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THE CHURCH OF ST AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO, CLUTTON
The church, a grade listed building, is dedicated to St Augustine who became assistant of Hippo (now a part Of Algeria) in North Africa in 395 and died in 439 AD. The church originates from the twelfth century but only two parts of the building remain from that date: the inner arch Of the south porch and the chancel arch. The chancel arch is pointed with the underside plain. On the inner edge is a beautiful zig-zag pattern, While the outside is adorned with roll moulding. The arch is supported by shafts with foliated capitals. Above the arch near the pulpit is exposed the beginning of some which was painted on in Victorian times Which stated "This is none Other than the House of God". The possibility of restoring this lettering has been investigated, and was estimated in as likely to cost £20,000. The PCC was unable to justify spending this sum then, but the matter remains a future possibility. The Other Norman section which remains is the inner arch of the south porch.
Stained glass Windows: the East erected in memory Of the children Of the Rev TB Johnstone who was rector of Clutton from 1815-1879, consists of three lights. In the centre is the crucifixion, on the left Christ rising from the tomb and on the right Christ ascending into heaven. Above these lights there is a circular Window, in the centre of which is the Agnus Dei and just below in smaller are the first and last Of the Greek alphabet, the sacred and XPC.
Clutton Church Booklet
Clutton Church Postcard
South wall East end represents St George and St Bartholomew; West end shows the nativity and the adoration Of the Magi.
The North wall windows: East end represents St Dominic and St Basil; West end: St Matthias and Dorcas. The curtained area was used for choir robing but is now a children's area. Above it is a window showing St Augustine with child, dedicated to A Curtis, 1B Dagger, WI Ettie, JA Lear, G Minll who gave their lives 1939-45.
Against the north wall is a memorial to the fallen, 1914-18, With the Royal British Legion standard. Also a Roll of Honour listing those who served in the first world war.
The pulpit is of Stone and divided into five panels. The central panel shows Christ, on the left are the figures of St Jerome and St Gregory, and on the right are St Ambrose and St Augustine.
The oak lectern was presented to the church by the late Mr Kenneth Gallop of Temple Cloud in memory of his father was the work of Frank Keevil of Bath.
The platform before the chancel was erected in 1988, when some of the nave pews were removed, and those in the north and south aisles were turned to face the platform. Most major services are conducted from platform, prior to holy communion being celebrated from the high altar.
The Lady Chapel has a Window Of blue and red With the Madonna and child at its centre, and to the side is a banner for the Mothers' Union, whose Clutton members in 2010 donated the altar frontal and curtains.
The font is of stone, and the stone pillars all have foliated capitals.
At the west end of the church above the vestry is an oak gallery, erected in 1970, which houses a pipe Organ bearing the inscription "Presented by the Earl of Warwick 1856"; it came from Warwick Castle. Underneath this is a brass plaque in memory of Haydn Harold Jones, rector Of this parish before becoming bishop of Venezuela. Other plaques around the walls previous rectors.
The vestry door has two plaques stating: “The restoration within this tower has been made possible by the bequest Of Captain RWS Hinton, RN, 1969" and “The restoration Of the bells was undertaken by Robert Parker and they were dedicated on 3rd June 1979 by the Archdeacon Of Bath.
Inside the vestry is a plaque in memory of Mrs Ann Harris who set up a trust for relief: it reads:
Mrs Ann Harris of this parish, widow Who died on the 27 th day of March 1860, aged 89 years, gave in her lifetime to the trustees, the yearly rent charge of 1.5 (shillings?) upon trust. After her decease to pay and apply the same yearly for ever at Christmas in conjunction with the minister and churchwardens for the time being Of the said parish Of Clutton for providing for poor women of the said parish of Clutton, being upwards of sixty years of age".
The tower is in three stages: the lower portion is believed to be old, but the upper stages were rebuilt in 1728. A square stone is inserted in the second stage on which is engraved "Benjamin Allen and Thomas Read, churchwardens, 1728". The tower contains six bells dating between 1680 and 1907 which are rung for major services.
Roof rebuild: the Church was in need of a completely new roof in 2008, with water ingress damaging the walls and pews. A magnificent fund raising effort was started, and thanks to the hard work of a few individuals, several grants were obtained, the largest being from English Heritage. This meant that many conditions as to the quality and origin of the building materials had to be met, and our builders, Transept, under the of architects Benjamin and Beauchamp replaced the complete roof to a waterproof state. The grants, donations and fund raising events brought in enough to allow the internal decoration of the church, and it was re-opened in time for Christmas services in 2009. Fund raising continues to install an inside lavatory and all donations towards this and church are welcomed.
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The Church and Churchyard by Eric Brain
In 1920, while preparing the first sale of the estate, the Earl of Warwick, patron of the church through his agent Mr Godfrey-Payton, agreed to apportioning a piece of land in Pyley for extending the churchyard. This was noted in the sale of Church Farm but the work did not commence until 1921.The extention work made useful strike relief work for the men from primarily Burchills Pit as the men went on strike having lost the bonuses paid to them during the WW1 to encourage more output from the mines . On May 5th 1921, the day after the farm was sold to Mr White, the work commenced, demolishing the end wall of the churchyard. Materials arrived, ashes for the mortar from Burchills pit and lime from Hodder’s kiln in Timsbury. The stone came from quarries in ‘Stoneacre’ in Stowey road by kind permission of Fletcher Rees-Mogg. By the beginning of July most of the miners returned to work but even so, the extension continued by the Warwick estate men and volunteers. My grandfather Fred Cook and Harry Cook helped with the building. Charlie Perry screened the ashes and Pyley brook was dammed and diverted for a water supply. The coping stones were purchased from Horsecombe Quarry, Bath and collected on a Foden steam lorry belonging to Clutton Coal and Trading Co. on July 14th. The miners’ return to work was short lived as the pit closed for good on August 26th. The consecration of the extention was delayed until a new bishop was enthroned on November 11th; the actual consecration taking place on 3rd January of the following year 1922.
Even the consecration was fraught with problems, not least that on the morning of the actual consecration service, it was noticed there was a discrepancy in the paperwork from the Diocesan Registrar’s Office and a frantic telegram was sent. However, the registrar arrived in the nick of time with amendments and the service went without further hitch with the Bishop of Bath and Wells and certain robed clergy all present.
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Clutton Church Postcard
Clutton is an ancient parish, mentioned in the Domesday Book as Clutone. The manor of Clutton was one of the many gifts William the Conqueror bestowed on his supporters, in this case the Bishop of Coutances, who held it until his death in 1093. The earliest known incumbent of Clutton was Rotburtus, who was instituted in 1380 and since that time the continuity has been unbroken.
From Easter until Christmas 2009 St Augustine's was closed for a new roof and internal redecoration to be undertaken. The work was completed thanks to fundraising, supported by large grants from English Heritage and other charities. The future plan is to install a lavatory and storage area in the present kitchen and make a refreshment area the font, but more fundraising will be necessary.
The Rector Rev Anita Thorne lives in the present Rectory in Temple Cloud, as in 1975 the parish of Clutton joined with the parish of Cameley and became a united benefice. This includes the Church of St Barnabas, Temple Cloud, and the Church of St James, Cameley which was declared redundant in 1975.
In 2010 this benefice was joined with Bishop Sutton and Stowey and services are celebrated in all five churches throughout the year. For times of services see the noticeboard.
Clutton Church Leaflet