|
St Saviour's church, Eddington, was built 'for the convenience of the northern part of the parish' and was dedicated in 1868.
The mid Victorian period was a time of great religious fervour - with church restoration and church building occurring across the country.
In Hungerford the Wesleyan Methodists were planning a large new Wesleyan Chapel in Charnham Street - which opened in 1869.
Between 1879 and 1887 extensive changes were made to the Parish Church of St Lawrence.
Perhaps being a little apprehensive of the possible effect of the new Wesleyan Chapel being built on the north side of the Bath Road, the
Anglicans planned a new church in Eddington.
The land was given by William Honywood of Chilton Lodge, and
the church was built by the local firm of Thomas Wooldridge (on the wharf) at a cost of £2,000. Of this £500 was given by Thomas P Mitchell of Standen House, the rest of the money being obtained by subscription. The east window of stained glass on "The Ascension" was
dedicated to the memory of the Rev TP Mitchell; the stained glass in the chancel represented the Four Evangelists; the pulpit was given by Jesse Hiller, Esq.
It is in Victorian Gothic Revival style in red and white brick, and was designed by Sir Arthur Blomfield. It seated 250 people.
In 1872 the original organ ("for its size, a good and particularly sweet-toned instrument") was considered inadequate for the size of the
choir and congregation. An organ fund was established to provide a replacement. Work soon commenced, but in July 1873 the organ builder was "obliged to beg for an extension of time, in consequence of
illness amongst his men".
By September 1873 the Parish Magazine stated that "We are happy to inform our readers that the new Organ is almost completed. The builder,
Mr Sweetland, of Bath, is so satisfied with his workmanship, that he has requested permission to exhibit the Instrument at the approaching Church Congress, at Bath, which takes place on 7th, 8th, 9th and
10th of October. Immediately after this, the Organ will be brought and erected in St Saviour's Church, and will be opened, DV, by a special service on Tuesday October 28. In consideration for being
allowed to exhibit the Organ, Mr Sweetland offers to fill in some of the spare slides, for which he will not expect payment for two or three years. Our friends are reminded that there is still about £50
required for the work already done. It is hoped that this will be provided by the opening day. The organ, as it will now be erected, will consist of the following stops, &c:-
Great organ, CC to G:
1. Open Diapason
2. Stop Diapason
3. Spare slide for
Viola
4. Principal
5. Harmonic Flute
6. Spare slide for Mixture
7. Posaune
Pedal organ, CCC to F:
1. Open Diapason
2. Spare slide for Bourdon
3. Violincello
Swell
organ, CC to G:
1. Lieblich Bourdon
2. Lieblich Gedacht
3. Open Diapason
4. Suabe Flute
5. Dulciana
6. Gemshorn
7. Harmonic Piccolo
8. Hautboy
9. Horn
10.
Mixture
Couplers:
1. Swell to Great
2. Swell to Pedals
3. Great to Pedals
4. Pedal Octave
Two combination Pedals to Great
Two combination Pedals to Swell
The opening service of the new Organ was indeed on Tuesday 28th October, and the Rev H W Miller, who was organist, "fully displayed the beauties and power of the
instrument". It took until August 1876 before all the funds for the new organ were obtained.
A new wrought-iron screen was installed in June 1884, by Messrs Singer, of Frome.
Unfortunately, it was reported in the Parish Magazine of March 1885 the "The organ at St Saviour's Church was not completed at the time of its erection for want of funds. The
Pedal Bourdon Stop or Soft Bass was omitted, whilst it was necessary to have the large Open Diapason Pipes or Loud Bass in order to form a Screen. This Bass is far too heavy for ordinary use in a small
Church; and it is now proposed to complete the organ by the addition of a Soft Pedal Bourdon Stop; the cost of which would be about £25.". The work was completed by August 1885 - to everyone's acclaim.
Decoration of the exterior of the Organ was carried out by Mr Low.
Standing on high ground overlooking the Kennet valley and the town of Hungerford, the churchyard to the north of the church is still used
today as the parish burial ground.
In May 1898 the Parish Magazine reported that "The Vicar and Churchwardens desire to call attention to the fact that the Old Burial Ground
(at St Lawrence's Parish Church) is practically full, and that no burials will in future be allowed to take place in that portion of the church yard. All burials must henceforth be in the New Ground,
except in cases where provision has been made for a second internment in a once-used grave."
The Parish Churchyard at St Lawrence was inspected by a Home Office officer in September 1890, and it was expected the churchyard would be closed to burials (with certain
exceptions) before the end of the year. At the same time, a further two acres was added to the St Saviour's churchyard. This new area was consecrated by by the Lord Bishop of reading on Tuesday
10th March 1891.
A marble "pavement" for the chancel was added in October 1890.
The church was in regular use for nearly 100 years until it closed c1956. The vicar and curates of the Parish Church of St Lawrence were the
officiating clergy.
St Saviour's was converted into a private house (Church House) in 1977.
The churchyard north of St Saviour's Church is the parish cemetery.
In Mar 2011 the area of the area allocated to the graves of the paupers of the parish (from the Workhouse) was marked
with an inscribed sarsen stone. (See "Remembering 'the poor of the parish'" NWN 10 Mar 2011)
|
 "114-St Saviours c1920(w)")
 "St Saviour's-007w")
 "115-St Saviours c1920(w)")
 "Church St Saviour Glass 1923-01w")
 "Church St Saviour Glass 1923-02w")
 "St Saviour's-004w")
 "St Saviour's-005w")
 "St Saviour's-003w")
 "St Saviour's-002w")
 "St Saviour's-006w1")
 "St Saviour's-001w")
 "St Saviour's-008w")
 "IMG_2317w")
 "IMG_2318w")