The entrance to the church is from the South side through the stone entrance porch. Note the figureheads on either side of the outside doorway, a female on the left and a male on the right. It has been supposed that they represent the patron saint of the church, St. Margaret, and a previous patron St. Peter, in whose name the church was originally dedicated. Enter the church through the oak door inside the porch and commence your tour. The massive old key which fits the ancient locks on both this door and the door to the small porch towards the East end is still retained inside the church, although they have been superseded by modern locks.
On the wall on the left hand side just inside the entrance is the illuminated list of rectors from 1268 until the present day. It is complete except for a reak of exactly 100 years from 1375 to 1475. The reason for this break is unfortunately not known. Also on this wall can be seen signs of some lettering inslight relief, a text which reads "The poor ye have always with you that whensoever ye will ye may do them good." It was on the wall above the poor box, but the box was later moved to the other side of the aisle when radiator heating was introduced. This was to allow more room at the entrance for funerals, etc. The tower is one of the oldest parts of the church, the base being almost 700 years old and with walls almost 4 feet thick. The upper portions of the tower were added at a later date. The entrance to the tower is through a large Gothic arch and on the wall is the inscription "This is none other than the House of God and this is the gate of heaven." On the wall on the left of the doorway is a talet recording the gift of the trele and second bells in memory of William and Margaret Shelley in 1939. These two bells brought the number of bells in the ring to eight, a full octave, thus enabling much more complicated peals to be rung.
In the ringing chamer at the base of the tower are the eight bell ropes with their coloured sallies. Probably when you see them they will be hoisted up to the ceiling to keep them out of the way of prying hands, as they can be very dangerous to the inexperienced, but hooked up in this way they form a very pretty pattern.
In the corner of the tower there is a large substantial ladder which it is believed has been there since the upper part of the tower was added in mediaeval times. It leads to the clock chamber and above that to the bell chamber where the eight bells are hung. They are mounted on wheels operated by the bell ropes, (a small model illustrating this method of mounting can be seen in the ringing chamber). This gives the ringers much more control over the bells and so they can be used for the gentle art of change ringing, a type of bell ringing essentially British. Change ringing is a method of ringing bells in accordance with a strictly mathematical sequence which varies continually throughout the peal. On the walls of the ringing chamber there are seven plaques which record memorable peals in the past. The clock is weight driven and strikes the hours and chimes the quarters. The weights are wound up by hand. In the clock chamber, (not accessible to visitors), there are signs of a bricked up window. Brian Whittaker, the present Rector, suggests that this was a window through which could be seen the altar, enabling the Sanctus bell to be rung at the moment of the elevation of the Host during Mass, (rember that in the early days before the Reformation the services would be the Roman Catholic Latin Mass). The Diocesan Architect and the present writer are of the opinion that the window is one of a symmetrical series round the tower and was blocked up when the alterations to the church were carried out and the window came below the new roof line. On this matter we have agreed to differ.
Leaving the tower through the arch, which in olden times would have been open to the church, you will see on the left a large round stone font; the date of this is unknown but it has a wooden cover surmounted by a cross. The cover bears the following inscription:- "In memory of Bertram Pearce of Manor Farm, Draycott. August 23rd, 1955." On the floor near the base of the font is a copper font ewer which stands in an ancient stoup hewn out of rock which appears to be of stone similar to that used to build the tower, and it could possibly be of the same age. The shape of this suggests that at one time it was built into the wall at the church entrance, and was probably used to hold Holy water as was usual in Roman Catholic churches.
Looking down the length of the church you will see the Nave or main area of the church, and this is flanked on either side by an arcade of three arches which separate it from the North Aisle on the left and the South Aisle on the right. In the distance is another large arch which forms the entrance to the Chancel, and beyond that is the Communion rail fronting the Sanctuary containing the altar. Above all, right at the end in the East wall is the East window. The two side aisles also contain stained glass windows, details of which will be given later.
The central aisle is paved with tiles and the walkway is carpeted. The grating which ran down the centre of the aisle and which allowed warm air from the heating stove to rise into the church has now been replaced by stone slabs. On each side are wooden pews and on the ends of two of them near where you are standing at the moment, are the staves of office of the two churchwardens, wooden staves surmounted by medallions of enamelled metal. The device on these medallions is a dragons head with a sword or cross protruding from its mouth, this being the symbol of St. Margaret of Antioch, the Patron Saint of the church. One legend relates that this saint, when under persecution, was confronted by a dragon (Satan which devoured her. The cross she wore grew so large in its mouth that she emerged unharmed, (W. Ellwood Post, "Saints, signs and symbols").
The seats immeadiately next to the staves are marked for the exclusive use of Churchwardens.
