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The
New Church
The
moving spirit behind the building of the new Church of St.
Michael, Myland, was the Rev. P. Strong’s successor, the Rev.
A. E. Julius, and although he was appointed to another living
before it was completed, its commencement was largely due to his
efforts. The following is an appeal for subscriptions which he
issued in 1851:
The
population of the Parish of ST. MICHAEL, MYLAND, COLCHESTER,
which has rapidly increased during the last few years, is,
according to the last Census, 870.
The
present Church will accommodate only 86 adults, and from 20 to
30 children.
The
necessity for providing a larger Church has long been felt, but
the extreme poverty of the parish seemed to present an
insurmountable barrier to the accomplishment of this desirable
object; and consequently the undertaking has been delayed to
the present time.
EARL
DE GREY, however, the Patron of the Living, and a Proprietor in
the parish, having recently intimated his willingness to render
effectual assistance, it has been at length, determined to
appeal to the Public, and to make an effort to provide a Church
better suited to the Spiritual wants of this poor and increasing
parish.
The
many indications of poverty, which are well known to those who
are best acquainted with the parish, will, it is confidently
hoped, be considered a sufficient ground for this appeal to the
friends of the Church.
Subscriptions
will be thankfully received by the Rev. A. E. Julius, the
Rectorv, Myland; Mr. W. Cant and Mr. Wyncoll, Churchwardens,
Myland; the Rev. James T. Round, Rural Dean, Colchester; Messrs.
Round, Green, and Co., and Messrs. Mills, Bawtree and Co.,
Bankers, Colchester; and at the Essex Standard Office,
Colchester.
The
site for the new Church and the sum of £500 was given by the
Rt. Hon. the Earl de Grey. The Rev. A. E. Julius contributed £100
and the only son of the late Rev. P. Strong gave £200. The
original subscription list, which shows donations from friends
all over the country, still exists in the Church’s records and
reached a total of £2,143 14s. 2d. Plans were prepared by
Edward Hakewill, of Craig’s Court, Charing Cross, and
contracts placed for the building with Mr. White, of
Vauxhall-bridge, London, and for the woodwork with Mr. S.
Grimes, Builder, of North-hill, Colchester. On the 17th
March, 1854, we find the following notice in the “ Essex
Standard and Eastern Counties Advertiser “:
THE
PROPOSED NEW CHURCH OF ST. MICHAEL, MYLAND.
Sufficient
progress having been made in the preparatory works of this
building, it is proposed (God willing)
On
TUESDAY, the 21st of March
TO
LAY THE FOUNDATION STONE.
The
Right Honourable the EARL DE: GREY, K.G.,
has
kindly consented to perform the ceremony.
The
existing Parish Church being in a dilapidated condition, and too
small for the purpose, DIVINE SERVICE will be held at ST.
PETER’S CHURCH, COLCHESTER, at Twelve o’clock, when a Sermon
will be preached by the REV. HENRY MACKENZIE, M.A., Vicar of St.
Martin’s-in-the-Fields, London.
Carriages
will be in attendance after the service to convey parties to the
Rectory House. Myland, where the Procession to the site will be
formed.
Subscribers,
free. Non-subscribers, one shilling each.
The
subsequent account of the proceedings, in the next issue of the
paper, is a long and interesting one. St. Peter’s Church was
filled with a “numerous congregation”, including the members
of the Corporation and a large number of the Clergy of the town
and neighbourhood. At the close of the service (a copy of the
hymn-sheet is preserved in the Church records) the various
persons invited to join in the ceremonial of laying the
foundation-stone assembled at Myland Rectory and repaired in the
following processional order to the site of the building:
Band
of the Essex Rifles.
Choir
Children
of the Parish
School
Banner of England
Mayor
and Corporation
Architect
and Builder
Banner
- “Church and State”
Rural
Dean and Preacher
Clergy
The
Patron - Earl de Grey; and the Rector - Rev. A. F. Julius
Gentry
Churchwardens
Parishioners
Workmen employed at the New Church
Banner
The
report continues:
Although
called by courtesy the “Foundation Stone”,
the walls of the new Church are already breast high, and have a
very substantial appearance. .... A bottle containing coins (we
believe of silver only, those of greater value having been
found, in other instances, a temptation to robbery) was
deposited in a cavity below the stone, together with a paper to
the same effect as the following inscription upon the stone
itself:
This
stone, as the Foundation Stone of the Church of St. Michael,
Myland, was laid by the Right Honourable the Earl de Grey, K.G.,
the Patron, on the 21st day of March, in the year of
our Lord MDCCCLIV, in the presence of the Rev. James T Round.
B.D., Rural Dean; the Rev. A. E. Julius, M.A., the Rector, Mr.
