The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-05-15 00:00:00

RESTORATION OF HALESOWEN CHURCH.

This fine old church, so full of interest to the anti-
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nuelfnud4Tresirrgtonnues considerable restoration and repair under the
direction of Sir Gilbert Scott, and these are so far com-
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openedindication of the Norman period, though sit various
times it has undergone alterations and received additions
which have changed the general character of the building.
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Thus at present the east and west portions are Norman,
several of the windows and arches Early English, and the
body of the church of the Perpendicular period. Two
or three years ago several necessary works of restoration
were carried out, but it was not until sixteen months ago
that sufficient funis were raised to warrant the forma•ion
of a committee, and the taking of decisive steps to
ensure the performance of much work that was felt to be
urgently needed. The aim of Sir Gilbert Scott through-
out has been to carefully preserve the ancient features
of the fabric, to bring to light those which had been
hidden by successive " restorers " or repairers, and to
restore those which had been mutilated. Commencing
at the west end of the church, it wad found that the
floor, although on a lower level than the main body of
the ehurch, was still so high as to hide the bases of the
columns supporting the roof. Here, therefore, the floor
has been lowered sufficiently to expose the celnmns'
oases; whilst, in order that the church should not be
on a much lower level than the churchyard, the ground
outside has been lowered considerably. The roof at
this part of the building was in a rather dilapidated state,
and it has aceordi•iely been res!ored, the old plate roof
being removed :Led replaced by purlins and tie-b(-ams of
oak, which have a vers fine appearance. Partly sem.
rating this portion of the church from the body were
partitions, which have been removed. Unfortunately,
the committee have not realised sufficient funds to carry
out the entire restoration of the oak roofing, and as the
old plate ceiling of the north and south aisles will have
to remain for n time, two temporary flying arches have
had to be erected, both to support the plate ceiling and
divide it from that portion of the west roof which has
been restored. In the body Of the church the flew was
found to be 2,1 feet above the original level. It has
been lowered to that extent. The north and south aisles
were rendered unsightly by two wide galleries which
accommodated about 360 peoplo, whilst there was a chil-
dren'. gallery beneath the tower, which stands in the
centre of the church. These galleries have been entirely
abolished, and the rough plaster has been removed from
the base of the tower, laying hire the original stone.
Beneath the tower has been placed an ancient Saxon
font, wh:ch formerly stood within the chancel arch. 'rise
whitewash has been stripped aed washed front this relic
of antiquity, and efforts have been made to so restore
its quaint decoration that they may stand out con-
spicuously. The roof of the body of the church was
considerably the worse for wear, in addition to which it
was ' rendered" or plastered within, and was vile out
of character with the general st)le of the building It
has been completely renovated, an open perpendicular
carved oak roof of great beauty being substituted. On
the southern side of the chancel were found traces of
old Norman !treading, which hare been carefully brought
Into view, whilst on th:e North side the ancient roxi loft
staircase has been once more opened out. Between the
east portion of the north aisle and chancel was an arch,
which was carried in a very clumsy manner tl the floor.
The lower part of this aisle has been taken away, and
the arch now rests on two handsome corbel.. The ef-
fect of this has been to greatly improve the appearance
of this :part of the edifie, whilst more room is afforded.
By the removal of a large monument on the north side
of the sacrarium, an old door to the vestry, a sedan',
and an old Norman window were discovered, although
In each case they were bricked up and plastered over.
These have now been once more cleaned, and they prove
a decided ornament to the sacrarium On the opposite
side will be placed an oak sedilia to correspond. The
roof of the chancel has also been entirely restored, a
handsome wrought oak open roof being substituted f .r
the old one. The sacrarium will be separated from the
smith aisle by a carved oak screen of rich desietr, whilst
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