A Brief History of The Church in Taplow

The present church, apart from the cancel, was consecrated by the Bishop of Oxford, Dr Charles Gore, on St. Nicholas Day, 6th December 1912. The foundation stone can be seen on the north-east buttress of the chancel.

The chancel had already been consecrated by an earlier bishop, Samuel Wilberforce, on 9th March 1865 when it was added to the former Georgian style rectangular church, with a tower, which was opened in 1828 to replace the mediaeval church which had been on a different site near Taplow Court; the old churchyard there included the prehistoric Taplow Mound with its famous hoard, now in the British Museum.

The dedication to St. Nicolas has been spelled in that way only in this century - a window in the chancel, dated 1898, has the more traditional English spelling with an “h”. Taplow has been a separate parish with its own priest, or rector, from early times except from 1517 to 1537 when it was united with Hitcham more recently it has joined three other parishes in the Burnham Team Ministry but retains its own vicar. The parish lost its northern portion in 1866 when Dropmore parish was created.

The ancient parish was visited by Birinus, Bishop of Dorchester who in the year 635 baptised converts in the Bapsey Pool, near the more modern Taplow Court. The first known church was built by the Saxons. The later, Norman, church survived until 1828 when it was replaced in the new site by a building of yellow stock bricks with a small tower and walled churchyard. The patrons were Merton Priory from 1197 or earlier, then at the Dissolution (1536) the patronage passed to the Crown and in 1890 to the Bishop of Oxford. The parish, originally in the Diocese of Lincoln, joined the enlarged Diocese of Oxford (with the rest of Buckinghamshire) in 1845.

Text by Revd. Mervyn Eden.

CHURCH GUIDE

EXTERIOR

You will have entered through the Lych Gate with its four inscriptions, two facing you on the lintels as you enter and two as you leave.

INTERIOR TOUR

The tour of the interior starts at the tower and goes clockwise; the locations are indicated by reference to the window numbers on the plan
You enter the church via the South Door

1) The Tower has a plain window; on the floor stands the upper part of the mediaeval font; on the walls are memorials of which one (for Rose Tyre) was first erected in the 1828 church. There is also a list of priests and rectors, though it omits the rectors of Hitcham who were also rectors of Taplow from 1517-1537 and the minister in the Commonwealth period, Thankful Owen.

The single bell was given local freemasons in 1913 in memory of two members, Canon Nicholas Garry and James Rutland, parish clerk, who had died in 1907 and 1908.

North of the tower you can see a sketch of the mediaeval church and a photograph of the 1828 church taken at the start of the 20th century. A wooden plaque commemorates the last full time verger Bert Fowler.

The font was given by Georgiana Caroline Grenfell in memory of her husband, Charles William Grenfell, who died in 1861, aged 38. He was buried, by right of relationship to others buried there, in the old churchyard. We are told that the font is “standing on the ancient stone base of the original font”. There is an ikon of St. Nicholas on the wall.

2) The Windows by the font are by the then (1913) local resident Baron Arild Rosenkrantz, in memory of Henry Arlett Woolerdes who died when this church was new. The fishmonger’s emblem can be clearly seen.

Windows 3,4 and 5 are plain. Between windows 4 and 5 there is a display of six coats of arms of members of the Manfield family, who were Lords of the Manor of Taplow (and until 1570) of Amerden and Cliveden, also in the parish. The Cliveden manor and estate passed in 1680 to the Duke of Buckingham and later changed hands many times, most notably to the Astors and now the National Trust.

The arms and hatchment of Thomas Jones Esq. and his wife Ursular are displayed in a separate panel on the right of the door. Thomas, who died in 1584, served Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary and Elizabeth I, with their very different expectations.

On the floor nearby is a slate memorial to the Honourable and Revd. George Hamilton (1718-1787), a former rector, it came from the old church. Other rectors are remembered near windows 8-11, including Robert Hay (1884-1973) who was consecrated Bishop of Buckingham in 1944 whilst continuing to serve as rector here for a further nine years,

The plain walled-in section between windows 5 and 6 hides the previously open Grenfell (or Desborough) pew for the Taplow Court family. On the floor in front of it are 15 mediaeval brasses, some of which are palimpsests. One of the brasses is for Hester Manfield, with an anagram of her name under it  (Mars fled in thee); it states that she “died in the Catholique Romane faith” in 1617. The Manfield family, mostly Roman Catholic, still played a significant role in the parish and church affairs. In the Grenfell pew there were eight family brasses but these are currently on display elsewhere.

Brass rubbing is not permitted in this church without a certificate of permission.

