THE CHURCH, a venerable fabric dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene, consists
of nave, chancel, and embattled tower ornamented with pinnacles; the
nave, however, has long been roofless, the windows are destroyed, and the
tower is in a dilapidated state. Divine worship is now performed in the
chancel, which has been neatly fitted up, and a new font recently added.
The fine east window was formerly richly adorned with stained glass. In
a recess on the south side of the altar is a mutilated carving of the
Virgin Mary, with a small figure of the dead Saviour on her lap. A
beautiful monument of the white Grinshill freestone, enriched with Gothic
tracery, remembers John Corbet, Esq., Emma Elizabeth, his wife, and John
Kynaston Corbet, their son. About half a century ago, when the vault was
made in which rest the remains of Mr. Corbet, the workmen discovered an
ancient stirrup and bridle bit, which had lain among the ashes of the
slain since the period of the battle which gave origin to the church.
Near the chancel wall, surrounded by pallisades, is the tomb of the Rev.
Edward Williams, incumbent of this parish and Uffington, who died on
January 3, 1833, aged 70 years. The living is a perpetual curacy,
returned at £233, in the patronage of A. W. Corbet, Esq.; incumbent, Rev.
J. O. Hopkins, who is also the perpetual curate of Uffington.
ALBRIGHT HUSSEY, an ancient moated residence, situated about half a mile
from Battlefield church, was formerly the seat of the Husseys, a family
of consequence in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. The mansion, in the
reign of Charles I., became the seat of the Corbets, who resided there
for more than one hundred years. One of the rooms has a fine oak chimney
piece, most elaborately carved. Near to the mansion formerly stood a
chapel, the remains of which, and the old font, are still to be seen.
Roger Roe, rector of the chapel of St. John the Baptist, at Albrighton
Husee, by his will, dated 1444, ordered his body to be buried near the
high altar of Battlefield church, and bequeathed to the five chaplains in
the college three silver chalices, one paxbrede of silver gilt, two
silver cruets, three brass bells hanging in the belfry, two cases after
the manner of Sarum, otherwise called lyggers, three gilt copper crosses,
two new missals, two new graduals, three old missals covered with old
leather, one old case, one processional, one executor of the office, one
book of collects, four placebo and dirage, one pair of vestments of red
velvet, one red velvet cope, two velvet dalmatics, one pair of vestments
of white silk, one white silk cope, and four pair of other vestments.
Mrs. Margaret Jones, in 1773, left £50, and directed the interest to be
given to the poor of the parish on Easter Sunday.
DIRECTORY.—Henry Colley, farmer, Huffley; Edward Moreton, farmer,
Allbright Hussey; Martha Winnall, farmer, Battlefield farm
BROUGHTON,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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