Move down the carpeted central aisle towards the front and
you will see that the two pews right at the front bear brass
commemorative plates. The one on the left bears the
inscription:-
"Here lies the body of Thomas
Tickeridge, late of Evesham in the County of Worcester,
Gent, who departed this life at Warrelow House in the Parish
of Draycott, April 25th A.D. 1658, in the 2 and fiftieth
year of his life.
Also here lies the body of Mrs Margaret Tickeridge who was
wife of the said Thomas Tickeridge. She departed this life
in Cheadle, June 17th 1688 in the eightysecond year of her
life."
On the side of the right hand pew there is also a brass plate with an inscription in Latin which marks the grave of the Rev Dr. Anthony Draycott, (for details see webpage "The History of the Draycott Family), who died 20th January 1570. Due to many, many yearsof polishing the lettering has become almost illegible but we have been able to decipher the date as 20th January 1570. The family motto was "In luctu gaudee", (I rejoice even in sorrow).
Immediately in front of you is the large Gothic Chancel arch which is a simple pointed arch with no screen. On the left side of the arch is the handsome carved oak pulpit with steps and a wrought iron rail leading up to the preaching area which is closed off by a door. On the opposite side of the arch is a massive carved oak reading desk of handsome proportions. Until the year 1948 the positions of the pulpit and the desk were the reverse of those we find today. In that year the Rector, the Rev. Alfred Stanley thought they were wrongly positioned, (thepulpit is traditionally placed on the North side), and he had them moved to their present positions.
Beneath the arch, one step leads up to the Chancel, the
floor of which is also paved with tiles. On the left are the
oak Choir stalls and opposite is the organ, a pipe organ
with electric blower. It was moved and converted to a two
manual instrument in 1925. The carved wooden processional
cross bears an inscription on the shaft which reads:-
In loving memory of William Horrobin devoted verger
and sexton of St. Margaret's Church, Draycott-le-Moors who
entered his rest 13th February 1947. This cross was
presented by his family 17th December 1950. P. Chadwick,
Rector.
The Communion rail is in two sections, left and right, and is of wrought iron with wooden rails on top. The dedication plate is inscribed thus:- "These rails were placed in this church in affectionate remembrance of Robert Thomas Kennedy Levett who died in 1906, & Margaret Catherine Levett who died in 1909 - donated by thier children."
On the left is a beautiful carved chair of very handsome appearance. The inscribed plate reveals that it was dedicated to Charles William Stocker who was Rector of the Parish from 1841 - 1870.
The Sanctuary is raised by one step above the Chancel and contains the Altar, centre, and on the left a small credence table. Tha Altar is of carved wood and bears the initials A - H on the front at the left and right respectively. They are the initials of the Rev. Alexander Howe who was Rector from 1647 - 1648 when the Altar table was given. It was replaced in 1967 by a table given to the church by the people of Oakamoor, but this has since been removed and the original table restored. The Oakamoor table now stands to the side of the Altar in front of the Piscina.
The small arched structures built into the South wall of the Santuary are respectively, on the left a Piscina, which is a small basin near the Altar for the purpose of washing the communion vessels after a service, and next to these one large and two smaller Sedilia. Sedilia is the Latin word for seats, and they are the seats used by the priest and his two attendants, (probably young boys), during the Communion service. The present ones date from the rebuilding of this part of the church in 1848. One opinion is that they are copies of the original structures, but it is possible that they are the original structures refurbished and built into the new work when the Chancel was rebuilt.
Above the Altar in the East wall is the large stained glass East Window. The window is of the Early Decorated style and consists of three lights filled with patterns of stained glass. The decorated top part comprises of five medallions with stained glass motifs. The top one in the centre is the cruciform and contains a central theme consisting of the monogram I.H.S. This monogram is based on the Greek word IHCOYC, meaning Jesus. Below this are four medallions embellished with figures of winged creatures, one of them an angel and the others mythical winged beasts. They are each dedicated to one of the four gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. W. Ellwood Post in his book "Saints, signs and symbols" gives the following descriptions:-
"St. Matthew the Evangelist, Apostle and Martyr, has the
symbol of 'The Divine Man', a winged angel. This was
assigned to him in ancient times because the Gospel teaches
us about the human nature of Christ.
St. Mark the Evangelist, Martyr. The winged lion, the symbol
of St. Mark, refers to his Gospel, which informs us of the
royal dignity of Christ.
St. Luke the Evangelist, Martyr. The symbol of a winged ox
which is assigned to St. Luke is a reference to his Gospel,
which deals with the sacrificial aspects of Christ's
life.
St. John the Evangelist, Apostle and Martyr. The ancient
symbol of a rising eagle is said to have been assigned to
St. John because his gaze pierced further into the mysteries
of heaven than any man. The manner of his death is not
known."