W. Cant and Mr. W. Wyncoll, the Churchwardens, and many others,
with prayer to Almighty God for his blessing on the work thus
begun.
The
press reports give a full account of the speeches made by Earl
de Grey and the Rev H. Mackenzie. The latter carried the
thoughts of his hearers one step further by saying:
…they
were doing what the neighbourhood had long cried for - providing
a house of God for the accommodation of His Christian
worshippers; but he implored them not to be unmindful of one
step more, which it seemed to him must inevitably follow: the
erection of schools near the present building - the raising,
next to this paternal mansion, a filial abode, where their
children might be gathered together for generations to come to
enjoy the blessings of Christian teaching, and the happiness of
a holy and religious life. (Applause.)
This
suggestion was realized in some measure at a later date, for, in
1873, a piece of land to the south of the new Church was given
for this purpose and the remains of the walls of the old Church
were carted to the site and used in the construction of a
School. This School continued to serve the village until 1906,
when the Local Education Authority erected new Schools in Mill
Road, and thereafter the old building continued in use as the
Church Hall, for the Sunday School and for parish purposes
generally. Under the Education Act of 1944, however, the
Minister of Education claimed the building as a “school
building” and the Church Council were required to buy it back
if they wished to retain it for their use; after protracted
negotiations with the Diocesan Authorities terms were arranged
in 1954 and the user of the building as a Church Hall and Sunday
School was once again secured to St. Michael’s Church Council.
The
year following the laying of the foundation stone was one of
great activity. During this period the Rev. A. E. Julius was
appointed to another living, and it was left to his successor,
the Rev. E. Hall, to make arrangements for the consecration of
the new Church, which took place on Friday, 18th May,
1855. We read in the “Essex and West Suffolk Gazette”:
The
quiet and rural parish of Myland, Colchester, was this morning
the scene of no small excitement and animation, consequent upon
the consecration of the new Church of St. Michael.
Fortunately
the weather was very fine, the chilling north winds having
subsided, and the genial warmth of a summer’s sun was not
without its influence upon the fairer portion of the population
of Colchester, who were consequently enabled without
inconvenience to witness this interesting ceremony. The service
was announced to commence at eleven o’clock, and long before
that time the bells of St. Peter sent forth a merry peal, and
the neighbourhood of Myland wore the appearance of a general
holyday. . . .
The
“ Essex Standard “ continues:
There
was a very full congregation, and a large attendance of the
neighbouring clergy, including Rev. J. T. Round, Rural Dean;
Rev. Dr. Wright, Head Master of
the Colchester Royal Grammar School; Rev. Dr. Taylor,
Dedham: Rev. Dr. Seaman; Revds. H. Caddell, F. Curtis, R.
Corfield, G. R. Medley, L. W. Owen, B. Lodge, D. B. Wells, W.
Laing, R. Bewick, C. S. Lock, J. Papillon, E. F. Ventris, J.
Bates, G. H. Cutler, R. D. Duffield, J. B. Magennis. H. R. S.
Smith, H. B. Newman, W. Wilson, C. Fisher, C. Norman. J. H.
Swainson, C. Bannantyne, J. Brett, C. Golding, W. R. Browell, S.
T. Mosse, H. Johnson, &c. Among the laity we observed C. G.
Round Esq., C. H. Hawkins, Esq., R. S. Nunn, Esq., G. B. Clark,
Esq., Savers Turner, Esq., J. Ambrose, Esq., &c.
The
Right Rev. the Bishop of the diocese (who was accompanied by his
son, the Rev. F. Murray, as Chaplain, the Chancellor, Registrar,
and Apparitor) was received at the door by the new Rector (Rev.
Edmund Hall) and the Churchwardens (Messrs. Wyncoll and W.
Cant). Having taken his seat in the chancel, the petition for
consecration was read, and his Lordship then proceeded with the
service in the usual form; the Rector taking the prayers and
lessons for the day, and the Bishop’s Chaplain and the Rural
Dean assisting in the communion service.
The
Sermon for the occasion was preached by the Rev. Francis Hessey,
D.C.L., Incumbent of St. Barnabas. Kensington, from Psalm CXII,
1 to 4: - “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into
the house of the Lord. Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O
Jerusalem. Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact
together: whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto
the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of
the Lord.”
The
consecration of the burial ground took place immediately on
the conclusion of the church service.
A
large party of the clergy partook of luncheon at the Rectory and
in the afternoon there was again service in the church.
the sermon being preached by the Rev. G. R. Medley, Rector of
St. Nicholas.
