which, and from the armorial bearings, we learn that this beautiful piece
of ancient art was set up by the great Sir John de Charlton, lord of
Powis, and must have been executed about the middle of the fourteenth
century. It has been conjectured the glass was presented to the grey
friars of this town, to which religious house Sir John and his wife were
great benefactors, and that it was removed to St. Chad’s at the
dissolution. This is a singular circumstance of so fragile a material
surviving the destruction of two vast and substantial edifices. Within
the last few years the window has been judiciously restored. The organ
is a powerful and fine toned instrument, erected by Harris and Byfield,
in 1729. By the munificence of the present incumbent, the west end has
been enriched by an elegant organ screen of the most elaborate
workmanship, executed by Mr. John Carline. On the south side of the
chancel is the Trinity or “Leybourne chapel,” which communicates with the
south transept by a fine Norman arch, and with the chancel with an arch
in the pointed style. It is said to have been founded about the year
1300, by one of the Leybournes, of Berwick, as a place of sepulture for
the family, and was subsequently enlarged into its present form by the
Draper’s company. In the south east wall are three stone sedilia, with
canopied arches, and near the north east wall is an altar tomb (probably
of Simon de Leybourne, lord of Berwick, who died between 1300 and 1315),
the sides of which are adorned with canopied niches formerly containing
figures; and on the tomb reclines a figure of a knight cross-legged, and
in chain armour. In this tomb the headless corpse of Thomas Percy, Earl
of Worcester, who was taken prisoner at the battle of Shrewsbury, 1403,
and beheaded, is believed to have been interred. Underneath the south
window is a neatly executed gothic monument in memory of Heathcoate
Wigram, of Woodhouse, in the county of Essex; he was a pupil to the Royal
Free Grammar School, of this town, and was drowned whilst bathing in the
Severn, on September 1st, 1838, aged 14 years. The monument was erected
by the masters and pupils in memory of him whom they loved and lamented.
Against the east wall are monuments to John Jendine, Esq., and Thomas
Sutton, Esq., and between them is the statue of Bishop Butler, erected by
his pupils at the cost of eight hundred guineas. The figure is full
length, sitting in an easy and graceful position, clothed in the
episcopal robes; the right hand hanging over the chair, and the left hand
supporting the head, which is leaning in thought. The figure is of the
purest statuary marble, and the pedestal which supports the statue of
dove coloured marble from the Clee Hill; it was sculptured by F. H.
Baily, Esq., R.A. On the north side of the chancel is the vestry,
recently erected in the Norman style, the windows of which are ornamented
with antique German and Flemish glass; immediately adjoining is the
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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