To the east is the organ. made by Walker, which was installed in the new chancel in 1866; the previous organ was sold to the church organist James Rutland who installed it in his home in the High Street. We are lucky that there is a photograph of him playing it , taken around 1900. Rutland, who was also an archaeologist, carpenter, stationer, collector, parish clerk, stained glass maker and Jack of all trades served as organist for over 50 years, for part of which time his daughter was organist at Hitcham. War caused a 1937 plan to create an organ loft at the west (tower) end to be abandoned.

Windows 6 and 7 are also plain. Near 6 you can see parts of some older Jacobean style pews, believed to have come from the mediaeval church.

Windows 8 and 11 (opposite it) are a pair with a total of four lights, one for each of the gospel Evangelists, though the dates on them differ; 8 is in memory of Pascoe Grenfell, who died in 1867; 11 celebrates Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897. Note the references to “S. Mark” but “St Nicholas” in window 9 where the artistic style is otherwise similar the change to the latinised spelling, Nicholas, was probably the choice of Rector Phillips (1907-1932).

Pause before the main east window to reflect on the crucifixion of our Lord and on God’s love and forgiveness which it represents.

Between 9 and 10 there is a sturdy decorated chair carved by James Rutland. The altar once stood against the east wall and was surrounded by three curtains which now adorn the wall. The silver candlesticks (1930) and brass processional cross (1933) are kept in a secure place on weekdays.

Right of window 11 you can see the plaque commemorating the consecration of the cancel in March 1865, built “at the sole cost” of the then rector (Charles Whately) - who of course still received some tithes and other endowment income from the parish, so he wasn’t without an income! The altar rails were replaced in 1908 in memory of Canon Garry.

On the floor of the chancel and the sanctuary there are at least 16 shades and styles of marble; the choirstalls appear to date from 1865, earlier than the oak screens and the church pews which are contemporary with the new nave of 1912. The 1828 church had been fitted out with box pews.

Notice that the stone rood screen tracery is different when seen from the nave (traditionally this is the “earth” side - hence the crucified Christ) and from the chancel (“heaven”) where the priest and the choir look down (like Christ with the heavenly angels!) to see the empty cross of the risen Christ.

The lady chapel incorporates three sets of windows: window 13 celebrates a couple , of whom the wife died in 1913; the five lights of the main window, by Baron Rosenkrantz (see window 2), celebrate the death of his daughter Julia Louisa Rosenkrantz (1890-1911). The centre light portrays the Christ child held aloft to focus us on his impending crucifixion and glory as well as his human birth . Note also the varied marbles of the altar and floor; these and the wood and stonework show no expense was spared in the creation of this modern but special chapel  where the reserved sacrament is kept.

On the floor of the Lady Chapel, in two groups, are 32 mostly smaller memorial brasses of similar significance to those noted between 4 and 5. On the north side of the chapel, on the floor, are another 17 brasses of similar significance.

Windows 15 and 16 and plain and make the lady chapel particularly light as it is on the southern side of the builder.

In the south transept window 17 with its shepherds and kings also dates from early years of the new nave; it commemorates the death of James Du Pre in 1912.

Between windows 19 and 20 there is an interesting modern memorial (1958) to Edward and Audrey Skimming and in the three main lights of window 20 there is a celebration of the founder of Silchester House School, on the Bath Road, Charlotte Roberts (bringing gifts to children), and St. Birinus (baptising). Above them is a fretwork containing many symbols which relate to Christmas; can you spot the holly berries, bells, stars, frog (or toad), mistletoe, leaves lantern, dove with olive branch, beetle and fish?

The porch is a very recent improvement, giving the church a more welcoming appearance, far less draught and a toilet. The final window 21 can be found in the porch and has two lights; Faith and Fortitude. It celebrates Charles and Marie Serocold who both died in Italy in 1904, the latter being a Grenfell by birth.

Before you leave, please notice the fabric work and embroidery in the Mothers Union Banner (St. Mary Hitcham and St. Nicolas Taplow): the motif is the flight of Mary and Jesus into Egypt, with a dove, a cross and lilies, the St Nicolas Banner and our collection of Hasssocks which are decorated by at least 14 symbolic designs as well as patterns or wording.

BEFORE YOU LEAVE

Please say a prayer for those who minister in this church and parish and for those known to you who seek God’s blessing and if you can, and wish, leave an offering for the maintenance and work of this church (the wall safe is by the entrance). Thank you.

It costs £800 per week to run the Church.

We hope you enjoyed your visit to St. Nicolas please sign our visitors book by the south door entrance.     

Guide Text by The Rev'd. Mervyn Eden.