The
structure of the Church is today essentially the same as
in 1854 although some additions and improvements have
been made. It is in the Early English style of the 13th
century built of Kentish rag stone with Caen stone dressings for
the windows and porch, and the roof is of red tiles. The
interior consists of nave, chancel and north aisle, the latter
separated by a stone arcade.
The
width of the nave and aisle is 37 feet and the length 61 feet,
the height from the floor to the pitch of the open-timbered roof
being 39 feet. The chancel, 32 feet in length and 21 feet wide,
is elevated one step above the nave. The Tower is 40 feet high
and the broached spire of cedar shingles is 50 feet to the
summit of the cross.
The
pulpit is of stone, carved and ornamented, and in the centre
panel is carved an angel bearing a scroll with the words:” The
Everlasting Gospel “.
In
the chancel are two small sculptured groups, the one on the
north side representing St. Michael and the Dragon, whilst that
on the south side depicts St. Michael and two other angels
bearing a scroll which reads. “ He shall give His Angels
charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways “.
On
the chancel arch, on zinc tablets, are the Lord’s Prayer, the
Commandments, and the Apostles’ Creed, in illuminated letters.
At
the time of the consecration of the Church, the tower contained
only one bell, but a tablet on the north wall, inside the Church
reads:
The
Church Clock with Hour Bell was put up at the Jubilee in 1887 by
the Parishioners of Myland and their friends and two other bells
for Chiming were added in l897
in
thankfulness to God for the Sixty Years Reign of Queen Victoria
The
carved stone baptismal font was given by Miss Henrietta Strong
in memory of her father, and around the base is the inscription:
In
memory of the Revd
P. I.
Strong.
M.A.. R.D., 32 years Rector. Died Nov. 28. 1849. Interred in the
Chancel of the old Church. The glory
of
the
Children are their Fathers
The
font is surmounted by a carved wooden cover given some 54 years
later and bears the inscription:
To
the glory of God & in loving memory of Edmund Hall. 48 years
rector of this parish, who fell asleep Feb. 7th 1903,
also of Katherine Mary his wife who fell asleep March 26th
1902 : R.I.P.
The
stained glass window at the eastern end of the Church was
presented by the Rev. A. E. and Mrs. Julius. It consists of five
compartments, the centre containing the figure of Our Lord, to
whom on the right and left the Law and the Prophets do homage,
whilst the remaining two illustrate the ministry of Angels.
It
is interesting to note that all the other stained glass windows
in the Church are in memory of the Strong family. At the time of
the consecration of the Church there were three stained glass
windows on either side of the chancel, each depicting an Angel,
and under the one nearest the altar on the north side is a brass
tablet bearing the words:
“These
three windows are dedicated to the Glory of God and in the
blessed memory of his servant Philip Thistlethwayte Strong M.A.
32 years Rector. He departed this life 28 November 1849.”
The
other two windows on the north side appear to have been removed
when the vestries were added in 1933, and were placed one above
the other to give light in the vestry. The inscription reads:
“
The Glory of the Children are their Fathers. A.P.S. 1854.”
The
initials are those of his elder daughter, Anna Philippa Strong,
who gave the six windows. A brass tablet was latter affixed
under the first of the three windows on the south side of the
chancel, bearing the inscription:
“
These three windows are dedicated to the Glory of God and to the
blessed memory of His servant Bridget Charlotte widow of Philip
T. Strong. She departed this life 14 March 1882.”
Of
the three large stained glass windows on the south side of the
Church, the one nearest the pulpit depicts the raising of the
widow’s son at Nain, and the raising of Lazarus: a brass
tablet below is inscribed:
“’To
the Glory of God and the beloved memory of Sydney G. R. Strong
(only son of the Rev. P. Strong). This window is dedicated by
his bereaved Mother and sisters. He departed this life March 26th,
1862.”
Beneath
the middle window. which depicts the raising of Jairus’s
daughter, and the healing of Peter’s wife’s mother, is
inscribed:
“
To the Glory of God and the beloved memory of Henrietta de la
Garde (second daughter of the Revd. P. Strong). This window is
dedicated by her loving Mother and Sister. Ma,. 8th.1874.”
The
window near the south door, which is in a different style, being
conjectural rather than historical, bears the words:
“
To the Glory of God and in loving memory of Anna Philippa Strong
who entered into rest 16 August 1900. This window is erected by
her nieces Constance and Effie Owen and Beatrix Strong.”
Among
the Church’s title-deeds, a copy of the “ Instrument
substituting the New for the Old Church at Myland, Essex” is
dated 1st August, 1855. The deed is sealed by the
Right Rev. George, Bishop of Rochester, in whose diocese the
parish was then situated, the Right Hon. Thomas Philip Earl de
Grey, Patron of the old Parish Church, and the Rev. Edmund Hall,
Rector.
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