In the South wall above the 'Oakamoor' table is another window, again filled with patterns of stained glass and in the centre at the top is a medallion containing a symbol containing a symbol consisting of a triangle and three linked rings. The equilateral triangle has been used from ancient times to represent the doctrine of the Blessed Trinity. The symbol of the three linked rings has also been used to represent the same doctrine. In this motif they both appear in one symbol.
The doorway on the left leads to a porch and a second entrance to the church. The porch itself has several tombstones built into the wall, the reason for this is not known but it is possible that they were moved when the major alterations to the church took place and that the priests vestry actually stands on the ground where the remains of those commemorated are buried. Also in the porch is the entrance to the priests vestry, (not normally accessible to visitors), which contains an antique vestment chest of unknown age and a framed oil painting of the church which is in poor condition. It is dated '93, which because of the condition of the picture could either be 1793 or 1893, (probably the latter).
Let us now leave the Sanctuary and consider the South and
North aisles. Pass through the Great Arch and turn left and
you are confronted by a very colourful stained glass window.
The window displays six picture panels which illustrate a
passage from the New Testament, (Matthew 25, v 35), reading
left to right, the top row bears the following
inscriptions:-
I was hungered and ye gave me meat
Naked and ye clothed me
I was sick and ye visited me
and beneath, also from left to right:-
I was thirsty and ye gave me drink
I was in prison and ye came unto me
I was a stranger and ye took me in.
On the wall immediately below this window is an inscribed
brass plate with the dedication:-
"To the Glory of God and in memory of John Adamthwaite of
Oak Hill Esqre. who died May 7th 1870, aged 59 years. This
window is erected by his wife and children 1871."
Standing on the floor beneath this window is a stone doorway of the old schoolhouse which stood in Church Lane on the North side of the church. In 1850 this school was succeeded by a National School which closed in 1939 and this in its turn was replaced by the present Draycott Manor School. The old school seems to have been converted into a cottage which was demolished in 1970. The wording on the tablet is as follows:-
"This school was built by the Revd. C. Sneyd Kinnersley, Rector in the tender care for the lambs of his flock and an earnest hope that successive generations might here be taught from childhood to know the scriptures which are able to make them wise unto salvation and to love one another even as Christ loveth them. He was instituted to the rectory of Draycott AD 1838 and died on 9th June 1841 in the 29th year of his age."
There is also another tablet which bears a "Patonce" cross and the date "1839" which places it from the same source as the one above. The "Patonce" cross is part of the Arms of the Draycott family, and in an old picture of the school it appears as though it had been positioned above the doorway and above the inscribed picture mentioned above.
Further along the South wall is another colourful window with again six picture panels, but with no inscriptions. They represent, according to Dr. Healey's account, Christ preaching, blessing the little children, presiding at the Last Supper, (although not all the Apostles are shown), and ministering the sick. They could also include, (top left to right), King David and musicians, and King David pleading before God. These latter two are mere superstitions and could have other interpretations, but another source confirms that the crowned figure is indeed King David.
Move to the end of the aisle near the tower arch and turn right past the font. On the floor you will see a massive oak chest with three iron bands and hinges. This is the oldest church chest in existence which is still in the church for which it was made. It has had a very chequered history, some of which is explained on the church history page.
Turn the corner into the North aisle and see the beautiful pictorial stained glass window depicting the occasion of Jesus' commission to St. Peter after the Resurrection. The disciples are shown seated on the shore of the lake round a fire on which fish are being cooked. They had fished all night and caught nothing, and returned to the shore despondent. Jesus was waiting there, but they did not know it was He. He told them to return and cast their nets on the right sight of the boat. They did so and caught a large number of fish. The window depicts the scene on their return. Peter, squatting on the right, is replying to the question "Do you love me?" from Jesus, with the answer, "You know that I love you", to which Jesus has answered, "Pasce oves meas", (Feed my sheep). For the full story see the Gospel according to St. John, Ch. 21. The dedication panel in the right hand bottom corner reads:-
"In honour of the glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and in memory of her parents George Lake and Ellen his wife and of her sisters Mary and Sarah & of John Frost her husband; Elizabeth Frost dedicates this window. A.D. MCMV (1905)."
Further along on this wall is the War Memorial in memory of those from the parish who gave their lives during the World Wars of 1914-1918 and 1939-1945. Note that there are more names from the latter conflict than the former, a reflection on the growth of the population of the village in the intervening period and note also that there is also the name of one woman. Further along still is a tombstone set into the wall, but the description of this is on the Draycott Chapel page, not this. There is a small plaque above the door in front of you which bears the symbols of a harp and on either side of this, three birds. This device is the crest of the Royal School of Church Music and appears to indicate that at some time or another the church choir was affiliated to that body. The door itself leads to the Draycott Chapel and when you enter, beware!, there is a step down and the doorway is very low so mind your head!
Taken from the "A Condensed History of St. Margaret's Church, Draycott-le-Moors" by Bert Spencer, copyright.
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