| St. Nicholas' Church, West Itchenor | |
St. Nicholas' Church, West Itchenor
|
|
| Country | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | St. Nicholas' Church, Itchenor |
| History | |
| Founded | c.1175 |
| Founder(s) | Hugh Esturmy |
| Dedication | St. Nicholas |
| Administration | |
| Parish | West Itchenor |
| Deanery | Rural Deanery of Chichester |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of Chichester |
| Diocese | Chichester |
| Province | Canterbury |
| Clergy | |
| Archbishop | Most Revd Rowan Williams |
| Bishop(s) | Rt Revd John Hind |
| Prebendary | Wightring |
| Rector | 'Vacant' |
| Priest in charge | Revd Jim Mould |
| Laity | |
| Organist(s) | William Wallace |
St. Nicholas' Church is the Anglican parish church of West Itchenor, a village in the Chichester district of West Sussex, United Kingdom.
Contents |
In around 1175, Hugh Esturmy was given permission by the Bishop of Chichester, John of Greenford and the Prebendary of Wightring to build a chapel in Itchenor. Between 1180 and 1197, Bishop Seffrid II allowed the chapel to be converted into a little parish church with its own graveyard. In 1935, The Parish of Itchenor was united with the Parish of Birdham as a single benefice. In 1986, the benefice of Itchenor and Birdham was united with the Parish of West Wittering. From there after, the Vicar of West Wittering was made the Rector of the Benefice of West Wittering and Birdham with Itchenor, which is what the benefice is known as today.
Organ
The annals of the village indicate that string or wind instruments would have been used to accompany the singing prior to 1862. From 1862, church music at St. Nicholas' developed. A harmonium was purchased in 1870 to take place of the string and wind instruments. In 1922 a small pipe organ was acquired. The next step forward came in 1950, when a new electric blower was installed. In 1956, the building of a vestry forced the ageing 34-year old pipe organ to be moved. Due to its poor state, the organist of the church Margot Linton-Bogle, donated a small reed organ - which was installed at the West end of the church. In 1961, Linton-Bogle donated a Jennings electronic organ. The organ was moved onto the newly-built gallery in 1964 (the site where the current organ stands today). In 1970, the organ's maintenance caused difficulties and Linton-Bogle donated a Compton pipe organ. It wasn't until 1994 when Margaret Thomas, then-Organist, donated the Viscount Jubilate 235 which is in use today.[1]
Organists
Choir
Following the purchase of a harmonium in 1862, pews were arranged in the chancel for the new choir and Hymns Ancient and Modern hymnbooks were purchased. This was the first organised choir in the church's history. The choir was provided with surplices in 1903 and lamps were made available to the singing of Choral Evensong. The singing of psalms took place at Mattins and was extended to Evensong in 1904. The organistship of Margot Linton-Bogle saw the choir expand, especially as more children joined. Following Linton-Bogle's death in 1987, the choir lost its younger members and fell into decline until it disbanded within a year.[2] At present, an annual choir comprising residents of the village and parishioners is formed to perform at the church's Christmas Carol Service. In 2010, a choir was set up for the first time in 33 years to sing the liturgy of Sung Matins, which occurs on the fifth Sunday.
Bells
Currently, there are three bells: The Treble, The Second and The Tenor. The Treble dates from 1530 whilst both The Second and The Tenor are from the seventeenth century.[3] The bells were re-hung in 1988 by Whitechapel Bell Foundry. Ellacombe apparatus was installed, allowing the bells to either be swing chimed or hand chimed. The church bells chime before services, before and/or after weddings and funerals. The bells are usually rung by the churchwardens.
|
|
|