friday".
"Mr. Henry Beckwith late of this Parish, gentleman, for his lifetime, gave £100 towards a new peal of bells which was completed in the year 1771".
"Thomas Walker
Thomas Rodwell
Church Wardens".
At this time, the Diocesan Authority with the Vicar and lay officials of the Parish of The Holy Redeemer, Acomb, were considering the building of a Parish Church to replace their Hall Church on Boroughbridge Road and Archdeacon Forder suggested incorporating parts of the fabric of St. Mary’s in their new church, to merge ancient with modern. A large block of worked stone from the wall of St. Mary’s, of a size and appearance to suggest that it was cut by a Saxon mason to form part of the original church was selected by the architect, Mr. G. C. Pace for the foundation stone, surmounted by a portion of a fourteenth century grave cover incised with a foliated cross, indicating that it had once marked the resting place of a bishop or parish priest. The ancient masonry, Norman and Early English piers and the twelfth century doorway now form part of the wall and the 1866 east window of St. Mary’s, the west window of the Church of The Holy Redeemer, consecrated on 12th December, 1964.
Thus at least part of the Church of St. Mary, Bishophill Senior, which echoed to the songs of praise of its countless worshippers for 800 years again echoes the songs of praise of the present generation.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We are grateful to the late Rectors, Revd. Gilbert Barker and Revd. Robin Carberry whose research and records were invaluable in the development of this book.
Our thanks to Norman Clay of St. Clements who researched and wrote this book.
Our thanks to Elaine and Les Tomkinson of St. Clements for the production of the history book, its translation for the web, and for the creation and maintenance of our web site.
And lastly our sincere and heartfelt thanks to the loyal congregation of St. Clements, both present and past, without whom this book would not have been written.